?Chapter 1606:


    She retrieved her phone and dialed Lance, exining she was hospitalized and asking him toe as quickly as possible. Luca settled into the chair by the window and waited until she ended the call before posing his question. “Ms. Russell, has Mr. Briggs shown any improvement?”


    Ste’s fingers tightened around the phone. “Not yet. But this situation won’t persist forever.”


    The fierce determination burning behind her eyes rendered Luca incapable of voicing any doubts. He knew her injuries were inevitably linked to William — and yet, despite everything, she had chosen to remain beside him. Her memories must have truly returned.


    Ste released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and settled in to wait for Lance’s arrival.


    Thirty minutes crawled past before a soft knock sounded at the door. Luca moved to answer it, cracking it open cautiously, and only after confirming Lance’s identity did he pull it wide and usher him inside.


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    Lance rushed into the ward. The sight of Ste’s ashenplexion and extensively bandaged arm flooded his eyes with concern and barely contained fury. He crossed to her bedside in three strides. “Did William do this to you?”


    Ste shook her head firmly. “Not entirely. I share responsibility for this. Lance, I’m fine — truly. It looks worse than it actually is.”


    Ste’s injuries looked exponentially worse now than they had earlier that day — more extensive, more brutal. No wonder shock had stolen Lance’sposure. He clearly didn’t believe her dismissive exnation. He pivoted toward Luca, voice dropping low. “Stand guard outside. If William returns, alert us immediately.”


    Luca offered no argument, simply withdrew and left the ward to Ste and Lance alone.


    Lance settled beside her bed, his gaze lingering on her bandaged arm with profound concern etched into every feature. “Ste, you need to leave William immediately.”


    Ste recognized the worry driving his words and spoke gently. “Lance, I can’t leave.”


    Lance’s expression fell. “Are you staying because you fear he’ll retaliate against us?”


    He’d harbored this fear for months — that he and the Carter family represented nothing but burdens weighing Ste down. After bringing her into the family, they had failed to protect her. Worse, they had be chains binding her to dangerous circumstances. In this moment, he almost wished they shared no blood connection at all.


    Ste reached out with her uninjured hand and grasped his firmly. “Lance, my memories have returned — all of them. I’m not leaving because William is the man I love, and I refuse to abandon him.”


    Lance stared at her in stunned disbelief, words fragmenting. “You—”


    Ste nodded with absolute seriousness. “I’ve recovered every memory, which means this decisiones fromplete rity. I understand exactly what I’m choosing and what it might cost.”


    Lance’s mouth opened wordlessly. Though he had known about her recovered memories, he hadn’t anticipated the sheer depth of her devotion to William. William had hurt her so severely, yet not even a trace of resentment shadowed her feelings toward him.


    “Lance, if you genuinely consider me your sister, then help me. Please don’t waste energy trying to change my mind.”


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