?Chapter 1382:


    He snatched the syringe from the bodyguard and lifted his hand to inject her.


    But just as his thumb hovered over the plunger, a gunshot exploded through the room. Amon’s right wrist jerked violently, blood spraying across the air.


    He cried out, dropping the syringe. It ttered to the floor and rolled until it stopped at William’s feet.


    “William!” Amon clutched his bleeding wrist with the other hand, ring at William’s steady expression.


    William shrugged indifferently. “I told you. If you didn’t hurry, the police would show up.”


    Almost on cue, officers burst through the broken doorway, guns drawn. “Freeze! Hands where we can see them!”


    Amon went still, his face draining of all confidence.


    His eyes darted between William and the police before he let out a humorlessugh. “So that’s it. You already had everything nned.” He shook his head, bitter. “I really didn’t expect one thing though. You truly don’t care whether Ste lives or dies. Her death means nothing to you, does it?”


    Even with his hands cuffed behind him, he lifted his chin stubbornly, eyes locked on William, practically demanding an answer.


    Ste, still tied to the chair, wentpletely still.


    She needed to hear it too. She needed to know if everything had been some twisted n to protect her, or if William truly felt nothing at all.


    The silence stretched. Then, right as the officers began leading Amon out, William finally spoke, his voice cold enough to freeze bone. “Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”


    The words sliced through Ste’s chest. Once the police untied her, she instinctively clutched the front of her shirt, trying to breathe through the sharp ache.


    Every chapter lives on g a lno vels ;m


    Amon was dragged away, the sirens faded into the distance, and soon the vi was hollow and quiet again. Only she and William remained.


    Ste leaned on the door frame, her legs barely holding her up.


    William didn’t hesitate. He reached her in two strides and grabbed her wrist, tugging her toward the car.


    Something inside her rebelled. She jerked her arm back with a strength she didn’t know she had and stumbled away from him. “You said you don’t care about me. So why won’t you let me go?”


    Why hadn’t he just walked out and pretended she died there?


    To William, her resistance was nothing more than a small inconvenience. He caught her easily, hands mping down on her shoulders.


    He let out a humorless scoff. “What is this? Weren’t you fearless just a minute ago? Ready to die instead of asking me for help? Who’s the act for now?”


    His taunt only made her fight harder. “Who said I’m acting? I don’t care if you saved me or not. I’d still be stuck in that vi with you. I’d rather die!”


    Thatst sentence hit him like a p. His expression darkened. Without another word, he dragged her to the car, shoved the door open, and forced her into the back seat.


    Inside, she tried to bolt, but he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her firmly in ce. He leaned close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath. “Ste, open your eyes. Whether you admit it or not, I was the one who came for you. Not Marc.”


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