?Chapter 377:


    The sudden screech startled her. The paper slipped from her hand. Before she could even turn around, a strong grip wrapped around her wrist and yanked her back hard.


    She was being dragged toward the exit, her feet barely keeping up, the sunlight ahead blinding after the pitch-ck interior. By the time they burst outside, her lungs were heaving. Only then did she get a look at the person who had pulled her out.


    Her eyes widened. “William?! What are you doing here?” In a ce like this? This remote? There was no way he’d shown up by chance.


    He didn’t answer. Instead, he led her straight into his Bentley as if none of this needed exining. The driver hit the gas the moment the door shut, speeding down the narrow mountain road.


    Ste blinked, still dazed. Her own driver was supposed to be waiting nearby—but it was toote to turn back now. She made to tell William, but decided against it.


    She pulled out her phone, sent him a message, and told him to take another route.


    When she received his reply, her heart finally began to settle.


    It wasn’t until they hit the wide, open road that her heart stopped racing. She still had no idea what triggered the rm.


    And William? Showing up out of nowhere like that? That made even less sense. She turned to look at him. “Did you get there before me?”


    William sat there, calm as ever. You’d think he hadn’t just pulled her out of a ce rigged with rms.


    “I heard you messing with the lock,” he said tly.


    Ste blinked. “Wait… that was you? You unlocked the padlock?”


    She stared at him. “Okay, but seriously—what were you doing there? Does Briggs Group have some shady connection to Nixon too?”


    That would be news to her. Back when she worked at Neb’s headquarters, Nixon’s name had never evene up.


    William rubbed his temple. “Not Briggs Group. It’s Lawson Group that has a connection to Nixon.”


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    The second she heard “Lawson,” Ste shut her mouth. So, he was here for his fiancée. Of course.


    He nced at her. “You done asking questions now?”


    She hesitated, thrown off by the tone. “Yeah… I’m done.” God. It was just a few questions. Was he always this grumpy when Willow came up?


    William didn’t let it go. “And what about you? Last I checked, Neb doesn’t work with Nixon.” He folded his arms, watching her closely.


    “Nixon is Shaun’s supplier,” Ste replied calmly. “Neb just started coborating with Smith Group, didn’t it?”


    William raised a brow, clearly not buying it. “Funny. I don’t recall that partnership involving any material suppliers. Ms. Russell, are you running little side gigs no one knows about?”


    The sarcasm in his tone rubbed her the wrong way. Ste held his gaze, feeling her chest tighten a little. She hadn’t done anything wrong, had she?


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