Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

"I'll be heading out, so try to get some rest."

Briony gave her a nod. "Alright."

Cedric Clarke came downstairs and made a beeline for the kitchen, looking for Stewart.

Stewart was standing by the stove, simmering a pot of soup. He wore dark jeans and a plain white T-shirt, a fresh bandage still wrapped around one forearm. Even from behind-broad shoulders, trim waist-he made quite a striking figure.

Cedric clicked his tongue in mock admiration, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorway. Watching Stewart fuss over the soup, he couldn't help but marvel, "If this isn't a total transformation, I don't know what is!"

Stewart glanced over his shoulder. "You saw Bryn?"

"Yeah." Cedric crossed the room. "Gave her the report. She seems to be holding up alright, honestly. I get the sense her attitude's still pretty positive."

Stewart's gaze stayed on the bubbling pot. "She's resigned herself to it. For the baby's sake, she'll cooperate with any treatment, even if there's only a sliver of hope. But if things don't work out, she's already made peace with it."

Cedric let out a laugh. "What, did you take a secret night class? 'How to Read Your Ex-Wife'?"

Stewart shot him a sidelong look.

Cedric clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "Seriously, man, seeing you like this -I'm honestly happy for you. Sure, you lost the wife, but at least you've got two healthy kids."

stirred the soup, not looking up. "Your wife hasn't left. You could still

stars in her eyes. Me and our son

of frustration and glanced over. "Did you

been getting the cold shoulder,

Stewart said nothing.

out a theatrical sigh. "Here I am, banished to the guest room, and I

Stewart: "..."

the kitchen. She recognized Cedric's voice

voice carried into the

my mother-in-law's right. My

for anything she's always been protected, spoiled even. We all cater to her, and she just sees it asus holding her back. The

out a long, weary sigh.

the only one trying.

things don't go her way, she starts talking about splitting

parted, then slowly pressed

landed with a dull ache

how Cedric sees things. So this is how he's always seen

across Stella's face. She drew a slow breath, turned,

man in the kitchen realized Stella had