"Mr. Dney, long time no see." Lorna strolled up to James, a sly smile curving her lips. "I heard Ms. Kensington has been unwell, so I brought some fruit to check on her."


    Whenever James looked at Lorna now, she reminded him of every devious viiness he''d ever seen on TV.


    He nted his tall frame squarely in the doorway, face ice-cold as he blocked her path. "Spare us your fake concern. Take your lousy fruit and get out."


    Lorna arched an eyebrow, her smile never faltering. "Your hospitality is certainly... memorable, Mr. Dney."


    James rolled his eyes. "And what makes you think you''re a guest here? Oh right, guest-with a capital G for Grievance."


    Lorna''s smile froze for a split second.


    It was obvious James had no intention of letting her see Briony.


    Still, Lorna didn''t lose herposure. She set the fruit basket down on a nearby chair. "Alright then. Since I''m not wee, I''ll be on my way."


    "Take your fruit with you!" James snapped.


    "It''s just a small gesture. If you don''t want it, throw it out," Lorna replied lightly, turning on her heel and leaving without a backward nce.


    James was fuming. The sight of that fruit basket only annoyed him more.


    Just then, a cleaningdy passed by. James called her over and handed her the fruit without a second thought.


    With that bit of aggravation dealt with, he finally pushed open the door to Briony''s


    room.


    Briony had woken up at some point and was sitting on the bed, staring into space.


    She turned toward him at the sound of the door.


    "You''re awake!" James walked in and closed the door behind him.


    He crossed to the bed and gently ced a hand on her forehead. "Your fever''s gone down. How are you feeling?"


    Briony shook her head. "Much better."


    James sat at her bedside, heart aching at how pale and drawn she looked.


    "Bryn, you worry too much. Try to take it easy, alright? We''ll figure out the custody issue with Mario together."


    Briony''s emotions had settled since yesterday.


    "I had a dream," she said quietly.


    James looked at her. "What did you dream about?"


    "I dreamt I killed Stewart... and then went to prison for it."


    "Bryn!" James scolded sharply. "Don''t even think about something so extreme. Think about your children."


    Briony turned to him, a faint, bitter smile on her lips. "In my dream, I watched little Mario grow up to be the next Stewart."


    James froze.


    Briony lowered her gaze and spoke slowly.


    "The day they reopened my mother''s case, Mack looked at her with so much hatred. I remember thinking there was no hope for him. I couldn''t understand why, even then, he was still so determined to hate her. My mom was the most innocent victim in all this."


    "It wasn''t until today I


    realized-Mack was doomed from the moment he was named the future heir of the Kensington family. From the day he was born, he was branded as the sessor. The Kensingtons seemed to give him everything, but he was just amodity with a price tag."


    "Because of him, the family believed their legacy would be carried on. So Madeline Kensington loved him, Malcolm Kensington loved him, every Kensington loved him. He grew up in that environment bing more warped by the day, until all he cared about was power and greed. No matter what he did, the family backed him. Even when he was wrong, they''d tell him he wasn''t, just to protect their interests. Only my mom ever told him he was wrong, and he hated her for it. He hated her so much, he probably wished she''d just die."


    "That''s Mack''s problem, not yours! You don''t have to let it get to you," James said, exasperated.


    Briony looked up at him, her lips


    barely twitching into a smile. "It just shows-even your own mother can''t stop you from turning into a


    monster if that''s the way you ne


    raised. Once a person''s nature is warped, there''s no limit to how far it can go."


    "Bryn." James''s voice was gentle, but his eyes were full of worry. "What''s really going on with you?"


    "I''m fine."


    Briony turned to gaze out the window. "I just realized something, that''s all."


    If she couldn''t hide or protect what mattered, she''d have to fight for it, no matter


    the cost.


    By the next day, Briony felt well enough to leave the hospital.


    It was Saturday.