Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

He sighed. "As long as you're here with me, Daddy won't be sad."

Little Mario stared at Stewart, deep in thought.

All at once, an idea struck him. He turned to Little Nina and announced, "When Daddy's sad, he cries too-but only at night, after everyone's asleep. He sneaks out tears when he thinks nobody can see-mph!"

Stewart quickly covered his son's mouth, looking both helpless and amused. "Alright, that's enough. It's late. No more talking-lie down, both of you. Daddy will read you a bedtime story."

The kids obediently snuggled under their blankets.

Stewart switched off the overhead light, leaving only the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

He picked up the storybook, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room-

"Once upon a time, there was a little field mouse. She was the fastest digger in her whole family..."

Briony emerged from the shower to find several missed video calls on her phone.

She checked the timestamps-right at nine o'clock.

It was already half-past nine now.

She'd spent a while drying her hair after her shower, so time had gotten away from her.

By now, the children were surely asleep.

hesitated, then

kids upstairs to bed at nine sharp. You called a little

letting it

"Although, Mr. Wentworth didn't seem in the best of

"What do

backyard by himself. I checked the security camera-he's crouched by the fish pond, feeding the koi. At the rate he's going, he's

a gift from James," she said with

"Will do!"

hung up and

crouched low, mechanically tossing

hadn't

Wentworth, that's

snapping out of his daze. He realized a third of the fish

awkwardly. "Sorry. I

adores

guilt hit Stewart. "I'm sorry. I'll be more

said these koi were blessed by a priest at a very famous old abbey. They're supposed to bring good fortune, and there's only this one batch, if they're gone,

faint crease appeared between Stewart's

perfectly well what

heavy sense of helplessness settled over him; he pressed his lips together, unsure how to