?Chapter 674:


    William let out a slow sigh. Back then, he hadn’t been ready to tell anyone how he really felt—not even Rutherford. Even when Rutherford had asked directly, William had brushed it off. He never thought Rutherford would twist that silence into a free pass to go after her himself.


    “People change,” William said tly. “I like her now.”


    That answer made Rutherford pause, really looking at him for a second. “So what happens now?” he asked. “I like her too.”


    Rutherford wasn’t the type to chase women. Never had been. But Ste was different.


    She’d walked straight into hispany, all the way from Choria, bold as hell, asking for his equipment. She’d bet on herself—and won. Rutherford had never met a woman with such confidence.


    Later, Ste won the bet, just as she’d said, and got the equipment for free.


    It was the first time Rutherford had ever lost a bet.


    Ste Gilbert wasn’t just some woman. She was one of a kind. And he wasn’t about to let her slip away.


    When he first met her, Rutherford had asked William—out of courtesy—if there was anything between them. If William had admitted to liking Ste, Rutherford would’ve backed off. But William had said he wasn’t into her.


    So Rutherford had taken that as the green light. He wrapped up his work in other cities and came to Choria to spend more time with her.


    Now, suddenly, William was saying he liked her?


    “Look, I get that people change,” Rutherford said, his voice steady. “But don’t expect me to just bow out because you changed your mind. I like Ste, and I’m going to pursue her.”


    He took a step back and added, “I’m not telling you not to go for her. I’m just saying—don’t throw shade at me for doing the same. I asked, you answered. If your story’s changed, that’s on you, not me.” No bad blood, no grudges—just fair y.


    With that, Rutherford turned and headed for his car parked nearby, shutting down any further conversation.


    William stood there for a moment, jaw clenched, then exhaled hard and walked toward the lot to find his own car.


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    Back at home, Ste didn’t notice when William returned. She’d already showered and knocked out cold.


    She didn’t stir once through the night. The next morning, it was her phone buzzing on the nightstand that finally pulled her out of sleep.


    “Hello?” she mumbled, still half-asleep, not even checking the caller ID.


    “Ms. Gilbert, it’s Rutherford,” came the voice on the other end. “I’m at your apartmentplex’s gate, but the security guard won’t let me in. Can you vouch for me?”<fn7597> For original chapters go to find(?)ovel</fn7597>


    Ste jolted upright, suddenly wide awake. She could hear the guard in the background. “He’s my friend,” she said quickly. “Let him in.”


    The guard didn’t ask questions. Rutherford was allowed in, still on the call. “Figured you probably haven’t eaten yet,” he said. “Brought you breakfast.”


    Ste blinked, still groggy. “Yeah… I haven’t,” she said, rubbing her temples.


    Rutherford seemed thrilled to catch her before breakfast, and within ten minutes, he was ringing her doorbell.


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