Ste quietly stepped back, moved to the side, and pulled out her phone. Keeping her expression carefully neutral, she opened WhatsApp and began typing a


    discreet message...


    "You think just saying that is enough to make me believe you?" Stewart stared at Briony, his breathing growing heavier and more erratic. "Briony, you wouldn''t— how could you dare-" He broke off abruptly, wracked by a fit of harsh coughing. The next moment, bright red blood spattered from his lips.


    "Stewart!"


    Cedric rke cried out, just barely managing to catch Stewart''s tall frame as he staggered and copsed in shock.


    "Where''s the gurney? Hurry-get him to the ER!"


    The room erupted into chaos as Stewart was rushed to the emergency room.


    The window of time while Stewart was being treated gave Briony the perfect opportunity.


    Ste had already messaged Dr. Grant, the hospital''s director, asking her to help alter Briony''s medical records.


    Just then, Ste''s phone rang. It was Dr. Grant calling back.


    "The records are missing?" Ste eximed in surprise. "Is it a system error?"


    Dr. Grant replied, "I checked with IT. Apparently, there was a glitch during some routine maintenance. They''re working on restoring the files-it might take a few days."


    Ste paused, then let out a softugh. "Well, that''s convenient. At least we don''t have to forge any records now."


    After hanging up, Ste quickly ryed the situation to Briony.


    Briony listened, her expression grave. "We can''t leave the recordspletely nk. Stewart would never buy it."


    "So what do you suggest?" Ste blinked. "Want me to fake an abortion report?"


    "No," Briony replied with a sly smile. "There''s another surgery that would be far more convincing."


    "What kind?" Ste asked.


    Briony nced at James, then beckoned Ste over with a crook of her finger. "Come here, I''ll tell you."


    Ste leaned in, and Briony whispered a few words in her ear.


    When she pulled back, Ste''s eyes were wide with surprise. After a long moment, she grinned and gave Briony a big thumbs-up. "Bryn, you''re a genius!"


    James narrowed his eyes, watching the two women whispering conspiratorially right in front of him, feeling distinctly left out.


    "Hey, that''s not fair! What are you talking about that I can''t hear? Have you even considered my feelings?"


    Ste reached up and patted James on the arm—he was a good head taller than her. "Be good, little brother. We''re keeping you out of the loop for your own good, trust us!"


    James: "...?"


    Stewart had suffered a fractured rib, a head wound, and a mild concussion. After surgery, he was transferred to a private VIP room.


    The moment the anesthesia wore off and he came to, he ordered Cedric rke to look into Briony''s medical records.


    Cedric had already done so while Stewart was unconscious.


    "She really did have surgery," Cedric reported, handing over the medical file.


    Stewart sat up slightly and took the file, flipping through it.


    "A uterine fibroid removal?" His expression darkened. "Are you sure you didn''t get this wrong?"


    "I''m just telling you what I found." Cedric shrugged. "It''s a prettymon issue- sometimes serious, sometimes not. In her case, it wasn''t too bad. She had a minorparoscopic procedure this morning."


    Stewart stared hard at the records in his hands.


    Could it really be true that Briony hadn''t been pregnant?


    How was that possible...?


    "Medical records can be faked," Stewart said coldly, fixing Cedric with a hard look. "Go find Quentin-he''s the hospital director. He can check the system logs. We''ll see if those files have been tampered with."