Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Stewart carried a bowl of warm, nourishing soup upstairs.

Briony was sitting on the bed, video chatting with Little Nina and Little Mario. She'd draped a cardigan over her shoulders on purpose; you couldn't tell from the camera that she was in a hospital.

"When are you coming home, Mommy?" Little Nina asked, her small voice soft and sweet.

With her daughter's gentle face on the screen, Briony couldn't help but relax. Even her voice grew softer, melting around the words. "In a couple of days, honey. Mommy's been out of the country for a long time this time, and there's a mountain of things waiting at the studio. So I'll be pretty busy for the next few days."

Little Nina blinked, her eyes wide. "Is Daddy with you right now?"

Briony glanced instinctively at Stewart.

He came over, set the soup down on the bedside table, and sat beside her. Looking at their young daughter on the phone, his voice warm and calm, he said, "Daddy's here too."

"Whoa!" Little Nina covered her mouth, grinning mischievously. "Daddy and Mommy are together! Are you two hiding from us to have a secret date?"

Briony froze, caught off guard.

Stewart shot her a sidelong look.

He could see the awkwardness flicker in her eyes.

Turning back to the phone, Stewart patiently explained, "Daddy's job abroad ended, and the big company closed down. Now, Mommy's the big boss, and Daddy works for her. That's why Daddy's with Mommy every day."

"Huh?" Little Nina blinked, surprised. "So Mommy pays Daddy a salary?"

Stewart smiled faintly. "That's right. Since Mommy's the boss, she has to pay Daddy."

her hands, excited. "When I grow up, I want to be a big boss too, and hire lots and lots of really handsome guys like Daddy to work for me! Then I can see a bunch of handsome

Stewart: "..."

Briony: ".

11

exploded. "Little Nina! That's not the right way to think! Handsome guys are all trouble. It's dangerous to have so many around you. I

Nina turned to James, eyes bright. "But godfather, you're

James: "..."

isn't trouble at all. You're not just good- looking, you're really

am not! I'm Mommy's business partner. We're

winked, then started counting on her fingers. "Godfather, Daddy, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr. Maynard-you're all handsome, and you all work with Mommy! So why is it okay for

"Our daughter has a thing for good looks, but she's clever. I don't think we'll ever have to worry about her

Briony: "..."

was clearly no salvaging

ended

the bowl of soup. "I just made this. It's probably still hot, so

stared at the steaming

thick, just the right consistency, with a pearly

almost exactly like the soup she used

up at

his nose, looking a little

puzzled. "But I never taught you

she could barely hear.

Briony paused, realization dawning.

four years ago, when she

had started learning everything from scratch to care for Irwin Wentworth. That journal