Chapter 14
At the start of the year, Briony bought a new place right next to her studio in the Dolphin Cove complex.
It was a spacious apartment–about fifteen hundred square feet, three bedrooms in all. She took one room for herself, gave another to her mother, and converted the smallest into a cozy study.
The apartment came fully finished, but Briony had hired an interior designer to redo the decor. The renovation wrapped up three months ago, so she could move in with nothing more than her suitcase.
After dropping off her luggage at the new apartment, Briony headed straight back to her studio.
She worked late into the night, pushing herself until sheer exhaustion finally forced her to the break room.
After washing up, she collapsed onto the narrow bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
But that night, her rest was anything but peaceful. She tossed and turned through a jumble of dreams, waking up in the morning with no memory of any of them–just a dull ache behind her eyes.
Rubbing her temples, Briony shuffled into the bathroom to get ready for the day.
When she came out, her phone was buzzing on the nightstand.
It was Stewart calling.
She ignored it.
She could guess it was about Irwin.
She’d already made up her mind to get a divorce–it was best to make a clean break.
Irwin was Rosita’s biological child, after all. Given some time, Briony was sure Irwin would grow attached to her real mother instead.
Once she’d changed and slipped her phone into her purse, Briony set off for the hospital.
In the OB–GYN department, inside Dr. Stella’s private office-
“Based on your last period and the ultrasound, you’re at five weeks and four days,” Stella said, handing Briony the report.
Briony took the paper, her gaze fixed on the grainy black–and–white image, her heart tightening.
“And here-” Stella pointed to a tiny shadow on the printout, “-it looks like twins.”
Briony froze.
She looked up. “Are you sure?”
“At just over five weeks, I can only see two gestational sacs,” Stella explained gently. “If, at around seven weeks, we can detect two heartbeats, then we’ll know for sure it’s twins. And with two sacs, they’re most likely fraternal–maybe even a boy and a girl!”
Briony’s lips pressed into a thin, pale line as she clutched the report–at a loss for words.
Stella could see Briony’s resolve start to waver.
After all, these were her own children–possibly twins. Anyone would find it hard to let go.
And beyond that, these were Stewart’s children, too.
Stella knew all about Briony’s feelings for Stewart.
In fact, she doubted there was anyone else in the world like Briony–who would spend five long years loving a man, quietly, faithfully, even knowing that he might ask for a divorce at any moment.
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Chapter 14
Throughout their marriage, Briony had loved humbly but with open eyes.
As for Stewart… Stella suspected he had never truly been invested, not even from the beginning.
“I’ll think about it,” Briony said after a long pause, lifting her gaze to meet Stella’s. “I’ll let you know once I’ve decided.”
Her pretty eyes shimmered with tears, confusion written all over her face.
Stella’s heart ached for her. “As long as you decide before twelve weeks, it’s fine.”
“Okay.” Briony tucked the report into her bag. “Please don’t tell anyone about this.”
“I won’t.”
Stella had to get back to work, and Briony didn’t want to keep her.
Leaving the OB–GYN department, Briony took the elevator down to the ground floor.
As she stepped out, she saw Stewart walking in through the main entrance, carrying Irwin in his arms.
A cool patch was stuck to Irwin’s forehead.
Briony’s heart clenched.
The moment Irwin saw her, his pale little face lit up with a weak but happy grin. “Mom!”
Stewart stopped and looked over.
“Mom!” Irwin called out again, reaching for her.
Stewart brought him over.
Briony truly adored Irwin; she reached out to touch his cheek. He felt warm–too warm.
“What happened? Why the sudden fever?” she asked.
Stewart replied in a calm, quiet voice, “He had some ice cream last night.”
Irwin immediately looked guilty, fidgeting with his fingers.
The truth was, his mom had bought him ice cream for the first time, and he hadn’t wanted to waste a single bite–so he’d finished the whole tub in one go.
[ Chapter 15
Chapter 15
