Chapter 319
Briony stared blankly at her mother, uncertain she’d heard her right.
What was her mother saying?
Lauren had stolen her husband?
Julia’s eyes drifted closed, tears slipping from the corners.
She kept murmuring, voice trembling, “Bryn, I’m sorry… I’ve failed you. I’ve failed you, sweetheart…”
Briony knelt beside her and gently wiped away her mother’s tears.
Her own eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice catching. “Mom, I’m here. Don’t worry, I promise—we’ll be okay. Things will get better from now on.”
Julia’s face twisted with pain. “Bryn, I’m so angry. My whole life, I’ve been a failure. Why did Lauren have to be my daughter? Why her… why…”
Her words faded to nothing, exhaustion overtaking her.
Briony watched her mother drift into sleep, silent tears streaming down her face.
The gray streaks in Julia’s hair, the deep lines at the corners of her eyes–five years in prison, four years missing. Nine years had ground her down, leaving her looking decades older than her forty–something years. Now, she looked closer to seventy than forty.
All her life, Julia had known nothing but suffering.
Briony squeezed her mother’s hand. “Rest now, Mom. From here on, I’ll be by your side. I won’t let you suffer anymore.”
Ferdinand and Gina stood at the foot of the bed, their faces heavy with sorrow.
Out in the hallway, little Nina had been watching quietly for some time. The adults were so focused on Julia, they hadn’t even noticed her.
Nina tiptoed into the room.
“Mommy…?”
Briony started, hastily wiping her face and taking a deep breath before turning around.
Nina’s big eyes were rimmed with red as she gazed up at her mother, searching her face.
Regret twisted in Briony’s heart. She’d completely forgotten her daughter was there–she didn’t even know if Julia’s episode had frightened her.
“Nina, don’t be afraid. Grandma’s just sick, that’s all.”
“I’m not scared,” Nina said softly. She reached out her tiny hand and gently touched Briony’s cheek. “Mommy, did you cry?”
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Briony pressed her lips together, forcing a smile. “No, sweetheart.”
Nina cocked her head. “It’s okay to cry, Mommy. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Briony’s throat tightened, caught between laughter and tears at her daughter’s wisdom. “Mommy’s just sad for Grandma, that’s all.”
Nina wrapped her arms around Briony’s neck, patting her back with her little hand.
“Mommy, I’ll always be here for you and Grandma. Don’t worry–Dr. Ellsworth is really smart. He’ll help Grandma get better!”
Briony hugged her daughter close, burying her face in the warm, sweet–smelling crook of Nina’s
neck.
She nodded firmly. “I’m not afraid. With you here, Mommy’s not afraid of anything.”
Worried Julia might relapse when she woke, the adults couldn’t spare attention for Nina. Briony
called James.
Nina was bright and mature for her age, but she was still only four. Briony didn’t want her to shoulder these burdens so soon.
James arrived before Julia regained consciousness.
Briony asked Gina and Ferdinand to watch over Nina, then stepped out onto the balcony with
James.
She told him everything Julia had said during her episode.
James was floored. “So Lauren stole your dad, and Rosita stole your husband?!”
Briony nodded.
“Unbelievable!” James fumed. “Like mother, like daughter. So Mrs. Hudson knew Rosita was Lauren’s daughter and couldn’t handle the shock…”
He shook his head, letting out a long sigh. “Rosita is ruthless–hurts people right where it
counts.”
“All this time, I kept thinking Lauren looked oddly familiar,” he went on. “Now I realize when I first returned to the Kensington family, I actually met her. She looked different then–must’ve had work done. But those eyes, you can’t mistake them.”
“She actually dared show up at the Kensingtons‘? That bold?”
“She was there to see my so–called aunt, Melody Lynn. Melody and Lauren are real sisters.”
Briony’s voice was low, thoughtful. “I never connected the dots before, but now it makes sense. Ever since Lauren showed up at the Kensingtons‘, Malcolm’s attitude toward my mom got worse and worse.”
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“And when Mom found out about Malcolm’s affair, she caused a scene. Melody was the first to side against her. I used to think Melody was just sucking up to Malcolm and Grandma, but now I see–she was helping Lauren get a foothold in the family.”
“You mean…” James’s eyes widened. “Your aunt brought Lauren into the Kensingtons on purpose–she set them up?”
Briony nodded. “That’s what I think.”
James shook his head, speechless.
The Delaneys had always valued integrity–every generation, loving couples, strong values. After hearing all this, James was so angry he could barely speak, but no curse seemed strong enough.
All he could manage was, “Trash.”
“The Kensingtons and the Hudsons are all about power and profit,” Briony said bitterly. “How could my mom stand a chance, fighting them alone?”
James could only sigh. To be saddled with families like that–what terrible luck.
“So what are you going to do now?”
Briony’s gaze turned distant and cold. “When Mom broke down today, I didn’t have time for Nina. She saw everything.” Her voice trembled with guilt. “She must’ve been scared, but she pretended to be brave so I wouldn’t worry.”
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