Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 318

Briony nodded, her voice soft. "I just need a moment. I'll be right in."

Ferdinand could more or less guess this had something to do with Stewart. But he didn't pry; this was Briony's private business, and if she needed to talk, she would. Since she didn't, he simply respected her wishes and left it alone.

Once he was sure she was all right, Ferdinand headed back inside, leaving Briony outside to collect herself.

Five minutes later, Briony pushed open the glass door and stepped into the living

room.

On the couch, Julia was clutching Little Nina, smothering her with kisses. The little girl, trapped in her grandmother's enthusiastic embrace, wore an expression of pure resignation-her bright eyes silently pleading for rescue.

When she spotted her mother, Little Nina blinked twice.

Watching them, Briony suddenly remembered a meme she'd seen online: "If you're being held against your will, blink twice." She couldn't help but laugh.

"Mom, you're laughing!" Little Nina protested, frowning. "Come save me! Grandma's hugging me so tight I can barely breathe!"

You couldn't really blame Julia for her outpouring of affection-Little Nina was the spitting image of Briony at that age.

In her confused state, Julia took one look at Little Nina and immediately decided she was her own 'Bryn'.

"My Bryn! My sweet Bryn!" Julia cooed, refusing to let go, repeating the name between kisses.

Little Nina, mature beyond her years, didn't struggle or complain. Instead, she just looked imploringly at Briony, her brow furrowed as if to say, "A little help here?"

Briony sat down beside her mother, speaking gently. "Mom, could you loosen up a little? You're squeezing Little Nina too hard-she's uncomfortable."

Julia shook her head, clutching Little Nina tighter. "Bryn... She's mine... My Bryn..."

trying to steal the child from

shook her head in disbelief. "Well, that's a new

helpless. She could only prompt Little Nina to try

smart. With just a nudge from Briony, she caught on

can't breathe!" Little Nina cried

Julia froze.

her mother a gentle reminder, "Mom, you're holding

at the child in

Nina, ever the actress, squeezed out a couple

her tears with the edge of her sleeve.

was red from all the rubbing, but

for her daughter

a cartoon on TV that saved

playing on the screen, Little

side, big and small, utterly

out onto the

signs of improvement, but to truly recover, she'd need a professional's care-someone

uncle, a renowned physician who had retired to the countryside to cultivate

no reservations. "You handle it. I'm fine with whatever

have to go out to the

"I'm worried she might not adjust to

why I'll have my uncle come here first, let him spend a few days getting to know Mrs. Hudson. Once she's comfortable, then they can head

and daughter, side by

her lips together and drew a steadying breath.

drowsy and started

her to