Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Briony watched the video, her daughter's cheeks still adorably round and full.

"Hey, sweetheart," she murmured softly. "Do you miss Mommy?"

Little Nina kept her head down, not quite catching on. "Of course I do~"

She sounded nonchalant, not even lifting her gaze.

Briony couldn't help but smile. "Do you really miss Mommy?"

"I really do..." Little Nina paused, then her tiny mind finally put two and two

together.

She jerked her head up, her big eyes widening as she saw Briony on the screen. "Mommy!"

"Mommy!"

Little Mario dropped his Lego bricks and dashed over at lightning speed.

Both little ones jostled in front of the phone, squishing their chubby faces side by side, each trying to get the best spot in front of the camera.

Neither was willing to give an inch.

"Hey! Little Mario, stop pushing! Mommy wants to see me, not you!" Nina protested.

"No way!" Little Mario shot back. "Mommy wants to see me too!"

"She called my name first!"

"Mommy called me too!"

Sibling love was all well and good, but when it came to vying for attention, neither of them had ever learned the meaning of compromise.

Before the squabbling could escalate, Briony quickly intervened, "Mommy wants to see both of you, so no fighting! Why don't you two sit together, and let your godfather hold the phone a bit farther away? That way, I can see you both at the same time."

That was the fairest solution.

James ushered them into the living room, helping them onto the couch, then propped the phone up on the coffee table.

Nina dangled her little feet off the couch, peering into the screen. "Mommy, when are you coming home from work?"

"In a few days, honey," Briony replied.

"A few days could be two days, or it could be nine days," little Mario said, ever the stickler for detail. "Mommy, can you tell us exactly how many days?"

Briony sighed and glanced at Stewart for help.

Stewart had been quietly watching the sweet scene from the sidelines. Catching her eye, he lifted three fingers.

Briony turned back to the phone. "Just three more days, and Mommy will be home."

"Yay!" Nina clapped her hands, beaming. "Mommy's coming home in three days! That's awesome!"

"This time you have to keep your promise! Mario frowned, already keeping score. "Don't be like Dad-he said he'd build a snowman with me, but then he didn't show up!

There was no hiding the disappointment in Mario's eyes.

Briony paused, glancing over at Stewart.

He quickly brought a finger to his lips, signaling her not to say anything.

Briony pressed her lips together.

"Yeah!

He's a

never keeps his word.

liar!" Nina chimed in. "et

promised to take me to preschool,

the still hasn't

Their complaints hung in the air, but Stewart remained hidden in the background, silent.

Briony chatted with the kids a little longer before finally ending the call.

When the screen went dark, she turned to Stewart. "Aren't you planning to go back?"

"I will," Stewart replied.

"Then why are you hiding from the kids?"

He hesitated, looking a little awkward. "I just... wanted to surprise them."

Briony blinked in surprise.noveldrama

Was he actually embarrassed?

Who would've thought that the once-cold, proud man would one day care so much about making his children happy?

He clearly still wasn't used to it; no wonder he seemed so uncomfortable.

But there was something endearing about it—something undeniably human.

Those two little ones really had softened and healed him.

"Stewart, you're going to be a wonderful father." Briony sat back on the sofa lifting her chin slightly meet his gaze. "And thank you for being willing to change for them."

Stewart froze for a moment.

It was the first time since becoming a father that Briony had actually

acknowledged him.

He swallowed hard, quickly turning away.

With his uninjured hand, he covered his face.

In the quiet hospital room, his voice came out thick and choked. "Thank you, Bryn."