?Chapter 766:


    Luca had long since realized that whenever Ste was involved, William lost his usualposure and acted on impulse.


    The thought of returning to the conference room and confessing to the executives that William had already stormed out weighed heavily on him. When he first epted the role of the CEO’s assistant, no one had warned him that crises like this woulde with the job.


    At the hospital, Ste had lost track of how long she had been sitting there. Every passing moment stretched endlessly, refusing to move any faster.


    Marc hunched in a chair pushed against the wall, too timid to step near Ste, his eyes stealing quick, uneasy nces that carried both bitterness and dread.


    Then the sound of firm, purposeful footsteps carried through the corridor, each one carrying amanding presence.


    Lifting her head, Ste caught sight of William advancing toward her.


    His tall frame turned the corner, the sharp lines of his ck suit emphasizing the strength in his shoulders and the lean cut of his waist. His face was severe, and his dark gaze immediately locked on Ste in the chair.


    Only after he assured himself that she was unharmed did the rigidity in his jaw ease just a little.


    But when his eyesnded on Marc, slumped in the corner with his clothes in disarray, the brief calm in his expression vanished and darkened again. Instead of addressing him, William strode straight toward Ste, the weight of his presence pressing down in the small space.


    She nced up at him in surprise, a faint crease forming between her brows. “Why did youe here?”


    For a moment, she had assumed her imagination was ying tricks on her, never expecting he would truly appear at the hospital.<fn6d09> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel</fn6d09>


    Still, thest person she wanted to deal with now was him, and she certainly didn’t want him entangled in the Walsh family’s turmoil.


    When William noticed the tiredness etched across her face, the anger he carried over her disregard for herself eased, reced by worry and the quiet frustration of being powerless to sway her choices.


    “Should I not havee?” he asked, his tone low and edged with disapproval, his gaze unflinching on her. “Did you forget what Marc did to youst night? Yet here you are, alone again, choosing to face him. Ste, where is your sense of caution?”


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    His words hung in the air, but when she gave no reply, he pressed on. “Do you care for Truett so much that you are willing to risk yourself again just for him?” The sharpness of his rebuke struck Ste, cutting into emotions that were already raw.


    She had been weighed down by Truett’s condition all day, and William’s usations only deepened the storm of irritation and unease swirling inside her.


    She raised her chin and met his cold stare. “I owe you no exnation. Whoever I decide to meet is entirely my choice.”


    The blunt dismissal struck William like ice poured over his chest, and the gloom on his face deepened.


    He had only wanted to protect her, but she treated his concern as if it carried no weight.


    She seemed merciless.


    With his brows knitted together, William studied her in silence until a heavy sigh escaped him. “I’m not here to dictate your life. I only fear for your safety. Can’t you see the difference between worry and reproach?”


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