Jeannie looked exasperated. "Mrs. Wentworth basically said she''ll never bring her precious daughter home unless Irwin is sent away."


    "Good! The less shees back, the better! And it''s not like the Wentworths think much of her or her daughter anyway!"


    "But Mr. Wentworth has already decided Irwin will stay at Southcreek Manor for now. Irwin''s really upset about it, but he''s too afraid of disappointing his father, so he just pretended to be fine and agreed."


    "Is he out of his mind?!"


    Rosita was furious, almost beside herself with frustration. "He''s the Wentworths'' eldest grandson-the only boy in the family! Why should he be the one to move out? Briony dares to push Irwin out now-what''s to stop her from shipping him overseas next?"


    "If they actually send Irwin abroad, that''s as good as banishment!"


    Rosita''s anger only intensified. "The Wentworths have a huge estate. Briony just wants to drive Irwin away so she can have a son with Stewart, then make her own child the heir!"


    Jeannie covered her mouth in mock shock. "Would Mrs. Wentworth really do that? She doesn''t seem like that kind of person...''


    Rosita sneered. "Oh? You know her that well?"


    Jeannie shook her head. "I haven''t spent much time with Mrs. Wentworth, but I can tell she''s been cold to Irwin since she got back. He''s terrified to even speak to her. I was there I felt so sorry for him."


    "A stepmother is still a stepmother," Rosita snapped, her voiceced with disdain. "You and Stewart are just na?ve if you actually believe a stepmother could love Irwin more than his own mother!"


    "That Briony, who does she think she is? Serves her right if her son died! She''s nothing but a curse-first her parents, then her own child, now just wait, that little girl of hers won''t live long, either!"


    Jeannie stared in disbelief. The gentle, gracious Rosita she knew from the screen was nowhere to be found; in private, her words were venomous, her face twisted with rage-more terrifying than any horror film specter.


    No wonder Mr. Wentworth wanted nothing to do with her.


    Jeannie secretly scorned Rosita''s bitterness, though on the surface she yed innocent, letting out a soft sigh.


    "I''ve looked after Irwin for four years, and honestly, he''s a thoughtful kid. But he''s always anxious, never quite secure, Last night when he went back to his room, he cried under the covers for ages. Nothing I said couldfort him..."


    "I won''t let Briony get her way!" Rosita''s chest heaved with anger, her face contorted. "Mrs. Wentworth adores Irwin. There''s no way she''ll let Briony waltz in and take over with her daughter!"


    She fixed Jeannie with a cold, triumphant smile. "Our Irwin is the one and only heir to the Wentworth family. The only one."


    After Jeannie left, Rosita thought for a moment, then dialed Fiona rke.


    It took a while for Fiona to pick up.


    "Aunt Fiona, it''s me," Rosita said gently.


    "Ms. Lockwood?" Fiona''s tone was icy. "Why are you calling?"


    Four years ago, Rosita had suddenly vanished without a word. Fiona had asked Stewart about it.


    Stewart hadn''t given much of an exnation—just made it clear that, from now on, Irwin would have nothing to do with Rosita.


    Fiona hadn''t been happy about it, but in the end, Rosita was just an actress. In high society, celebrities were little more than entertainers.


    Besides, Irwin was still with the Wentworths. If Rosita wanted to leave, so be it. Fiona hadn''t bothered to protest.


    It wasn''t until recently, after seeing


    the news that Fiona discovered Rosita had actually married a


    powerful tycoon from the


    Westenmar Group-and even had a three-year-old son with him!