?Chapter 1647:


    The driver hesitated, then forced the rest of his words back down.


    The sky was heavy and gray, with not a trace of sunlight. Cold wind whipped around the overpass, tugging at Ste’s long hair and snapping against the hem of her coat. She stood alone, arms folded tight around herself, trying to fight off the chill while forcing down the ache rising in her chest.


    After standing there for a while, she pulled out her phone and dialed Steven’s number. It rang several times before he picked up.


    “Ste? What’s going on?”


    Her tone was steady, giving away nothing of the argument she had just had with William. “Steven, I need a favor. Can you look into someone for me? She’s a young woman in her early twenties, wearing a white sweater. She crossed paths with William briefly at the hospital.”


    Ste didn’t know the woman’s name, nor had she seen her clearly. All she remembered was the white sweater and how young she had looked.


    Steven sounded confused. “Why her?”


    Ste hesitated, unsure how to exin it properly. “Just check first. I’m worried Arlo might have sent her to get close to William.”


    ????????????? ?????????l??????о???? o?? ga??n??????????.со??


    Steven went quiet for a moment before he understood. Hearing the wind roaring through the phone, he asked, “Where are you? That wind sounds brutal.”


    Ste pressed her lips together. “I’m on the overpass.”


    Steven froze. “Did you fight with William again?”


    She sidestepped the question. “Thanks for helping me. I’ll wait for your update.”


    After ending the call, Ste stayed where she was, unmoving. The cold burned against her cheeks. When she lifted her hand to touch her face, she realized tears had slipped out at some point, already dried by the wind before she had even noticed them.


    The helplessness and sadness in her eyes slowly faded, reced by determination. No matter who that woman was, Ste needed to make sure William was safe. If the woman truly had nothing to do with Arlo, Ste could afford to set aside her feelings about William’s contact with her — for now.


    She knew he was pushing her away, again and again. Still, she would keep moving toward him, even if he continued to shut her out. Love wasn’t about retreating. It was about trying everything you could to let the other person feel how deeply you cared.


    After nearly twenty minutes, Ste finally waved down a taxi. She climbed in and gave the driver the vi’s address. The view outside the window blurred as the car moved forward. Exhausted, she closed her eyes, letting herself breathe and settle, if only a little.


    Meanwhile, William’s car had already pulled up outside the Blue Note Club. He didn’t get out right away. He watched the peopleing and going, unsure why he had called that woman earlier on impulse. He had no particr feelings for her — what had caught him off guard was how much she slightly resembled Ste. Calling her had been nothing more than a way to provoke Ste.


    .


    .


    .