After the anesthesia, Julia slept even more deeply. Briony stayed by her mother''s side the entire time.


    Dinner was brought to their cabin on Stewart''s orders.


    Briony had little appetite, but she forced herself to eat a bit, knowing she needed her strength.


    ...


    At nine thirty that night, the cruise ship docked at Southern Vale Airport.


    Stewart had made arrangements in advance-an ambnce and an RV were already waiting by the pier.


    Judd and the others carefully carried the unconscious Julia off the ship first. Briony followed close behind.


    Once ashore, she pulled out her phone and opened her messages.


    James Dney had texted her half an hour ago.


    They were already here.


    Relief washed over her as she hurried after Judd and the others to intercept them.


    Judd nced at her in confusion. "Ms. Kensington, is something wrong?"


    Briony didn''t answer. She simply looked toward the Rolls-Royce parked nearby, its hazard lights shing in the darkness.


    Both the front passenger and rear doors opened at the same time.


    James and Ferdinand Ellsworth stepped out one after another.


    The two tall men strode purposefully toward them under the night sky.


    In the distance, the sound of an approaching ambnce siren grew louder.


    Briony turned to look at Irwin, just a few steps away, and said calmly, "Stewart, I''m not going back to Northborough with you, and you''re not taking my mother anywhere."


    Stewart''s dark eyes fixed on her. "Briony, you never trusted me from the start, did you?"


    She met his gaze, her voice cold and lips curling into a faint, icy smile. "Isn''t it you who never intended to let me return to Silveke City?"


    Stewart froze.


    Seeing his reaction, Briony almostughed.


    "Four years, Stewart, and you haven''t changed at all." Her beautiful eyes curved as she looked at him—she was smiling, but there wasn''t a trace of warmth in her gaze. "You''re the same, but I''m not. I won''t let you manipte and control me anymore."


    Stewart stared at her intently. "Briony, is this your way of getting back at me?"


    "Getting back at you?" Briony let out a sharpugh. "What sort of revenge do you think this is?"


    "Sure, my mother survived, but don''t forget, there''s still my son''s life between us! Don''t even think about using your usual tricks to tie me down. I never owed you anything, and I certainly don''t owe Irwin a thing. But what you owe me, Stewart- you''ll never be able to repay. Not in this lifetime."


    Stewart''s brow furrowed, his voice heavy. "If our son hadn''t died, would you have still wanted a divorce?"


    "There''s no ''if''." Briony''s chest heaved, emotion swelling in her voice. "Sometimes, I really wonder, when you lie awake at night, do you ever dream that childes to demand your life?"


    Stewart was stunned silent.


    "But you probably don''t," Briony sneered. "Because in your heart, Irwin is your only son. My son''s death means nothing to you, does it?"


    Stewart''s hand clenched at his side, his Adam''s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.


    Briony turned away from him and looked toward the ambnce.


    It pulled up and came to a stop by the roadside.


    James and Ferdinand walked over to her, side by side.


    Behind them, several ck sedans pulled up, and a group of men in ck suits stepped out.


    "Bryn, I brought Mr. Ellsworth for you," James said, nodding toward the men behind him. "Mr. Chadwick arranged for them—he was worried someone might try


    to keep Mrs. Hudson from leaving, so he sent them along."


    The whole scene looked like something out of a gangster movie.


    Briony was both surprised and deeply moved.


    With Mr. Chadwick''s protection, taking her mother away from Stewart was no longer an impossible task.


    She smiled at James, then turned to Ferdinand. "Mr. Ellsworth," she nodded politely, "sorry to trouble you again."


    "No trouble at all," Ferdinand replied, his deep-set eyes kind and his tone gentle. "I''ll take Mrs. Hudson to the airport lounge and wait for you there."


    "Thank you," Briony said.


    James nced back at the lead man in ck. "Take her to our ambnce," he instructed.


    The man nodded and motioned for his team to help transfer Julia.


    It was clear they were taking control.


    Tension thickened in the night air.


    Stewart looked at Briony, his voice cold. "The medical facilities in Silveke City aren''t as good as Northborough''s. Briony, you should really reconsider."


    "That''s none of your concern," she shot back, her eyes icy. "Just give my mother back to me."


    Stewart nced at Ferdinand, then turned his gaze back to Briony. "Is he the reason you insist on taking Mrs. Hudson to Silveke City?"


    "Who I choose to treat my mother is none of your business," Briony said, staring him down.


    Stewart gave a small, humorlessugh. "Fine. If you''re that determined, have it your way."


    He looked over at Carl.


    Carl nodded in understanding and signaled for Judd and the others to hand Julia


    over.


    The men in ck carefully carried Julia to the waiting ambnce.


    Ferdinand gave Stewart a brief, indifferent nce before following after them.


    Stewart watched Ferdinand''s back, his dark eyes narrowing.


    Ferdinand climbed into the ambnce with Julia.


    The ambnce turned and headed off toward the airport.


    Briony exhaled quietly, relief softening her tense shoulders. She turned to James.


    "Let''s go."


    James nodded.


    Together, they walked toward the Rolls-Royce.


    This time, Stewart didn''t try to stop them.


    He simply watched in silence as Briony walked away.


    The Rolls glided down the avenue and disappeared into the night.


    Stewart''s eyshes trembled as he finally looked away.


    "Find out everything you can about Mr. Ellsworth," he ordered quietly.


    Carl bowed his head. "Yes, sir."