?Chapter 597:


    At dawn, she called Marc. “We’ll sign the contract.”


    Just before heading into the institute, Ste crossed paths with Marc at the entrance that morning.


    She handed him the signed contract and said, “Hope this marks the start of a solid partnership.”


    Marc hesitated, then replied, “Stel, about tonight—”


    “Nope. Not now,” Ste cut him off.


    Without giving him a second nce, she headed into the institute. Marc stayed behind, holding the contract, a quietugh slipping out. With that signature, Marc had wrapped up Alonzo’s assignment.


    Now, he finally had what he needed to rebuild the Walsh Group—and maybe stand beside Ste again.


    Thinking about everything that could finally fall into ce, Marc slid into his car and drove off.


    After signing the contract, Ste enjoyed a rare, calm week. She didn’t bump into William once. Someone at the institute had mentioned he was out on a business trip, so Ste figured he wasn’t in the city.


    Soon enough, the day arrived for Alonzo’s shipment to pass through customs.


    Ste took the morning off and drove down to the port.


    Marc’s car showed up about ten minutes after she did.


    Ste stood by the docks, eyes fixed on the shipment being unloaded, ready to inspect it.


    Marc followed a few steps behind and murmured, “Stel, the materials are good, right? We already double-checked everything, didn’t we?”


    Ste didn’t reply. She had the container doors swung open the moment the lock came off.


    But as soon as she looked inside, she stopped cold.


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    The materials inside weren’t the ones she had seen before. They looked almost identical but were totally different beneath the surface.


    The moment Ste picked one up, a chill crept down her spine. Something was off.


    She spun around and faced Marc, her tone sharp. “What is this supposed to be?”


    Marc looked baffled. “Isn’t this the same batch we checkedst time?”


    Ste hurled the materials toward him. “Look again! Does that even resemble what we approved?”


    Marc’s expression shifted as realization crept in. Something didn’t add up. “Stel, wait—let me exin,” he said, fumbling his words. “I have no idea what happened. Let me call Mr. Briggs real quick!”


    Marc caught the look in her eyes—doubt twisted with fury—and his nerves kicked in.


    He stepped aside, pulling out his phone to call Alonzo, hoping for answers. But what he got left him speechless.


    A few minutester, Marc walked back to Ste, looking shaken.


    “They’re the materials they’re actually supposed to send. Correct?”


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