Regretting the Wife He Threw Away

Ferdinand reached out and took Briony's hand, his voice steady. "As long as I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you."

Briony resisted the urge to pull away, her expression calm. "Ferdinand, you're not a god. No one can escape their fate. You don't have to sugarcoat things for me. Life and death are out of our hands. I can accept that."

His tone grew firm. "I told you I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

She gave a faint, wry smile. "Honestly, the way you're acting makes me feel like my days are really numbered."

Ferdinand froze, then pressed his lips together tightly.

Briony had always respected Ferdinand's skills as a doctor. Back in the old town, people traveled for miles just to seek him out. He'd been the final apprentice of a renowned physician, and with his natural talent, he had solved countless baffling

cases.

A suspicion was starting to form in Briony's mind, but she didn't ask any more questions.

"Should we postpone the wedding?" Briony pulled her hand free and looked at Ferdinand, her voice even. "I probably won't last much longer. There's a good chance you'll end up a widower soon after your honeymoon. That's hardly an auspicious start. Honestly, I think you should just call off the wedding."

"We're not calling it off." Ferdinand's gaze locked on her. "Bryn, first of all, I won't let you die. But even if, by some impossible chance, you did-your name would still go on my wife's headstone."

Briony let out a cold laugh.

Dead or alive, she thought, there's no escaping you.

"If you're so set on keeping the wedding, fine. But you'll have to handle it yourself. I'm exhausted—I really don't have the energy to care about any of that right now."

"Don't worry, I'll have someone take care of everything. Your only job is to rest and get better."

Briony stifled a yawn behind her hand. "I'm tired."

Ferdinand tucked the blanket around her shoulders. "Get some sleep. I've already sent people out to find the medicine you need. You'll be fine soon."

She didn't answer. Her eyes drifted shut, and she quickly slipped back into unconsciousness.

Her illness had come on hard and fast. Acupuncture and fever reducers only helped for a little while.

Within two hours, her temperature began to climb again.

Ferdinand didn't dare risk another round of acupuncture so soon, so he gave her some fever medicine instead.

The medication brought her temperature down a little, but not completely. She remained in a hazy, half-awake state.

Mary was pregnant, and Ferdinand had forbidden her from entering Briony's room, afraid the sickness might harm the baby. He was so protective of the child that Mary didn't even think to protest

The baby was her lifeline now. If anything happened to it, Ferdinand would be furious-she wouldn't survive the consequences.

For three days, Briony drifted in and out of fever, never fully conscious.

Belinda and Ferdinand kept constant watch by her bedside, refusing to leave for a moment.

It wasn't until the fourth day that Gifford returned with the medicine.

Ferdinand prepared the prescription and had Gifford personally brew the herbal remedy.

Once it was ready, Ferdinand carefully fed it to Briony.

An hour or so later, the medicine slowly began to work. Her fever finally started to subside.

As dusk settled outside, Briony finally woke up completely.

She opened her eyes to see Ferdinand's face, full of concern.

"Bryn, you're awake." He brushed a hand over her pale, thin cheek. "You're finally awake. See? I told you

I wouldn't let you die." Cool

Briony had no strength at all. She just blinked, piecing together the memories

from before she slipped under.

Gradually, it came back to her.

She was sick-so sick that not even Ferdinand could cure her.

"How long was I asleep?"noveldrama

"Three days," Ferdinand replied gently. "Gifford brought back the medicine. Bryn, as long as you follow my instructions and take your medicine, we can keep your illness under control."