The sudden ring of Ste''s phone broke the silence.


    She froze for a split second before realizing it was her own.


    "Sorry, I need to take this," she said, peeling off her gloves and answering. "Gina? What''s wrong-Ms. Hudson fainted?!"


    On the operating table, Briony''s eyes snapped open. She stared at Ste, her voice urgent: "What happened to my mom?"


    "Ms. Hudson copsed," Ste exined quickly. "Gina tried to call you several times but couldn''t get through, so she called me. Don''t worry-Gina''s already called an ambnce. They''re on their way to the hospital now."


    Briony sat up, swinging her legs off the table. "We have to pause the procedure. I need to make sure my mom is okay."


    ...


    By the time Julia was brought into the hospital, she was unconscious.


    A flu outbreak had left the ER understaffed, so Dr. Cedric rke-usually found in oncology-was helping out that day.


    When Julia was rushed into the resuscitation room, Cedric took over her care.


    Thankfully, she''d arrived in time. Although Julia hadn''t woken up yet, her life was no longer in danger.


    Still unconscious, she was moved to a hospital room, with Gina trailing close behind.


    Cedric spotted Briony in a hospital gown nearby and then turned to Ste, choosing his words carefully. "There''s something concerning in Ms. Hudson''s bloodwork. I''d rmend she stay for a full evaluation."


    Ste''s heart skipped a beat.


    Cedric rke was a leading cancer specialist-his instincts were rarely wrong.


    Briony, who''d just started to rx, tensed up all over again. She fixed Cedric with a worried stare, her brow furrowed.


    "Dr. rke, are you saying-my mom might be really sick?"


    "This is just a preliminary finding," Cedric said gently. "We''ll need to wait for more detailed test results."


    Briony''s breath caught, a wave of anxiety threatening to knock her over.


    She wobbled, and Ste hurried to steady her.


    "Dr. rke is only suggesting some tests, Bryn. Stay strong. Ms. Hudson''s a fighter-she''ll be okay, you''ll see."


    Briony nodded, almost to herself. "Yeah... she''s going to live a long, healthy life.”


    Ste and Cedric exchanged a nce, then supported Briony as they walked her down the hall toward Julia''s room.


    Watching them go, Cedric slipped his phone from his pocket and dialed Stewart''s number.


    "Stewart, guess who I just ran into at the hospital?"


    Stewart had just stepped out of Lunar Heights Estate. He opened the door of his Maybach, slid inside, and shut the door behind him.


    "Who?" he asked, his tone cool.


    "Remember the woman we saw at the hotel the other day? My friend''s close pal- your infamous tabloid me."


    "Briony?" Stewart paused, his hand on his seatbelt, voice dropping. "What''s she doing at the hospital?"


    "Her mother''s sick-I''m the attending physician. Judging by her bloodwork, I''d say there''s a good chance it''s cancer."


    Stewart''s hand stilled. "Is it treatable?"


    "We''ll need the final test results," Cedric replied, rubbing his neck. "But Briony was


    in a hospital gown too, and she looked pretty rough. I almost felt sorry for her."


    "She''s sick as well?" Stewart''s voice was unreadable. "Is it serious?"


    "I didn''t ask," Cedric said, raising an eyebrow. "Funny-you sound pretty concerned. I thought you two barely knew each other. Or is there more going on than you''ve let on?"


    "You talk too much," Stewart said, his tone turning frosty. "If you''re so bored, write


    a few more research papers and quit gossiping."


    "Oh,e on! It was just a joke-no need to get all touchy!"


    "If that''s all, I''m hanging up."


    "Wait-if you want an update on Briony, I can find out—"


    "That won''t be necessary," Stewart cut him off, voice cold. "She''s not that important."


    And with that, he ended the call.