Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 661

In the end, Briony put on the necklace.

With it around her neck, the bare feeling vanished, and her collarbones no longer seemed so stark and exposed.

Stella nudged her toward the mirror. “Well? Doesn’t it look nice?”

Briony studied her reflection, fingers brushing the chain. She still looked uneasy. “I don’t know… I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Is it the style you don’t like?”

Briony shot her a look.

Stella grinned mischievously. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop teasing. I know what’s really bothering you. You’re worried Stewart will get the wrong idea. But trust me, he’s got a pretty clear sense of where things stand these days. You don’t have to worry about wearing his necklace making him think you want to get back together.”

Briony regarded Stella, a headache coming on. “When did you become such an expert on Stewart?”

“It’s not like that,” Stella protested. “He came by the house a few days ago to see Cedric Clarke. I just happened to overhear them talking on the stairs.”

She thought back for a moment. “Cedric asked him what his plans were now. Stewart said all he wanted was for you to get better, and once you did, he’d stop bothering you.”

Briony pressed her lips together, thoughtful.

It was true—Stewart had told her the same thing that day.

“Bryn, the way I see it, Stewart just wants to make amends. You went through a lot because of him, and even though you’ve both made peace and you’re ready to move forward, he still feels guilty. If he wants to make things right, let him. Just guard your own heart and you’ll be fine.”

Briony lowered her gaze, silent.

Stella lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Or… are you afraid you’ll end up wavering?”

“It’s not that. I’m not worried about falling for him again. It’s just… we’re not married anymore. It feels like we should keep a little distance.”

“Yes, you’re divorced,” Stella conceded, “but you have two kids together. And you’re both single. A little contact doesn’t mean anything. Honestly, with the kids, you’re practically family anyway. Families help each other out, that’s normal.”

Briony lifted her eyes. “That’s not what you said last time. Last time you warned me that if we kept this up, I’d end up right back with him.”

Stella shut her eyes dramatically as if to erase her own words. “That was then, this is now!”

Briony tapped Stella’s forehead. “You talk more nonsense than a bad ex.”

“Hey!” Stella rubbed her head. “I just think what you two have now is good. You’re like friends, maybe even family. With the kids, you’ll never be totally out of each other’s lives, so why not just let things happen naturally?”

“Friends don’t usually hover over each other every minute.”