Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 471

"Can I see your room, Mario?" Nina asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

Mario nodded. "Sure."

Carol smiled at the two of them. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

Hand in hand, Mario and Nina followed Carol up the staircase, giggling softly as they went.

Briony picked up the clothes she'd brought and was about to head after them when Lorna's voice stopped her.

"Ms. Kensington, could we have a word?"

Briony paused, turning to look at Lorna.

"Ms. Kensington, Mario is a bright, thoughtful child. I hope you won't let your own possessiveness hold him back from growing up the way he should."

A cool, measured smile flickered on Briony's lips. "If we're talking about possessiveness, Ms. Riley, you seem far more invested than I am."

Lorna's brow furrowed.

"I've already made everything clear to Stewart," Briony continued, her tone even. "If you think I'm out of line, take it up with him. From now on, Ms. Riley, you don't need to pretend we're getting along for appearances. I have no interest in your man, and you don't need to try and take my son."

With that, Briony turned away and started up the stairs, ignoring Lorna's tight- lipped silence.

Upstairs, laughter and playful shrieks drifted from the children's bedroom next to the master suite.

bounced on Mario's little bed. "Do you sleep here all by yourself at night?" Mario sat cross-legged, his

reads you bedtime

"Dad does."

mid-bounce, surprised. She crawled over and peered at him. "But your dad's so serious all the time. Are his stories any good? Isn't his voice too stiff? How do

expression earnest. "Dad has a nice

Nina scrunched up her nose, trying to imagine Stewart reading a story, but she just couldn't

never had a dad. Not even

“I didn't have

it and sighed. "I guess you've got it a little worse. Grown-ups always say kids without a mom don't get to drink real milk! Maybe that's

have milk!" Mario

had my mom's milk! So really, you're the

Mario was left speechless.

daughter's words, stifling a laugh mixed

at her out of the corner of his eye and stepped aside

like to take Mario with me today. I'll bring

Their eyes met.

the shopping bags in

toys inside, she added, "I'll leave the toys here. If you

sighing. "He hardly has time to

much point in continuing this conversation. Their perspectives had never really aligned-certainly not

her voice steady, "I just want Mario to know, in my own way, that wherever he is, his mom

his dark eyes fixed