Chapter 141
At three in the afternoon, Briony and James returned to the studio.
The golden retriever hadn’t seen Briony in a week, and the moment she walked in, he bounded over, barking with excitement, his tail wagging so hard his whole body wiggled. Wherever Briony went, the dog trailed after her, practically glued to her heels.
Briony couldn’t help but laugh, exasperated. “Lucky, don’t stick so close, or I’ll end up stepping on you.”
At her words, Lucky stopped in his tracks. He waited for Briony to take a few steps ahead before trotting after her, tail wagging dutifully.
James watched the scene, shaking his head in disbelief. “I swear, you and that dog communicate better than most people.”
“My grandpa’s golden retriever was the same way,” Briony replied, smiling fondly at the memory.
She pushed open the office door and stepped inside, hanging her bag and coat on the rack by the door. Turning to James, she said, “You must be exhausted too. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and get some rest?”
James waved her off as he dropped onto the sofa. “I’m young, I’ll survive.” He fixed her with a steady look. “Did you get in touch with Stewart yet?”
Briony hesitated. “Not yet.”
He raised an eyebrow, his tone turning dry. “Not urgent? Planning to wait until Christmas?”
She shot him a look, momentarily at a loss for words. “Fine. I’ll call him now.”
She pulled out her phone and dialed Stewart’s number.
On the other end, Stewart picked up almost immediately. His deep voice came through, low and even. “Back in Northborough?”
Briony kept her tone neutral. “Yeah. When are you free to talk?”
“If it’s about the three conditions, I’m free anytime. If it’s about the divorce papers, I’m not available.”
She frowned, irritation flashing across her face. “Really, Stewart? Are you enjoying this?”
“Think it over before you come to me about the three conditions,” he replied coolly, then hung up without another word.
Briony tried calling back, but he rejected the call outright.
She gripped her phone, frustration simmering.
“He won’t cooperate?” James asked.
“Nope.” Briony tossed her phone onto the desk and rubbed her temples. “Looks like I’ll have to go through the courts.”
James took out his own phone. “Let me check with a friend of mine in Silveridge. Maybe they can help.” “Thanks.”
He stepped outside to make the call.
Briony sat down at her desk, opened her laptop, and began searching for information about filing for divorce. The office door was still ajar when Hannah came by, peeking in. “Hey Briony, someone’s here to see you.” Briony glanced up. “Who is it?”
Hannah stepped aside, gesturing to the hallway.
1/2
Chapter 141
Briony looked past her-
Mrs. Hudson–Vivian–and Sophia appeared, making their way in.
Briony’s expression tightened.
Vivian tugged an obviously reluctant Sophia into the office. Vivian’s face was all smiles, as if she owned the place. “Bryn, it’s been years! You’re even more beautiful now–I almost didn’t recognize you!” She made herself right at home, talking as if they were old friends.
“Your sister and I were shopping nearby, so we thought we’d drop in and see you!”
Briony almost had to admire Vivian’s performance. Back when her mother died and she’d gone to the Hudson family for help, Vivian had been the first to turn her away.
Now, staring at Vivian’s saccharine smile, Briony couldn’t help but remember her callous, biting words from
before. The contrast was almost comical.
Bitterness twisted in Briony’s chest, but her face remained indifferent. “The only family I had in this world is gone, Mrs. Vivian. You don’t need to pretend otherwise. I won’t keep you.”
Vivian’s smile froze on her face.
“See, Mom?” Sophia huffed, stomping her foot. “I told you she wouldn’t welcome us. You just had to come and embarrass yourself!”
Vivian shot her daughter a glare. “Enough out of you!”
“I don’t care. If you want to humiliate yourself, go ahead. I’m not sticking around for this.” Sophia yanked her arm free, glared at Briony, and stormed out.
“Honestly, that girl…” Vivian muttered under her breath, unable to stop her daughter. She turned back to Briony, quickly pasting a sweet smile on her face again.
“Bryn, don’t take it personally, okay? Your sister’s been spoiled by your uncle all these years. As her older sister, you should know better than to hold it against her!”
