Briony listened to Irwin's sharp words, feeling nothing but numbness inside.

Maybe it was for the best. She wasn't Irwin's mother, after all. Maybe it was time to let things go back to how they should be.

She would step out of Stewart and Irwin's lives for good, and let everything return to its proper course.

Without another glance back, Briony turned and walked straight for the door.

"Briony "

A sudden fit of coughing cut through the silence.

Stewart's face changed instantly. "Irwin?"

Irwin was gasping for breath, clutching his chest as he began to collapse.

"Irwin!" Stewart scooped him into his arms, turning desperately to Briony. "He's having an asthma attack!"

Briony's hand froze on the doorknob.

"Mom... cough... Mom..." Even as Stewart held him, Irwin's pale face was contorted in pain. Despite everything, he instinctively reached out a trembling hand toward Briony, pleading, "Mom, I can't breathe... cough..."

Briony's grip on the doorknob tightened.

She squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself not to give in. Stewart was here—he'd make sure Irwin was alright...

"Where's Irwin's inhaler?!"

then spun

was standing there, clutching the breathless boy, his

earlier

twisted painfully in Briony's chest. Releasing the

after her, Irwin limp in

top drawer by the bed and

Irwin used his inhaler, his breathing gradually steadied. Nestled in Briony's arms, he soon drifted off

the bed and pulled the covers up around

word, nor did she

stood silently nearby, watching as she cared for Irwin with quiet tenderness, something soft flickering in his

last, Briony brushed a hand over Irwin's pale

Stewart called after her.

look back, just

hurried

top of the stairs, he grabbed her wrist. "There's a blizzard out there. No way you'll get a cab tonight.

glanced out the

and gray, snow swirling

her wrist free of his grasp. "Don't worry about me. If I managed to get

down the

wakes up, he'll want to see you," Stewart

Briony stopped, halfway down.

up at him, standing at the top

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