Chapter 132
Stewart had pulled stunts like this more times than anyone could count over the past five years. Briony turned to Irwin and said, “Call your mom.”
Irwin mumbled an “Okay,” and dialed Rosita.
No answer.
“Neither of them is picking up!” James snorted in disgust. “Bet they’re off together, up to no good.”
Briony’s expression turned cold as she glanced toward the river, where sky lanterns were starting to drift upward. Worry gnawed at her.
James, guessing she was thinking about Julia and wanting to go release a lantern for her, offered, “Why don’t you go on ahead with Hannah and the others? I’ll stay here with him and
wait for Stewart.”
Briony shot him a grateful look. “Thank you.”
“Oh, don’t get all sentimental,” James said, tugging Irwin gently by the arm. “Go on, before the crowd gets too thick and you can’t get through.”
He was right–as the evening wore on, the riverside would get packed, and it wasn’t safe for her, not while she was pregnant.
Briony left with Hannah and the others to join the crowd by the river and release their lanterns. .
She didn’t look back at Irwin–not even once. She didn’t take the lantern he’d bought for her,
either.
Irwin stared at the little lantern in James’s hand, feeling a pang of disappointment.
In years past, his mom would have made the lantern herself, and both his parents would walk him down to the river to float it together.
But this year, his dad had gone off to be with Mom Rosita.
And his mom had left him behind, choosing to release a lantern on her own.
Irwin gazed at the cartoonish lantern in his hands, his vision blurring.
A single tear fell, soaking into the paper.
He just couldn’t understand–he was always so well–behaved, so sensible. Why was his mom ignoring him now?
Was Mom Rosita right? Was it true–did his mom really have a baby on the way?
And if she did, would she ever love him again?
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Chapter 132
The riverbank was packed, a sea of people.
With Hannah and Lydia’s help, Briony managed to release a sky lantern. She watched it drift upward, glowing against the night sky until it became just another distant star, her eyes shining
with emotion.
.
Hannah gave her a gentle hug. “Briony, Ms. Hudson will see it. She’ll know you’re doing well now, and that’ll give her peace.”
Briony nodded, taking a long, steadying breath. “The crowd’s getting bigger. Let’s head back.”
“Sure.”
Lydia’s family and Black’s family had arrived too; they said their goodbyes and went off to find their loved ones.
Hannah, unattached and with nowhere else to be after dinner, planned to head home as well.
The crowd thickened, forcing Briony and Hannah to slow their pace.
Not far away, James maneuvered past a cluster of people and caught up with them.
“Stewart’s taken the kid,” he reported, scanning the crowd with a worried frown. “It’s getting crazy out here–we should get moving.”
Briony nodded. “We were just about to head back.”
“Stay close. I’ll keep you safe,” James said, stepping to her side and extending his arm protectively.
His tall frame formed a solid barrier around Briony, shielding her as they made their way through the crowd.
But he kept a respectful distance, never actually touching her.
Hannah caught sight of them and let out a fangirl squeal.
“Oh my god, Mr. Delaney! If you can’t win Briony’s heart, can you please lower your standards and go out with me instead? You can dump me after a month, I don’t mind!”
James shot her a look. “You’ve lost your mind. Go clear a path.”
“Okay, okay.” Hannah shrugged and hurried ahead to make way.
The crowd was getting denser, and their progress slowed even more.
Suddenly, a wave of people surged forward, and someone bumped into them. James reacted instantly, pulling Briony into his arms and shielding her with one hand from the jostling strangers.
Briony’s heart jumped; she instinctively wrapped her arms around her belly.
The chaos passed quickly, but James didn’t move right away.
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Chapter 132
Puzzled, Briony looked up and saw that he was staring into the distance.
She followed his gaze-
Stewart stood out in the middle of the crowd, tall and imposing in a black coat. He was impossible to miss.
In his hand was a lantern–the very one Irwin had bought for Briony.
Briony’s brow furrowed as she met Stewart’s eyes across the expanse of people.
His dark gaze was fierce, almost violent, as if he wanted to burn the whole world down.
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