Chapter 134
She wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Stewart still waiting for her.
Briony stepped out, locked the studio door behind her, and turned. Her gaze swept over Stewart with cool indifference.
Her eyes were calm, almost expressionless. “I’ll be out of town for work the next few days. When I get back, let’s set a time to go to city hall and finalize the divorce.”
“You’re in such a hurry to get divorced?” Stewart’s eyes darkened. “Is this about James?”
Briony’s expression grew colder.
He was the one cheating during their marriage, juggling two relationships at once–did he really think everyone else was as shameless as he was?
She had no desire to explain herself. Her tone was icy. “If you don’t want to cooperate, then I’ll just have to file for divorce.”
“File for divorce?” Stewart let out a cold, humorless laugh, one eyebrow arching. “Do you really think anyone in Northborough would dare take on my divorce case?”
Briony frowned. “Stewart, what are you doing? There’s nothing between us anymore–we have no feelings left, no children together, and no disputes over property. Why does a peaceful divorce have to be so impossible?”
“No feelings?”
Stewart stared at her blank, unyielding face, then suddenly stepped in, closing the distance
between them.
Briony’s lashes fluttered and she instinctively took a step back.
“Five years of marriage, and that’s all it means to you?” Stewart grabbed her wrist with one hand, his other hand gripping her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
She glared at him, but, mindful of the pregnancy, didn’t dare struggle too much. “Let me go, Stewart!”
He stared her down, voice full of anger. “Five years raising my son together, and now you say you have no children?”
“Briony, whatever happened between us, Irwin is innocent. He doesn’t understand any of this. He’s always believed you’re his mother. But you–you just cut him off without a second thought. How can you be so heartless?”
“Heartless?” Briony let out a bitter laugh. “Stewart, you and your family lied to me, made me pretend to be Irwin’s mother–and you’re the ones responsible for my mom’s death! So tell me: am I the heartless one, or are you all completely soulless?”
Stewart’s face clouded with anger. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Look, I
know I’m responsible for what happened to your mother. But none of that is Irwin’s fault. He’s just a child.”
“Oh, he’s innocent? And what about my mother?” Briony shot back, eyes blazing. “Did she deserve to die?”
He faltered. “That’s not what I meant. I just think you shouldn’t take it out on Irwin.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “You really hurt him today. He went home crying, asking me if his mom didn’t want him anymore. Briony, you’re the one who raised him–don’t you care about him at all?”
“Let me go!” Briony was seething, trying to push him away.
But Stewart was far stronger. No matter how hard she pushed, he refused to budge, and her eyes grew red with frustration.
“Stewart, what right do you have to ask me to treat Irwin like before? My mother died because of your family–she’s barely been gone a week…”
Briony glared at him, voice breaking. “Do you even have a conscience, Stewart?”
He froze, stunned by her words.
Briony took the chance to shove him away and retreated several steps, fixing him with a cold, unwavering stare.
“This is the last time I’m talking to you about Irwin. If you really care about him, you should explain to him the difference between me and Rosita. You can’t have everything, Stewart, and you can’t teach your son to be like you–always wanting more.”
Stewart’s face was stone, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“The next time I see you, I hope it’s at city hall.” With that, Briony turned and headed for the elevator.
She pressed the button.
Behind her, Stewart stood rooted to the spot, fists clenched so tightly the veins bulged on his hands as he watched her walk away.
The elevator doors slid open. Briony stepped inside, turned, and pressed the close button.
Just as the doors were about to shut, a large hand thrust itself between them.
Briony scowled, raising her eyes to meet Stewart’s. “What do you want now?”
“I’ll agree to the divorce,” Stewart said, his voice low and shadowed, “but only if you accept three conditions.”
Briony’s face twisted in disgust. “You’re unbelievable, Stewart. You really make me sick.”
“Think it over. Just three conditions.” Stewart’s lips curled in a cold, detached smile. “Of course, you can always try to sue. But as long as I refuse to cooperate, you’ll never get this divorce.”
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