Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Briony froze for a moment.

A partnership agreement?

She pressed her lips together, staring at him without blinking.

Stewart met her gaze, barely breathing.

After a long silence, Briony finally said, "I believe you."

Stewart's eyes widened, a surge of emotion flickering across his face. "Bryn, you really believe me?"

Briony gave a tired little smile. "Didn't we start out as a contract marriage, too?"

Stewart looked caught off guard for a second.

"Stewart, you're an adult. And now you're free to do as you wish. Whatever decision you make, as long as you've thought it through, that's all that matters.

Other people's opinions aren't nearly as important as you think."

She looked straight at him, her voice calm. "And anyway, Ms. Cooper is an impressive woman. It's perfectly reasonable for you to choose her."

Stewart frowned, realizing just how wrong she'd gotten the situation.

"That's not it. Xenia Cooper and I-it's not like what we had. It's-"

Knock, knock.

A sudden rapping at the door cut Stewart off.

voice came from outside: "Bryn, can I come

stood up and went to open the

of lilies

university and saw an old lady selling

and she looked miserable, so I stopped and

speak, when a

the lilies behind his back. "You're

nose and mouth, frowning a little. "But

much

and I have

Stewart got up and headed for the door, pausing to eye

he looked

to lilies, it's probably best not to keep them here. I'll take

Maynard scowled inwardly.

What a two-faced saint.

waste to just throw them out," Briony said. "Give them to Marlene and let her share

Stewart agreed, and carried the

retreating back, grinding

Hypocrite.

attention to

let's go talk

followed Briony

that day, Stewart rarely

every few days, he'd send Carl Shaw to pick up the kids and take

for a couple of

Carl occasionally crossed paths. He was always polite,