?Chapter 434:


    Then—ssh. Another figure hit the water.


    Through the blur of chlorine and panic, Ste saw someone diving toward her. A strong arm wrapped around her waist. Another pulled her up. Her head broke the surface—air mmed into her lungs like fire. It was William. He dragged her to the edge and hoisted her up first, then copsed beside her, panting hard.


    The bandage on his stomach was soaked with red. His wound wasn’t properly healed yet.


    Ste coughed violently, water spewing from her mouth. She blinked through the haze. “Thank…you,” she rasped between coughs.


    But before she could say more, Haley rushed toward them again—knife still clutched tight.


    The shrill wail of police cars cut through the chaos. Blue and red lights sshed across the ss walls. Officers burst in, guns drawn. Haley froze, eyes wide in disbelief.


    “Officer! That woman tried to kill my friend!” Sandra pointed at Haley, her voice trembling. “Please arrest her!”


    The makeup artists all nodded behind her, pale and stunned. If they had known Haley was a lunatic, they would never have allowed her in.


    The police didn’t waste any time. Two officers pinned Haley’s arms and cuffed her, leading her away.


    With the crisis averted, Ste knelt beside William. “William, are you alright?”


    William’s face had gone deathly pale, his brows tightly drawn in pain. Ste’s eyes fell to his shirt—once crisp white, now soaked and blooming red around the wound. Her heart stopped. “Your wound!” she gasped, then spun to Sandra. “Help me get him to the car!”


    They struggled together, half-lifting, half-supporting him as his weight sagged between them.


    “Hang in there,” Ste muttered, breathless with urgency. “We’re almost there. I’ll get you to the hospital.”


    He had been injured while protecting her previously, and now his wound had been aggravated by saving her again.


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    Her throat tightened. Guilt wrapped itself around her lungs and refused to let go. By the time they reached the hospital, William had gone limp in his seat. Nurses rushed over, wheeling him away before she could even say a word.


    Ste stood rooted in ce, dripping wet, her mind a blur. She checked her phone—only thirty minutes left until the institute g.


    “Sandra,” she said, turning to her. “You should go to the event.”


    Sandra looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “What? You’re staying here alone?”


    “I’ll be fine,” Ste said with a small, tired smile. “You’re barely wet. You’ll dry off fast. You were excited about this—don’t miss it because of me.” She knew how much Sandra had anticipated the event.


    Sandra looked torn, ncing between Ste and the treatment room.


    Sandra hesitated for another beat, then nodded. “Alright. But you’d better call me the second anything changes.”


    “Go,” Ste urged, giving her a light push. “And knock ’em dead.”


    Sandra lifted her dress and hurried off, heels clicking down the corridor. Ste turned back to the closed treatment room, pacing the floor as anxiety gnawed at her chest.


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