Chapter 252
Jeannie gently coaxed Irwin back into bed, then lay down beside him, softly humming a lullaby.
It didn’t take long before Irwin drifted off to sleep again.
Once she was sure he was sound asleep, Jeannie quietly slipped out of bed and left the room.
She went next door and picked up her phone, glancing at the time.
A little after 2 a.m.–hardly an appropriate hour to call her employer.
But the matter was too important for her to care about propriety.
Jeannie dialed Stewart’s number.
He answered almost immediately.
“Ms. Radcliffe.” Stewart’s deep voice came through the line. “Did Irwin have another nightmare?”
Jeannie felt her cheeks flush, her heart still pounding. She steadied herself and answered respectfully, “I’m sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Wentworth.”
She hesitated, then continued, “Irwin did have another nightmare. This time it was worse than before–he cried harder, kept saying he saw his mother covered in blood. While I was comforting him, he let a few things slip…”
The next morning, just after nine, the specialists Hannah had contacted arrived.
Three technicians showed up, dressed in protective gear and carrying professional equipment, They checked every inch of Briony’s office and lounge, inside and out.
Half an hour later, the results were in.
No traces of high radiation were found anywhere.
Hannah called Briony with the update.
Briony was surprised when she heard the news.
She hung up and turned to James, who looked anxious. “Well? Did they find anything?”
Briony shook her head. “Hannah said they didn’t detect a thing.”
“Really?” James frowned, unconvinced. “Maybe they missed something?”
“Hannah watched them the whole time. She’s thorough–nothing gets past her.”
“So, were we wrong?” James huffed. “Guess that kid still has a conscience–didn’t team up with the old witch to set you up.”
Briony pressed her lips together and sighed. “Now we’re back to square one. No leads at all.”
James tried to comfort her. “Forget it. It’s over. What matters now is that you’re safe. Just focus on taking care
of yourself and the twins. That’s what’s important.”
Briony gave him a faint smile. “What if they’re both boys?”
James scowled. “Don’t jinx it!”
She couldn’t help but laugh.
Northborough, the law offices.
Carl knocked on the door.
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“Come in.”
He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and walked over to the desk, placing a metal box on the polished surface.
“Mr. Wentworth, I found it.”
Stewart glanced at the box. “Was it handled?”
“Yes. Hannah was watching the whole time, but luckily the stone was under the bed. The technician was quick–got it out before she noticed.”
Stewart reached for the box, but Carl quickly warned, “Sir, be careful. That thing is highly radioactive.”
“I know.”
Stewart opened the box.
Inside, a dark gray energy stone glimmered with a cold, eerie light.
He examined it for a moment before snapping the lid shut.
Earlier that morning, he’d gone to Southcreek Manor himself to talk to Irwin.
The boy was young–easily manipulated by Lauren–and hadn’t realized how dangerous the stone was. When Stewart explained it could make Briony sick, Irwin was both terrified and deeply remorseful.
“Mr. Wentworth, I don’t understand. If Ms. Kensington already suspects Lauren, why go to all this trouble?”
Stewart’s voice was steely. “Irwin was the one who put the stone under Briony’s bed. If she ever found out, do you think she’d ever look at Irwin the same way?”
Carl’s eyes widened in sudden understanding.
So that’s why–Mr. Wentworth was protecting Irwin’s place in Briony’s heart.
Stewart narrowed his gaze. “The authorities have been cracking down on these stones for years. If Lauren managed to get one, Neal was definitely involved.”
Anyone in the know could tell you–these energy stones were mostly smuggled in from Southeast Asia, and getting them through customs was far from easy.
Lauren, as the wife on the fringes of a wealthy family, would never have gotten her hands on something like this without Neal’s help.
“Find a way to return this little gift to Lauren,” Stewart said, tapping the cold metal box with his finger. “And make sure it’s done the exact same way.”
Carl nodded at once. “Understood.”
The Lockwood estate.
From behind the closed master bedroom door downstairs, the sound of a leather belt cracking and a woman’s anguished screams echoed through the hall.
It went on for over half an hour before finally falling silent.
The door opened, and Lauren stumbled out, bracing herself against the wall, her face pale and slick with cold
sweat.
It wasn’t the first time this had happened; the household staff barely even blinked anymore.
Lauren was badly hurt, but the servants pretended not to notice.
Saul allowed it–and that was all that mattered.
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Swallowing her pain and resentment, Lauren ordered the driver to take her to the hospital.
As soon as she stepped out, the driver pulled away without a word.
Lauren watched the car disappear down the drive, grinding her teeth in fury.
Ever since Saul became paralyzed, his temper had grown violent–lately, he’d been lashing out at her more and
more.
She couldn’t take another day in this house.
Pulling out her phone, Lauren scrolled through her contacts and dialed a number.
The moment the call connected, her voice broke with tears. “Mr. Prescott, I’m sorry–am I bothering you?” Gavin’s voice on the other end was tense with concern. “You sound upset. What happened?”
Lauren sobbed, “Saul hit me again. I didn’t know who else to call. Please, Mr. Prescott, I need your help…” Less than ten minutes after she hung up, Gavin arrived.
Lauren was sitting on the edge of a flower bed outside the emergency room, and when she spotted him, she stood shakily.
Gavin hurried over.
As Lauren broke down in tears, he wrapped her in his arms, his face full of concern.
Unbeknownst to them, a van parked nearby captured the whole scene in sharp detail on a hidden camera.
