"Holy crap!" James shot to his feet, eyes wide with surprise. "It really is you!"


    Briony nodded. "Yeah. Honestly, if I hadn''t seen thatpetition video of Ottilie, I probably would have forgotten all about it."


    "Forgotten what?"


    "I started writing my own music when I was about twelve or thirteen. My grandfather bought me a notebook, and I filled it with all mypositions— probably a dozen or so. After Grandpa passed away, the Kensingtons took me back in, and I brought the notebook with me."


    James settled back onto the couch, still processing. "So... Ottilie stole your notebook?"


    "When the Kensingtons kicked me out, they wouldn''t let me take a single thing- not even my clothes. Of course the notebook stayed behind."


    James frowned. "Then Ottilie must have only found it recently. If the Kensingtons were as ambitious as we know they are, and they wanted to use your music to make Ottilie famous, why wait until now?"


    "That''s what I thought too," Briony replied. "Ottilie probably noticed Rosita''sebacktely and used the notebook to negotiate a deal with her. That''s how their coboration happened."


    "Unbelievable. They''ve got some nerve," James muttered, still indignant. "So what are you going to do? You can''t just let Rosita and Ottilie get away with stealing your work."


    "Of course not," Briony said with a small, confident smile. "But there''s no rush. I''ll wait until the day Ottilie wins the final. That''s when I''ll expose both of them myself."


    "I like that n," James said, nodding. "But how will you prove those songs are yours?"


    "They''re my songs. Trust me, I have ways," Briony replied, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Don''t worry, I''ve already got it all nned out."


    "Alright. If you''re that confident, I''ll stop worrying."


    By five o''clock that evening, Briony and James made their way back to Skybreeze Retreat.


    Stewart had already arrived.


    He''d brought along a chef he''d hired from a five-star hotel-a true culinary professional.


    Stewart was hosting dinner tonight; from ingredients to the cooking itself, he''d arranged everything personally.


    Gwendolyn White had returned a little earlier and was sitting in the living room, ying with Little Nina.


    When asked where Stewart was,


    8 lyn exined he''d brought


    the chef over, answered a phone


    and then stepped out again.


    "Good riddance," James snorted. "Frankly, I hope he just stays gone."


    A few toy boxes sat on the coffee table, clearly gifts for Little Nina.


    Briony only nced at them briefly, her expression unreadable.


    James, not wanting Stewart to have things too easy, decided to call Ferdinand and invite him over, too.


    He hadn''t expected Ferdinand to show up with a whole entourage.


    Along with Ferdinand came Garry, little Mario, and Carol.


    When James spotted Garry, he was floored. He turned to Ferdinand in disbelief. "Mr. Ellsworth?"


    Ferdinand gave an apologetic smile.


    "Mr. Ferguson happened to bring


    little Mario to see me for a follow-uot


    today. When you called, Mario


    overheard and wouldn''t stop begging to see Little Nina. Since everyone knows each other, thought-why not alle along?"


    James was speechless.


    Garry helddittle Mario in his arms and gently nudged him. nudged him. "Mario, be of dinner


    polite and greet Mr. Deet


    for you tonight."


    Mario''s big, dark eyes flicked to James. He blinked once, then piped up, "Hello, Mr. Dney."


    James looked at that sweet, innocent face and just couldn''t bring himself to be stern.


    He reached over and ruffled Mario''s hair. "That''s a good boy. Little Nina''s over there-go y with her!"


    Mario looked up at Garry for confirmation.


    Garry smiled, crouched down, and set the child on the floor.


    As soon as his feet touched the ground, little Mario dashed straight for Little Nina