Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

He stood with his back to her, tall and lean as ever, though perhaps a bit thinner

now.

Briony Kensington watched him in silence.

Minutes slipped by without a word.

At last, Briony sighed a sound of release, almost relief.

"Stewart Wentworth, I've made my peace with everything. You shouldn't keep dwelling on the past, either."

Stewart paused, then turned to face her.

He crossed the room and knelt down in front of her, his long, narrow eyes fixed on hers, the corners rimmed with red.

She could tell he'd been crying.

"You've grown more sentimental than before," she said, her tone gentle, teasing, a hint of warmth in her voice.

Stewart's dark eyes reflected her own pale, drawn face.

"Bryn, I know there's no going back for us. After everything that's happened, I realize now how unforgivable so much of my behavior was. I put you through hell, and still, you chose to raise our two children on your own. For that alone, I could never repay you, not in a lifetime."

His voice was low and sincere.

Briony only smiled softly. "I didn't keep the kids for your sake. I needed family, especially with the risks of surgery. Honestly, if it hadn't been for them, I don't think I would've made it through. Stewart, neither of us came from happy homes. Let's learn from that. From now on, let's co-parent-give them both a mother's and a father's love, so they can have the safe, happy childhood we never did." Stewart looked at her, his gaze deep, shining with unshed tears. "Alright." She met his eyes, her own expression gentle. "You really have changed."

"How so?"

"You're... more human, somehow."

He looked at her for a long moment.

Finally, he said, "Back then, the medication I was on made me numb. I haven't taken it in a long time."

Briony nodded. "That's good."

They spoke quietly, like old friends, calm and at ease.

It was their children who had healed them.

It turned out, even divorced couples could survive hardship together, support one another, and strive to become better people for the sake of their kids.

Maybe they would never love each other again, but they had a shared purpose now. The old wounds and grievances no longer mattered.

From now on, they would be friends or perhaps something like family, bound together by their children.

...

Two days later, Briony's condition had stabilized.

She went to see Mary.

Mary had suffered a complication with her pregnancy—a scare that nearly ended in miscarriage.

After more than a week of careful treatment, the baby was finally safe.

Stewart personally drove Briony to the hospital.

He escorted her to Mary's room, then stepped out to wait in the hallway.

Inside, Briony took a seat beside the bed.

Mary saw her and instantly broke down again.noveldrama

She'd cried so much these past days, her eyes were never not swollen.

"Briony..." Mary reached for her hand, voice trembling. "Ferdinand Ellsworth is

gone. My baby doesn't have a father anymore."

Seeing her so distraught, Briony's heart ached in sympathy.

Mary couldn't stop sobbing. "It's my fault he's dead..."

"No, it's not, Briony said firmly. "Stewart told me everything. You only hurt his hand. The one who killed him was a sniper, and honestly, he brought that fate on himself."

"I know..." Mary wiped her tears, "I know he deserved it, but I can't help feeling so

sad. Briony, the truth is... I lied to him."

Briony frowned. "What do you mean?"

"This baby-it really is Ferdinand's."

Briony's eyes widened. "Explain."

"When Ferdinand drugged you and took you to Havenport, Mr. Wentworth was already watching.

over you from the shadows. He et

couldn't reveal himself because of the plan, so he played along. You probably already guessed my real identity-Mr. Hoffman arranged for me to get close to Ferdinand as part of the mission. But I never expected Ferdinand to stand up for me. The law couldn't touch my father for what he'd done, but Ferdinand could make him pay. That changed everything for me..."

"I confessed my feelings to Ferdinand, and he accepted me. But the truth is, nothing actually happened between us that night. knew he'd put something in my drink I passed out, and when I woke up, he'd arranged for me to have an embryo transfer He waited until the pregnancy took before coming clean. He thought I was just his pawn, but I knew everything he was planning all along..."