Stewart didn''t answer right away. He simply looked at her, his dark eyes deep and unreadable. “Garry called you, didn''t he?"


    Briony frowned. "So you heard it from him, too?"


    "I have my own sources," Stewart replied coolly. "Cedric rke knows as well. He and I are heading to Westenmar ourselves to bring Ste back."


    Briony stared, momentarily stunned.


    Stewart, volunteering to help?


    But she quickly reasoned it out-he and Dr. rke were old friends, so Cedric probably asked Stewart to step in.


    The air between them grew tense and awkward, neither willing to speak.


    By all logic, Briony knew she should thank Stewart for offering to help. But his sudden eagerness just didn''t fit the Stewart she knew. Even if Cedric rke had asked him, there was no reason for Stewart to rush over and talk to her first thing...


    "What did Garry want from you?" Stewart''s low voice cut into her thoughts.


    She met his eyes, frowning slightly, hesitating over whether to tell him the truth.


    Stewart saw right through her hesitation. His tone dropped. "Briony, if you want to get Ste back from Garry, you''re going to have to trust me and work with me." Briony''s eyes went cold; she sounded tired of all this. "He wants me to marry him." Stewart''s brows shot up.


    A momentter, his lips curled in a mocking smile. "Well, that''s some nerve." Briony almostughed at his reaction.


    Wasn''t Stewart just as shameless? Talk about the pot calling the kettle ck. No wonder they''d once beenrades-in-arms; they were cut from the same cloth.


    "Tell me, Attorney Wentworth," Briony said with a dryugh, “if you''re so eager to help, you know Garry gave me just one week. If you''re really on my side, let''s go finalize the divorce papers right now."


    "And once we''re divorced," Stewart''s gaze was icy as he held her stare, "you''ll just turn around and marry Garry?"


    "If marrying Garry can save Star, I have nothing to hesitate over."


    Stewart gave a short, almost incredulousugh. "You''d go that far for Ste?" "Yes," Briony said, voice unwavering. "Star is worth it."


    Her resolve sparked a sh of anger in Stewart''s chest. His face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes as he stared her down, unblinking.


    Briony didn''t back down. She met his gaze, unflinching.


    The standoff stretched out, heavy and silent.


    Atst, Stewart let out a dry chuckle, lips twisting. "Whether we divorce or not isn''t up to anyone else."


    Briony''sugh was cold. "Don''t tter yourself, Stewart. There hasn''t been an ''us'' for a long time. There''s just you, and me."


    "Legally, we''re still married. That''s a fact."


    "It''s a marriage in name only."


    Briony set down her water ss and stood up.


    "If your darling Rosita is willing to be your secret lover forever, then I don''t mind keeping the empty title of Mrs. Wentworth. Who knows-if you die unexpectedly someday, I''ll be your legal heir. Sometimes, when you look at things from a different angle, life isn''t so bad."


    Stewart arched an eyebrow at that. "Do you hate me so much now? Hoping I''ll drop dead?"


    Briony let out a short, bitterugh. "Did you expect me to wish you a long and happy life?"


    "Well, you''ll be disappointed." Stewart stood, adjusting his suit jacket. "I get a full physical every year. With any luck, I''ll be alive and well for another fifty years."


    "What a shame."


    Briony turned away, ready to leave, but Stewart blocked her path.


    She red at him. "What more do you want?"


    "Don''t worry about Garry," Stewart said coolly. "Dr. rke and I will bring Ste back safely."


    "And then what?" Briony''s voice was icy. "You want me to ignore Garry''s demands, but you expect me to meet yours, is that it?"


    Stewart''s lips curled. "You know me well."


    Briony pressed her lips together, took a deep breath. "Fine. What do you want me to do this time?"


    "I''ve hired a new nanny for Irwin," Stewart said, his tone sincere. "I want you to show her the ropes-Irwin''s routines, his favorite foods-just for a week."


    Briony was surprised. Why the sudden change was he unwilling to let Rosita look after the child? Of course that was it.


    She was annoyed, but on second thought, if the new nanny could keep Irwin upied, maybe he''d stop clinging to her so much. That wouldn''t be such a bad thing.


    After a moment, Briony nodded. "Fine. I''ll do it-after you and Dr. rke bring Star back."


    "Deal."


    "And once Irwin''s settled in with the new nanny, I want you to finalize the divorce papers with me."


    Stewart shook his head. "We''ll talk about the divorceter."


    Briony clenched her jaw, brushed past him, and stormed out.


    That evening, Cedric rke and Stewart boarded a private jet for Westenmar. Meanwhile, a police car pulled up to the front entrance of Lockwood Hospital. Quentin was led away by two detectives...