Chapter 732

Briony's brow furrowed slightly.

The two women stared at each other in silence for a moment before Briony let out a soft sigh. "Xenia, as one woman to another, I'm sorry for what you've been through. But that doesn't give you a reason to target me."

"I did target you, I'll admit that," Xenia said. "But it wasn't because of Stewart. It was because of Maynard. The way he was chasing you, so publicly... I was consumed by jealousy."

"And what have you gained from all this?" Briony asked. "Why do all this for a man who doesn't love you?"

Xenia gave a faint smile. "It wasn't entirely for Maynard. I genuinely recognized Stewart's capabilities. From a business perspective, I was the winner in this transaction."

"As for emotions..." Xenia's smile widened. "Today marks exactly one month. I have my answer. So, this little drama I orchestrated ends today."

"I'm giving Stewart back to you." Xenia slid a file folder across the table to Briony. "This is my agreement with Stewart. Both original copies are in here. They're all yours."

Briony stared down at the folder, completely blindsided by Xenia's move.

"The truth is, Stewart and I never got a marriage license."

Briony's head snapped up.

Xenia's lips curved into a wry smile. "The marriage certificate was a fake. I demanded that he cooperate with my public announcement and tell no one that our marriage was a sham. He agreed, but I still didn't trust him. After all, he's Stewart-a top lawyer. I was afraid he'd find a loophole, so I went for his weak spot."

"I made him swear on your life," she continued. "If he broke our agreement, you would meet a terrible end. He needed my bone marrow donation for you, so he had no choice but to agree."

Xenia chuckled at the memory. "Thinking back on it now, it still feels unbelievable. The top lawyer in Northborough, a man who survived hails of bullets in a special forces unit, reduced to someone who could be controlled by a single, dark oath."

Briony was floored. She stared at Xenia, struggling to process the flood of information.

Xenia stood up, adjusting the shawl around her shoulders. She glanced out the window before turning her gaze back to Briony.

"Briony, if everything Stewart has done isn't enough to move you, then how about we make one more bet?"

...

Stewart's phone rang. It was Xenia.

When he heard that she had brought Briony to the overlook on the mountain, he immediately sped in that direction.

By the time he reached the base of the mountain, the rain was coming down in sheets.

Halfway up, he found the road

blocked. Several cars were stopped

with

h their hazard lights flashing, their drivers

standing outs

.net>

He grabbed an umbrella and got out, walking over to ask what was happening.

A driver explained that there had been a sudden landslide, and a car coming down the mountain had been caught in it buried under cascade of mud and rock.

A sense of dread washed over Stewart.

"It was a Land Rover, too!"

"It happened so fast. The driver was

a woman

The rain was probably too heavy, she couldn't see, couldn't

swerve in time. Otherwise, she might have made it..."

A black Land Rover...

Stewart's face went pale.