Upon hearing this, Briony's gaze instinctively drifted down to Irwin's bare feet sticking out from under his pants.

They were filthy-ten tiny toes, red and raw from the cold.

She couldn't help but frown.

The female officer, catching Briony's look of concern, let out a sigh and said gently, "I can see you have a good heart. Even if he's not your own child, he still calls you 'Mom.' Don't send him away, not after everything he's been through."

Briony pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

"It's not easy for any family," the officer added. "Whatever's happened between you and his father, just set it aside for now. Focus on the boy-he's had a rough time."

In the end, Irwin was allowed to stay.

Once the police left, Briony led him to the lounge bathroom and turned on the shower, adjusting it to a warm temperature.

"Wash your feet," she told him, holding out the showerhead.

Briony used to do things like this for him herself.

Irwin could sense she was still upset. Though he felt a little aggrieved, he didn't

dare complain. Whatever Briony told him to do, he obeyed without a word.

When his feet were clean, Briony handed him a towel. "Dry off."

towel and quietly patted his

left in the apartment, so Briony fetched her own slippers and handed

in the too-big slippers, struggling to

didn't pay him much attention. She grabbed a short jacket she rarely wore and passed it to him. "Put this on for now. I'll call your father to come

slipped on the jacket and

of the lounge to

she got was a

the sofa, her expression

emerged from the lounge and scrambled up onto the sofa beside her, sitting obediently, careful not to

looking down at his small, anxious

head, nervously twisting the zipper of

emotions were

She knew it wasn't fair to let adult grievances spill over onto a child. But every time she remembered who

her gaze away and dialed

time, he

could say a word, Briony cut in. "Irwin's here with me. Come pick

paused, concern in his voice. "Is

Briony replied coolly, glancing at

"Alright."

answer,

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