?Chapter 37:


    “Ugh!” Marc bent over as a wave of nausea swept through him, his gut twisting from the stench clinging to his soaked clothes.


    The cleaningdy jumped back in rm, her apologies tumbling out in a flustered rush.


    Marc clenched his jaw, knowing that exploding at her here would only make him look even more pathetic.


    He stood there shivering, the icy, foul-smelling water seeping through everyyer and sticking to his skin.


    Still, when his gaze drifted toward the restroom, his pride refused to let him retreat. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he shook off the cleaningdy’s hand and snapped, “Enough! Just go—don’t bother me!”


    The cleaningdy blinked in surprise at his outburst. Taking in his pitiful state and stubborn refusal to leave, she silently concluded he really was a stalker.


    At least that poor woman had managed to get away from him.


    Having fulfilled her end of the deal, the cleaningdy hurried off, eager to put the bizarre scene behind her.


    Marc, left standing in a puddle of humiliation, awkwardly dabbed at his ruined shirt, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Still, he stubbornly refused to budge.


    Did Ste really think a cheap stunt like that would get rid of him? Not a chance. There was no way he’d believe Ste would actually hole up in a restroom all day just to avoid him.


    Stepping out of the bustling mall, Ste finally breathed easier.


    She hadn’t witnessed Marc’s humiliation herself, but the mere thought of his uptight, obsessive self sttered with dirty water was more than enough to lift her mood.


    Marc, of all people, loathed mess. The idea of him reeking and sticky, frantically scrubbing himself clean, almost made herugh out loud.


    She headed for the curb, hand half-raised to g down a taxi, when her phone buzzed deep in her purse. Pulling it out, Ste hesitated—an unfamiliar number shed across the screen, but something about it made her skin prickle with recognition.


    Stay connected at g?lnσν???s


    She answered warily. “Hello?”


    A honeyed but sharp voice immediately cut in, all pretense gone. “Ste, how much longer are you going to keep pestering Marc? He’s finished with you. Why don’t you have a little dignity and let go?”


    Haley’s words dripped with mockery, her supposednguage barrier nowhere to be found. The performance was so ridiculous, Ste almost snorted.


    A steely glint flickered in Ste’s eyes as she answered, her tone icy and unhurried. “Maybe you need a reminder—Marc and I are still married, whether or not love is involved. Thew’s on my side. So tell me—who said you could call me up and start hurling usations?”


    Haley’s lips parted, but nothing came out. For several seconds, she stood frozen, speechless.


    “I’m not here to fight with you. Why don’t youe over so we can talk face-to-face? It’s simple—the one who isn’t loved is always the third wheel. Take my advice and know your ce.”


    A coldugh slipped from Ste, mocking and sharp. “Haley, is this really what the Smith family taught you? To meddle in other people’s marriages and y the mistress? I guess when you’repletely shameless, there’s nothing left to lose. It’s almost admirable, how you can spout this nonsense without a single scrap of dignity or self-awareness.”


    Haley’s face twisted with fury. “You’d better watch your mouth!”


    Ste arched an eyebrow, thoroughly unimpressed. Did Haley honestly think she could intimidate her?


    “I’ve got better things to do than y along with your bullshit. Maybe try focusing on the Walsh Group’s plummeting profits instead of pestering me.” Ste’s finger hovered over the screen, ready to end the call, when a cold, familiar voice cut in from the other end of the line. “Ste, how could you speak to Haley like that?”


    It was Jazlyn—Marc’s mother.


    A thin smile curled on Ste’s lips. No wonder Haley sounded so bold. Clearly, she had Jazlyn backing her, ready to swoop in at a moment’s notice.


    Jazlyn had never bothered to hide her disdain for Ste. From the beginning, she’d seen Ste as a nobody—someone with no useful connections, no value to offer the Walsh family.


    Now, with Haley in the picture, Jazlyn acted like a shameless tterer, siding with anyone she thought could benefit her precious son.


    “You’d better show up right now,” Jazlyn snapped, her voiceced with threat. “Let me make this clear, Ste—clinging to my son will get you nowhere. You’re nothing but a burden to our family. If you have any sense left, you’lle to the Voyage Hotel immediately. If not, you can face the consequences.”


    Ste hadn’t nned on indulging their drama, but at those words, her expression tightened. After a beat of hesitation, she set her jaw and changed course.


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