?Chapter 1112:


    Ian’s voice stayed calm as he drove. “Take it easy. We’ll get there soon,” he said, though his eyes kept flicking toward Ste.


    When the car stopped at a red light, Ian’s gaze shifted to the back seat. The delicate chain around Ste’s neck had slipped from beneath her blouse, glimmering faintly in the dim car light.


    “What a beautiful ne,” he muttered under his breath—so quietly that Jasmine didn’t catch it.


    Ste didn’t move, her breathing soft and even, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.


    However, instead of heading toward Ste’s neighborhood, the car rolled farther away.


    Jasmine, a little tipsy herself, soon drifted into a light sleep, lulled by the warmth inside the car.


    Before long, the vehicle came to a stop in a quiet, deserted industrial zone. Yet even then, Ste remainedpletely still.


    Ian stepped out, circled to the back, and bent beside her. “Ms. Russell, forgive me,” he whispered, reaching for the sp of her ne.


    But just as his fingers brushed the chain, Ste’s eyes snapped open—clear, sharp, and anything but drunk.


    Startled, Ian recoiled, taking a few steps back.


    Before he could react further, bright headlights cut through the darkness as a ck car sped in and stopped with a screech. William emerged, walking straight toward Ste, his tall figure framed by the re.


    Ian’s expression hardened instantly. He shot a look at Ste, only to see her eyes shut once again, her brows drawn together, as if that brief moment of awareness had been nothing more than an illusion.


    Acting fast, he yanked the ne off and shoved it into his pocket.


    A secondter, William stood directly in front of him. His voice was firm but cold. “Step aside.”


    Ian stiffened. “Who are you? I’m her friend. She’s had too much to drink, so I was just taking her home.”


    William gave a low chuckle, meeting Ian’s gaze without flinching. “Friend?” he repeated, mockerycing the word. “I’m her husband.”


    The words nearly made Ste lose herposure, though she stayed still. Ian, however, froze in disbelief.


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    In the front seat, Jasmine stirred awake, blinking in confusion. When her vision cleared and she saw William standing there, she sat up straighter, startled. “Mr. Briggs? What are you doing here?”


    William didn’t bother replying. He crouched beside the car and gently lifted Ste into his arms. Then he turned to Jasmine and said evenly, “Come on.”


    Jasmine nodded quickly, got out of the car, and followed after him.


    Before getting into William’s car, she turned and gave Ian a polite nod. “Thanks for helping tonight, Mr. Hayes. We’ll get going now. See you around!”


    With that, the car sped off into the night, vanishing down the empty road.


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