?Chapter 1086:


    There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then he finally agreed.


    Nina set the meeting for 12:10 p.m. at a secluded café halfway up the mountain, its tables perched beside a sheer cliff, giving the ce an ominous air.


    William, meanwhile, was already nning his next move.


    The hired killer, pushed into action by Nina, had long since been captured by his team. Even that phone call earlier hadn’t been spontaneous. It was all part of William’s careful arrangement, deliberately staged to lower Nina’s guard.


    William understood exactly what his opponent wanted, which meant he also knew precisely how to manipte Nina.


    That evening, he could have driven straight home, but instead he headed toward the hospital where Ste was staying.


    Inside the hospital room, Jasmine still hadn’t woken up, and Ste sat quietly at her bedside.


    When Ste heard the door open, she looked up and rxed the moment she saw William walk in.


    William sat down beside her and gently took her hand.


    “Is she still unconscious?” he asked softly.


    Ste shook her head, helplessness written across her face. Seeing such a young woman lying there made Ste realize, for the first time, that she had made a mistake.


    Maybe if she hadn’t used someone as a stand-in, Jasmine wouldn’t be in this condition.


    She looked up at William and asked quietly, “What’s the situation with the assassin?”


    William’s expression darkened slightly. “He’s under control now. He’s agreed to testify against Nina and even record a video confession online.”


    It hadn’t taken much. Once William made it clear that silence meant life imprisonment, the man’s resolve copsed instantly.


    He confessed everything about Nina and promised full cooperation, which was why he had answered Nina’s earlier call without hesitation.


    “Stel, Nina—” William began, then stopped.


    He didn’t need to continue. Ste already understood.


    “I’ve given her more chances than she ever deserved,” she said calmly, though a sharp edge lingered in her tone. “If she still can’t value them, then she has no one to me but herself.”


    William nodded. “The Carter family stopped by earlier. I hope they didn’t notice anything odd.”


    Ste let out a scornfulugh.


    Nina had been far too full of herself to notice anything amiss. After confirming with the assassin that Ste wouldn’t survive, she had practically glowed with pride. She then told Karson and Lance that she wanted to go into the ICU to see Ste and speak to her.


    Since Ste had already warned them in advance, the two didn’t intervene and allowed Nina inside.


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