Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 307

"My mom's calling me!"

Briony shot to her feet, ready to rush over, but Ferdinand reached out and caught her by the wrist just in time.

It was a mild season in the old town, and Briony wore only a short-sleeved shirt. Ferdinand's hand was warm and dry against her skin.

She paused, gaze dropping to his hand on her wrist-long, slender fingers, knuckles sharply defined.

Noticing her glance, Ferdinand quickly let go. "Sorry. I just wanted to tell you- don't go over yet."

Briony barely noticed, her mind wholly on her mother. "I'm worried she'll panic if she can't find me."

"Let's wait and watch a bit," Ferdinand said gently. "Give her a moment to respond on her own."

Briony understood at once. She pressed her lips together and nodded.

The bedroom door opened. Julia stepped out into the hallway.

Briony's eyes locked onto her mother.

"Bryn..."

Julia's gaze swept the living room, immediately catching sight of the new year's garlands strung across the mantel. She glanced around, her eyes soon landing on the frosted floral decals clinging to the glass doors.

"Bryn, Bryn..."

She walked to the patio doors, pressing her palm to the glass, eyes darting nervously about.

noticed Briony and Ferdinand, a flash of panic crossed her

was obvious-she

flicker of hope in Briony's chest faded as quickly

shift in her mood and spoke softly, "You've done well. Turning the house into a mirror of your childhood home-when Mrs. Hudson woke up to these familiar surroundings, even if she couldn't consciously remember, it must have made her

her mother's tentative, searching movements and realized he was right. Compared

"Bryn..."

glass, whispering Briony's name over and over. Briony started toward her, moving

episode, you need to step back right

forward, her voice gentle and coaxing. "Mom, look at me. I'm

turning

She frowned, uncertainty and fear still

"It's me, Mom."

wary and confused,

repeating "Bryn" faster and faster,

up immediately. "Stop there. Give her a moment—let her

halted a few paces away, watching her

stared back, not

"Bryn..." she murmured. "Bryn...year..."

window

down her cheeks as she nodded hard, her voice choked. "Yes, I'm

Briony's tears. Tilting her head, she reached up, awkwardly touching the tears on Briony's face. "Bryn...cry...don't

broke down

more she wiped, the more Briony cried, and soon Julia grew anxious herself, her face crumpling

this time, her tears were different-no longer the frantic, panicked cries of before. She seemed like a lost child, helplessly trying to comfort Briony while wiping away

Bryn.

gently rubbing her back. "It's okay, Mom. I'm