Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

The final outcome of the online meeting was a one-month production halt-the absolute limit the crew was willing to accept.

A month later, Madeleine returned to the set with her leg in a cast. For the more challenging scenes, they used a stunt double. For the rest, the director simply relied on close-up shots. It was the best compromise they could manage.

When Madeleine got the news, she was so emotional she called Briony herself to say thank you.

Briony told her to focus on her recovery.

Madeleine promised, again and again, that she wouldn't let the crew or the company down.

After hanging up, Briony glanced at Maynard, who was driving. "Madeleine's a good one."

A sudden downpour turned Westerhaven dark in an instant. Rain hammered the windshield, wipers flailing wildly as Maynard slowed the car to a crawl.

He gave a quiet, knowing smile. "You see echoes of Mary in her, don't you? But everyone's different."

Briony paused, caught off guard. So he'd noticed.

"You're the boss," Maynard reminded her, his voice even and cool, all business. "Never let personal feelings sway your decisions. Madeleine's ambitious. She wants to make it big, and she'll seize any opportunity she can including trying to win points with the boss."

Briony looked at him. "I won't deny Mary's situation makes me pay extra attention to Madeleine. But I'm getting the sense you don't think very highly of her, Mr. Maynard?"

"She's too ambitious."

and aiming high.

black Rolls-Royce into the hotel's underground garage, "if she was all about her career, independent

"You're that certain?"

unfastened his seatbelt. Turning to

Briony blinked. "Why?"

slipped me her

momentarily speechless. The silence

a beat,

look? Come on,

hot commodity, you

still single, not a whiff of scandal. Half

impressive," Briony replied, unbuckling

the door. "Which is exactly why you deserve someone even

honest I am! I even tell you when someone's trying to make a move on me Briony, are you sure you don't want to give us a

Maynard had said something like this. He brought

now and then these days, but Briony was

smiled, turning toward

unfazed, locked the car and caught up with