?Chapter 1581:


    Ste held Steven’s gaze without flinching, her eyes steady and clear. “I know you’re reluctant to defy William’s orders, but tell me — does imprisoning me here and severing all my outside connections actually solve anything?”


    The question rendered Steven momentarily speechless. Silence stretched between them before he finally shook his head. “No, Ste. I can’t offer youplete trust right now.”


    Ste refused to break eye contact. “Why? Because I lost those memories?” Her words struck true, stealing his ability to argue back. She pressed forward without mercy. “What if I told you I’ve remembered everything? Would you give me a phone then?”


    Disbelief flooded Steven’s expression, as though his ears had betrayed him. “Are you saying you—”


    Ste nodded with unwavering certainty. “I’ve remembered everything. The entire two years with William — every event, every conversation, every detail.”


    Steven stood frozen, torn between belief and skepticism. Jewell’s attention snapped back to the bandage wrapped around Ste’s forehead, realization dawning in his eyes. “The head injury triggered your memory recovery?!”


    Ste drew in a long breath before answering. “Yes. One of Nina’s mercenaries shoved me while we were abroad. I hit my head hard, and suddenly everything came flooding back.” She had never anticipated such a crude solution. Jewell had spent countless hours conducting sophisticated memory recovery therapy without progress, yet one violent blow aplished what months of treatment couldn’t. If she had known the answery in blunt force trauma, she might have asked Jewell to crack her skull weeks ago.


    Steven epted her words with cautious trust, though hesitation still colored his voice. “Going behind William’s back like this — what happens when he inevitably finds out?”


    Ste cut him off with sharp finality, emotion reddening the whites of her eyes. “What’s the worst he can do? Keep me locked in this vi forever? I’m already isted from everyone who matters. But if even the smallest possibility exists of securing that antidote and purging those fabricated memories from his mind, I refuse to give up.” Fear of consequence had never governed her decisions. If she allowed William to suffer under the weight of false memories simply because she feared his anger, what right did she have to im she loved him?


    She ground her teeth together, locking eyes with Steven and Jewell in turn as she delivered each word with deliberate force. “Steven, he’s not just your friend. He’s the man I love.”


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    Her final words shook Steven to his core. The Ste standing before him now — memories intact and burning with purpose — loved William more fiercely than anyone else alive. How could he possibly question her loyalty?


    William’s disturbing behavior over recent weeks shed through Steven’s mind, each instance proving his friend was bing someone unrecognizable. His fist opened and closed repeatedly as he wrestled with the decision.


    Jewell turned toward Steven, his voice carrying serious weight. “Ms. Russell’s n carries risk, certainly, but the logic is sound. Give her the phone. It’ll allow us to coordinate efforts and share information as we find it.” With her memories restored, Ste had transformed from potential threat to invaluable ally. More than that, she had more motivation than anyone to see William whole again.


    Steven remained silent for a full sixty seconds before releasing a heavy breath and nodding his eptance. He met Ste’s eyes directly. “Alright. I’ll get you a phone. But I need your word — any n you develop, you bring to us first. No reckless solo missions. You’re the woman William loves, which means you don’t get to throw yourself into danger alone. Understood?”


    Ste nodded with fierce conviction, gratitude burning hot behind her eyes. “Thank you, Steven!”


    Steven waved off her formality with one hand while massaging his temples with the other. He rose from his seat and pped Jewell’s shoulder. “Dr. Vance, stay here and examine that forehead wound. Make sure there’s no infection developing. I’ll handle acquiring the phone myself.” He could have delegated the task easily enough, but something made him want to handle it personally. With that settled, he strode purposefully out of the vi.


    Watching Steven leave, Jewell turned his gaze to Ste, who still looked grave on the sofa. He spoke gently. “Ms. Russell, I don’t know the specific memories you share with William, but I imagine they’re precious. I’m genuinely d you’ve recovered them.”


    Ste looked at Jewell gratefully. “Dr. Vance, I understand the danger this presents, and I hate pulling you into it. But my capabilities alone won’t be enough.”


    Jewell’s voice remained gentle, though steel threaded through his words. “William’s my friend as well. Don’t waste energy feeling guilty about involving us.”


    He conducted a thorough examination of her forehead wound, relief washing over him when he confirmed nothing serious had developed. He followed up with a basic neurological assessment to verify the memory recovery hadn’t triggered additionalplications, then posed his next question. “William hasn’t returned here in days?”


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