Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"The deeper Briony read, the tighter her brow furrowed.

Across the table, Xenia Cooper never took her eyes off Briony, studying every flicker of emotion, every subtle shift in her expression. She watched in silence for a full five minutes.

At last, Briony set the agreement down and lifted her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Xenia looked thoroughly satisfied with Briony's shock.

"Have you finished reading?" she asked, her tone edged with amusement.

Briony's voice was taut. "So-it was your bone marrow that saved my life."

Xenia arched an eyebrow. "That's right. Technically speaking, I'm your savior."

Briony's grip on the contract tightened.

"But Stewart repaid your debt for you, in his own way," Xenia taunted, a sly smile curling her lips. "Tell me, Briony are you moved?"

Briony couldn't answer. She could never have imagined that the second chance at life she'd been given had come at such a cost-a cost Stewart had paid in this way.

The contract spelled it out, in black and white-not just a ten-year marriage between Stewart and Xenia, but also an obligation: over three years, Stewart was to remove every person in the company who stood against Xenia. In return, Xenia would swallow up all the shares of Neonova Syndicate in those three years.

wasted a single word in the contract-her business acumen was on full display. It

the duration of their decade-long marriage, Stewart had to remain completely

was forbidden from

She'd sensed he was hiding something-now she

sides. The

trying to

Stewart know you're here talking

would rather you never found out," Xenia replied, looking at Briony with open disdain. "He worries you'd feel guilty, wants to play the selfless hero. So no, he doesn't know I'm meeting you today. But don't worry-I'll tell him all about it when I get

me, then?"

you gave him two

pressed her lips together, meeting Xenia's stare without

ten years, Stewart.is my lawful husband. Please keep your distance, and don't try to maintain any emotional ties-otherwise, I won't hesitate to treat you like the

aside and

nothing to worry about, Ms. Cooper. I have no interest in another woman's husband Stewart and have been divorced for years.

"But now that you know Stewart sold himself to save you, you don't feel grateful?

replied, her eyes cold. "Don't you think I'm the passive one in all of

off

what you're saying, Ms. Kensington, is that

adult," Briony replied evenly, voice calm. "He can answer for his own actions. You came here today hoping to see

doesn't change a thing," Xenia said with a cold smile, tapping her nails impatiently on the table. "But

you got what you