Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 465

In the hospital stairwell, Cedric Clarke's voice was heavy. "You're using Mario to force her, Stewart. That's just cruel. Can't you try another way? Stop using Mario as leverage, will you? I get that you want to prepare him for the future-I support that. But this is too much. And for God's sake, do you really have to keep making Lorna play the wicked stepmother in front of her? Are you trying to kill her?"

Stewart was silent on the other end of the line.

Cedric waited for what felt like forever, but Stewart didn't say a word.

He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Stewart, is this really it? There's nothing

I can say to change your mind?"

"It's gone too far. I can't turn back now."

"I don't feel sorry for you!" Cedric snapped, his frustration and concern bleeding through. "You deserve this! If you were headed down this road, Stewart, you should never have dragged Briony into it in the first place!"

"I'm trying to make up for it."

"Make up for it, my ass!" Cedric's anger barely masked his pain. "James and the others were right. Briony's life wouldn't be this miserable if she'd never met you."

"I'll take care of everything," Stewart replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I know it'll be hard for her. But she has the kid—and I know she'll push through for his sake."

"Get out of here!" Cedric couldn't take it anymore, even as a man himself. "What, you think you can just be heartless because your time's almost up? Let me tell you, she's still young. When you're gone, she'll take your money and your kid and marry someone younger and healthier. Then that man will spend your fortune, and your son will call him dad."

All Stewart gave in response was a muffled, harsh cough.

Then the line went dead.

Cedric raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, turned, and walked out of the stairwell-only to almost run straight into someone.

James.

"Who were you just talking to?" James eyed Cedric, studying him. "Was it Stewart?"

Cedric glanced back at the closed stairwell door, guilt flickering in his eyes. "You heard that?"

"I only caught something about finding someone to marry, and your kid calling someone else dad."

"Oh, that," Cedric sighed. "No, it wasn't Stewart. It was another friend-he's going through a messy divorce. I was trying to talk him down."

James stared at him, expression unreadable.

are you looking at me

Dr. Clarke. Divorce after divorce-should I be worried

funny. My wife and I are just

changed the subject. "So, what brings you

paused. "I wanted to

shrugged. "Honestly? I don't get him either. His way of thinking

really don't know?" James narrowed

added, "But if you ask me,

little Mario. He wants him

Wentworth Group-is

most important company or something?" James scoffed. Come on, Dr. Clarke, you were born into privilege yourself. Tell me, at what age did the Clarke family start putting you through

Cedric had no answer.

family was

brothers working together, managing the Clarke Group as a team. That's how it had

Clarke Group had thrived in Northborough, generation after generation, stable and

the Wentworth

soured, and factions split the company. Then Fred died in that plane crash, leaving Fiona and a young Stewart to hold on

first on this website. Come back

was heavy. "You're using Mario to force her, Stewart. That's just cruel. Can't you try another way? Stop using Mario as leverage, will you? I get that you want to prepare him for the future-I support that. But this is too much. And for God's sake, do you really have to keep making

the other end

felt like forever, but Stewart didn't

face and sighed.

to

I can't turn back

this! If you were

to make up for

Cedric's anger barely masked his pain. "James and the others were right. Briony's life wouldn't be this miserable if

be hard for her. But she has the

be heartless because your time's almost up? Let me tell you, she's still young. When you're

gave in response

line went

and walked out of the stairwell-only to almost

James.