Briony still chose to go through with the procedure.

Stella, sensing that her friend wasn't exactly in a calm state of mind, suggested she go home, take a hot shower, get some sleep, and wait until morning to make a final decision. "There's no rush," she said gently.

But Briony was resolute.

Seeing her determination, Stella didn't try to talk her out of it any further.

It wasn't that Stella necessarily thought keeping Stewart's child was the better option. She just worried that Briony was acting out of pure emotion, and she didn't want her friend to make a decision she'd regret when the storm had passed. So she'd pressed a little harder, just in case.

But now, with Briony's mind made up, Stella switched to unwavering support-just as any best friend would.

That night, Stella accompanied Briony back to her place at Dolphin Cove.

Once home, she all but pushed Briony toward the bathroom. "Go take a hot shower," she said. "I'll make us some pasta. By the time you're out, dinner will be ready."

Briony nodded quietly.

Stella wagged her finger at her. "Don't stay in too long, okay? You're pregnant, and long hot showers can make you dizzy!"

"Alright, I know," Briony replied.

As the bathroom door closed, she walked over to the mirror.

The woman staring back at her looked pale, with eyes red and swollen from crying.

She was a mess.

Briony turned on the faucet and splashed icy water onto her face. The cold washed away some of the fog in her mind.

After a moment, she looked up again, meeting her own gaze in the mirror. Slowly, the sorrow in her eyes began to fade.

After tonight, those five years of misguided devotion-no matter how pitiful or ridiculous would be behind her.

forward. Don't

morning, sunlight sparkled across the city, blanketing everything in a dazzling layer of

woke early. She made some nourishing soup and steamed a few fresh rolls

was ready, she went to rouse Stella, who

work that morning, so after

so Stella dropped her off on the

car, Stella checked one more time. "Are you

calm and steady. "Director Grant said they can't schedule the procedure for at least another week, right? That's perfect-I have an artifact restoration

like you've got everything under control." Stella thumped her chest in mock relief. "Alright, I'll

Briony smiled faintly. "Thanks."

...

the

about

grabbed her bag and

buckled her seatbelt and said, "Let's go. I

Ashbourne Valley,

now and don't waste time, we

the wheel, idly fiddling with a wooden bead bracelet in

your chauffeur

over at him, meeting his eyes. "Wasn't it your idea? You said you didn't trust me not to cheat, and you had to

James just grunted.

I have to leave town for a while next week. I need to finish

James asked.

the window. "Just taking some

lack ambition." Briony's lashes fluttered, but she

edge of Northborough, a quirky little town full of odds and ends—some genuine, many not. For newcomers, it was a minefield of fakes and scams, but every so often, a real treasure surfaced for

ducked into a nearby diner for a

was also at the market, hunting for pieces

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