?Chapter 167:


    After finishing the gift shopping for William’s grandfather with Rita, Ste decided to pick up a small present for Rita too.


    Rita looked genuinely surprised, her eyes shining with warmth at the unexpected gesture.


    “Ms. Russell, this is way too generous. I really can’t take it!” she said, clearly flustered.


    Ste simply smiled and slipped the gift box into her hands. “Come on, just take it. It’s nothing fancy.”


    It was a delicate little brooch from Sterion—a brand Ste owned the copyright to.


    Only then did Rita ept it with pure joy.


    “Thank you so much, Ms. Russell. You’re incredibly kind,” she eximed.


    Ste epted the shopping bag from the clerk and passed it to Rita. “You’re kind too, always helping me keep the ce in order without asking for anything.”


    Ste truly appreciated Rita, not just for cooking, but for everything she did.


    Just as they stepped out of the store with their shopping bags, they unexpectedly ran into two familiar faces in the alley outside—Jazlyn and Marc were heading their way.


    Ste paused for a moment, remembering Marc’s vi was nearby. She hadn’t expected to bump into them here—what terrible luck.


    Assuming it was a coincidence, Ste didn’t pay them any mind and started to walk off with Rita.


    The moment Marc and Jazlyn saw her, their eyes lit up. They had been nning to go to the institute to track her down, but fate had handed her to them early.


    Marc quickly stepped in front of her, cutting her off. “Stel! How long are you going to pretend? You’re not Sylvia—you’re Ste. Aren’t you scared someone will find out?”


    Ste arched an eyebrow and calmly looked at the two of them. “And what exactly changes if I admit it or not?”


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    She truly didn’t understand why Marc was still so obsessed with all this. Whether she was Ste or Sylvia, it didn’t matter—she didn’t love him anymore. She didn’t even want to see him. As far as she was concerned, they were nothing.


    Marc’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “So you’re finally admitting it, huh?”


    Before she could respond, Marc pressed on, “You’re Ste Russell—my wife. We never divorced. I never signed those papers. You’re still mine!”


    Watching him get so worked up, Ste took a step back andughed coldly. “Marc, didn’t you dig into my background? I’m Sylvia Gilbert. Every record says I’m single. Is reading that hard for you, or are you just in denial?”


    He still thought she was his wife?


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