Chapter 738

A strange silence hung in the air.

"Maynard, you and Xenia are old acquaintances, but you never mentioned her to me," Briony said.

"There's no romantic entanglement between us.”

"That's just your side of the story, isn't it?" Briony let out a short, cynical laugh. "Xenia targeted me multiple times, and I thought it was because of Stewart, but it wasn't. It was because of you. And you knew it all along, but you never said a word to me."

"We haven't been in contact for years," Maynard said, his tone urgent. "I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd get the wrong idea.”

"You were afraid I'd find out and distance myself from you because of her."

Maynard didn't respond. Briony knew he was worried about that, but she sensed it wasn't the whole truth.

"You know Xenia very well, Maynard. I bet you knew what her next move would be from the very beginning. The media leaks, and now that I think about it, the incident at the hospital was probably part of your plan, too. You knew she'd have someone follow us and take pictures. And the hotel..."

"I honestly didn't expect the hotel incident!" he blurted out.

The hasty denial hung in the air, and silence fell once more. Maynard instantly regretted his outburst.

"Briony, I admit I was trying to turn her plan to my advantage," he explained quickly. "But we really haven't spoken in a long time. I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid you'd keep your distance from me on her account."

"That was pretty selfish of you," Briony said coolly. "But we're just friends, so you're under no obligation to tell me everything. Still, she targeted me because of you. For you to hide that from me... even for a friend, that was a low blow."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Maynard simply said, "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be. I didn't call to hear you apologize. I just wanted you to know that everything Xenia did, she did because of you."

Maynard sighed. "She's always been like that. So self-centered."

"But she said she's giving up," Briony noted, then added, "She mentioned something about a one-month bet and said she has her answer now. She also gave me për agreement with Stewart and told me they were never actually married."

"They weren't married?" Maynard sounded surprised, but a few seconds later, his suspicion returned. "Why would she be kind enough to tell you that?”

"I was surprised, too. It feels like everything she did tonight was about tying up loose ends."

Maynard, however, thought she was overthinking it. "She got everything she wanted with Stewart's help There's nothing left for her to gain. Maybe she just came to her Senses and decided to let him go."

Briony pursed her lips for a moment before remarking, “If that's the case, then she's become our benefactor."

“Our'?” Maynard repeated the word, his voice sinking. "Have you and Stewart gotten back together?"

"Mr. Maynard, that's a personal question I don't believe I have to answer."

He let out a low chuckle. "If you don't answer, I'll take that to mean I still have a chance."

"

"You can stop with the reverse psychology Briony said, unmoved. "I'm enjoying being single right now But if I ever decide to date again my child's father would be my first choice. You, Mr. Maynard, have never been in the running