Briony listened quietly, her expression unreadable. She didn''t ask a single question.


    She bent down and scooped little Mario into her arms, kissing his cheek. "Guess what, sweetheart? You get to stay with Mommy and Little Nina for lots of days. Excited?"


    Little Mario nodded obediently. "Yeah, I''m excited."


    Briony stroked his hair. "So, would you rather y at home, or go with Little Nina to summer camp at her school?"


    "With Little Nina," he replied without hesitation.


    "Alright. Tomorrow, Mommy will take you to meet Little Nina''s teacher. She loves music, so she signed up for music ss. What about you? What do you like?"


    Little Mario thought for a moment. "Legos!"


    "Perfect. I''ll tell your teacher tomorrow."


    "Thank you, Mommy."


    "You''re such a good boy." Briony smiled. "How about we just y at home today?"


    He nodded. "Okay."


    Carol and Marlene carried the suitcases upstairs together.


    Briony settled onto the living room sofa with little Mario beside her. She nced at


    him and asked, "Did you bring any homework this time?"


    Little Mario shook his head. "Daddy said I should take a break for a while."


    Briony watched her son, pausing for a moment before replying softly, "Alright. Mommy understands."


    ...


    Midnight.


    Cedric rke''s car slipped quietly into Skybreeze Retreat.


    He stepped out and tiptoed into the house, heading upstairs.


    Ste was still awake, catching up on her favorite show.


    Aster was fast asleep in his cradle.


    Cedric opened the bedroom door and saw Ste still up. He crept over to the bed and leaned down to kiss her-


    "Get off! You reek of disinfectant!"


    Cedric grinned helplessly. "Alright, alright. I''ll shower first. Wait for me, I''ll be quick!"


    He grabbed his pajamas and disappeared into the bathroom.


    After a whirlwind shower, Cedric emerged, fresh and clean.


    Ste was still absorbed in her show.


    He slid under the covers, wrapped an arm around her, and pulled her close. "Was our son good today?"


    "Hmph, not at all!" Ste teased,


    deliberately exaggerating. "He


    I''d


    so many diapers/tweet


    e my mind!"


    Cedric couldn''t help butugh. "I told you to let the nannye with us, but you wouldn''t listen."


    Ste gave his solid chest a yful punch. "This is Mr. Dney''s house! You insisted oning with me and


    Aut bringing the nanny too?


    What would people think?"


    "Come on, Mr. Dney owns half the city. He won''t care."


    She rolled her eyes. "You''re impossible!" Ste tried to push him away, but he didn''t budge.


    Cedric lowered his head and kissed her, deep and lingering.


    One kiss led to another, and things quickly heated up.


    Ste had given birth naturally, and Aster was almost four months old-her doctor had said it was safe to be intimate again.


    But Cedric, always gentle, wanted to wait until six months before touching her.


    At thest second, he stopped himself.


    He held Ste close, his voice husky. "Star, just stay still. Let me hold you for a while."


    Ste''s cheeks burned; Cedric could be such a brute sometimes...


    Images shed through her mind-let''s call them "Aster''s origin story."


    Ever since her memories had


    and


    fel


    this was the first time she


    had been so close. She


    shy and a little awkward.


    She didn''t dare move anymore and simply let him hold her, quiet and content.


    Curled together, the moment was soothing and warm-she had to admit, she really liked this kind of life.


    But when she thought of Stewart, her feelings grewplicated.


    "Cedric," Ste looked up at him, "Is Stewart dying?"


    Cedric paused, caught off guard.