Hearing Ste''s words, Haynes felt an uneasy prickle deep inside.


    He''d wanted to teach Ste a lesson, sure—but he''d never really expected to get that billion back. Yet the way she spoke, it was as if she was using him of breaking his word.


    A cold edge crept into Haynes''s gaze. "Ste, have you ever considered what happens if you donate all that money? If you don''t hold up your end of our agreement, you''ll be saddled with a billion-dor debt."


    Ste just smiled. "And did it ever cross your mind that if I dared to give it all away, I''m obviously not afraid of ending up in debt?"


    Haynes''s sharp eyebrows arched, his face cut with a hint of challenge.


    "So you''re counting on me, is that it? Counting on me not to actuallye after you?"


    Ste paused, then let out a peal ofughter. "Haynes, do you really think that highly of yourself? That you wouldn''t do anything to me? You and your cronies cklisted me online, spread rumors to destroy my reputation, tried to get me thrown in jail—and now you say you wouldn''t hurt me?"


    She leaned forward, voice dripping with scorn. "When did you be so shameless, Haynes?"


    A shadow flickered in Haynes''s eyes. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Ste cut him off coldly.


    "Let me guess you''re about to say you weren''t behind any of it? Even if that''s true, you didn''t stop it. You let Jasper do his dirty work, and you just stood by, waiting for the chance to finish me off yourself."


    Ste ced her coffee cup on the table with a sharp clink.


    "You all honestly disgust me."


    For a split second, something unreadable shed across Haynes''s face.


    How did she know all this-sometimes in more detail than even he did?


    Ste met his gaze unflinchingly. "I know why you''re here. You want me to let Jasper off the hook. But let me be perfectly clear: that is never going to happen."


    "He''s targeted me over and over, and you turned a blind eye. Now that he''s finally facing the consequences, you want to talk? Maybe you should''ve thought about that sooner."


    Her tone was biting. "It''s only because he has a friend like you-someone who always cleans up his messes no matter what-that Jasper thought he was untouchable."


    "If he''s ended up here, well, frankly, he brought it on himself."


    "I know you have influence and power, Haynes. It would be easy for you to make Jasper''s problems disappear. But I don''t care. They say pridees before a fall, and honestly, I should thank you. If not for your help, Jasper wouldn''t have gone so far down this path. In a way, you''ve avenged me for what he did."


    With that, she stood, locking eyes with him.


    "As for why I''m not afraid of that billion-dor debt? That''s simple: I know Rachel isn''t going to die. She never had a terminal illness-not from the beginning."


    She was well aware Haynes wouldn''t believe her, but it didn''t matter. Once a seed of doubt is nted, it will sprout sooner orter.


    In his office, Foreman Richards lounged at his desk, sipping tea and scrolling through news on his phone.


    "Haynie, I just saw that all of Ste''s ounts have been unblocked. Every tform has issued a public apology to her... The whole story of Ste standing up to the corporate bigwigs is everywhere, and somehow she''s picked up another twenty million followers. The hype just won''t die down."


    Haynes stood at the window with his back to the room, his expression hidden from view.


    His voice was cool and distant. "She did spend a billion, after all. If she couldn''t


    get at least this much in return, it would''ve been a waste."


    He paused. "And... it seems Ste knows all about Jasper''s little schemes."


    Foreman''s hand froze, teapot hovering in midair. “Oh?"