Briony answered the phone when Ferdinand called.


    They arranged to meet at a café downstairs from her studio.


    Ever since Briony learned about Ferdinand''s connection to Stewart, she''d grown noticeably more distant with him.


    And Ferdinand, of course, had picked up on it.


    They chose a table by the window.


    Outside, traffic streamed past in a constant blur; inside, soft music drifted through the air.


    A server brought their drinks.


    Briony had ordered a ck coffee-no milk, no sugar-the textbook choice for a much-needed pick-me-up.


    Ferdinand, ever the health-conscious doctor, opted for a ss of lemon water.


    He couldn''t hide his mild surprise when he saw her with the coffee.


    He cleared his throat, his voice gentle. "Coffee isn''t exactly good for you, you know. You might want to cut back a little."


    "I''m aware." Briony met his gaze, her expression calm and reserved. "Mr. Ellsworth, if you have something to say, please get to the point."


    Ferdinand looked at her, his heart heavy.


    He''d braced himself for this moment, but now that he could feel Briony''s detachment so clearly, a dull ache settled inside him.


    "I''m heading back to the Wentworth family. I''m reiming my ce." Ferdinand''s eyes searched hers, his tone soft. "Stewart''s probably heard by now as well."


    Briony''s eyes stayed cool, her face impassive.


    "Stewart and I are divorced. The Wentworths'' business isn''t mine anymore."


    "As your friend, I thought you deserved to know first." Ferdinand managed a bitter smile. "After all, Mario is a Wentworth by blood-the family''s future heir. My return will affect him, for better or worse."


    "If this is about Mario, then I''m afraid I''d actually prefer for Stewart to lose the Wentworth power." Briony''s tone was icy. "That way, Mario could finallye back to me. Frankly, that would be for the best."


    Ferdinand let out a sigh. "It''s not just me going back. My father is returning too."


    That made Briony pause.


    "I might be able to go easy on Mario, but my father.... I can''t promise anything about him." Ferdinand went on, "Truth is, I never wanted to fight for the inheritance. Bryn, it''s because of you. Because of Mario. That''s the only reason I''m willing to step into this mess."


    Briony narrowed her eyes at him. "What exactly are you saying?"


    Ferdinand took a breath. "It goes back to the story of my parents and Fiona, the


    three of them, years ago."


    "My father left the Wentworths for


    my mother They truly loved each other, and after they broke away, life was quiet-simple, but happy. Then, a few years ago, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors at home couldn''t help. I even checked her myself, and knew-surgery and chemo wouldn''t work anymore. We''d found it far toote. But my father refused to ept it. He insisted on reaching out to medical teams overseas, no matter the cost. The bills were


    astronomical. My mom and I


    begged him to stop, but he wouldn''t


    listen. He stubbornly went to


    Stewart for help.


    Stewart turned him away, wouldn''t give him a cent. Honestly, I can''t even me Stewart. From his perspective, what did he do wrong? But when my mom found out my father was trying to get money from the Wentworths, she felt she was dragging him down. Late one night, when the house was silent, she climbed to the rooftop and jumped.


    My father mes Stewart for everything."