Half-conscious, Briony caught the faint scent of something familiar.

She coughed, clutching her aching throat as she forced her eyes open.

The car was dim inside, streetlights flickering through the windows as they passed by. The shifting glow and shadow jolted her memory into place.

This was Stewart's car.

She sat up abruptly, scanning the front seat. Stewart glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "You're awake?"

Fragments of memory from before she blacked out drifted back. The last person she remembered seeing... was Stewart? But why would Stewart be there?

"How are you feeling now?" His deep voice broke through the silence, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She touched her neck pain flared beneath her fingers. She didn't need a mirror to know it was probably bruised.

The Kensingtons had finally managed to turn Mack into a second Malcolm. She felt no sorrow about it.

She'd grown up in the countryside with her grandfather. Other than her mother, who'd sneak away to see her whenever she could, the rest of the Kensington family had always treated her with cold indifference. If her grandfather hadn't died when she was eighteen, the Kensingtons never would've bothered bringing her back.

Afterward, they'd only done so for their own gain-forcing her, just out of high school, to parade around at stuffy society galas. They called it “broadening her horizons," but everyone knew the real plan was to marry her off for some strategic alliance. As long as the man was powerful enough, the Kensingtons didn't care if he was a fifty-year-old widower; they'd still force her to marry him.

family's offering as a dowry? Five million! Dad says if we get the money, he'll buy me

on, Briony stopped expecting

her mother, she never would've

the car slowed to a

at her. "Are you feeling that

his expression. "I'm fine." She hesitated, then asked,

low laugh. "What do you

Stewart had come looking for her. It wasn't the first time

they signed the papers, he'd be a widower

her lips together, her tone grave. "Whatever your reasons, the fact remains-you

faintest of smiles. The light turned green; he

Mercedes glided down the road. Briony glanced

"The hospital," he replied.

to the

Briony blurted out, panic rising in

better to get

know my own body," Briony shot back.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255