Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Briony squeezed her hand, shaking her head at her like she was a silly girl.

Carey broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

When they left Starlight Entertainment, Stewart was the one driving.

Briony sat in the back, her body weak, leaning into the seat.

Stewart glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Are you feeling sick?"

Briony shook her head, gazing out the window at the passing city. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Stewart, I feel like I haven't really looked at this city in so long. Could you drive me around for a bit?"

Stewart's hands tightened almost imperceptibly on the steering wheel.

He lowered his lashes and answered softly, "Of course."

The black Bentley wound its way down the city boulevard.

They drove past the bustling heart of downtown, the streets painted in neon and laughter.

Then they slipped into the university district, lined with rows of golden-leaved trees.

The tires crunched over a carpet of fallen leaves, sending them swirling into the air-little sprites in golden cloaks, dancing on the autumn wind. The car's shadow stretched behind them, drifting farther and farther away, until those golden leaves fluttered back to earth.

A sparrow swooped down from a nearby branch, snatching up a leaf before taking off again.

Autumn had arrived. And with it, winter couldn't be far behind.

...

By the edge of Pearbrook, the black Bentley came to a stop.

The setting sun had painted the sky in brilliant crimson.

Inside the car, Briony sat with her eyes closed.

voice gentle as he called,

slowly opened

Pearbrook,"

down

the faint scent of blooming flowers-a fragrance that

where the last rays

her

door opened and

unbuckled and

flowering

petals drifting down in

ahead, Stewart quietly

breath grew heavier,

herself onto an empty

sat down beside her, unscrewed the top from

over.

the warm

handed the thermos back to

what you said, about wanting your ashes

Stewart froze.

look at

here forever," Briony said, offering him a faint smile. "If don't make it

energy. Somewhere that will protect our children, keep them safe and

Stewart's voice was strained, his throat tight, "don't

not around, I'll always feel like I let our children down. I want to do what I can to make it up to them. You've given us more than enough, I never have

a deeper breath, her voice dropping even

by so quickly. In the blink of an eye, the

"I remember, years ago, I stood right there and watched a woman playing with her little

her, lost

turned to

so much to watch them grow up, to see them find love, build their own