Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

A sleek black Bentley cruised down the city boulevard.

Inside, James sat in the passenger seat, wrestling with himself before finally blurting out, "What's really going on between you and Xenia Cooper? Did you two actually get married?"

Stewart kept his eyes on the road. "The marriage announcement's already public. Whether we signed the papers or not, what difference does it make to you all?"

James rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fair point. Right now, everyone in Northborough—no, the whole country-knows you, Stewart, have become the Cooper family's son-in-law."

Stewart said nothing.

Seeing Stewart had no intention of elaborating, James gave a short, exasperated laugh. "Look, I get that things between you and Xenia are just business, but ten years? How many decades does a person get? Are you just that confident in yourself, or are you betting everything on Bryn?"

"I didn't think that far ahead. All I wanted was to get the bone marrow-save her life."

James shook his head. "You know what you'll get for this? Bryn's guilt. But what good is that? Bryn can't wait ten years for you. Besides, Maynard's been relentless in pursuing her lately. Bryn may be slow to warm up, but ten years? That's more than enough time for Maynard to win her over."

Stewart's jaw tightened, his hands clenching the steering wheel.

"If Maynard can make her happy, then I'll wish them well," he said quietly.

"Oh, come on, drop the act." James rolled his eyes. "We're both men—we know love always comes with a bit of possessiveness. As long as you still love Bryn, you'll never let go of that sliver of hope. Stewart, you're really something. If you truly wanted to let Bryn go, you should've kept the whole arrangement a secret. She's too softhearted. Now that she knows, even if she acts cold and decisive, deep down she'll always feel she owes you."

James let out a heavy sigh. "What a mess. Two people trapped by a piece of paper."

for the contract, I meant to keep it from her, but

sounded thoroughly put out. "Why do you always attract the most

Stewart frowned.

Cooper-brilliant businesswoman, but still

about the deal. We're not even

raised an eyebrow. "So the marriage certificate they released is

Stewart stayed silent.

me. I

glance. "That's between me and Xenia. Mind

of laughter. "Fine, keep pretending you're made of stone. See

to provoke him after that,

dropping James off at the hospital, Stewart drove

next few days, James stayed by Briony's side, helping her arrange Mary's

but Briony managed to

Stella's

was faintly weary. She y of Sydney and

she'd already enrolled

coming home anytime soon.

be

heard that, she knew things between Stella and Cedric Clarke had