Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 1

Briony Kensington and Stewart Wentworth had been secretly married for five years—living as husband and wife in form, but never in feeling.

Or rather, if Briony felt anything at all for her husband, she hid it so well that not a trace ever showed.

On Christmas Eve, the city outside was alive with lights and laughter, the streets blanketed with fresh snow. Inside the vast, echoing halls of Southcreek Manor, Briony sat alone.

She’d made herself a bowl of pasta, but hadn’t taken a single bite.

Her phone lay on the table, screen aglow with a video from social media—

A man’s slender, elegant hand slid a diamond ring onto a woman’s delicate finger. The woman’s voice, bright and sweet, chimed in the caption: “Mr. Wentworth, here’s to the rest of our lives.”

Briony’s eyes were drawn to the watch on the man’s wrist—a limited edition piece, unmistakably his. A sharp ache twisted in her chest.

The video had long since paused, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away. She watched it over and over, torturing herself with the certainty.

Six months ago, this woman had sent her a friend request out of the blue.

Ever since, Briony had seen her husband pop up in the woman’s posts with disturbing regularity.

Five years of marriage, and only tonight did Briony realize Stewart was capable of tenderness, of romance, of caring attention.

The pasta, once steaming, had gone cold.

She tried to pick up her fork, but her hand felt numb and useless.

Just like her marriage—cold and untouched, something she shouldn’t keep stirring.

Shutting her eyes, Briony let the tears fall. She stood, washed up, and retreated to her room, turning off the lights and lying down in darkness.

Night deepened. The bedroom was warm, but the silence was broken by the quiet rustle of someone undressing.

Briony lay on her side, feigning sleep.

She heard Stewart come in, felt the mattress dip under his weight.

A moment later, his body pressed close, heavy and unyielding.

Briony’s brow furrowed.