Briony had a dream.

In it, she was sharing a holiday dinner with her mother.

Her mother smiled and praised her cooking.

Briony laughed, but tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Mom..."

Sprawled across the big bed, Briony's brow furrowed as her tears soaked the pillow beneath her.

She murmured restlessly, clutching the front of her nightshirt in pain, her suffering almost unbearable.

In her dream, her mother said she was tired, and from now on, Briony would have to walk her own path alone.

Briony begged her not to leave, but her mother only faded away into the mist that drifted across the river. No matter how desperately Briony called, she never appeared again.

"Mom!"

Briony jolted awake.

For a moment, as she stared up at the familiar ceiling, the world felt strange and distant.

"Mommy!"

At the foot of the bed, Irwin abandoned his toys and scrambled over to her side.

have a

her mind slowly clearing from

This was Southcreek Manor.

she ended

mattress, pushing herself upright, and rubbed her

down to the river, maybe even climbed over the

after that was

up and touched her damp cheek. "You were crying in

Briony gazed at him.

eyes was genuine,

in the set of his brows that reminded her of

the thought of Rosita, a wave of rejection-almost

she brushed Irwin's hand away, threw off the covers, and swung her legs out

stood, dizziness washed over her;

stand to stay here a second

herself, Briony shuffled out of the

"Mommy!"

her hand. “Are you

pulling her hand free, her voice cold. "Irwin, don't call me Mommy

Irwin froze.

glance and headed

ground floor,

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

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