?Chapter 1629:


    “Are you okay?” Sharon’s words tumbled out fast, edged with worry. “Josie and I knew something was wrong, but by the time we got there, the vi was already burning. We couldn’t find you anywhere. Where have you been? Were you hurt?”


    The concern in her friend’s voice made Ste’s chest ache. “Sharon, I’m sorry. Are you free right now? Can we meet? I need to tell you everything in person.”


    “Send me the address.” Sharon didn’t hesitate. “Josie and I will head over right now.”


    Ste ended the call, warmth spreading through her despite everything. No matter what happened, Sharon and Josie had always stood by her — supporting every decision she made, giving her strength when she had none left. Thinking about how much she had worried them only deepened her regret.


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    The café door chimed softly as Ste stepped inside. The air carried the rich scent of coffee mingled with fresh-baked bread. She chose a quiet corner table and settled in to wait. Less than five minutes passed before the door swung open and Sharon and Josie rushed through.


    “Stel!” Sharon spotted her immediately and hurried over, pulling her into a fierce hug, tears glistening in her eyes. “We were so worried about you. Josie and I thought — we didn’t know if you’d made it out of the fire. And that man at Briggs Group wouldn’t even see us.”


    Josie stood beside them, quieter than Sharon but with eyes just as red. Her gazended on Ste’s arm, and she stiffened. “Sharon, Stel’s been injured. Don’t squeeze her so hard!”


    Sharon released her immediately, pulling back with wide eyes.


    The three of them settled into their seats. A waiter approached, reading the room with practiced ease, and set down coffee and pastries without a word before slipping away. Ste looked at her friends — at the worry etched across their faces — and felt thest of her walls crumble.


    “The fire was Marc’s doing,” she said quietly. “He took me abroad. There was an ident, and I hit my head.” She paused, letting the weight of the next words settle. “I got my memories back. All of them. Marc and Nina are both in jail now.” She kept it brief, distilling weeks of chaos into a few stark sentences.


    Sharon and Josie stared at her, stunned into silence, clearly struggling to absorb what they’d just heard.


    Then Sharon grabbed her hand, her voice pitched high with emotion. “Stel — you’re saying you remember everything?”


    Ste nodded. “Everything. Those two years came back.” Her voice softened with regret. “Sharon, Josie, I’m so sorry. When you tried to warn me about Marc, I didn’t listen. I didn’t understand. I’m sorry for making you worry for so long.”


    Sharon pulled her close, her voice brimming with relief. “All of that is in the past. What matters is that you remember everything now. What about William — are you two all right?”


    Ste’s expression darkened. She shook her head slowly. “He’s still trapped in those memories.”


    The joy drained from Sharon’s and Josie’s faces.


    Josie pressed her lips together, her voice dropping. “So where do things stand between you two now?”


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