Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Barrie glanced at Lorna. "Besides that plot in the Northern Suburbs, does Stewart have any other plans?"

Lorna swirled her wine glass, considering. "Well, he bought himself a prime burial plot. Does that count?"

Barrie raised an eyebrow. "He's not even aiming for the Wentworth family mausoleum?"

"Oh, please!" Lorna rolled her eyes. "Fred's ready to strike Fiona Clarke from the family record and do whatever it takes to pull Stewart down for some illegitimate child. You really think, after Stewart's gone, Fred would ever let him be buried with the Wentworths? Even if Fred did, do you think proud Stewart would want that for himself?"

Barrie chuckled, clearly brightening. "Who'd have thought Stewart would end up like this?"

"Alright, enough about him." Lorna set her glass aside, perched herself beside Barrie, and hooked a finger around his tie. "Mr. Lockwood, I've told you everything you wanted to know. Now, shouldn't we discuss our own arrangement?"

Barrie's hand slid around her waist, pulling her down onto the couch. "How would Ms. Riley like to negotiate?"

She leaned in, lips brushing his ear. "I'll help you snag that land in the Northern Suburbs. In return, once Stewart's gone, you marry me. I'll become Mrs. Lockwood. Don't worry, I'm not asking you to play the faithful husband for my sake. As long as the money keeps coming, I won't care what or who-you do on the side. Hell, I'd even look after one of your mistresses if you wanted. Sound fair?"

A sly glint flickered behind Barrie's glasses. "Ms. Riley, you're quite the pragmatist."

"I just know how this world works. Show me a rich couple who doesn't have their own arrangement." Lorna grinned, shameless. "I'm an orphan with no family. I don't need emotional fairytales. I want a title and more money than I can spend. Stewart can't give me that anymore. So, what do you say, Mr. Lockwood? Ready to take me on?"

from a comparable background. You think just a

her lips brushing his ear as her voice dropped to a sultry whisper. "What if I come with a dowry? When Stewart and I got engaged, he transferred five percent of

the business world knew just how valuable five percent of The Wentworth

Barrie's lips curled. "Deal."

than he caught her chin, crushing his mouth

split the air: "Ten men, seven are dull, eight are fools, nine

froze, an irritated scowl settling on his

his shoulder. "Sorry, duty calls. Let

glasses as she sat up and answered the phone right in front of

room to hear. "Where are you? Do you know Stewart's coughing up blood

birthday party. Stewart was fine when I left -what

now. He might

I'm on

expression instantly dissolving into

of me rushing back? The man falls apart if I'm

Lockwood,