Briony stared blankly at her mother, uncertain she'd heard her right.

What was her mother saying?

Lauren had stolen her husband?

Julia's eyes drifted closed, tears slipping from the corners.

She kept murmuring, voice trembling, "Bryn, I'm sorry... I've failed you. I've failed you, sweetheart..."

Briony knelt beside her and gently wiped away her mother's tears.

Her own eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice catching. "Mom, I'm here. Don't worry, I promise we'll be okay. Things will get better from now on."

Julia's face twisted with pain. "Bryn, I'm so angry. My whole life, I've been a failure. Why did Lauren have to be my daughter? Why her... why..."

Her words faded to nothing, exhaustion overtaking her.

Briony watched her mother drift into sleep, silent tears streaming down her face.

The gray streaks in Julia's hair, the deep lines at the corners of her eyes-five years in prison, four years missing. Nine years had ground her down, leaving her looking decades older than her forty-something years. Now, she looked closer to seventy than forty.

All her life, Julia had known nothing but suffering.

Briony squeezed her mother's hand. "Rest now, Mom. From here on, I'll be by your side. I won't let you suffer anymore."

Ferdinand and Gina stood at the foot of the bed, their faces heavy with sorrow.

in the hallway, little Nina had been watching quietly for some time. The adults were so focused on Julia,

into

"Mommy...?"

her face and taking a

were rimmed with red as she gazed

She'd completely forgotten her daughter was

be afraid. Grandma's just sick,

not scared," Nina said softly. She reached out her tiny

together,

cry, Mommy. There's nothing to

and tears at her daughter's wisdom. "Mommy's just sad for

neck, patting her back with

Grandma. Don't worry-Dr. Ellsworth is really

close, burying her face in the warm, sweet-smelling crook of Nina's

not afraid. With you here, Mommy's not

...

she woke, the adults couldn't spare attention for

but she was still only four. Briony didn't want her

arrived before Julia

and Ferdinand to watch over Nina,

Julia had said during her

floored. "So Lauren stole your dad,

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