Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

He sighed. "As long as you're here with me, Daddy won't be sad."

Little Mario stared at Stewart, deep in thought.

All at once, an idea struck him. He turned to Little Nina and announced, "When Daddy's sad, he cries too-but only at night, after everyone's asleep. He sneaks out tears when he thinks nobody can see-mph!"

Stewart quickly covered his son's mouth, looking both helpless and amused. "Alright, that's enough. It's late. No more talking-lie down, both of you. Daddy will read you a bedtime story."

The kids obediently snuggled under their blankets.

Stewart switched off the overhead light, leaving only the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

He picked up the storybook, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room-

"Once upon a time, there was a little field mouse. She was the fastest digger in her whole family..."

Briony emerged from the shower to find several missed video calls on her phone.

She checked the timestamps-right at nine o'clock.

It was already half-past nine now.

She'd spent a while drying her hair after her shower, so time had gotten away from her.

By now, the children were surely asleep.

Briony hesitated, then called Marlene's cell.

to bed at nine

nodded, letting it

Marlene continued, "Although, Mr. Wentworth didn't seem

frowned slightly. "What

kids are asleep, he's out in the backyard by himself. I checked the

koi were a gift from James," she said with a sigh. "Go stop him

"Will do!"

up

crouched low, mechanically tossing handful after handful of fish food into

I hadn't come out, these poor koi would be done

"Mr. Wentworth, that's enough.

realized a third of the fish

rose, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Sorry. I didn't realize

took the tin from his hand. "Ms. Kensington adores those koi. If anything happened to them, she'd

Stewart. "I'm

time," Marlene said, half teasing, half warning. "Mr. Delaney said these koi

vent

to bring good fortune, and there's only

crease appeared between Stewart's

perfectly well

over him; he pressed his

unsure how to respond.

expression, Marlene

remarriage But in the end, she was just the