Briony still chose to go through with the procedure.


    Ste, sensing that her friend wasn''t exactly in a calm state of mind, suggested she go home, take a hot shower, get some sleep, and wait until morning to make a final decision. "There''s no rush," she said gently.


    But Briony was resolute.


    Seeing her determination, Ste didn''t try to talk her out of it any further.


    It wasn''t that Ste necessarily thought keeping Stewart''s child was the better option. She just worried that Briony was acting out of pure emotion, and she didn''t want her friend to make a decision she''d regret when the storm had passed. So she''d pressed a little harder, just in case.


    But now, with Briony''s mind made up, Ste switched to unwavering support-just as any best friend would.


    That night, Ste apanied Briony back to her ce at Dolphin Cove.


    Once home, she all but pushed Briony toward the bathroom. "Go take a hot shower," she said. "I''ll make us some pasta. By the time you''re out, dinner will be ready."


    Briony nodded quietly.


    Ste wagged her finger at her. "Don''t stay in too long, okay? You''re pregnant, and long hot showers can make you dizzy!"


    "Alright, I know," Briony replied.


    As the bathroom door closed, she walked over to the mirror.


    The woman staring back at her looked pale, with eyes red and swollen from crying.


    She was a mess.


    Briony turned on the faucet and sshed icy water onto her face. The cold washed away some of the fog in her mind.


    After a moment, she looked up again, meeting her own gaze in the mirror. Slowly, the sorrow in her eyes began to fade.


    After tonight, those five years of misguided devotion-no matter how pitiful or ridiculous would be behind her.


    [Briony, move forward. Don''t look back.]


    A vicious snowstorm had raged through the night, but by morning, sunlight sparkled across the city, nketing everything in a dazzlingyer of white. It looked as if the world had been draped in a veil studded with diamonds.


    Briony woke early. She made some nourishing soup and steamed a few fresh rolls for breakfast.


    When everything was ready, she went to rouse Ste, who was still snug under the covers.


    Ste had work that morning, so after breakfast, the two left together.


    Briony needed to stop by her studio, so Ste dropped her off on the way.


    Before Briony got out of the car, Ste checked one more time. "Are you sure about this?"


    Briony met her eyes, calm and steady. "Director Grant said they can''t schedule the procedure for at least another week, right? That''s perfect-I have an artifact restoration to finish in the next few days. The timing works out."


    "Sounds like you''ve got everything under control." Ste thumped her chest in mock relief. "Alright, I''ll support whatever you decide."


    Briony smiled faintly. "Thanks."


    ...


    Once she was at the studio, Briony called James.


    He arrived about ten minutester.


    She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.


    Once in the car, she buckled her seatbelt and said, "Let''s go. I checked-there''s


    an antiques market over in Ashbourne Valley, about thirty miles away. If we head


    out now and don''t waste time, we should be able to get back today."


    James rested one hand on the wheel, idly fiddling with a wooden bead bracelet in the other.


    "So I''m your chauffeur now?"


    Briony nced over at him, meeting his eyes. "Wasn''t it your idea? You said you didn''t trust me not to cheat, and you had to supervise the whole process."


    James just grunted.


    "Come on. I have to leave town for a while next week. I need to finish this restoration before then."


    "Leave town?" James asked. "Where to?"


    Briony turned her gaze to the window. "Just taking some time off. Need a break."


    He snorted. "No wonder Professor White says youck ambition." Briony''sshes fluttered, but she didn''t argue.


    James was a skilled driver. He made the thirty-mile trip in just over half an hour. Ashbourne Valley sat on the edge of Northborough, a quirky little town full of odds and ends—some genuine, many not. For neers, it was a minefield of fakes and scams, but every so often, a real treasure surfaced for the trained eye. Briony and James spent the whole morningbing through the market, but came up empty-handed.


    By lunchtime, they ducked into a nearby diner for a quick bite before heading back out.


    Meanwhile, Jason was also at the market, hunting for pieces for the auction house he nned to open.


    He''d just scored a promising find when he spotted Briony and James. Raising an eyebrow, he snapped a few photos on his phone and sent them to the group chat.


    Jason: [Am I cursed or something? Why do I keep running into Briony everywheretely?]


    Cedric rke was on his lunch break. Curious, he tapped the notification and scrolled through the photos.


    Cedric rke: [The guy with Ms. Kensington looks pretty young. Is that her boyfriend?]


    Jason: [Boyfriend? No way. James is three years younger than Briony, I think.]


    Cedric rke: [So what? Older women, younger men-didn''t you date someone nine years your seniorst year, Jason? Who was it calling her ''ma''am'' every five minutes?]


    Stewart: [Is that the one you had to pay half a million to break up with?]


    Jason: [......]


    Cedric rke: [Haha! Attorney Wentworth never forgets a detail.] Jason: [Cedric, if you can''t say anything nice, just don''t say anything at all!] Cedric replied with a shrug emoji.


    Rosita: [Jason, I told you gossiping about people behind their backs isn''t right.]


    Jason rolled his eyes and typed back: [I didn''t say anything bad this time!]


    Rosita: [I just think Ms. Kensington is a grown woman. She''s beautiful and sessful—if she''s dating a younger guy, good for her! We don''t know the whole story, so let''s not jump to conclusions.]


    Jason couldn''t help himself. He shot back: [She''s hardly what I''d call ''sessful—all she does is try tond a rich man.] Then he exited the chat, put away his phone, and walked over to where Briony and James were standing.


    Of course, he wasn''t interested in Briony. His real target was James, the young prodigy already on the government''s radar for his talents.


    Briony had finally tracked down the materials she needed. After negotiating the price and paying, she was about to leave when she turned and found herself face- to-face with Jason.


    She simply nced at him, indifferent.


    James, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow.


    Jason, ever the smooth operator, extended his hand to James. "Mr. Dney, it''s


    an honor. I''ve seen your interviews on the Arts Channel..."


    Briony didn''t interrupt. She just turned away, heading for another antiques stall nearby.