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...

into the muddy ground, her dress sodden and

slight in the distance, yet there was nothing

"BRIONY!"

roar, Ferdinand emptied the rest of the

aside the gun and leaping from the

you have to die,

her gown and

woods, branches tearing at her, heart pounding. Ferdinand thundered

She was lost.

before

this was always how her

mountain, but

The sky, clear only moments ago, darkened with roiling

leaves rustling

at the cliff's edge, her long black hair streaming

took a

“Bryn, I'm not chasing you anymore! Please, just

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

paces apart, a gulf neither dared

poured down in

wedding dress, soaked through, clung to her

She couldn't run anymore.

ending

Briony said, watching him through

out his face through the

rain lashed her skin-she should have been freezing, but instead, the cold felt almost

she was burning

escape, her body

Ferdinand's voice shook

uncontrollably. "Bryn, please, just

come back here. It's