Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 709

Stewart's brow was furrowed tight.

There was something deeply unsettling about the way Xenia Cooper spoke—a glimpse into a mind teetering on the edge.

“Xenia, you need to see a psychiatrist," he said quietly.

“Oh, but I have!” Xenia replied with a twisted smile. She stood, sauntered over to him, and reached for his collar as if to straighten it, but Stewart recoiled, his expression full of disgust.

He backed away as if she were venomous. The look in his eyes was the way you'd look at someone completely unhinged.

Xenia arched an eyebrow, tilting her head with a mocking little smirk. "All your chastity for Briony has come to nothing, you know. She and Maynard just made their relationship official. With the way Maynard's family operates, it won't be long before they pressure Briony into marriage. For the sake of the baby, for the family's reputation—she'll have no choice but to give in.”

"Bryn won't,” Stewart said, his voice firm, full of conviction.

She laughed, her lips a slash of crimson. "Oh yeah? Want to make a bet?"

Stewart had no intention of humoring her. There was nothing to be gained from arguing with a woman this unstable.

He turned to leave.

"Stewart.” Her voice stopped him in his tracks.

He hesitated, shoulders tense.

back. “Really—let's make a bet. Don't you want to know if Briony still cares about you?" Stewart's

circled around to face

can't let her go, but

now, she's about to marry another man for

radiated a chilling, almost serene

understood now-her mind was warped, but it wasn't about hatred for any one person. She didn't just hate him, or Briony, or anyone

She

memory flashed-Vernon's voice in the hospital: “My

Cooper really

felt something

for his age. But Xenia never stopped pushing him,

his eyes, old memories surfacing—the ache of

the boy he once was, but now, with his own son and

let out a weary sigh. “Xenia, you're sick. Get

as if hearing the punchline to a cosmic joke. "Me sick? I was perfectly healthy when I donated bone marrow to Briony-all the tests said so. The doctors said I could live to a hundred! I'll be there to see Vernon grow up, get

like this, you'll be lucky if he grows up normal

"He's

torturing him. You grew up in a powerful family, Stewart-you know what it's like. You survived the Wentworths' family wars-sowhy can't Vernon do the same? He can, and he will. He's going to be the best damn heir the Neonova Syndicate has ever seen. My son will be the strongest,

no