Stewart frowned. "What do you mean?"


    Garry watched him, a faint, knowing smile at the corner of his lips. "I have someone here," he said, eyes never leaving Stewart''s face. "And I think this person might be even more valuable to you than Rosita."


    An hourter, Stewart finally emerged from the building.


    Outside, Carl was being watched by several men in ck suits; he hadn''t been allowed to go in with Stewart. As soon as Stewart appeared, Carl rushed up to him. "Mr. Wentworth, how did it go?"


    "We''re heading home," Stewart replied, his voice cold and clipped.


    Carl was caught off guard. "What about Ms. Lockwood?"


    "She won''t being back for at least three years." Stewart raised a hand and rubbed his brow, visibly exhausted. "Let''s go."


    Carl had a thousand questions, but seeing Stewart''s worn expression, he didn''t dare press for answers.


    That same day, Stewart and Carl hurried back to Silveridge, barely stopping to catch their breath.


    After a grueling, nearly twelve-hour flight, theynded back in Silveridge just after eleven in the morning.


    As soon as they stepped out of the airport, Stewart insisted on going straight to the hospital. Carl didn''t argue.


    It was exactly noon when they arrived at the Women''s and Children''s Hospital. Stewart climbed out of the car and strode directly toward the maternity ward.


    Carl couldn''t help but notice that Stewart hadn''t been himself since meeting Garry —tense, distracted, on edge. Not daring to interfere, Carl quietly sent a message to Cedric rke.


    But Cedric didn''t reply.


    Anxious and out of options, Carl trailed helplessly behind as Stewart pushed open the door to Briony''s hospital room.


    The warmth in the room vanished in an instant as Stewart stepped inside.


    Gwendolyn White and James were both there. James was the first to react, moving quickly to block Stewart''s path. "What are you doing here? You''re not wee. Leave. Now!"


    Stewart''s face was icy. "Move."


    "You''re the one who needs to leave!" James snapped, balling his fists as if ready for a fight.


    Briony''s voice cut through the tension. "Mr. Dney!"


    James froze, turning to look at her.


    Briony was half-sitting up in bed, her striking eyes fixed on James. "Don''t do anything rash," she said softly.


    James, still seething, shot back, "Bryn, after everything he''s done to you, how can you still go easy on him?"


    "That''s not what I mean." Briony pressed her lips together and sighed. "But I do have questions for him. Let me speak to him first-then you can throw him out if you want."


    James relented, stepping aside. "Fine. Ask away."


    Gwendolyn pressed her lips together, letting out a quiet breath before rising to stand off to the side. She knew there were some things only the people involved could truly work out.


    Stewart turned to Briony, his gaze dark and inscrutable. "What do you want to ask?"


    Briony stared back, her voice cold and steady. "You have a private medical center overseas, don''t you?"


    Stewart''s brow furrowed slightly. "How did you find out?"


    Briony''s expression tightened. So it was true-he really did have his own facility.


    She pressed on. "Was that medical center set up for Irwin?"


    Stewart didn''t try to hide it. "Yes. When Irwin was born, he almost didn''t make it. That center was the only reason he survived. After that, I invested in it."


    Briony''s hands clenched the nket tighter around her. So Rosita had been telling the truth all along.


    Stewart really had gone to such lengths for Irwin.


    She''d tried to prepare herself for this, but seeing Stewart admit it so calmly, so unrepentantly, felt like a p in the face. For her children, it was nothing short of


    cruel.


    Why did her kids have to be nothing more than a lifeline for Irwin? Briony red at Stewart, rage and heartbreak churning in her chest.


    "Stewart, do you know why I went intobor early and nearly bled out?" Her words were icy, each syble deliberate. "It was because Rosita found me. She yed me a recording-a recording of you saying it would be better if I lost the babies." Stewart stiffened in shock.


    A recording? How did Rosita get a recording?


    Before he could ask, Briony spoke again—


    "I never expected you to love these two children. I never even nned to let you know they existed. But I never imagined that, for Irwin''s sake, you''d pretend not to know about them. Was this ident truly an ident, or was it all a scheme between you and Rosita?"


    Stewart''s breathing hitched, turmoil flickering in his dark eyes.


    He opened his mouth, about to speak, when suddenly a nurse burst into the


    room.


    "Bed 38''s baby just went into cardiac arrest! We''re working on resuscitation- family, pleasee with me, now!"