Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

January 10th. The snow in Northborough, which had been falling nonstop for over two weeks, finally let up.

The city lay blanketed in white, and the air brimmed with the anticipation of the holidays.

The doctor had good news-Briony was finally ready to leave isolation.

The bone marrow transplant had been a resounding success. Throughout the entire treatment, Briony had shown incredible strength, cooperating wholeheartedly with the doctors and nurses. The results were even better than anyone had hoped.

She'd managed to avoid all the typical complications leukemia patients usually faced.

Cedric Clarke and the team of specialists were both relieved and amazed.

At ten o'clock that morning, Briony officially left the isolation ward. A nurse wheeled her across the snowy courtyard to the small recovery wing.

She still needed several more weeks of careful observation and rehabilitation in the annex, but if all went well, she'd be discharged in time to spend New Year's Eve at home with her family and friends.

Her loved ones had gathered in the small building, waiting for her with barely contained excitement.noveldrama

After more than twenty days apart, seeing each other again felt utterly surreal.

Briony was still thin, and her skin had darkened a little—a minor side effect from the transplant, which would fade in time. Her once waist-length hair had been cut to her collarbone, and she wore a black knit hat pulled low over her ears.

Stella was the first to rush over, throwing her arms around Briony with tears streaming down her face. "I told you, Bryn! Good people like you-God just has to watch over them."

Briony patted her friend's back gently. "Come on now, everyone's watching. Don't cry."

Truthfully, the rest of them weren't holding up much better.

The women dabbed at their eyes, and the men wore watery smiles as they fought back tears.

They had all waited for this day for so long.

A shaft of sunlight broke through the thick winter clouds, illuminating the snowy city in a golden glow.

After all they'd been through, it felt as if even the heavens were rejoicing.

"Mommy!"

"Mommy!"

The voices of two young children called out from the doorway. Briony turned.

In the warm winter sunlight, Stewart walked slowly toward her, one hand holding their son's, the other cradling their daughter. The three of them made their way across the snowy ground, leaving crispo footprints behind.

Stella quietly stepped aside, giving Briony space.

Cedric Clarke, still in his white coat, came forward and put a reassuring arm around Stella's shoulders.

Stella wiped her tears of joy, instinctively leaning into her husband's embrace. These days, they were more used to arguments than peaceful moments like this.

After everything-pain, fear, separation-the family of four was finally together again.

Everyone watching felt the significance of the moment. No one dared disturb them.

Stewart stopped in front of Briony, his dark eyes searching her face.

During the days she'd spent in isolation, family members were allowed to visit, but only through a glass window. Stewart had come almost every single day.

Briony didn't always know he was there. She'd slept through much of her treatment, too exhausted to eat or speak, though thankfully she'd been spared the worst

complications.

Most days, Stewart could do nothing but watch her sleep, alone and pale in her hospital bed.

Every day, he checked in with Cedric Clarke, making sure Briony was holding steady, silently grateful that sleep at least kept her from suffering.

Those twenty-six days had felt endless.

But now, Briony had made it—she was out, she was alive, she'd won.

Stewart finally allowed himself to breathe.

Whatever it took, he thought, it was all worth it as long as she came back to them.

He spoke, his voice deep and gentle: "The kids had an event at school today. I dropped everything and brought them right after, just so they could see you."

Briony hesitated, then gave a tired but genuine smile. "You didn't have to rush. We'll have plenty of time together from now on.”

"The kids couldn't wait to see their mom." Stewart's voice was low, thick with emotion. "Bryn, congratulations. You've been given a new lease on life." Briony's eyes softened. “Thank you."

She was still so polite, so reserved, that Stewart could only look at her in helpless affection. Before he could say more, little Nina wriggled in his arms and reached out, touching Briony's cheek. "Mommy, you look a little darker than before!"

Briony blinked in surprise.

"Mommy's skin changed a bit because she was sick," Stewart explained gently.

"She'll be back to normal soon enough."