Briony returned to her own hospital room first, changing out of the standard-issue gown and back into her own clothes. After collecting herself, she made her way to see Julia.

Outside Julia's room, Gina was waiting. The moment she saw Briony, she hurried over, blocking her path.

"Ms. Kensington, please, don't go in just yet."

Briony frowned in confusion. "What's happened?"

Gina glanced around, then pulled Briony aside, lowering her voice. "I'll be honest with you-your mother's awake, but she's... well, she's seen the news online. She thinks you broke up someone else's relationship, and the shock is what caused her to faint."

Briony froze.

News online?

She hesitated, her mind racing. Suddenly, the realization hit her. She spun around to look at Stella.

"Star, give me my phone."

Stella, knowing there was no use hiding it anymore, handed the phone over.

Briony unlocked it and opened Facebook.

Her inbox was flooded with messages. Even under her attempted post clarifying the rumors, the comments were a barrage of vitriol:

"Homewrecker."

"Manipulator."

"Attention seeker."

ruin to your

married and still

a murderer-just

"Murderess deserves to rot!"

always gets what's

of ugly insults made Briony's eyes sting

room door creaked open from the

Briony stepped inside.

the bed, dazed. Hearing someone enter,

face

called me, so I came

gently touching her mother's cheek. "Mom, don't

"Bryn, can you swear on my life that there's nothing-nothing at all-between you

into her, catching every subtle

"My entire life

to say the words "the other woman" to her own daughter. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face as she choked out, "You're stabbing me right in the heart, Bryn! If the price of avoiding a death sentence is my daughter destroying someone else's marriage, then

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