?Chapter 748:


    Marc lingered, studying her devotion. A secret thrill curled through him—the situation was giving him what he wanted most: proximity.


    He approached, a ss of water in hand, his voice softened into a practiced tenderness. “Stel, you must be exhausted. Here, have some water. I’ll stay with Grandpa—why don’t you rest in the lounge for a while?”


    As he reached to touch her shoulder, Ste recoiled instantly, as if his hand were filth. She turned sharply, her gaze cold as ice. “No need. Don’t touch me.” Her voice was quiet, but it carried a chill that froze him where he stood.


    Truett slept soundly nearby, so there was no longer a reason to pretend.


    Marc’s hand lingered awkwardly in the air before he dropped it, his gentle mask threatening to crack. For a fleeting second, his eyes shed with malice. But he swallowed it back, smoothing his expression into calm.


    “Alright,” he murmured, forcing an awkward smile. “I know you’re worried about him. But you should eat something—it’ste. I’ll grab food from a good restaurant nearby.”<fn16a5> Read full story at </fn16a5>


    He tried changing the subject.


    Ste didn’t spare him a nce. Her eyes stayed on Truett. “I’m not hungry. Thanks.”


    Her indifference was like a p. Inside, Marc seethed, but outwardly, he held hisposure. “If you don’t eat, my grandpa will worry about you when he wakes up tomorrow,” he said smoothly.


    Without waiting for her reply, he turned and slipped out, closing the door with deceptive gentleness behind him.


    The blinding re of the lights in the hospital hallway made it hard to look straight ahead. Marc leaned against the elevator doors, scheming if sneaking something into her midnight meal might speed up his chances of dragging Ste back to him.


    A chime broke his train of thought. The elevator doors slid open, and a tall figure stepped out.


    Marc’s breath caught. William?


    His fake smile faltered, freezing halfway before curdling into something darker. Why the hell was he showing up now?


    William looked just as surprised, though his reaction was colder and sharper. His eyes swept over Marc like he was nothing more than an annoying obstacle, then shifted past him toward the ward without a word.


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    “Mr. Briggs!” Marc lunged forward, nting himself in William’s way.


    Marc’s lips curled into a smug grin, his eyes shing like a gambler who thought he’d already won. “Out for a midnight stroll, Mr. Briggs?” he sneered, his words heavy with scorn.


    William halted, his gaze like steel. “Step aside.”


    Marc chuckled harshly, standing his ground and lifting his chin in defiance. “You came here for Ste, didn’t you? Hate to break it to you, but she’s with my grandfather right now. No room for gate-crashers. And…”


    He deliberately drew out his next words, his eyes narrowing with spite. “And I’d advise you to back off, Mr. Briggs. Ste and I are about to reconcile. Her heart’s still tied to my grandfather and everything we shared. So don’t even think about getting in our way.”


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