?Chapter 843:


    Still in ce, Amon let her slip from view without lifting a finger to stop her. Slowly, he brushed the water from his face with one hand, his expression unreadable and his eyes shadowed with thought.


    Following the ordeal at the pool, Ste’s aversion to Amon grew sharper than ever.


    To her, he resembled a venomous serpent hidden in the dark—unpredictable, treacherous, and capable of striking without warning. The thought of him left her restless and on edge.


    A few dayster, Ste received an invitation to an international academic exchange conference in Swaynia. Her recent research had drawn considerable interest overseas, and experts in the field were eager to meet and discuss with her.


    When Paul broke the news, she could hardly believe it. Such events carried immense prestige, and someone in her position would rarely have the chance to step inside, let alone participate.


    Though uncertainty tugged at her, both Paul and the Carter family urged her to seize the opportunity.


    William, upon learning of it, fell quiet.


    Swaynia might have seemed calm for now, but Alonzo’s reach spread far beyond its borders. The thought of Ste traveling without protection unsettled him deeply.


    When Ste stepped out of the elevator, she found William waiting at the staircase. Without preamble, he said, “I’ll go with you. While the forum is happening, I’ll be…”


    “Checking on a few cooperative projects nearby. Since it’s along the way, I may as well join you—and truthfully, I can’t rx knowing you’d be overseas on your own.”


    His exnation sounded reasonable enough, yet Ste sensed the truth. The inspections and convenience were little more than excuses; what he truly wanted was to shield her.


    Her first instinct was to refuse. But the thought of Amon’s unrelenting shadow and Alonzo’s far-reaching influence made her pause. In the end, she agreed to his arrangement.


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    To her own surprise, she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea. Beneath her guarded resolve lingered a quiet, unwilling admission—she almost looked forward to having him there.


    After a twelve-hour flight, the ne touched down in one of Swaynia’s oldest cities.


    The historic scenery, with its blend of stone architecture and winding streets, briefly eased the heaviness that had been weighing on Ste’s heart. Her presentation at the international conference went smoothly, drawing warm apuse from the audience.


    True to his word, William handled a few meetings with partnerpanies, but most of his time was spent in another role—her steadfast shadow. He guided her through the city’s sights, pointing out history-richndmarks, while quietly keeping an eye on her.


    He never hovered, but his presence was constant—protective without being suffocating.


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