PopularNovelHe sighed. "As long as you're here with me, Daddy won't be sad."
Little Mastared at Stewart, deep in thought.
All at once, an idea struck him. He turned to Little Nina and announced, "When Daddy's sad, he cries too-but
only at night, after everyone's asleep. He sneaks out tears when he thinks nobody can see-mph!"
Stewart quickly covered his son's mouth, looking both helpless and amused. "Alright, that's enough. It's late. No
more talking-lie down, both of you. Daddy will read you a bedtstory."
The kids obediently snuggled under their blankets.
Stewart switched off the overhead light, leaving only the soft glow of the bedside lamp.
He picked up the storybook, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room-
"Once upon a time, there was a little field mouse. She was the fastest digger in her whole family..."
Briony emerged from the shower to find several missed video calls on her phone.
She checked the timestamps-right at nine o'clock.
It was already half-past nine now.
She'd spent a while drying her hair after her shower, so thad gotten away from her.
By now, the children were surely asleep.
Briony hesitated, then called Marlene's cell.
Marlene answered, "Mr. Wentworth took the kids upstairs to bed at nine sharp. You called a little late, I'm afraid."
Briony nodded, letting it go.
But Marlene continued, "Although, Mr. Wentworth didn't seem in the best of moods tonight."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBriony frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"It's just... he seemed off," Marlene whispered. "Now that the kids are asleep, he's out in the backyard by
himself. | checked the security camera-he's crouched by the fish pond, feeding the koi. At the rate he's going,
he's going to overfeed them."
Briony exhaled. "Those koi were a gift from James," she said with a sigh. "Go stop him before he feeds them to
death."
"Will do!"
Marlene hung up and headed outside.
By the pond, Stewart was crouched low, mechanically tossing handful after handful of fish food into the water.
Marlene took one look and thought, If | hadn't cout, these poor koi would be done for.
She hurried over. "Mr. Wentworth, that's enough. Please, no more."
Stewart blinked, snapping out of his daze. He realized a third of the fish food tin was already gone.
He rose, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Sorry. | didn't realize how much | was giving them."
Marlene took the tin from his hand. "Ms. Kensington adores those koi. If anything happened to them, she'd be
heartbroken."
A pang of guilt hit Stewart. "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time."
"Let's hope there won't be a next time," Marlene said, half teasing, half warning. "Mr. Delaney said these koi
were blessed by a priest at a very famous old abbey. They're
vent
supposed to bring good fortune, and there's only this one batch, if they're gone, they're gone."
A faint crease appeared between Stewart's brows.
He understood perfectly well what Marlene meant.
A heavy sense of helplessness settled over him; he pressed his lips together,
unsure how to respond.
Seeing his downcast expression, Marlene decided not to push further.
She had her reservations about Stewart's swift, public remarriage But in the end, she was just the help even if
Briony treated her like family, she couldn't say anything too out of line.
It wasn't her place, not with Mr. Wentworth's status.
Besides, it was clear to her that Stewart still cared for Briony.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so unsettled when he learned Briony and
Maynard were staying overnight at Westerhaven.
But what right did he have to be unsettled?
They were divorced. Stewart had
remarried. Even if he W(@s aBIseeing
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Briony for hel ontent is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
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the children's sake, he needed to know his boundaries.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
It was natural for the kids, being so
young, to want their father aroupd,
But Stewart, a pariéd hai staying
opeRRight St his ex-wife's house-if
word got out, what would people
think of Ms. Kensington? The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Marlene was protective of Briony, cared for her like her own daughter. She
couldn't bear to see Briony maligned because of Stewart's lack of discretion.
But, ultimately, she was only the housekeeper.
She couldn't say more.
Instead, she said, "Mr. Wentworth,
you should get pl &: fhe m
chien temo: ool tomorrow.
Could you take them on your way?"
Stewart nodded. "Of course."
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