Before Briony or James could say a word, Jeannie jumped in first.


    "Mr. Wentworth, I''m sorry, this was my fault. Irwin doesn''t get to see Ottilie very often, and I just wanted the two of them to spend some time together, to build a real sibling bond. I didn''t expect Mrs. Wentworth to keep Irwin away from her."


    James rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn''t stick.


    Stewart fixed his gaze on Briony. "Is that true?"


    "It is," Briony shot back with a coldugh. "Why? Are you about to scold me on behalf of your precious son?"


    "Briony!" Stewart''s voice darkened. "No matter what''s going on between us adults, Irwin and Ottilie are just children-they''re brother and sister. Why make things so difficult?"


    "Brother and sister?" Briony''s patience snapped. "To Ottilie, Irwin is the son of the man who killed her brother-her enemy! And you have the nerve to call them siblings? Stewart, you make me sick."


    Stewart stared at her, eyes filled with disappointment. "Is there anything in your heart besides hatred?"


    "Divorce."


    Stewart fell silent.


    "We can''t even agree on the simplest things anymore, Stewart. Divorce is the only option left for us."


    "I told you, if you insist on a divorce," Stewart said, his eyes stormy, "then I''ll fight for custody of Ottilie."


    "Go ahead and try," Briony retorted, unflinching. "Ottilie is the daughter I nearly died bringing into this world. I''ve raised her single-handedly since the day she was born. If you want to fight me for her, don''t be so sure you''ll win."


    Seeing how resolute she was, anger shed in Stewart''s eyes. "Fine. If you insist on a divorce, then I won''t hold back—I''ll fight for Ottilie''s custody with everything I have."


    "You can''t threaten me." Briony met his gaze, her words firm and clear. "I''m divorcing you, no matter what. And I will never, ever give up Ottilie."


    Stewart red at her, unyielding.


    Briony refused to back down in the slightest.


    "Dad..." Irwin tugged at Stewart''s hand, anxious.


    Stewart looked down at him.


    "I''m sorry, Dad. Please don''t fight with Miss Kensington because of me."


    Stewart patted Irwin''s head, then shot onest look at Briony. Holding Irwin''s hand, he turned and walked away.


    Jeannie hurried after, covering her face in embarrassment.


    Briony watched them go until they''d disappeared down the hallway. Only then did she pull her phone from her pocket.


    The screen glowed with the recording app. She paused it and saved the audio from their argument.


    James, noticing her actions, grinned. "So that''s why you were so direct today. You came prepared."


    "I started recording as soon as Jeannie came over to defend Irwin," Briony replied.


    "She''s so desperate to prop Irwin up,


    I knew she''d say something


    ет


    incriminating. Exactly the sort of thing I need to show just how much I resent the whole stepmother situation-and prove that things between me and Stewart are way past saving." Content befongs to


    James nodded approvingly. "Smart move. We''ll use all of this in court when the timees."


    He paused, then added with a grin, "But honestly, what I''m looking forward to


    most is Ottilie''s championship win!"


    Briony allowed herself a faint smile.


    She was looking forward to it, too.


    There were only two weeks left until Ottilie''s final match.


    Rosita


    had been living in the hotel for just over two weeks, and in t had managed


    Xller two weeks, and in the


    toe


    e another three million out of her.


    She''d borrowed every cent from Barrie.


    Barrie always handed it over without a second thought.


    Rosita passed the money on to Lauren, but she knew this couldn''t go on forever. So she hired a private investigator to find out exactly where Lauren was spending all that money.