?Chapter 1384:


    Her eyes fell on the bloodstained dagger that nowy on the floor between them. The sight of it made her stomach churn. She hadn’t meant to hurt him—only to protect herself.


    The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Ste didn’t dare speak. All she could do was press herself against the door and pray that he wouldn’t suddenly lose control again.


    By the time they reached the vi, William didn’t spare her a nce. He stepped out and disappeared into the house without a word.


    Only after he was gone did Ste reach for the door handle. Her hand shook so badly she almost missed it, and when she finally managed to get out, her knees gave way beneath her. She copsed onto the ground, too weak to stand, her mind spinning and her body trembling.


    A nearby servant rushed over to help her up. “Ms. Russell, are you alright?”


    She couldn’t even answer. Tears had started streaming down her face without warning. Her throat tightened as she shook her head, and the servants quickly helped her inside.


    Meanwhile, the staff had noticed the blood soaking through William’s shoulder. The sight of it made several of them pale.


    “Sir, you’re bleeding. I’ll call Dr. Vance immediately,” someone offered.


    Jewell arrived not long after.


    The servants hadn’t told him much, only that something had happened and he needed toe quickly.


    The moment he stepped into the room and saw Ste curled up on the couch, still shaking, he assumed she was the one who had been injured. He rushed over in a near panic. “Ms. Russell, where are you hurt?”


    Ste looked up, caught off guard by the concern in his voice and the fact that he checked on her first. Her throat tightened even more, and for a moment, she couldn’t speak at all.


    Jewell crouched beside her, scanning her body for injuries withoutying a hand on her.


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    “Is it your arm? Your leg? Where does it hurt?”


    He hesitated to touch her, worried about doing something inappropriate, and waited anxiously for her to respond.


    After several shaky breaths, she finally managed to speak. “It’s not me,” she whispered. “It’s… him.”


    Jewell blinked, confused.


    William was hurt? The very idea felt surreal.


    He stood abruptly and grabbed his medical kit. “Where is he?”


    Ste lifted a trembling hand toward the stairs but couldn’t get the words out. One of the nearby servants filled in the rest. “Mr. Briggs is in the study. His shoulder was bleeding earlier—his whole shirt was soaked through. Dr. Vance, please check on him.”


    The surprise flickered across Jewell’s face. Bleeding that badly? He didn’t hesitate a second longer.


    He ran up the stairs, made his way to the study, and found the door slightly ajar. He pushed it open and spotted William seated at the desk, his back to the door.


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