"I''m telling you the truth-our son is still alive."


    "Fine!" Briony drew a shaky breath. "Then give me the address. I''ll go bring him home myself."


    "Bryn, please, calm down. Just wait three more days. I promise, after that, I''ll bring our son home."


    "Even now, you''re still lying to me!" Briony stared at Stewart, the fragile hope she''d just found already crumbling.


    "I''m not lying," Stewart insisted, brow furrowing.


    "Unless you let me see him right this second, I won''t believe a single word you say ever again!"


    Stewart swallowed hard. "It''s not possible. Not right now."


    Briony let out a bitterugh. Thest bit of hope drained from her expression as she turned away, walking out without a backward nce.


    He watched her leave, his eyes dark and conflicted.


    As Briony stepped out of the manor, she bumped into Cedric rke, who had just climbed out of his car.


    "Ms. Kensington," Cedric called after her, concern in his voice. "You and Stewart


    "Dr. rke," Briony cut him off, her voice trembling. "Is my son alive?"


    Cedric''s brow knitted together. "Stewart says he is."


    "Have you seen him?"


    He shook his head. "I''m sorry, I only found out a few days ago myself."


    Briony let out a cold, hollowugh.


    Of course. Just as she suspected.


    Stewart had yed her for a fool once again.


    Fighting back a surge of anger, Briony turned away and marched off.


    Back in her car, she slumped over the steering wheel, struggling to steady her breathing.


    God only knew how she''d made the drive here.


    All that hope, the desperate longing, only to realize-she''d fallen for Stewart''s tricks again.


    The thought made her ache with regret. Furious with herself, she pped her own cheek.


    She was too weak, too useless.


    She''d failed to protect her son...


    She really wasn''t worthy of being his mother.


    The pain and sorrow overwhelmed her. She broke down, sobbing into the steering


    wheel, letting years of grief and guilt pour out.


    Upstairs in his study, Stewart stood at the window, watching her car pull away.


    Footsteps sounded behind him.


    "I just ran into Briony," Cedric rke said, voice heavy with concern. "She looked furious."


    Only when the car had disappeared did Stewart finally turn around.


    His eyes were haunted, and a clear handprint burned bright on his cheek.


    Cedric took in the sight and let out a long sigh. "She knows the truth now. Why didn''t you just tell her everything while you had the chance?"


    "I haven''t brought our son home safely yet. If she knew everything, she''d only worry more," Stewart said quietly.


    "But keeping her in the dark doesn''t help her, either," Cedric shot back "Honestly, Stewart, you never think like a normal person. Well, you got what you deserved-does the p make you feel any better?"


    Stewart touched his cheek, his expression grim. "Garry demanded Ie in person to pick up the boy. That''s not all-he''ll have more conditions."


    Cedric frowned. "More? You already gave him Irwin, and he''s still not satisfied?"


    "He hates me. Swapping our child at


    birth was all a setup for today," Stewart said, voice tight. "Right now, we can only keep him calm. If he doesn''t get what he wants from me, he might go after Briony next."


    "If Garry uses the boy to threaten Bryn, she probably give in," Cedric admitted. "Losing her son broke something inside her. If she found out he was alive, she''d do anything to get him back. Anything at all."


    On this, Cedric could only sigh.


    "That Garry is absolutely despicable. He''s been watching for years, just waiting to stab you in the back."


    Stewart pressed his lips together, saying nothing.


    "But there''s one thing I still don''t get," Cedric continued. "Why is Garry so hell-


    bent on taking Irwin and Rosita from you?"