Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Briony replied in a soft, even tone.

Ferdinand watched her for a moment before finally breaking the silence. "I have to go. Will you be alright on your own?"

"I'll be fine." Seeing that he wasn't insisting further, Briony's demeanor softened a little. “Thank you, Ferdinand. Really."

No matter what, she couldn't afford to shatter the fragile peace between them.

If she did, who knew what reckless thing Ferdinand might do to her children in a fit of anger.

"There's no need to be so formal with me," Ferdinand said with a resigned smile. "Unless there's something else, I should get going."

He left not long after.

Stella Joyner rushed in just a few minutes later.

She explained that Ferdinand had called her, telling her Briony had fainted while getting an IV at the hospital.

Briony sighed. "You still have Aster to look after. Why did you come all the way to Havenport for me?"

"Why? Do you really have to ask?" Stella shot back. "You faint alone in Havenport and there's not a single friend around to check on you. How could I not be worried?"

Briony was deeply touched. She squeezed Stella's hand. "Thank you. Really, don't worry I'm alright."

"Alright? You're as pale as a ghost!" Stella scolded. "Briony, are you really that hard up? Even if the kids lost their father, Stewart's estate is enough to keep them comfortable for life. Why are you running yourself ragged?"

"It's not that—I just happened to have a lot of work piled up this week."

"Don't give me that. You never listen, do you?"

Briony couldn't win this argument. "I'll listen, I promise. Once I'm home, I'll let Marlene cook me something hearty. Deal?"

"Hmph!" Stella rolled her eyes. "Take it easy, alright? What's the point of making all this money if you're too sick to enjoy it?"

"Yes, ma'am. Our Queen Stella is absolutely right."

Stella saw Briony was trying to joke her way out of it and decided to let it go. As a friend, she could scold and worry, but if Briony took the advice, great if not, well, she was an adult and no one could watch overher

every hour of the day.

Everyone had their own life and choices. No one could interfere forever.

"You're heading to Andersville next

month for work, right? I'm still comfortable with it," Stella said "Take a private doctor and ao bodyguard with you."

Briony couldn't help but laugh. "You're worrying too much. It's not my first business trip."

"Andersville isn't just anywhere. There have been three random murders there in

the past month, Bryn-please, can't you skip this one?"

"This project's important. It'll help the Star Foundation's kids. I have to go."

"You're going to be the death of me!" Stella gritted her teeth. "Fine, but when you go, promise me you'll take a bodyguard."

Briony hesitated. "...Is that really necessary?"

"Will you or won't you?" Stella fixed her with a glare.

Briony relented. "Alright, I'll take one."

“Thank God I'm done nursing, or you'd have made my milk dry up from worry!" Briony: ".

31

Once her IV was finished, the two of them flew back to Northborough together.

As soon as she got home, Briony asked Carey to arrange for a personal bodyguard.noveldrama

The truth was, she knew Stella was right; she did need protection. But she'd acted nonchalant in front of

Stella so she wouldn't pick up on Briony's nerves and get even more worried.

Carey was efficient as always. By the third day, she'd already found the perfect candidate.