Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 109

Stewart left with Irwin-and took the ragdoll cat Rosita had insisted Briony would love.

The moment the door closed behind them, Briony, who had been holding herself together all this time, finally collapsed.

James caught her just as her legs gave out and gently carried her over to the office couch.

She sank into the cushions, clutching her chest, her breathing ragged and fast, her face as white as a sheet.

It was clear she was having a panic attack, triggered by overwhelming emotion.

James pressed a steady hand to her mouth, calmly guiding her, "You're hyperventilating. Close your mouth and breathe with me. One, two-inhale. That's it. One, two, inhale..."

With James's help, her breath eventually slowed to a normal rhythm.

He went to pour her a glass of warm water and brought it to her lips. "Here, drink a little."

Briony leaned back and sipped the water, and after a few gulps, the tension in her body slowly began to ease.

James grabbed a throw pillow and tucked it behind her back. "Lean on this. You'll feel better."

Briony looked up at him, her pale lips curving in a faint, sincere smile. "Thank you."

The past few days had shown her that while James could be blunt, he was genuinely kind—and surprisingly thoughtful for someone his age.

folded sheet of paper off the

pushed herself

hand and stood,

turned to

met his gaze, her own brows pinched. "Don't

divorced!" James stared at her in disbelief.

procedure

James blinked. "A procedure...?"

standing to take the report from his hand, her voice barely above a

James was silent.

paper back into her bag and headed for

patiently in its crate. As soon as it saw

and let the puppy

dog bounded over to her, rubbing its head against her hand, tail swishing with

watching her play

a long, uncomfortable silence, he finally asked, "Does Stewart

on the puppy, not looking up. "He doesn't need to." James pressed his lips together, falling

have a dog bed or any food yet,

everything." James caught himself, coughed, then added, "My friend took care of it.

whole presence still a little