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."

Gina stood at the foot of the bed, their faces heavy with

watching quietly for some time. The

into

"Mommy...?"

started, hastily wiping her face and

rimmed with red as she

heart. She'd completely forgotten her daughter was there she didn't even

afraid. Grandma's

tiny hand and gently

together, forcing a

her head. "It's okay to cry, Mommy.

caught between laughter and tears at her daughter's wisdom. "Mommy's just sad for

neck, patting

Don't

her daughter close, burying her face in the warm, sweet-smelling crook

nodded firmly. "I'm not afraid. With you here, Mommy's not afraid of

...

the adults

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

before Julia regained

Gina and Ferdinand to watch over Nina, then stepped

Julia

"So Lauren stole your dad, and

Mrs. Hudson knew Rosita was Lauren's

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