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.

took the kids upstairs to bed at

letting

Marlene continued, "Although, Mr. Wentworth didn't seem in the best of moods

"What do

I checked the security camera-he's crouched by the fish pond, feeding the koi. At the rate he's going,

with a

"Will do!"

up

pond, Stewart was crouched low, mechanically tossing handful after handful

and thought, If I hadn't

over. "Mr. Wentworth,

He realized a third

throat awkwardly. "Sorry. I didn't

from his hand. "Ms. Kensington adores those koi. If anything

"I'm sorry. I'll be more

half teasing, half warning. "Mr. Delaney said these koi were blessed by a priest

vent

there's only

crease appeared

well

helplessness settled over him; he pressed his lips

unsure how to respond.

Marlene decided not to push

she was just the help