Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 457

Once they stepped out of the ballroom, James immediately let go of her hand.

He tugged off his bow tie with a dramatic sigh.

"God, I'll never get used to dressing up like this. That bow tie was strangling me, you know?"

Briony looked at him with a fond smile, the way one might look at a younger brother.

"You reacted pretty quickly back there."

She'd only claimed James was her boyfriend on a whim, mostly because Barrie's gaze had become far too predatory for comfort.

"That Barrie guy is trouble, you could tell right away!" James scoffed, "I noticed the way he was looking at you even when you were giving your speech! Guy's a total creep. What, does he think those glasses hide what he really is? Please."

He added, almost spitting the words, "Honestly, the whole Lockwood family gives me the creeps."

Briony nodded in agreement.

"I was just surprised he knows Joe," she said, her expression turning serious. "I need to find some time to ask Joe how they met."

"Definitely," James said. "And you should warn him—not to get involved with Barrie, business or otherwise."

Briony nodded again.

They walked toward the elevators together.

It was late, and they'd already booked rooms upstairs; they planned to stay the night and head back to Northborough in the morning.

Briony stepped in first, James following

Stewart left the ballroom, the

after him, grabbing his

with you? Barrie's still here. Get

the closed elevator, his

"She's with James now..."

low. "Mr. Delaney's been at her side for over four years. Now she's divorced, it's only natural

to fold in on himself, shoulders slumping as if

despair seemed to drain the life out of

eyes at

come on, I was kidding. They booked

look

just rolled

to haunt Briony from beyond the

pressed his lips together, silent. His

shook her head. "You're worse than a ghost that just

don't

said, voice hoarse, eyes

with another

can't control myself." But

and

Lorna tugged his arm. "I dropped a multimillion-dollar deal overseas to come back here, I'm

steadying breath

he opened his eyes again, they were cold

her usual role, looping her arm through his