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 look

through the night, but by morning, sunlight sparkled across the city, blanketing everything in a dazzling layer of white. It looked as if the world had been draped in a veil

woke early. She made some nourishing soup and steamed

everything was ready, she went to rouse

work that morning, so after breakfast,

stop by her studio, so Stella

got out of the car, Stella checked one more time. "Are you sure about

another week, right? That's perfect-I have an

under control." Stella thumped her chest in mock relief.

Briony smiled faintly. "Thanks."

...

at the studio, Briony called

about ten minutes

grabbed her bag and

car, she buckled her seatbelt

over in Ashbourne Valley, about thirty miles away. If we

don't waste time, we

idly fiddling

your chauffeur

You said you didn't trust

James just grunted.

leave town for a while

town?" James asked. "Where

turned her gaze to the window. "Just taking some time

Professor White says you lack ambition." Briony's

odds and ends—some genuine, many not. For newcomers, it was a minefield of fakes and scams, but every

ducked into a nearby diner for

hunting for pieces for the auction house he planned to

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