?Chapter 412:


    His casual indifference made her feel exposed, like she was the one hiding something.


    Humiliation prickled under her skin until she finally snapped, shoving him away with more force than she intended.


    Just then, the shopkeeper’s voice cut through the tension from outside the door. “Are you two finished in there?”


    William stumbled into the open, caught off guard by the sudden push, nearly colliding with the startled shopkeeper hovering just outside the fitting room.


    “Oh my goodness, you scared me!” the shopkeeper gasped. “If you’re all set, please head out. I’ll let it slide since you were generous with your tip. Just tell me you didn’t leave a disaster in there?”


    With trembling hands, Ste straightened her clothes and slipped out, her cheeks still glowing with mortification.


    Her bashful demeanor only fueled the shopkeeper’s suspicions that something scandalous had happened.


    “Here, Miss, take a bag for your old clothes. No wonder you needed new ones—that’s forward-thinking!”


    Ste murmured a quiet thanks, eyes fixed on the floor, unable to summon the nerve to look at the shopkeeper.


    With a little help, she and William changed into clothes that blended in with the locals before slipping back out onto the street.


    She even picked up matching hats for the both of them, hoping the brims would help them disappear into the crowd.


    They continued to exchange hurried messages with Finley’s daughter as they walked.


    Ste kept her gaze locked straight ahead, refusing to so much as nce at William, pretending not to hear him when he asked if she wanted water.


    William finally reached out and caught her by the wrist, forcing her to stop.


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    “Why are you ignoring my question?” he demanded, frustration bubbling over. Ste blinked, her confusion obvious. “What question?”


    She honestly had no clue what he’d said just now.


    William gave her a weary look and held up the bottle. “I was asking if you wanted some water.”


    She shook her head, distracted. “No, I’m fine, thank you.”


    Her thoughts were still tangled up in everything that had just happened, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.


    The tension between them hung heavy.


    William tried to ease her nerves. “I already called the police—they’ll be here soon to take care of the victim’s family. I got in touch with Luca, too. So really, you don’t need to stress about any of it.”


    Ste nced at him, startled by just how on top of things he was.


    Right then, the two of them stood beneath the shelter of a shop canopy while Ste fired off another message, confirming the whereabouts of Finley’s mother and daughter.


    “How much longer until your assistant gets here?” she inquired in a soft tone.


    William pulled out his phone, dialed Luca, and, after a brief exchange, put it away. “About thirty minutes,” he replied.


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