After dropping James off at his hotel room, Briony hurried back to the hospital.


    Julia''s condition was stable for now, though she kept insisting on being discharged. The family was still keeping the truth about her illness from her, nning to wait until the treatment n was finalized before saying anything. Once Briony had calmed Julia down, she went to look for Dr. Cedric rke.


    Dr. rke wasn''t in his office. His nurse told her he was in surgery and wouldn''t be finished for at least another hour.


    Briony nodded, deciding toe backter.


    As she passed the nurses'' station, she nearly collided with Mack, who wasing out of the patient care room.


    Their eyes met, and Briony paused in surprise.


    She hadn''t expected to run into Mack here. What shocked her even more was the state of his face it was so swollen and bruised he barely looked human.


    "Of all people to bump into..." Mack sneered, but the expression tugged painfully at the cut on his lip and he winced, unable to hide his difort.


    "Damn it..." he muttered under his breath, ring at Briony with barely contained fury. "Don''t think you can just rx because you''vetched onto Stewart! Briony, you''d better pray the match doesn''t work out otherwise, you''ll be the one begging me for help!"


    With that, Mack stormed off, his anger echoing in the corridor.


    Briony watched him go, a slight frown creasing her brow.


    A match?


    Mack came in for testing?


    Did Stewart ask him to do it?


    That seemed impossible. Stewart was never one to meddle, and with their marriage now on the brink of divorce, there was no reason for him to get involved in her family''s business.


    Why would Stewart help her now...?


    "Dr. rke?"


    The nurse''s voice pulled Briony out of her thoughts.


    She looked up and saw Cedric rke approaching, still in his white coat,


    handsome features tinged with post-surgery exhaustion.


    He stopped in front of her and gave a polite nod. "Ms. Kensington."


    "Dr. rke, I''m sorry to bother you again," Briony said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "Has my mother''s treatment n been decided?"


    "Let''s talk inside," he replied.


    Briony nodded and followed him into his office.


    "These are the reports from this morning''s tests," Dr. rke said, handing her several pages. "After consulting with the other physicians, we believe your mother''s main issue right now is weakness-her system needs to be strengthened before we can consider anything more aggressive. I rmend a blend of conventional medicine and supportive therapies."


    "And once she''s stronger, will you move straight to chemotherapy?"


    "Chemotherapy is only ast resort if we can''t proceed with a bone marrow transnt," Dr. rke exined, adjusting his sses. "If there''s apatible donor, surgery is our first choice. Didn''t Stewart tell you?"


    "Stewart?" Briony echoed, confused. "Tell me what?"


    "Your brother Mack agreed to undergopatibility testing. He should be starting the first round of cell mobilization injections today."


    "I just ran into him," Briony said, her tone unreadable.


    "I''m not sure how Stewart convinced your brother, but having him as a candidate gives us a stronger chance. If your mother has any siblings from her side of the family, it would help to reach out as well."


    But the Hudson family had cut ties with her mother five years ago. Briony knew convincing them to help would be a near-impossible task.


    Still, even the smallest chance was worth pursuing.


    "I''ll try to contact them," Briony replied, looking up at Dr. rke. "How long will it take to know if my brother is a match?"


    "About two weeks, give or take."


    Briony nodded. "My brother and I don''t have a good rtionship. I''m sorry to trouble you with all of this, Dr. rke."


    Dr. rke gave her a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry. I''ll do everything I can."