?Chapter 1343:


    When reasoning didn’t budge them, Ste went full feral—she chomped down on the nearest guard’s hand like it was thest steak on earth. The guy yelped and jerked back, grip flying off the door handle.


    That half-second was all she needed. Ste bolted like a greyhound out of the gate and tore toward the chaos of William and Lance.


    The bodyguards cursed under their breath and scrambled after her.


    She threw herself between them,tching onto Lance’s arm for dear life. “Lance, enough! You’re gonna get yourself killed—stop!”


    Lance’s muscles instantly rxed as he saw Ste by his side.


    “Ste, I’m taking you home!”


    Out of the corner of her eye, Ste caught the sh of fury on William’s face. Her body reacted before her brain could catch up—she stepped in front of Lance without thinking, shielding him.


    With her back to William, she grabbed Lance’s hand and quickly scribbled something onto his palm. Marc. Then she looked up and silently mouthed, “Find him.”


    Lance blinked, stunned. Of all people, she still pinned her hopes on Marc?


    It had been days. Not a single word from him. He hadn’t even shown up at the Carter estate, as if he’d vanished from the city entirely.


    If Marc really cared about her, why hadn’t he shown up by now?


    But Lance swallowed the thought. Now wasn’t the time to crush her hope. Even if he didn’t believe in Marc anymore, he didn’t want to be the one to make her heart sink again.


    Ste let go of his hand and turned around, facing William. She locked eyes with him, voice soft, almost pleading. “I’m not running off. I’m just walking Lance to the door. That’s it. I swear I’lle right back. Please don’t be mad, okay?”


    It was the first time she’d ever dropped her guard like that. The first time she’d shown even a crack in her armor since William had locked her away.


    Every journey starts at gα?ησν????s?c????


    Tears shimmered in her eyes, and for a moment, William’s clenched fists loosened.


    He frowned, studying her closely, like he was trying to decide the sincerity of her words.


    “I mean it,” she added gently. “Even if I wanted to escape, you’d catch me, wouldn’t you? I know that. I just want to say goodbye to my brother. Tell him not toe back.”


    Her tone was careful, her gaze earnest. It was hard to tell where the act ended and the truth began.


    William wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly what she was trying to pull. But that sliver of vulnerability—so rareing from her—and the frustration he’d already burned through with Lance… it made him waver.


    After a pause, he gave a short nod.


    Ste finally exhaled. She turned to walk Lance out.


    But Lance didn’t budge. His voice was low, tight with worry. “Ste, you don’t have to be afraid of him. I’ll protect you. Juste with me.”


    Ste tightened her grip on his arm and leaned in close, whispering, “We can’t beat him head-on. You need to find Marc. Tell him I’ll stay. I’ll dig up whatever I can on the Briggs Group. Once I have something useful, we can work from both ends—inside and out—and bring him down together.”


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