Chapter 319

Briony stared blankly at her mother, uncertain she'd heard her right.

What was her mother saying?

Lauren had stolen her husband?

Julia's eyes drifted closed, tears slipping from the corners.

She kept murmuring, voice trembling, "Bryn, I'm sorry... I've failed you. I've failed you, sweetheart..."

Briony knelt beside her and gently wiped away her mother's tears.

Her own eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice catching. "Mom, I'm here. Don't worry, I promise we'll be okay. Things will get better from now on."

Julia's face twisted with pain. "Bryn, I'm so angry. My whole life, I've been a failure. Why did Lauren have to be my daughter? Why her... why..."

Her words faded to nothing, exhaustion overtaking her.

Briony watched her mother drift into sleep, silent tears streaming down her face.

The gray streaks in Julia's hair, the deep lines at the corners of her eyes-five years in prison, four years missing. Nine years had ground her down, leaving her looking decades older than her forty-something years. Now, she looked closer to seventy than forty.

All her life, Julia had known nothing but suffering.

Briony squeezed her mother's hand. "Rest now, Mom. From here on, I'll be by your side. I won't let you suffer anymore."

stood at the foot of the bed, their

hallway, little Nina had been watching quietly for some time. The adults were so focused on Julia, they hadn't even noticed

tiptoed into the

"Mommy...?"

hastily wiping her face and taking

were rimmed with red as she gazed up at her mother,

heart. She'd completely forgotten her daughter was there

don't be afraid. Grandma's just sick,

She reached out her tiny hand and gently

pressed her lips together, forcing a

cry, Mommy. There's nothing to be ashamed

laughter and tears at her daughter's wisdom. "Mommy's just sad for Grandma, that's

her arms around Briony's neck, patting her back with her little

Grandma. Don't

burying her face in the warm, sweet-smelling crook

nodded firmly. "I'm not afraid. With

...

when she woke, the adults couldn't

age, but she was still only four. Briony didn't want her to shoulder these burdens so

arrived before Julia

Gina and Ferdinand to watch over Nina, then stepped out

him everything Julia had said

floored. "So Lauren stole your dad, and Rosita stole your husband?!" Briony

Mrs. Hudson knew Rosita was

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