Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 488

Briony bent down and zipped up the little yellow duck backpack. "From the kids' perspective, of course I want them to have both their parents. If Stewart truly cherishes them, he'll take care of himself."

She looked up at James, her voice soft, her tone calm. "I've never thought I mattered much to Stewart. Maybe we shared five years as husband and wife, but it was never love. Stewart never loved me, and I'll never love him again."

James watched her, his hand tightening at his side.

He pressed his lips together, wrestling with himself.

He wanted to say, Bryn, you're wrong. Stewart might love you more than you know. He's probably still hopelessly in love with you.

But how could he say that? To confess the feelings of his rival in love? Even if James couldn't fight and claw for her, he certainly couldn't step aside and play matchmaker for Stewart.

So he let it go. If he could be her knight, standing quietly at her side for the rest of his life—even if only as family—that would be enough.

...

Briony and James came downstairs together.

"Is there enough room for the car seats?" Briony asked, glancing at Stewart.

"I installed an extra one before I came," Stewart replied, meeting her eyes. "I'll take good care of them. Both of them."

It was a promise, spoken as a father to the mother of his children.

Briony simply nodded, then stepped over to say goodbye to the kids.

Little Nina's

children into their car seats, making sure they were safely

waved goodbye from inside the car, their faces

heart caught in

Briony one last look, his lips pressed tight. After a moment, he finally

didn't look at

lowered his gaze, climbed into the car, and shut the

life, turned around, and

into the darkness before she finally closed her eyes,

watched her, worry etched on his face. "Are

eyes and shook her head gently. "I'll have to get used to it." Just two days

this world no one is worth you sacrificing your happiness for-except

within yourself. No one else can

hurt. These days, I keep dreaming something bad happens to them at my ex-husband's house. Is there something wrong with

ball into her

did Briony notice the deep crescent marks her nails had left in her skin. Just thinking about those dreams had pushed

she squeezed the stress ball, the therapist's

Every day they grow is just one step closer

love' or 'a mother's duty.' But if you peel all that away, maybe it's just our own

You're a mother,

but don't make

entire world. You need to learn to

draw strength from you as