After returning from Ghana to Northborough, Briony spent a full three days resting at home.


    Following Ste''s prenatal nutrition n, Gina cooked something different for every meal, making sure Briony never had the same dish twice.


    Gradually, Briony''s appetite improved, and she managed to eat more than she had before.


    During those three days, aside from James dropping by daily to check on her- and to discuss a bit of work-no one else disturbed Briony.


    Ste, now back at the hospital, was swamped with patients, but she still found time to text Briony and check in on her.


    By the fourth day, Briony looked and felt much better, ready to get back to her usual routine.


    The moment she arrived at the studio that morning, Hannah greeted her with news: someone had sent her flowers again.


    Briony could pretty much guess who the sender was.


    This time, it was a bouquet of white roses—just like before, a card tucked inside.


    Without even ncing at the card, Briony tossed it straight into the trash, then told Hannah to take the flowers down to the café on the ground floor.


    As Hannah headed downstairs with the bouquet, she ran into James at the entrance.


    He raised an eyebrow at the sight of the flowers. "More flowers for our Briony?"


    Lately, James had been calling her "our Briony" so often that everyone at the studio was used to it.


    Hannah just shrugged. "Doesn''t matter how many she gets, Briony doesn''t seem to care for flowers at all-she doesn''t even look at them."


    "Not a fan of flowers, huh?" James scoffed lightly. "She just isn''t interested in the person sending them!"


    Hannah blinked. "Do you know who keeps sending them, Mr. Dney?"


    "No need to know. Doesn''t matter who it is—our Briony''s not impressed."


    With his hands in his pockets, James sauntered upstairs, looking as cool as ever.


    Briony had barely entered the restoration room when James pushed open the door behind her.


    "Why didn''t you stay home a few more days? The curator said you should take it easy the Antiquarian Society can wait."


    "I feel much better already," Briony replied, tying her work apron. "Restoring artifacts helps me focus-I actually enjoy the whole process."


    "You''re such a workaholic." James pulled on a pair of gloves. "By the way, Garry sent you flowers again today, didn''t he?"


    "Most likely." Briony took a seat at the workbench. "I didn''t read the card. Tossed it."


    James grinned at that. "Good call. He never struck me as a decent guy, anyway." Briony just nodded, slipping on her safety goggles. "Let''s get the artifact up here."


    "On it."


    They spent the entire morning together in the restoration room.


    At lunchtime, Gina brought their meals up.


    Briony had made sure there was an extra serving for James.


    The two of them ate in the office.


    James, eyeing the delicious, bnced meal, couldn''t help but joke, "My goddaughters are really looking out for their old man already."


    Briony just stared at him, speechless.


    Halfway through lunch, James suddenly asked, "By the way, has Stewart told you when he''s filing for divorce?"


    "Not yet." Briony paused, then added, "Since I got back, I haven''t contacted him at all."


    "Are you waiting for him to make the first move?" James rolled his eyes. "Don''t hold your breath."


    "It''s not that," Briony said after a moment. "I just wanted to rest for a few days first. But I''ll ask him this afternoon."


    James nodded. "That''s for the best. The sooner it''s handled, the less drama there''ll be."


    Briony agreed wholeheartedly.


    So, after lunch, she called Stewart.


    He didn''t answer.


    She didn''t try again, just sent a text:


    When are we going to city hall to file the paperwork?