Briony stared at the doors of the emergency room, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.


    ...


    Mary was gone.


    She died on the very day her daughter was born.


    The babyy in an incubator, oblivious to the fact that her mother had left this world forever.


    Maybe the newborn could sense the absence, because that night, she developed a high fever.


    The doctors in the neonatal unit dered her condition critical.


    Briony couldn''t afford the luxury of grief. She rushed to the neonatal ward, signing


    a stack of consent forms for the baby''s treatment.


    It wasn''t until the early hours of the morning that the child''s condition finally stabilized.


    But Briony''s nerves and emotions stayed stretched tight, refusing to ease.


    Mary had no family left. For now, her body was kept in the hospital morgue.


    Briony went to see her.


    Maryy beneath a white sheet.


    Briony gently lifted the cloth.


    Mary''s eyes were closed, her face peaceful, as if she were simply sleeping.


    Crying, Briony used her of cruelty-how could she bear to leave her daughter behind, a child so small and helpless?


    She hadn''t even had a chance to look at her baby girl, not even once.


    This heartless woman slept so deeply now.


    No amount of Briony''s sobbing could bring her back.


    Or maybe, Briony thought, Mary simply missed Ferdinand too much, and chose to follow him wherever he''d gone.


    But what right did Ferdinand have to take her away?


    "You foolish girl..." Briony ran her hand gently over Mary''s face for thest time.


    Cold. Unforgiving.


    Mary would nevere back.


    ...


    As Briony left the morgue, she looked up and spotted Stewart striding toward her from down the hall.


    He hurried over, concern etched across his face. "Bryn, are you alright?"


    Briony''s eyes were swollen and red from crying. She looked at Stewart, her expression alreadyposed, her tone cool.


    "What are you doing here?"


    "I had some free time this week. Thought I''d take the kids to Southcreek Manor for


    a few days. But as soon as I arrived at the house, Carol told me about Mary. I was worried about you, so I came."


    "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Wentworth, but I''m fine," Briony replied, keeping her distance. "I be busy with Mary''s arrangements for a few days anyway, so it''s good if you take the children."


    Stewart felt her coldness keenly, but there was nothing he could do.


    He tried, "You''ve only just recovered-you shouldn''t overexert yourself. Let a professional handle the funeral. I can ask Carl Shaw to make arrangements..."


    "That''s not necessary." Briony cut him off. "Mary called me her sister. That makes me her family. I''ll handle the funeral myself. Just take care of the children."


    Stewart pressed his lips together, uncertain.


    Briony had neither the patience nor the energy to drag this out with him, not now.


    "Stewart, we made everything clearst time." Her voice was weary. "Once you have the kids, just go. My affairs are none of your concern."


    "I just don''t want you to wear yourself out..."


    "What happens to me isn''t something another woman''s husband should worry about."


    The wordsnded like a final verdict.


    Stewart''s hand clenched at his side, a wave of sorrow washing over him.


    After a moment, he sighed. "Just... take care of yourself, alright?"


    Briony gave him a quiet thank you, then brushed past him, heading back toward the neonatal ward.


    Stewart stood where he was, watching her walk away.


    Her figure looked so small, so fragile, each step carrying her further out of his reach.


    He ached to run after her, to fold her into his arms and promise, Bryn, you still have me. I''ll always be here.


    But he knew he had no right anymore.


    Still, he couldn''t stop worrying.


    He pulled out his phone and called Cedric rke, asking if Ste Joyner coulde stay with Briony for a while.


    On the other end, Cedric sighed. "I''m afraid I can''t help you this time. Star left the country, and... well, she''s blocked my number."


    Stewart pinched the bridge of his nose. "What happened now?"


    Cedric sounded resigned. “It''s the same old story. We bicker every few days,


    argue every week. I''m tired. We both need some space right now."


    Some troubles, Stewart knew, only those inside a marriage could truly understand.


    He wasn''t one for giving advice, so he left it alone.


    After hanging up, he hesitated, then decided to call James.


    As soon as James heard the news about Mary, he insisted oning back immediately.


    He and Mary hadn''t been especially close, but they''d known each other, and attending her funeral was the right thing to do.


    Besides, he was worried about Briony.


    James filed a flight n. The Dney family''s private jetnded at Northborough


    Airport at four in the morning.


    Stewart went to meet him personally.