"Yeah, little Mario''s here, so I''ll stay. That way, both kids can see their parents whenever they want."


    "You''re always thinking about the kids," Ste said with a sigh. "I don''t know if it''s because Aster''s still so little, but honestly, I don''t really feel much sense of responsibility toward him... Lately, I''ve even had this crazy urge to just stop breastfeeding altogether. Bryn, I really don''t want to be a stay-at-home mom."


    "Breastfeeding is always tough on mothers," Briony said gently.


    "It''s not even about whether it''s tough or not." Ste shook her head. "Aside from feeding Aster and asionally cuddling or ying with him, everything else gets handled by the nanny or Cedric rke. Since Aster was born, I haven''t even changed a single diaper myself. If you asked me to do it now, I probably wouldn''t even know where to start."


    "Dr. rke is a pretty great dad," Briony said, tapping Ste on the forehead. "So don''t be so hard on him all the time. I can tell you care about him. Just because he adores you doesn''t mean you can always take it out on him."


    "He deserves it!" Ste retorted, stubborn as ever. "Even if I do like him, it''s just dating. Who said anything about marrying him? He totally took advantage of my amnesia and teamed up with my mother to sell me off!"


    "How did this suddenly be Mrs. Joyner''s fault?"


    "Why wouldn''t it be?" Ste shot back, her irritation inly rising. "You have no idea-ever since I got married and pregnant, my mom''s had her nose in everything. During the worst of my morning sickness, nothing tasted right except for street food, but she wouldn''t let me have any. Cedric rke didn''t stop her, either-sometimes he''d sneak me out for a treat when she wasn''t looking, but she''d always find out. Then she''d lecture me about being irresponsible, about how a mother should know better and avoid junk food for the baby''s sake. And if I ever talked back, she''d start in on how hard her pregnancy was with me, how much she suffered..."


    Ste let out a heavy sigh. "I''d better stop. If I keep going, I''ll work myself up and lose my milk supply again."


    "Mrs. Joyner just cares too much," Briony said softly. "You''re her only daughter, and after what happened before, I think she''s genuinely I scared. So she''s a little overbearing now, but ites from worry."


    "I just don''t get it!" Ste rolled onto her side, propping her head up with her arm as she looked at Briony. "Bryn, when I''m with Aster, I still feel like a kid myself. Why should I have to sacrifice everything for him? But then, when my mom lectures me, I remember I''m a mother now, and she still treats me like a


    child-doesn''t give me any space at all. It''s exhausting! Do you think I''m just being selfish?"


    Briony understood exactly how Ste felt.


    Going from a staunchly single woman to a married mother in such a short time was a massive leap.


    Of course Ste was anxious and moody, even questioning her feelings for Cedric rke and Aster.


    Briony remembered something her


    therapist once said. After a


    moment''s thought, she replied, "A lot


    of


    is


    of what you''re feeling is


    hormonal. But I think a big part of it


    is just that you''re cooped up at home all day, with such a small


    circle. It''s easy to get stuck stressing


    over little things. Maybe, once Aster


    turns four months and you''ve


    recovered, you could think about


    going back to work."


    "You''re reading my mind!" Ste paused, then added, "But I don''t want to go back to the hospital."


    Briony was surprised. "You worked so hard for so many years to be a doctor, finally made it to attending. You''re really willing to let that go?"


    Ste snorted. "I did work hard, sure. But that doesn''t mean I loved it. I''ve always liked photography, but my mom insisted I go to med school."