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.

curled in on itself. She wore tattered clothes, her hair tangled and matted with straw. Her face was

as if struck by lightning.

forward, but

She doesn't recognize anyone. Don't get too

eyes. She looked at Farrah desperately. "She's

to take her away. But she's strong. Over these four years, she hasn't let anyone near

trembled. "Why? Why is she like

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

finally found her in the barn, clutching a pile of straw and talking to herself. It took all my patience to coax her back inside.

the more hopeless she

all

had lost her

living in

and moved toward the woman

what she said? Mrs. Hudson isn't herself. She could hurt

turned to glare at him, her voice cold. "She's my

person-not an animal. She didn't