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 gaze.

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

unreadable. "It's not as safe

someone come with me," Briony said, her voice resolute. "Maybe I don't have much time left. Are you

pressed into a

she saw the conflict in

half-smile. "Ferdinand, I've known for a while.

hand, hanging at his side, clenched into

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

day I came back,

so strangely. I couldn't see you, but you asked if I'd taken any other

take anything?"

replied, locking eyes with him. "But you

mother had leukemia."

Ferdinand looked startled.

isn't exactly hereditary, but medicine says maternal genes can have a impact. Maybe I was always

and your so-called monot

doctor-you know how sometimes the smallest chance can lead to

almost like

it was saving him all those years ago

logic, Briony thought, her illness now was because of what Ferdinand had done to

just a kind of moral

play that game,

gambling on his