?Chapter 1674:


    Her entire n had copsed before it had even properly begun. But when William’s face drifted back into her mind, her resolve wavered and her heart softened once more. She refused to give up. She had finally found someone who made her feel this way, and she intended to fight for what she wanted.


    The sun sank behind the distant mountains in a ze of color as Ste made the drive back to the vi.


    When she walked through the door, she found William seated in the living room, the food on the dining table still untouched. He nced up as she entered, his eyes meeting hers for the briefest moment before sliding away. “Everything handled?” His voice carried no emotion whatsoever.


    Ste shrugged out of her coat. “Just a minor fender bender. Alisha rear-ended someone and took full responsibility. Everything’s been sorted out — no injuries.”


    William studied herposed expression, and the ufortable feeling churning in his gut intensified. He wanted to demand what she had said to Alisha, wanted to know why she appeared so unbothered by everything, but all the words stuck in his throat. In the end, he gave a curt nod and returned his attention to the magazine across hisp.


    Ste looked at him and suddenly smiled. “William, how much longer are we going to keep doing this to each other?”


    William went very still. When he spoke, his voice dropped lower. “What are you talking about?”


    Ste remained standing before him, her voice barely above a whisper. Her lips parted as though to say something more, but whatever it was died unspoken. In the end, she only said, “I’m a little tired.”


    She turned away and climbed the stairs, her footsteps gradually fading until silence settled over the room.


    William stayed where he was, his fingers slowly crushing the magazine in his grip. Though his eyes remained trained on the page, he couldn’t process a single word printed there.


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    The following day, an email appeared in Ste’s inbox from the president of Crossroads University — an invitation requesting her presence at the university’s anniversary celebration, where she would be asked to speak with students about her professional experiences.


    Ste had built a strong reputation in technical research over the years, and her aplishments at the institute had be standard case studies taught at universities across the country. After reading the invitation, she found herself hesitating.


    She knew Alisha attended Crossroads University, but had no idea whether William had received a simr invitation. If he didn’t n to attend, she had little interest in going herself. She had only just recovered her memories, and navigating William’s condition had already drained herpletely. She didn’t have the mental or emotional energy to stand before a room full of eager students answering their questions.


    While she was still debating, William’s phone — left on the coffee table — lit up with an iing message. It was from Alisha: “Mr. Briggs, I heard our school invited you to speak at the anniversary celebration. Are you nning to attend?”


    William reached for the phone and opened the message.


    Ste spoke before she could stop herself. “Are you nning to go?”


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