?Chapter 1600:


    He seized the ornament and hurled it at the wall behind her.


    It collided with the wall in a deafening explosion, fracturing into countless pieces that rained down onto the floor and sent razor-sharp fragments shooting through the air in every direction. Ste stood far too close to escape unscathed. Onerge shard hurtled straight toward her and carved a vicious path across the arm she’d raised to shield her eyes.


    The temperature inside wasfortable, so she’d dressed in a short-sleeved shirt that left her forearmpletely exposed. A searing, white-hot agony tore across it. Warmth immediately bubbled up and spilled over, streaming from her elbow to the floor below, where it bloomed into something disturbingly beautiful and macabre.


    She looked down to find a four-inch gash carved into her flesh. The ss had been mercilessly sharp, and blood welled up in a relentless torrent. The overwhelming pain caused her vision to swim and darken, threatening to send her crashing to the floor.


    Tasha, who had remained in the kitchen throughout, emerged at the sound of the chaos. The scene that greeted her drained every ounce ofposure from her body. She rushed forward to steady the wavering Ste. “Ms. Russell — dear God, your arm is gushing blood. I need to call Dr. Vance immediately!”


    After hurling the ornament, William’s consciousness seemed to evaporate for several suspended moments. When his eyes finally registered the deep, angry wound marring Ste’s arm, awareness came crashing back. He remained rooted to the spot. The crimson fury in his eyes had diminished considerably, and the hostility that had twisted his features moments before gave way to shock and crushing remorse.


    Had he really hurled something at Ste?


    He hadn’t possessed any awareness of his own actions. He had simply felt his thoughts spiraling out of control and desperately wanted her to stop speaking. Now he watched her sink onto the sofa, cradling her wounded arm, and his feet might as well have been bolted to the ground — he couldn’t force himself to take even a single step toward her.


    Tasha contacted Jewell, then rushed back with the first aid kit clutched in her hands. Noticing William still standing there, she positioned herself between him and Ste and spoke with weary resignation. “Mr. Briggs, please go upstairs. Allow me to handle this.”


    Having delivered her words, she turned her back on him and pressed a clean towel firmly against Ste’s bleeding wound with urgent efficiency. The pressure forced Ste to grimace as fresh waves of pain washed over her.


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    “Ms. Russell, you must endure this. We need to stem the bleeding and sterilize the wound without dy.” Though shecked professional medical training, Tasha understood the fundamentals.


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