?Chapter 1037:


    The unexpected words made Ste pause before she turned to look at him. “He’s gifted,” she said softly. “And he’s been through more than most people realize.”


    It wasn’t just about Jeff. If any of her juniors had been through something simr, she’d have stepped in the same way.


    William didn’t push the subject any further. Instead, curiosity crept into his tone. “By the way, how did youe up with the idea to record them earlier?”


    Ste looked away and started walking toward the parking lot.


    “Guys like Richie only care about how they look in front of others. Evidence works better on them than shouting ever would.”


    A faint gleam of admiration crossed William’s eyes. She never failed to catch him off guard—always calm, always a step ahead. He had thought she’d freeze up the moment Richie pulled out that knife, and that’s why he’d raced upstairs the second he heard their voices.


    But when he burst into the room, it was clear she hadn’t needed him at all. She was already in control, firm and fearless.


    When they reached the parking lot entrance, something clicked in Ste’s mind. She turned to him and asked, “Wait, how do you know Richie’s father?”


    The way he’d managed to reach Richie’s father so quickly couldn’t have been a coincidence. It meant there was history there.


    William didn’t bother to hide the truth. “Just an old business partner.”


    The ease in his voice struck Ste as almost insulting.


    She let out a bitterugh. “Right. Just like how you once imed Erebus was simply some business connection?”


    The mention of Erebus made it obvious that she still hadn’t let that go. William sighed, a touch of helplessness in his voice. “Stel, about Erebus… let me exin—”


    However, before he could finish, Ste’s phone started ringing, cutting him off mid-sentence.


    Ste checked the screen, her brows knitting as she saw the name sh across it.


    Stay tuned galnov??????.co??


    It puzzled her—why would Marc’s grandmother, Margie, be calling her now of all times?


    Since the day her divorce from Marc became official, she had never once crossed the threshold of the Walsh family home. After a brief pause, she lifted the phone to her ear. “Margie?”


    The old woman’s warm voice came through right away. “Ste, it’s been ages since Ist heard from you. How have you been, dear?”


    Ste’s heart grew tender. During her time with the Walsh family, Margie and Truett had been the only ones who truly cared for her. Even after the marriage ended, the old woman never once pointed a finger at her. In Margie’s eyes, it was Marc who had lost someone worth keeping.


    Realizing it had been more than a year since Stest visited, guilt tugged sharply at her heart.


    “I’ve been alright, Margie. How about you? Have you been feeling welltely?”


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