NovelEnglishChapter 50 Briony said calmly, "Let's head back to the stufirst." "The studio?" James raised an eyebrow.
"You brought the statue of Jesus, didn't you?" Briony glanced at him. "I want to examine the piece in person." James chuckled. "Alright." Truth be told, he was just as eager-impatient, even-to see what Briony could do. He wanted to witness the kind of talent that could make the famously strict Professor Winslow still talk about her, even after five years.
When they arrived at the studio, Briony changed into her work clothes.
Inside the restoration room, she opened the artifact case and carefully placed the porcelain statue of Jesus on the workbench, then scanned it- Data collected, she transferred the analysis to her computer.
Briony's expression grew serious. "The damage is even worse than it looked in the photos. This will be a tough restoration. The craftsmanship is very old, and sof the original materials might be hard to source." James stood with one hand in his pocket, looking entertained. "So, after all that, are you saying you can't restore it?" "I can restore it," Briony replied, pulling off her gloves and meeting James's gaze. "But I'll need stime." James said, "Professor said you have two weeks, tops." Two weeks? Briony pressed her lips together for a moment. "That's more than enough. I'll have it done in a week." James was momentarily taken aback. In truth, he'd already shaved the real deadline-Professor Winslow had given them a month, knowing how difficult it would be to find the required materials for the restoration.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe cleared his throat, trying to sound stern. "Briony, just remember-this artifact is incredibly rare. This is no tfor shortcuts." "I know." Briony looked at the porcelain statue on the workbench. Her eyes shone-bright, determined. "Professor always said: every artifact is a witness to history, and every restoration is a profound dialogue with the past. As restorers, we need reverence for history and a true craftsman's spirit. I've never forgotten those words." With Gina keeping watch at the hospital, Briony decided to stay at the studio, while James checked into a hotel nearby.
Before six the next morning, Briony was jolted awake by her phone buzzing with a call.
She'd stayed up late after James left, researching materials online until nearly 2 a.m. Groggy, she fumbled for her phone and hit answer. "Hello?" James's voice was barely more than a groan. "Wake up... Crescueat the hotel..." Briony frowned. "What happened?" "I've been in the bathroom all night..." His voice was weak, tinged with accusation. "Is there skind of laxative in Northborough's food?" Briony was silent for a moment.
She took a cab to the hotel and practically had to support James, who looked pale and could barely walk, to the hospital.
At the ER, the doctor diagnosed him with acute gastroenteritis.
Once James was hooked up to an IV, Briony took his paperwork to the billing desk.
On her way back, she ran into Cedric Clarke and Stewart at the entrance of the emergency department.
They'd been deep in conversation but fell silent when they saw her.
Briony ignored Stewart and gave Cedric a polite nod. "Dr. Clarke." Cedric smiled warmly. "Ms. Kensington, here so early?" "A friend's sick. I cto keep him company," Briony replied in her usual calm tone.
"A friend?" Cedric shot a glance at Stewart.
Stewart's face was impassive, as if none of this concerned him.
Cedric cleared his throat and looked back at Briony, concern in his voice. "Is your friend alright?" "Just a stomach bug. Nothing serious." Cedric nodded, relieved. "Glad to hear it." He glanced at Stewart again, but Stewart's expression remained cold, and he didn't say a word-or make any move to leave.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCedric felt the awkwardness building.
"I'll let you two talk," Briony said to Cedric, then stepped past Stewart and headed straight into the ER.
When she was out of earshot, Cedric turned to Stewart. "That friend an hers was James light. Both here at this hour-don't tellthey spent the night together?" At that, Stewart's eyes darkened. He slapped Cedric's medical file against his chest. "I don't care." He hit hard enough to make Cedric cough several times.
People who'd served with the peacekeeping forces really were something else— Cedric almost thought he'd fractured a rib!
"Are you sure you don't care, or do you just not want to know?" Cedric waved the file teasing"You @tfirst thing this morning to ask about Julia's condition. Stewart, are you more worried about Julia, or about Ms. Kensington?" Stewart's brow furrowed, his handsface clouded with irritation.
Cedric had known him for years, but he'd never seen Stewart act like this before.
But then Cedric remembered Rosita and Irwin, and whatever joke he'd om been about to make faded. He lowered his voice, suddenly serious. "Mate, something's not right with you."
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
