When Briony arrived at Southcreek Manor, she didn''t go inside. Instead, she called Carol.


    Carol soon emerged from the manor, carrying little Mario in her arms. The boy''s forehead was covered with a cool fever patch. Lorna followed close behind.


    Briony hurried over and gently took her son. She stroked his cheek, feeling the lingering warmth of a low fever.


    "Sweetheart, are you feeling sick?" she asked, her heart aching as she looked at him.


    Little Mario shook his head obediently. "Don''t worry, Mom. The doctor said I''ll be fine once I take my medicine."


    The more sensible her son acted, the more Briony''s heart twisted with pain. She crouched down and spoke softly. "Would you like toe home with me?"


    He nodded. "Yes, I want to."


    Briony nced up at Lorna.


    Before she could speak, Lorna addressed her first. "Ms. Kensington, if you''re not too busy this week, would you mind looking after Mario for a while?"


    Briony couldn''t have hoped for more, but something about Lorna''s words didn''t sit right.


    "I''m Mario''s mother. Of course I''ll take care of him-it''s not an inconvenience at all."


    Lorna smiled politely. "Please don''t misunderstand, Ms. Kensington. I just know you have your own workmitments, and if Stewart and I are leaving Mario in your care, it''s only right that we discuss it with you first."


    She spoke with the unmistakable tone of ady of the house.


    Briony studied her. She recalled something Gwendolyn White had said the other day: it seemed Ms. Riley was soon to be little Mario''s stepmother.


    That realization stung. Stewart and Lorna were still young; they''d surely have children of their own someday. Yet Stewart insisted on keeping little Mario from her.


    But for now, none of that mattered. Her son was ill-he was all she could focus


    on.


    "I''m Mario''s mother. I''ll always make time for him, no matter what."


    With that, Briony cradled little Mario and turned toward her car.


    Lorna followed, courteously opening the back door for her. Since Briony dropped Little Nina at preschool every day, there was always a child''s car seat installed.


    She settled little Mario in, leaning in to fasten his seatbelt carefully.


    Lorna said, "Ms. Kensington, please wait a moment. I''ll get Mario''s medicine for you."


    Briony nodded, her tone indifferent.


    Lorna turned and hurried back inside.


    Standing by the car, Briony''s gaze drifted toward the manor. Through the


    Stefoor window, she spotted a


    tall figure in a sharp ck


    BUT


    suit-Stewart. She had no idea how long he''d been standing there, but she paid him no mind. She looked down at her son and gently stroked his head.


    Little Mario''s cheeks were flushed from the fever, his big dark eyes blinking up at


    her.


    Soon, Lorna returned, carrying a small suitcase.


    "Mario''s medicine and some of his homework are inside. Stewart and


    will be out of the country for about a week. Thank you for looking after him, Ms. Kensington."


    Briony took the suitcase and handed it to Carol, who opened the trunk and stored it away.


    Briony''s eyes were cool as she looked at Lorna.


    She''d been holding her tongue, but Lorna had addressed her more than once as


    if she were Mario''s guardian, not his mother. Briony was certain it was deliberate.


    She fixed Lorna with a cold, steady look. "Ms. Riley," she said, her tone sharp and unwavering, "let me remind you: I am Mario''s biological mother. If Stewart hadn''t refused to grant me custody, I''d never have been separated from my son in the first ce."


    Lorna offered a small, practiced smile. "I know you love Mario very much, Ms. Kensington. And I won''t deny-you are a wonderful mother."