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After that day, Briony grew even more withdrawn.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.

Blair coaxed. "Once you've had

paused, caught

nose tingled as her eyes stung with sudden

promise," Blair said, watching her eyes fill with tears, his own

answer, but she

spoonful of the warm, comforting porridge slipped into

Almost immediately, she frowned.

"What's wrong?" Blair asked.

then said quietly, "Give me another

feeding

taste, Briony

together, silent for a long moment before whispering,

taste anything."

Blair froze.

added sugar," he said,

don't taste anything

all?"

humorless smile. "It seems I've lost my

to believe

took a

soft, sweet-he'd simmered it for over an hour

she tasted

eyes reddening at the

sight,

earth had Ferdinand

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

afterward." Content belo, Let

Blair, fighting to

composure, scooped up another

and fed her.