Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 302

Stewart sensed something was off. "What's going on?" he asked.

Judd glanced at Briony, then back to Stewart, his tone resigned. "The mayor meant well—he wanted to tidy up Mrs. Hudson a bit so her family wouldn't be upset when they saw her. But Mrs. Hudson refused to cooperate."

Briony's anxiety spiked. "What does that mean?" she pressed Judd. "What's happened to my mom?"

Judd looked uncertainly at Stewart.

A crease formed between Stewart's brows. "Take us to her."

"Alright. Come with me," Judd said, turning and leading the way toward a small gate at the edge of the yard.

The gate opened into the mayor's barn.

Briony hurried after him, hope flickering stubbornly in her chest. It couldn't be that bad, she told herself. It just couldn't.

But reality hit her hard the moment she stepped inside.

Huddled in the corner of the barn was a woman with sallow skin, her body curled in on itself. She wore tattered clothes, her hair tangled and matted with straw. Her face was so dirty that only her eyes were visible.

Briony froze, as if struck by lightning. No… this couldn't be.

She started forward, but someone grabbed her arm.

The mayor's wife, Farrah, held her back. "She's not in her right mind. She doesn't recognize anyone. Don't get too close—she lashes out if anyone tries to approach her."

Tears welled up in Briony's eyes. She looked at Farrah desperately. "She's my mom. I'm here to take her home."

"I know," Farrah sighed. "Mr. Judd already told us. Of course it's good for you to take her away. But she's strong. Over these four years, she hasn't let anyone near her but me."

Briony's voice trembled. "Why? Why is she like this? What happened to her?"

Farrah shook her head. "I wish I knew. Four years ago, the fishermen found her washed up on the shore, barely alive. They sent my husband to check on her. He's a kind man—he brought her back here. She had a terrible fever for a week. The island doctor came several times and said she probably wouldn't make it. We were about to call the police..."

She paused, the memory still vivid. "But when my husband and I got back from the station, she was gone. We searched everywhere and finally found her in the barn, clutching a pile of straw and talking to herself. It took all my patience to coax her back inside. But the next day she came right back here, and after that, no matter what I said or did, she refused to leave. She just wanted to stay in the barn..."