15:42
་
Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Briony froze, stunned.
She stared at Stewart, her eyes trembling with disbelief.
“Stewart, what did I do wrong?” she asked quietly.
He met her gaze, cold and unyielding. “You’re upset with me, that’s fine. But Rosita is innocent.” His words were sharp and judgmental. “You had no right to mislead your friend into attacking her.”
Briony’s hand clenched the pharmacy bag so tightly it shook.
She fixed her eyes on Stewart–this man she had poured her heart into, loved without regret for five long years.
“Your precious Rosita is innocent?” Briony let out a brittle laugh, tears brimming but refusing to fall. She struggled to hold herself together, her pale lips trembling as the dam finally broke. “And what about me? For five years I’ve been the fool, raising your child as my own, giving everything I had–am I not innocent too?!”
Stewart faltered, caught off–guard.
Stella’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait, what do you mean, ‘raising their child for five years‘? You mean… Irwin is Stewart and Rosita’s?”
Briony’s chest heaved. She ignored Stella, her gaze locked on Stewart. “Stewart, I want just one answer–why did you lie to me in the first place?”
Stewart’s brow furrowed, irritation flickering across his face. “We agreed from the start this was a partnership. Who Irwin’s biological mother is doesn’t change our arrangement.”
Briony felt the air leave her lungs.
So that’s his excuse, she thought bitterly. What a convenient reason.
A shaky laugh escaped her lips, dizziness washing over her. She nearly collapsed, but Stella caught her just in time, eyes full of worry.
“Are you okay?” Stella asked anxiously, steadying her.
Stewart’s grip on Rosita’s hand loosened. He glanced at Briony, lips parting as if to speak, but before he could, Rosita suddenly went limp in his arms.
“Rosita?” Stewart quickly caught her as she fainted.
Without hesitation, he scooped Rosita up and hurried toward the inpatient wing, his face set and serious.
Stella was seething. “She’s totally faking! God, the nerve! Bryn, I’m all for you divorcing him. Five years as a stepmom, only to be humiliated like this? I’m furious! I swear, tonight I’m making a burner account and exposing her–forget her stupid Best Actress award…”
Stella kept ranting, but Briony couldn’t hear a word.
Her world faded to black.
Briony slept deeply, the kind of sleep that comes after total exhaustion.
By the time she woke, it was already noon the next day.
Stella pushed open the hospital room door just as Briony was struggling to sit up in bed.
“Finally, you’re awake,” Stella said with a relieved sigh.
Briony turned at the sound of her voice. “What happened to me?”
Stella closed the door and sat beside her, giving a sarcastic snort. “You fainted from rage–thanks to that
1/2
15:42
Chapter 22
scumbag and his darling.”
Briony’s lashes fluttered as the memory of the pharmacy came crashing back. The pain was still fresh. She knew Stewart didn’t care about her feelings, yet she’d still begged him for an explanation–humiliating herself in the process.
She pressed her hand to her forehead, regret coursing through her.
“So, what now?” Stella asked, her gaze dropping to Briony’s stomach. “With Stewart treating you like this, are you really going to have his baby?”
Briony went still.
“Bryn, being a single mom isn’t easy,” Stella said softly, taking her hand. “Your mom gets out tomorrow. She’d be heartbroken if she knew what you were going through.”
“I know.” Briony cradled her belly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I’m not sure I can let go.”
Stella frowned, about to reply, when a commotion sounded from the hallway-
“Oh my god! Rosita just went public with her relationship!”
“I heard rumors a few days ago–someone said she’s been living with her boyfriend for years! This is solid proof!”
“Proof? Please, they’re childhood sweethearts! And her boyfriend is none other than Mr. Wentworth–the most eligible bachelor in Northborough! Not only is his family loaded, he’s also the top attorney in town!”
“Mr. Wentworth? You mean Attorney Wentworth? The undefeated one?”
“That’s him! He was just on TV last week, doing that legal advice segment. He’s gorgeous–tall, charming, the whole package!”
“Wow, Rosita really hit the jackpot! Every socialite in Northborough just lost their dream guy!”
The chatter faded down the hall.
Inside the hospital room, the mood was heavy.
Stella tried to hold it in, but finally burst out, exasperated, “I just can’t believe this!”
15:42
