Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 277

When Cedric Clarke arrived with Stella, the doors of the emergency room swung open just as they reached them.

Dr. Warren stepped out, peeling off his mask, his face grave as he shook his

head.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could."

For a moment, it was as if the world fell utterly silent.

Gwendolyn White's knees buckled, and James caught her just in time. "Mrs. Winslow!"

"Bryn... our Bryn..." Gwendolyn sobbed into her hands, her cries breaking the quiet. "She's so young-how could she just leave us like this? No, it's not possible -Dr. Warren, please, there must be something more you can do, please..."

"Mrs. Winslow, I'm truly sorry. We really did all we could."

Stewart stood frozen, rooted to the spot.

He barely heard Dr. Warren's gentle, clinical explanations-the medical reasons why Briony couldn't be saved. Gwendolyn refused to accept it, her wailing echoing in his ears.

Stewart, too, couldn't believe it.

Briony dead? It couldn't be.

A strange, fractured smile curled at the edge of his lips, though his eyes were rimmed with red. "No. I don't believe it..."

He murmured the words, pushing past Dr. Warren and heading toward the emergency room.

Seeing this, Cedric released Stella and hurried to intercept him, grabbing Stewart by the arm. "What are you doing?"

and, recognizing Cedric, clung to him like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline.

to steady him. "Stewart, you

faking it. She must be. She just wants to get away from

"She's probably terrified I'll fight her for custody, so she's playing dead to escape. She hates me that much-of course she'd go to extremes just to

tone grave.

"Her daughter's all she cares about now. If I just take her back to Northborough, Briony'll come running. Yes, that's it-I'll bring

if possessed, turning toward the neonatal

"Stewart!"

him, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Open your eyes! Look- look at what's right in front

Stewart turned-

out of

body lay still on the gurney, shrouded in a

shrank

his head, his tall frame suddenly

If you're gone, your little girl will have no mother-how

broke down, tears streaming as his trembling hands gently lifted the edge

was peaceful, her eyes closed, lips just barely parted. Stella stared, her own eyes wide with horror, a crushing pain squeezing

echoed down

motionless, untouched

now

no more sorrow-nothing in this

still weeping, gently covered Briony's face again. "Go on, Bryn. I know you're tired. Go quickly, catch up to your little one, and find your mother. When you're all together

Gwendolyn's words, Stella

only that it felt as if her heart had been torn

could only stare in

as if someone had fired a bullet straight into his heart. He could almost feel blood welling up from the wound, flooding his

He coughed harsh, wet.

over and spat out a mouthful of