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.

The company won't officially launch until

capable, but starting a business is always

and the kids. Keep it safe. You don't

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

trying to give the assets back because you want to cut all ties with

caught Briony

eyes were tinged with sadness. "You're still afraid I'll make things messy for you, aren't

held his gaze, lips pressed

truth was, she wasn't worried about

effort you've put in 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

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

the worst together. There's

his

eyes was

let go of the

not as before, but as a friend,

He

voice was thick with emotion. "As a friend. As family. Would that be

After a moment,

Stewart's eyes trembled.

wrapped his arms

sat quietly, letting

was barely holding himself together, terrified

landed on her

tried so hard not to make a

closed her eyes, and gently patted his shoulder, comforting

of December, Briony

going, filling the house with

the threshold, finally coming back to the place that