Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Out in the yard, the two children were laughing and playing with Stewart, their voices bright and joyful, carrying through the crisp winter air and into the house.

Briony watched them through the window, a gentle smile softening her features. "Star, help me take a few more photos and videos, would you?" she asked quietly. Stella's heart felt heavy, but she kept her expression calm as she nodded. "Of course." She reached for the camera and began snapping shots from every angle she could find.

In the snowy garden, Stewart crouched beside a snowman, the children flanking him on either side. The three of them turned together, glancing back at Briony as if drawn by the same thought.

Separated by the glass of the French doors, their eyes met-mother and father, son and daughter-a family united by a single, silent gaze.

Briony lifted her hand, her fingertips pressing gently against the cold pane.

Click.

Stella captured the moment perfectly.

She stared at the image on the camera's screen, her breath catching, tears stinging at her eyes.

There was still no news from the bone marrow registry. Two days ago, Dr. Cedric Clarke had said that if a donor couldn't be found soon, Briony might not make it through the winter...

Tears spilled over, and Stella turned away quickly, wiping her face before anyone could notice.

That evening, Gwendolyn and her husband arrived with James Delaney. Briony was too tired to entertain guests for long, so after a short visit, they took the children home, leaving the house quiet once more.

Now, only Stewart and a professional nurse remained.

Briony had grown more and more drowsy these past few days. She'd pushed herself to stay awake while the children were there, but now, with the house empty, she returned to her bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, drifting into a deep, exhausted sleep without even removing her makeup.

Stewart entered quietly, carrying her medication the bedside lamp cast a soft amber glow over the room. Briony was slumped against the headboard, sleeping so deeply that even in rest, her brow was furrowed with pain.

He set the medicine down and crouched beside her, gazing at the woman who had fought so hard, for so long. His chest ached with helpless sorrow. He knew how brave she'd been, holding on for the sake of their children, but the painkillers could hardly touch her suffering now.

She kept fighting, refusing to give in, but the illness had shown no mercy.

Just two days ago, the doctors had gathered again for a consultation. The prognosis was grim. No one told Briony, but Stewart felt sure she already sensed the truth.

He couldn't bring himself to wake her. Instead, he slipped into the bathroom and brought back a bottle of makeup remover and some cotton pads.

In her half-sleep, Briony felt something cool brushing gently over her face. Her eyes fluttered open.

Stewart paused, meeting her gaze. "Let me help you clean your face. Once you've had your medicine, you can go back to sleep."

She was so tired, her mind clouded and sluggish. She managed a faint sound of agreement, then closed her eyes again, already drifting away.noveldrama

Stewart's hands were trembling as he wiped her face, his throat tightening at the sight of her so lifeless and pale.

That night, he cleaned her up, then coaxed her to drink her medicine. She managed only a few sips before she was sick again.

A raging fever set in, and after that night, Briony slipped into unconsciousness.

Three days passed, and she didn't open her eyes once.

A team of doctors-specialists from every field-came and went, but no one had

answers.

It was time to face the truth: Briony's life was now being measured in days.

The house was in a constant state

of quiet chaos, doctors and nurses shuffling in and out, monitors beeping softly in the background Briony lay motionless, tubes everywhere, her breathing steady but shallow. She seemed to be resting peacefully, but as the week wore on, she gave no sign of waking.

On the third day of December, Stewart took a call-and then, without a word,

rushed out of the house.