Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Ferdinand sat behind the wheel, blood trickling down his forehead.

Yet he was laughing a cold, hollow laugh that echoed with despair. "Bryn, be good. Come back. Take one more step, and I'll have no choice but to pull the trigger."

Briony met his gaze, unflinching.

The gun was pointed right at her; fear clawed at her chest-she'd have to be inhuman not to feel it.

But after coming this far, how could she possibly turn back now?

"I'm not going back, Ferdinand."

Slowly, Briony lifted her hands. She removed her veil, slipped off her earrings, tugged the necklace from her throat.

With the back of her hand, she wiped the lipstick from her lips, her steady eyes never leaving Ferdinand. "I'd rather die than be your bride."

Ferdinand stared at her, eyes bloodshot and wild.

"Bryn, you're breaking my heart."

Briony gave a small, determined smile, then turned away, walking forward without hesitation-

Bang!

A shot rang out. The bullet struck the earth at her feet.

She froze for a split second—a reflexive flinch in the face of danger.

But then, gathering her skirts, she pressed on, stepping through mud and puddles toward freedom-

Bang!

Another shot, splintering the trunk of a tree just inches from her.

Briony's face was set, almost serene, as if ready to meet death with open arms. She kept walking.

One step, two steps...

sodden and

fragile, retreating figure seemed so slight in the distance, yet there was nothing frail about

"BRIONY!"

roar, Ferdinand emptied the rest of the magazine—but not

snapped, tossing aside the gun and leaping from the

leave! If you have to die, then you'll die by

her gown and

pounding. Ferdinand thundered after her,

She was lost.

before her,

was always how her

mountain, but she had chosen the one

weather turned in an instant. The sky, clear only moments ago, darkened

leaves rustling furiously around

her long black hair streaming behind

took a step

the trees, shouting frantically, “Bryn, I'm

me go. Otherwise, I'll jump. It's

a gulf neither

down

soaked through, clung to her body,

She couldn't run anymore.

ending was

Ferdinand," Briony said, watching

could barely make out his

skin-she should have been freezing, but instead,

realized she was burning

her body wouldn't have lasted

Ferdinand's voice shook

uncontrollably. "Bryn, please, just

come back here. It's