Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 57

Briony was the first to look away, turning to the older woman and saying, "You've got it wrong-he's not my husband."

"Oh?" The woman blinked in surprise, caught off guard for the first time in her years of sales pitches. After a long pause, she managed, "Oh... I see."

Briony didn't dwell on the awkward exchange. She grabbed a neatly packaged tray of ribs from the meat counter and headed toward the produce section. Stewart watched her go, his eyes cool and unreadable.

...

By the time they returned to Southcreek Manor, it was already noon.

Briony went straight to the kitchen to start lunch.

Irwin was in the living room, tinkering with his new toys.

No sooner had Briony tied on her apron than the glass kitchen door slid open.

She turned and saw Stewart step inside.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

He glanced at the ingredients on the counter, his voice calm. "Do you want a hand?"

"I'm fine," Briony replied without looking up, already busy at the sink.

Stewart stood and watched her for a moment before quietly leaving. She turned on the tap and pulled out the vegetables to wash them.

wasn't long

Wear these," he

eyeing the plastic gloves he held out.

hand is still healing. It'd be better

at the faint pink patch of new skin on

the gloves, her tone flat.

another word, Stewart

asked for all sorts of dishes, but since he was just recovering from pneumonia, Briony chose

the years, she'd researched countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored

she moved around the

brought out five dishes and a hearty soup to the dining

lunch is ready. Go wash your hands," she

toy and scampered off to wash up, then hurried to take his seat at the table, excitement

of chicken and yam soup for him. "It's hot, so blow on

Irwin's mouth was practically watering as he looked at the spread. He grinned, "Thanks,

a faint

pulled out a chair and sat

apron, walked it back to the kitchen, and paused. After a moment, she took the apron and tossed

Irwin and setting one bowl in front of him, the other

Stewart watched her

served Irwin some vegetables, then quietly focused on her own meal. Stewart said

of those bowls of rice would have been

watched Briony eat with single-minded

moment, he stood and went into