?Chapter 872:


    William cut her off, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto hers. “Do you know your left eyebrow twitches a little when you lie?”


    Ste froze. Her hand instinctively twitched toward her brow before she stopped herself. Her cheeks burned with heat. How could he notice something so small? She had never even realized it herself.


    Seeing her flustered attempt to stay calm only confirmed his suspicion. His expression darkened, not with anger, but with concern for what she might have been told.


    “What happened?” His voice was firm, urgent. “Did someonee to you?” William’s questions were not just about finding answers—they were filled with worry for Ste’s emotional state.


    Suddenly, Ste felt a wave of helplessness and a touch of irony. Here she was, overthinking and spiraling, while William had no idea what she’d been through.


    She took a steadying breath and lowered her gaze. “Yesterday afternoon… I went to pick up a reagent. On the way back, something happened.”


    She gave him a brief ount of the alley attack and Amon’s sudden appearance, leaving out the provocative remarks he had made. She wasn’t sure why she held back that detail. Perhaps saying it aloud would only add more strain between her and William—and that was thest thing she wanted.


    The effect on William was immediate. His face hardened, a dangerous chill rolling off him until the very air around them seemed to grow sharp. His fist clenched at his side, his knuckles nching.


    He wasn’t there when she needed him.


    “Amon saved you?” His voice was like steel.<fn1b1b> This content belongs to findnovel</fn1b1b>


    Ste nodded lightly, still unable to meet his eyes. “Yes… but he said it was just coincidence.”


    A coldugh slipped from William, sharp and hostile. “Fate doesn’t deal in coincidences.”


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    There was no way Amon just happened to wander into that dark alley at the exact moment Ste was ambushed. If that was chance, it could be said for every other circumstance as well.


    Without hesitation, William pulled out his phone and barked into it, his tone frigid. “Luca, look into yesterday’s attack. I want names, backgrounds, phone logs, bank records—everything. And check Amon’s movements yesterday afternoon.”


    He ended the call, his face still grim, then turned back to Ste.


    Regret flickered in his eyes, heavy with self-me. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice roughened with sincerity. “I shouldn’t have left yesterday. I didn’t think they’d dare go after you so boldly.”


    If he hadn’t gone to that equestrian club meeting, Ste would’ve been under his protection, and no one would’ve daredy a finger on her.


    The mix of guilt in his words, the faintly quickened rhythm of his breathing, and the raw concern shining in his gaze—together, they melted thest fragments of Ste’s doubt.


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