?Chapter 386:


    Ste turned to face him. “Alright. What would you like to eat, Mr. Briggs?”


    He thought for a beat. “Just something simple. Homemade.”


    She blinked. “You want me to cook?”


    William gave her a look of mock innocence. “Why not? You used to cook all the time. It’s not like it’s hard for you, right? Or… are you not that grateful, Ms. Russell?”


    She let out a quiet huff, halfway between augh and a sigh.


    “I moved everything out of the kitchen across the hall,” she said coolly. “And I’m guessing yours is just as empty. By now, whatever’s left in the grocery stores is probably stale. Let’s just eat out. If you’re worried about quality, I’ll take you to a five-star ce.”


    He looked slightly let down but didn’t argue.


    They left the research institute dorm and headed into town. Ste picked a decent-looking restaurant along the way.


    Once they were seated, William poured her a ss of red wine and slid it across the table. Then, as if casually, he added, “I have the victim’s family’s contact info. Want it? I can send it over.”


    Ste gave a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’d be a big help, Mr. Briggs. Thanks.”


    He shrugged and sent the file from his phone.


    Before she could even open it, he asked, “When are you nning to meet them?” She hadn’t thought that far ahead.


    “Depends on their situation. If you know more, I’d appreciate it.”


    William cut into his steak with practiced ease, the soft background violin music giving the whole scene an oddly elegant feel—like something out of an old painting.


    “They’ve had a rough few years,” he said casually. “Tried to leave Choria a few times but never went through with it. Still, they’ve never made a move to reopen the case or say anything about Nixon.”


    So they were just… pretending nothing happened? Ste frowned, her mind racing. Something about this didn’t sit right. What exactly was going on?


    William’s expression turned a little serious. “Nixon couldn’t have done all this alone—there must be people backing him. The families who stayed quiet back then were probably threatened or paid off. Everyone in Choria knew what had happened, but even if there were more victims, no one dared to stand up to him.”


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    Ste had a hard time epting that. In a world where justice supposedly prevailed, one person might be weak, but what about when people stood together? Surely, there was strength in numbers.


    The more she thought about it, the more determined she became. “Since you know where they are, I’ll go find them sometime this week.”


    Seeing the fire in her eyes, William didn’t have the heart to discourage her. “Wednesday’s the only day I’m free.”


    Ste was puzzled. “What’s your schedule got to do with me?”


    William paused mid-meal, looking at her. “You’re not seriously nning to go on your own, are you?”


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