Briony was the first to look away, turning to the older woman and saying, "You've got it wrong-he's not my husband."

"Oh?" The woman blinked in surprise, caught off guard for the first time in her years of sales pitches. After a long pause, she managed, "Oh... I see."

Briony didn't dwell on the awkward exchange. She grabbed a neatly packaged tray of ribs from the meat counter and headed toward the produce section. Stewart watched her go, his eyes cool and unreadable.

...

By the time they returned to Southcreek Manor, it was already noon.

Briony went straight to the kitchen to start lunch.

Irwin was in the living room, tinkering with his new toys.

No sooner had Briony tied on her apron than the glass kitchen door slid open.

She turned and saw Stewart step inside.

"Did you need something?" she asked.

He glanced at the ingredients on the counter, his voice calm. "Do you want a hand?"

"I'm fine," Briony replied without looking up, already busy at the sink.

Stewart stood and watched her for a moment before quietly leaving. She turned on the tap and pulled out the vegetables to wash them.

It wasn't long before Stewart returned.

these," he

eyeing the plastic gloves he held out. Her brow

burn on your hand is still healing. It'd be

glanced at the faint pink patch of new skin on the back of her hand.

tone flat. "Thanks. You

word, Stewart left

dishes, but since he was just recovering from pneumonia, Briony chose

the years, she'd researched countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a

she moved

out five dishes and a hearty

lunch is ready. Go wash

dropped his toy and scampered off to wash up, then hurried to take his seat at the table, excitement written all over

soup for

as he looked at the spread. He grinned, "Thanks,

gave a faint

a chair and sat

to the kitchen, and paused. After a moment, she took the apron and

sitting next to Irwin and setting

them, Stewart

vegetables, then quietly focused on her own meal. Stewart

time, one of those bowls of

with

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