?Chapter 85:


    “Haley, what’s wrong with you? How could you even suggest turning Ste in? She’s the woman I married. I’d never do that to her!” Marc’s voice rose with disbelief. The thought of Ste being arrested made him sick, and he knew Haley wasn’t being honest.


    Haley’s eyes welled up with what looked like hurt. “Marc, how can you think I meant it that way? That’s not what I was trying to do. I just thought… if you filed a report anonymously and then stepped in to pull some strings, she’d have no choice but to rely on you. That might bring her back.” She sounded sincere.


    Marc went quiet, weighing her words. Was that even possible?


    “This might be the only option you have left,” Haley continued softly. “You’re the head of the Walsh Group. If you choose not to press charges, nothing will happen to her. She won’t end up in prison. But think about it, she’s made so much progress in just six months. The usual ways won’t reach her anymore.”


    It was true. Halfway into the year, she had grown even more impressive.


    She had more choices now, and maybe that was why she no longer looked his way.


    But what if she had nowhere else to turn? If he helped her… could she really keep walking away from him?


    As Marc’s expression began to shift, Haley recognized that he was thinking about it.


    And while he stood there silently, her eyes gleamed with something sharp and bitter—something he never noticed.


    Marc did have the power to decide whether or not Ste ended up behind bars. But if word got out that she had stolen Walsh Group’s confidential material, her reputation would copse.


    There wouldn’t be a singlepany in all of Choria, or even in Briset, that would take her in.


    The influential figure backing her now would walk away the moment she lost her usefulness.


    And when that happened, Ste wouldn’t stand a chance against her.


    At Briggs Group, Ste followed Luca into William’s office.


    Luca gave a polite nod and quietly stepped out.


    Now only the two remained.


    Ste looked toward the man behind the desk, focused on the files before him.


    His features were breathtakingly sharp, as if carved from marble. Even after seeing him so many times, she still found herself catching different traces of beauty in his expression. It was almost unreal.


    She cleared her thoughts and began her update. “SummitRise Group has agreed to work with Neb. I gave them my word that the proposal would pass in its original form, with no edits.”


    William lifted his head to look at her.


    Ste braced herself, expecting a lecture, maybe something about making risky promises. She thought he might demand that she ensure its approval.


    But instead, he gave a slow nod and spoke with an unexpected softness. “You’ve done well.”


    Ste blinked in surprise. That was it? No criticism? “You’re… not upset?”


    William let out a lowugh. “Why would I be?”


    “But… what if SummitRise ends up rejecting the proposal?” The payout would be huge.


    “They won’t,” he replied calmly. “You were sure about that before you made the call, weren’t you?”


    His tone was light, almost like he was remarking on something ordinary.


    Ste fell silent, caught off guard. She had believed she was the confident one, but clearly, it was William.


    She turned slightly. “If that’s all, I’ll return to my desk.”


    There likely wouldn’t be much more for her to do with SummitRise now.


    William ced his pen aside, opened a drawer, and pulled something out. “Hold on. Take this with you.”


    She looked down and saw a sleek ck credit card resting on the desk. It looked like one of those rare global exclusives. “You want me to pick something up for you?”


    That was the only reason she could think of—why else hand her the card?


    William’s lips lifted in a faint smile. “It’s for you. Think of it as an early payment. Buy yourself something you actually like, maybe clothes.”


    She happened to be wearing a dress he had chosen for her that day. Her figure was graceful and well-proportioned, but she stuck mostly to in T-shirts and jeans.


    Though she had the frame to wear anything well, her outfits always downyed it.


    Ste gave him a confused look. “I have plenty of clothes.”


    William raised an eyebrow. “You mean those washed-out outfits you wear to theb?”


    She fell silent.


    Were they really that bad?


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