?Chapter 489:


    William’s car glided away from the dock, the hum of the engine blending with the distant sounds of the harbor. He threw a pointed look at Luca. “Take us to the hospital.”


    Luca obeyed with a practiced flick of the wheel, his eyes steady on the road. In the back seat, Ste frowned, baffled. “Why are we going there?”


    William didn’t even hesitate. “You were soaked in freezing water. We need a doctor to make sure you’re really alright.”


    Ste crossed her arms, clearly irritated. “I’m fine, really. No need to make a fuss over it.”


    He ignored her pushbackpletely, while Luca kept driving without missing a beat.


    Realizing there was no winning this argument, Ste slumped against the leather seat and mped her mouth shut.


    Minutester, they rolled up to the hospital’s entrance. William moved fast, arranging for Ste to see a doctor without dy.


    The doctor stepped into the waiting area, fully prepared for a crisis, only to find three people who looked perfectly robust and unscathed. His gaze lingered, searching for the supposed emergency.


    He raised a brow, a hint of skepticism in his voice. “Alright, who’s the patient? What seems to be the trouble?”


    William stepped forward, his tone grave. “She fell into the sea and almost drowned. Please run a full check-up, just to be safe.”


    The doctor shot Ste a quick, skeptical look after William’s exnation. “You fell into the sea? Come with me.”


    A battery of tests and an hour of sterile fluorescent lightingter, Ste finally had her results in hand.


    The doctor rifled through the stack, his face unreadable, then set the papers down with a reassuring nod.


    “You’re in perfect shape. Maybe a slight chill, but nothing worth worrying about. Go home, stay warm, and you’ll be just fine.”


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    His tone was courteous, but it was clear he thought they’d wasted a perfectly good emergency slot.


    “Thanks, doctor,” Ste replied, forcing a polite smile.


    Ste strode out of the exam room, clutching her medical report, and barely nced at William before thrusting the stack into his hands.


    William met her re with an uneasy smile, flipping through the pages just to be sure. Once satisfied she was genuinely fine, he hurried after her, Luca right behind.


    “Come on—let’s get you home,” William insisted, gesturing toward the car. But after everything, with midnight pressing in around them, Ste’s patience snapped.


    “If I get in your car, where exactly are you nning to take me this time—without even bothering to ask me first?”


    Luca began, “Ms. Russell, Mr. Briggs is just thinking about your well-being…”


    Before he could say more, Ste spoke up, her patience worn thin. “If he truly cared, he would have taken me home instead of dragging me off to the hospital and pretending it was for my own good!”


    Luca didn’t expect that. He looked down, let out a quiet sigh, and realized he should leave the two alone to settle things. With that, he slipped away to the car.


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