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.

...

day, Briony didn't leave Pearbrook

gossip and media buzz began to fade did she finally step

she arrived at Starlight Entertainment, everyone in the office greeted her with bright smiles. "Congratulations,

massive bouquet of

thing this morning-sent by Mr. Maynard

tone was teasing, and she winked playfully as she said

gently tapped Carey's forehead with it. "You

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

the company, and

Briony. She and a few others in the secretarial department even had a private group chat called: "Did Mr.

they'd share updates, quietly rooting for Briony

was their

proposal coming along?" Briony

we had the meeting. Director Quincy's interested-he

set in the mountains?" Briony settled into her chair and opened her laptop. "He's over and that's