After that day, Briony grew even more withdrawn.


    Back when Autumn was looking after her, Briony would at least chat a little. Now, she barely spoke at all.


    Sometimes she''d lie in bed, awake but silent. Other times, she''d just sit there, "looking" out the window, listening to the sound of the waves, lost in thought.


    Both Autumn and ir noticed something was wrong.


    Autumn tried to engage her, searching for topics to draw her out, but Briony always seemed distracted, her answers scattered and unrted.


    ir knew deep down that it was his secrecy that had shattered thest bit of trust and safety Briony felt.


    He tried talking to her.


    But Briony simply wouldn''t respond.


    She shut herself off more and more.


    At first, she''d just avoid conversation. Then, gradually, she slipped into a pattern


    of sleeping through day and night.


    ir realized she was spiraling.


    After some inner struggle, he finally gave in.


    This morning, as Briony woke, ir walked in with her breakfast.


    "You''re awake, perfect timing for breakfast."


    Briony said nothing.


    ir sat beside her, scooping up some warm porridge from the bowl and holding the spoon to her lips.


    She didn''t open her mouth.


    “Eat a little,” ir coaxed. "Once you''ve had something, you can call the kids.”


    Briony paused, caught off guard.


    Her nose tingled as her eyes stung with sudden emotion. "Really?"


    "Really. I promise," ir said, watching her eyes fill with tears, his own voice tightening. "I won''t lie to you again."


    Briony didn''t answer, but she parted her lips just enough.


    A spoonful of the warm,forting porridge slipped into her mouth.


    Almost immediately, she frowned.


    "What''s wrong?" ir asked.


    Briony swallowed, then said quietly, "Give me another bite."


    He obliged, feeding her another spoonful.


    After the second taste, Briony was sure.


    She pressed her lips together, silent for a long moment before whispering, "I can''t


    taste anything."


    ir froze.


    "I added sugar," he said, voice


    don''t taste anything


    all?"


    She gave a bleak, humorless smile. "It seems I''ve lost my sense of taste, too."


    ir refused to believe it.


    He took a spoonful himself.


    It was soft, sweet-he''d simmered it for over an hour that morning.


    And yet, she tasted nothing.


    He looked at Briony, eyes reddening at the corners.


    First her sight, now her taste.


    What on earth had Ferdinand given her...


    "Even without taste, I can still eat," Briony said, her tone oddly calm. Let me finish. I want to call my kids


    afterward." Content belo, Let


    "Alright." ir, fighting to keep his et


    spoonful and fed her. Contene


    air, fighting to keep his


    It was hard, swallowing food that didn''t taste like anything.


    But Briony forced herself to finish, one mouthful at a time.


    Soon, the bowl was empty.


    ir set it aside and grabbed a napkin, gently wiping her mouth.


    Briony said, "Let me call the kids."


    "Of course."


    He took out his phone and dialed.


    When the call connected, he put it on speaker.


    "Lorna, could you get the kids? Their mom wants to talk to them."


    On the other end, Lorna agreed, her voice bright, then hurried off to find the children.


    "Come here, Nina, Mario, your mom''s on the phone!"


    A momentter, two excited voices cheered in the background.


    "Mom!"


    "Mom''s calling!"


    "Woof woof!!"


    Even Lucky, the family dog, joined themotion.


    Lorna knelt down, holding the phone out to the two little ones. "Say hi to Mommy."


    Little Nina piped up, "Mommy, you finally called! I missed you so much!"