Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

If it was about the children, Briony needed to know the details. "What is it?"

"Xenia Cooper has an eight-year-old son."

Briony froze for a moment.

An eight-year-old son...

Her brows drew together. "So you're just stepping in as someone's ready-made stepfather?"

Stewart cleared his throat. "That's how it will look to outsiders."

Briony pressed her lips into a thin line.

Her mind went straight to Irwin Wentworth.

That boy had once been the fatal crack in her and Stewart's marriage.

Even though Irwin was eventually sent away, the arguments and misunderstandings he'd brought with him still lingered vividly in Briony's memory.

"Stewart, do what you like for appearances' sake, but when it comes to the children, I expect you not to disappoint them."

"Don't worry, I won't." Stewart's expression softened, as if he, too, recalled the turmoil Irwin had caused them, and he dared not conceal anything from her.

a car accident. The eldest Cooper son was

Briony's breath caught.

her late fiancé's

a moment, Briony didn't know what

of a vicious power struggle. Xenia fled abroad to have the child in secret. She raised him overseas all these years and only recently

to claim the boy as yours

tightened. He stared at her

silence was

out a bitter laugh. "Stewart, do you have

"Bryn, I'll explain

you want." Briony was done arguing. "This is between you and our

meet again, you'll be Mrs. Cooper's

Stewart was stunned.

turned away

retreat was final. After this, Stewart wouldn't even

hung his head. His tall figure looked achingly

...

bedroom and shut the

wood, she slid slowly

covered her face with her hands, tears soaking through her