By the time Briony got home, it was already past four in the afternoon.
Their new live–in housekeeper, Gina, had arrived around midday.
Gina was from the north–about Julia’s age, direct, efficient, and with a knack for spotless housekeeping. But it was her cooking that really won Julia over.
Dinner that night was all Gina’s doing. With nothing else to occupy her, Julia decided to lend a hand in the kitchen, hoping to pick up a few new recipes.
Julia could manage some basic dishes, but nothing too fancy. After all, she’d grown up as the cherished daughter of a wealthy family, and marrying into the Kensingtons had only reinforced a life attended by maids and butlers. Domestic chores were never expected of her.
Briony, knowing how much her mother had suffered during those five years in prison, couldn’t bear to see her have to struggle with daily life now that she was finally free.
Now that Briony was in a position to help, she wanted to give her mother the best life possible.
Their apartment was conveniently close to Briony’s studio, though the building itself was hardly luxurious. For now, Briony had cleared out her study to give Gina a room, but she was already planning to buy a river–view villa near the studio after the New Year.
That new place had gorgeous landscaping, spacious gardens, and a backyard perfect for Julia to grow flowers–a peaceful spot for her mother to enjoy her later years.
After dinner, Briony told Julia she’d be away on a business trip for about ten days.
Julia didn’t suspect a thing. She urged Briony to focus on work and assured her that having Gina around meant she’d be just fine at home.
Only then did Briony feel truly at ease.
That night, she and her mother shared a bed, lying side by side in the dark, talking quietly.
Mostly, Julia spoke while Briony listened.
The stories were old ones–painful memories from years ago. Five years behind bars had broken Julia, and now her daughter was the only person she could confide in.
Julia had grown up under the strict expectations of the Hudson family, groomed for the perfect society match. As an adult, she never really learned to assert herself. After marrying into the Kensington family, she endured her husband’s affairs in silence, because her own family would never have permitted divorce.
She suffered in silence. But her patience never earned her any pity from her husband. Whatever tenderness he had was reserved for the woman outside their marriage; the violence, he saved for Julia.
Betrayed, she stayed silent. For the family’s sake, she gritted her teeth and held the marriage together. When Julia gave birth to her first daughter, she spent her postpartum month with broken ribs, courtesy of her husband, while the Kensingtons looked on coldly and the Hudsons pretended not to hear.
Later, when she became pregnant again, Madeline consulted a so–called spiritual advisor, who declared that Briony would bring misfortune to her father and brother if she stayed. Briony was barely a year old when, on the strength of that single declaration, she was sent away to the countryside to be raised by her grandfather, Josiah Kensington. She didn’t return to the Kensington family until Josiah died when she was eighteen. The Kensingtons never truly accepted Briony, but they expected her to be as obedient as Julia–a pawn for another arranged marriage. Briony refused, so they blamed Julia for her defiance.
When Briony turned twenty–two, Julia, after years of abuse, finally fought back for the first time. She never meant to kill anyone. She only found the courage to push her husband away–and he toppled from a third–floor
1/2
Chapter 34
window, dying instantly.
The rest of the story, Briony already knew.
She held her sobbing mother, her own tears soaking the pillow.
“It’s over now, Mom. We’ll be okay from here on out.”
“Bryn, my life is what it is. But I hope you won’t repeat my mistakes…”
“Bryn, you’re smart and capable. When you choose a husband, pick someone who truly treats you well…”
“And if, by some misfortune, you choose wrong–if you love the wrong person or marry the wrong man–have the courage to walk away. Never forget this, darling: always love yourself first.”
Briony buried her face in her mother’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “I promise, Mom. I know.”
The next morning, Stella arrived bright and early.
She said she’d drive Briony to the airport. Julia didn’t suspect a thing.
After breakfast together, Stella and Briony headed out.
But instead of the airport, they drove to the hospital, where Briony checked in.
Irwin was also admitted to this hospital. To be cautious, Briony chose a private suite with the highest level of confidentiality.
“The surgery’s scheduled for noon,” Stella said.
o’clock. I’m on shift this morning, but I’ll be here with you as soon as I’m off at
Briony was the one facing surgery, but Stella was the more anxious of the two, fussing over every detail. “Just rest in your room. If you
an get
, all
all the bette. If you need anything, call a nurse–or me, anytime
Briony gave her a faint smile. “I’ll be fine. Go on, you’ll be late for work.”
to
With a resigned sigh, Stella turned go.
As the door clicked shut, Briony’s smile faded.
She lowered her head, hands gently resting on her stomach.
“In a few hours, we’ll say goodbye. I hope, little one, that next time, you’ll find a loving family–a life full of happiness…”
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Her phone vibrated on the bed.
It was Stewart calling.
Briony frowned, reluctant to answer.
But he kept calling, one call after another–four, five in a row. Then a text message appeared.
**[There’s trouble online. Pick up the phone.]**
The call came through again before she could even finish reading.
She answered, her voice cold. “What happened?”
“We were photographed together yesterday at Southcreek Manor,” Stewart said.
Briony froze.
“The internet’s full of rumors about me cheating. It’s already causing Rosita a lot of trouble.”
Briony’s grip on the phone tightened. “So–why are you calling me?”
2/3
Chapter 04
“Rosita cares deeply about her career. She can’t afford this kind of scandal.”
Stewart’s voice was low, steady. “She and I have both made statements denying the rumors. Since you’re involved, I hope you’ll come forward and clarify things too.”
He sounded so reasonable–every word like a knife.
Briony’s lips pressed into a bloodless line. Her chest ached.
How could Stewart…how could he be so shamelessly matter–of–fact?
And how had she ended up like this?
Hiding out in a hospital, awaiting an abortion, while the father of her child called to ask his legal wife to defend him and his mistress online.
Briony pressed a hand to her heart, forcing a brittle smile.
She’d never known pain could make a person laugh.
And as she laughed, the tears fell–silent and endless.
