"You''re cracking jokes again—looks like you''re in good spirits," Ferdinand said,


    the tension in his voice easing. "That''s a relief."


    "I''m doing fine, Mr. Ellsworth. You don''t need to worry about me."


    "So, when are you nning to go back to the old town?"


    Briony paused for a moment before replying, "I''m nning to stay here in Northborough."


    "You''re staying?" Ferdinand''s surprise was obvious, mixed with clear confusion. "What made you change your mind so suddenly?"


    Briony had always thought of Ferdinand as a friend, so she told him everything- how little Mario had changed these past few months, every detail and nuance.


    Ferdinand listened in silence.


    It was a long while before he spoke again. "So you n to leave Mario with the Wentworths, and you''ll stay in Northborough for his sake."


    "That''s right," Briony said. "Mario is officially registered with the Wentworth family now. Stewart and his fiancée have both been kind to him. I asked Mario how he feels, and he likes the way things are. Stewart doesn''t restrict me from seeing Mario, so it''s more like we''re co-parenting."


    Stewart''s engagement to Lorna Riley had been the talk of Northborough- extravagant, impossible to ignore.


    Butpared to Stewart moving on so quickly, Ferdinand seemed more concerned about Briony.


    "Doesn''t it bother you?" he asked quietly. "You just reconciled with your son, and Stewart''s already found him a stepmother. It''s like he''s deliberately trying to get under your skin. Are you really okay with that?"


    For some reason, Briony felt that Ferdinand was different today.


    He seemed...off. Not in a good mood. And his hostility toward Stewart was unusually strong.


    Still, Briony figured it was only natural. Ferdinand was her friend, after all, and friends often took each other''s side.


    James had always disliked Stewart too.


    "My first choice would obviously be to have custody of Mario," Briony said evenly, "but Lawyer Hughes told me the odds of regaining custody are slim. Instead of starting a messy battle, I''d rather let Mario grow up in a peaceful environment." "You''re only thinking about your son," Ferdinand''s voice dropped an octave. "But have you thought about yourself-even for a second?"


    Briony was caught off guard.


    "Do you truly feel nothing for Stewart anymore?"


    "There hasn''t been anything between us for a long time," Briony said firmly. "If it weren''t for his endless dying and refusal to let go, the divorce would''ve happened ages ago."


    Her tone grew even more certain. "You don''t need to worry about me. Whoever Stewart chooses to marry is none of my business."


    "Bryn, it''s good that you''re able to move on from Stewart." Ferdinand''s voice was low and measured. "But staying in Northborough for your child''s sake-that sounds to me like you''re sacrificing too much. Did it ever cross your mind that maybe Mario doesn''t need you to do that?"


    Briony found herself at a loss for words.


    When Ferdinand was met with silence, he realized he''d gone too far.


    He let out a heavy sigh. "Sorry. That was out of line."


    "It''s alright. I know you''re just looking out for me." Briony closed her eyes for a moment, wondering how this call had shifted so suddenly. She''d called to y matchmaker for Mary, and now here was Ferdinand counseling her instead.


    She sighed. "Mr. Ellsworth, I know I''m not doing this perfectly, but right now, it''s


    the only way I know how."


    "I understand your good intentions.


    But as your friend, I have to


    say-don''t stay in Northborough. I you''re truly worried about Mario, don''t leave him with the


    Wentworths. If there''s any chance, fight for his custody. Don''t let anything stop you."


    Briony''s brows knit together—there was something in Ferdinand''s words that didn''t add up.


    "Why?" she pressed. “Mr. Ellsworth, is there something you know that I don''t?"


    "I can''t exin everything," Ferdinand said, his tone suddenly weighted and grave. "But trust me-Mario shouldn''t stay with the Wentworths."


    "Mr. Ellsworth, do you know Stewart?" Briony asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.


    "No, I don''t," Ferdinand replied evenly. "But I''m not exactly a stranger to the Wentworth family."


    Briony''s breath caught. "Why?"


    "Because Stewart and I-we''re half-brothers. Same father, different mothers."


    Briony froze.


    "My father—his father-was originally named Fred Wentworth. After he left the Wentworth family, he changed his name to Frederic Ellsworth."