Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

"Yeah, little Mario's here, so I'll stay. That way, both kids can see their parents whenever they want."

"You're always thinking about the kids," Stella said with a sigh. "I don't know if it's because Aster's still so little, but honestly, I don't really feel much sense of responsibility toward him... Lately, I've even had this crazy urge to just stop breastfeeding altogether. Bryn, I really don't want to be a stay-at-home mom."

"Breastfeeding is always tough on mothers," Briony said gently.

"It's not even about whether it's tough or not." Stella shook her head. "Aside from feeding Aster and occasionally cuddling or playing with him, everything else gets handled by the nanny or Cedric Clarke. Since Aster was born, I haven't even changed a single diaper myself. If you asked me to do it now, I probably wouldn't even know where to start."

"Dr. Clarke is a pretty great dad," Briony said, tapping Stella on the forehead. "So don't be so hard on him all the time. I can tell you care about him. Just because he adores you doesn't mean you can always take it out on him."

"He deserves it!" Stella retorted, stubborn as ever. "Even if I do like him, it's just dating. Who said anything about marrying him? He totally took advantage of my amnesia and teamed up with my mother to sell me off!"

"How did this suddenly become Mrs. Joyner's fault?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Stella shot back, her irritation plainly rising. "You have no idea-ever since I got married and pregnant, my mom's had her nose in everything. During the worst of my morning sickness, nothing tasted right except for street food, but she wouldn't let me have any. Cedric Clarke didn't stop her, either-sometimes he'd sneak me out for a treat when she wasn't looking, but she'd always find out. Then she'd lecture me about being irresponsible, about how a mother should know better and avoid junk food for the baby's sake. And if I ever talked back, she'd start in on how hard her pregnancy was with me, how much she suffered..."

I keep going, I'll work myself up and lose my milk

cares too much," Briony said softly. "You're her only daughter, and after what happened before, I think she's genuinely I scared. So she's a little overbearing now, but it

it!" Stella rolled onto her side, propping her head up with her arm as she looked at Briony. "Bryn, when I'm with Aster, I still feel like a kid myself. Why

all. It's exhausting! Do you think I'm just

exactly how

married mother in such a

Stella was anxious and moody, even questioning her

Briony remembered something her

once said. After

thought, she

of

is

you're

a big

just that you're cooped up at home all day, with such