Chapter 182
Here is a culturally localized English adaptation for a Western novel audience. All Chinese–specific cultural elements, names, and references have been seamlessly replaced or adapted for natural, immersive reading:
This trip to Ghana had come up out of nowhere.
Neither Briony nor Stella had time to pack clothes suitable for the local weather. Thankfully, most of what they’d brought from Cloudcrest City was light spring wear. Each of them rummaged through their suitcases and pulled out the thinnest sundresses they could find.
Briony, still recovering from an illness, looked even more fragile than usual. The cream–colored dress she chose hung loosely from her slender frame, the small V–neck unable to hide her collarbones–so sharp and delicate they looked as if they could cradle a butterfly. She was beautiful, certainly, but for an expectant mother, her thinness was worrying.
Stella eyed her up and down, her gaze drifting to Briony’s stomach. With a sigh, she reached out and gently touched Briony’s belly. “Who ever heard of someone carrying twins and still being this skinny? When all this is over and we get back to Northborough, I’m going to have a serious talk with Gina. She needs to make sure you get your strength back!”
Briony had always been the type who lost weight easily, and with everything that had happened lately, the stress had only made things worse.
Stella. withdrew her hand and gave a resigned sigh. “On the bright side, at least nobody would ever guess you’re pregnant.”
Briony looked at her own reflection in the tall mirror, quietly laying a hand over her stomach.
It was eight in the morning when Briony and Stella came downstairs.
They’d rented a car locally–Cedric Clarke was at the wheel, with Stewart riding shotgun. Stella linked her arm through Briony’s as they slid into the back seat.
Once the doors were shut, Cedric started the engine. “Let’s grab some breakfast first,” he suggested. “It’s still early.”
They definitely needed food. Briony, after a day of nausea, finally felt hungry again.
Five minutes later, they pulled up outside a small breakfast café by the coast.
It was run by a Chinese family–a sign of the growing number of Chinese tourists discovering Ghana in recent years, and enterprising expats seizing the opportunity. The owner, originally from the Winslow Harbor area, was warm and welcoming. The menu featured all sorts of Asian breakfast staples–soy milk, fried bread sticks, dumplings, stuffed buns, you name it.
Even comforting rice porridge and sweet potato soup were on offer.
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Briony ordered a bowl of the mild rice porridge, something easy on the stomach.
Cedric had picked the place and ordered himself a peanut soup, sipping it with an air of vacation bliss. Stella shot him a look that could have curdled milk.
He caught her glare, cleared his throat awkwardly, and tried to joke, “Come on, Stella, at least we’re supporting fellow countrymen!”
Stella took a vicious bite of her fried bread, glaring at him. “You really think we’re here on holiday? Briony was forced into this mission, and honestly, this meal’s making my stomach tie itself in knots.”
Cedric had no comeback for that and fell silent.
Compared to Stella and Cedric’s banter, Stewart and Briony were ice–cold. Though they sat across from each other, they didn’t exchange a single word–or even a glance.
Briony quietly ate her porridge, slowly but steadily, managing to finish two–thirds of the bowl. Stewart barely touched his own food, spending the last few minutes in silence, his gaze never leaving Briony.
She ignored him, focusing on her meal. When she was finished, she set down her spoon, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and glanced at Stella.
Stella had already finished and was waiting for her.
The two women exchanged a look, then rose in unison and headed outside.
Watching them leave, Cedric leaned toward Stewart and lowered his voice. “You sure you’re not going to leave me out to dry here, man?”
Stewart shot him a cold look, said nothing, and got up to follow the others.
Back in the car, Cedric restarted the engine.
From the back seat, Stella asked, “So where exactly are we going?”
Cedric glanced at Stewart, who remained silent–a sign it was fine to share.
“We’re headed to the science museum,” Cedric said after a pause.
Stella frowned. “The science museum? What for?”
“That’s classified,” Cedric replied, easing the car out onto the road. “Relax, it’s not like you’re about to be lured into some back–alley organ harvesting scheme.”
Stella just rolled her eyes.
The science museum was a good half hour’s drive from the hotel.
About halfway there, Stewart asked Cedric to roll down the windows, saying he needed some
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Chapter 182
air. The breeze that swept in made Briony’s unsettled stomach feel a little better.
Stella noticed and glanced at Stewart, then at Briony, who was staring out the window, oblivious. Stella frowned, thinking to herself that Stewart was exactly the sort of man who could break a girl’s heart with nothing more than a small gesture. Luckily, Briony hadn’t
noticed.
They arrived at the science museum and pulled into the parking lot.
As they stepped out, the museum director came hurrying over to greet them. “Mr. Wentworth, welcome! I hope your drive wasn’t too tiring,” he said, speaking with an unmistakable Chinese
lilt.
The museum was one of Stewart’s investments.
Marcus, the director, led them inside. From the outside, it looked like any other science museum, but inside, it was another world entirely.
Robots–everywhere. Not just simple machines, but realistic, life–sized androids.
As Briony took it all in, a strange suspicion flickered in her mind.
“Ms. Kensington, would you come with me, please?” A young woman with a staff badge approached her, smiling politely and gesturing toward a side door.
Briony’s hands curled into fists. “Where are we going?”
“Mr. Wentworth has prepared a special surprise for you,” the woman said gently. “If you’ll follow
me…”
Briony’s breath caught. She glanced at Stella, who seemed to have an idea of what was coming. If she was right, Stella thought, maybe this would be a good thing for Briony.
She
gave Briony’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Go ahead. I’ll wait right here.”
Briony nodded, let go, and followed the staff member through the door…
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