Chapter 186
She reached up and brushed it aside with her fingertips. Amid the sound of crashing waves, she heard the man’s low voice: “Everything will be delivered to your room tonight. You’ll understand then.”
At his words, Briony asked no further questions. She simply turned and walked straight toward the parked cars across the lot.
Stewart glanced back at her.
The woman’s figure was slender, her long hair whipped into disarray by the sea breeze, the hem of her dress fluttering around her legs.
He turned away in silence.
Back at the hotel, Stewart took a call and then drove off again.
Cedric Clarke didn’t go with him. Instead, he made his way to Stella and Briony’s room and
knocked on the door.
Stella answered. “Dr. Clarke, is something wrong?”
“How’s Ms. Kensington feeling? Would you like me to take a look at her?”
Stella frowned. “You’re a surgeon. Internal medicine isn’t your specialty, is it?”
Cedric replied, “My grandfather practiced traditional medicine. I picked up a few things from him as a kid–I could check her pulse, if Ms. Kensington would like.”
Check her pulse? Absolutely not!
Stella cut him off coldly. “I know Bryn’s condition best. There’s no need to trouble you.”
With that, she shut the door in his face.
Outside, Cedric stared at the closed door, brow slightly furrowed.
Was Stella… overreacting a little?
He rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
It was barely three in the afternoon, but Briony was exhausted. She lay down and quickly drifted off again.
Once more, she dreamed of rivers of blood pooling beneath her, jolting her awake in terror.
The room was dim except for the small nightlight beside her bed.
Hearing her stir, Stella, who’d been sprawled on the other bed playing games on her phone, set it
Chapter 186
aside. “Awake?”
“Yeah.” Briony wiped her forehead–her skin was slick with cold sweat.
Stella turned on the overhead light.
The room filled with a warm glow.
Briony sat up just as her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
A message had come in.
She opened it and saw several wedding photos.
Of Stewart and Rosita.
Ο
“What are you looking at?” Stella noticed Briony staring at her screen, leaned over for a peek, and immediately recoiled. “Ugh, my eyes! What garbage! Delete that, will you? Bad for the baby!”
Briony: “…”
Stella snatched the phone and deleted the photos on the spot.
“That must’ve been Rosita! What a piece of work. I just saw her Facebook post, too–nine photos with some sickening caption about ‘cherishing the quiet moments, waiting for the flowers to bloom.’ And she made sure the hospital room was in the background–then turned off comments so no one could call her out!”
“And, of course, a bunch of clueless fans started a thread about how Rosita must be in the hospital for prenatal care. Wishing her and Stewart a happy, healthy baby! Idiots. If only they knew their so–called national sweetheart was already pregnant out of wedlock five years ago!”
Briony, however, didn’t care much about Stewart and Rosita’s drama.
“Take it easy,” she said, noticing a new pimple on Stella’s forehead. “You’ve been worrying about me so much, you’re breaking out.”
“Huh?” Stella touched her forehead, then sighed. “I’m almost twenty–seven and still haven’t even had a boyfriend. No wonder I’m stressed!”
Briony: “…”
“If Mrs. Joyner hears you, you’ll get an earful.”
Stella shrugged. “Just speaking the truth! Honestly, after watching everything you’ve been through, marriage seems way overrated…”
Knock, knock-
A knock at the door cut her off.
“Who is it?” Stella got up to check the peephole.
It was Cedric Clarke again.
Chapter 186
She opened the door and leaned against the frame. “Heading downstairs for dinner?”
Cedric hesitated. “Not yet.”
He gestured behind him. “She’s here to deliver something for Ms. Kensington.”
A young woman wheeled an enormous suitcase–almost eighty inches tall–up to the door and said politely, “This is from Mr. Wentworth.”
“What is it?” Stella asked, taking the suitcase.
Cedric knew, but didn’t dare say. “You’ll see when you open it.” Then he made a quick getaway.
Stella watched him bolt and shook her head. “What’s with him? You’d think he was delivering a bomb or something.”
Briony eyed the suitcase. “Let’s open it.”
“Alright.”
Stella crouched down, unzipped the case, and flipped it open. She froze in shock.
Inside, packed neatly, was a white wedding dress.
Stella stared in disbelief, then carefully lifted it out and shook it open-
The dress unfurled in all its glory right in front of Briony.
Briony stiffened.
Stewart had actually… sent her a wedding gown?
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