Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 2

The bedroom was swallowed in darkness.

Every sensation seemed amplified, almost unbearably so.

After a month apart, Stewart’s intensity was almost frightening.

Briony struggled, but it was futile; in the end, she could only grit her teeth and endure.

Outside, the snow fell harder and harder, the wind howling around the house.

She lost track of time. Eventually, Briony was left completely spent, her skin clammy with sweat.

A dull ache lingered in her abdomen.

She thought of her period, which was late again. Summoning her courage, she tried to say, “Stewart, I—”

But Stewart, clearly dissatisfied with her distraction, only grew rougher, his demanding kisses swallowing any protest.

When it was finally over, dawn had yet to break.

Briony was so exhausted her mind felt foggy, the ache in her lower belly persistent—dull, not sharp, but impossible to ignore.

His phone began to ring.

She forced herself awake and opened her eyes, vision blurry. She could just make out Stewart’s silhouette as he walked over to the window to answer the call.

The room was so quiet, she could hear the faint, flirtatious voice coming from the other end of the line.

Stewart soothed whoever it was with a patience and gentleness he never spared for his wife, who lay half-asleep beside him.

Moments later, the sound of a car starting drifted up from the driveway.

Stewart was gone.

—

When Briony woke up the next morning, the spot beside her was still cold.

She rolled over, pressing a hand to her abdomen.

The pain had faded.

Her phone rang again. This time, it was Stewart’s mother—Fiona Clarke.

Stewart had told her that his adopted son, Irwin Wentworth, had lost both parents in a tragic accident. Stewart had been close friends with Irwin’s father, so he’d taken the baby in.

Five years had passed, and in just one more month, Briony’s mother would be released.

Their marriage had always been a straightforward bargain—nothing more, nothing less. Briony knew she hadn’t been shortchanged.

Still, despite knowing that love was never part of the deal—that it could end at any moment—she had let her heart get involved.

Banishing the thought, Briony got out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

As she showered, the unease in her abdomen returned.

Anxiety bubbled up inside her again.

She and Stewart were always careful, but a month ago, he’d been drunk…

She’d taken a pill the morning after, but even that wasn’t foolproof.

Just to be sure, on her way to the Wentworths’ that morning, Briony stopped at a pharmacy and bought a pregnancy test.