Chapter 780:


    With a faint arch of her brow, she replied dryly, “Nina, by family ties, I’m your cousin. No manners at all. Is this really how the Carters raised you?”


    She knew Nina resented her sudden wee into the Carter family. What she hadn’t expected was for Nina to pick a fight this quickly.


    “Cousin? Ha!” Color flushed Nina’s face as she sneered, raking her eyes over Ste. “Don’t kid yourself, Ste. I’m not your cousin. I see right through you. You’re cozying up to Grandpa just to get closer to William, aren’t you?”


    Spending time at the institute had long fed Nina’s suspicions about Ste and William. Whenever anyone asked, Ste brushed it off, insisting there was nothing between them. What hypocrisy.<fn9999> The source of th?s content is fin?novel</fn9999>


    To Nina, it was obvious they had crossed lines, yet Ste paraded around as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. The thought of William ignoring her while chasing Ste made Nina seethe.


    “You’d better back off William. I’ve already told my parents—we’re securing an alliance with the Briggs family. William is mine, your future cousin-inw. Stay away from him, or I’ll make sure you can’t even show your face in Choria.”


    Steughed outright. Nina had just denied their cousin connection, and now she imed William as her future cousin-inw?


    The contradiction wasughable.


    Watching Nina’s fuming expression, Ste only felt bored. “Nina, instead of yapping at me like a bitter ex, why not ask William himself? If he’s ready to marry you, I’ll write a fat check for the wedding and even wish you a lifetime of happiness.”


    She paused, then added, “If you’re done, move aside. I have work to do. Not all of us have time to loiter around.”


    The jabnded, aimed squarely at Nina’s reputation for coasting at the institute, dabbling in everything but serious research.


    Ignoring the venom in Nina’s re, Ste brushed past and continued toward herb, leaving Nina trembling with fury.


    Her manicured nails bit into her palms as she stared after Ste’s retreating figure, wishing she could scorch her on the spot.


    What she despised most was Ste’s indifference. Nothing seemed to touch her. It was like hurling fists at a pillow.


    gα? ησ ν?? ?s is your story hub


    Rage bubbled in Nina’s chest with nowhere to go.


    The more she dwelled on it, the more unjust it felt. William was supposed to be hers. Why was Ste—this nobody—stealing his attention?


    By noon, still wrapped in her striking red dress, Nina stormed to William’s office. Since William had no assistant at the institute, technically anyone could walk in. Most, out of respect for his authority and status as a shareholder, stayed clear unless it was urgent.


    But Nina barged straight through the door.


    William stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, phone pressed to his ear, his brow furrowing at the interruption. He muttered a few words into the receiver before cutting the call short.


    When he looked up and saw Nina, his expression iced over, irritation in on his face.


    “Ms. Carter, what’s this about?”


    William’s voice was clipped and cold, stripped of any warmth.


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    Message from Noah: Have a great weekend dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? – ? ) ?


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