After hanging up, Briony set her phone aside and went to take a shower.
About fifteen minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom in her pajamas. Her phone was buzzing on the.
bed
It was James calling
Briony answered, “Did you get it done?”
“Something’s wrong”
James sounded serious on the other end. I contacted several news outlets, even reached out to some PR accounts, but the moment they heard Stewart’s name, they all refused.”
Briony frowned. “Not even if we pay extra?”
“They didn’t even ask about the price. Stewart clearly got to them first.”
Briony had expected it wouldn’t be easy to leak anything online, but she hadn’t anticipated this level of
resistance.
She’d assumed, at worst, it would play out like before–she’d expose Stewart, and he’d scramble to bury the trending news, erasing every trace.
She’d been counting on that brief window before he managed to cover it up.
But Stewart had already s
off every avenue. He hadn’t left her a single chance.
“There’s something else,” James said. “There’s a story about Ms. Hudson making the rounds online.” “What?” Briony’s heart skipped a beat, a wave of dread washing over her. “What story?”
“Some PR accounts are spreading the rumor that your mom killed your stepdad five years ago because she was having an affair.”
“That’s impossible!” Briony’s voice rose, panic edging her words. “My mom suffered years of abuse–she acted in self–defense, and it was an accident!”
“I know, Briony, calm down. I just think it’s odd. Ms. Hudson wasn’t a celebrity, and she’s been gone for years. Suddenly, this story pops up and starts trending–someone’s definitely trying to stir things up.”
Briony froze.
Could it have been Stewart?
She hung up on James and immediately dialed Stewart’s number.
It rang several times before he picked up.
H
“Stewart.” Briony didn’t wait for him to speak. Her tone was cold, accusing. “Is that story about my mother your doing?”
Stewart didn’t answer
His silence said it all.
Briony’s anger boiled over. “Why would you do this? Stewart, my mother is dead! Are you so heartless you’d use a dead woman to get what you want?”
“So you called just to accuse me?” he replied, voice icy.
“What, are you afraid to admit it? Briony scoffed.
“I don’t mind admitting it,” Stewart said, unfazed. “But you–after I gave you three days to think, you come home and try to buy a hit piece on me? Briony, you’re so naïve. Do you really think you can win against me?”
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Chapter 168
Briony pressed her lips together, trembling with fury
“expected this from you,” Stewart said, letting out a low, humorless laugh. “And I warned you–you can’t outplay me in Northborough.”
Briony’s breathing quickened, her eyes burning with tears. “So, to teach me a lesson, you decided to drag my mother through the mud? Stewart, don’t you have any shame left?”
“Your mother’s story can disappear as quickly as it popped up. All you have to do is agree to my terms, and I’ll make everything vanish.”
“You’re disgusting.” Briony choked out, tears blurring her vision. “Fine. I give in. I’ll do what you want.”
“Good. Three days from now, just like in that travel guide you wrote last year, we’ll take Irwin to Cloudcrest City for a week’s vacation,” Stewart said, pausing before adding, “One week. No less.”
Briony didn’t answer–she just hung u
And almost instantly, James called again.
Briony stared at the screen, guilt twisting in her chest.
She didn’t pick up.
Letting the phone fall back onto the bed, she pressed her hands over her face.
This miserable marriage to Stewart had cost her the only family she had left, and dragged her friends into her
mess.
For the first time, Briony realized just how much she’d lost.
Loving the wrong person could be the most devastating mistake of all.
If she could turn back time, she’d do anything to erase Stewart from her life.
Stewart listened to the dial tone on the other end, his eyes cold and distant. After a long moment, he gave a bitter, self–mocking smile.
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