Bianca called Briony''s name a few times, but got no response. Setting the bowl of noodles on the table, she crossed the room and gently tapped Briony''s shoulder. "Ma''am?"


    But Briony was still out cold, deep in an unresponsive sleep.


    Something felt wrong. Bianca reached out and touched Briony''s forehead-her skin was burning hot.


    Carl had just stepped out of The Wentworth Group building when he spotted Cedric rke''s car parked down the street.


    He froze, then instinctively spun on his heel, ready to bolt.


    "Carl, don''t you dare run!"


    Cedric''s furious shout rang out as he strode over and blocked Carl''s path.


    Carl nced around, looking ufortable. "Mr. rke, I really don''t know where Mr. Wentworth is."


    "You''re his most trusted assistant. There''s no way you don''t know where he went!"


    Carl let out a wearyugh. "Really, I don''t know. Not this time."


    "Carl, don''t y games with me. I can''t get hold of Briony, and Mr. Dney and the others are starting to realize something''s wrong. It''s been two days-Briony''s only replied to messages, and it''s obviously not her!"


    Carl sighed. "Mr. rke, I know you''re worried. But this time, I swear I''m not hiding anything. Mr. Wentworth honestly didn''t tell me."


    Cedric stared at him, as if trying to see through the lie.


    Carl''s face was etched with anxiety. "I''m worried too, honestly. Mr. Wentworth still hasn''t fully recovered. If he pushes himself again and something happens..."


    Cedric ran a hand through his hair in frustration.


    "It''s all that snake Rosita''s fault!" he spat. "Who could''ve guessed she''d even fake Irwin''s identity?"


    Years ago Randolph Driscoll''s death had nearly destroyed Stewart. Ever since, Stewart had been quietly taking medication and attending secret therapy sessions.


    His psychiatrist had always said Randolph''s death was the


    but Irwin''s presence had met s emotional safe Come


    And now, with the truth about Irwin''s parentageing to light-Rosita had deceived them all. Irwin wasn''t Randolph''s child at all.


    The moment Stewart learned the truth, he copsed on the spot, blood spilling from his mouth, and had to be rushed to the hospital.


    On the night of Ottilie Crowning Night, Stewart was in critical condition in the ER.


    He spent a week in the ICU, unconscious, with the doctors saying his will to live was dangerously weak.


    Then Garry visited the hospital. Cedric had no idea what Garry did-only that shortly after his visit, Stewart woke up.


    Cedric had expected Stewart to lose his mind, tosh out at Rosita. But none of that happened.


    Instead, Stewart acted as if nothing had urred. The first thing he did was instruct Carl to hand Irwin over to Garry.


    Then he had Carl take Fiona to Briony, so Fiona could apologize face-to-face.


    Briony didn''t forgive her, so Stewart didn''t hesitate-he immediately sent Fiona out of the country.


    The whole sequence of events left Cedricpletely baffled by Stewart.


    He''d asked Stewart what he nned to do next.


    Stewart said he was divorcing Briony-the papers had already been sent, Briony should have received them by now.


    Cedric had been stunned, but if Stewart was finally letting go, that could only be a good thing.


    No one could have predicted that, just dayster, Stewart would vanish.


    Or, to be exact, that Stewart would disappear with Briony-and not a trace of either of them since.