?Chapter 836:


    Ste froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected that answer. The scent came from his mother.


    “Do you find it unpleasant?” he asked quickly, worried.


    She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s…forting.”


    Relief softened his features, and his lips curved into a quiet smile. Leading her through the living room, he said, “You’ll stay in the guest room tonight. I’ve already put on fresh bedding.”


    She’d been here before and knew the way.


    As they walked, she asked lightly, “Has Rita not been aroundtely?”


    William chuckled. “You really care about Rita. Every time you visit, you ask after her.”


    She pressed her lips together, a little embarrassed, but to her, Rita was more like a mentor than a housekeeper—it felt natural to check in.


    “She went home for a couple of days,” William exined. “She’ll be back next week.”


    Ste hummed in response and slipped into the guest room. But when William started to follow, she immediately blocked the door with her arm. “I’ll rest now, Mr. Briggs. Goodnight.”


    Before he could reply, she shut the door.


    For a long moment, William stared at the closed door.


    Then, with a helpless smile tugging at his lips, he murmured, “Rest well. Goodnight.”


    Only when she heard his footsteps fade did Ste press a hand to her racing heart.<fn0cb9> ?????? ???? find[?]ovel</fn0cb9>


    She didn’t know why, but his presence always left her breathless. Even without looking at him, just hearing his voice was enough to rattle her.


    Shey back on the soft bed, unfamiliar yet strangelyforting, and drifted into sleep.


    Meanwhile, in the study, William’s phone buzzed. Luca’s voice came through the line.


    “Mr. Briggs, we’ve been monitoring Marc. It’s confirmed—he approached Ms. Russell and deliberately nted doubts in her mind. He also misled her into thinking you were tied to her adoptive parents’ ident.”


    William’s eyes narrowed. He had turned a blind eye to Marc’s behavior more than once. But this time? This time, Marc wouldn’t walk away so easily.


    Summer in Choria was drawing to an end. The sky stretched a brilliant blue overhead, sunlight sharp and clear.


    When Ste woke the next morning, she felt unexpectedly refreshed.


    On the dining table sat a simple breakfast, still warm, and a note left by William: Went to the office. Enjoy your breakfast.


    With Alonzo’s arrest stirring a frenzy in Choria’s upper circles, William had more on his te than ever—steadying the Briggs Group, cooperating with police investigations, and above all, ensuring Ste’s safety. Understanding the weight he carried, she quietly washed the dishes and even took out the trash before retreating to her apartment.


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