?Chapter 1695:


    Her eyes held a fractured, haunted quality, and deep shadows had settled beneath them. She had never encountered Arlo personally and had no real understanding of just how powerful his memory maniption technology actually was. So she had been repeating the same mantras to herself — that everything would be okay, that they’d find a solution. But now, even those reassurances were beginning to ring hollow. What if there was no solution? She had staked everything on the antidote. But what if William took it and nothing changed? How would she cope with that?


    The thought was too painful to fully contemte.


    Sharon sat beside Ste. “Stel, you’re the most loyal person I’ve ever known. You were so good to Marc even when he didn’t deserve it, and even after everything he put you through, you didn’t run to William as a rebound. You chose him because you genuinely fell in love. Once there’s an antidote, he’ll surely realize it.”


    Josie nodded vigorously. “Exactly. And that Rufus guy — you literally just met him today! Honestly, I think Williamshed out because he’s terrified of losing you.”


    Ste gave a bitter smile but had no words to offer in response.


    Heavy silence settled over the living room. After several minutes, Sharon broke it with a gentle sigh. “Stel, you need to sleep. Everything else can wait until you’ve rested.” It was painfully obvious that Ste hadn’t gotten decent rest in a long time, and Sharon was genuinely afraid her body would give out if this continued.


    Josie squeezed Ste’s hand. “Whatever you decide to do, we’ve got your backpletely. Now go get some rest — we have a guest room all set up with fresh bedding.” They had chosen this particr house specifically because it was close to Ste, and the moment they moved in, they had furnished the spare bedroom with her in mind, hoping she’d use it whenever she needed.


    That night, Stey in the guest bed, shifting restlessly, sleep refusing toe. She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling while her mind cycled through every moment from her first encounter with William to the present. She had no idea how many hours had crawled by, but as dawn light began filtering through the curtains, exhaustion finally dragged her into fitful sleep.


    In her dreams, she relived the kidnapping at their wedding — watching in horror as invisible forces pulled her and William in opposite directions while she remainedpletely powerless to stop it.


    The next morning, Sharon and Josie silently agreed to let Ste sleep. They both knew she had barely gotten any real rest and desperately needed whatever sleep she could get.


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    The doorbell chimed just as Sharon was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Josie rose from the sofa to answer the door. The second she registered who stood on the other side, her expression hardened.


    “William. What are you doing here?”


    William looked equally sleep-deprived. Dark stubble shadowed his jaw, and his usually immacte appearance had taken on a distinctly haggard quality — though he was dressed neatly, and nothing about his demeanor suggested someone on the verge of a breakdown.


    He met Josie’s eyes, his voice rough and strained. “I know she’s here. I need to see her.”


    The sound of voices drew Sharon from the kitchen. She dried her hands quickly and positioned herself squarely in the doorway, making it clear she had no intention of letting him pass.


    “Why are you showing up here? Didn’t you say enough horrible things to herst night?”


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