?Chapter 64:


    Ste froze for a moment, then turned to find it was William. He was walking toward the garage.


    He took a few steps before realizing she wasn’t following. He turned around, his expression slightly frowning. “Aren’t youing?”


    For a brief moment, she was at a loss. Wasn’t he supposed to have left with the project team? Why was he still here?


    Her mind raced with questions as she followed him to the parking lot. Without breaking stride, he effortlessly lifted her suitcase with one hand and ced it in the trunk.


    He opened the driver’s side door but nced back at her before getting in.


    “Get in.” His tone was low and firm—not a request, but amand.


    Ste hesitated for a moment but eventually climbed into the passenger seat. After all, her suitcase was already in the trunk.


    “Mr. Briggs, weren’t you supposed to leave with the project team? Why are you…?” She trailed off. She wanted to ask why he was still here and where he was taking her, but the questions seemed to stack up. William didn’t appear eager to answer.


    Instead, he started the car, and it shot forward with speed.


    As they sped past the institute’s gates, Ste spotted Marc outside, pacing like a man on the edge. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned her face away from the window.


    The silence inside the car became palpable. She stole a nce at William, who was focused on driving as though she wasn’t even there.


    Ste finally broke the silence. “Mr. Briggs, did you see Marc out there?”


    William didn’t even look at her. “Do I look blind to you?”


    She blinked, caught off guard. “Sorry.”


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    He let out a dry, humorlessugh, as though her apology was pointless.


    She wasn’t the one who had invited Marc there. Why was she apologizing?


    Ste sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. “If I hadn’t gone to that charity eventst night, maybe he wouldn’t have shown up today.”


    She didn’t regret confronting Marc—but she regretted the trouble it had caused for everyone else. That guilt weighed more heavily on her than her own anger.


    “That’s very considerate of you,” William said with a soft chuckle, but his tone made her wonder if he was mocking her.


    Ste fell silent. She didn’t even ask where they were headed. She figured, wherever it was, he probably wasn’t driving her off a cliff.


    The stoplight ahead turned red. As the countdown ticked, William finally spoke again. “The core project members’ names aren’t public, for confidentiality. The list that went out was only partial.”


    Ste blinked. Her breath hitched. She stared at him. Was he saying…?


    “You mean… I’m on the confidential list?” she asked, her voice rising slightly.


    William didn’t answer, only hitting the gas when the light turned green.


    But Ste leaned forward, her eyes shining with hope. “I’m willing to join. Are we heading to the team now?”


    No matter what role she was assigned, she was eager to join the team.


    He gave a soft “Mm” in response. Then, casually, he added, “But if you join… have you thought about what to do with your husband?”


    She tensed. William continued, “He’s not going to let this go. Especially now that you didn’t show.”


    Ste leaned back slowly, her voice calm but cold. “I’m done with him. I’ve signed the divorce papers. Once I’m on the project team, I’ll erase every trace of myself. Let him think I’m dead for all I care. Let him regret it for the rest of his life.”


    William gave her a sidelong nce. Letting Marc believe she was dead? That was… intense.


    Still, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.


    Ste stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past. “Besides, he has bigger problems. The patent theft, the stuff with Haley—he’ll be too busy dealing with that mess to even think about me.”


    Her voice had a trace of satisfaction. It was ironic, really.


    Haley had tried to destroy her, and in the end, she’d dragged Marc down with her.


    Someone as selfish as Marc wouldn’t havee today unless he thought it served his interests.


    The thought made Ste chuckle coldly.


    William nced her way, taking her in. There was something new in his eyes—something closer to recognition.


    She definitely wasn’t the naive woman people mistook her for.


    When she decided to be tough, she didn’t just dip her toe in—she dove straight into the fire.


    And strangely, William admired that about her.


    Blind submission was dull. Mindless rebellion? Just exhausting.


    But Ste struck a rare bnce—soft where it mattered, sharp where it counted. She’d clearly learned where the line was—and when to cross it.


    After a moment, he spoke again. “Don’t worry about Marc. The institute will deal with him.”


    Ste blinked at him but didn’t question it.


    Whoever handled Marc… he was no longer her problem.


    Back at the institute’s entrance, Marc was still yelling, demanding to see Ste. He knew she was still in there—she hadn’t returned home.


    His eyes were wild. His fists mmed against the gate. “If she doesn’te out, I swear—I’ll tear this whole damn ce down!”


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