Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Even though she knew the real reason, she still pretended to be in the dark.

"So you're planning to give me custody of Mario?"

"Yes." Stewart's tone was earnest. "I'm moving out from the Wentworth family registry, and in a little while, I'll be relocating overseas."

Briony fixed her gaze on him. "You went through so much trouble to win custody of your son, and now you're giving it up so easily?"

"That was because The Wentworth Group needed an heir." Stewart's expression was steady, betraying nothing. "Now that neither the company nor the family has anything to do with me, I'm heading abroad to start a new business. The early days will be hectic and unpredictable. If Mario comes with me, I won't be able to give him the attention he deserves."

His explanation made perfect sense.

Briony studied the man before her, thinking to herself how convincing his lies could be.

She asked, "Have you discussed this with Mario?"

Stewart's Adam's apple bobbed. "Not yet."

"Mario really depends on you right now. While you've been away these past few days, he's even called out for you in his sleep."

Stewart froze.

Briony went on, "Stewart, I'm grateful you'd give Mario to me, but he's used to being with you. I hope you'll consider his feelings, too."

A sharp pain twisted in Stewart's chest.

If only the real reason for giving up custody was just an international move.

But that was just a lie.

The truth was, he didn't have much time left.

Before he died, he had to make sure everything was settled.

"I'll talk things through with Mario over the next few days." Stewart forced down his emotions and said, "Bryn, he's still young-his attachment to me will fade with time. And staying with you and little Nina will be much better for his development." Briony regarded him in silence for a moment before replying, "As long as you're sure. Once you've decided about the paperwork, let me know ahead of time." Stewart swallowed hard. "Alright."

Karen Smith agreed to take part in the documentary.

The entire production was handled by the Starbright team, who recorded every step of the search for her child.

On the third day of filming, the police called: the child had been found, in Karen's ex-husband Gallagher's family home.noveldrama

The camera crew and the officers accompanied Karen as they drove through the night to Gallagher's hometown.

After eight long hours on the road, they arrived at four in the morning.

It was raining steadily, the sky still dark.

They knocked on the door of the Gallagher house.

Gallagher's mother, bleary-eyed from sleep, answered. Before she could make sense of who was at the door, Karen rushed past her into the house-

The officers and crew followed close behind, cameras jostling, capturing the chaos in raw, shaky footage.

Gallagher's mother shrieked, "Burglars! There are burglars in the house! Gallagher! Gallagher—!"

The scene quickly descended into mayhem.

Gallagher, dead drunk the night before, was fast asleep in his room.

They found the child in Gallagher's mother's bed.

In just one week, Karen could hardly recognize her own son.

He'd been abused.

One eye was swollen shut, his lip split and crusted with blood, an arm crudely bound to his chest with an old scarf. His clothes were filthy, with dried bloodstains still visible...

Karen's eyes instantly filled with tears.

She gently gathered her son in her arms, then handed him to the officer Suddenly, she spun around and dashed into the kitchen, grabbed a carving knife, and charged toward Gallagher's room.

She didn't make it far-the crew stopped her just in time.

The knife clattered to the floor. Karen collapsed, wailing, slapping her own face in anguish.

The cameras caught every moment.

That night, the boy was taken to the local hospital. One arm was broken, his body mottled with bruises, but thankfully, his internal organs were unharmed.

A small mercy in a tragedy.

Once it was clear her son's life wasn't in danger, Karen brought him back to Northborough.

As for Gallagher, he was arrested that night for child abuse. He would pay for what he'd done.

Gallagher's mother rallied a group of relatives and came to Northborough to make trouble for Karen, but she called the police again.

Given Gallagher's history of domestic violence and this latest incident of hiding and abusing a child, the authorities took it seriously.

Gallagher's mother and her relatives didn't get their way-instead, they were taken to the station for a stern talking-to, made to sign a statement, and finally slunk back home in defeat.

In the documentary's final scenes, Gallagher is sentenced to two years in prison.

Before he was sent away, with permission from the authorities, the crew was granted one last interview.

Director: "Why did you hurt your child?"

Gallagher: "I was drunk. My head wasn't clear."

Director: "Didn't you have any awareness when you hit him?"

Gallagher: "No."

Director: "Do you regret it?"

Gallagher: "I guess I do."

Director: "How many times did you hit your child?"

Gallagher fell silent.

The director pressed on, "Knowing you hurt your kid when you're drunk, why did you keep drinking?"

Gallagher seemed to ponder for a long time before answering, "I wasn't in a good

place. Drinking helped me sleep."

Director: "Do you love your child?"