?Chapter 896:


    Ste blinked at him. “What are you saying?”


    She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. How could it be her?


    They had barely known each other, hadn’t they?


    William’s voice softened, the sincerity in it palpable. “Ste, give me some time. I’ve got things with thepany, and Alonzo’s mess to deal with. But I’ll exin everything, I promise. Once I’ve cleared all that, I’ll tell you the whole story.”


    The story of how she ended up being the one in his heart wasn’t something he could exin in a few words. It wasplicated, and far too much to unpack in the moment.


    He knew that Ste’s mind was consumed with her adoptive parents’ case, and now just wasn’t the right time to dive into something as personal as that.


    Ste’s eyes dropped to herp, her thoughts swirling. She nodded, a quiet gesture that made William finally release the tension he’d been holding in his jaw, his lips curving into a soft, relieved smile.


    The car hummed gently through the streets, the city’s neon lights casting a calming glow inside.


    The silence between them wasfortable now, a wordless understanding settling in. William didn’t let go of her hand. His fingers lingered there, as if holding onto the moment.


    Ste didn’t pull away. Her profile remained soft, the faintest hint of pink coloring her cheeks.


    They sat in thatfortable silence until William broke it, his voice warmer now. “You hungry? What do you feel like eating? I’ll take you anywhere.”


    Ste blinked, realizing she was famished. The long day had left her drained, and the idea of food sounded perfect.


    Her mind drifted to a ce from her childhood, a cozy diner in the old town her adoptive mother used to take her to.


    It had been years; she wasn’t sure if the diner was still operating.


    She remembered how it always felt like home—small, intimate, and packed with locals who appreciated good food.


    “Let’s head to the old town,” she suggested, giving him the address.


    William raised an eyebrow, surprised but smiling. “Alright. Lead the way.”


    The car wound its way through the narrow streets, finally stopping in front of a small, quiet courtyard.


    The diner’s owner blinked in surprise when she saw Ste, but her face quickly broke into a warm smile. After all these years, she still remembered her.


    Then her gaze shifted to William standing just behind, a flicker of curiosity crossing her features before she smoothed it over and guided them to a quiet corner table.


    Ste ordered the dishes she remembered—the kind that took time to prepare, slow-cooked andforting, the specialties that had made the ce so loved by locals.


    While they waited, William poured her a cup of warm chamomile water. The steam curled between them as he set it in front of her. “Amon’s games,” he said quietly, watching her. “They haven’t rattled you too much, have they?”


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