Briony didn''t have much of an appetite. She shook her head.


    Stewart gazed at her pale, thin face, a pang of concern tightening his chest. He knew she was unwell and couldn''t force her to eat.


    He had taken it upon himself to look after her. Once the nurse refreshed her IV and offered a few instructions, she left them alone.


    The hospital room was quiet.


    Stewart sat at the edge of her bed, silently watching over Briony.


    His unwavering gaze made her feel a little uneasy.


    The atmosphere grew awkward.


    Briony cleared her throat. "How long was I asleep?"


    Stewart settled in the chair beside her, his expression gentle. "You slept for a whole day and night."


    She tried again, "The kids-did they give you any trouble?"


    "Not at all. They''ve been angels. I video-called them and exined that you''d be busy with work for a few days and wouldn''t be home. They even reminded me to make sure you ate."


    A warm feeling blossomed in Briony''s chest.


    The children really were little angels-so thoughtful it almost broke her heart.


    She nced around, noticing this room felt different from a typical hospital room. "Which hospital is this?"


    "This is rke Memorial," Stewart replied. "Cedric rke arranged it. You need peace and quiet to recover. Here you''ll have private care and state-of-the-art equipment. You can focus on getting better."


    Briony nodded.


    For a moment, they simply looked at each other, neither saying a word.


    They''d made their peace, agreed to co-parent with civility. But as her ex-husband, Briony felt Stewart didn''t owe her this much care.


    "Have you been here the entire time?"


    He nodded. "You''re still sick. I couldn''t leave."


    "There are doctors and nurses here. You really don''t need to be by my side every minute." Her tone was gentle. "I''m not trying to chase you away-I just don''t want to trouble you. You must have your own things to take care of..."


    He shook his head, voice earnest, almost urgent, as if he was afraid she wouldn''t believe him. “You know everything about my work now. The assignment''s done. I''m free. Bryn, you don''t have to worry. No one''s going to hurt you or the kids ever again."


    She blinked in surprise. "That''s not what I meant."


    "Then... are you ufortable with me staying here?" Stewart studied her, searching her face.


    Briony fell quiet, then sighed, as if resigned.


    "Stewart, didn''t we agree? From now on, we''re just the kids'' parents. We only need to co-parent. Taking care of me like this-it''s not your responsibility. I don''t want to feel indebted to you."


    "Bryn, you don''t have to worry. I want to help. As soon as you''re well, I''ll leave."


    He looked at her, determined. "At the


    very least, let me do this. I let you


    down before; I know I can never make up for it. But right now, you''re in the hospital and need care. If just walked away, how could I live with myself?"


    "Stewart, I have my pride. I don''t need your pity."


    "It''s not pity!" Stewart said quickly. "I owe you so much. Anything I do now is the least I can offer."


    "But I don''t need you to take care of me." Briony''s voice was calm. "James and Ste are here too-"


    "Ste has her own family, and Aster


    is still


    young and needs her mom.


    She doesn''t have the time to be here around the clock like I do. As for


    James you''re close, but he has a job and his own With


    responsibiliti


    you gone, he''s also helping watch


    the kids. And Mrs. Winslow and


    Professor Winslow-do you really want to burden them at their age?"


    Briony frowned. "I can hire a nurse.....”


    "You should. A female nurse, for things I shouldn''t be doing as your ex-husband."


    Briony was at a loss for words.


    Stewart let out a breath, his tone softening. "Bryn, look at it this way-I''m the kids'' father. If I help you recover, you''ll be there for them


    sooner Taking care of you is really


    just taking care of our children too. So you don''t need to feel bad about it."


    She fell silent.


    No wonder he was awyer-when it came to arguing, she never stood a chance.


    Just as the stalemate dragged on, someone knocked at the door.


    Stewart jumped up to answer it.


    Ste stood outside.


    "Is Bryn awake?"


    He stepped aside to let her in. "She just woke up. She hasn''t eaten. I''ll go downstairs and make some soup-you stay with her."


    Ste nodded, her expression cool.


    Stewart strode out, practically fleeing the room, which made Ste chuckle.


    "When I came to visit before, Stewart never left this fast. What, do I have ''danger'' written on my face today?"


    She closed the door behind her and sat by Briony''s bedside.


    Briony looked at her with a sigh. "I was still in the middle of a conversation with him when you came in."


    Ste raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What were you two talking about?"