It was just past 1 a.m. on the first day of the new year when Irwin was rushed into the emergency room.

The attending physician examined his injuries, his brows furrowing with concern. "The wound's pretty deep," he said gravely. "It might've reached the bone."

Briony stood outside the ER, watching Stewart pace back and forth, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. The fear and anxiety written all over his face were impossible to miss.

She never imagined things would spiral out of control like this.

Though Briony had her share of resentment, she'd never once intended for Irwin to get hurt.

She'd cared for him for five years. Colds and sniffles happened often enough, but tumbles and scrapes were rare. This was by far the worst injury he'd suffered since he was born, and Briony couldn't pretend she didn't care.

After all, she'd raised this boy with her own hands; he'd called her "Mom" for five years. And now, because of a single argument, he was lying in the ER, fighting for his life...

No matter what mistakes Rosita and Stewart had made, Irwin was just a child-an innocent bystander.

Briony pressed a trembling hand to her lower abdomen, her chest tightening with guilt.

She couldn't bring herself to harden her heart toward Irwin-yet when it came to her own children, she'd always been cold and ruthless.

Ever since she had learned of their existence, it seemed as if she'd done nothing but turn her back on them.

then what

they just

pain crashed over her, so sharp she had to close her

these two children would be

in this world with no

away, moving slowly, and suddenly felt

somewhere?" Stewart's voice was low and cold, edged with

Her own expression was cool, her eyes

even further. "Irwin got hurt because of you. He's still in there,

until Irwin was out of danger. She was

didn't bother explaining herself

Briony walked over to an empty seat, folded her arms around herself, and stared at the

noticed how thinly she was dressed and, after a moment's hesitation,

she could react, the heavy black overcoat, still warm from his body, settled

reached up to shrug it off, but Stewart, clearly anticipating her move, gently pressed her shoulders. "No need to punish

She froze.

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