"Mario!"


    When little Nina spotted Mario, she squealed and ran straight toward him, flinging her arms around him in a tight hug, nting a big, smacking kiss on his cheek.


    James let out a long, dramatic sigh, covering his face at the scene.


    Now that Mario was here, Nina hadpletely forgotten about her godfather. She clung to Mario''s hand, peppering him with excited questions.


    "Did youe over just to y with me?"


    Mario stared at her and nodded vigorously.


    "Wow, I''m so touched!" Nina''s tiny voice echoed through the living room.


    "Then, do you want to stay over tonight?"


    Mario nodded again, "I do!"


    The two little ones huddled together, whispering and giggling, the room filling with their infectious joy.


    James, feeling a little left out, shot Garry a look. "Dinner''s fine, but sleepovers are another story!"


    Garry replied with a polite smile. "That''s really up to him. Ever since Mario met Nina, he''s gotten a mind of his own."


    James could only grumble inwardly. Like father, like son-both a pair of little rascals.


    "Everyone, don''t just stand around. Have a seat, dinner will still be a while!" Gwendolyn White called out.


    They all made their way to the living room and sat down.


    Gwendolyn poured a pot of tea, just as the sound of a car drifted in from outside.


    Momentster, Stewart walked through the door, carrying a gift bag. When he spotted Ferdinand and Garry, he hesitated for a moment.


    Garry, lounging on the sofa, waved him over. "Mr. Wentworth, join us for some tea. Mr. Dney has excellent taste this is some of his finest."


    James could only roll his eyes. Might as well have fed this outrageously expensive tea to the dog.


    Stewart walked over and fixed his gaze on Briony. "I brought something for you."


    Briony sat beside Gwendolyn, her expression cool and distant. "That''s not necessary."


    Stewart didn''t seem surprised by her attitude. He just smiled faintly. "Would you prefer I take it out here in front of everyone?"


    Briony''s brow creased slightly as she nced at the bag in Stewart''s hand.


    If he was saying that, whatever he had for her clearly wasn''t something meant for an audience.


    He might not care about appearances, but she certainly did.


    Briony stood up, face closed off, and walked toward the side room. Stewart arched an eyebrow and followed her inside.


    Once there, Briony faced him, clearly impatient. "Stewart, whatever you''re giving me, I''m not epting it. And I need to remind you-your behavior is bing a real problem for me."


    "Just look at it." Stewart stepped closer, pulling a small, elegant box from the bag and offering it to her.


    Briony didn''t even nce at it. "I told you, I don''t want it."


    Seeing she wouldn''t budge, Stewart opened the jewelry box himself.


    Inside were two rings.


    To be precise-two wedding bands.


    Briony hadn''t nned to ept anything, but the sight of wedding rings caught herpletely off guard.


    Shares for their daughter, now wedding bands for themselves. Stewart was certainly going all out for Irwin.


    "We''ve been married for years and never bought rings. If we''re going to take this marriage seriously, I thought it was time. So, I had these made for us—something simple and practical, knowing your work schedule."


    He looked at her, his eyes earnest.


    Briony couldn''t help but remember a moment years ago, when she''d seen a photo on Rosita''s social media-a dazzling engagement ring, a rare design Stewart had picked out for Rosita himself.


    Extravagant, breathtaking-one-of-a-kind.


    Now she looked down at the rings Stewart was offering her.


    in, understated, designed forfort.


    The contrast between the two sets of rings was stark, just like the contrast between her and Rosita.


    For Rosita, Stewart would have plucked the brightest diamond in the world just to make her happy.


    For Briony, everything was calcted-practical and convenient, never more than what was necessary.


    These wedding bands perfectly summed up her five years of hidden marriage.


    The only reason Stewart clung to her was because, for those five years, she''d made his life easy-an ideal wife on paper, a decent enough stepmother.


    In the end, Stewart had only ever seen her as a tool, nothing more.