Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

Stewart stared after Briony, stunned and silent.

But Briony didn't look back. She turned away, walked briskly into the house, and closed the front door with a decisive thud, shutting him out completely.

He stood there, gazing at the closed door, grief clouding his eyes.

The Maynard family estate.

After escorting the four elders home, Maynard explained everything just as he and Briony had agreed. Unsurprisingly, his version of the story landed him exactly where he expected: kneeling in the family chapel as punishment.

When Clifford, the family patriarch, heard that it was his own grandson who had wronged a woman—leaving her with a child out of wedlock and the Maynard family's eldest grandson out in the world without a proper name his fury boiled over. He brought his cane down hard on Maynard's back.

Maynard endured the blow without a word.

Beatrice, ever the doting grandmother, scolded him too, but her words were softer, more for show than anything. She ordered him to the chapel for his penance, but she was really just trying to protect him from Clifford's wrath, worried the old man might lash out again.

So Maynard was sent to kneel in the chapel.

Maynard was to kneel until morning. If anyone tried to plead for him, they could

old, and he still couldn't bring his wife and kids home. If he had to kneel, so be it. They

But Beatrice did.

had the butler quietly deliver some warm rolls and even slipped in a soft cushion for him

that evening, the

down from their portraits as Maynard, the family's wayward son, sat cross-legged on the cushion, back to their stern faces,

almost

outside, making sure

through his roll, Maynard felt his

a brow, he swallowed the bite in his mouth

end, a woman's cool, slightly mocking voice drifted through. "Mr. Maynard, it's me-Xenia

performance you staged, I

laugh. "From your tone, it almost sounds like you're looking forward

hand holding his phone, the other resting lazily on his bent knee, still holding half a roll. "But

visit to Ms. Kensington today. How did that go?"