Chapter 1050:


    “Thank you for meeting me,” he said, his voice low.


    He hadn’t expected her toe. She had turned him down so many times before—always tired, always busy, always out of reach.


    But tonight, she didn’t flinch. Her gaze met his directly, unwavering. “If you have something to say,” she said coolly, “say it now. And stop chasing after me like this.”


    William folded his hands on the table. His voice slowed. “Ste… Erebus is targeting you because they believe the ne holds secrets—secrets buried in the past. But you’ve had it for years. It doesn’t make sense that they’d suddenly realize its importance now—unless someone told them.”


    Ste’s expression barely shifted, but her pupils narrowed. “You’re saying someone leaked the truth? Deliberately?”


    He nodded. “Erebus has people everywhere. They blend in. You could pass one on the street and never know.”


    Her breath caught. “Besides us, who else knew about the ne’s secret?”


    “The Carter family,” William replied without hesitation.


    Ste froze. Her mind immediately went to Nina.


    The Carters had been good to her since she reunited with them. Lance and Karson had always been kind. But Nina… she was different. There had always been tension between them.


    Still, when would Nina have learned the truth about the ne?


    A memory surfaced—her luggage left at the Carter estate.


    Lance had told her the ne had fallen out.


    What if Nina had seen it first?


    The switch had been subtle, carefully concealed. But if Nina had noticed… if she had realized…


    A chill ran down her spine.


    If Nina had discovered the truth back then and chosen to leak it to Erebus, it meant her grudge ran far deeper than petty jealousy.


    “Luca’s already looking into it,” William said quietly. “We should have confirmation soon. If Nina is involved, then I—”


    g?lnσνe??s is your update hub


    Ste cut him off sharply. “If it’s Nina, I’ll deal with it. Not you.”


    This wasn’t just about her mother anymore. It was about family—about the entire Carter legacy.


    William paused, reading the determination in her eyes. He gave a slow nod, backing down without protest.


    A heavy silence hung between them before he spoke again. “Stel, I know you haven’t forgiven me—for the secrets I kept. But we made a promise. We started this together. Let’s finish it together. Don’t shut me out.”


    He didn’t expect her to want him back. But being ignored, being treated like he didn’t exist—it was unbearable.


    At the research institute, she walked past him like he was invisible. Every time, it felt like a de twisting deeper. He just wanted to stay beside her—even if only as a friend.


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    Message from Noah: Have a great week dear readers, God loves you, and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ??? ? ??? )?


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