Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Stella blinked in surprise, as if she could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"Bryn, it's strange," she said quietly. "Back when you were hopelessly in love with Stewart, I don't think you ever truly understood him. But now that you don't love him anymore, it's almost as if... you see him more clearly than ever."

Briony paused, caught off guard by the observation.

The living room was silent except for the low, bubbling sound of the kettle boiling in the kitchen.

No one picked up the thread of conversation again.

...

Upstairs at Southcreek Manor, in the master bedroom.

After the IV drip, Stewart's condition finally stabilized, though he remained unconscious.

Dr. Cedric Clarke packed away his medical kit and stepped out of the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind him.

Waiting in the hallway were Lorna, Carl, and Carol-all three watching Cedric with anxious expressions.

he's stable," he said, "but his illness is

still so young. Please, there must

prepare yourselves. I'm afraid... he may not make it through the summer." The words weighed on him-he hated to admit it, but

late July. The kids' summer break was already halfway

by the

hints of autumn

meant Stewart likely had

everyone

for Stewart long, but it was obvious to her how much he loved

little Mario and Nina soon losing their father, Carol

their dad, hardly enough time to build

choked out, "Little Mario said just the other day that when winter comes, he wants to build snowmen and

words landed like a punch in

her, her tone grave. "Carol, you mustn't let Mario know how sick

to

the full extent of Stewart's illness yet not even the kids." She couldn't bring herself to say more; Stewart's sudden decline meant their time was running out faster than

you say," Carol promised, not fully understanding the stakes. She assumed Stewart just didn't want Briony

Cedric. "When will Stewart wake