Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 55

The taxi rolled to a stop just outside the gates of Southcreek Manor.

Briony stepped out, her hands weighed down by two large shopping bags as she made her way up the stone path to the house.

On the way over, she’d stopped by her studio to pick up the New Year’s gifts she’d ordered online weeks ago, figuring this was as good a time as any to finally deliver them.

She pressed the doorbell.

The door swung open almost immediately.

Stewart stood there, lips pressed into a thin line. “The code hasn’t changed,” he said, voice cool and even.

Briony just nodded, gaze dropping as she stepped inside.

“Is Irwin still locked away in his room?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Stewart replied, glancing at the bags in her hands. “You brought him gifts?”

“New Year’s presents,” she said, her tone flat. Without another word, she started up the stairs.

Stewart lingered in the foyer for a moment, watching her retreat, then followed after.

Upstairs, outside the children’s room.

Briony knocked gently. “Irwin, would you open the door? I brought you lots of presents.”

“I don’t want your stupid presents!” came Irwin’s furious shout from inside. “You’re a liar! You weren’t busy with work at all! Why did you lie to me?”

Briony’s brow knit together.

He’d never lashed out at her like this before.

Clearly, her little white lie about being away on business had hit him harder than she’d expected.

She let out a silent sigh and raised her hand to knock again, but footsteps creaked up behind her.

Stewart appeared, holding out a key.

Briony’s face darkened when she saw it.

“If you had the key all along, why didn’t you open the door sooner?”

Stewart just raised an eyebrow, somewhere between exasperated and amused. “If you didn’t come, unlocking the door wouldn’t change anything. What Irwin needs right now is you.”