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.

Wear these," he

paused mid-wash, eyeing the plastic gloves he held out. Her brow

still healing. It'd be

of new skin on the back of her hand. He was right-it was still

the gloves, her tone flat.

Stewart left the

sorts of dishes, but since he

countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a

but after five years, she moved around the

out five dishes and a hearty soup to the dining

Go wash your hands,"

dropped his toy and scampered off to wash up, then hurried to take his seat

bowl of chicken and yam soup for him. "It's

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

gave a faint smile. "Dig

out a chair and sat

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

and setting one bowl in front of him, the other for

Stewart watched

focused on her own meal. Stewart said

bowls of rice

eat with single-minded

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