Chapter 141
Chapter 141
At three in the afternoon, Briony and James returned to the studio.
The golden retriever hadn’t seen Briony in a week, and the moment she walked in, he bounded over, barking with excitement, his tail wagging so hard his whole body wiggled. Wherever Briony went, the dog trailed after her, practically glued to her heels.
Briony couldn’t help but laugh, exasperated. “Lucky, don’t stick so close, or I’ll end up stepping on you.”
At her words, Lucky stopped in his tracks. He waited for Briony to take a few steps ahead before trotting after her, tail wagging dutifully.
James watched the scene, shaking his head in disbelief. “I swear, you and that dog communicate better than most people.”
“My grandpa’s golden retriever was the same way,” Briony replied, smiling fondly at the memory.
She pushed open the office door and stepped inside, hanging her bag and coat on the rack by the door. Turning to James, she said, “You must be exhausted too. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and get some rest?”
James waved her off as he dropped onto the sofa. “I’m young, I’ll survive.” He fixed her with a steady look. “Did you get in touch with Stewart yet?”
Briony hesitated. “Not yet.”
He raised an eyebrow, his tone turning dry. “Not urgent? Planning to wait until Christmas?”
She shot him a look, momentarily at a loss for words. “Fine. I’ll call him now.”
She pulled out her phone and dialed Stewart’s number.
On the other end, Stewart picked up almost immediately. His deep voice came through, low and even. “Back in Northborough?”
Briony kept her tone neutral. “Yeah. When are you free to talk?”
“If it’s about the three conditions, I’m free anytime. If it’s about the divorce papers, I’m not available.”
She frowned, irritation flashing across her face. “Really, Stewart? Are you enjoying this?”
“Think it over before you come to me about the three conditions,” he replied coolly, then hung up without another word.
Briony tried calling back, but he rejected the call outright.
She gripped her phone, frustration simmering.
“He won’t cooperate?” James asked.
“Nope.” Briony tossed her phone onto the desk and rubbed her temples. “Looks like I’ll have to go through the courts.”
James took out his own phone. “Let me check with a friend of mine in Silveridge. Maybe they can help.”
“Thanks.”
He stepped outside to make the call.
Briony sat down at her desk, opened her laptop, and began searching for information about filing for divorce. The office door was still ajar when Hannah came by, peeking in. “Hey Briony, someone’s here to see you.” Briony glanced up. “Who is it?”
Hannah stepped aside, gesturing to the hallway.
1.10
Chapter 141
Briony looked past her-
Mrs. Hudson–Vivian–and Sophia appeared, making their way in.
Briony’s expression tightened.
Vivian tugged an obviously reluctant Sophia into the office. Vivian’s face was all smiles, as if she owned the place. “Bryn, it’s been years! You’re even more beautiful now–I almost didn’t recognize you!” She made herself right at home, talking as if they were old friends.
“Your sister and I were shopping nearby, so we thought we’d drop in and see you!”
Briony almost had to admire Vivian’s performance. Back when her mother died and she’d gone to the Hudson family for help, Vivian had been the first to turn her away.
Now, staring at Vivian’s saccharine smile, Briony couldn’t help but remember her callous, biting words from
before. The contrast was almost comical.
Bitterness twisted in Briony’s chest, but her face remained indifferent. “The only family I had in this world is gone, Mrs. Vivian. You don’t need to pretend otherwise. I won’t keep you.”
Vivian’s smile froze on her face.
“See, Mom?” Sophia huffed, stomping her foot. “I told you she wouldn’t welcome us. You just had to come and embarrass yourself!”
Vivian shot her daughter a glare. “Enough out of you!”
“I don’t care. If you want to humiliate yourself, go ahead. I’m not sticking around for this.” Sophia yanked her arm free, glared at Briony, and stormed out.
“Honestly, that girl…” Vivian muttered under her breath, unable to stop her daughter. She turned back to Briony, quickly pasting a sweet smile on her face again.
“Bryn, don’t take it personally, okay? Your sister’s been spoiled by your uncle all these years. As her older sister, you should know better than to hold it against her!”
