Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Northborough.

On the second day after Briony went missing, James had already made up his mind to go to the police. But just as he stepped out of his car in front of the station, Lorna appeared out of nowhere.

She lunged at him the moment he opened the door, shoving him straight back into the car.

The door slammed shut behind them.noveldrama

James exploded. "Lorna, have you lost your mind? Get off me!"

Lorna's position was nothing short of awkward-one foot braced against the center console, the other dangling out the open door, with James's long legs trapped beneath hers.

Not exactly how he'd pictured his morning.

No matter how roomy a Land Rover was, the driver's seat simply wasn't made for two adults.

The closeness, the tangle of limbs, made James bristle with embarrassment.

His usually bright, handsome face turned a shade of red he hadn't known he was capable of.

Lorna hadn't planned any of this, but seeing James blush, her playful side kicked in.

She let her hands travel slowly up from his shoulders, looping them around his neck.

"Well, well, Mr. Delaney, are you blushing?"

James glared at her, speechless.

"Didn't take you for the bashful type," Lorna teased, letting her fingertip trace the sharp line of his jaw. "Don't tell me you've never even had a girlfriend."

James gritted his teeth. "Get off me!"

"Oh? And how should I do that exactly?"

He shot her a death glare.

Lorna just grinned, arching an elegant eyebrow. "You're twenty-eight, aren't you, Mr. Delaney? You should be used to this sort of thing by now..."

Her finger drifted lower, about to reach the hollow of his throat-when suddenly James's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in a firm grip.

His voice was ice-cold. "Lorna, if you keep this up, don't blame me for losing my patience."

Lorna didn't back down; she just blinked up at him, eyes sparkling with mischief. "And what exactly are you going to do, Mr. Delaney?"

"Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a woman."

"Who said I need you to go easy on me?" Lorna shot back. "If it came to a fight, I'm not so sure you'd win."

James glared at her, his frustration boiling over. "Lorna, you're seriously out of your mind!"

"Alright, alright!" Lorna saw he was about to snap. She swung her legs back into the passenger seat with practiced ease, finally giving him space.

She glanced down at the hand still gripping her wrist. "You're still holding on. Can't bear to let me go?"

James let go instantly.

"Get out of my car," he growled.

"Sorry, can't do that," Lorna replied her tone suddenly soft and almost gentle. In fact, Mr. Delaney, you

might have to get used to seeing me every day for a while."

James scowled. “Lorna, enough already. Stewart is gone. No one here needs you anymore. Please, just go."

She cocked her head, unfazed. "Who says no one needs me? Briony does. And so do the kids."

James froze. "What did you just say?"

All traces of mischief vanished from Lorna's face. "I know Briony's missing."

His eyes narrowed. "How do you know that? Are you involved in her disappearance?"

Lorna

exagged her eyes, putting on an

exaggerated look of disappointment.

"I may

Hot be a saint, but I'm not that heartless. Honestly, Mr. Delaney, you wound me."

James pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion written all over his face.

"Lorna, I'm serious. I don't have time for your games."

She sighed. "Don't call the police.

This situation is... complicated. The

cops won't be able to help, and you'll

just drag yourself into something

can't handle."

He shot her a look of pure disbelief. "Briony's gone, and you expect me to just sit here and wait for her to wander home?"

"She didn't just disappear," Lorna said quietly. "Ferdinand took her. They're both in Nortia right now."