Chapter 543

Steven's company had provided him with an apartment. It had everything he needed.

"Annie, you…" Steven was surprised by Annie's pale face. She looked ill.

Annie hugged Steven and nuzzled against his chest. She pleaded, "Put your arms around me, Steven. Hold me."

They had shared some intimate moments—holding hands and kissing—but Annie rarely acted so openly. Steven felt their relationship had progressed to a new level. His heart ached for her vulnerability, and he embraced her tightly.

"Don't be scared. No matter what happens, I'll face it with you. Believe me, Annie," Steven said softly.

Tears silently streamed down Annie's face. Her eyes were red and swollen.

Steven looked down at his tear-stained shirt, feeling a pang of anguish.

"Really? Will you believe me no matter what happens? Will you face it with me? Can I believe you, Steven?" Annie asked softly.

Steven gently caressed her head. "Yes. You can always trust me, even when you doubt everyone else. Since I chose to be with you, I've prepared myself to face any challenges with you."

Steven rarely made promises, but when he did, he kept them.

Annie was deeply touched. This was the first time she had experienced such genuine support. Simultaneously, regret filled her. Would she be in less trouble if she hadn't agreed to Grayson and Thomas's plans? Would she feel less hesitant with Steven?

Unbeknownst to her, Steven had captured a place in her heart. Although not as significant as Joe, she couldn't ignore his importance to her.

"Steven, I believe you. I know you're kind and will keep your promises. That's why I chose you," Annie said softly.

Steven noticed she seemed calmer. He took her hand and led her to the couch. They sat down.

Annie saw a glass of milk and a plate of half-eaten eggs on the dining table. She asked, "Have I interrupted your breakfast? You should eat first."

Chapter 343

"I'm not hungry. Let's talk about what's happening with you," Steven said softly.

Annie bit her lip. "You should eat first. I'll tell you afterward."

Steven smiled warmly. He nodded. "Alright. I'll eat, but I can eat while you talk."

"We're not in a rush," Annie replied, clenching her hands into fists.

Steven didn't insist. He sat down and finished his breakfast.

While waiting for the fondue, Skylar called Paul. On unlocking her phone, she saw the video he had sent—a complete recording of Annie entering and leaving the room, captured by the hotel's high-resolution security cameras. Her face was clearly visible.

Skylar replied, "Thanks." She immediately downloaded the video.

She planned to talk to Steven about Annie that night.

Joe watched Skylar. She ignored him. He found her anger adorable—a genuine side he rarely saw. It brought them closer. He was willing to appease her.

"How can I appease you? How about I let you have your way with me next time?"

Changes Made:

• Improved sentence structure and flow: Many sentences were restructured for better readability.
• Corrected grammar: Minor grammatical errors (e.g., subject-verb agreement, tense consistency) were corrected.
• Standardized punctuation: Inconsistent punctuation was corrected for clarity.
• Replaced informal language: Words like "hostel" were replaced with more appropriate synonyms ("apartment").
• Removed redundancy: Repeated phrases were eliminated.
• Improved word choice: More precise and descriptive words were used where appropriate.
• Added clarity: Ambiguous phrasing was clarified.
• Corrected apostrophe usage: Corrected errors in possessive apostrophes.

The revised text is more polished and professional in tone while retaining the original narrative.