Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 302

Stewart sensed something was off. "What's going on?" he asked.

Judd glanced at Briony, then back to Stewart, his tone resigned. "The mayor meant well-he wanted to tidy up Mrs. Hudson a bit so her family wouldn't be upset when they saw her. But Mrs. Hudson refused to cooperate."

Briony's anxiety spiked. "What does that mean?" she pressed Judd. "What's happened to my mom?"

Judd looked uncertainly at Stewart.

A crease formed between Stewart's brows. "Take us to her."

"Alright. Come with me," Judd said, turning and leading the way toward a small gate at the edge of the yard.

The gate opened into the mayor's barn.

Briony hurried after him, hope flickering stubbornly in her chest. It couldn't be that bad, she told herself. It just couldn't.

But reality hit her hard the moment she stepped inside.

was a woman with sallow skin, her body curled in on itself. She wore tattered clothes, her

froze, as if struck by lightning. No...

but

her right mind. She doesn't recognize anyone. Don't get too close—she lashes out if anyone tries to approach

Briony's eyes. She looked at Farrah desperately. "She's my mom. I'm here to take her

already told us. Of course it's good for you to take her away.

she

wish I knew. Four years ago, the fishermen found her washed up on the shore, barely alive. They sent my husband to check on her. He's a kind man he brought her back here. She had a terrible fever for a week. The island doctor came

my husband and I got back from the station, she was gone. We searched everywhere and finally found her in the barn, clutching a pile of straw and talking to herself. It

Briony listened, the

was all

had

living

wiped her tears away and moved toward the woman in

"Didn't you hear what she

hand and turned to glare at him, her voice cold. "She's my mother. Even if she hits me or bites me, I'm still taking

mother was a living, breathing person-not an animal. She didn't belong