Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

"I'm ready, Gifford. I'm sorry for all the trouble," Mary said, her head bowed, her voice trembling on the edge of tears.

She looked truly pitiful.

Gifford had never approved of Mary agreeing to be a surrogate for Ferdinand and Briony.

All these years working for Ferdinand, he'd only stayed out of gratitude.

Back then, he'd been tricked into a scam operation in Myanmar. When he tried to escape, he was caught and nearly beaten to death—until Ferdinand appeared and pulled him out of hell.

Ferdinand had promised him a life of luxury and security if he stayed loyal, vowing that his family would never want for anything again.

Given the choice between a brutal death and following Ferdinand, Gifford knew there was only one path for him.

He respected Ferdinand deeply; sometimes he even thought that if Ferdinand hadn't become obsessed with Briony, none of this mess would have happened.

Ferdinand had built his own little kingdom-maybe the world didn't recognize it, but it was enough for Ferdinand to live exactly as he pleased.

And now Mary was standing before him, caught up in the same web as Ferdinand.

They were both slaves to desires they couldn't control.

Gifford couldn't approve, but he was powerless to change any of it.

Seeing Mary so fragile and lost, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.

"Miss Mary, don't be afraid. Once we reach Switzerland, you'll be safe."

reassurance

nodded, still looking at the ground. "I trust Ferdinand. I just feel so useless-

it," Gifford replied. "Come on, let's get back to the

murmured her agreement and followed him. She'd barely taken a few steps when her ankle

"Ah-!"

and Gifford spun around, alarmed, just in time to see her hit

Mary, are you

and knelt to check her

in pain. "I stepped on a rock

"Let me see."

pulled her hand

ankle was already swollen and

"Can you

"It really hurts..."

Gifford scooped her up his arms and started back toward

the tall grass rustled

rifle emerged, its scope trained

a glimpse of movement in the

a

Bang!

eyes went wide. His body went rigid, frozen

Mary screamed, "Gifford!"

car, Briony and Ferdinand jolted at

Mary!" Briony exclaimed, reaching for the

"Let go of me!"