Grace Winslow returned to school and went straight back to her dorm with Joanne Chase to wash up and sleep.

The next day, she borrowed a phone and called Sean York. She explained the situation and asked him to report it to the police.

The previous incident with the human traffickers had made her extremely cautious. ’Until I’m strong enough to protect myself, I can’t be a hero, or I’ll just be asking for retaliation.’

She wasn’t afraid for herself, but she was terrified of getting her family involved.

As for Sean York, she knew he could definitely find a way to pass on the information without revealing her identity.

Sean York was stunned when he received Grace Winslow’s call. Without a second thought, he rushed out of his office to find Archer Rhys.

Archer Rhys happened to be investigating an international artifact smuggling case, so Grace Winslow’s tip couldn’t have come at a better time.

Sean York found Archer Rhys and explained the situation. Archer Rhys raised an eyebrow. He was surprised; he’d been searching for these people for ages, and Grace Winslow had just stumbled upon them by chance.

"Alright. Arrange for a couple of your people to hang around Crestwood University and see if there are any suspicious characters. This crew is very cautious. Since Grace Winslow has seen them, they won’t let her off the hook so easily. They might try to make a move on her. Just in case, make sure she’s well protected." Archer Rhys patted Sean York’s shoulder and strode away.

He needed to plan the operation immediately, to take the whole group down in one go and guarantee Grace Winslow’s safety.

Remembering that Joanne Chase had also been involved, a chill ran down Sean York’s spine. He hurried off to find some people.

His men were all agents. They didn’t just introduce people to houses for sale; they also helped with rentals and job searches. It was completely normal for them to be hanging around a university, so no one would suspect a few agents.

Besides, Sean York himself went to Crestwood University from time to time.

He was a Crestwood University graduate, so the security guards at the gate were familiar with him and never stopped him.

"Young York, you’ve been coming around a lot lately. You got a girl you like in there?" the old security guard at the gate asked, chuckling at Sean York.

Sean York scratched his head. "You can’t just say things like that, sir. Even if it were true, you shouldn’t spread it around. It’s not good for a girl’s reputation."

"Hahaha! You’re not getting any younger, you know. It’s about time you started a family. But a college girl... she’ll be hard to win over," the old guard said with a loud laugh.

After that bit of teasing, he let Sean York in.

Sean York wandered around the campus.

He knew Joanne Chase was in the foreign languages department, but he didn’t go looking for her, just strolled casually around campus.

As it happened, he ran right into Joanne Chase on her way to class.

Joanne Chase froze for a moment when she saw him, then the tips of her ears turned red.

She trotted up to Sean York and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. Are you heading to class?" Sean York scratched his head, replying a little sheepishly.

Joanne Chase’s heart was pounding. "Yeah, my schedule is packed today. I don’t have any free time. Mondays are always busy."

"What about tomorrow?" Sean York asked without thinking.

Joanne Chase’s face grew even redder. "I don’t have class tomorrow afternoon."

"Then I’ll come find you tomorrow afternoon? Do you want to go out? We can go anywhere you like."

Joanne Chase’s first instinct was to say no.

But she had feelings for Sean York. She had told him before that she wanted to wait until after graduation, once she had a stable job, to think about a relationship.

She couldn’t suppress the impulse to be with him.

But she knew there was a huge gap between her and Sean York.

’Marrying into the York family would be nearly impossible for someone like me—a penniless orphan girl from the countryside with nothing to her name.’

"Alright," Joanne Chase said, her expression turning serious. "But don’t come looking for me at school anymore. It won’t look good if people see you. I’m only a freshman; my main priority is my studies."

"Don’t worry. I was just concerned for your safety, so I came to check on you," Sean York said with a nod.

After walking Joanne Chase to her classroom, Sean York stood outside for a good while before turning to leave.

He didn’t spot anyone suspicious at the school gate.

But Sean York didn’t let his guard down. Worried that something might happen to Grace Winslow and Joanne Chase the moment they stepped off campus, he arranged for different people to linger and keep watch every day.

The next day, he picked up Joanne Chase, and the two of them went to see a movie.

Everything was going well. But just as they were leaving the theater after the movie, a man suddenly charged at them.

Before Joanne Chase could react, Sean York instinctively sensed the danger. He pulled her into his arms, shielding her with his body.

The next moment, a sharp pain shot through his waist. Fresh blood stained his white shirt, and the thick, metallic scent of it stung the air. The surrounding crowd screamed in terror. Shielding Joanne Chase, Sean York spun around and sent the attacker flying with a kick.

Seeing the commotion, the theater’s security guards rushed over and quickly subdued the assailant.

Sean York’s body slowly slumped to the ground.

Her face deathly pale, Joanne Chase struggled to hold him up. "S-Sean... Sean York, you... don’t scare me! Are you okay? Please, don’t scare me... Help! Somebody help us!"

Seeing Sean York’s ghastly pale face, Joanne Chase was so terrified her mind went blank.

Someone quickly called the police, and the officers arrived at the scene moments later.

Sean York was rushed to the hospital, and Joanne Chase went with him.

The assailant was taken into custody and brought to the police station.

Joanne Chase sat on a bench outside the operating room, anxiously twisting the hem of her clothes, her mind a complete blank.

Sean York’s injuries were severe. The blade had pierced his kidney, and he had lost so much blood that he’d gone into shock by the time he arrived.

His parents were notified by the hospital and rushed over soon after.

"How could this happen? How could he just be attacked out of the blue? Did they say why? Did they?"

Sean York’s mother looked to be just under fifty. She was a dignified, elegant woman, but at that moment, her face was filled with terror and anxiety.

Ryan York supported her, comforting her in a gentle voice. "It’s alright. Sean is tough as nails. A little wound like this won’t kill him. Don’t worry, he should be out soon."

"How can I not worry? He’s my son! It’s easy for you to talk—you didn’t give birth to him, so you don’t feel the pain, do you?" Megan Dalton raised a hand to slap at him.

Ryan York caught her hand. "Don’t hurt yourself. It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that."

Seeing his sincere apology, Megan Dalton just huffed.

No one noticed Joanne Chase, who was waiting anxiously nearby.

Looking at Sean York’s family, Joanne Chase finally realized just how vast the gap between them truly was.

It was obvious his family was very well-off. His father traveled with a guard, and his mother was dignified and elegant, impeccably preserved, and clearly from a privileged background.

And she...

She sat there, her mind a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts.

When the doors to the operating room finally opened, Ryan York and Megan Dalton both rushed forward. Only then did Joanne Chase get to her feet and drift dazedly in their direction, desperate to see how Sean York was doing.