Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 449

Lorna could read his expression all too well.

She bent down and said softly to little Mario, “Go on in and see your father.”

Little Mario nodded obediently and pushed the door open himself.

Cedric Clarke closed the door behind him.

Lorna asked, “How’s he doing?”

Cedric Clarke gave a weary sigh and shook his head.

A frown creased Lorna’s brow.

Glancing at his watch, Cedric Clarke said, “I’ll head back for now. Try to talk to him again. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Lorna replied.

Once Cedric Clarke had left, Lorna opened the bedroom door and stepped inside.

Stewart was half-sitting up in bed, his left hand tucked under the covers, an IV still taped to the back of his right hand.

Little Mario was sitting quietly by his side, focused on a puzzle in his lap—small, still, and perfectly well-behaved.

Stewart gazed at his son, his eyes gentle.

It was a peaceful, almost tender scene.

Lorna approached the bed and said in a calm voice, “Dr. Clarke’s left.”

Stewart gave a soft response, then reached out to ruffle his son’s hair. “Mario.”

Little Mario looked up at him.

“This is Ms. Riley,” Stewart said. “She’s someone I trust. You should listen to her from now on, alright?”

Little Mario nodded dutifully.

Lorna had things she needed to discuss with Stewart, but not in front of little Mario.

She called Carol to take little Mario downstairs.

Now, only Stewart and Lorna were left in the room.

Stewart coughed a few times.

Lorna recounted everything that had happened on the way back.

When she finished, Stewart’s expression had grown grave. “The Lockwood Group’s been making big moves lately. Whoever’s backing Barrie is finally losing patience.”

“There weren’t many clues left from what happened back then,” Lorna said, just as serious. “But judging by Barrie’s recent actions, it’s clear—they know you were involved in the ‘Grey Operation’ all those years ago. Looks like what you’ve been worried about is finally catching up to you.”

A frown deepened between Stewart’s brows.

Lorna watched him, concern etched on her face. “Could it have been Garry? Do you think that lunatic sold you out?”

Nine years old, and still unable to adjust to this strange new world.

That day, Irwin had hidden on the staircase, watching Stewart hold little Mario, and only then did he realize—little Mario was Stewart’s real son.

And he? He was just the stray, the boy with no known father.

His whole life was built on a lie.

His mother saw him as nothing more than a pawn. The man who’d once treated him like his own had abandoned him the moment his real child appeared.

Even Mom Bryn, who had once been genuinely kind, no longer spared him a glance.

The world had changed.

It had become just the kind of place Irwin feared most.

He didn’t know what he’d done wrong.

He didn’t know what his future would look like.

Everyone in this new house was so cold, especially Garry.

Every time Garry looked at him, it was with that strange, unreadable expression. It terrified Irwin.

For over two weeks, Irwin had been living in constant fear. Night after night, his dreams were nothing but nightmares, until finally his body gave out and he fell sick.

“Dad, Dad… I’ll be good, I promise, just take me home, please? Dad… please, I want to go home… I want to go home…”