Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

"Maynard." Xenia Cooper's voice drifted through the phone, quiet and distant as she called his name.

Maynard froze.

"It's been eight years." Her laugh was brittle, devoid of warmth. "So, you do remember him. You remember that Vernon is his son. You even remember that you and Naylor are brothers."

Maynard's brow furrowed, his grip on the phone tightening.

On the other end, Xenia's voice pressed on. "Then tell me, why have you ignored us all these years? Naylor's gone-does brotherhood mean nothing now that he's dead? Why? Why did you leave Vernon and me to fend for ourselves in the nightmare that is the Cooper family?"

Maynard stood stunned, silent.

"Maynard, who are you trying to fool with this act of devotion to Briony?" Xenia let out a cold, mocking laugh. "The truth is, you're the one who's truly heartless."

Her words spilled through the line and echoed in the silent chapel, each syllable tightening around Maynard's chest.

His breath quickened. His eyelashes fluttered.

Seconds later, he hung up, clumsily, almost desperate.

...

Briony didn't leave

gossip and media buzz began to fade did

Entertainment, everyone in the office greeted her with bright smiles. "Congratulations, Ms.

found a massive bouquet of blue hydrangeas waiting

grinned. "They arrived first thing

winked

in the flowers, then gently tapped Carey's forehead with it. "You know what's really going on. Stop stirring things

was one of the few who knew the truth behind the rumors. Not that

Maynard had taken charge of the company, and Carey had learned a

how devoted Maynard was to Briony. She and a few others in the secretarial department even had a private group chat called:

they'd share updates, quietly rooting

their little

indie film proposal

meeting. Director Quincy's interested-he wants to

her laptop. "He's over and that's high altitude