Chapter 745

"I was the one who kept it from you. You're not to blame."

"But I was genuinely angry," Briony said, her voice soft but earnest. "At the time, I truly never imagined you would remarry so quickly. And... it hurt."

Stewart froze.

It took him several seconds to process her words. His eyelashes trembled, and his whole body went tense. "Bryn, are you saying..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning hung in the air between them.

The woman's eyes held a gentle smile, and deep within her pupils, only the reflection of his handsome, chiseled face could be seen.

It was her silent answer.

The car was perfectly still.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed as his heart pounded like a drum.

His bandaged hand moved to cup the back of her neck. As her eyes widened in surprise, he leaned in and kissed her.

The moment their lips touched, it felt as if both their hearts exploded.

A searing heat flooded their veins, a tingling numbness that started at their lips and spread all the way to the crowns of their heads.

Stewart's kiss was light and gentle, full of restraint and control. After so many years apart, during which they had both been alone, they moved with a careful tenderness.

Though not as fierce or passionate as his kisses from the past, this one was almost too much for Briony to bear. Her lashes fluttered wildly before she finally closed her eyes, her slender fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt. Her fingers curled, their tips numb.

She could hear the faint thudding of a heartbeat, but she couldn't tell whose it was.

A car driving past in the garage startled the two of them.

Briony, flustered, released her grip on his shirt and pressed her palm against his solid chest, gently pushing him away.

Stewart, though reluctant to stop, didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He pressed one more firm, lingering kiss on her lips before pulling back.

Her cheeks were burning. She kept her head down, avoiding his gaze as she pushed the car door open and practically fled.

Stewart immediately got out after her, slamming his door shut.

Just as Briony was about to step into the elevator, he caught her wrist.

“Bryn,” he said, his voice low and husky. "Wait."

Briony took a deep breath, her emotions settling. She looked up and met his eyes. "What is it?"

Stewart stared at her, his tender

gaze sweeping over her rosy lips before meeting her eyes again. Hez pressed his lips together, his throat working as he summoned the courage to ask, “Does this mean we're back together?"

Briony blinked.

They had just kissed, and he was asking this now...

Still, she looked at the man before her, and a sudden idea popped into her head.

A soft smile touched her lips, her eyes crinkling warmly. "No."

Stewart's handsome face fell.

Briony gently pulled her hand free. "Mr. Wentworth, first you need to take care of your ‘married man' status. After that, we can talk about us.”

"Okay, I'll handle it as soon as possible, Stewart said in a deep- voice. He paused, then asked, "And oncent's handled, do I get to be your official boyfriend?" fo

"It's too soon for that." Briony raised her hand and gently wiped a smudge of her lipstick from the corner of his mouth, her eyes surving mato a smile. You have to pass the trial period first."

Stewart was speechless.