Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 50

Briony said calmly, “Let’s head back to the studio first.”

“The studio?” James raised an eyebrow.

“You brought the statue of Jesus, didn’t you?” Briony glanced at him. “I want to examine the piece in person.”

James chuckled. “Alright.”

Truth be told, he was just as eager—impatient, even—to see what Briony could do. He wanted to witness the kind of talent that could make the famously strict Professor Winslow still talk about her, even after five years.

When they arrived at the studio, Briony changed into her work clothes.

Inside the restoration room, she opened the artifact case and carefully placed the porcelain statue of Jesus on the workbench, then scanned it—

Data collected, she transferred the analysis to her computer.

Briony’s expression grew serious. “The damage is even worse than it looked in the photos. This will be a tough restoration. The craftsmanship is very old, and some of the original materials might be hard to source.”

James stood with one hand in his pocket, looking entertained. “So, after all that, are you saying you can’t restore it?”

“I can restore it,” Briony replied, pulling off her gloves and meeting James’s gaze. “But I’ll need some time.”

James said, “Professor said you have two weeks, tops.”

Two weeks? Briony pressed her lips together for a moment. “That’s more than enough. I’ll have it done in a week.”

James was momentarily taken aback. In truth, he’d already shaved the real deadline—Professor Winslow had given them a month, knowing how difficult it would be to find the required materials for the restoration.

He cleared his throat, trying to sound stern. “Briony, just remember—this artifact is incredibly rare. This is no time for shortcuts.”

“I know.”

Briony looked at the porcelain statue on the workbench. Her eyes shone—bright, determined. “Professor always said: every artifact is a witness to history, and every restoration is a profound dialogue with the past. As restorers, we need reverence for history and a true craftsman’s spirit. I’ve never forgotten those words.”

—

With Gina keeping watch at the hospital, Briony decided to stay at the studio, while James checked into a hotel nearby.

Before six the next morning, Briony was jolted awake by her phone buzzing with a call.

She’d stayed up late after James left, researching materials online until nearly 2 a.m. Groggy, she fumbled for her phone and hit answer. “Hello?”

James’s voice was barely more than a groan. “Wake up... Come rescue me at the hotel...”

Briony frowned. “What happened?”

“I’ve been in the bathroom all night...” His voice was weak, tinged with accusation. “Is there some kind of laxative in Northborough’s food?”

Briony was silent for a moment.