Chapter 19
Hearing this, Rosita hurried forward and took Fiona’s hand, her voice gentle and soothing. “Fiona, please, don’t get worked up yet. What exactly did my brother say to you? Could this be a misunderstanding? Ms. Kensington has always treated Irwin like her own son–why would she ever hurt him?”
“Rosita, don’t let this woman fool you!” Fiona shot Briony a glare, then squeezed Rosita’s hand with a sigh. “It’s one thing for Irwin to be young and easily manipulated, but you’re his real mother–you should know how treacherous people can be! Briony’s birth mother was a criminal, and she’s just as conniving as her mother. Both the Hudsons and the Kensingtons refuse to acknowledge her–that says it all!”
Rosita stared at Briony, her face frozen with disbelief.
“Ms. Kensington, is what Fiona said true?” she asked quietly.
Briony couldn’t help but let out a cold, incredulous laugh. She saw no reason to dignify Rosita’s question with
an answer.
Instead, she fixed her gaze on Fiona, lowering the hand that had been covering her face, and spoke icily:
“First of all, if you’re so concerned about why Irwin had a fever, maybe you should ask your own son. Second, there’s a big difference between accidental manslaughter and being a murderer. If you can’t tell the two apart, perhaps your son can give you a little crash course in law. For someone who runs in high society, Fiona, you really ought to know the basics. Otherwise, you’re bound to make a fool of yourself.”
“You-!” Fiona bristled with anger. “Briony, you have no respect for your elders!”
Briony let out a cold snort. “As I said, you were the one who acted without dignity first. Don’t blame me for not showing respect.”
Rosita, ever the peacekeeper, tried to mediate, her voice soft and conciliatory. “Ms. Kensington, Fiona’s only acting out of concern. She’s our elder, and as the younger generation, we should try to be more understanding. Maybe you could just let it go for now.”
Fiona, hearing this, seemed visibly appeased. “See, now that’s what I call a well–bred young lady!”
Briony nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all.
She knew better than anyone–prejudice is a mountain that cannot be moved by words alone.
She turned her gaze to Stewart.
His brow was furrowed, his dark eyes unreadable. As Briony looked at him, his gaze met hers.
For a moment, their eyes locked.
Briony’s eyes were bleak, yet she forced a bitter smile through her bruised lips.
“I’ve already signed the divorce papers. Sometime in the next couple days, let’s go to city hall and make it official.”
Stewart raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but Fiona jumped in eagerly before he could get a word out.
“Signed already? That’s great! Stewart, what are you waiting for? Go to city hall tomorrow and get the divorce finalized!”
Rosita looked at Stewart, worry etched across her face.
Stewart’s frown deepened as he glanced at Rosita. His dark eyes were so intense and fathomless that they sent a chill through her.
Rosita’s breath hitched. All color drained from her face.
A moment later, her slender body went limp, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.
“Rosita?!” Fiona gasped, reaching out to catch her, but Stewart was quicker. He swooped in and caught Rosita
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Chapter 19
before she hit the floor.
Cradling the unconscious Rosita in his arms, Stewart rushed toward the ER.
His anxious figure grew smaller and smaller in Briony’s line of sight.
Five years ago, on a snowy winter’s night, that same man had walked toward her with the light at his back. But in the end, he’d bypassed her and gone to someone else.
He was never really hers.
Briony tore her gaze away, pressing her lips together to hold back the tears burning in her eyes. With nothing left to linger for, she turned and walked away.
