?Chapter 1619:


    “William, just hear us out—” Steven and Jewell attempted to press on, but William stopped them cold. “Get out. Both of you.” He turned the same icy dismissal on them that he’d given Ste.


    The two men exchanged a look before leaving with quiet sighs. William’s temper was far too unstable at the moment. One misstep, one poorly chosen word, and he’d explode. Neither of them was willing to chance it.


    The following afternoon at three o’clock, Ste drove to the hospital where Carson was receiving treatment. She hadn’t bothered asking William for the address — Lance had tracked it down for her.


    Jewell called while she sat waiting at a red light. “Ms. Russell, are you out?” He’de by the vi to examine her injury and discovered she’d already left.


    Ste lowered her voice. “I’m heading to the hospital.”


    He sounded startled. “To see Carson? William made his position clear. If he discovers you went alone…”


    A softugh escaped her. “Didn’t he tell me to ‘suit myself’ yesterday?”


    Silence stretched between them. When Jewell finally responded, caution colored every word. “Fine. Just watch yourself. Call Steven or me if you discover anything.”


    Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she murmured her agreement and disconnected. The light turned green. She hit the gas, her mind already working through possibilities. No matter what, she would speak to Carson today and uncover what was really going through his head. Briggs Group wielded considerable influence, and a partnership would bring Carson substantial advantages. A minor mishap shouldn’t be sufficient reason for him to abandon everything.


    The VIP ward sat inplete silence. At the nurses’ station, Ste inquired about Carson’s room number. The nurse looked her over before answering carefully. “I apologize, ma’am. Mr. Carson isn’t receiving visitors at the moment.”


    “Tell him William Briggs’s fiancée is here. I need to speak with him about an urgent matter.”


    Intense romance on


    Something in Ste’s assured tone — that quiet, innate confidence — made the nurse waver. A moment passed before she stood and made her way to Carson’s room. She returned within minutes to inform Ste that Carson would see her.


    Carson appeared to be in his mid-thirties, fair-haired and blue-eyed, carrying himself with polished sophistication — close to William’s age. He reclined against a stack of pillows, his left leg encased in ster and suspended, white gauze circling his forehead. Despite his injuries, intelligence gleamed in his eyes.


    He watched Ste enter, a faint ent warming his English. “Ms. Russell, your reputation precedes you, though I hadn’t realized Mr. Briggs was engaged.”


    She picked up on the mild amusement threading through his words and gave a small nod. “Mr. Carson, the pleasure is mine. If you kept up with current events, you’d already be familiar with William’s and my arrangement.”


    Carson gestured toward the chair positioned near his bed. “Are you here on behalf of Briggs Group, or are you speaking for Mr. Briggs personally?”


    Ste lowered herself into the seat, spine straight, hands resting gracefully in herp. “Neither, actually. This visit is entirely my own initiative.”


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