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.

she loved deeply. Eight years ago, there was a car accident. The eldest Cooper son

Briony's breath caught.

boy is her late fiancé's

a moment, Briony didn't

struggle. Xenia fled abroad to have the child in secret. She raised him overseas

wants to claim the boy as yours and hers

stared at

silence was answer

a bitter laugh. "Stewart, do you

guilt shadowing his face. "Bryn, I'll

you want." Briony was done arguing. "This is between you and our children. If they don't mind, it's not

gaze. "From today onward, if we meet again, you'll be Mrs. Cooper's husband. I'll address you as M Wentworth,

Stewart was stunned.

She turned away and walked into the house, not

retreat was final. After this, Stewart wouldn't

hung his head. His tall figure looked achingly lonely in the

...

and shut

her back pressed to the wood, she slid slowly to

face with her hands, tears soaking