?Chapter 669:


    Rutherford looked genuinely happy as he led her toward the group.


    Ste figured it would just be a casual thing with a few of his buddies. What she didn’t expect was to find William already seated at the table.


    That’s when it clicked. Rutherford and William were friends.


    She should’ve remembered. Thest time she borrowed the equipment from Rutherford, William was the one who brought it back.


    She mentally scolded herself for forgetting that detail.


    Rutherford, unaware of the tension bubbling in her chest, motioned for her to take thest open seat beside him. “Man, finally! What took you so long?”


    “And when were you going to tell us you’ve got a girlfriend?”


    Everyone wasughing and teasing, and Ste felt a little ufortable. She wanted to correct them that they weren’t a couple, but it didn’t seem like the right moment.


    “Alright, alright, enough messing around. Didn’t someone say we’re ying a game?”


    William sat tucked in the corner, his eyes locked on Ste.


    Ste could feel it—that intense stare burning into her skin. She tried to brush it off, act normal, but it was impossible to ignore.


    Her whole body tensed up, uneasy under the weight of his gaze.


    Noticing her difort, Rutherford leaned over and asked, “Is the chair notfy?”


    Without waiting for an answer, he handed her a cushion.


    Caught off guard, Ste just nodded and took it. “Thanks,” she said, even though the chair wasn’t the problem at all.


    Someone suggested from across the table, “Since there’s a bunch of us, why don’t we just y Truth or Dare?”


    Ste had a sinking feeling they’d go there.


    Truth or Dare was a staple at gatherings like this—especially when people were itching for gossip. She already knew how this would go.


    Ryan Spencer, ever the hype man, chimed in, “If no one’s against it, let’s start.” He reached for the bottle, but James cut in, clearly unimpressed. “This game again? Can’t we do something else for once?”


    Ryan shot him a look. “Geez, James, don’t be that guy. Let’s vote. Show your palm if you’re in for Truth or Dare, back of your hand if you’re not.”


    Ste wasn’t expecting the turn of events.


    As soon as the voting started, she didn’t hesitate—she showed the back of her hand. She wasn’t one for such games.


    Rutherford nced at her, then casually followed her lead.


    James, obviously, showed the back of his hand too.


    Another woman at the table joined them, quietly raising the back of her hand as well.<fnfd34> Latest content published on find?novel</fnfd34>


    So that made four of them opting out. There were nine people total. Everyone else had already paired off… except William.


    And now, all eyes were on him.


    His vote would break the tie.


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