Ste froze for a moment.


    "The first time I met Mario, he was so small and frail. His face was delicate, almost ethereal, but he looked pale and sickly, his dark eyes staring at me with a kind of nkness. I saw myself reflected in those eyes. Even though I had no idea then that he was my child, seeing him like that-well, it broke my heart. That image is burned into my memory, even now."


    Ste listened, feeling her own heart twist with pain.


    "From the very beginning, Mario was instinctively drawn to me and Little Nina," Briony continued, pausing for a breath. "At first, he wasn''t close to Stewart at all. Butter, when James and I went to Westenmar to bring him home, something had changed-Mario trusted Stewartpletely, even more than me,


    sometimes."


    "Maybe that''s just the power of blood ties," Ste murmured, ncing down at Aster cradled in her arms. "This little guy was such a handful during my recovery. No one could soothe him except Cedric rke. The moment someone else tried to hold him, he''d start crying. That whole month, Cedric barely got any sleep-he had to hold Aster every night to keep him calm.”


    Aster blinked up at his mother, gurgling as if agreeing with her.


    Watching Aster''s sweet face, Briony felt a heavier weight of guilt settle in her chest.


    She''d missed all of Mario''s baby years.


    That regret had haunted her, turning into an obsession, making her doubt Stewart''s affection for Mario from the start.


    Looking back, Briony couldn''t help but feel a pang of remorse.


    "After Mario came back to Northborough, he stuck to Stewart like glue. Every time


    I picked him up, I saw little changes in him, Star. Stewart must have made him


    feel safe-otherwise Mario wouldn''t even be calling out ''Dad'' in his sleep."


    Ste was moved, too. "So you''re worried that if Stewart''s gone, little Mario won''t be able to cope?"


    Briony pressed her lips together and nodded.


    "Well, there''s nothing you can do," Ste sighed. "Cedric rke is devastated too. Sometimes, people are just so fragile in the face of life and death."


    Briony pulled up the handle of her suitcase, hesitated, and said, "Stewart didn''t have a great family growing up either. In a way, these two kids saved him. That''s why he does everything he can for them."


    "Honestly, Star, I keep thinking he shouldn''t be gone yet. If fate could have given


    him more time, I think he would have been an even better parent than me."


    "You''re amazing, too," Ste blurted


    out. "Bryn, your childhood was rough, but you still chose to keep


    those kids, even when things were at their worst. That alone makes you the best, most qualified mother for them!"


    Briony looked at Ste and gave a gentle smile. "Star, you''re the only one who''s always believed in me, no matter what."


    Even Julia Hudson, back then, had suspected Briony of being the reason Stewart


    and Rosita split up. Only Ste had never doubted her.


    Briony''s eyes crinkled with warmth. "Thank you, Star."


    "Of course! I''m your soulmate!" Ste ?e2


    said with a wink. "Tell you


    what-why don''t you wait for me? Once I divorce Cedric rke, I''ll bring Aster you bring little Mario and Little Nina, and we''ll all live together


    happily ever after!"


    Briony immediately took three steps back, pulling a face. "Sorry, but I have no


    interest in being the ''other woman''-no matter the gender."


    Ste gaped at her in mock outrage.


    ...


    With her suitcase in tow, Briony headed downstairs.


    Before she left, Stewart called her out to the garden for a private word.


    Under the soft glow of the porch lights, their shadows stretched across the gstones.


    Stewart looked at Briony, his eyes dark and serious. "I want to transfer Mario''s guardianship to you."


    Briony stopped in her tracks, stunned.