?Chapter 1728:


    During that entire week, William called Ste repeatedly. She declined every single one. She had no idea how to face him anymore, and until she figured that out, avoiding him entirely seemed like the only safe option.


    That day, Ste sat in the living room ying games with her friends when her phone suddenly rang.


    She nced at the screen. William’s name stared back at her — the name she had saved so long ago. She stared at it until the call disconnected on its own. Secondster, he called again. Without hesitating, Ste declined it and powered off her phone entirely.


    It was the first time she had ever refused to answer him.


    When William called a third time and the line went straight to voicemail, frustration gnawed at him. He sat alone in his mansion, reying the moment Ste had walked out, his chest constricting painfully. He understood why she needed space — but shutting him outpletely felt like something else entirely. Was this her way of ending things? Was “cooling off” just another word for goodbye?


    The weather in Choria had turned gray and heavytely, a perfect mirror of his increasingly dark mood.


    That afternoon, Ste changed clothes and knocked on Sharon’s and Josie’s bedroom doors. “Sharon, Josie, I’m heading out. Don’t wait up for dinner!”


    Surprise flickered across both their faces. “Where are you going? We’lle with you.”


    “No need.” Ste was already heading down the stairs. “I’m just running some errands. I’ll be back soon. You two don’t need to worry about me.”


    Sharon and Josie traded anxious looks. Ste had seemed calm enough over the past week, but they could sense the turmoil churning beneath the surface. She rarely mentioned William’s name, yet her eyes drifted constantly to her phone — and whenever he actually called, she would disconnect without a word.


    Sharon trailed carefully after her. “Ste, the forecast is calling for heavy rain tonight. Why not wait and go tomorrow instead?”


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    Ste shook her head. “I’ll be driving. I won’t get wet.” Between Sharon’s and Josie’s cars, she could take whichever one she wanted.


    Seeing that Ste wouldn’t budge, Sharon turned to Josie and whispered, “Should we really let her go alone?”


    Josie sighed, defeated. “What choice do we have? She’s too sharp. If we push too hard, she’ll know something’s up.”


    Just thinking about it reignited Sharon’s frustration. “It’s been days. Has Steven told you anything yet?”


    Josie bit down on her lip. Today was the sixth day. “If he hasn’t uncovered anything by tomorrow, I’m telling Ste everything myself.” She had made a promise, and she intended to keep it. She had always been on Ste’s side, and that wasn’t about to change.


    Half an hourter, Ste pulled out of the mansion’s driveway and drove aimlessly through the city, with no particr destination in mind.


    She hadn’te out to shop for anything specific. She simply needed a break from Sharon and Josie’s constant hovering, which had begun to suffocate her over the past few days. She had been thinking about finding her own ce — she couldn’t camp out at Sharon’s forever.


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