Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

James paused, looking at Lorna with a searching gaze. "How do you know all this?"

"Briony reached out to me in private."

James was stunned. "Briony contacted you herself?"

"That's right." Lorna nodded. "She told me Ferdinand's been acting obsessive lately. She's run into some trouble and senses that Ferdinand won't let her off easily. That's why she paid me to come back and help you protect the kids."

James's anxiety spiked. "Wait, are you saying Briony knows she might be in danger?"

Lorna nodded. "Ever since that box of candy from Ferdinand, she's been on guard. She knew Ferdinand might take out his anger on the children because of Stewart, so she figured if she could keep them safe, she'd risk herself if she had to."

James's face went pale. "Risk herself? Has she lost her mind? What exactly is she planning?"

"She has her own plan. What matters now is that you work with me. Ferdinand's people are watching the kids-our priority is to get them somewhere safe."

James pressed, "And after that? What happens once they're safe?"

Lorna's expression darkened. "Once the children are secure, Briony will have nothing left to worry about. She can finally settle things with Ferdinand for all."

James caught the hidden meaning behind her words.

once and

"What is she thinking..." he muttered, staring at the floor. "She's changed so much. Something this big, and she just decides on her own, doesn't say a word... Did she even think about what would happen to the kids if something happened to her?"

"Mr. Delaney, I know you're worried. But trust me, our people are already in place. As soon as the children are safe, they'll move."

Lorna looked James squarely in the eye. "Right now, protecting those two is the most important thing. That's what Briony asked me to do—and she told me she needs your help. With her gone, you're the one those kids trust most."

James's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel, eyes rimmed red. "Maybe if I hadn't cared so much for those kids, Briony wouldn't have made such a drastic choice..."

Lorna pressed her lips together, silent for a moment.noveldrama

There were things Briony had said at the end-things Lorna wasn't ready to share with James. She was afraid this gentle man wouldn't be able to handle it.

She only said, "Briony isn't telling you everything because she wants to protect you, too."

Briony spent seven long days as a captive at the Sanctonia Private Estate.

Every single day, she was forced to drink a bowl of some herbal concoction.

Ferdinand returned daily, each time just to watch her choke down the medicine.

After every bowl, Briony would slip

into a

the

Lep sleep, only to wake upe

t day feeling physically fine, as if nothing had happened.

If she hadn't been locked up, she might have believed those tonics were simply meant to restore her health.

Ferdinand insisted, over and over, that the medicine was for her own good, but Briony never quite believed him.

On the eighth day, the medicine changed.

Now it was a thick, black, bitter liquid. Briony stared at it, unable to even bring herself to taste it.

Ferdinand set the bowl in front of her. "Bryn, so you've learned to lie, too."

Briony's nerves tensed-she forced herself to play dumb. "Lie? What are you talking about?"

"The children have been taken away. Hidden." Ferdinand's eyes turned cold and dangerous. "You've been guarding against me all along. Bryn, you've managed to disappoint me yet again."

He took a step closer. "So now, I'm going to have to punish you."