What outsiders never knew was that, for a long stretch, the Wentworth Group was barely even a Wentworthpany at all. The so-called professional management Fiona had brought in was actually just her own brother, cleverly disguised in a suit and tie.


    If Stewart hadn''t been strong enough, the Wentworth Group would have been swallowed whole by Fiona''s family years ago.


    Those turbulent years were exactly what pushed Stewart to make up his mind— he would pursue a career inw and politics, no matter what.


    For two years abroad, Stewart imed he was expanding thepany''s international reach. But truth be told, not even Fiona knew what he''d actually been doing.


    When Stewart finally returned, he wasted no time kicking Fiona''s rtives out of thepany. He even managed to sideline Fiona herself, stripping her of all real influence and shares.


    After that, Stewart hired a real team of professional managers and took a step back from daily operations, content to y the role of thepany''s behind-the- scenes president while devoting himself fully to hisw firm.


    Running the Wentworth Group was Stewart''s duty as a son of the Wentworth family-but practicingw was his own choice.


    But these were things Cedric rke could never exin on Stewart''s behalf.


    "Mr. Dney, please, talk to Briony again," Cedric said quietly to James. "Mario''s going to be okay. Try to help her see that, try to help her move forward."


    "Move forward?" James shot back, his voice tight with frustration. "Lorna and Stewart are treating a four-year-old like some robot to be programmed! If it were your son, would you ept that?"


    Cedric was caught off guard, momentarily speechless.


    James looked furious. "I regret ever encouraging her to have that child."


    Cedric''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Stewart''s never let her go," James said, clenching his fists to keep his anger in check. "A child is every mother''s weakness. Bryn grew up in a broken home- she''s never known what a real family feels like. Her childhood was just her grandfather, and a mother who could vanish for months and reappear without warning. She''s always been starved for love, always on edge. Now her grandfather''s gone, Ms. Hudson''s lost her mind, and those two children are all she has left to hold onto."


    "Between Little Nina and little Mario, Bryn worries about Mario more. She''s never truly let go of him, not for a moment these past four years. She''s desperate to make up for all the mothering he''s missed, but Stewart just won''t let her. Not only that—he''s raising Mario in the most extreme, clinical way possible..."


    James''s voice broke, his eyes reddening. "Dr. rke, Stewart keeps making Lorna show up as Mario''s stepmother in front of Bryn. He''s doing it on purpose, just to hurt her. He''s torturing her emotionally."


    Cedric froze for a second.


    "He wants to push Bryn over the


    edge. If she loses her mind, he c


    of Little Nina too. Isn''t


    grab custody of Little Nina too. Isn''t t what he wants?" Conte


    Cedric hesitated. "You don''t have to assume the worst of Stewart. He wouldn''t go


    as far as taking Little Nina away from her."


    ?


    "Oh, I get it, James sneered bitterly.


    "He doesn''t want Little Nina because she''s sagirl. The Wentworth family only passes to sons, not


    Cghters, right?"


    Cedric was stunned.


    That''s a massive misunderstanding...


    "Bastard!” James spat, seething at his own theory, then turned on his heel and stormed toward Briony''s hospital room.


    Cedric watched the tall man''s retreating back, his expression troubled.


    James had barely reached the door when he heard a familiar voice from the reception desk.


    "Excuse me, could you tell me which room Ms. Briony is in?"


    He turned—and there, as if by fate, Lorna was looking right back at him.


    Their eyes locked. The tension was palpable.


    James''s expression darkened.


    Lorna, holding a basket of fruit, walked straight toward him.