After several days of soul-searching, Briony Kensington finally decided to stay in Northborough.


    Still, she couldn''t shake the feeling that it wasn''t right to keep living at Skybreeze Retreat with James Dney. Sooner orter, James would get married and start his own family-her staying there could easily be misunderstood by outsiders. They were close as siblings, yes, but without any blood ties, it was all too easy for people to jump to the wrong conclusions.


    She didn''t want toplicate James''s future, especially when it came to finding a partner. The solution was clear: Briony needed a ce of her own.


    She''d bought that riverside vi in Pearbrook four years ago, but it had sat empty ever since. The location was perfect-close to her design studio, and just a short drive from Little Nina''s preschool. School drop-offs and pick-ups would be so much easier.


    With her mind made up, Briony started making arrangements for renovations. It was already June; if she pushed the schedule a bit, the work could be finished within six months. By next September, she and Nina would be all settled in.


    When James heard about her n, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of disappointment. Still, he understood her reasons and didn''t try to argue. In fact, he took it upon himself to help Briony find a trustworthy interior designer and a solid construction team.


    The Pearbrook house was huge, five stories including the basement. Renovating all that space wouldn''t be cheap. Luckily, Briony hardly needed to worry about money. When her marriage ended, Stewart Wentworth had given her a billion dors in cash, plus the deed to her entire studio building. With those assets, and all she''d earned in recent years, Briony was, by any measure, a wealthy woman.


    Having a child to raise made her even more driven. Like most parents, she found herself caught in the endless cycle of working harder and harder, trying to earn more because raising a child was expensive, and she wanted to give Nina the best.


    The entertainmentpany she''d acquired with Mr. Seven had recently taken a hit, thanks to the Rosita Lockwood and Ottilie Kensington scandal. Still, the penalty fees Rosita and Ottilie were forced to pay more than covered the losses. Thepany used the opportunity to sign a new wave of talent, and the signing bonuses were neatly offset by those same penalty payments.


    Meanwhile, Mary had be thepany''s rising star. Her quick wit and candor on the reality show "Timeless Treasures" especially hereback to Rosita- had made her an instant hit. Briony decided to shift Rosita''s former projects and resources to Mary, investing in her as thepany''s new leadingdy.


    Briony had been impressed by Mary ever since thest taping of the show. She was sharp, honest, and quick on her feet. After the filming ended, Mary hade over to ask for Briony''s number, and the two had exchanged contacts. Briony, however, chose not to reveal that she was one of thepany''s major shareholders.


    Since then, they''d kept in touch, chatting often. Mary was clever, perceptive, and a natural actress. As long as she stayed grounded and didn''t get swept up in the chaos of the industry, Briony was sure she''d be a true star someday.


    One afternoon, just as Briony was leaving the vi, she nced at her phone and saw a message from Mary:


    Mary: [Briony, have you been in touch with Mr. Ellsworthtely?]


    Briony typed back as she walked to her car: [Mr. Ellsworth went back to the old town. Why?]


    Mary sent a frustrated emoji. [I''ve messaged him, and he''spletely ignoring me!]


    Briony paused.


    Was Mary interested in Ferdinand Ellsworth?


    Come to think of it, Briony and Ferdinand hardly ever chatted unless there was something specific to discuss. But during thest show, she''d noticed that he and Mary got along surprisingly well. Their personalities were opposites-one calm, the other lively-but maybe that was what made them click.


    Ferdinand''s family was always setting him up on blind dates; if things worked out with Mary, Briony


    2ght, that wouldn''t be a bad thing


    at all.


    IMS


    She messaged Mary: [Want me to ask him for you?]


    Mary: [Yes, please! Briony, you''re the best!]


    Smiling, Briony opened Ferdinand''s contact.


    [Mr. Ellsworth, are you busy?]


    He replied within seconds: [Not at all. Did you need something?]


    [Not really,] she wrote back. [Just wanted to check in and see how you''ve been.]


    Almost immediately, her phone buzzed-Ferdinand was calling.


    She hesitated for a moment, then answered. "Mr. Ellsworth."


    His voice was warm, gentle. "Bryn, I''m happy you thought to check on me."


    She blinked, a little surprised. Ferdinand''s tone was different from usual-more personal.


    Before she could reply, he spoke again. "I heard that on the day of your divorce, James sent you flowers."


    He paused, then added, "I wonder if it''s toote to say congrattions."


    "It was for the best," Briony said, her lips curving into a small smile, "So


    novations are in


    wont belongs to swing