?Chapter 1099:


    Jasmine could barely handle being betrayed by a boyfriend. The thought of being a wife and going through that kind of deceit made her chest ache. If Jake had been her husband, she wasn’t sure she would’ve had the strength to keep going.


    Ste reached for her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Jasmine, no one is truly irreceable,” she said gently. “I know you gave Jake your whole heart, but sometimes the people we love just don’t deserve it. It hurts, but it’s not the end of the world.”


    Leaving Jake was, in a way, a chance for something better.


    Jasmine nodded quietly. She wasn’t over it yet, but something in her chest felt a little lighter.


    Ste stayed with her after that, sitting by her side while Jasmine managed a few bites of lunch.


    Ste stood by the hospital window, her phone pressed to her ear as city lights flickered below.


    “Stel, there’s a g in a few days,” William said, his tone measured. “The Choria Bank president is hosting it. We’ve been invited.”


    Normally, Ste would’ve turned it down without a second thought. Her mind was far too upied for parties.


    But before she could reply, William’s voice dropped a note lower. “Erebus might make a move during the event.”


    Ste froze. “Are you sure?”


    “Luca’s intel says so,” he answered simply.


    She trusted Luca—his information was rarely wrong—but she hesitated.


    “Those people will stop at nothing,” she murmured. “With so many guests around, innocent people could get hurt.” Ste wanted to root out Erebus, but not at the cost of bystanders.


    “I’ll make sure there are evacuation routes in ce,” William said. “If anything happens, we can get people out fast. But, Stel…” He paused. “I’m not worried about them. I’m worried about you.”


    His words settled into the silence between them, heavy and sincere.


    “Your stand-in already took a bullet. She can’t cover for you again. That means you’ll be exposed this time.”


    Ste pressed her lips together. He wasn’t wrong.


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    “The assassins from the conference are dead,” William went on, his voice low with regret. “They poisoned themselves before we could get anything out of them. No leads, no trail.”


    They’d hoped Jasmine’s incident would expose Erebus’s crimes, but the assassins were sworn to secrecy, ready to die if they had to.


    “And now, people believe you were the one who got shot. Erebus probably thinks you’re vulnerable.”


    Ste stared at her reflection in the window, her expression unreadable.


    “I might have another way,” she said finally. “But I don’t know if it’ll work.”


    Ste had never feared death. If it meant catching Erebus, she’d do anything.


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