How did Stewart even manage to find these things?
But honestly, that wasn’t really the point.
She looked up at Stewart. “And the second condition?”
Stewart met her gaze, his dark eyes steady and unreadable.
Briony’s expression remained cold, her beautiful eyes betraying not a hint of emotion.
Without a word, Stewart turned away and walked toward the tall window, stopping at a shelf beside it.
A white cloth was draped over something on the shelf.
He reached out and pulled it off in one smooth motion.
The cloth fell away, revealing a painting propped up on an easel–a portrait, rendered in soft, unfinished strokes. The figure of a man was already taking shape, even though the work was incomplete.
Briony’s eyes widened in shock. She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
How on earth was this painting here?
“This is a portrait of me, isn’t it?” Stewart glanced back at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I like it. I want you to finish it as a keepsake for me.”
Briony frowned
She had started this painting as an anniversary gift for Stewart–their fifth. She’d begun working on it last May. sneaking into the storage room to paint whenever Stewart was out and Irwin was asleep, hoping to surprise
him
But after she found out about Stewart’s affair, she’d stopped altogether.
She’d abandoned the painting in the storage room, and on the day she moved out, she’d tossed it out along with an old travel guide.
Yet now, both those things had somehow ended up in Stewart’s hands.
Stewart clearly noticed the shock and confusion in Briony’s eyes.
“Are you wondering how I got hold of these?” he asked quietly.
Briony pressed her lips together, refusing to answer. Her hands clenched tight at her sides.
Stewart started walking toward her.
Briony instinctively took a step back, watching him warily. “It was just something I sketched for fun. It’s not of you,” she said, her voice frosty.
“Is that so?” Stewart stopped, leaving a few feet between them, his dark gaze sizing her up.
His stare made Briony uncomfortable. She frowned and snapped, “Stewart, I don’t understand what’s motivating these demands of yours.”
“You don’t need to understand me,” Stewart replied, stopping right in front of her. “I just need your answer.
Briony took a deep breath. “Then what’s the third condition?”
“Accompany me on a trip to Ghana.”
“What?” Briony’s eyebrows shot up. She stared at him, half incredulous, half amused. “Stewart, that’s completely unreasonable.”
But Stewart wasn’t backing down.
Chapter 165
“Just three days. After we get back, we’ll go straight to city hall.”
“No” Briony’s refusal was ice cold. “We’re getting divorced, Stewart. There’s no reason for us to travel abroad together. If you want me to take Irwin somewhere, I’ll consider it but a trip with you? Absolutely not. You’re
being ridiculous,”
“Relax. It’s just business. I promise, nothing will happen between us,” Stewart said quietly. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Dr. Joyner to come along.”
Briony stared at him for a long moment.
Finally, she asked, “Why Ghana? What’s in Ghana? If you want me to consider this, I need answers.”
“You’ll understand when we get there,” Stewart replied.
Briony glared at him, exasperated
She honestly thought Stewart had lost his mind.
At this point, she couldn’t shake the feeling he was just toying with her.
Tm serious, Briony,” Stewart said, his voice low and steady, as if reading her thoughts. “I’ll give you three days to decide. When you’ve made up your mind, call me.”
Chapter 166
