?Chapter 295:
Reba sat stiffly as the group buzzed around Ste, praising her brilliance and clever ys. From where she sat, their words felt sharp—each one a reminder of the attention she had failed to earn.
Her hands tightened into fists beneath the table. She’d thought this game would be her moment to shine—an easy win that would leave Ste humbled. Instead, the n had backfired spectacrly.
Now, all eyes were on Ste, and not with suspicion, but with admiration.
And worse, the door to their private room had been left slightly open. Every burst ofughter and cheer that followed Ste’s victory drifted right out into the hallway, where someone else was listening.
Steven paused at the door of the private room, his eyesnding on a familiar figure. Ste?
There she was—sitting confidently among a table of strangers, most of them men. Laughter buzzed around her, and she handled it all with effortless grace. No nerves, no attitude. Just poise.
Steven hadn’t expected this. He’d just returned from his recovery trip in Asnain and stopped in for a quiet dinner—not a surprise reunion with Ste.
Still, what caught his attention more than anything was how at ease she looked—surrounded by a crowd of sharp-dressed, sharp-jawed men—and yetpletely unfazed.
She looked… radiant. But why was she here? Did William even know about this? Steven stepped away from the door and pulled out his phone, dialing a familiar number. “William. You won’t believe what I just saw.”
The voice on the other end was clipped. “Get to the point. I’m busy.”
“Don’t be so cold,” Steven said, faking a wounded tone. “Come on, today’s the day I got back from Asnain. You didn’t even show up to wee me, and now you won’t even listen?” His voice caught theatrically, just enough to be annoying. “I get it—you love burying yourself in work. But today’s different. I’m sending you the restaurant location. Get over here. Now.”
“I told you, I’m busy,” William replied tly.
Steven rolled his eyes. Typical.
Seeing William’s indifference, he let out a long sigh. “Fine. Stay glued to your desk. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—skip tonight, and someone else might just steal your girl.”
There was a pause. “I just saw Sylvia,” Steven continued, now casually twisting the knife. “She’s here. Surrounded by a bunch of young guys—every one of them over six feet, great hair, strong jawlines… legs for days. Honestly? It’s quite a show. Not really your vibe anymore, old man.”
His tone dripped with amusement.
On the other end, William frowned.
He knew Ste had finished work on time and left the institute—but dining with a group of random men? That part wasn’t in the schedule. He stared at hisptop screen but couldn’t focus on a single word.
.
.
.