Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

January 10th. The snow in Northborough, which had been falling nonstop for over two weeks, finally let up.

The city lay blanketed in white, and the air brimmed with the anticipation of the holidays.

The doctor had good news-Briony was finally ready to leave isolation.

The bone marrow transplant had been a resounding success. Throughout the entire treatment, Briony had shown incredible strength, cooperating wholeheartedly with the doctors and nurses. The results were even better than anyone had hoped.

She'd managed to avoid all the typical complications leukemia patients usually faced.

Cedric Clarke and the team of specialists were both relieved and amazed.

At ten o'clock that morning, Briony officially left the isolation ward. A nurse wheeled her across the snowy courtyard to the small recovery wing.

She still needed several more weeks of careful observation and rehabilitation in the annex, but if all went well, she'd be discharged in time to spend New Year's Eve at home with her family and friends.

Her loved ones had gathered in the small building, waiting for her with barely contained excitement.

After more than twenty days apart, seeing each other again felt utterly surreal.

Briony was still thin, and her skin had darkened a little—a minor side effect from the transplant, which would fade in time. Her once waist-length hair had been cut to her collarbone, and she wore a black knit hat pulled low over her ears.

Stella was the first to rush over, throwing her arms around Briony with tears streaming down her face. "I told you, Bryn! Good people like you-God just has to watch over them."

"Come

the rest of them

the men

had all waited for this day

of sunlight broke through the thick winter clouds, illuminating the

all they'd been through, it felt as if even the heavens

"Mommy!"

"Mommy!"

two young children called

cradling their daughter. The three of them made their way across the snowy ground, leaving

aside,

came forward and put a reassuring

into her husband's embrace. These days, they were more used to arguments than peaceful moments like

everything-pain, fear, separation-the family of four was

of the moment. No

stopped in front of Briony, his dark eyes searching her

isolation, family members were allowed to visit,

She'd slept through much of her treatment, too exhausted to eat or speak, though thankfully she'd been spared

complications.

Stewart could do nothing but watch her sleep, alone and pale in her