At the precinct, the officers replayed the traffic footage: Briony’s car sat still even three seconds after the light turned green, but Mack hadn’t slowed down at all–resulting in a rear–end collision.
“Even though the first car delayed starting, the second car failed to slow down at the intersection. This misjudgment caused the crash, so the driver at the back is fully responsible,” the officer explained. “You two can discuss: do you want to go through insurance or settle privately?”
“Officer, look–I’m injured!” Mack pointed at a tiny scrape on his forehead, exaggerating his distress. “I’m feeling dizzy, nauseous–I need to get checked at the hospital!”
“You can go,” the officer replied, “but we need to finish the paperwork here first.”
“No way, I’m about to throw up!” Mack clutched his head, feigning agony. “You’d better get me to a hospital right now, or if anything happens to me, you’ll all be held responsible!”
He was clearly just trying to make trouble.
Sitting nearby, Briony watched Mack’s performance with cold detachment.
She knew Mack could easily pay for the damages–he was just doing this to spite her. This accident was nothing more than his opening act in a game designed to torment her.
“If the party at fault refuses to cooperate, then we’ll let the courts handle it,” came a deep, commanding voice.
Briony blinked in surprise and turned to see Stewart striding in from the hallway.
He was tall and composed, and crossed the room with effortless confidence before coming to stand at her side.
She instinctively started to rise, but Stewart’s large hand settled gently on her shoulder. “Stay seated. I’ll handle this,” he said quietly, his words simple but landing with the weight of a thousand unspoken promises. Briony had thought she’d stopped caring about Stewart long ago, yet in that moment her heart stuttered, betraying her true feelings.
She’d always been undone by the smallest gestures of kindness from him.
Lowering her gaze, she clenched her hands on her knees, long lashes hiding the turmoil in her eyes.
The truth was, Briony could have dealt with this herself. But if Mack insisted on causing trouble, it would only waste more time and energy–something she couldn’t afford, not with surgery scheduled for tomorrow. The last thing she wanted was for Mack’s drama to ruin her peace of mind.
So she accepted Stewart’s help.
With Stewart–a lawyer of his caliber–present, Mack didn’t dare make another scene. He was forced to cooperate, and within ten minutes, the paperwork was complete and Mack was found fully at fault.
They’d go through insurance; Briony’s car would be sent to the repair shop, and she’d be without it for at least a week.
Once the forms were signed, Mack shot Briony a hateful glare, but didn’t dare look at Stewart. Scowling, he turned and stormed out.
Outside the precinct, Briony turned to Stewart. “Thank you.”
He looked at her, noting the polite distance in her tone. His eyes softened, just a shade. “You’re still my wife, at least in name. I’m not about to let you be bullied.”
It wasn’t the first time Stewart had said something like this.
Back when Briony’s studio was just getting off the ground and she was struggling against competitors, Stewart had stepped in to help her then, too.
1/2
Chapter 32
At the time, she’d been deeply moved–naïvely believing maybe he cared for her, even just a little.
But Stewart’s reasoning had always been the same: they were legally married, their reputations intertwined. He was simply protecting his own interests.
Now, facing the same distant, detached man, Briony felt an ache in her chest.
She knew she could never hold onto him, yet her heart betrayed her every time he drew near.
The smallest scraps of his concern, his fleeting gestures, were enough to shatter the armor she’d so carefully built.
She couldn’t let this go on.
Forcing down the longing and bitterness that threatened to overwhelm her, Briony steadied her voice. “Please update the divorce agreement as soon as you can. Once I’m back from my trip, we’ll finalize everything.”
Stewart arched an eyebrow. “You’re in such a hurry to get divorced–because of Rosita?”
She hadn’t expected him to ask that.
She gave a short, humorless laugh. “You’re the one who gave Rosita the agreement to bring to me. Isn’t it considerate of me to make room for you both?”
Stewart’s eyes narrowed, unreadable in the dim light.
“Stewart, our marriage was a transaction from the start. For five years, I’ve done my duty as a stepmother and a wife. Now that Rosita’s back, you and Irwin can have your family returned to you. What more do you want?” Her voice was steady, almost indifferent.
But only Briony knew how much it was costing her–how each word seemed to tear a new hole in her heart, bleeding away whatever warmth she had left.
No one would ever know how much she’d poured into this marriage just to appear unbreakable now.
2/2
