Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

The Clarke family knew a reputable spiritual advisor. Arranging the burial plot fell to Cedric Clarke.

By the time they left the police station, the rain had finally stopped.noveldrama

Cedric unlocked the car and turned to Briony. "Are you going to the funeral?"

"I'll go on behalf of the children," she replied.

Cedric pressed his lips together, nodded, and slid into the driver's seat. The car pulled away, leaving the others behind.

Carl was inconsolable. This six-foot-tall man crouched on the curb beside the black Maybach, his broad shoulders trembling as he sobbed like a lost child.

Watching him, James let out a heavy sigh. "Carl truly was loyal to Stewart, right to the end."

Briony walked over, rummaged through her purse, and handed Carl a packet of tissues. "Here-wipe your face. You need to pull yourself together. Stewart's gone, but the firm is still here. He trusted you deeply. You have to honor that and keep the practice running."

Carl stared at her in surprise, then his grief erupted anew.

"Ms. Kensington, our Mr. Wentworth is gone-he's really gone..."

Briony remained unchanged, her expression calm and unreadable.

Under the streetlight, her shadow stretched long across the wet pavement. The light caught her face, hiding her eyes from Carl's view.

He couldn't understand it. How could Ms. Kensington remain so composed while he was falling apart? Didn't she love Mr. Wentworth at all? Even if she no longer loved him, they'd known each other for years, raised children together-how could she be so cold now that he was dead?

But Carl knew better than to question Briony. If Mr. Wentworth could hear, he'd come back to haunt him for it.

Carl's grief only deepened. He buried his head in his hands, overcome. "Mr. Wentworth was planning to go to Switzerland for treatment. Why-why did this have to happen just when he finally wanted to fight for his life?"

He simply couldn't make sense of it. All he felt was the bitterness of fate's cruelty.

Lorna stood off to the side, quietly lighting a slim cigarette. She held it between elegant fingers, but didn't bother to take a drag. Staring at Briony's unwavering calm, Lorna finally snapped. She flung the cigarette to the damp ground, where the ember fizzled out.

Marching over, she grabbed Briony's arm and spun her around.

"Aren't you sad at all?" Lorna's eyes were red as she searched Briony's face for any sign of sorrow.

But there was nothing. No hint of pain broke through Briony's gentle, distant expression.

Lorna let out a shaky, bitter laugh, her eyes shining with tears. "Briony, that was a

man you loved, once. Even if you're separated now, even if he hurt you a thousand times, he's dead. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Briony didn't argue.

James rushed over, stepping

between them and shielding Briony. "Enough, torna! Bryn doesn't owe her ex-husband a public display of grief. And you said it

yourself—Stewart hurt her. The only reason she's here tonight is for the children. Attending Stewart's funeral is more than anyone could ask of her."

Lorna stared at James, stunned.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. She was someone who'd long since learned to accept death, someone who prided herself on composure. Losing control like this -she couldn't remember the last time it had happened. Tonight, she must have lost her mind.

She briskly wiped her tears away.

Seeing her cry, James's expression

softened. "Look, I know you and

Stewart were close. The way he died-it's hard for anyone to accept.

I feel it too. But you can't take that

out on Bryn. Unless she were heartless, there's no way she isn't hurting."

Lorna froze, then slowly looked past James to Briony.

Briony turned away just as Lorna's gaze landed on her, heading toward the white SUV. She was quick, but not quick enough—Lorna caught a glimpse of a single tear trailing down the corner of Briony's reddened eye.

Lorna went rigid. Of course. That was the man Briony had once loved, the father of her children. How could she not feel anything? She just refused to show it.

Shame flooded Lorna. She lowered her head. "I'm sorry. I lost control. Please... tell her I apologize."