"It''s no use trying tofort me!" Ste wailed, dissolving into tears. "Every time I think about losing my memory-and my dignity—I just can''t take it! I close my eyes and all I see is Aster bawling for milk. I feel like my life is over. I have no freedom anymore, none..."


    Briony nced at James.


    He caught her meaning instantly, slipped out of the room, and pulled out his phone to call Cedric rke.


    Upstairs, Briony led Ste into a guest room and spent a long time soothing her.


    Only after a while did Ste finally begin to calm down.


    "Here, put this on, or your eyes will swell up." Briony handed her a warm washcloth.


    Ste sat on the edge of the bed, took the cloth, and pressed it gently over her eyes.


    Briony sat down beside her, watching her quietly for a moment before asking in a gentle voice, "When did your memorye back?"


    "I''ve been dreaming about our old days a lottely. Thenst night, Cedric and I had another fight. I couldn''t sleep all night. When I got up this morning, I was so dizzy I tripped, hit my head, and suddenly everything came back."


    "You hit your head?" Briony frowned, concern tightening her face. "Did you see a doctor?"


    "No, it was just the back of my head. It''s nothing."


    "Still, you need to be careful. You know your head''s been through enough already." Briony''s tone was serious. "When Cedric gets here, he and I will take you to get checked out, just in case."


    "Cedric''sing here?" Ste yanked the cloth away from her eyes, scowling. "Don''t let him in! I don''t want to see him right now!"


    "Star, you''re married. If there''s a problem, you two need to talk it out."


    Ste snorted. "You know exactly how we ended up married!"


    "Even if you lost your memory, feelings for someone don''t just disappear


    overnight. You''ve regained your old memories, but you still remember thest four years, don''t you?"


    Briony took her hand. "Star, you''re


    just struggling to adjust right now


    But everything you shared with Cedric over these years-thatwas real. Deep down, you know it too."


    Ste''s face crumpled with frustration. "But honestly, I was miserable even before I got my memories back. I hate being stuck at home all day, nursing a baby and waiting for my husband toe home. I''m sick of hearing my mother''s voice in my head, always telling me, ''Do this for the sake of your child.'' I hate living like this! It''s like, the moment I got married and had a kid, my whole life became about this marriage and this child, and nobody ever asks what I want..."


    Briony looked at Ste, her expressionplicated.


    Something was clearly wrong. Part of it was the shock of regaining her memory,


    but Briony knew most of it was postpartum hormones.


    She recognized the signs of depression-she''d been there herself once.


    At that moment, someone knocked at the door.


    Cedric''s voice came from the hallway. "Star, I''m here to take you home."


    Ste''s temper red. She hurled the warm cloth at the door. "Who says I''m going home with you? Go away, just get out!"


    Briony was speechless.


    In the hall, James shot Cedric a sympathetic look. "Dr. rke, you know, if a woman hits a man, that''s technically domestic violence. Not sure if social services care about stuff like this, though."


    Cedric said nothing.


    Inside, Briony stood, picked up the discarded washcloth, and opened the door.


    Cedric was standing outside, looking tense. He met Briony''s gaze. "Did Star get her memory back?"


    Briony nodded. "Yes."


    Cedric''s face went rigid.


    Briony sighed softly. "She''s not herself right now. Give her some space to calm down. Let''s go downstairs and talk."


    Cedric nced past her at Ste, who was sitting on the bed with her back to the door, then nodded. "Alright."