Briony hadn''t expected such a blunt question.


    She paused for a second, then offered a calm, faint smile. "We''ve only just started seeing each other."


    Lorna frowned. "Really?"


    "Are you worried I still have feelings for Mr. Wentworth?"


    Lorna hesitated. "...No, not at all.”


    Truthfully, she was asking on Stewart''s behalf-and, if she was honest, for herself as well.


    As far as she could tell, James was obviously interested in Briony. But Briony? Lorna just couldn''t read her.


    The thing was, Lorna definitely liked James. She really wanted things to work out between them.


    "Ms. Riley, you can rest assured I''mpletely done with Mr. Wentworth. I sincerely wish you both happiness."


    Lorna sighed. "...Thanks, I guess!"


    You might be sincere, but that''s going to sting for someone else.


    Suppressing another sigh, Lorna scooped up little Mario, said her goodbyes to Briony, and headed for the car.


    Back at Southcreek Manor, Carol took little Mario upstairs for his bath and bedtime.


    Lorna went straight to the study and knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    She stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind her.


    Stewart was at his desk, buried in paperwork.


    Lorna strolled over, ncing at him. "Tonight, I talked to your ex-wife."


    Stewart''s hand froze mid-signature. He looked up at her.


    "What did she say?"


    "She said she and Mr. Dney have only just started dating."


    Stewart''s jaw tightened instantly.


    "She also said there''s no chance of you two ever getting back together, and that she sincerely wishes we grow old together."


    "Get out."


    Lorna rolled her eyes. "Hey! You''re the one who asked me to talk to her. I''m just


    the messenger here-don''t take it out on me!"


    Stewart shut his eyes and took a shaky breath-


    He started coughing, hard.


    Then, with a gasp, he spat up blood.


    Lorna''s eyes widened. “Are you serious? You''re so worked up you''re coughing blood? Fine, I surrender. But honestly, trust me-woman''s intuition-your ex-wife doesn''t love Mr. Dney. I think she said all that just so I wouldn''t get the wrong idea about her and you..."


    Stewart''s face turned ghostly pale. Blood stained the handkerchief he held to his mouth.


    Suddenly, Lorna realized this wasn''t just a fit of anger-his condition was getting


    worse.


    Her expression hardened as she quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Cedric rke''s number.


    Cedric rke had just managed to get his son to sleep and was looking his


    forward to some quiet time with


    wife when his phone rang, shattering the peaceful moment.


    It was Lorna.


    "It''s the hospital," Cedric said, swinging his legs out of bed and answering the call.


    When he heard Lorna say that Stewart was coughing up blood again, his face darkened. "I''ll be right there," he said, and hung up.


    "Honey, I have to run to the hospital. I probably won''t be back tonight. You go ahead and sleep, don''t wait up for me!"


    Cedric threw on his clothes, grabbed his phone, and hurried out the door.


    Ste Joynery in bed, staring up at the crystal chandelier, her round cheeks tinged with disappointment.


    She understood her husband''s demanding job—but this wasn''t the first time.


    She spent all day at home with the kids, and the only quiet moments they had together at night


    constantly interrupted cy


    calls.


    UM


    After so many times, it was hard not to feel a little resentment.


    Ste sighed, rolled over, and drifted into a restless sleep.


    Her dreams were a swirl of shifting, unfamiliar scenes.


    At the end of it all, a girl named Star mmed her hand on a table and dered, "I''m never getting married!"


    Ste woke with a jolt. For a moment, she could still hear that sentence echoing in


    her ears: I''m never getting married.


    She blinked in confusion, her eyes clouded with sleep.


    Was it just a dream?