?Chapter 668:


    Even as the words left her mouth, she knew they weren’t exactly true. William let out a quietugh. “You can say that to me all you want, but can you lie to your own heart?”


    Her heart?


    That question made her chest tighten for a moment. She hadn’t let herself think about what her heart wanted.


    Then, as if someone snapped their fingers, she remembered something Jane had said to her recently. It pulled her back to reality.


    Her expression firmed again. “Mr. Briggs, I’m not lying to you or myself. I already told you the other day. There’s nothing between us. I don’t feel that way about you.”


    She turned to walk away, but William blocked her path. “Then what’s going on with you and Rutherford? Why did you show up with him tonight?”


    This wasn’t some huge public event; it was a small, private gathering. If Rutherford brought Ste, that meant something.


    And if Ste agreed toe with him, that meant something too, didn’t it?


    Did she realize how it looked?<fn80b1> Discover more novels at FindN()vel</fn80b1>


    Being someone’s plus-one at a party like this usually said you were more than just friends. Was Ste trying to send that message?


    Ste’s brows pulled together slightly. “Mr. Briggs, I don’t owe you any exnations.”


    Yes, she’d once cared about him. She didn’t deny that. But that didn’t mean she owed him anything now—not her loyalty, not her time, and definitely not an answer.


    Even if she came here with Rutherford, that wasn’t a betrayal. William had no right to act like it was.


    And seeing the way she stiffened, William suddenly didn’t know what else to say.


    Ste shot him onest cold look and walked away.


    For the rest of the evening, she kept her distance from him.


    But since it was a small party, it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again.


    After a little while, she saw Rutherford walking quickly toward her. His face looked tense, but as soon as he saw her, he rxed.


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    “I thought you left,” he said.


    Ste smiled. “I said I’d be here. I wouldn’t leave without telling you.”


    She meant what she said. When she gave her word, she followed through.


    Rutherford gave her a warm look. “Some of my friends are starting a game and asked me to bring you along. But only if you feel like it, no pressure.”


    Ste almost said no without thinking. But then she remembered she was here with him tonight.


    She’d already skipped out on chatting with his friends earlier. If she turned this down too, it might seem rude.


    She gave a small nod.


    “Sure, let’s go.”


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