?Chapter 656:


    He made his way toward the door, his tone calm, but underneath it was a quiet hope that she might ask him to stay.


    But Ste didn’t. Instead, she walked him to the door and handed him a slice of cake from earlier. “Here, take this with you. And goodnight, William.”


    William returned to his room, a little deted, staring at the slice of cake in silence. After all his efforts, she still seemed as distant as ever.


    He sighed. It looked like he still had a long road ahead.


    After Ste’s birthday, Nina kept a low profile at the research institute. Maybe the fallout with Frank had shaken her more than expected. Either way, she hadn’t approached Ste in days.


    Ste was grateful for the quiet, and without distractions, the project her team was handling began to move along faster than before.


    One evening after work, Ste and Sandra stopped by a newly opened bakery to grab some sweets. As they stepped out, they spotted someone familiar across the street.


    Marc. He looked nothing like the confident man he used to be. His stubbled chin and tired face made it clear that he hadn’t been taking care of himself.


    As soon as their eyes met, Marc stiffened. Ste looked radiant, fresh out of the shop with a smile on her face. He braced himself, assuming she’d take one look at his sorry state and mock him.


    She hadn’t expected to see him either, not like this. Rumors said Walsh Group hadn’t signed a single deal in weeks.


    Marc held his breath as she came down the steps toward him. His voice was tense and defensive. “If you’re here tough at me, go ahead.”


    The truth was, he knew he didn’t deserve her sympathy. Back when he was managing Walsh Group, even after snatching her patent, he’d treated her like she was beneath him. And now, with thepany nearly falling apart, she had every reason to look down on him.


    But Ste saw it differently. No matter what had happened, thepany itself hadn’t done anything wrong. So she looked at him and said, “Marc, I’m not here to mock you. If you really want to bring Walsh Group back, then stop drowning in regret and start sharpening your skills.”


    Her words were simple, but they hit hard. Without saying anything more, she walked away with Sandra.


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    Marc stood frozen for a while, but something in his eyes had shifted. Her words echoed in his mind. For the first time in weeks, he didn’t feel hopeless. There was still a chance… if he was willing to fight for it.


    Ste’s words hit Marc harder than he cared to admit. He had been running around, chasing partnerships, pulling strings—yet the core problem remained untouched. Hispany’s tech hadn’t improved one bit. She was right. Raw determination wasn’t enough. He needed real skill.<fnfef2> Chapters first released on fι?dnοvel</fnfef2>


    As she walked away, Marc stood there, frustration simmering beneath the surface. She had said only a few words and cut right through him. He had worked like hell to get here, but in front of her, it always felt like he was falling short. Was he destined to always becking before her?


    Marc didn’t dwell on the thought. He turned, got in his car, and drove straight back to the Walsh Group. The moment he stepped into the office, he gave out a bold new directive: to find top-level researchers—anyone who could develop a program better than Ste’s MORE ONE. If anyone delivered, he was prepared to give them Walsh Group shares.


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