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.]

Nortia tomorrow, and honestly, I

Mary's mother's funeral?

a bit about

poor rural village outside Riverview. Four

village was steeped in

sacrificed for the sake

reason Mary ever escaped

mother who secretly scraped together enough money to buy Mary a visa and a plane ticket out-money she'd saved

she had to get her daughter out of that backward, suffocating place. She wanted Mary to have a

freedom and career away

more dangerous than a woman blinded by

Mary these days, she couldn't help but think of her own

end, she decided

drove

getting out, Briony glanced over at Blair. "Has anyone ever told you that

you think I look

"My late husband."

Blair fell silent.

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

"Ms. Kensington, I... I have scars. I'm not comfortable showing my face in public. Please

fine. I'm just going up to see a friend. Wait for

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