Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Lorna Riley watched as James Delaney was once again rendered speechless by her words. The playful glint in her eyes faded; she cleared her throat and grew serious.

"As of now, I haven't received any bad news. At the very least, I can confirm that Briony Kensington is still alive."

"Still alive..." James lowered his gaze. "She's alive, but being held somewhere- so she can't contact us, is that it?"

"No news is sometimes the best news," Lorna replied. "In our line of work, silence usually means things aren't getting worse. From what I know, Ferdinand Ellsworth's background is complicated and powerful, but he hasn't actually harmed the children. That alone shows he's holding back."

James looked up at her, searching her expression. After a moment, he spoke quietly. "You're saying Ferdinand really does have feelings for Bryn. He knows how much she cares about those kids, so he can't bring himself to hurt them?" "He's gone soft, sure. Or maybe he's keeping them as leverage, to force Briony's hand." Lorna's eyes narrowed. "It's mercy, but it's calculated."

James exhaled heavily, the weight clear in his voice. "Bryn will give in to protect those children. That's what Ferdinand wants."

"Falling in love is the last thing a fugitive can afford," Lorna said, arms crossed as she turned to look out at the blue sky through the window. "I grew up in a mercenary outfit. Selected when I was eleven, sent to a training camp. First rule they drilled into us: never get attached. No family, no friends, no romance. Because feelings make you weak. They make you hesitate. In a firefight, hesitation gets you killed."

James watched her, studying the sharp lines of her profile, the cool detachment in her eyes. He couldn't really imagine the life she described those stories sounded like scenes from a movie: thrilling, dramatic, but always feeling just a bit unreal to him.

He'd grown up with every comfort, in a peaceful country, with a loving family and a world that felt safe. He'd never pictured someone like Lorna Stepping into his life-and certainly never imagined living alongside her, or caring for two children together.

They were from different worlds. But somehow, their paths had crossed.noveldrama

“Lorna,” James said, his voice low and serious, "how did you meet Stewart Wentworth?"

Lorna turned meeting his gaze head-on. She smiled, her eyebrows arching just slightly. "Stewart and aren't the same. He was with the

peacekeeping forces-he too honet

orders from his superiors. I

answered to whoever paid me.

Mercenaries like me have no flag, no allegiance. We can be allies or enemies, depending on who holds the contract."

She paused, her voice growing softer. "Stewart and I worked together on an operation overseas We needed all the help we could get, but even so, it turned into a

bloodbath. Everyone on my team it

died. I almost didn't ma veget

myself-Stewart saved my life."

James felt a chill just hearing it. "Was that mission connected to Ferdinand, too?"

"That's not something you need to know," Lorna said, stepping closer and giving his shoulder a friendly pat. "Mr. Delaney, curiosity is dangerous. People who know too much rarely live happy lives."

James frowned, holding her gaze. After a moment, he gently brushed her hand off his shoulder. "I misjudged you before. I'm sorry for that."

She grinned, cocking an eyebrow at him. "Apology accepted. But is that all? Seems a little half-hearted, don't you think? I'm not tied to any organization now. I work for myself— a free agent. So, Mr. Delaney, want to try your luck and date me?"