Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

"It's only about control, isn't it?" Briony stared at him. "But it can't be cured, right?"

Ferdinand pressed his lips together, silent.

"Forget it." Briony lifted a hand to rub her aching temples. "I'd like some water."

"Of course."

Ferdinand immediately got up to fetch her a glass.

He held the water in one hand, and with the other, carefully helped Briony sit up, propping her gently against his chest.

Briony didn't want to lean on him, but she simply didn't have the strength to resist.

Worried she might choke, Ferdinand had even brought her a straw.

She took a few slow sips, and finally the dryness in her throat eased a bit.

"I'd like some soup," she said quietly.

An appetite-any appetite-was a good sign.

Ferdinand eased her back onto the bed and set the glass on the nightstand. "I'II ask Belinda to make you some broth."

"Ferdinand, I want to go outside for a walk."

"You're still recovering. It's not wise to go out in this weather."

Briony replied, her tone calm as she met his

room. Take a walk, window shop-anything. I just don't want to be shut away in here all

his expression unreadable. "It's not

have much time left. Are you really going

pressed into a thin

looked at Briony, and she saw the

while. My sudden illness is probably connected to what you did to

hand, hanging at his side, clenched

whatever words he meant to say, he couldn't get them

I came back, you

see you, but you asked if I'd taken any other medication. That's when I realized

take anything?"

Briony replied, locking eyes with him.

mother had leukemia."

Ferdinand looked startled.

but medicine says maternal genes can have a impact. Maybe

and your so-called monot

You're a doctor-you know how sometimes the

like she

told her she wasn't innocent, that it was saving him all those years ago which

by that same logic, Briony thought, her illness now was because of

a kind of

that game, so

now, she was gambling on his