In the end, Briony put on the ne.


    With it around her neck, the bare feeling vanished, and her corbones no longer seemed so stark and exposed.


    Ste nudged her toward the mirror. "Well? Doesn''t it look nice?"


    Briony studied her reflection, fingers brushing the chain. She still looked uneasy. "I don''t know... I''m not sure it''s a good idea."


    "Is it the style you don''t like?"


    Briony shot her a look.


    Ste grinned mischievously. "Okay, okay, I''ll stop teasing. I know what''s really bothering you. You''re worried Stewart will get the wrong idea. But trust me, he''s got a pretty clear sense of where things stand these days. You don''t have to worry about wearing his ne making him think you want to get back together."


    Briony regarded Ste, a headacheing on. "When did you be such an expert on Stewart?"


    "It''s not like that," Ste protested. "He came by the house a few days ago to see Cedric rke. I just happened to overhear them talking on the stairs."


    She thought back for a moment. "Cedric asked him what his ns were now. Stewart said all he wanted was for you to get better, and once you did, he''d stop bothering you."


    Briony pressed her lips together, thoughtful.


    It was true-Stewart had told her the same thing that day.


    "Bryn, the way I see it, Stewart just wants to make amends. You went through a lot because of him, and even though you''ve both made peace and you''re ready to move forward, he still feels guilty. If he wants to make things right, let him. Just guard your own heart and you''ll be fine."


    Briony lowered her gaze, silent.


    Ste lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Or... are you afraid you''ll end up wavering?"


    "It''s not that. I''m not worried about falling for him again. It''s just... we''re not married anymore. It feels like we should keep a little distance."


    "Yes, you''re divorced," Ste conceded, "but you have two kids together. And you''re both single. A little contact doesn''t mean anything. Honestly, with the kids, you''re practically family anyway. Families help each other out, that''s normal."


    Briony lifted her eyes. "That''s not what you saidst time. Last time you warned me that if we kept this up, I''d end up right back with him."


    Ste shut her eyes dramatically as if to erase her own words. "That was then, this is now!"


    Briony tapped Ste''s forehead. "You talk more nonsense than a bad ex."


    "Hey!" Ste rubbed her head. "I just think what you two have now is good. You''re like friends, maybe even family. With the kids, you''ll never be totally out of each other''s lives, so why not just let things happen naturally?"


    "Friends don''t usually hover over each other every minute."


    "Well, someone has to take care of you. Look-dames is at the age where he''s thinking about getting married, and you''re not interested in him, so you can''t keep relying on him. My husband-well, I''m more than happy for you to lean on him, but I know you''d feel awkward. Who else is there? Oh, me! I can help, but only if my son ever finishes


    weaning... and who else? Oh, there''s Mr. Maynard, who''s been dropping by a lottely. He''s charming, but would you really want to trouble him?"


    "Maynard''s just a business


    associate, Briony groaned, feeling dizzy from Ste''s tangled logic. "We''ve barely known each other a month. I wouldn''t even call us friends."


    Ste giggled. "If Mr. Maynard heard you say that, he''d probably be heartbroken."


    Briony just gave her a look, unwilling to argue further.


    The conversation drifted off, unresolved as usual.


    ...


    Pearbrook Mansion''s back garden was enormous-over two acres of manicured


    Tonight, Briony was hosting a housewarming dinner in the garden.


    She''d hired a team of five-star chefs for the asion.


    Both Western and Asian dishes graced the menu.


    A long wooden table dressed in crisp white linens stretched beneath strings of lights, with a barbecue grill nearby and chefs bustling about, bringing out fresh tters.


    In the backyard''s ornamental fishpond, a school of vibrant koi glidedzily through the water-a gift from James.


    Briony hadn''t invited many people, just those she was closest to and trusted. Everyone from her studio was there, while from Starlight Entertainment, only Carey had made the list. Mr. Dous came from Nexis Dynamics, along with Mary and Kendal Julia.


    Gina, Carol, and Marlene had moved in two days earlier to help get everything ready for the party.


    Gwendolyn White and Carney had arrived that morning theirtest assignment: wrangling the twins.


    There weren''t many people around


    during the day. At lunchtime,


    everyone shared a simple


    meal roast chicken, sd, fresh bread. The real celebration didn''t


    begin until evening.


    Because there were so many foods she had to avoid, Briony made sure to eat something beforehand so she wouldn''t go hungry.


    Now, as dusk settled in, a gentle breeze stirred through the garden, carrying with


    it the sounds ofughter and conversation.


    The stars shone bright overhead, and even the crescent moon seemed especially luminous tonight.


    The adults settled around the long table as dish after dish arrived, each more tempting than thest.


    Little Nina twirled through the crowd in her adorable pink princess dress, a tiny crown perched atop her head.