?Chapter 823:


    Ste pressed her lips together, silent for a beat. Finally, she said firmly, “Fine. I’ll ask him myself. But don’t think this clears you of what you did.”


    Marc lifted both hands in mock surrender, a careless smirk tugging at his lips, as if her judgment didn’t matter in the least.


    Ste turned away, forcing her emotions back under control. But Marc caught the flicker of hesitation in her eyes. A satisfied gleam crossed his face. This was what he wanted—to nt seeds of doubt between her and William, to watch her faith in him crumble piece by piece.


    Ste felt utterly drained. She turned to leave. Marc’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind.


    Was she so naive? William was a Briggs. Would he truly go against his own uncle… risk everything, just for her?


    Her thoughts were spiraling when a sudden tug snapped her back. Marc’s hand mped around her wrist, jerking her into his arms.


    “Stel,” he rasped, his breath hot against her ear. “Don’t put your hopes on that hypocrite. He’s no better than me. But at least what we had—it was real. I’d treat you better than he ever could.”


    Her stomach lurched in disgust. In a sh, Ste wrenched her bag open, pulled out pepper spray, and sted it straight at him.


    “Let go of me, you bastard!”


    Marc hadn’t expected that. He ducked, but the spray still hit his eyes. He staggered back, blinking furiously.


    Seizing the chance, Ste stomped down hard on his foot.


    “Ahh!”


    Marc howled, doubling over in pain. His grip ckened.


    She tore free and bolted toward theb, heart pounding. How dare he try something so brazen—in broad daylight!


    But Marc wasn’t giving up. Still clutching his stinging eyes, he stumbled after her.


    At that moment, a sleek ck Rolls-Royce screeched to the curb. The window slid down, and William stepped out, his expression thunderous.


    He had ordered Luca to stop the car the instant he caught sight of Marc harassing Ste.


    Nuevos capítulos en g?lnσv?ls


    “Marc, you’ve gone too far!”


    Before Marc could react, William’s fist crashed into his jaw.


    The blownded with brutal force, sending Marc sprawling across the pavement like a rag doll.


    Marc groaned, clutching his face, but still managed to sneer through the pain. “William, what gives you the right? You think no one knows about your dirty secrets?”


    William’s only answer was a vicious kick to his stomach.


    Marc screamed, curling up on the ground, gasping like a broken shrimp. William didn’t spare him another nce. He strode forward, grabbed Ste by the wrist, and pulled her behind him, shielding her from prying eyes.


    Ignoring the onlookers’ shocked whispers, William guided her quickly into theb.


    Ste hadn’t expected him to appear, let alone like this. Stunned by his sudden intervention, she forgot to resist as he pulled her along.


    Inside, the air was quieter, but Ste’s pulse still raced. William’s gaze dropped to her pale face, his chest tightening with worry.<fnb949> This content belongs to find(?)ovel</fnb949>


    He could see the storm of emotions in her eyes—confusion, doubt… and something that cut deeper, a flicker of disgust. It chilled him to the bone.


    His voice came out hoarse, unsteady.


    “He didn’t… do anything to you, did he?”


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