How did Stewart know she was here?


    Briony stared coolly at Stewart as he came to a stop just a few paces away. "Stewart, did you have someone follow me?"


    "In Northborough, it isn''t hard for me to find someone I''m looking for."


    Standing beneath his umbre, Stewart''s face was cold and severe. His gaze flicked briefly to the statue of a saint behind Briony.


    "You''re really going all out for James," he said with biting sarcasm. "You were attacked this morning, yet you still dared toe up here alone."


    Briony had no patience for his usations. Her tone was icy as she replied, "Since you clearly already know what happened to me this morning, there''s no need to exin. It''s still early-we might as well swing by city hall and get the divorce paperwork over with."


    A bitter, humorless smile tugged at Stewart''s lips. "Briony, I have to say, your performance is pretty convincing."


    Briony frowned. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "If·


    f you really wanted a divorce, you could have called me the moment James''s surgery was over. Instead, you ran up here to pray for him. Don''t kid yourself— divorce is thest thing on your mind."


    Briony was speechless for a moment, rage boiling up inside her. She''d never been so furious in her twenty-seven years.


    She let out a coldugh, jaw clenched so tight her mrs ached. "It''s amazing I didn''t see it before just how arrogant and full of yourself you really are."


    Stewart''s expression darkened. "Briony, if you don''t want a divorce, just say it. There''s no need for all these games. You know, this act makes you look cheap."


    "You''re unbelievable!" she snapped. "I don''t have the patience for this. We''re going to city hall. Now."


    Breathing short and fast, Briony strode past him, heading straight for the exit.


    She paid the driver for waiting; his car was parked on the gravel lot outside the chapel.


    But before she could reach the car, Stewart caught up, grabbing her wrist in a firm grip.


    "Don''t touch me!" The moment his hand closed around her, Briony''s barely- contained anger exploded.


    She fought to yank her arm free, but Stewart''s grip was unyielding.


    "Briony, what would it cost you to just be honest with me for once?" Stewart stared into her eyes, voice low and intense. "After five years of marriage, you''re telling me you really feel nothing?"


    "If you''re sick, go see a doctor! I''ve made myself clear-if I hadn''t been ambushed earlier, the divorce would already be done! And now you''re ming me for missing the appointment, insisting I''m ying hard to get? Stewart, you''re just being a jerk!"


    Stewart faltered, surprise flickering across his face.


    Briony finally wrenched her arm away, ring at him with undisguised fury. "If you''re really a man, thene with me to city hall right now!"


    With that, she spun on her heel and marched away.


    Stewart watched her slender figure retreat, his brow furrowed, eyes dark and troubled.


    Suddenly, his expression shifted. He dropped his umbre and sprinted forward, just in time to catch Briony as she copsed.


    "Briony?"


    She didn''t respond-she''d lost consciousness.


    Stewart scooped her up. "Carl!"


    Carl leapt from the car, opening the back door.


    Stewart climbed in with Briony cradled in his arms. "Drive to the hospital."


    Carl immediately swung the car around and sped down the mountain road.


    In the backseat, Briony''s brow was tightly knit, both hands pressed hard to her abdomen. Her mind drifted in and out of darkness, a dull pain pulling at her from deep inside. Somewhere, she thought she could hear someone calling her name, but her eyelids felt impossibly heavy-no matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn''t open them.