?Chapter 869:


    Nina trembled with rage at Ste’s calm confidence. Pointing at her, she blurted, “Don’t be so smug, Ste. You think William’s sweet on you? He’s been hung up on his childhood sweetheart for years! You’re just a distraction, something to kill time. Once he’s bored, he’ll throw you aside. You’ll never mean a thing to him!”


    His childhood sweetheart?


    The words jolted Ste. She vaguely recalled whispers about William once having a first love, but she had never met this woman—and William himself had never brought her up.


    Keeping her expression cool, Ste smirked back at Nina. “If he really has this so-called childhood sweetheart, it’s obviously not you. So, what gives you the right to lecture me?”


    If William truly had someone special hidden in his past, then Nina was no better off than she was.


    Ste’s sharp retort hit a nerve. Since Nina’s return from abroad, William had barely spared her a nce, much less treated her as someone important. It had always been Nina trying to create a connection between herself and William.


    Nina’s face flushed, then drained of color, as though she’d been pped. No words came—only the bitter taste of humiliation burning in her throat.


    Done with the exchange, Ste gave Nina a cold nce before turning away.


    She had no patience left for Nina’s games.


    But as she walked off, Ste’s mask ofposure began to crack.


    The mention of William’s childhood sweetheart clung to her mind like a shadow she couldn’t shake. She remembered hearing hints in the past—that William had once loved someone deeply, someone he could never forget. The thought unsettled her.


    Could it be true?


    If that were true, what did all of William’s confessions to her mean?


    That afternoon, Ste was restless, her focus shattered. Her work efficiency dropped sharply.


    By the end of the day, she packed up in haste—something she never did. The institute had always felt like home to her.


    Just as Ste stepped out of the building and headed for the parking lot, a tall figure blocked her path.


    William. His brows were faintly furrowed, his deep eyes locked onto hers, filled with confusion.<fn3761> This update is avable on find?novel</fn3761>


    “Ste.” His voice was low, edged with hurt. “We need to talk.”


    She froze, instinctively averting her gaze. “What’s there to talk about?” Her feelings toward him wereplicated—she hadn’t epted his proposal, so why should she be the one constantly exining herself?


    And yet… she couldn’t meet his eyes.


    William’s eyes seemed to hold a maic pull, one that threatened to draw Ste in when she needed to stay clear-headed.


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