Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

"The deeper Briony read, the tighter her brow furrowed.

Across the table, Xenia Cooper never took her eyes off Briony, studying every

flicker of emotion, every subtle shift in her expression. She watched in silence for

a full five minutes.

At last, Briony set the agreement down and lifted her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Xenia looked thoroughly satisfied with Briony's shock.

"Have you finished reading?" she asked, her tone edged with amusement.

Briony's voice was taut. "So-it was your bone marrow that saved my life."

Xenia arched an eyebrow. "That's right. Technically speaking, I'm your savior."

Briony's grip on the contract tightened.

"But Stewart repaid your debt for you, in his own way," Xenia taunted, a sly smile

curling her lips. "Tell me, Briony are you moved?"

Briony couldn't answer. She could never have imagined that the second chance at

life she'd been given had come at such a cost-a cost Stewart had paid in this

way.

The contract spelled it out, in black and white-not just a ten-year marriage

between Stewart and Xenia, but also an obligation: over three years, Stewart was

to remove every person in the company who stood against Xenia. In return, Xenia

would swallow up all the shares of Neonova Syndicate in those three years.

Xenia hadn't wasted a single word in the contract-her business acumen was on

full display. It was ruthless, prioritizing profit above all else.

The harshest clause? For the duration of their decade-long marriage, Stewart had

to remain completely faithful. No betrayals, no infidelities, and no matter what

Xenia did, Stewart was forbidden from requesting a divorce.

Briony remembered that day Stewart had fallen silent. She'd sensed he was

hiding something-now she understood just how different the truth was from what

she'd suspected.

This contract hemmed Stewart in on all sides. The restrictions were suffocating,

the risks enormous.

Briony drew a steadying breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within her.

"Does Stewart know you're here talking to me?"

"Stewart would rather you never found out," Xenia replied, looking at Briony with

open disdain. "He worries you'd feel guilty, wants to play the selfless hero. So no,

he doesn't know I'm meeting you today. But don't worry-I'll tell him all about it

when I get home."

"Why tell me, then?" Briony asked quietly.

"Why?" Xenia let out a short, derisive laugh. "Because I can't stand it. You two are

divorced, sure, and you gave him two kids-but Stewart bending over backwards

for an ex-wife? It grates on me. Honestly, I envy you."

Briony pressed her lips together, meeting Xenia's stare without flinching.

"Ms. Kensington, just consider me

the villain here. I don't want to see

you live too comfortably.

Remember: for these ten years,

Stewart.is my lawful husband.

Please keep your distance, and don't

try to maintain any emotional

ties-otherwise, I won't hesitate to

treat you like the other woman."

Briony set the contract aside and

looked Xenia squarely in the eye.

"You have nothing to worry about,

Ms. Cooper. I have no interest in

another woman's husband Stewart

and have been divorced for years.

Aside from sharing our children, we

have nothing left between us."

"Is that so?" Xenia sneered. "But now that you know Stewart sold himself to save

you, you don't feel grateful? Not even a little guilty?"

"Stewart never gave me a choice," Briony replied, her eyes cold. "Don't you think

I'm the passive one in all of this, Ms. Cooper?"

Xenia paused, caught off guard by Briony's composure.noveldrama

She laughed softly. "So what you're saying, Ms. Kensington, is that Stewart

brought this on himself?"

"He's an adult," Briony replied evenly,

voice calm. "He can answer for his

own actions. You came here today

hoping to see me squirm with guilt,

and I do feel it, but what difference

does it make?"

"Oh, it doesn't change a thing," Xenia said with a cold smile, tapping her nails

impatiently on the table. "But I have to admit, it's more satisfying coming from me."

"Well then, I suppose you got what you wanted," Briony shot back, her tone icy.

"Are you satisfied?"

Xenia shrugged. "Not particularly. It's just that the way Stewart still loves you-it's

unbearable to watch."

She stood, gathering the contract. "Anyway, that's all there is to it. You can go to

Stewart if you want, but it won't change anything. For the next ten years, he's

mine."

Briony said nothing.

Xenia swept out of the café, leaving only the gentle strains of piano music drifting

through the air.

Briony remained seated, unmoving, long after Xenia had gone.

Dusk settled outside, painting the windows in deep blue shadows.

Suddenly, footsteps hurried across the floor.

Stewart appeared, breathless.

"Bryn..."

Hearing his voice, Briony slowly looked up.

He stood there, worry etched deep in his features, his dark eyes fixed on her.

"Bryn, are you all right?""