?Chapter 68:


    Ste kept a close watch on William’s face, and sure enough, there it was. His expression darkened, and a flicker of anger shed in his eyes.


    She smirked inwardly. The ssy woman who had just walked by? Definitely his ex. Probably the one who still had a hold on him—the one he couldn’t have.


    Ste clicked her tongue. Being in the same ce, seeing someone you once cared about but couldn’t be with? That had to sting. For a brief moment, she felt a little sorry for him.


    Meanwhile, William remained quietly focused on his meal when a prickle of instinct told him he was being watched. He nced up—and sure enough, there she was. Ste. She wasn’t even trying to hide it. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her expression full of amused curiosity—like she was watching a particrly juicy episode of a drama, and he was the main act.


    His face turned stormy in an instant. Was he some reality show for her entertainment?


    He said nothing, just quietly finished his meal. Once he was done, he picked up his tray and strode past her table. As he passed by, he leaned in slightly and said in a cool, almostzy tone, “Ms. Russell, it appears that your appetite is limited at the moment. However, without sufficient energy reserves, it may be challenging for you to help wash my back.”


    Ste choked on her breath. She turned beet red before she could even think of aeback, but William was already gone, striding away like nothing had happened.


    Her colleagues, having overheard William’s remark, immediately turned their curious gazes toward Ste.


    “What are you helping him with, Ste?” one asked, eyebrows raised in intrigue.


    Caughtpletely off guard, Ste froze with her fork mid-air. Her face flushed so quickly it felt like she’d stepped into a sauna. Was William trying to embarrass her?


    “Is it some kind of… intense task?” another added, a little too innocently. “You know—physically demanding?”


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    Her colleagues,pletely unaware of her embarrassment, kept pressing. All Ste could do was shake her head, her cheeks still warm, trying to exin that William was just making a joke.


    But—joking?


    Everyone around the table exchanged nces, as if they’d just heard the most absurd thing imaginable. The man barely spoke to anyone, let alone joked. If he was suddenly joking with Ste… what did that mean? Was something going on between them?


    Ste managed to finish her meal amidst the barrage of questions and finally made it back to her dorm. She showered, threw on somethingfortable, and flopped onto her bed. The mattress was firm, but honestly, she felt better than she had in weeks.


    Leaving Marc had been the best decision she’d ever made. Before moving here, she’d switched phones and numbers. Marc could try all he wanted—he wasn’t going to find her.


    In a few days, she’d probably be dered missing. Her name would vanish from any traceable records. It’d be like she’d never existed.


    Turning on her phone, Ste opened WhatsApp and saw a message from Lainey.


    “Ste, where did you go? Marc showed up at the institute again today, raising hell. Security had to step in to get him to leave. Also, since finding out you left, he’s been searching everywhere in Choria—posting missing person notices, writing these long sob stories online. It’s pathetic. He’s just trying to y the victim again.”


    Ste burst outughing. She didn’t even need to look—she could already picture Marc making a spectacle of himself, pretending to be some tragic, abandoned lover.


    Of course, Lainey didn’t know where she was now. No one did. The base’s strict confidentiality protocols ensured that. And that was exactly how Ste wanted it.


    She hesitated for a moment, thumbs hovering over the reply box. Even if Lainey meant well, one slip was all it would take for Marc to track her down.


    The best-kept secrets were the ones kept from everyone.


    Still, she felt a twinge of guilt for worrying her friend. But this… this was the only way.


    With a soft sigh, she turned off her phone and let sleep take her.


    Meanwhile, Marc was going out of his mind. He’d turned the city upside down—sent people to dig through every possible lead. And still, nothing.


    It was like she had disappeared into thin air.


    He’d always thought she’d never really leave him. That she’d eventuallye crawling back. So he didn’t take her seriously—until now.


    Now she was gone. No message. Just gone.


    He’d called her a thousand times, but her phone stayed off.


    Back at the vi, everything felt colder. The warm light she used to leave on for him? Off.


    Desperate, he rummaged through her stuff—maybe she’d just taken a break, maybe she’d be back.


    But when he opened the closet, reality hit hard. Most of her clothes were gone.


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