?Chapter 1301:


    No one had expected him to step in like this. Not for a woman William had just treated as if she barely mattered.


    Even William looked over. The ss in his hand stopped turning. His tapping paused, his gaze darkening in a way that was hard to read.


    Fred’s wrist throbbed in Steven’s hold. His face twisted between anger and disbelief.


    He pulled back sharply. “Mr. Harrison, what’s the meaning of this? I was only teaching a disrespectful woman a lesson. That’s all.” His eyes narrowed, voice dropping into something sharper. “Unless you’ve developed an interest in her too?”


    Steven flung Fred’s hand away like it was something filthy.


    He didn’t spare the man another nce. His attention went straight to Ste, who was trembling, mascara smudged at the corners of her eyes. He let out a soft, almost resigned sigh.


    Then he stepped forward and pulled her up from the sofa, positioning himself between her and the rest of the room.


    “She’s not well,” he said, tone firm enough to m a door shut. “I’m taking her home.”


    He didn’t wait for approval or objections. Just led her toward the exit.


    Part of him stepped in because he knew—more than anyone—how much William used to care about her. Watching him spiral like this, mistake after mistake, was painful in a way he couldn’t quite admit out loud.


    But mostly… Ste was Josie’s friend. And Steven wasn’t William. Liking someone didn’t mean he had to force an oue.


    He liked Josie, sure, but she wasn’t looking at him that way right now. He understood boundaries. He respected them.


    Still, if he stood around doing nothing while Ste was cornered by these lecherous old men, Josie would only think less of him.


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    So in a way, he was protecting William’s future happiness—and his own.


    Ste didn’t expect rescue from him. Not even a little. She barely knew Steven outside of him being “William’s friend.” She thought he’d just sit back and watch the show like the rest.


    But the alcohol was hitting her too fast. Her legs wobbled, and she leaned into him heavily, desperate to get out of the suffocating room.


    Steven reached for the door. His fingers were inches from the handle when William’s voice cracked through the air, low and lethal.


    “Ste. Go on. Try taking one step out of that door.”


    Her entire body went rigid. Steven felt her go still beside him, like her bones had turned to ice. She wasn’t leaning on him anymore; she stood on her own out of sheer fear.


    William rose from the sofa, slow and deliberate, each step echoing behind them. His eyes flicked past Steven and fixed on Ste’s pale, drained face.


    She was shaking again. Hard. As if just being in his shadow robbed her of air.


    William couldn’t even tell if he liked seeing that or hated it. His brow tensed as he stared at her.


    “If you walk out,” he said, voice slicing through the quiet, “I won’t just make the Carter family and Marc pay. Everyone connected to you… Sharon, Josie… even this idiot who thinks he can y hero.” His gaze cut toward Steven. “All of them will suffer for your stubbornness. I don’t bluff.”


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