Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

The sun blazed overhead, its heat intense, while a gentle summer breeze played across the faces of two young children.

Briony wore a soft beige sundress and a floppy bucket hat, a protective mask covering the lower half of her face.

She took a few steps forward, crouched down, and opened her arms wide, ready to welcome her two children-

James, seeing this, set Little Nina gently on the ground.

Little Nina and her brother, Mario, charged towards Briony with all the speed their little legs could muster.

Standing beside Briony, Stewart watched the two bundles of energy barrel toward their mother. Worried they might knock her over, he stepped forward and intercepted them just in time.

The kids couldn't stop themselves and crashed right into Stewart, each grabbing onto one of his long legs.

"Whoa!"

"Ow!"

Both children looked up in surprise.

Stewart glanced down at them, his narrow eyes softening, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"It's been a while, Little Nina, Mario."

He ruffled their hair with both hands, his touch gentle and familiar.

The kids stared up at him, frozen for a moment.

Then, after a few seconds, Little Nina was the first to react.

"Daddy!"

Her face lit up with delight as she bounced on her toes, arms outstretched. "Daddy, pick me up! I want a hug!"

Stewart bent down and scooped his daughter into his arms, his voice full of warmth. "Did you miss me?"

"Of course!" Little Nina squealed, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Stewart's heart melted at the gesture. He looked down at Mario, tousling his hair again. "Mario, didn't you miss Dad?"

Mario blinked, still hugging Stewart's leg, quiet and hesitant.

For Mario, the shock was much bigger than for his sister. To him, it was as if his dad had gone away to become a star in the sky, and now, suddenly, he was back-no longer a distant star, but right here on earth in front of him. sŵnovel

So many questions and feelings swirled in his little head.

Briony, still crouched nearby, noticed her son's struggle

immediately-mothers always know. She pulled him into a gentle embrace, stroking his soft cheek, and whispered in his ear, "Daddy never turned into a star. He's always been just fine. He's made enough money now, so every winter, he'll be home to build snowmen with us, Mario."

Hearing this, Mario turned to look at Stewart.

Stewart, still holding his daughter, crouched down to meet his son's gaze. His

eyes were full of tenderness. "Do you want a hug too, Mario?"

Mario's lower lip trembled. All the emotions he'd been holding back finally overflowed.

"Daddy!” he cried, flinging himself into Stewart's arms and burying his face in his father's shoulder. His sobs were muffled and quiet, but his small body shook with each one.

A sharp ache pricked Stewart's heart.

Mario, more than Little Nina, always struggled to express his feelings. Maybe it was because he was the older brother, or maybe it was

1.n

Stewart's own fault-he'd et

told

Mario that if he ever had to go away, Mario should be brave, should try to grow into a man who could protect his mom and little sister.

Since Stewart left, Mario had probably been bottling up all his feelings, trying to be strong.

But he was only five years old.

Stewart felt a wave of regret for the way he'd tried to teach his son to be brave, too soon. But he was here now, alive and home. The kids were still young, and he still had time to change, to be a better father.

Little Nina hadn't meant to cry, but when she saw her brother's tears, she started crying too.

With both kids sobbing in his arms, Stewart was suddenly at a loss. He'd just managed to calm Mario down when Nina started up again; as soon as he turned to comfort her, Mario would start crying all over.

He was caught in the middle, completely overwhelmed.

At last, Briony stepped in, unable to watch any longer.

"All right, that's enough. No more tears, or I'm pulling out my phone and snapping clown pictures of both of you!"noveldrama