Briony had left everything in thewyer''s hands.


    Of course, she hoped things would go smoothly in court. But even with Mr.


    Chadwick''s handpicked attorney on their side, she knew there was no guarantee


    of victory.


    What kept her up at night, though, was the thought of losing Little Nina.


    She couldn''t shake Stewart''s words from the other day. No matter what, she


    would never give up custody of Little Nina. But if Stewart really wanted to fight her for their daughter...


    Her phone''s ringtone jolted her out of her anxious thoughts.


    She nced at the screen.


    An unknown number.


    Briony had long since stopped answering calls from numbers she didn''t


    recognize. She declined it without a second thought.


    She set her phone aside and rolled over, hoping for a few more precious minutes of sleep. The past week had been a blur of hospital corridors andte nights by her mother''s side; she was running on fumes.


    But the call came again, more insistent this time.


    Annoyed, Briony answered, "Who is this?"


    "It''s me." Garry Ferguson''s voice filtered through the line.


    She paused, then let out a cold, mockingugh. "Mr. Ferguson, your


    resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me."


    She''d changed everything four years ago—her name, her papers, even her phone number. Yet somehow, Garry had still found her.


    "If little Mario wasn''t sick, I wouldn''t have bothered you, Ms. Kensington."


    Her heart softened immediately. Little Mario was sick?


    She asked, "How is he now?"


    "He''s probably just having trouble adjusting to the climate here. He''s thrown up three times since this morning and has a slight fever." Garry hesitated, then added, "I took him to the clinic you rmended. Dr. Ellsworth did some massage therapy and acupuncture. He''s better now, but he really wants to see Little Nina."


    Briony checked the time-already half past three. "Little Nina''s still at school."


    She remembered how happy the two kids had been ying together the other night. With a sigh, Briony relented, "Alright, bring him over. She gets out at four."


    After hanging up, Briony sshed her face with cold water and changed clothes before heading downstairs.


    James, Carney Winslow, and Gwendolyn White were chatting over tea in the living room.


    Seeing her, James asked, "Heading out to pick up Little Nina?"


    "Yeah, it''s about that time."


    "I''lle with you," James said, getting up. "I''ve got nothing better to do. Let''s


    go."


    Briony nodded, then turned to Carney. "Godfather, Garry''s bringing little Mario over. The poor kid''s sick and wants to see Little Nina."


    "He''s sick?" Gwendolyn looked concerned. "Is it a cold?"


    "Just a stomach bug. Dr. Ellsworth checked him-it''s not contagious, just


    adjusting to the new environment."


    Gwendolyn rxed. "That''s a relief. If it were a cold, he shouldn''te over. We can''t risk Little Nina getting sick."


    Briony gave her a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry, I made sure."


    Parents are always careful about these things.


    Carney said, "Go pick up ttle Nina. I''ll handle things if Mr. Ferguson arrives."


    Briony thanked him and left with James.


    3:50 p.m.


    The ck Maybach pulled up in front of Little Dreamers Preschool.


    Carl stepped out to open the rear door.


    Stewart emerged, dressed in a ck shirt without a tie, long legs d in tailored cks. The evening sun washed over him, making his striking features even more impossible to miss.


    He wasn''t the first parent to arrive, but he certainly drew the most attention.


    Within minutes, the school entrance buzzed with families gathering to pick up their children.


    Briony and James parked a short walk away and approached together. Stewart, just shy of six foot three, towered above the crowd-a head and shoulders above the other parents.


    A group of mothers whispered nearby, casting sideways nces his way.


    "Look at those shoulders and that jawline. My god, whose dad is he? With a dad that handsome, the kid must be adorable!"


    "I don''t remember seeing him before. Is his kid new here?"


    "Who lets a dad like that pick up their kid alone? He''s practically a walking invitation for trouble!"


    "Look at his suit and that air about him. He''s definitely not just anybody..."


    ...


    Briony and James spotted Stewart at the same time.


    They exchanged a look.


    Stewart, as if sensing their gaze, turned to meet their eyes.


    When he saw Briony and James together, his brow tightened.


    "He''s got a lot of nerve showing up here now, with the hearing just two days away," James muttered, unable to hide his scorn.


    Briony pressed her lips together, worry flickering in her eyes.


    Stewart hadn''t reached out since they''d returned from Southern Vale. Now, on the eve of the custody hearing, he decided to show up at their daughter''s preschool. What was he nning?


    Briony strode toward him.


    Stewart''s dark eyes didn''t leave her. When she reached him, he spoke first. "I just came to see my daughter. There''s no need for you to be anxious."


    "Stewart, I''ve told you before. Little Nina is my daughter-mine alone." Briony''s voice was cold, her eyes shing with anger. "I''m not afraid to tell you—I''ve always told Little Nina her father passed away. She''s used to a life without you. Please, stop disrupting her world."


    Stewart''s expression hardened. "Briony, no matter how much you hate me, the fact remains—I am Little Nina''s father. That won''t change." "Stewart!" James stepped forward, ring at him. He kept his voice low but fierce. "Have you no shame? If it weren''t for you, would Rosita Lockwood have had the chance to frame Bryn? If it weren''t for Rosita, would Bryn have gone intobor early? And now you have the nerve to im Little Nina as your daughter?"