?Chapter 177:


    But when they reached the vi, things slipped—literally. Haley lost her grip, and the two of them tumbled forward like rag dolls.


    The jolt snapped Marc a little out of his drunken daze. He blinked, winced, then looked up at her. For a second, he just stared—then came the realization, like a p. It wasn’t Ste. It had been Haley the whole time!


    “What are you doing here? Haven’t I been humiliated enough already?”


    Haley gawked at him, stunned. The change in his tone threw her off guard. “Marc, your friends asked me to bring you back. I didn’t mean to trip, but you can’t justsh out at me like that.”


    “You pretended to be Stel.” His voice was low, bitter. “Don’t think I don’t see through you. You’re trying to take her ce—but you never will.”


    Haley lost her patiencepletely. She shoved him hard, and he staggered. “Fine. I’m done. Go find your precious Ste—if she even gives a damn about you anymore!” She turned and walked off, fury in every step.


    Marc stood there, dizzy from the push, the world spinning around him until everything went dark.


    He was roused by the re of horns and the sting of the cold wind. His head throbbed. He groaned and sat up slowly, his eyes catching the blur of cars rushing past. People walked by, giving him puzzled, amused looks.


    Only then did it hit him—he’d passed out by the roadside.


    Marc’s face tightened. He looked down, trying to piece together the night before. Around him, the whispers started.


    “Wow, is he really just lying there? So funny!”


    “He must have been hammered. Who even lets him drink that much? Wait, who is he anyway? Looks kinda familiar…”


    Each word pricked at Marc. He clenched his jaw and pushed himself off the ground. But as he stood, something felt off.


    He looked down and froze. His belt fromst night was gone, and so was his watch. It was clear someone had taken advantage of his drunken state to steal them.


    ???э$τ ?нαρτ?я$ íπ galnoνe?s


    Marc’s face darkened. Humiliation wrapped around him like smoke. He tugged at his pants to keep them from sliding down and stormed off without a word.


    Ste finished her long day in theb, rolled her shoulders, and pulled out her phone. A message from Sharon lit up the screen—sent ten minutes ago.


    “Hey, want to grab a drink tonight?”


    Ste didn’t have to think twice. “Sure, I’ll be there within an hour!” she typed back.


    Then she remembered William. After a moment’s pause, she shot a quick message to Rita. “I’ve got something to do tonight. Won’t be able to cook—let William handle dinner himself.”


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