Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Little Mario and Stewart exchanged glances and smiled, neither of them bothering to argue with the little girl.

"That's right. Our Little Nina is the big sister," Stewart soothed his daughter, "From now on, Mario should listen to his sister, and he needs to look out for her, too."

"I will!" Little Mario promised, his small face serious. Maybe it was the time he'd spent with Stewart, but lately, you could see more and more of Stewart's expression in the boy's eyes.

Little Nina wasn't having it. "Mario's the timid one! I'm the brave one. I should be the one protecting him!"

Stewart couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, you can protect Mario."

Then Little Nina piped up again, "Daddy, can Mario go to the same preschool as me? That way I can see him all the time. If other kids try to pick on him, I'll be there to protect him!"

She was such a little chatterbox, always saying whatever came to mind.

Stewart cherished these moments with his children, but he hadn't forgotten the time. It was getting late, and the kids needed to sleep.

“There'll be a chance for that in the future," he said, ruffling his daughter's hair. "Right now, it's bedtime. I'll go find a storybook. Both of you, under the covers."

"Okay!"

Little Nina nodded enthusiastically and rolled over, settling into a comfortable spot.

Little Mario lay down as well.

Stewart went to his study to grab a book and came back to find the two little ones lying neatly in bed, with just enough space between them for him.

He smiled, kicked off his shoes, and half-reclined right between his children.

Both kids rolled over in perfect sync, their tiny hands and feet draped across his legs.

They closed their eyes, clearly ready for his bedtime story.

Stewart's throat tightened. He steadied himself, opened the storybook, and began to read in a low, gentle voice-

"Once upon a time, deep in a wild old forest, there lived a pair of silly little rabbit sisters..."

It was late, and Briony lay alone in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Of course she couldn't sleep without Little Nina beside her. It was inevitable- insomnia.

Her therapist said this was something she needed to work through on her own.

The sleeping pills were right there in the bedside drawer. All it would take was one, and she wouldn't have to lie awake like this.

She'd lost count of how many times she'd considered taking one, only to change her mind again and again.

Finally, at one in the morning, she

couldn't it anymore. She sat up,

turned on the little bedside lamp, and reached for the drawer

Knock, knock.

Someone tapped on her door.

Briony froze.

"Bryn, are you awake?"

It was Stella Joyner.

Briony closed the drawer, got up, and opened the door.

Stella took one look at her. "Knew it. You're still up."

Briony hesitated, then gave a helpless smile. "You know me too well."

"Of course do! I'm your sister-if I don't know you, who does?" Stella rolled her eyes, then sighed. "It's Little Nina's first night ever staying over at her dad's. No wonder you can't sleep. I'll stay with you tonight."

Briony frowned a little. "But if you're here, what about Aster?"

“He just had his night feeding. Usually, after this, he sleeps through until around six. I'll go back then. It's fine."

"No, you need your rest. I'm alright-you should stay with your baby."

ve?

"Bryn!" Stella glared at her. "I'm not the kind of woman who ditches her girlfriends just because she has a kid! I don't care-I'm staying with you tonight Besides, I dropped everything to come here and keep you company. And you're trying to send me away? Clearly, you don't love me anymore!"

Briony sighed. "Watch it. If Dr. Clarke overhears, he'll be jealous."

"Let him try!" Stella snorted. "When I told him I was coming over, he didn't even dare say a word."

Briony knew there was no arguing with Stella.

The two of them went inside and crawled into bed together.

The little lamp cast a warm, dim glow over the quiet room.noveldrama

Neither of them felt the least bit sleepy.

Stella broke the silence. "Bryn, you're planning to stay in Northborough for good,

aren't you?"