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,"

mid-wash, eyeing the plastic gloves

hand is still healing. It'd be better to

glanced at the faint pink patch of new skin on the back of her hand. He was right-it

took the gloves, her tone flat.

word, Stewart left

he was just recovering from pneumonia, Briony

countless meal plans for Irwin-meals tailored for a child

was demanding, but after five years, she moved around the

out five dishes and a hearty

is ready. Go

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

ladled out a bowl of chicken and yam soup

at the spread. He grinned, "Thanks, Mom! You worked

faint smile. "Dig

a

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

returned with two bowls of rice, sitting next to Irwin and setting one bowl in front of him, the other for

from them, Stewart

vegetables, then quietly focused

of those bowls

Briony eat with single-minded focus, his brow

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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