Stewart stared after Briony, stunned and silent.

But Briony didn't look back. She turned away, walked briskly into the house, and closed the front door with a decisive thud, shutting him out completely.

He stood there, gazing at the closed door, grief clouding his eyes.

The Maynard family estate.

After escorting the four elders home, Maynard explained everything just as he and Briony had agreed. Unsurprisingly, his version of the story landed him exactly where he expected: kneeling in the family chapel as punishment.

When Clifford, the family patriarch, heard that it was his own grandson who had wronged a woman—leaving her with a child out of wedlock and the Maynard family's eldest grandson out in the world without a proper name his fury boiled over. He brought his cane down hard on Maynard's back.

Maynard endured the blow without a word.

Beatrice, ever the doting grandmother, scolded him too, but her words were softer, more for show than anything. She ordered him to the chapel for his penance, but she was really just trying to protect him from Clifford's wrath, worried the old man might lash out again.

So Maynard was sent to kneel in the chapel.

made it clear: Maynard was to kneel until morning. If anyone tried to plead for

years old, and he still couldn't bring his wife and kids home. If he had to kneel, so be it. They didn't feel sorry for

But Beatrice did.

and even slipped in a

evening, the chapel

portraits as Maynard, the family's wayward son, sat cross-legged on the

looked almost at

watch outside,

roll, Maynard felt his phone buzz in

out—an unfamiliar number. Arching a brow, he swallowed the

mocking voice drifted through.

grand performance you staged, I

a short laugh. "From your tone, it almost sounds

forward to it," he replied, one hand holding his phone, the other resting lazily on his bent knee, still

family paid a visit to Ms. Kensington today. How did that go?" Xenia's voice was

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