?Chapter 402:


    “Syl, what do you think? If you’d rather have lunch alone with me, I’m good with that too.”


    That word “alone” made Ste’s scalp tingle.


    She nced over at Willow, who was still waiting outside with hopeful eyes. “Let’s go together,” Ste said quickly.


    Refusing the offer would seem awkward—like she was really into William, as Willow imed, and couldn’t stand seeing him with her.


    Shaun caught her tone and didn’t press further. He rolled up the window and started the engine.


    At the restaurant, just as everyone sat down, Willow—who had been sticking close to William the entire time—suddenly turned to Ste with a smile. “Ms. Gilbert, could youe to the restroom with me?”


    Ste raised a brow. Were they even close like that?


    Willow seemed to expect the hesitation. She leaned in and whispered, “Please… I’m kind of in a jam. You know how it is—woman to woman?”


    Ste wanted to say no. Badly. But seeing Willow sping her hands like she was begging, refusing would’ve looked cold.


    Once inside, Willow slipped into a stall like she didn’t need anything at all.


    But less than a minuteter, a soft, embarrassed voice came through the door.


    “Ms. Gilbert… my period just started. Do you happen to have a pad?”


    “No.”


    Ste’s cycle was always regr—she didn’t carry pads around daily.


    “Oh no… what should I do? Could you maybe… buy me a pack? I really can’t go out like this…”


    Ste sighed. “Any particr kind?”


    Willow’s voice brightened a little. “Anything’s fine. Whatever you get is perfect. Thank you, Ms. Gilbert!”


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    The restaurant was in a mall, so Ste figured she could grab a pack from the convenience store downstairs in under ten minutes.


    “Alright. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”


    She quickly asked a waiter for directions and took the esctor down.


    She grabbed a pack of her usual brand and came back with the bag in hand. Standing outside the stall, she knocked lightly. “Miss Lawson, here’s what you asked for.”


    No response from inside.


    Ste waited a beat, then called out again, “Miss Lawson, I got the pads you asked for. Can you open the door?”


    Right as she finished speaking, the stall door creaked open—but the person who stepped out wasn’t Willow. It was aplete stranger.


    The woman shot Ste a confused re. “Are you outta your mind? Myst name’s not Lawson.”


    She mumbled something under her breath, washed her hands, and walked out. Ste stood there with a bag of sanitary pads in her hand.


    There were only a few stalls in the restroom, and the others were clearly empty. She knew which one Willow had gone into.


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