?Chapter 1039:


    Once she reached the mall, she sped down into the underground parking area, parked in a hurry, and joined a small group of shoppers entering the elevator.


    Weaving through the bustling crowd, she kept sneaking nces over her shoulder to see if anyone was still trailing her.


    Stopping by a boutique disy, she acted as though she were interested in the clothes, using the mirror to watch behind her. Within minutes, two men in ck suits appeared, their eyes sweeping the crowd with deliberate intent.


    Ste’s pulse pounded. This was no coincidence. Without drawing attention, she slipped out through a side exit, raised her arm for a taxi, and once inside, gave the driver an address far from her own home.


    Inside the taxi, she kept ncing over her shoulder until she was certain no one had followed her. Only then did she sink back into the seat, a long, shaky breath slipping out.


    Everything that had just happened left her rattled. William’s warning echoed in her mind, a grim reminder that Erebus hadn’t stopped circling her.


    Were they trying to lure her in—or silence her for good?


    Ste’s temples throbbed from the weight of everything pressing down on her, and she couldn’t tell how much longer she could keep it together.


    When Ste finally made it home, night had already swallowed the city. Too drained to think, she unlocked her door—just as the one across the hall swung open.


    William stood there, worry etched across his face. “Where were you? I kept calling, but you never answered.”


    Ste nced at her phone and saw the screen filled with missed calls, all from William. At some point, it had slipped into silent mode.


    “I just went out to eat.”


    For a heartbeat, she considered telling him about the car, about the men in suits. But instead, she held it back.


    Without giving him a chance to speak, she stepped inside and shut the door quickly behind her.


    William stood just beyond the doorway, unmoving, as if the air itself held him in ce. Ste sensed that he remained standing there, his door still wide open.


    Feel inspired by ga  ln o vels .


    That final glimpse of his face stayed in her mind. His eyes had been full of concern, though tension shadowed every line. The memory stirred something inside her that she tried hard to ignore.


    No matter how she denied it, her heart still reacted to him. Every time they met, it beat wildly, betraying what she tried to hide. Yet too much had happened. The chaos of recent days left no room for love or longing—only the need to keep moving forward.


    She gave a small shake of her head, forcing those tangled emotions back where they belonged.


    That weekend afternoon found Ste steering the car toward the Walsh family home, the sun warm against the windshield.


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