?Chapter 980:


    A thick awkwardness settled over the dining room. Rita stood to the side, tense, barely breathing.


    She didn’t know exactly what had gone down between William and Ste, but anyone with eyes could tell something wasn’t right. Just to be safe, she’d told the rest of the staff to give them space.


    William didn’t pick up his fork again. He just sat there, watching her. His gaze wasn’t angry—just confused, hurt.


    It was painfully clear. Somewhere betweenst night and this morning, Ste had shut him out.


    Her cold, detached tone. That repetitive, emotionless “nothing.” It was like tiny splinters driven straight into his chest.


    He kept watching her as she quietly ate, eyes drifting everywhere except toward him.


    His fingers curled around the edge of the table, knuckles nching for a moment—but in the end, he didn’t say a word. He just forced himself to finish what was possibly the most suffocating breakfast of his life.


    The car ride to the institute was dead silent. Nothing but the soft hum of the engine filled the space. William opened his mouth a few times, like he wanted to speak—to exin, maybe, or just ask why—but the look on Ste’s face warned him off every time.


    When they pulled up in front of the institute, she got out without a word. Back straight, chin high, not even ncing his way.


    Same as that morning—not once did she look back at him.


    In the front seat, Luca could practically feel the chill in the air. He nced at William through the rearview mirror and asked carefully, “So… should I wait here, or are we heading back to Briggs Group?”


    William let out a sigh, rubbing his forehead. “Briggs Group.”


    .cóm is the source


    He couldn’t sit in the same space with her right now. Not when she was acting like he was invisible.


    The car started moving again, quiet except for the hum of the engine. After a pause, Luca spoke up again, hesitant. “If you don’t mind me asking, sir— is Ms. Russell upset with you?”


    William didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.


    Luca took that as a yes. “I mean… if I may—women aren’t that hard to figure out, usually. You just gotta know what you did, then fix it.”


    William let out a humorlessugh. “That’s the thing. I don’t know what I did.”


    That caught Luca off guard. He blinked, surprised—clearly expecting the boss to at least know why he was in trouble.


    With nothing more to say, Luca went quiet. The rest of the ride passed in silence.


    Back inside the research institute, the familiar halls and sterile lights gave Ste a small sense offort. But the stares she got? Sharp. Judgmental. Like tiny pins pricking at her skin with every step.


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