Briony replied in a soft, even tone.


    Ferdinand watched her for a moment before finally breaking the silence. "I have to go. Will you be alright on your own?"


    "I''ll be fine." Seeing that he wasn''t insisting further, Briony''s demeanor softened a little. “Thank you, Ferdinand. Really."


    No matter what, she couldn''t afford to shatter the fragile peace between them.


    If she did, who knew what reckless thing Ferdinand might do to her children in a fit of anger.


    "There''s no need to be so formal with me," Ferdinand said with a resigned smile. "Unless there''s something else, I should get going."


    He left not long after.


    Ste Joyner rushed in just a few minutester.


    She exined that Ferdinand had called her, telling her Briony had fainted while getting an IV at the hospital.


    Briony sighed. "You still have Aster to look after. Why did youe all the way to Havenport for me?"


    "Why? Do you really have to ask?" Ste shot back. "You faint alone in Havenport and there''s not a single friend around to check on you. How could I not be worried?"


    Briony was deeply touched. She squeezed Ste''s hand. "Thank you. Really, don''t worry I''m alright."


    "Alright? You''re as pale as a ghost!" Ste scolded. "Briony, are you really that hard up? Even if the kids lost their father, Stewart''s estate is enough to keep themfortable for life. Why are you running yourself ragged?"


    "It''s not that—I just happened to have a lot of work piled up this week."


    "Don''t give me that. You never listen, do you?"


    Briony couldn''t win this argument. "I''ll listen, I promise. Once I''m home, I''ll let Marlene cook me something hearty. Deal?"


    "Hmph!" Ste rolled her eyes. "Take it easy, alright? What''s the point of making all this money if you''re too sick to enjoy it?"


    "Yes, ma''am. Our Queen Ste is absolutely right."


    Ste saw Briony was trying to joke her way out of it and decided to let it go. As a friend, she could scold and worry, but if Briony took the advice, great if not, well, she was an adult and no one could watch overher


    every hour of the day.


    Everyone had their own life and choices. No one could interfere forever.


    "You''re heading to Andersville next


    month for work, right? I''m stillfortable with it," Ste said "Take a private doctor and ao bodyguard with you."


    Briony couldn''t help butugh. "You''re worrying too much. It''s not my first business trip."


    "Andersville isn''t just anywhere. There have been three random murders there in


    the past month, Bryn-please, can''t you skip this one?"


    "This project''s important. It''ll help the Star Foundation''s kids. I have to go."


    "You''re going to be the death of me!" Ste gritted her teeth. "Fine, but when you go, promise me you''ll take a bodyguard."


    Briony hesitated. "...Is that really necessary?"


    "Will you or won''t you?" Ste fixed her with a re.


    Briony relented. "Alright, I''ll take one."


    “Thank God I''m done nursing, or you''d have made my milk dry up from worry!" Briony: ".


    31


    Once her IV was finished, the two of them flew back to Northborough together.


    As soon as she got home, Briony asked Carey to arrange for a personal bodyguard.


    The truth was, she knew Ste was right; she did need protection. But she''d acted nonchnt in front of


    Ste so she wouldn''t pick up on Briony''s nerves and get even more worried.


    Carey was efficient as always. By the third day, she''d already found the perfect candidate.