?Chapter 448:


    Standing at the institute’s entrance, Ste nced up at the fine, misty rain. It wasn’t pouring, but the drizzle was steady, just enough to soak her through if she stepped out without cover. And with the cold creeping in, the thought of waiting around wasn’t exactlyforting.


    Since she hadn’t brought her car that morning, she needed to get a cab. But without an umbre, she wasn’t sure if she should wait or take her chances in the rain.


    Just as she was still stuck in indecision, a sleek ck Bentley glided to a smooth stop in front of her.


    The window rolled down halfway, and she saw William’s familiar, calm face.


    “Get in. I’ll take you home,” he said in his usualposed tone.


    Ste’s expression immediately frosted over. “No, thank you. I’ll wait. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you, Mr. Briggs.”


    William let out a quiet sigh. “Are you nning to wait here all night then?” he asked, almost exasperated.


    She didn’t respond. In her mind, she figured waiting until the rain stopped wasn’t the worst idea, especially if it meant avoiding his car.


    “Ste, don’t be stubborn. Just get in. I’ll take you,” he said more firmly. Hearing her name roll off his tongue like that only irritated her more.


    “Didn’t I already say no? What’s with this persistence? If you like driving people around so much, maybe you should be a cab driver.”


    William’s jaw tightened. “Do you always have to be this difficult?”


    He was simply offering her a ride, not forcing her into anything. At this point, her guarded attitude was beginning to feel a little unnecessary.


    “I’m not being difficult—I’m just thinking clearly. You should be picking up your fiancée, not me. We wouldn’t want to spark any misunderstandings, would we?” she retorted.


    Truthfully, Ste didn’t want any drama. She just wanted peace—her research, her work.


    Thest thing she needed was to get tangled up in some tabloid-worthy mess involving William and Willow.


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    William opened his mouth to exin, but before he could speak, another car door mmed. Willow stepped out, her high heels clicking crisply against the wet pavement.


    “William! What a coincidence! I wasn’t sure I’d get here on time.”


    Ste instinctively stepped away from William, putting space between them like a reflex—anything to avoid a scene.


    Willow’s face tightened for a moment when she saw Ste, but she quickly covered it up with a polite smile. “Ms. Gilbert, would you like toe along with us?” she asked, keeping her tone civil.


    Ste’s voice was cold. “No thanks, Miss Lawson, Mr. Briggs. See ya.”


    Willow, clearly pleased to see Ste leave so fast, strutted off like she owned the ce and climbed into William’s car.


    William shot Ste a quick nce as he got in, then looked away. “Let’s go,” he said.


    As William’s car rolled past her, Ste felt a tight knot form in her chest.


    It was still pouring. She held her bag over her head and dashed out into the rain. Just as she hit the sidewalk, a taxi pulled up like the universe finally decided to cut her a break.


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