"The deeper Briony read, the tighter her brow furrowed.
Across the table, Xenia Cooper never took her eyes off Briony, studying every
flicker of emotion, every subtle shift in her expression. She watched in silence for
a full five minutes.
Atst, Briony set the agreement down and lifted her gaze.
Their eyes met.
Xenia looked thoroughly satisfied with Briony''s shock.
"Have you finished reading?" she asked, her tone edged with amusement.
Briony''s voice was taut. "So-it was your bone marrow that saved my life."
Xenia arched an eyebrow. "That''s right. Technically speaking, I''m your savior."
Briony''s grip on the contract tightened.
"But Stewart repaid your debt for you, in his own way," Xenia taunted, a sly smile
curling her lips. "Tell me, Briony are you moved?"
Briony couldn''t answer. She could never have imagined that the second chance at
life she''d been given hade at such a cost-a cost Stewart had paid in this
way.
The contract spelled it out, in ck and white-not just a ten-year marriage
between Stewart and Xenia, but also an obligation: over three years, Stewart was
to remove every person in thepany who stood against Xenia. In return, Xenia
would swallow up all the shares of Neonova Syndicate in those three years.
Xenia hadn''t wasted a single word in the contract-her business acumen was on
full disy. It was ruthless, prioritizing profit above all else.
The harshest use? For the duration of their decade-long marriage, Stewart had
to remainpletely faithful. No betrayals, no infidelities, and no matter what
Xenia did, Stewart was forbidden from requesting a divorce.
Briony remembered that day Stewart had fallen silent. She''d sensed he was
hiding something-now she understood just how different the truth was from what
she''d suspected.
This contract hemmed Stewart in on all sides. The restrictions were suffocating,
the risks enormous.
Briony drew a steadying breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within her.
"Does Stewart know you''re here talking to me?"
"Stewart would rather you never found out," Xenia replied, looking at Briony with
open disdain. "He worries you''d feel guilty, wants to y the selfless hero. So no,
he doesn''t know I''m meeting you today. But don''t worry-I''ll tell him all about it
when I get home."
"Why tell me, then?" Briony asked quietly.
"Why?" Xenia let out a short, derisiveugh. "Because I can''t stand it. You two are
divorced, sure, and you gave him two kids-but Stewart bending over backwards
for an ex-wife? It grates on me. Honestly, I envy you."
Briony pressed her lips together, meeting Xenia''s stare without flinching.
"Ms. Kensington, just consider me
the viin here. I don''t want to see
you live toofortably.
Remember: for these ten years,
Stewart.is mywful husband.
Please keep your distance, and don''t
try to maintain any emotional
ties-otherwise, I won''t hesitate to
treat you like the other woman."
Briony set the contract aside and
looked Xenia squarely in the eye.
"You have nothing to worry about,
Ms. Cooper. I have no interest in
another woman''s husband Stewart
and have been divorced for years.
Aside from sharing our children, we
have nothing left between us."
"Is that so?" Xenia sneered. "But now that you know Stewart sold himself to save
you, you don''t feel grateful? Not even a little guilty?"
"Stewart never gave me a choice," Briony replied, her eyes cold. "Don''t you think
I''m the passive one in all of this, Ms. Cooper?"
Xenia paused, caught off guard by Briony''sposure.
Sheughed softly. "So what you''re saying, Ms. Kensington, is that Stewart
brought this on himself?"
"He''s an adult," Briony replied evenly,
voice calm. "He can answer for his
own actions. You came here today
hoping to see me squirm with guilt,
and I do feel it, but what difference
does it make?"
"Oh, it doesn''t change a thing," Xenia said with a cold smile, tapping her nails
impatiently on the table. "But I have to admit, it''s more satisfyinging from me."
"Well then, I suppose you got what you wanted," Briony shot back, her tone icy.
"Are you satisfied?"
Xenia shrugged. "Not particrly. It''s just that the way Stewart still loves you-it''s
unbearable to watch."
She stood, gathering the contract. "Anyway, that''s all there is to it. You can go to
Stewart if you want, but it won''t change anything. For the next ten years, he''s
mine."
Briony said nothing.
Xenia swept out of the café, leaving only the gentle strains of piano music drifting
through the air.
Briony remained seated, unmoving, long after Xenia had gone.
Dusk settled outside, painting the windows in deep blue shadows.
Suddenly, footsteps hurried across the floor.
Stewart appeared, breathless.
"Bryn..."
Hearing his voice, Briony slowly looked up.
He stood there, worry etched deep in his features, his dark eyes fixed on her.
"Bryn, are you all right?""