Chapter 199
“Wedding invitation?” James leaned over for a look. “No way! Stewart and Rosita’s? Who sent this, Rosita herself? Has she lost her mind?”
Briony’s lips curled coldly. Without a word, she tossed the invitation straight into the trash.
“She’s doing this just to get under your skin!” James fumed, bending down to fish the envelope out of the bin. “Hold on, let me check the address. On their big day, I should send this pair of losers a whole stack of Monopoly money as a wedding gift!”
Briony just stared at him, unamused.
“Don’t stoop to their level,” she replied, her tone calm and even. “Let’s just focus on living our own lives.”
James was still seething, but seeing how unbothered Briony seemed–like she’d truly moved on–he let it drop.
With a snap of his wrist, he flung the invitation back into the trash.
Dolphin Cove.
The elevator chimed on the 32nd floor, its doors sliding open as Briony and James stepped out.
“Monster, take this-!”
A little boy’s shout rang out, and a toy wooden sword jabbed straight toward Briony’s stomach.
Briony frowned, about to dodge, but James was quicker. He stepped in front of her, catching the wooden sword in his large hand, and with the other, grabbed the boy by the ear.
“So it’s you, huh? The one who keeps pouring bubble solution all over Briony’s doorstep!”
The boy winced in pain, swatting at James’s hand and trying to wrench his sword free, but he was no match for James’s grip. Scowling, he glared up at him. “Let go of me! Adults aren’t supposed to pick on kids!”
“Not letting go,” James shot back with a cold laugh. “I was just wondering how to come up with an excuse to have a little chat with your family. Lucky for me, you showed up yourself!”
“I don’t even know you! You’re a mean old man–let me go!” the boy yelled.
James ignored him and turned to Briony. “You go inside. I’ll handle this little brat.”
Briony’s expression had darkened. That sword, even if just a toy, could have seriously hurt her if it had hit her stomach.
He really needed to learn a lesson.
“Alright. I’ll head in. Just don’t go overboard,” she said.
Chapter 199
“I know what I’m doing,” James assured her.
With that, Briony unlocked the door and disappeared inside.
Moments later, loud wailing echoed through the hallway, quickly followed by a flustered old woman’s apologies.
Briony stood inside, listening to the commotion beyond the door.
After about ten minutes, things finally quieted down.
James rang the bell.
Briony opened the door at once.
O
He stepped in, closing the door behind him, and traded his shoes for house slippers. The two of them moved to the living room and sat down across from each other on the sofa, neither speaking for a while.
Finally, James broke the silence. “You should move in with me. I know I taught that kid a lesson today, but kids his age rarely learn from this stuff. And that old lady–she seemed apologetic, but honestly, I think she was just hoping to smooth things over.”
He pressed his lips together and sighed. “You’re carrying twins now. We can’t take any risks.”
Briony rested her hand on her stomach, realizing he was right.
“Okay, I’ll move in with you. But let’s be clear: I’m still paying my share of the rent.”
James exploded, “Why are you being so stingy with me?”
Briony smiled faintly. “There’s an old saying: ‘Good fences make good neighbors.”
James rolled his eyes. “At best, that makes us siblings.”
“Same principle,” Briony replied seriously. “Maybe it makes me seem a bit uptight, but if I don’t do it this way, I’ll never feel comfortable staying at your place.”
James didn’t want her feeling awkward, not for a second.
“Alright, fine. I’ve never met anyone like you–always insisting on paying your way, never letting yourself owe anyone a favor.”
Briony just smiled and left it at that.
That very night, Briony arranged for a moving company and told Gina about her plans.
When Gina heard Briony would be moving in with James, she was all for it.
The next morning, James showed up early to help pack.
Since the move was sudden–and with just over a month until Briony would be relocating to Silveridge anyway–she only packed up her valuables and daily essentials.
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Chapter 199
The apartment still held traces of her mother’s presence, brief and fleeting as it was. Briony decided not to sell it; keeping it felt like holding on to a piece of her memories.
