NovelEnglish"I just don't think he needs to be at the hospital all the time. We're divorced, after all-he's my ex-husband now. There's no reason for him to be hovering around like this." "Oh, I get it!" Stella tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You're worried that with him taking care of you, you'll end up falling for him again—and then, before you know it, you two are back together?" Briony rolled her eyes. "Maybe you should go back to grade school and brush up on your reading comprehension." Stella burst out laughing. "Kidding! I know what you mean, don't worry." Briony shot her a playful glare. "You're impossible." "Bryn, he's the father of your child. Even if he's just looking after you as a friend, that's perfectly normal. Besides, he's got resources, and from what Cedric told me, Stewart's not exactly swamped these days. He's got time, and he wants to help out. Why not just let him?" "It just makesfeel weird." "Weird?" Stella arched an eyebrow. "What's so weird about it? It's not like you need him to hey! Ow! Did you just hit me?" Briony glared at her. "You really can't keep that mouth of yours in check, can you?" Stella rubbed her arm where she'd been smacked, then looked at Briony, falling quiet for a moment before sighing in defeat.
"Bryn, you really haven't noticed how much Stewart's changed?" "I have." "So you really don't want to give him another chance?" "Maybe I should just join a convent," Briony muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "Why is everyone so obsessed with this, even you?" "Because you have a kid together!" Stella cut in, her tone matter-of-fact. "Look, I'm hardly Stewart's biggest fan, but as a woman—and a brand mom deal with all this postpartum craziness-I get it. You and Stewart will always be connected because of your child. And you went through hell together! I heard he nearly lost the use of his hand saving you!" Briony pressed her lips together, and despite herself, the memory of that day flashed before her eyes... Stella watched her closely, but Briony's expression was unreadably calm.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAs her best friend, Stella couldn't tell what was going on inside.
"Bryn, if you'd split up on bad terms and both moved on, sure, I'd say there's nothing left between you. But that's not what's happening..." "You're at a stage where you'd rather focus on your career and forget men altogether, while Stewart's clearly had a wake-up call. He's got this whole knight- in-shining-armor thing going on. I mean, he won't push you to get back together, but he wants to look after you as the father of your child. Don't tellthere isn't a little hope mixed in with that. As long as there's love, there's always hope. It's a slow burn, Bryn. Maybe you can turn him down for a year, or two, or even five- but if he never gives up, how long can you hold out? You might be able to say no now, but what about in ten years? When you're old and frail, and there's someone who knows you inside out still by your side... can you really say no then?" Briony turned to look out the window.
The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with clouds-a perfect day.
She shook her head, her voice soft. "Growing old... that's so far away." For her, just making it through this year was uncertain. How could she think about something so distant? Stella understood what weighed on her mind.
Briony's illness had con so suddenly, so violently, that Stellfound herself wishing Briony would live @little more selfishly, a little more wildly.
So she said, "Bryn, if Stewart wants to stay by your side, just let him. Who cares what he's thinking? The only thing that matters is that you get the care you need. And if you do end up back together, I'll support you no matter what. Honestly, you should stop overthinking it. Get healthy first-if you want to dump him later, that's his problem." Briony stared at her in disbelief.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"I was only gone a couple of months. How did you suddenly get so... philosophical?" Stella flopped face-down onto the bed abou sighed. "I've been thinking about my life a lot lately. Been reading tons of books." Briony teased, "Letguess-'The Billionaire's Secret Baby'?" Stella shot her a look.
"Runaway Bride of the CEO'?" Another glare.
Briony hesitated. "Or... 'My Secret Marriage to the Movie Star'?"
"Briony!" Stella bellowed, jumping up. "I'm reading real books. Philosophy!" Briony was genuinely surprised. "Like what?" "To Live."" Briony stared at her. "What, did something happen to you?"
Stella, always so carefree, reading something that heavy? That was 'a first, "I want a divorce." Briony froze, sure she'd misheard. "Star, what did you just say?" "I mean it, Bryn. I want a divorce."
Just as Stella finished speaking, the door to the hospital room swung open Both women turned- Cedric Clarke stood in the doorway, one hand still on the knob.
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