?Chapter 989:


    He wasn’t clueless. He’d noticed the shift in her right after she came back from meeting with Marc and Nina.


    She’d imed it was just a casual chat. Said nothing important came up. But he wasn’t an idiot — he knew that was just a cover-up.


    And now, he regretted not putting a mic on her tracker. If he had, maybe he wouldn’t be sitting herepletely in the dark, guessing what had made her suddenly put up a wall.


    His relentless questions chipped away at her defenses.


    Ste shut her eyes and took a long breath.


    Perhaps she should ask him one more time and give him onest chance. Maybe Nina was wrong. Maybe the ring wasn’t even his. Or maybe he’d just been trying to find the right moment to tell her.


    What if she was wrong to assume the worst?


    Slowly, Ste turned back to him. Her eyes met his — deep, confused, and filled with hurt.


    Her voice was calm, but her words wereced with something heavier. “William, is there something you’re not telling me?”


    As soon as she asked, her heart jumped into her throat. Deep down, she still had a little hope. Just a sliver.


    She wanted him to bring up the ring. To say something — anything — about his ties to Erebus. Even if it was a weak excuse, even if it didn’t fully make sense… as long as he said something, she was ready to believe him.


    William saw the serious look on her face. For a second, something flickered in his eyes — quick, subtle. But just as fast, he shut it down.


    He pulled on that same calm mask he always wore. His brows knitted slightly in fake confusion, and his voice came out soft, like he was genuinely puzzled.


    “No. Why would I hide anything from you?”


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    And just like that, the thread of hope inside her snapped clean in half.


    He said no. He said no.


    Just like that — cool, calm, like he had nothing to hide.


    He lied. Straight to her face.


    Disappointment mmed into her, followed by a wave of cold anger. Her chest tightened. Even her fingertips trembled.


    She stared at the face she used to trust without question. The man she once leaned on without doubt. Now… he felt like a stranger. A beautiful lie she’d fallen for.


    Wasn’t this the same man who swore he’d never hurt her again? Who promised no more secrets, no more lies?


    She yanked her gaze away, afraid that if she kept looking at him, her real emotions would burst out.


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