On the drive back, Briony filled Stella in on the three conditions Stewart had laid out.

When Stella heard them, she exploded. "Is he out of his mind? He wants you to go on vacation with him and his son when you're about to get divorced? Ugh! What a creep! And his kid's a little brat, too!"

Briony pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

After a moment, Stella calmed herself and glanced over. "So, what are you thinking?"

"He gave me three days to decide. I need to think it over," Briony admitted. She wasn't ready to give in just yet.

She still wanted to take her chances.

Stella didn't pick up on her hesitation, only nodded and said, "Alright, we've got three days. We'll figure something out."

"Yeah."

Stella dropped Briony off at Dolphin Cove.

She watched Briony disappear inside, then sat in her car, lost in thought. After some deliberation, she pulled out her phone and called Cedric Clarke.

right away. "Dr.

Sorry to bother you this late. Do you have a

chuckled. "I'm single with nowhere to be, so trust me, you're

but pressed on. "Let me guess-you

call and vent, but you

at Southcreek Manor and gave her three outrageous

was practically seething just mentioning Stewart. "Each one was

"What sort of conditions?"

listing all three to

said, "I'll admit, those are pretty out there. But I have a feeling Stewart

Advise her to

nearly blew out the speakers. Cedric winced and

you still had basic decency. I called you hoping you'd talk some

Cedric started, exasperated. "Just hear me out-calm down for

time, don't expect me to ever

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