Chapter 879

Chapter 879:
But William gave her a tiny smile. Subtle. Quick. Easy to miss. Then it was gone, and he turned back to the crowd, as if it had never happened. But Stella knew better. It wasn’t her imagination. He’d seen her.
The warmth that filled her chest melted whatever distance the stage had created. She dropped her head slightly, trying to hide the color rising in her cheeks. She blinked, lashes casting faint shadows over her skin—soft and delicate, just like her feelings at that moment. Wrapped up in him. Completely. And there was no escaping it now.
After the summit wrapped up, William finally broke free from the crowd. He pulled out his phone and quickly sent a message: “Meet me at Parking Lot C.” Stella made her way over and spotted his black Maybach from a distance. Without hesitation, she approached, opened the passenger door, and slid into the seat, as if it were second nature.
William looked a little worn out, but his eyes were still sharp. He glanced at her with a faint smile. “Didn’t expect you to show up. What made you come find me?”
If she’d told him earlier, he would’ve arranged a front-row seat for her. Stella paused as she buckled her seatbelt, feeling a bit flustered. “I was nearby… figured I’d stop in.”
“Nearby?” William raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Pretty sure it’s not time to clock out yet.”
He wasn’t buying it, and his teasing tone made it clear.
Stella’s cheeks flushed. She gave him a sidelong glance but didn’t bother arguing. William chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction, and started the car. He didn’t push the conversation further. Instead, he reached over and casually took her hand, resting it on her lap.
She stiffened for a moment—but didn’t pull away.
His hand was warm and steady, wrapping around hers with a quiet kind of reassurance.
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The cabin fell into peaceful silence, with only soft music playing in the background and the hum of the road beneath them. There was no need for words—just the two of them, sharing the space.
A few intersections later, William’s phone rang, cutting through the calm.
He glanced at the screen—it was the landline from the Briggs Mansion.
His brow creased as he answered. “Hello?”
On the other end, the butler’s voice came through, hurried and anxious. “Sir, can you return to the mansion right away? The old master suddenly collapsed. The family doctor is with him now, but… the situation doesn’t look good.”
William’s expression shifted instantly. His grip on Stella’s hand tightened without him even realizing it. “What? He was fine just a few days ago.”
“He was fine this afternoon too. But after dinner, he said he felt a little dizzy. He was just about to head to the study when he suddenly fell.”
The butler sounded shaken, uncertain about the sudden turn of events.
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.
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