Out in the yard, the two children were laughing and playing with Stewart, their voices bright and joyful, carrying through the crisp winter air and into the house.

Briony watched them through the window, a gentle smile softening her features. "Star, help me take a few more photos and videos, would you?" she asked quietly. Stella's heart felt heavy, but she kept her expression calm as she nodded. "Of course." She reached for the camera and began snapping shots from every angle she could find.

In the snowy garden, Stewart crouched beside a snowman, the children flanking him on either side. The three of them turned together, glancing back at Briony as if drawn by the same thought.

Separated by the glass of the French doors, their eyes met-mother and father, son and daughter-a family united by a single, silent gaze.

Briony lifted her hand, her fingertips pressing gently against the cold pane.

Click.

Stella captured the moment perfectly.

She stared at the image on the camera's screen, her breath catching, tears stinging at her eyes.

bone marrow registry. Two days ago, Dr. Cedric Clarke had said that if a donor couldn't be found soon, Briony might not make it

spilled over, and Stella turned away quickly, wiping her

guests for long, so after a

and

while the children were there, but now, with the house empty, she returned to her bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, drifting into a deep, exhausted sleep without

soft amber glow over the room. Briony

medicine down and crouched beside her, gazing at the woman who had fought so hard, for so long. His chest ached with helpless

to give in, but the illness had shown

days ago, the doctors had gathered again for a consultation. The prognosis was grim. No one told Briony, but Stewart felt sure

her. Instead, he slipped into the bathroom and brought back a bottle of makeup remover and some cotton

felt something cool brushing gently over her face. Her

meeting her gaze. "Let me help you clean your face. Once you've had your medicine, you can go back to

managed a faint sound of agreement, then closed her eyes again, already

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