Chapter 57
Briony was the first to look away, turning to the older woman and saying, “You’ve got it wrong–he’s not my husband.”
“Oh?” The woman blinked in surprise, caught off guard for the first time in her years of sales pitches. After a long pause, she managed, “Oh… I see.”
Briony didn’t dwell on the awkward exchange. She grabbed a neatly packaged tray of ribs from the meat counter and headed toward the produce section.
Stewart watched her go, his eyes cool and unreadable.
By the time they returned to Southcreek Manor, it was already noon.
Briony went straight to the kitchen to start lunch.
Irwin was in the living room, tinkering with his new toys.
No sooner had Briony tied on her apron than the glass kitchen door slid open.
She turned and saw Stewart step inside.
“Did you need something?” she asked.
He glanced at the ingredients on the counter, his voice calm. “Do you want a hand?”
“I’m fine,” Briony replied without looking up, already busy at the sink.
Stewart stood and watched her for a moment before quietly leaving.
She turned on the tap and pulled out the vegetables to wash them.
It wasn’t long before Stewart returned.
“Here. Wear these,” he said.
Briony paused mid–wash, eyeing the plastic gloves he held out. Her brow furrowed.
“The burn on your hand is still healing. It’d be better to keep it covered.”
Briony glanced at the faint pink patch of new skin on the back of her hand. He was right–it was still delicate. She took the gloves, her tone flat. “Thanks. You can go now.”
Without another word, Stewart left the kitchen.
Irwin had asked for all sorts of dishes, but since he was just recovering from pneumonia, Briony chose mild, nourishing recipes.
Over the years, she’d researched countless meal plans for Irwin–meals tailored for a child with a sensitive stomach.
Cooking was demanding, but after five years, she moved around the kitchen with practiced ease.
About an hour later, she brought out five dishes and a hearty soup to the dining table.
“Irwin, lunch is ready. Go wash your hands,” she called.
“Coming!” Irwin dropped his toy and scampered off to wash up, then hurried to take his seat at the table, excitement written all over his face.
Briony ladled out a bowl of chicken and yam soup for him. “It’s hot, so blow on it first.”
“Okay!” Irwin’s mouth was practically watering as he looked at the spread. He grinned, “Thanks, Mom! You worked so hard!”
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Chapter 57
Briony gave a faint smile. “Dig in.”
Stewart pulled out a chair and sat down.
Briony took off her apron, walked it back to the kitchen, and paused. After a moment, she took the apron and tossed it in the trash.
She returned with two bowls of rice, sitting next to Irwin and setting one bowl in front of him, the other for
herself.
Across from them, Stewart watched her silently.
Briony served Irwin some vegetables, then quietly focused on her own meal.
Stewart said nothing.
Once upon a time, one of those bowls of rice would have been for him.
Stewart watched Briony eat with single–minded focus, his brow tightening.
After a moment, he stood and went into the kitchen.
“Mom, why didn’t you get Dad’s rice today?” Irwin piped up.
Briony hesitated, serving herself another bite. “Your dad’s a grown man. He can manage it himself.”
“But you used to do it for him. Did you and Dad have a fight?” Irwin asked, looking at her with innocent eyes.
“We didn’t fight.”
As Briony spoke, Stewart reappeared from the kitchen.
He heard her words, and his dark mood visibly lightened.
He sat down, picked up a fork, and calmly placed a piece of beef in his mouth, chewing slowly as he watched Briony.
He ate with quiet refinement, his expression still distant, but if you looked closely, you could see he was in a much better mood than before.
Not that Briony noticed–she didn’t look at him once.
Her appetite hadn’t been great lately, so she barely touched her rice, though she did have two bowls of soup.
“Mom! Can I sleep with you tonight?” Irwin said around a mouthful of rib. “Don’t go out tonight–stay home with me, please?”
Briony set down her fork.
She knew it was time to be honest.
She waited for Irwin to swallow before she spoke.
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