Chapter 181
“Star…” Briony stared up at the crystal chandelier above her, her eyes blank and hollow. Her voice was so raw it was almost a whisper. “I dreamed about my granddad. And my mom…”
Stella’s chest tightened. She wrung out the warm washcloth and gently dabbed at the sweat and tears on Briony’s face.
“It’s normal,” Stella murmured, “to dream of the people you miss most when you’re sick.”
She continued, her voice steady, trying to comfort her friend. “You had a mild fever earlier today. I used alcohol to try to bring it down, and Stewart dropped off some medicine from the local pharmacy. I stayed, just in case he got suspicious. Later, Dr. Clarke wanted to stop by and check on you, but I turned him away.”
Briony blinked once, slowly, as if she hadn’t heard a word Stella said. She kept talking, lost in
her dream.
“I was lost… It was a long, endless tunnel. My granddad was calling me from behind, and my mom was in front of me, blocking my way…”
Stella gently pried Briony’s cold, clenched fingers off the blanket and wrapped them in the
warmth of the towel.
“My mom told me to come back,” Briony whispered. “She said I was going to be a mother too, that I can’t go there…”
Stella dropped her gaze, pressing her lips together to keep them from trembling. The corners of her eyes turned red.
Briony’s voice cracked, breaking into a choked whisper. She closed her eyes, and her final words escaped like a sigh, “But… I’m just so tired…”
Her lashes fluttered shut, and a hot tear traced down her cheek.
She slipped back into unconsciousness.
Outside, night had fully settled in.
It was 7:30 p.m. in Accra, Ghana.
Stella checked Briony’s temperature again–finally normal. She exhaled, her relief tinged with helplessness.
All this physical and emotional strain, and now, with Briony’s pregnancy making her even more sensitive, how could she not collapse?
Knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the door.
Stella got up, peeked through the peephole, and then opened it.
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Chapter 181
Cedric Clarke stood outside, holding a takeout box. “Dinner,” he said.
Stella took the box from him, glancing up and down the hallway. “Where’s Stewart?”
Cedric shrugged. “No idea. Didn’t see him at dinner, so I just ate downstairs and grabbed something for you.”
He paused, then asked, “How is she?”
O
“She woke up from a nightmare and fell back asleep,” Stella replied wearily. Looking at Cedric, she grew serious, her brows furrowed. “Dr. Clarke, please–when Stewart gets back, you have to make sure he ends things completely with Bryn. She’s suffered enough. Her heart is too heavy… she can’t keep carrying the weight of this broken marriage.”
Cedric nodded solemnly. “I promise.”
That night, Briony’s fever didn’t return.
Stella kept vigil by her side until well past midnight, only allowing herself a brief nap when she was sure Briony was stable.
At dawn, sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, filling the room with gentle warmth.
Ghana was every bit the tropical country it was rumored to be. This time of year, the capital–Accra–hovered around 80 degrees during the day. The hotel overlooked the sea, and the sound of waves and gulls drifted through the window left slightly ajar.
Briony slowly opened her eyes.
The sickness seemed to have finally passed. She turned her head, spotting Stella asleep on the
other bed.
After a moment, Briony pushed herself up, sitting on the edge of the mattress.
That’s when someone knocked at the door.
Briony was about to throw back the covers when Stella startled awake.
Seeing Briony awake and about to get out of bed, Stella rushed over. “Don’t move! I’ll get it!”
She was already out of bed, slipping on her slippers and hurrying to answer the door.
On the other side, Stewart and Cedric Clarke stood shoulder to shoulder.
“How is she?” Stewart asked, his voice low.
Stella glanced back at Briony.
Briony had heard Stewart’s question. She nodded to Stella.
Stella turned back. “She just woke up. Looks much better. What do you need her for?”
“Tell her to get ready and come downstairs. I’ll be waiting,” Stewart replied, his tone flat.
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Stella pressed, “Where are you taking her? What’s going on?”
flicked away. “She’ll find out when we get there.”
Stewart’s eyes
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