Chapter 344

"Mr. Heath, you're here," the maid greeted, her voice polite and soft.

Steven shrugged off his suit jacket and strode inside, his long legs eating up the hallway. "Where's Bria?"

"She's already gone to bed."

He stopped short, caught off guard. She used to wait for him every single night. If he didn't come home, she'd skip dinner too, always waiting up for him. Tonight, he'd even skipped his own dinner just to eat with her, thinking it would make things better between them.

But tonight? No dinner, no waiting, just an empty kitchen and a closed bedroom door. She'd gone to sleep early.

"Alright. Got it," he muttered, a strange panic tightening in his chest.

He knew it—Bria was really disappointed in him this time. Tonight, he'd even planned to make it up to her, to finally give her the attention she deserved.

A little later, after changing and taking a shower, Steven made his way to the bedroom door. He tried the handle, but it wouldn't budge. Locked. From the inside.

He stood there, confused. Was she actually keeping him out? Wasn't she always the one wanting to get close again, to rekindle what they'd lost? Tonight, he was ready—completely ready, no more letting her down.

But she'd locked him out.

After hesitating for a moment, he knocked. "Bria? Are you asleep?" His knuckles rapped the door again and again, but all he got in return was silence. No footsteps, no answer, nothing.

"Mr. Heath, maybe she's already asleep. Would you like to rest in the guest room tonight?” the maid offered gently.

Steven felt a wave of frustration rise up, but all he could do was sigh. "Fine."

Locked out of his own bedroom. He trudged to the guest room next door.

Inside the master bedroom, Bria had heard every knock. But she'd had enough. She didn't want to open the door. Even if she did, she knew exactly what would happen —he'd lose interest halfway through, just like the last few times. He wasn't attracted to her anymore. Why keep humiliating herself?

The next morning, Steven had the kitchen make all her favorites—shrimp

dumplings, crab soup dumplings, the works.

At half past eight, Bria finally stepped out of the bedroom.

"You're up. Try the shrimp dumplings-Ruth used a new recipe," Steven said, trying

to sound gentle as he set the plate on the table himself.

Bria didn't even look at him. She just glanced over her shoulder, her voice cool. "Do you need something?"

"I do. There's something we should

talk about." He pulled out a chair behind her doing his best to seem casual. "I'm planning to send Cody abroad for a while. I've found the best medical

am for him, and the environment will be better for his recovery."

Bria paused, the fork still in her hand, her eyes suddenly sharp. "Send him abroad? Didn't he just get diagnosed with leukemia? Is now really a good time to move him?"

Steven was ready for that. "That's exactly why he needs to go. I don't trust the doctors here. There's a top specialist overseas who's amazing with kids like Cody. Success rates are much better."

He added, "Besides, with the wedding coming up, we're going to be busy. We won't have as much time to take care of him."

It all sounded perfectly reasonable. But Bria wasn't buying it. She'd been through

too much with Steven-she knew all his tells, sometimes even before he did.

She turned and looked him straight

in the eyes. "I saw Cody yesterday. He was bouncing off the walls,

eating like a horse. He didn't look like

a kid who needed to be rushed

overseas for emergency treatment:"

Steven's heart skipped, but he kept his face blank. “Leukemia is unpredictable. Some days are good, some are bad. We can't risk it. The sooner he starts treatment over there, the better."

"Systematic treatment?" Bria's laugh was cold. "Steven, just tell me the truth. Is Cody's illness really that bad?"

Her stare made him nervous—he looked away, trying to play it cool. "You've seen

the test results. Why would I lie? I just don't want Cody to suffer."

Here we go again, he thought. First Lucie doubted him, now Bria.

"If you don't want him to suffer, you should keep him here and take care of him yourself Bria pushed back. "Sending him away, especially now? Are you just worried I'll spend too much time with him?"

She remembered visiting Cody a few days ago—rosy cheeks, big appetite, nothing

at all like a seriously ill child. Back then, she'd told herself he was just tough, but now everything seemed suspicious.

"Bria, don't be paranoid," Steven said, his voice tight and a little sharp. "I'm doing this for all of us. Cody gets better care, Lucie can focus on her pregnancy, and we all get some peace."

“Peace?” Bria raised an eyebrow, then smiled with thinly veiled sarcasm. “You mean you get to keep your secrets in peace?"

She turned and pulled her coat from the wardrobe. "If the hospital overseas is so great, I'll take Cody myself. I want to see just how 'world-class' it really is."

Steven's face darkened. “Why would you go? Your health isn't strong enough for that kind of trip."