Mom only loves the new baby in her belly now!
Irwin’s eyes filled with resentment at the thought. He was determined–not to let Mom have that new baby!
They had dinner just a block away from the hotel that evening.
It was classic Cloudcrest City cuisine, and honestly, the food was pretty good.
But Briony had little appetite. Even though she’d napped on the plane earlier, it was only seven–thirty and already she felt drowsy again.
She barely touched her meal, stifling several yawns during dimmer.
Stewart finally noticed something was off.
“Tired?” He set down his fork and poured her a glass of warm lemon water, pushing it gently across the table.
“Here, have some water.
Briony just glanced at him, her expression unreadable, and didn’t take the glass.
Stewart didn’t seem to mind–he simply left the cup in front of her.
Irwin, on the other hand, had eaten his fill. Noticing Briony hadn’t touched her rice, he asked with concern, “Mom, don’t you like the food?”
“Just a little jet–lagged,” Briony replied, not wanting Stewart to get suspicious, so she made up an excuse on the spot.
Stewart gave her a long look when he heard that.
On the way back, as they passed a pharmacy. Stewart told the driver to pull over.
He went inside and emerged a few minutes later with a small paper bag of medicine.
Back in the car, Stewart handed the bag to Briony.
She glanced at it, then looked up at him.
“You said you weren’t feeling well, right?” Stewart’s voice was low and even. “This should help.”
Briony almost refused, but then remembered her pregnancy. Keeping the medicine would help cover for it.
So she took the bag and said quietly. “Thank you,”
A faint, ambiguous smile tugged at Stewart’s lips.
Once they were back in the suite, Briony dutifully poured herself a glass of warm water and retreated to her
room.
She locked the door behind her, opened the medicine box, and promptly flushed a few pills down the toilet. The rest she left on the nightstand.
That night, she sat out on the little balcony with Stella James, gazing at the city lights and chatting softly. Before ten, sleepiness overtook her, and she returned to her room and fell into bed.
Much to her surprise, she slept soundly through the night.
In the early morning, Briony was jolted awake by the sound of Irwin crying!
She shot upright, instinctively darting out of her room and straight into the one next door.
Inside, Irwin was sitting on the floor beside the bed, still wrapped in his blanket, hair a wild mess as he cried his heart out.
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Chapter 176
It was obvious–he’d fallen out of bed.
Briony hurried over and helped him up, checking him over carefully until she was sure he wasn’t hurt. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She glanced around the room, frowning. “Where’s your dad?”
Irwin flung himself at her, wrapping his arms around her neck. “Mom, I landed on my butt. It hurts so much!”
For a split second, as Irwin clung to her, Briony froze.
Then, as her sleepy mind cleared, reality crashed back in.
She almost forgot–this child wasn’t really hers anymore.
Briony pressed her lips together, gently pried Irwin’s arms from her neck, and stood up. She asked again, “Where’s your dad?”
Irwin sniffled, rubbing his eyes with one fist. “I don’t know….
Briony’s gaze swept the room and landed on a note by the nightstand.
It was from Stewart.
Rosita had a sudden health crisis. I had to go back. Please look after Irwin for now.
Briony crumpled the note in her hand, letting out a sarcastic little laugh.
Around noon, Stewart called her, Briony didn’t answer.
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