?Chapter 144:


    Ste froze, horrified. It was like fate enjoyed setting her up—every encounter with William ended in some impossible misunderstanding. How was she ever supposed to clear her name at this rate?


    Before she could even sputter out an apology, the door suddenly swung open, and a sharp, using voice pierced the room. “What on earth are you doing?”


    Nathalia showed up at the hospital today and, to her surprise, ran into Luca. Excitement surged through her. William must be here as well. Without hesitation, she decided to look for him. Since returning from the research facility, she had been searching for the right moment to see William again.


    But he never picked up her calls, always saying work kept him upied. So when she finally got the chance toe by, she hadn’t expected the scene that greeted her when the door swung open.


    They were… together. Back at the institute, she’d already gotten the sense that Ste didn’t know how to keep proper boundaries. And now, that gut feeling seemed spot on. How could she be this bold? Ste had already pulled away from William.


    She cleared her throat awkwardly and tried to exin, “I lost my footing… It wasn’t on purpose.”


    Nathalia’s mouth curled in disdain. “Really? You just happened to fall straight into his arms? Do I look that naive to you?”


    William nced at Nathalia, his expression darkening. “You’re crossing a line.”


    Nathalia froze for a split second, but quickly realized her tone might havee off too harsh. She inhaled slowly, then softened her expression with a smile. “I… I was just surprised, that’s all. I didn’t expect to run into you here. Actually, there’s something from the institute I wanted to discuss. Do you have a few minutes for coffee?”


    William didn’t hesitate. “If it’s about the institute, speak to the director. He’ll pass along anything relevant. I’ve got other things to handle.”


    The light in Nathalia’s eyes faded immediately. “But William, we—”


    “Is there anything else?” he cut in. “If not, I’ll have to ask you to leave. Someone here needs to rest.”


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    The message couldn’t have been clearer.


    Ste felt a sharp jolt, then turned toward him with a mix of disbelief and frustration. Once again, he was using her to drive someone away. What a ruthless man.


    Nathalia’s heart clenched at how openly he showed concern for Ste. Her lips tightened, and she left.


    Ste followed her with her eyes until the woman vanished, then shifted her attention back to William. She let out a few soft clucks of disapproval and shook her head.


    “Mr. Briggs, that was harsh. Ms. Fuller obviously cares about you. Maybe you should just be honest with her. Who knows? She might even take it well.”


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