?Chapter 967:


    She didn’t argue. She didn’t need to. She already knew.


    For the next three days, Ste yed the part. She stayed at the vi. She walked the gardens with William. Everything looked normal.


    William wanted to stay by her side, but the Briggs Group and the institute kept calling him back. And if he hovered too close, too often, they’d start to suspect.


    Three dayster, he came home early. The moment he stepped through the door and saw her curled on the sofa, his expression shifted—fromposed to intense.


    “I found him,” he said without preamble. “The blond man. His name is Drake Wells. One of Erebus’s core seven.”


    Ste’s chest clenched. “He’s the one…” she breathed. “The one who ordered my mother’s death.”


    William didn’t answer. Instead, he walked over and spread a file across the table—photos, names, ssified reports. “He’s cold. Calcted. Ruthless,” William said, voice barely above a whisper. “But he’s not careless. He sees value where others don’t. He thinks you’ve inherited your mother’s gift. That’s why he wants you.”


    Before she could say a word, he pulled out a tiny object from his pocket—delicate, silver, barely the size of a pearl. “A tracker,” he said. “Wear it when you meet him. I’ll be able to find you no matter what.”


    Next, a sleek, stylish pen. “Audio recorder. Discreet. He won’t notice.” Then he handed her what looked like lipstick—elegant, harmless. “This one’s special. Inside is a sedative. One swipe on the skin—five minutester, they’ll be unconscious. No one will suspect a thing.”


    Ste stared at the items in her hands, stunned. “Where did you even get all this?”


    William gave her a half-smile. “Luca. I had him prepare them.” He stepped closer, voice low and serious. “Tomorrow, text Drake. Tell him you need more time, but you’re interested. Make him think you want more from him—more power, more benefits. We need to stretch this out as long as we can.”


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    Ste didn’t hesitate. She nodded and sent the message.


    Less than an hourter, her phone buzzed.


    “Tomorrow. 3 PM. Morris Restaurant. Same spot. I’ll give you everything you want. Come alone.”


    She showed the message to William. His brows furrowed. “That was fast. Too fast. It feels like a trap.”


    They both knew it probably was. But backing out wasn’t an option now. Ste stood in silence for a long moment, then finally nodded. Her voice was steady. “I’ll go. And I’ll take everything with me.”


    William’s jaw clenched, his face tight with worry. “I’ll have Luca there early. He’ll sweep the ce, cover all exits. I’m not letting them take you again.” There was no doubt in his voice. No hesitation. It wasn’t just a promise. It was a vow.


    The next afternoon, Ste walked into the same restaurant. This time she ordered a sealed bottle of water instead of touching the carafe on the table. She cracked it open in front of Drake and took a deliberate sip, a little smug.


    It was her way of saying, “Let’s see how you pull your old trick now.”


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