Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Chapter 488 Briony bent down and zipped up the little yellow duck backpack. "From the kids' perspective, of course I want them to have both their parents. If Stewart truly cherishes them, he'll take care of himself." She looked up at James, her voice soft, her tone calm. "I've never thought I mattered much to Stewart. Maybe we shared five years as husband and wife, but it was never love. Stewart never loved me, and I'll never love him again." James watched her, his hand tightening at his side.

He pressed his lips together, wrestling with himself.

He wanted to say, Bryn, you're wrong. Stewart might love you more than you know. He's probably still hopelessly in love with you.

But how could he say that? To confess the feelings of his rival in love? Even if James couldn't fight and claw for her, he certainly couldn't step aside and play matchmaker for Stewart.

So he let it go. If he could be her knight, standing quietly at her side for the rest of his life-even if only as family -that would be enough.

Briony and James cdownstairs together.

"Is there enough room for the car seats?" Briony asked, glancing at Stewart.

"I installed an extra one before I came," Stewart replied, meeting her eyes. "I'll take good care of them. Both of them." It was a promise, spoken as a father to the mother of his children.

Briony simply nodded, then stepped over to say goodbye to the kids.

James loaded Little Nina's suitcase into the trunk.

Briony watched as Stewart buckled both children into their car seats, making sure they were safely strapped in. The kids waved goodbye from inside the car, their faces bright with innocent, delighted smiles.

Briony waved back, her heart caught in her throat.

Stewart opened the driver's door, gave Briony one last look, his lips pressed tight. After a moment, he finally said, "We're off." Briony didn't look at him.

Stewart lowered his gaze, climbed into the car, and shut the door.

The car purred to life, turned around, and pulled away into the night.

Briony stood there, watching the taillights disappear into the darkness before she finally closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out in a heavy sigh.

James watched her, worry etched on his face. "Are you alright?" Briony opened her eyes and shook her head gently. "I'll have to get used to it." Just two days ago, she'd quietly made an appointment with a therapist. She'd talked about so much during that session.

The therapist had said, "If you're here just for yourself, then letsay this: Girl, in this world no one is worth you sacrificing your happiness for-except yourself. You deserve to put yourself first." "But if you've cas a mother, then I have to tell you-learn to find peace within yourself. No one else can do that for you. It's a journey every mother has to take on her own." Briony still didn't quite get it, so she asked, "I keep worrying the kids will get hurt. These days, I keep dreaming something bad happens to them at my ex-husband's house. Is there something wrong with me?" The therapist pressed a stress ball into her palm. "Squeeze this. Breathe." Only then did Briony notice the deep crescent marks her nails had left in her skin. Just thinking about those dreams had pushed her right to the edge of panic.

With trembling hands, she squeezed the stress ball, the therapist's gentle voice echoing in her ears: "From the moment your children were born, it was always inevitable they'd leave your world someday. Every day they grow is just one step closer to that. A mother's only feal job is to learn, little by little, how to let go.

We wrap this process up in words like 'mother's love' or 'a mother's duty.' But if you peel all that away, maybe it's just our own need for connection and control.

You're a mother, but don't make your children your salvation. Don't treat them as your entire world. You need to learn to love yourself first. Only when you're strong and whole can your children draw strength from you as they grow.

You're doing great. 'Mother' doesn't mean perfect or superhuman. I'm certain you're a wonderful mom. And learning to let go, bit by bit, will make you even stronger." The night sky sparkled with stars. A cool breeze brushed Briony's cheek.

She wiped away a tear, turned, and went back inside.

Southcreek Manor.

Stewart carried a child in each arm as he stepped into the house.

Lorna wasn't there. For the past couple of days, it had just been Carol and Stewart looking after the kids.

Carl Shaw cby during the day. Stewart's health had gotten worse recently, so he worked from hmost days.

Carol had already prepared dinner and was waiting for the three of them to chome.

After dinner, Stewart took the kids for a walk in the garden to help them digest.

Little Nina wanted to play on the slide, so Stewart played the part of her personal assistant, helping her up 上 again and again. After the umpteenth tlifting his daughter up, Stewart suddenly winced and started coughing.

"Cough, cough—" He quickly set Nina down, turned aside, and pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth.

Little Nina looked up, her eyes wide and puzzled, watching her father's back as he coughed into his handkerchief...