The blanket slipped from Briony's shoulders and tumbled onto the snow-covered ground.

A biting chill wrapped around her, making her shiver.

"When Irwin threw something at you," Stewart said quietly, "the first thing you did was shield your stomach."

Briony froze, her breath catching in her chest.

She hadn't expected Stewart to notice something so small. Then again, he had been a father before-clearly, he'd done his homework back when Rosita was pregnant.

But what did it matter now, whether she was pregnant or not? What did any of this have to do with Stewart?

She'd already made up her mind-she wasn't going to have a child.

A child that would never be born... Stewart didn't need to know about it.

Steadying herself, Briony lifted her head to meet his gaze.

Their eyes locked. Stewart's stare was dark and razor-sharp, as if he could see straight through her.

Briony refused to look away. Her voice was even, almost bored. "I just have cramps. It's that time of the month."

Stewart watched her, searching her eyes for any sign of a lie.

But Briony was too calm, too controlled.

cold as ice. "You'd better not

I'll secretly

gently on her flat stomach. "Trust me, you not being pregnant is the best outcome

and trying to pull back, but his grip on her

go of

her anger with a probing look. "Last time at the hospital, you were sick. You said it was food

idea what

raised her hand and slapped him hard

Smack.

the howling wind and swirling snow. Stewart looked stunned.

the fallen

them, she fixed him with a cold, unyielding

pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek where she'd slapped him, his eyes

their vision, as if nature itself wanted

through the storm, icy and

all it

at arm's length, treated me like a stranger to be used and guarded against-that I'd ever be desperate enough to

even if by some accident I ever was, I wouldn't keep the baby. Because you are the

every word, Stewart's expression darkened, shadows settling over

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