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?"

"Ms. Riley, when I choose a wife, I expect her to come from a comparable background. You think just a

come with a dowry? When Stewart and I got engaged, he transferred five percent of The Wentworth Group's shares to me. If you marry me, I'll consider signing them over. Of course, you'll still need to compensate

knew just how valuable five percent of The

Barrie's lips curled. "Deal."

he caught her chin, crushing his mouth to her

seven are dull, eight

froze, an irritated scowl settling on his

his shoulder. "Sorry, duty

his glasses as she sat up and answered the phone right in front of him. "Dr.

private room to hear. "Where are

unfazed. "I'm at a friend's birthday party. Stewart was fine when I

clearly annoyed, "Get back here now. He might need to go

I'm on my

hung up, her worried expression instantly

a doctor. What's the point of me rushing back? The man falls apart if I'm gone

she glanced at Barrie. "Mr. Lockwood, I have to