"Cheating, Briony? Is that what you think?"
Briony let out a coldugh. "Stewart, maybe you just can''t see decency in anyone because you''ve never had any yourself."
"Oh, so I''m wrong, am I?"
Stewart closed the distance between them, step by step.
With the bathroom behind her, Briony retreated, lowering her voice in warning. "Don''te any closer."
"What''s wrong?" Stewart''s expression darkened. "You can get so cozy with Ferdinand and James, but when ites to me, you act like I''m poison?"
Briony red, brows tightly knit, wary of waking their daughter. Her voice was a furious whisper. "You''re unhinged. I can''t talk sense to you. Get out!"
But Stewart wasn''t backing down.
He grabbed her wrist in hisrge hand, dragging her into the bathroom.
"Stewart-!"
Her protest was muffled as the bathroom door mmed shut.
Stewart pinned her against the tiled wall.
He gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Briony, you''re still Mrs. Wentworth. You''d do well to remember that."
Pain shot up her jaw. Briony shoved at his chest, finally losing her patience. "Let go of me, Stewart!"
"Oh?" Stewart leaned in so close their noses nearly touched, his voice icy. "Already saving yourself for other men, and we''re not even divorced yet?"
"Back off!" Briony shot him a furious re.
"We''re married," Stewart pressed, their faces so close their breath mingled. "Legally, I could do anything I want with you right now—"
Smack!
The p echoed in the small bathroom.
Stewart froze in shock.
"Don''t touch me!" Briony shoved him away, breath trembling. "Our deal ended a long time ago. If you''d just let go, I wouldn''t have stayed Mrs. Wentworth for another day!"
Stewart''s brow furrowed, his eyes ck with anger.
The bathroom lights were harsh and unforgiving. Briony stared him down, her gaze cial.
"Listen carefully, Stewart. I''m not your personal release. If you have needs, find someone else. I won''t stand in your way."
"Oh, you want me to go find another woman?" Stewart''s jaw clenched, fury zing in his eyes. "How generous of you, Mrs. Wentworth."
"There''s no point reminding me we''re married. You and I both know this marriage is nothing but an empty shell."
Stewart''s dark gaze bore into her.
She held his eyes, her voice cool and steady. "Even if I were interested in someone else, I wouldn''t cross the line while we''re still married."
She took a breath, each word deliberate. "But I''m not faithful for your sake, Mr. Wentworth. I''m doing this for myself. And for Little Nina."
No matter how suffocating and disgusting this marriage had be, she would never give anyone the chance to call her a
vel
cheater. She would never do
anything that would give people an excuse to look down on Little Nina.
Stewart''s lips pressed into a thin, bitter line.
Briony broke eye contact, turned, and yanked open the bathroom door. Under his stormy gaze, she walked out.
At her wardrobe, she pulled open the doors. "I''m going to bed. Please leave."
Stewart''s hands clenched at his sides, jaw tight.
He stared at her back for a long moment, then finally turned and left.
His footsteps faded down the hallway. Briony closed her eyes and let out a long, shaky breath.
Rosita was riding high these days.
Her social media had
exploded she''d gained thirty million new followers in just under a month, reignting her fame and catapulting her back to stardom.
With renewed poprity, Rosita began rebuilding her reputation as a serious actress.
She''d first shot to fame abroad, winning Best Actress for a breakout film.
But then her agency, eager to cash in, shifted her into TV dramas, reality shows,
and endless endorsements. Over the years, her acting chops had dulled.
Now, herpany was investing
heavily in hereback role-a
drama with Rosita cast as the
fourth-generation heir to a family of traditional artisans.
The director, Grover, was a documentary veteran and notoriously demanding,
especially when it came to authenticity.