Briony nodded. "Try to talk to Dr. rke, will you? Star''s had a few drinks-she''s not thinking straight. Don''t take her words to heart."


    "Alright." Stewart pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    In the media room, the once-loving couple were now locked in a furious argument, faces flushed and voices raised.


    Ste sat on the sofa, her face buried in her hands, sobbing. Cedric rke stood across from her, arms akimbo, his expression dark and stormy, chest heaving with anger.


    There were no winners in this fight.


    Once, they had loved each other fiercely. Now, only their cruelest words remained, cutting deeper than any de.


    Broken ss glinted on the floor, the sharp tang of spilled liquor hanging in the air. Through the open door, the heart-wrenching cries of a child echoed from outside. That sound pulled Ste and Cedric back from the edge, snapping the spell of their rage.


    "Ms. Joyner''s been drinking-her words don''t count for much right now. Let it go," Stewart said quietly, stepping over to Cedric and giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.


    Cedric wiped a hand over his face, as if trying to clear his head.


    He was just as lost in his anger. He was the one who''d smashed the bottle. Now, regret gnawed at him.


    Ste stood by the coffee table, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.


    Cedric looked at her, a heavy ache settling in his chest.


    "Star, I-"


    But Ste only wiped her tears away, brushed past him, and headed straight for the door.


    The moment she stepped out, little Aster spotted his mother and, for a second, his cries faltered.


    But Ste didn''t rush to scoop him up.


    Wide-eyed, Aster stared at his mom. After a few seconds, when she didn''te to him, the wailing started again—louder, more desperate than before.


    Tears welled up once more as Ste reached for her son, pulling him into her arms.


    Aster burrowed against her, huping and whimpering, nuzzling into her chest.


    Ste felt herself unravel. She closed her eyes, hurt and exhausted, but still forced herself to soothe him in a trembling whisper. "Aster, sweetheart, you''re a big boy now. Let''s not nurse tonight, alright?"


    But how could he possibly understand?


    Denied what he wanted, Aster only cried harder.


    Ste''s tears came faster, hot and helpless.


    "Even you... even you''re pushing me!" she sobbed, clutching her child. "Why is everyone pushing me?"


    Briony hadn''t expected things to


    spiral like this. She hurried over, wrapping an arm around Ste''s shoulders. "It''s alright, love. He''s just tired and fussy, that''s all. He''s foo little to know any better. Let''s get him to sleep first, okay? We''ll figure the rest outter."


    Ste looked at Briony, lips pressed tight.


    She knew she shouldn''t take her anger out on her son. She knew, too, that right now, there was no choice but to try to settle him. He was just a baby, after all, but she''d been drinking-she couldn''t nurse him anymore tonight.


    Briony quietly asked Carol to make up a bottle.


    Once the form was ready, Ste took it and carried Aster upstairs, into the guest room.


    In the quiet, Ste sat at the foot of the bed, holding her son in one arm, bottle in the other.


    Aster, who''d been breastfed all his


    life, hated bottles-he especially hated form. Failed attempts to wean him in the past had only made things worse, leaving him stubborn and wary. Each time, as soon as he started crying and refusing to eat, Scarlett would scold Ste for being heartless.


    But Aster was willful. He''d sooner go a day and night without eating, screaming himself hoarse, until he ran a fever and Ste, terrified, would abandon the whole idea.


    Tonight, Ste had drunk on purpose. She''d nned to slip away from Scarlett, stay here with Aster, and finally wean him herself.


    She''d thought Cedric would understand.


    She never imagined that Cedric''s first move would be to call Scarlett and rat her out.


    Scarlett had screamed at her over the phone, calling her selfish, unfit to be a mother...


    Ever since Aster was born, Ste had heard those words from Scarlett too many times to count.


    Her fights with Scarlett had only grown worse, until arguments became a daily routine.


    Ste didn''t know how it hade to this. All she knew was that she couldn''t go on living like this.


    Before tonight, she''d believed Cedric, at least, stood by her.


    But the things Cedric had just said... they stung like a p, shaking her to her


    core.


    So even Cedric thought it was all her fault.