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...

her dress sodden and filthy. She was a mess, but her resolve

slight in the

"BRIONY!"

of the magazine—but not a single bullet

tossing aside the gun and leaping from

leave! If you have to die, then

her

her, heart pounding. Ferdinand thundered after her, but ahead of

She was lost.

at the abyss before her, Briony laughed

this was always how her story

many paths down the mountain, but she had chosen the

an instant. The sky, clear only

rustling furiously

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

a step

burst out of the trees, shouting frantically, “Bryn, I'm not chasing you

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

stood several paces apart, a gulf neither dared

down in

soaked through, clung to her body, heavy as

She couldn't run anymore.

this ending

Ferdinand," Briony said, watching him through

could barely make out his face

icy rain lashed her skin-she should have been freezing,

was burning

escape, her

Ferdinand's voice shook

uncontrollably. "Bryn, please, just

come back here. It's