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."

her tone calm as she met his

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

"It's not as safe here as back

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

into a

and she saw the conflict in his eyes-alongside something

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

his side, clenched into

bobbed, but whatever words he meant to

day I came

You reacted so strangely. I couldn't see you, but you asked if I'd taken any other medication. That's when

take

with him. "But you seem to

mother had leukemia."

Ferdinand looked startled.

Cancer isn't exactly hereditary, but medicine says maternal genes

and your so-called monot

not. You're a doctor-you know how sometimes

tone was light, almost like she

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

now was

this just a kind of

could play that game, so

she was gambling on his