Inside the tiny fitting room, Briony stood frozen, her arms full of lacy lingerie she had no intention of trying on.

The space was barely three feet wide-cramped even for one person. But, as if that weren't enough, this particular fitting room opened up to a narrow staircase leading to a loft above a makeshift storage attic.

She heard footsteps approaching.

Sensing something, Briony looked up.

A figure dressed in black appeared in the doorway.

It was a man-black baseball cap pulled low, half his face hidden behind a mask, only his eyes visible: narrow, deep-set, and impossible to read.

He was tall. With two long strides, he descended the twisting wooden steps from the attic and stood before her.

The moment he appeared, Briony understood what Mary had been planning all along.

She stared at the man in front of her, her thoughts scattered, as if time itself had stopped.

still dressed as

knew the world still believed Stewart was dead-he had to remain

why was he here, in

him she

heavy silence, each

was Stewart

eyes, let out a weary sigh, and

last, Briony saw his face-sharp features, striking and familiar, nothing like the

else playing Blair. Or maybe Blair had only ever existed during that first interview, and since then, it had always been Stewart shadowing

the mask,

He was scared, too.

want to see him. Afraid she'd push him

so calm now. Even as he revealed himself, she didn't so much

voice was rough, barely more than a whisper, trembling with emotion. He felt a painful

and yet, he couldn't find

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