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.

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

good; there was even a bit of eggshell

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

picked at the awkward meal, he caught

little then, but the feeling was

had already gone upstairs to tend

with every meal. She turned their house into a

never noticed

granted was something Briony had built with five years of her youth-day by

he was the one

apple bobbing as he

chest spread, sharp and unrelenting, creasing his brow with every

the first time, he truly understood-he was the one who'd

with that realization, Stewart knew: their marriage

automated voice

It was their turn.

walked toward the

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

Clarke nearly

seeing Stewart regain his balance and join Briony at the counter, Cedric let out a silent sigh

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

paperwork, stamped the certificates,

set. One

her certificate, staring at the words "Divorce Certificate." At last,

walked straight

Stewart rose as well.

Briony didn't look back.

her now. Struggling to stay upright, Stewart glanced

Carl.