Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 430

Briony needed to break free from Stewart, but if the price of freedom was becoming a murderer, that was simply too high a cost.

That's why James silently hoped Stewart would come out of this unscathed.

Briony deserved a life untainted by Stewart's shadow.

Two people who were never meant to stay together-after the divorce, they could each go their separate ways, find their own peace.

That was the best ending anyone could hope for.

...

Stewart sat beside Briony, watching her, but she never looked up, her attention fixed on her phone.

Nearby, a young couple had just received their marriage certificate. The woman, beaming, linked arms with her new husband, chattering about where they should go for dinner that night.

The man smiled and told her he'd already booked a hotel-two days and one night of a romantic getaway, just for the two of them.

Hearing this, the woman's face lit up with delight. She held his arm tighter, her laughter ringing with pure, sweet happiness.

Stewart couldn't help but be pulled back to nine years ago, to the day he and Briony registered their marriage.

That day, after they signed the papers, he had to rush to court, so he gave her the code to his house, told her to move into Southcreek Manor on her own.

By the time he finished work and came home, it was already past midnight.

He hadn't expected to find Briony asleep on the sofa, a modest dinner-four dishes and a soup-laid out on the table.

When Briony woke and saw him, the first thing she asked was, "Have you eaten?"

She was only twenty-one then, her face still soft with youth, her wide eyes searching his face with a hint of nervousness.

In that moment, he found her almost painfully sincere. Even though he'd already eaten, he lied and said he hadn't.

moment she heard he hadn't eaten yet, she sprang into action, reheating all the

wasn't particularly good; there was even a bit of eggshell in the scrambled

realized, far too late, that when he married Briony, she was still just a girl-she didn't even

as he picked at the awkward meal, he caught sight

a little then, but the feeling was quickly shattered by a

gone upstairs to tend to

meal. She turned their house into a warm, inviting home for

noticed the

built with five years of her

the one

closed his eyes, Adam's apple bobbing as he

sharp and unrelenting, creasing his brow with

understood-he was

with that realization, Stewart knew:

automated voice called

It was their turn.

walked toward the

a slow, steady breath, and stood. His tall frame wavered for a moment, but he

nearly rushed

balance and join Briony at the counter,

divorce agreement, court documents, and both IDs ready, the process moved

certificates, and handed

One

the words "Divorce Certificate." At last,

and walked straight for the

Stewart rose as

Briony didn't look back.

her now. Struggling to stay

Carl.