Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

"What is it you really want, Ferdinand?"

"I've already told you-I want to marry you."

"That's never going to happen." Briony's stare was icy. "Don't try to become another Fred, Ferdinand."

"I'm nothing like him." Ferdinand's gaze didn't waver as he gently traced her chin with his thumb. "Bryn, you saved my life. I would never treat you the way my father treated my mother. If you'll just stay by my side, I swear I'll give you the very best of everything."

Briony didn't flinch. "I don't love you. I could never marry you."

"Love can grow." Ferdinand's voice was soft but insistent. "You were married to Stewart in secret for five years-you didn't fall for him right away, did you? I know you, Bryn. You have a gentle heart. If we live together for a few years, I know you'll come to love me too."

Briony frowned, realizing that Ferdinand's obsession with her had more to do with Stewart than with anything else.

Maybe, deep down, Stewart had always been his imaginary rival.

"Ferdinand, I lost faith in marriage a long time ago. I like my life as it is now. I don't love Stewart anymore, and you don't have to force me into marrying you just to prove you're better than him."

"You really think this is all about Stewart?"

"It doesn't matter, does it?" Briony let out a weary sigh. "What matters is that what you're doing is making me miserable. Ferdinand, if you keep pushing me, all you'll end up with is a corpse."

"You'd really do that?" Ferdinand let out a cold laugh. "You still have two wonderful children. Would you really leave them behind?"

"If I have to, that's because you pushed me to it." Briony forced herself to sound indifferent. “My children aren't my whole world. Marriage and love-they're just extra baggage to me now. All I want is to be myself. I hope you can understand that."

"I don't understand, and I don't want to." Ferdinand's eyes locked onto hers. "I want you to love me, Bryn. You managed to love Stewart for five years-why can't you love me?"

Briony didn't bother to answer. There was no point arguing with him anymore.

Ferdinand had clearly gone off the deep end.

He was acting just like Stewart had during that time on the Atlantic.

Was there something wrong with Fred's bloodline?

"You have seven days,” Ferdinand finally said. "I won't force you during that time. You're free to walk around the estate as you like, but don't even think about running-there's no way you'll escape."

With that, Ferdinand released her and strode out of the room.

He didn't bother to close the door. Briony watched his retreating form, rubbing hernoveldrama

jaw where his grip had left it sore.

From what he'd said, she guessed she must now be in Nortia.

And this estate-this must be the Sanctonia Private Estate that Lorna had mentioned.

Mary was probably here too.

Ferdinand really had gone mad. He

was

while Mary bear his children

t the same time

Briony and forcing her to marry him.

He was utterly insane.

Briony stepped out of the room and made her way downstairs.

Outside, she heard the sound of a car pulling away.

That must have been Ferdinand leaving.

As she reached the ground floor, a middle-aged woman came forward to greet her. "Ms. Kensington, I'm the housekeeper here. If you need anything at all, just let me know."

Briony studied her for a moment. "Are you Chinese?"

"Yes, I am. My name is Belinda. I used to look after Mrs. Ellsworth, and now Mr. Ellsworth has asked me to take care of Miss Mary."

So Mary really was here.

Footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Belinda heard them and hurried forward. "Miss Mary, what are you doing out of

bed?"