?Chapter 697:


    Steven chuckled, clearly enjoying the confusion. “I’m serious. She might say she doesn’t want to—but deep down, maybe she does. You gotta learn to read between the lines.”


    William thought it sounded like pure garbage—but he didn’t argue.


    Steven leaned back with a knowing look. “But with someone like Sylvia, it’s different. She knows her own mind. She doesn’t like being coddled or having her choices made for her. If she says her injury’s no big deal, then acting like she’s fragile might just piss her off.”


    William shifted in his seat, clearly conflicted. “So now caring about her is wrong? That’s disrespect?”


    Steven actually showed a bit of patience. “No. But she’s not just someone for you to protect. She’s her own person. If she doesn’t want your concern and you keep forcing it on her, it doesn’t feel like love. It feels like pressure.”


    He paused, then offered an analogy. “It’s like your mom insisting you wear a coat when you’re already hot.”


    That clicked for William. The image was crystal clear.


    But then he muttered, “That didn’t really happen with me.”


    He came from money. Chauffeurs. Central heating. Before his mom passed, she wore skirts around the house in winter.


    Steven gave him a look. “It’s a metaphor, genius.”


    Still, William got it. If Ste didn’t want his concern, pushing it on her might just weigh her down.


    Even so, he was genuinely worried about her hand.


    “You know some doctors overseas, right?” he asked. “If you care so much, get her some scar cream. Burns can leave marks.”


    That snapped William back to the present. Without hesitation, he called Luca and told him to go buy one—fast.


    When Ste got home, she walked straight into the kitchen and firmly closed the door behind her, making sure Steven and William stayed out.


    From outside, Steven watched her moving around inside and asked, “Is she really going to handle all of this by herself?” After all, she was cooking for three people.


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    William gave him a look and replied, “You’re the one who tagged along for a free meal.”


    “And you didn’t?” Steven shot back.


    But for William, the food was just an excuse. What he really wanted was to be near Ste. He didn’t care if he ate or not. Just being around her was enough.


    Inside the kitchen, Ste turned on the exhaust fan, pulled out her phone, and dialed Josie.


    “Hi, Josie. Would you like toe over for dinner tonight?” she asked casually.


    Josie was surprised. Ste rarely invited her over for meals—this was definitely out of the ordinary. “What’s cooking?”


    Ste nced at the pot of water already simmering on the stove. “Stew.”


    With so many people to feed, she wasn’t going to oveplicate things with fancy dishes.


    Josie’s taste was usually simple, but when it came to stew, she couldn’t resist. Ever since she’d tried a local version during a trip down south, she’d been hooked. She even started buying stew bases online after that. And tonight, Ste was using the same one Josie had ordered before.


    “I’m on my way,” Josie said, and ended the call.


    Less than thirty minutester, Josie rang the doorbell, only to be greeted by Steven.


    She froze. “Why… are you at Ste’s ce?”


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