Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

After that day, Briony grew even more withdrawn.

Back when Autumn was looking after her, Briony would at least chat a little. Now, she barely spoke at all.

Sometimes she'd lie in bed, awake but silent. Other times, she'd just sit there, "looking" out the window, listening to the sound of the waves, lost in thought.

Both Autumn and Blair noticed something was wrong.

Autumn tried to engage her, searching for topics to draw her out, but Briony always seemed distracted, her answers scattered and unrelated.

Blair knew deep down that it was his secrecy that had shattered the last bit of trust and safety Briony felt.

He tried talking to her.

But Briony simply wouldn't respond.

She shut herself off more and more.

At first, she'd just avoid conversation. Then, gradually, she slipped into a pattern

of sleeping through day and night.

Blair realized she was spiraling.

After some inner struggle, he finally gave in.

This morning, as Briony woke, Blair walked in with her breakfast.

"You're awake, perfect timing for breakfast."

Briony said nothing.

Blair sat beside her, scooping up some warm porridge from the bowl and holding the spoon to her lips.

She didn't open her mouth.

you've had something, you can

paused, caught off

as her eyes stung with sudden

with tears, his own voice tightening. "I won't lie

didn't answer, but she parted her lips just

the warm, comforting porridge slipped

Almost immediately, she frowned.

"What's wrong?" Blair asked.

said quietly, "Give me

obliged, feeding her

taste, Briony

her lips together, silent for a long moment

taste anything."

Blair froze.

sugar," he

don't taste anything

all?"

"It seems

refused to

a

it for over an hour

yet, she tasted

Briony, eyes reddening at the

her sight, now

earth had

taste, I can still eat," Briony said, her tone oddly calm. Let me

afterward." Content belo, Let

fighting to keep

composure, scooped up another

and fed her.