19:02
Chapter 266
Chapter 266
“What are you trying to say?”
“Briony, how can you still be so naïve?” Rosita pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Honestly, Stewart has known about your pregnancy for a long time. Did you really think moving to Silveridge would mean you’d finally escape him?”
She pressed play on a recording.
Stewart’s voice came through, cold and flat: “It’s just as well if the babies are lost.”
Cedric Clarke’s voice was sharp with disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? What the hell are you saying? Those are your children! Stewart! If you ever say something like that again, I swear I’ll cut you off for good!”
Stewart replied, unshaken, “I’m just stating the facts.”
Cedric’s voice rose to a shout. “Stewart! Say one more word and I’ll punch you in the face, you hear me? Those are your children! Even if you don’t care about Briony, you have no right to talk like that!”
The recording ended.
Rosita watched Briony’s face drain of all color, a satisfied smirk curving her lips. “Did you hear that clearly, Ms. Kensington?”
Briony clutched her belly. Stewart’s words still echoed in her ears, harsh and cold.
She remembered that stormy afternoon, when he’d told her, “The best thing would be if you weren’t pregnant at all.”
So from the very beginning, his feelings about her pregnancy hadn’t just been indifference–he’d actually despised it.
Despised it enough to say, “It’s just as well if the babies are lost.”
Rosita stepped closer, her smile growing cruel. “Stewart’s always said he’d only ever have one child–Irwin. He never wanted anything to threaten that. When he thought you’d ended the pregnancy, he was relieved. But when he found out you lied to him…”
She took another step toward Briony, eyes gleaming with, malicious amusement.
“Briony, all your careful scheming to keep those babjes–for their own father, they’re nothing but unwanted mistakes. Did you really think running off to Silveridge would let you have them in peace? You think Stewart will just let you walk away and raise them?”
Briony’s breath caught. Her heart hammered in her chest.
Maybe it was the shock, or the anger, but the twins inside her began to kick restlessly.
She pressed a trembling hand to her belly, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn’t let Rosita get to her–she
couldn’t let her win.
“You really think telling me all this will change anything?”
Briony met Rosita’s eyes and gave a cold, brittle laugh. “You’re wrong. I’m having these babies because they’re mine. They’re my family. I’m not doing this for the Wentworth fortune, and I don’t care if Stewart acknowledges them or not. They’re my children, and that’s all that matters. Stewart, the Wentworths–they have nothing to do with it.”
“Stewart doesn’t really care what you think.”
Rosita took a step closer. Briony, wary now, backed away.
Rosita chuckled. “Don’t be scared. I’m not going to touch you. Because Stewart’s already on his way to Silveridge.”
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19:02
Chapter 266
Briony froze.
“I’m just here to give you a little friendly warning,” Rosita went on, her voice sweet as venom. “Don’t let Stewart catch you. If he does, he’ll take you straight to the hospital. You’re eight months along, right? He’ll have the babies delivered early–just so he can take their cord blood.”
“Stewart’s got a medical facility overseas. He wants your babies‘ cord blood for research–he thinks it could lead to a treatment for Irwin. You know Irwin’s had asthma since birth. He’s so weak. As the only heir to the Wentworths, Stewart will do anything for him. That’s the only reason he’s let you carry the twins this far.”
“I don’t believe you!” Briony’s voice shook. She had to get out–now.
She turned, ignoring the pain in her abdomen, and braced herself against the wall as she hurried out.
Rosita watched her stumble away, her gaze cold and poisonous. “I’m not lying to you, Briony. Stewart and Irwin have already been to Silveridge to check up on you–without your knowledge. And you really thought you were living here in peace? How naïve. Stewart’s had you watched from the start. I’m only warning you because, well… mother to mother.”
Briony shuffled out of the restroom, gripping the wall for support.
The twins seemed to sense her fear and distress, kicking so hard it hurt.
Sweat beaded on her brow. Panic clawed at her chest.
She had to find Gwendolyn White, and fast…
The pain in her abdomen intensified, sharp and relentless.
Then, suddenly, she felt a hot rush between her legs, trickling down her thigh.
Briony looked down.
A vivid, searing red stained her dress.
“My babies…”
She collapsed to the floor, agony wracking her body as her phone tumbled from her bag.
She reached for it, but Rosita saw.
Rosita pulled her mask back up, yanked her cap low, and strode past Briony, kicking the phone out of reach. Without a backward glance, Rosita disappeared down the hall, leaving Briony alone on the cold, tiled floor.
