Within a week, the scandal of Mary giving birth overseas faded quickly.

During that time, Starlight Entertainment's new faces took advantage of the situation, grabbing the spotlight and building up a fresh wave of buzz.

Mary's personal drama did impact Starlight's reputation, but the newcomers' momentum all but neutralized it.

Starlight Entertainment remained securely in the industry's top ten.

Since that day, Ferdinand hadn't made another appearance.

Briony assumed he'd be staying in Nortia for a while, what with Mary's pregnancy and everything.

***

By mid-February, the snow in Northborough had finally stopped.

The weather was still bitterly cold.

After work one day, Briony received a text from Mary.

Mary: [Briony, I'm back in the country. Can we meet?]

Briony was caught off guard.

Why would Mary risk flying back while pregnant?

Briony: [If this is about terminating your contract, you can just talk to Bill directly.]

I'm heading back to Nortia tomorrow, and honestly, I probably won't ever come back after this. I

Mary's mother's funeral?

a bit about Mary's

up in a poor rural village outside Riverview. Four daughters, one

steeped in old-fashioned

born to be sacrificed

ever escaped was her mother's

buy Mary a visa and a plane

used every penny she had to get her daughter out of that backward, suffocating place.

her hard-won freedom and career away for

there's nothing more dangerous

these days, she couldn't help but think

the end, she decided to meet

Blair drove Briony to Mary's

Blair. "Has anyone ever told you

do you think

"My late husband."

Blair fell silent.

I didn't really get a good look. Why don't you take it off

comfortable showing my face in public.

faint, knowing smile. "It's fine. I'm just going up to see a friend. Wait for me

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

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