Rosita blurted out, "Ottilie gave me all those scores-she was the mastermind!"


    But on the other side, Ottilie insisted that while she''d found the music, it was Rosita who''de up with the idea and supplied the means to enter thepetition.


    No matter how they tried to shift the me, the facts wouldn''t change.


    Ottilie and Rosita had, without question, stolen intellectual property and made millions from it. The severity of their actions met the threshold for criminal detention.


    Briony was determined to press charges. She handed everything over to herwyer and her agent, Bill, to handle.


    But theft wasn''t the only thing Rosita and Ottilie were facing. Buried in their contracts was a use: if their personal actions led to an irreparable copse of their public image and caused significant loss to thepany, they were liable for triple liquidated damages.


    Back when they signed, Rosita and Ottilie had only had eyes for the hefty signing bonus-the fine print was thest thing on their minds.


    Only now did the trap be obvious. Thepany had been waiting for them to fall in from the very start.


    The case went to court. As the intiff, Briony refused any sort of private settlement.


    If no one posted bail for Rosita and Ottilie before the trial, they would remain in custody at the police station.


    The incriminating video of Lauren had been arranged by Briony, who''d paid her five million for the recording.


    Of course, Mr. Seven''s help was indispensable-his people were the ones to make contact with Lauren.


    Briony reviewed the footage in advance. While it exposed Rosita, it also revealed that her rtionship with Stewart had been broken for years, fanning the mes of public opinion.


    But the final risqué segment was something Briony hadn''t anticipated. That, apparently, was Mr. Seven''s little "bonus."


    This time, Mr. Seven had hired an elite international hacker to take over the control room''s system. No matter how much clout Stewart had, there was no way to stop the video from spreading.


    After all, the talent show was the talk of the nation.


    For three days straight, the scandal was all anyone could talk about. "Rosita," "Stewart," "Ottilie," and "Mrs. Wentworth"-these names dominated trending lists on every major tform.


    In the days that followed, Briony barely left the house, and even arranged for Little Nina to take time off from school.


    Mother and daughter holed up at Skybreeze Retreat, waiting for the storm to pass.


    During this time, little Mario and Marlene stayed with them. Little Nina missed school, but she had little Mario forpany.


    The two children spent their days in carefree happiness, oblivious to the tangled betrayals of the adult world.


    A weekter, Garry Ferguson arrived unexpectedly.


    When he saw Briony, he gave a faint smile. "Ms. Kensington, I''m sorry for


    imposing on you all this time. Thank you for looking after my son. My work here is finished, so I''ll be taking little Mario back to Westenmar today."


    Briony nced at little Mario, feeling a pang of reluctance.


    "How is he? What did Dr. Ellsworth say?" she asked.


    "He''s doing very well," Garry replied with an easy smile. "You seem to care about my son quite a bit, Ms. Kensington."


    "No mother likes to see a child suffer. Besides, little Mario really is a sweet and thoughtful boy." She hesitated, then asked, "Have you heard about what happened with Rosita?"


    Garry arched an eyebrow. "Are you asking if I''ll protect her?"


    "Will you?"


    "That''s a family matter, Ms. Kensington. No need for you to worry." Briony frowned.


    Upstairs, Marlene finished packing and came down with her suitcase.


    Little Mario and Little Nina said their goodbyes.


    Little Nina clung to little Mario, hugging him for a long time, silent.


    Little Mario didn''t say a word either.


    Both children''s eyes grew red.


    Garry picked up little Mario and headed for the door. As he passed Briony, he stopped abruptly.


    He looked at her and, out of nowhere, asked, "Is there any chance you and Stewart will get back together?"


    Briony was caught off guard by the question. But her answer was immediate. "No."


    Garry smiled, a trace of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good. That''s exactly what Stewart deserves."


    As Briony watched Garry carry little Mario to the car, a strange, indescribable sadness began to spread in her chest.


    The car pulled away from Skybreeze Retreat.


    Little Nina came over and tugged at Briony''s sleeve. "Mom?"


    Briony knelt down and scooped her daughter up, stroking her cheek. "Little Mario''s just gone home,


    Geetheart. He''ll visit again when he


    can."


    Little Nina said nothing, resting her head quietly on Briony''s shoulder.


    Briony sighed softly and carried her daughter back inside.


    Life soon returned to its usual rhythm.


    The case was in good hands-Lawyer Hughes and Bill kept a close eye on every


    detail.


    Rosita was almost certain to serve


    time. As for Ottilie, if the Kensington family decided to intervene, she might just have to pay a hefty fine and avoid criminal charges altogether.


    Meanwhile, Stewart had vanished


    from sight as if he''d ev


    from Northborough. It was


    Briony and James stayed vignt, convinced Stewart was plotting something in


    the shadows.


    Then, one day, Briony received an express delivery.


    Inside was a divorce agreement.


    At the bottom was Stewart''s signature, written in his own hand.