Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

If it was about the children, Briony needed to know the details. "What is it?"

"Xenia Cooper has an eight-year-old son."

Briony froze for a moment.

An eight-year-old son...

Her brows drew together. "So you're just stepping in as someone's ready-made stepfather?"

Stewart cleared his throat. "That's how it will look to outsiders."

Briony pressed her lips into a thin line.

Her mind went straight to Irwin Wentworth.

That boy had once been the fatal crack in her and Stewart's marriage.

Even though Irwin was eventually sent away, the arguments and misunderstandings he'd brought with him still lingered vividly in Briony's memory.

"Stewart, do what you like for appearances' sake, but when it comes to the children, I expect you not to disappoint them."

"Don't worry, I won't." Stewart's expression softened, as if he, too, recalled the turmoil Irwin had caused them, and he dared not conceal anything from her.

ago, there was a car accident.

Briony's breath caught.

her late fiancé's

moment, Briony didn't know

child in secret. She raised him overseas all these years and only recently brought him back, still keeping his identity quiet. But now, she plans to groom him as

frowned. "So she wants to claim the boy as

He stared at her with dark,

was

do you have

face. "Bryn, I'll explain everything

arguing. "This is between you and our children. If they don't mind, it's not my place to

you'll be Mrs. Cooper's husband. I'll address you as M Wentworth, and I'd appreciate it if you'd use my surname out of

Stewart was stunned.

turned away and walked into the house, not

wouldn't even have the right

head. His tall figure looked achingly

...

bedroom and shut the

pressed to the wood, she slid slowly to the

her hands, tears soaking through her