A cold, bitter sneer twisted in Briony's heart.

She stared at him, expressionless. "So what, am I supposed to praise you now?"

"That won't be necessary." Stewart's lips curled into a faint, almost teasing smile. "I just wanted to prove to you there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"Is that so?" Briony let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Then if I told you to throw yourself into the ocean right now, could you do it?"

Stewart faltered.

But after a beat, he gave a low, resigned chuckle. "You want the truth?"

"Absolutely," Briony snapped, her eyes icy. "The sea's right there. If you jump, I'll forgive you. If you survive, consider yourself lucky. If you die-well, that's what you deserve."

"Bryn, I can't die."

He looked at her intently, his tone oddly sincere. "Someone still needs me."

"Of course you can't bear to die. Irwin still needs his perfect father, doesn't he?" Briony jerked her foot away, glaring at him with cold contempt.

"But Stewart, do you know how many times I've wished you would just hurry up and die? Yet somehow, villains always seem to live the longest.”

"I know I can't win against you. So, I hope this is the last time you force yourself into my life. You say I owe you this wedding-fine, I'm swallowing my disgust to repay that debt. But after tonight, I want my freedom back."

The hatred blazing in her eyes was unmistakable.

Stewart's Adam's apple bobbed as he stood. His reply was quiet, almost solemn. "I understand."

...

Night fell.

the wedding march began to

as Briony, leaning on Bianca and the nurse for

who had presided over

but wore the same suit as

felt dazed, as if time had folded back on

no guests. Only a few staff from the wedding company,

of wedding rings-the very same ones Briony had refused at Skybreeze Retreat. Along with them, the ostentatious diamond

onto Briony's ring finger, the diamond onto her index

ring, she deliberately fumbled. The ring slipped from

to fetch it and handed it

as she let the ring slip

and caught it, sliding the band

announced the union in

may now

glared at Stewart, her eyes cold as

an arm around her waist, leaning in

frowned, turning

on the

shoving him

and in

and

Sode toward their "bridale

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