Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Briony was completely thrown off.

Beatrice's boldness was honestly overwhelming-Briony could barely process it and could only turn helplessly to Maynard.

Maynard rubbed his brow, trying to keep his composure as he addressed Beatrice. "Grandma, please, let's not rush. Things between us are a little... complicated. If you push like this, it'll put Bryn in an impossible position."

"Complicated?" Beatrice gave Maynard a sharp look. "Don't tell me... You two have already eloped and gotten married behind our backs?"

Maynard fell silent.

So did Briony.

Stewart, standing nearby, finally lost his patience.

"Bryn." He stepped forward, ignoring everyone else in the room, his gaze fixed on

Briony, eyes dark and intent. "Can we talk? Just the two of us."

Briony looked at him coolly. "Mr. Wentworth, I'm afraid I don't have time to entertain you right now."

Beatrice and Afra exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.

Truthfully, before coming here, the Maynard family had already done their homework on Briony's background.

They knew about her past with Stewart. Even though their marriage had never been made public, it wasn't difficult for the Maynards to dig up the truth.

Briony wasn't marrying for the first time, and she and Stewart had two children together. The Maynards were a little disappointed, sure, but they weren't a family bound by old-fashioned rules; as long as the person was good-hearted, a second marriage wasn't a dealbreaker.

And as for the children? The Maynards had plenty of resources-they certainly didn't mind welcoming two more kids into the family.

Besides, those kids' biological father was Stewart-head of the Northborough Bar Association, now also the vice president of Neonova Corporation, and son-in-law to the powerful Cooper family. With his status, it wasn't as if his children would ever be neglected.

The Maynards had already agreed: as long as the marriage went through and Lori could be officially recognized as family, they wouldn't mind at all if Briony brought her two children into the Maynard household.

Still, they'd never expected that after making all these preparations and coming here in full, formal splendor to propose, they'd run right into Stewart.

The atmosphere grew strangely tense.

Maynard looked at Stewart and offered a polite smile. "Mr. Wentworth, did you come to see the kids? You're a bit early-school doesn't let out until four-thirty."

Stewart's gaze swept over to Maynard, his face darkening. "Taking advantage while others are down-does that make you proud, Maynard?"

Maynard just chuckled. "Mr. Wentworth, why the accusations? Weren't those photos online taken at the request of your new wife? If you can't keep your own house in order and it drags me, Bryn, and our newborn into this mess, we should be the ones demanding answers. Yet here you are, acting like the victim."

The Maynard family exchanged uncertain glances.

Was something else going on?

"Maynard, are you saying those stories online were started by Mr. Wentworth's new wife?" Afra

frowned at Maynard, giving himanet

warning look. “Be careful with your words-don't make claims you can't prove."

Maynard smiled calmly. "Mom, if you're really that curious, why not just ask Mr. Wentworth yourself?"

Afra turned to Stewart, and so did the rest of the Maynard elders.noveldrama

Stewart's expression remained icy and unmoved. He couldn't have cared less what the Maynards thought of him, nor was he bothered by Maynard's attempt to paint him as the villain.

He was here for one reason only: to stop Briony and Maynard from being pushed together, to prevent the Maynards from persuading Briony into marriage by using the children as leverage.

"Bryn." Stewart looked at Briony. "Do you want me to tell the truth in front of everyone, or will you speak with me in private?"

Briony narrowed her eyes, glaring at him with a flash of anger. "Are you threatening me?"

That look of hurt and anger stabbed right through Stewart's chest.

Still, he kept his face set, voice low and steady know you only went along with Maynard's

announcement for Lori's sake. But Bryn, there's a lot you don't know. If you rush into accepting the O Maynards' proposal, what about our kids?"

Briony let out a cold laugh. "So you do remember we have two children, Stewart.

Yet everything that's happened-wasn't it all set in motion by your new wife?"