Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Briony closed her book, her voice soft and gentle. "Maybe I slept too much during the day. I just can't seem to fall asleep now."

Stewart stepped inside, quietly shutting the bedroom door behind him.

"Do you want some water?"

"No, thank you."

He paused, then asked, "Are you hungry?"

Briony met his gaze. "I'm not."

Stewart pressed his lips together, standing at the edge of the bed.

For a few moments, they simply looked at each other, silence settling between them-a quiet, delicate tension in the air.

Briony smiled, just a little. "Stewart, if you're not tired, why don't you sit and talk with me for a while?"

Stewart looked slightly surprised.

Briony was never one to start a conversation with him without a reason.

He pulled a chair over and sat by the bed.

"Have you started another business lately?"

Stewart hesitated before responding. "How did you know?"

"I overheard you on the phone a few days ago. You mentioned something about a bid."

He saw no point in hiding it from her. She'd find out soon enough anyway.

a business partner. The company won't officially launch until

starting a business is always

serious. “That's for you and the kids. Keep it safe. You don't

it temporarily," Briony insisted. "Technically, you're still here. Those assets should be yours until the kids come of age. Then

a thin line. "Are you trying to

caught Briony off

afraid I'll make things messy for

gaze,

was, she wasn't worried about

these past weeks. After everything I've been through, I see things differently now. You've taken care of me-gone above and beyond. If I still called that meddling, I'd be unfair. Besides, we already agreed-for the kids' sake, we'd stay friends, maybe even something like

like family..." Stewart swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "So, I can still keep in touch

we've both had it rough. Setting feelings aside, we're not all that different. We've been through the worst together. There's no need to act like strangers or force the kids to choose sides. If we can respect each other, wish each other well, isn't that the

his

relief in Briony's eyes was something he'd never dared hope

let go of the old grudges and

before, but as a

to hold her. He wanted

I hug you?" His voice was thick with emotion. "As a friend. As family. Would that be

a moment, she slowly

Stewart's eyes trembled.

he wrapped his arms around her,

letting him hold

shook as if he was barely holding himself together,

tears landed on her

hard not

softly, closed her eyes, and gently patted his

December, Briony was

gotten the fireplace going, filling

coming back to the place that truly felt