Stewart stood in the doorway, one hand gripping the handle. "Can I come in?"

Ever since Briony had recovered and come home from the hospital, Stewart hadn't entered her bedroom uninvited.

Briony pressed her lips together, her mind drifting to the fact that Stewart was about to marry Xenia Cooper.

"I'll step out," she said quietly.

Stewart froze for a second, caught off guard. But, ever the gentleman, he stepped aside and let her pass.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, Briony pulled back the covers and got out of bed. She slipped her arms into a cardigan hanging on the rack before heading out.

When Briony opened the door and emerged, Stewart was still waiting in the hallway. There was a restless urgency in his eyes.

She could guess what he wanted to talk about. "Let's go to my studio," she suggested.

With the kids at home, Briony didn't want them overhearing any talk about their father's upcoming remarriage.

Inside the studio, Stewart shut the door behind them. Briony crossed to the sofa and sat down, gesturing for him to do the same.

He took the seat across from her. For a moment, the silence between them was thick and heavy.

Stewart's Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to find the right words. Briony waited, patient but expectant.

looked unsettled, almost

what you need to

exhaled a shaky sigh, then asked, "You saw what

expression

to stop breathing for

Cooper seems like a wonderful

"Congratulations, Stewart."

Seeing Briony so calm, so detached, made it hard for him

while that Briony was over him, but hearing her blessing—it felt

his eyes. "Bryn, please. Don't wish me well.

from her,

What was Stewart trying to say? He was about to

this in

them

phone rang on the table.

take this," she

two new film offers for you—both excellent, but you'll have to pick one.

"Sure, come on by."

hung up, Briony set her

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