Chapter 60
Briony listened to Irwin's sharp words, feeling nothing but numbness inside.
Maybe it was for the best. She wasn't Irwin's mother, after all. Maybe it was time to let things go back to how they should be.
She would step out of Stewart and Irwin's lives for good, and let everything return to its proper course.
Without another glance back, Briony turned and walked straight for the door.
"Briony "
A sudden fit of coughing cut through the silence.
Stewart's face changed instantly. "Irwin?"
Irwin was gasping for breath, clutching his chest as he began to collapse.
"Irwin!" Stewart scooped him into his arms, turning desperately to Briony. "He's having an asthma attack!"
Briony's hand froze on the doorknob.
"Mom... cough... Mom..." Even as Stewart held him, Irwin's pale face was contorted in pain. Despite everything, he instinctively reached out a trembling hand toward Briony, pleading, "Mom, I can't breathe... cough..."
Briony's grip on the doorknob tightened.
She squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself not to give in. Stewart was here—he'd make sure Irwin was alright...
"Where's Irwin's inhaler?!"
then
the breathless boy, his
lost all its earlier defiance. Now, he just looked
Releasing the
after her, Irwin
bedroom, Briony yanked open the top drawer
Irwin used his inhaler, his breathing gradually steadied. Nestled in Briony's arms,
bed
didn't say a word, nor
nearby, watching as she cared for Irwin with
brushed a hand over Irwin's
Stewart called after her.
didn't look back, just
frowned and hurried
stairs, he grabbed her wrist. "There's a blizzard out there. No
get a cab tonight. Just stay here, at least for
glanced out the
that morning, but now the
through the biting wind. It was
grasp. "Don't worry about me. If I
started down
want to
Briony stopped, halfway down.
looked up at him, standing at the top of the stairs, still
always looking down
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