?Chapter 1370:


    Back in her room, she didn’t shower. She fell onto the bed, pulled the nket over herself, and cried quietly into the pillow.


    After his outburst, William sat alone in the study, quietly staring at the telescope Ste had given him. He wasn’t even sure what had set him off.


    Eventually, he stood, opened the door, and headed downstairs. “Where is she?” he asked.


    The servant flinched at the question. “Ms. Russell went back to her room, sir. Just now, I noticed… a red mark around her neck. I asked if she wanted ointment, but she said she was tired.”


    The rest was left unsaid.


    William’s jaw tightened as he held out his hand. “Give me the ointment.”


    Ointment in hand, he walked to Ste’s door.


    Just as he was about to knock, he heard it—soft, muffled sobs from inside. His fingers froze mid-air.


    Even though she was trying to hold it in, the sound cut right through him.


    He remembered how terrified she’d looked back in the study. That raw fear in her eyes. It stuck with him, lodged like a splinter in his chest.


    He lowered his hand and stepped back, then asked the servant to apply the ointment to her.


    A momentter, Ste heard a knock. She quickly wiped her face, voice low and tight. “Who is it? I’m in bed already.”


    “Ms. Russell, I brought the ointment. If you don’t want help, you’ll have to apply it yourself. Otherwise, the mark might look worse tomorrow.”


    More tears welled up as shey in bed, silent.


    The servant didn’t push. “I’ll just leave it by the door. Don’t forget to use it. Goodnight, Ms. Russell.”


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    A few minutes passed, then Ste slipped out of bed, barefoot. The hallway was quiet, empty. Just the small tube of ointment sitting on the floor.


    She picked it up, took it to the mirror, and gently dabbed it over the red mark. After that, she curled back into bed, but sleep didn’te easy.


    The next morning, William left for the office early. Steven, having heard of the events of the previous night, confronted him directly. “You’ve got to control yourself, William. Ste’s not made of stone. What if you actually hurt her?”


    William stared at his screen, face unreadable.


    Jewell chimed in from the couch. “Just saying—if you break her, I’m not going to be able to fix it.”


    Their voices grated on his nerves as they kept going. He looked up, deadpan. “Don’t you two have anything better to do?”


    Steven and Jewell exchanged nces and replied in unison, “No.”


    William didn’t bother responding—he just went back to work.


    His phone buzzed. He nced at the caller ID, then looked at them again. “If you’re that free, get out. I’ve got actual business to handle.”


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