Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 20

By the time Briony finally made it back to the studio, dawn was already breaking. Utterly exhausted, she changed into pajamas and collapsed into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

She had no idea how long she’d been out when a frantic knocking at the door jolted her awake.

Her eyes flew open and she stared at the familiar ceiling, breath coming quick and shallow. It took her a moment to gather her wits.

She’d been dreaming.

In the dream, she was standing above a river of blood, so vivid it made her shudder. Somewhere in the distance, an infant’s cries echoed in her ears…

From outside the room, Hannah’s voice rang out. “Briony? Are you awake?”

Her lashes fluttered. Briony pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

The room spun as she stood, her body heavy and unsteady.

“Briony? Briony…” Hannah’s voice grew more anxious.

“I’m coming,” Briony croaked, forcing herself upright and shuffling to the door.

As soon as the door swung open, Hannah let out a sigh of relief.

“Briony, you scared me half to death. It’s ten o’clock and you still hadn’t come out—I thought something had happened to you.”

Briony was nothing if not a creature of habit; she never slept in.

Today, though, she clearly had.

“I’m fine,” she rasped, her voice rough.

Hannah frowned, giving her a once-over. “You don’t look fine. Are you sick?”

Briony lifted a hand to her forehead. It did feel a little warm.

“Guess I’ve just been overworked lately,” she said. “A few days of rest and I’ll be good as new.”

“That won’t do,” Hannah insisted, placing a hand on Briony’s forehead. “You’ve got a fever! You need to see a doctor.”

Briony grimaced. “It’s too much trouble. I’ll just take something for the fever and sleep it off.”