Carl''s eyes widened in shock. "Are you saying..."


    "This guy''s just a scapegoat," Stewart said, his expression dark and brooding. "The real person who hurt Briony is still out there."


    Carl hesitated, piecing it together. “So this person was nted by Garry? I get it now-Garry did all this to protect whoever actually targeted Ms. Kensington!"


    Stewart pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze turning cold. "Where''s Rosita?”


    Carl blinked, startled. "You think Ms. Lockwood is involved?"


    "If I''m right, she''s already left the country."


    Carl quickly pulled out his phone and started dialing. Just as Stewart suspected, Rosita had flown out the same day Briony was attacked.


    The truth was bing painfully clear.


    Stewart''s eyes narrowed, his voice low. "Book a flight—I''m leaving for Westenmar tonight."


    "Understood! I''ll take care of it right away," Carl replied without hesitation.


    Cedric rke, who''d been following the rapid exchange in confusion, finally burst out, "Why are you going to Westenmar? To find Garry?" He nced from Carl to Stewart, totally lost. "Seriously, what are you two even talking about? Who''s this suspect? Garry-isn''t he that powerful businessman over in Westenmar? Stewart, do you actually know him?"


    Stewart barely spared him a nce, his tone icy. "We met back when I was with the peacekeeping forces. He''s Chinese by heritage, and he''s known Randolph for much longer than I have."


    Cedric stared, a little taken aback.


    So they were practicallyrades, then.


    But from what Carl had just said, Cedric couldn''t shake the feeling that there was bad blood between Stewart and this Garry guy.


    "Did something happen between you two?" Cedric pressed.


    Stewart''s lips stayed sealed in a hard line-he didn''t answer.


    Cedric let out an exasperated sigh. "Here we go again! Stewart, I treat you like a brother. If you ever need backup, I''m the first one at your side. But you-how many secrets are you nning to keep from me, huh?"


    Stewart''s head throbbed from Cedric''s outburst. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just quiet down, will you?"


    Cedric red at him. "Oh, so now I''m the problem? Fine, Stewart, keep going like this and you''ll be a lonely old man before you know it!"


    ...


    When they arrived at the hospital, Stewart and Cedric made their way straight to


    the neonatal unit to see Stewart''s newborn daughter.


    She was sleeping soundly, finally at peace after an exhausting round of emergency care.


    As her father, Stewart was allowed a brief visit. He took a few photos of her, her tiny form still flushed a healthy pink. Later, he added them to a private, encrypted album-right next to pictures of her brother.


    Watching over her, some of the sharpness in Stewart''s eyes softened, his gaze warm.


    Then, he and Carl set out for Westenmar.


    Cedric decided to stay behind and help keep an eye on Briony and her baby.


    But before long, Ste called, her voice full of frustration. "How much longer is this business trip of yours going tost?"


    Cedric''s heart ached. "Star, please, just hang in there a little longer. I should be home in a few days."


    "But you''re not here! I keep having terrible nightmares, and I think I''m getting sick. My chest feels so tight, it''s hard to breathe, and my eyelids won''t stop twitching. Cedric, I need you. Pleasee home!"


    Cedric felt helpless. There was no way to exin everything to Ste-at least, not now. All he could do was try tofort her as best he could.


    But when Ste''s memories were gone and her moods turned vtile, only Cedric could calm her down.


    Left with no other choice, Cedric made up his mind to return to Northborough. He nned to quietly bring Ste back to the hospital; Briony was so fragile right now, and even if Ste hadn''t regained her memory, seeing her might lift Briony''s spirits.


    Before leaving, Cedric slipped into Briony''s hospital room for a final check-in. He didn''t mention his n to bring Ste back-just told her he needed to return to Northborough for a while.


    Briony reassured him, telling him not to worry and to take good care of Ste. She insisted that she and the baby were doing just fine.


    Cedric looked at Briony, who still had no idea about either of the children. The weight in his chest grew heavier and heavier.


    He couldn''t have known it then, but this would be thest time he ever saw Briony.