?Chapter 1630:


    Ste exined the situation with Arlo — the mercenaries, the danger closing in from overseas. With every detail, her friends’ expressions grew graver.


    “Stel, this is too dangerous,” Sharon said firmly. “This Arlo sounds like serious trouble. You just got your memory back — you can’t put yourself at risk like this.”


    Ste exhaled slowly. “I know. But Arlo is already after me. William only got pulled into this because of me. I can’t just walk away.” If Erebus hadn’t been hunting for her mother’s form, none of this would have happened. Her mother had been gone for years, and Ste felt the weight of that unfinished responsibility settle squarely on her own shoulders.


    Sharon and Josie both frowned. When they exchanged a nce, however, their expressions mirrored the same resolve.


    “Stel, do what you think is right,” they said, almost in unison. “We’re here for you. If you need anything at all, just say the word. We’ll do whatever we can.”


    Tears welled in Ste’s eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. Her voice broke. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”


    Sharon reached out and patted her shoulder gently. “Don’t be silly. We’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”


    Ste felt an umon warmth settle over her — a fleeting sense of ease she hadn’t experienced in weeks.


    Sharon and Josie had spotted the bandage on her arm the moment she’d walked through the door, but both had held back from asking until now. Sharon’s eyes drifted to Ste’s arm, lingering there before she finally broke the silence. “Stel, what happened to your arm?”


    Ste’s first instinct was to tuck her arm beneath the table, out of sight. Then she caught herself — they’d already seen it. Hiding it now would only draw more attention.


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    Sharon leaned forward slightly, concern sharpening her features. “Stel, that looks serious. How did you get hurt?”


    Ste pressed her lips together, reluctant to offer any exnation. Her hesitation alone told them something was deeply wrong.


    Sharon’s voice turned cold, hardened by suspicion. “Did William do this?”


    Ste spoke quietly, choosing her words with care. “He’s dealing with bipr disorder right now, and sometimes his emotions get the better of him. That day, he was having an episode. It wasn’t intentional.”


    Sharon’s anger red instantly, beyond her ability to contain. “I don’t care whether it was intentional or not. He hurt you. Did he even apologize afterward? Has he checked on you at all?”


    Ste said nothing, uncertain how to make them understand that the situation wasn’t as dire as it appeared.


    Watching Ste continue to make excuses for William, Josie felt a wave of frustration wash over her, mingled with something closer to despair. “Stel, I know you love him, but you can’t sacrifice your own safety for that love. If he’s capable of hurting you when he loses control, you shouldn’t be staying with him.”


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