Little Nina nodded, shot Stewart a re for good measure, then turned and marched out of the study on her own.
Briony called Carol and asked her to keep an eye on Little Nina.
Carol hurried upstairs to take Little Nina downstairs.
The study fell silent once again.
It was Briony who spoke first. "Stewart, I''ve thought it over. I''m going to fight for custody of Mario."
Stewart looked at her. "I told you, Mario will stay with me. You''re wee to visit him anytime."
"I don''t agree with your parenting," Briony said bluntly. "And I don''t trust Lorna. So yes, I''m taking this to court."
Stewart fixed his gaze on her, then, after a moment, asked, "Ferdinand told you, didn''t he?"
"Whatever''s going on between you and Ferdinand, I want no part of it."
Briony''s tone was resolute. "I only care about my son. Stewart, I tried to trust you and Ms. Riley. I even tried to get along with her for Mario''s sake. I''ve tried to convince myself that, as his biological father, you''d be kind to him. But even in that most basic role, you''ve let me down."
"The Wentworth family isplicated," Stewart replied. "Mario''s a smart boy. He can handle everything I''ve nned for him."
"Handle it?" Briony let out a cold, mirthlessugh. "By ''handle it,'' do you mean turning him from a happy, bright child into someone like you-cold-blooded, calcting, obsessed with nothing but profit and power?"
Stewart pressed his lips together, Briony''s reflection dark in his eyes.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
Briony spoke again. "Do you know why I brought Little Nina here today?"
Stewart frowned. "Why?"
"Because Little Nina longs for her father''s attention too."
She met his eyes. "But every time you''re with her, you''re so distant. You can''t
even tell if she''s trying to get your attention or just throwing a tantrum.”
Stewart swallowed hard. "I thought she didn''t like me..."
Briony gave a cold, bitterugh. "That''s because you never try to understand her. With Irwin Wentworth, you thought showering him with material things was enough. Now it''s the same with Mario. In your world, they''re future heirs to be molded. But Little Nina is a girl; you don''t expect her to inherit the Wentworth Group, so beyond material things, you have no idea how to be a father."
"Stewart, that''s your view of the world-power and profitse first. Family, love, friendship... to you, those are abstract, insignificant. But if someone lives their whole life the way you do, what''s the difference between a person and an animal?"
Stewart stared at her, stunned.
Every word pierced him, sharp as a needle, sinking deep into his heart.
He looked down. "I won''t give up custody of Mario. And I won''t change the way I raise him."
"You have custody now, so I can''t change that will take you to court. But whatever the oue, from now on, the two children will spend at least two days a week together. Little Nina and Mario are siblings. Even if you''re their father, you can''t take that away from them."
Stewart looked at her for a long moment before finally saying, "I can agree to that.
Two days a week, the kids will be together. One week at your ce, one week at mine."
Briony nodded. "That''s fine."
When the conversation with Stewart was over, Briony headed downstairs.
It wasn''t quite noon when Mario returned.
The moment Little Nina saw him, she ran over and threw her arms around him.
"Mario! You''re finally back! I missed you so much!"
"Little Nina, I missed you too!"
The two kids hugged and jumped with excitement. Little Nina showed off all the toys and clothes they''d brought for Mario.
Mario''s face lit up. He turned to Briony with a big smile. "Thank you, Mom!"
Briony ruffled Mario''s hair, watching as the energy and joy returned to his face under Little Nina''s infectious cheerfulness. The tension in her heart finally eased a little.
From across the room, Lorna watched Mario''s bright, lively smile, her expression unreadable.