Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Briony's Saturday was nothing if not productive.

She started her day stopping by to check on the renovations at her new house, then headed over to her studio.

Since she'd come back to Northborough, old clients had begun to turn up again— most of them seeking her out personally.

Restoring artifacts was Briony's true passion; even though she now ran Starlight Entertainment single-handedly, she still prioritized the studio above all else.

The building now belonged to her outright. With the studio's business expanding, Briony was already planning ahead: once the lease upstairs expired after the New Year, she'd reclaim that floor and convert it into a gallery.

But not a traditional one. She wanted to combine it with a training center, focusing on outreach-offering art education to people with special needs.

It was a dream she'd carried for years.

Little Mario had almost been diagnosed with autism, and the experience left a deep impression on her. Her son had been lucky, but she knew many children didn't have the same good fortune.

She understood her own abilities were limited, but with the opportunities and resources at her disposal, she felt compelled to do what she could-however much or little that might be.

Motherhood had only deepened Briony's belief that good deeds matter, and that by helping others, she was in some small way blessing her own two children.

Just last week, the excavation team had unearthed several new artifacts-all porcelain-which Carney promptly delivered to the studio for her and James Delaney to restore.

grown to match her

worked late into the night. With James as her partner,

three in the afternoon, Briony got a

the stuntwoman she'd met on

to meet downstairs at

she'd been a celebrated star in Riverview's action films—a professional through

the

for TV. The only reason

always excelled at martial arts, but her exaggerated stage presence never translated

Briony first took over Starlight Entertainment,

Bill, after reviewing Crystal's previous performances abroad, just shook

themselves; for someone like Crystal,

admired Crystal's perseverance. Five years in the business-that had

spoken to

her arms around her. "Boss, I'll always be loyal to the little lady-please,

only laugh. Once she was sure Crystal had no more ambitions in showbiz, she actually felt relieved-she wouldn't need to find someone

once been. In the café, she sat across from Briony, eyes dull and rimmed red. She must have

admires you. She trained for years to become an action star like you-even

"That