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.

Wentworth took the kids upstairs to bed at nine sharp. You called a

nodded, letting

didn't seem in the

slightly. "What

whispered. "Now that the kids are asleep, he's out in the backyard by himself. I checked the security camera-he's crouched by the fish pond, feeding the koi. At the rate

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

"Will do!"

up and headed

was crouched low, mechanically tossing handful

took one look and thought, If I hadn't come

"Mr. Wentworth,

snapping out of his daze. He realized a third of the fish food tin was already

I didn't realize how

adores those koi.

pang of guilt hit Stewart. "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful

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

vent

bring good fortune, and there's only this one batch, if

crease appeared between Stewart's

understood perfectly well

heavy sense of helplessness settled over him;

unsure how to respond.

downcast expression, Marlene decided

her reservations about Stewart's swift, public remarriage But in the end, she was just the help even if Briony treated her like