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.

frowned, feigning confusion. "Why are you looking at me like

like all your friends have questionable character, Dr. Clarke. Divorce after divorce-should I

"Very funny. My wife and I are just fine, thank you."

the subject. "So, what brings

"I wanted to ask-what's

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

don't know?" James narrowed

"But if you ask me, Stewart has

Mario. He wants him

Group-is

were born into privilege yourself. Tell me, at what age did the

Cedric had no answer.

Clarke family was

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

Northborough, generation after generation, stable

the Wentworth family?

and Fiona's marriage had soured, and factions split the company. Then Fred died in that plane crash,

this

get that you want to prepare him for

silent on the other end of the

what felt like forever, but Stewart didn't say

his face and sighed. "Stewart, is this really

to change your

gone too far. I can't turn

his frustration and concern bleeding through. "You deserve this! If you were headed down this road, Stewart, you should never have

trying to make up for

the others were right. Briony's life wouldn't be

of everything," Stewart replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I know it'll be hard

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

Stewart gave in response

line went

hair in frustration, turned, and walked out of the stairwell-only to

James.