Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 22

Briony froze, stunned.

She stared at Stewart, her eyes trembling with disbelief.

"Stewart, what did I do wrong?" she asked quietly.

He met her gaze, cold and unyielding. "You're upset with me, that's fine. But Rosita is innocent." His words were sharp and judgmental. "You had no right to mislead your friend into attacking her."

Briony's hand clenched the pharmacy bag so tightly it shook.

She fixed her eyes on Stewart-this man she had poured her heart into, loved without regret for five long years.

"Your precious Rosita is innocent?" Briony let out a brittle laugh, tears brimming but refusing to fall. She struggled to hold herself together, her pale lips trembling as the dam finally broke. "And what about me? For five years I've been the fool, raising your child as my own, giving everything I had―am I not innocent too?!"

Stewart faltered, caught off-guard.

Stella's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what do you mean, 'raising their child for five years'? You mean... Irwin is Stewart and Rosita's?"

Briony's chest heaved. She ignored Stella, her gaze locked on Stewart. "Stewart, I want just one answer-why did you lie to me in the first place?"

Stewart's brow furrowed, irritation flickering across his face. "We agreed from the start this was a partnership. Who Irwin's biological mother is doesn't change our arrangement."

Briony felt the air leave her lungs.

thought bitterly.

shaky laugh escaped her lips, dizziness washing over her. She

Stella caught her just in time, eyes full of

Stella asked anxiously,

on Rosita's hand loosened. He glanced at Briony, lips parting as if

quickly caught

toward the inpatient wing,

years as a stepmom, only to be humiliated like this? I'm furious! I swear, tonight I'm making a burner account and exposing her-forget

kept ranting, but Briony couldn't hear a

world faded

of

the time she woke, it was already

hospital room door just as Briony was struggling to

Stella said

sound of her voice. "What happened

giving a sarcastic snort. "You fainted from

lashes fluttered as the memory of the pharmacy came crashing back. The pain was still fresh. She knew Stewart didn't

hand to her forehead, regret coursing

Stewart treating you like this, are you really going to have his baby?" Briony went

softly, taking her hand. "Your mom gets out tomorrow. She'd be heartbroken if she