Chapter 749

“I'm telling you, nothing ever happened between us.” Maynard pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice turning cold with frustration. "Briony, I know you don't think highly of me, but do you really see me as that kind of person?"

Briony pressed her lips together. That wasn't what she meant at all. She just had a gut feeling that there was more to the story between him and Xenia, that at least one of them was hiding something. But with Maynard's firm denial, she couldn't push it any further. And with Xenia unconscious, there was nothing more she could say.

“Since you're so concerned about her, she's all yours. I was just looking for a way out of this mess anyway!" Maynard shoved a handful of hospital bills into Briony's hands. "From now on, you can take care of her. I'm done."

Briony took the bills. "You can't just—"

"I'm leaving," Maynard cut her off with a wave, and then he was gone. He really just walked away.

Briony stared at his retreating back, her brow furrowed in disbelief. Stewart gently took the bills from her hand. "I'll handle this."

She turned to look at him.

“Xenia is a rational and strong-willed person," he said. “She's not impulsive. There's no way she would just abandon Neonova Syndicate and Vernon. I think she must have already made arrangements."

Briony took a moment to process his words. "You mean, she already wrote a will?"

"Yes," Stewart confirmed. "I need to go to the Cooper estate to check on Vernon first. You don't mind, do you?"

"Why would I mind?" Briony wasn't that petty. "You should go. I'll arrange things here at the hospital."

"Okay."

...

Stewart called Carl and asked him to come pick him up. Meanwhile, Briony went to speak with Xenia's attending physician, who confirmed her fears: the prognosis wasn't good. Xenia had almost no will to live, and it was very likely she would remain in a coma indefinitely-essentially, in a vegetative state.

Briony's heart ached for her, but with the doctors helpless, all she could do was hire a reliable private nurse to stay by Xenia's side. Once that was settled, she went to check on Stella again. She and Cedric had talked things over and seemed to have reconciled, but with Scarlett still in the ICU, the mood was still heavy.

Briony mentioned Xenia's situation to Cedric, asking him to give her case special attention. But after looking into it, Cedric echoed the other doctor's opinion, saying that patients with no desire to live rarely had any hope of recovery.

An unsettling feeling settled in Briony's stomach, but she knew all they could do was their best and leave the rest to fate. She said her goodbyes to Cedric and Stella and drove back to Pearbrook Mansion.

On the way, she received a call from Stewart. He had been right. Xenia had a will prepared.

She had unconditionally transferred ten percent of her shares in

Neonova Syndicate to Stewart, with the stipulation that he take over the company until her son, Vernon, came of age to inherit it. Her will. also granted Stewart legal guardianship of Vernon, appealing to him to raise the boy as a worthy successor-in gratitude for her saving Briony and for ultimately bringing them back together.

"Her will might say that," Stewart said, “but I have the right to refuse.”

"And you would?" Briony countered. "You'd refuse and just let Neonova Syndicate and an eight-year-old boy fend for themselves?"

"..." Stewart's survival instinct kicked in. “Bryn, what I mean is, I'll do whatever you want."

"Then accept it," Briony sighed. "Xenia wouldn't have entrusted you with her company and her son if she had any other choice."

After a moment of silence, Stewart asked, "Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Stewart, we owe Xenia. In her

current state, there's no one at the

Cooper estate to look after Vernon He's only eight years old, he must feel soscared and alone. If we only think of ourselves right now we'd be completely ungrateful. She paused, then added, "As for what you said about clarifying our situation... let's wait. We can't do it right now, not at a time like this."