?Chapter 297:


    Sharon, standing at Ste’s side, gave her a gentle nudge. “Stel, are you really up for taking this guy on?”


    Her tone was light, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. William certainly didn’t look like an amateur.


    Ste offered a cool smile, giving a slight shrug. “It’s just a game, nothing to stress over.”


    But this wasn’t the easy, two-person poker she was used to—ying with a crowd raised the stakes.


    As Ste sorted through her cards, a quiet confidence sparked in her eyes.


    Her hand was solid—she could work with this.


    Still, as the game unfolded, it quickly became clear that William wasn’t ying casually. Move after move, he seemed to read her intentions, countering each card she yed with effortless precision. William’s swift victory caught Ste off guard. For a moment, she just stared at him, catching the glint of quiet satisfaction in his eyes before she pressed her lips together.


    She didn’t need him to spell it out—his speed with the cards had easily outpaced hers.


    Lounging across from her, William crossed his arms and shot her a sly, self-assured smirk. “Well, Ms. Gilbert, do you believe me now? Or do you want to lose another round?”


    Ste, unlike the still-bewildered Reba, understood perfectly well that she had no chance against him.


    With a resigned smile, she gave a light, appreciative p. “Mr. Briggs, you win. I surrender.”


    He’d put her on the spot on purpose, wanting everyone to see here up short. Yet, knowing it didn’t change the oue—her skills simply couldn’t match his. Rising from his chair, William took a slow look around the room before fixing his gaze on Sharon.


    “Honestly, this gathering’s lost its spark, hasn’t it?” His suggestion hung in the air, unmistakable.


    Eager to back him up—and determined to keep Shaun and Ste apart—Reba quickly jumped in. “Mr. Briggs has a point. Why don’t we call it a night? No reason we have to stick around.”


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    William effortlessly unraveled Sharon’s meticulously nned gathering with a single, offhand remark. From her perspective, William definitely seemed taken with Ste.


    She gave Ste’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “All right, Stel. I’ll head out. Let’s n another get-together soon.”


    With that, Sharon made her graceful exit, leaving Ste caught awkwardly in the aftermath.


    William turned toward Ste, his gaze steady. “Ms. Gilbert, things at thepany have been hectic. If you aren’t overwhelmed at the research institute, perhaps you could dedicate more time to the Neb project.”


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