Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 24

January 15th on the old calendar-Briony's mother, Julia Hudson, was finally coming home.

Stella had taken the day off to go with Briony to pick up Julia.

The weather forecast had been spot on: the day was glorious, clear and bright.

Sunlight broke through the thick winter clouds and spilled across the ground, turning the snow into a dazzling sea of diamonds.

Outside the gates of Northborough's women's prison, Briony stood wrapped in a cream-colored wool coat. She looked delicate, her long, silky hair swaying gently in the wind.

"Star, what time is it?" Briony's eyes were fixed on the towering brick walls ahead, her tightly clasped hands betraying her nerves.

Stella gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's only eight-thirty. She'll be out soon. Try not to worry."

As the words left her lips, the heavy iron gate rattled.

A smaller side door swung open.

Briony's eyelashes fluttered. She broke into a run.

"Mom!"

Julia paused in surprise when she saw her, but her face quickly broke into a smile. "Bryn, you're here."

yourself and start fresh," the young guard said

gate clanged shut

the down jacket she'd been carrying over Julia's shoulders. "Mom, I'm here to take

then glanced at Stella. She stared for a

"It's me! Bryn and I came to bring

tight. "You're a good girl. I don't know what Bryn would've done

grew up together-we're practically sisters. Don't feel bad. Let's get you home first. Bryn bought a new place and decorated it herself. It's cozy and beautiful;

one of hers, Stella's in the other. When she smiled, the lines at the corners of her eyes deepened.

Dolphin Cove.

chimed as it reached the top

and lit the fireplace, positioning it right by the entrance. "Julia! Step over the fire-leave the bad luck behind. From now on,

filled with tears as she nodded

mother cross the threshold into the home she'd so lovingly prepared. In that moment, emotion overwhelmed her; tears spilled down her cheeks

away, quickly wiping her face with the back

years—she had finally brought her mother out of that cold, unforgiving place, back into a home

Just the two of them, mother

the new apartment, showing off every cozy corner, before finally bringing

lay folded on the bed-Briony had picked them out herself. Stella handed them to Julia with a

why don't you take a shower and change into something fresh? Later, Bryn and

held them in her hands, fingers

a long moment, she stood there, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Bryn has suffered so

"Julia, now that you're home, Bryn