Stewart’s sudden, softened tone caught Rosita off guard. She looked at him, her brows knitting in silent
confusion.
But Briony had no time to dwell on Stewart’s change in attitude.
Right now, all she cared about was finding her mother.
Any lead, any glimmer of hope–she refused to let it slip by.
She fixed Stewart with a fierce stare. “My mom’s missing.”
Stewart’s brow furrowed. “When did this happen?”
“Last night. After she left your office.”
Briony’s gaze was icy, her resentment barely concealed.
Stewart flinched under her glare. “Briony, do you really think your mother’s disappearance has something to do with me?”
“She vanished right after seeing you! Who else am I supposed to come to?!”
Her voice broke, anger and desperation colliding. Briony’s chest heaved, and for a moment the room spun. She pressed her lips together, fighting back tears that threatened to spill from her reddened eyes.
She’d spent the entire night searching–she was at her breaking point.
Seeing Stewart’s indifference now, all the frustration she’d bottled up suddenly exploded.
“If you and Rosita hadn’t shown up at the hospital last time, my mother never would’ve learned about our marriage!”
“If it wasn’t for you two, I wouldn’t have been dragged through the mud online, and my mom wouldn’t think I was someone’s mistress!”
“Stewart, I never imagined, when I agreed to your arrangement five years ago, that this marriage would become such a humiliation!”
Stewart listened to her accusations, his handsome features growing colder. “Being married to me is humiliating?”
“Yes!” Briony met his dark eyes, unflinching. “If I could go back and choose again, I’d never marry you.” Stewart’s expression darkened completely, something hot and furious rising in his chest.
“Briony, I didn’t even have a chance to talk to your mother yesterday,” he said, his voice cold and edged with anger. “Instead of blaming me, maybe you should focus on where she might have gone.”
Briony’s breath caught. She stared at the man in front of her, realizing–yet again–that disappointment in someone truly had no limits.
She’d thought she couldn’t possibly be let down by Stewart any further, but he always managed to prove her
wrong.
A bitter smile curled Briony’s lips. “Right. I’m just being unreasonable, aren’t I…?”
Stewart’s frown deepened as he watched the way she smiled.
“Ms. Kensington, you’ve really misunderstood Stewart.” Rosita stepped up beside Stewart, looking at Briony with wide, innocent eyes.
“I was there when your mother visited yesterday. Stewart’s been caught up in a tough case lately, and he happened to step outside to take a call when Ms. Hudson arrived. She waited in the office for a few minutes, then left.”
14.24
་
Chapter 89
Briony turned to Rosita, her voice sharp. “Then tell me–what did you say to my mother?”
“Me?” Rosita shook her head. “I barely know Ms. Hudson. She already thought I was the other woman because she knew about the divorce, so she was cold to me. I offered her some tea, but she refused, left her gift, and walked out.”
“Other woman‘?” Stella practically gagged at Rosita’s faux–innocence. “Please. Why don’t you check your purse and see if you’re carrying a marriage certificate? Ms. Hudson was perfectly restrained–if she didn’t slap you, it’s just because she’s got class.”
Rosita’s face went pale, tears springing to her eyes.
Stella rolled her own. “Oh, save it. Maybe your performance works on the gullible, but I’m not buying it.”
“Stewart…” Rosita looked up at him, voice trembling. “I swear I didn’t say anything. Please, tell Ms. Kensington–I didn’t even talk to Ms. Hudson.”
But Stewart wasn’t looking at Rosita. His eyes were fixed on Briony’s ashen face.
Maybe it was how terrible she looked in that moment, but for once, Stewart was willing to explain himself.
“Your mother did get upset with Rosita yesterday,” he said quietly. “Briony, I know you’re worried, but you can’t just lash out at whoever’s nearby.”
A cold laugh escaped Briony, her eyes shifting from Rosita to Stewart.
He still believed Rosita. He always took Rosita’s side.
Briony’s voice was icy as she spoke, each word deliberate. “Stewart, you honestly make me sick.”
Stewart froze, clearly not expecting Briony to be so blunt. His face darkened further.”
Briony didn’t spare him another glance. She turned to Rosita. “Rosita, you’d better pray my mom comes home safe. Otherwise, this is on you.”
Rosita’s brows drew together, a flicker of concern in her eyes.
Briony didn’t look back. She turned and strode away.
Stella, still fuming, paused at the door to toss a final remark at Stewart: “I can’t believe Dr. Clarke would call someone like you a friend.”
