?Chapter 1407:


    To him, a man who let a woman bear the burden alone showed carelessness and cowardice.


    William studied Jewell’s expression and found himself confused. “Are you picking a fight with me because of her?”


    Jewell was supposed to be his friend and a personal physician who should have remained objective.


    Why did he care so much about Ste in the first ce?


    Jewell pressed his fingers to his temple. “I think you’re losing control and going too far. You are well aware of Ste’s condition. She keeps fainting because her body is worn out.”


    Living under such confinement drained her. Each passing day left her more exhausted. Her meals became smaller, and she barely slept. If nothing changed, she would eventually fall apart.


    Her spirit suffered as much as her body, and William had a hand in both.


    “I brought you here to help her recover, and it means nothing if you are unable to make that happen,” William said.


    William lookedpletely unbothered—even with Jewell standing right there, he wore that same detached, couldn’t-care-less expression.


    Fury shed across Jewell’s face. He took several steps back, throwing his hands up. “Fine. If you’re determined to be this reckless, I’m done arguing. Some patients are beyond help—doesn’t matter how good the doctor is. You hired me, so I’ll do what I can, but when Ste’s health goes to hell because you wouldn’t listen? That’s on you, not me.”


    He spun on his heel and stormed out, the door mming behind him hard enough to rattle the frame.


    Only after Jewell’s footsteps faded did William’s gaze drift toward the door, his expression distant, like he was seeing something that wasn’t there.


    Jewell drove to the pharmacy, picked up emergency contraception, and brought it back to Ste. He pressed the pill into her hand with clear urgency. “Take this right now. But listen to me—you can’t take this again for at least six months. If you don’t want to get pregnant, you need to use condoms or stay on regr birth control. Understand?”


    Step into a new world at gα?ησν???s?c?m


    The pill went down with no real taste, but somehow it still felt bitter on her tongue.


    She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you, Dr. Vance.”


    She knew she was only getting this help because Jewell had a decent heart. If she’d been stuck dealing with someone as cold as William, she’d have gotten nothing but cruelty.


    “Get some rest. I’ll check on you again in a few days. If anything feels wrong, call me immediately.”


    Jewell didn’t stick around after that—he’d had more than enough of William for one day.


    Ste didn’t try to make him stay. Once she’d swallowed the pill, she copsed back onto the bed.


    She felt like her life was draining away drop by drop, and she was powerless to stop it. Just lying here, useless, waiting for whatever came next. God, she hated this feeling.


    William listened to Jewell’s car roar to life and pull away. Only then did he pull out his phone and call Luca. “What did you find?”


    Luca answered on the first ring. “Mr. Briggs, I’vepiled Ms. Russell’s movements for the entire month. Just sent everything to your email.”


    .


    .


    .