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

studied her, his expression unreadable. "It's not

voice resolute. "Maybe I don't have much time left. Are you really going to deny me even this

lips pressed into a thin

she saw the conflict in his eyes-alongside something

his gaze, then gave a crooked half-smile. "Ferdinand, I've known for a while. My sudden illness is probably connected

hanging at his side, clenched into

words he meant to say, he

day I came

see you, but you asked if I'd taken any other medication.

take anything?"

replied, locking eyes with him. "But you seem to have

mother had leukemia."

Ferdinand looked startled.

exactly hereditary, but medicine says maternal genes can have a impact.

and your so-called monot

a doctor-you know how sometimes

tone was light, almost like she

wasn't innocent, that it was saving him all those years

that same logic, Briony thought, her illness now was because of what Ferdinand had

a kind of

play that game, so

on his