Chapter 64

Stella froze for a second. She turned and found it was WVilliam. He was now walking toward the garage.

He took a few steps before realizing she wasn't behind him. Turning around with a slight frown,he asked, "Aren't you coming?"

She was momentarily at a loss. Wasn't he supposed to have left with the project team?Why was he still here?

Mind reeling with questions, Stella followed him to the parking lot, where she watched him effortlessly lift her suitcase with one hand and place it in the trunk.

He opened the driver's side door but glanced back at her before getting in.

"Get in." Two words, low and firm. Not a request.A command.

Stella hesitated but finally climbed into the passenger seat. After all, her suitcase was already held hostage.

"Mr. Briggs, weren't you supposed to leave with the project team? Why are you..."

She trailed off. She wanted to ask why he was here and where he was taking her.

The questions were stacking, but William didn't seem eager to answer.

Instead, he fired up the engine, and the car shot forward like a bullet.

As they sped past the institute's gates, Stella spotted Marc out front, pacing like a man possessed. Her heart jumped, and she instinctively turned her face away from the window.

The silence inside the car grew thick. She occasionally glanced at William, who was focused on driving, as if she wasn't even there.

Stella tried to break the silence. "Mr. Briggs, did you see Marc out there?"

William didn't even glance at her. "Do I look blind to you?"

She blinked, caught off guard. "Sorry."

He let out a dry, humorless laugh, as though her apology was pointless.

She wasn't the one who invited Marc there. Why was she apologizing?

Stella exhaled, her voice low. "If I hadn't gone to that charity event last night, maybe he wouldn't have shown up today."

She didn't regret confronting Marc-only the trouble it brought to everyone else.

That guilt weighed heavier than her own anger.

"That's very. considerate of you," William said with a soft chuckle, but his tone made her wonder if he was mocking her.

Stella fell silent. She didn't even ask where they were headed. She figured wherever it was, he probably wasn't driving her off a cliff. -

The stoplight ahead turned red. As the countdown ticked, William finally spoke again."The core project members' names aren't public. For confidentiality. The list that went out was only partial."

Stella blinked. Her breath hitched. She stared at him.

Was he saying...?

"You mean... I'm on the confidential list?" she asked, voice rising slightly.

William didn't answer, only hit the gas when the light turned green.

But Stella leaned forward, eyes shining with hope. "I'm willing to join. Are we heading to the team now?"

No matter what role she was assigned, she was

eager to join the team.

He gave a soft "Mm" in response. Then added casually, "But if you join... have you thought about what to do with your husband?"

She tensed.William continued, "He's not going to let this go. Especially now that you didn't show."

Stella leaned back slowly, her voice calm but cold. "I'm done with him. I've signed the divorce papers. Once I'm on the project team, I'll erase every trace ofmyself. Let him think I'm dead for all I care. Let him regret it for the rest of his life."

William gave her a sidelong glance.Letting Marc believe she was dead?

That was... intense.

Still,he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Stella stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past. "Besides, he has bigger problems. The patent theft, the stuff with Haley

-he'll be too busy dealing with that mess to even think about me."

Her voice had a trace of satisfaction. It was ironic,really.

Haley had tried to destroy her, and in the end,she'd dragged Marc down with her.

Someone as selfish as Marc wouldn't have come today unless he thought it served his interests.

The thought made Stella chuckle coldly

William glanced her way, taking her in. There was something new in his eyes-something closer to recognition.

She definitely wasn't the naive woman people mistook her for.

When she decided to be tough, she didn't just dip her toe in-she dove straight into the fire.

And strangely, William admired that about her.

Blind submission was dull. Mindless rebellion?Just exhausting.

But Stella struck a rare balance-soft where it mattered, sharp where it counted.

She'd clearly learned where the line was-and when to cross it.

After a moment, he spoke again. "Don't worry about Marc. The institute will deal with him."

Stella blinked at him but didn't question it.

Whoever handled Marc... he was no longer her problem.

Back at the institute's entrance, Marc was still yelling,demanding to see Stella.

He knew she was still in there-she hadn't returned home.

His eyes were wild. His fists slammed against the gate. "If she doesn't come out,| swear-l'll tear this whole damn place down!"