When Cedric Clarke arrived with Stella, the doors of the emergency room swung open just as they reached them.

Dr. Warren stepped out, peeling off his mask, his face grave as he shook his

head.

"I'm so sorry. We did everything we could."

For a moment, it was as if the world fell utterly silent.

Gwendolyn White's knees buckled, and James caught her just in time. "Mrs. Winslow!"

"Bryn... our Bryn..." Gwendolyn sobbed into her hands, her cries breaking the quiet. "She's so young-how could she just leave us like this? No, it's not possible -Dr. Warren, please, there must be something more you can do, please..."

"Mrs. Winslow, I'm truly sorry. We really did all we could."

Stewart stood frozen, rooted to the spot.

He barely heard Dr. Warren's gentle, clinical explanations-the medical reasons why Briony couldn't be saved. Gwendolyn refused to accept it, her wailing echoing in his ears.

Stewart, too, couldn't believe it.

Briony dead? It couldn't be.

A strange, fractured smile curled at the edge of his lips, though his eyes were rimmed with red. "No. I don't believe it..."

He murmured the words, pushing past Dr. Warren and heading toward the emergency room.

Seeing this, Cedric released Stella and hurried to intercept him, grabbing Stewart by the arm. "What are you doing?"

turned and, recognizing Cedric, clung to him like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. "Thank God

trying to steady him. "Stewart, you need

it. She must be. She just wants to get away

she's playing dead to escape. She hates me that

Cedric said firmly, his tone grave. "This is a reputable hospital.

wild. "Her daughter's all she cares about now. If I just take her back to Northborough, Briony'll come running. Yes, that's it-I'll

muttered as if possessed, turning

"Stewart!"

him by the shoulders. "Open your eyes! Look- look at what's right in

Stewart turned-

of the emergency room by a

the gurney, shrouded

pupils shrank

his tall frame suddenly

threw herself over Briony's body, sobbing. "Bryn, Bryn, wake up! If you're gone, your little girl will have no mother-how could you do this?

streaming as his trembling

peaceful, her eyes closed, lips just barely parted. Stella stared, her own eyes wide with horror, a crushing pain squeezing her chest. She dropped to

echoed down

lay motionless, untouched by

slept, now and

more pain, no more sorrow-nothing in this world

know you're tired. Go quickly, catch up to your little one, and

Stella sobbed even

pain was so sharp, only that it felt as if

only stare in numb

as if someone had fired a bullet straight into his heart. He

He coughed harsh, wet.

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