?Chapter 1153:


    Nina whipped around, her eyes shing. “That clown? Compared to William? Do you have any idea who William is? He’s on apletely different level!”


    Norene shot her husband a worried look—don’t push her further.


    “Nina,” she said firmly, “you’re lucky to still be free. Just live quietly. Please.”


    Nina let out a bitterugh. “You all say let go, move on—but none of you understand. I love him!”


    Daniel’s patience snapped. His hand came down across her face with a sharp crack. “Enough!” he thundered. “Do you want to anger William again? Do you want me on my knees begging for you again?”


    Why was she still hung up on a man who clearly didn’t care about her at all? It didn’t make sense.


    Nina froze, stunned. She touched her cheek as if she couldn’t believe what had happened. Then, with a furious re, she grabbed her purse and stormed out without another word.


    Daniel and Norene exchanged helpless looks. They had a bodyguard follow her.


    Meanwhile, the world outside Nina’s chaos had turned golden for Ste. Wedding ns were in full swing.


    William had just closed the deal on a new mansion downtown—ss walls, skyline views, custom-built for them.


    To Ste, it seemed excessive. William already owned more properties than she could count.


    But William thought she deserved better. The location was perfect—right in the center between the National Research Institute, Neb Group headquarters, and her family’s estate—as if he had calcted her life’s orbit and ced their future home at its heart.


    Ste pointed at the wedding invitation design on the tablet. “I like this one. Clean and simple.”


    William nodded.


    She hesitated. “You’re sure you don’t want the Briggs family involved in the wedding?”


    William slid an arm around her shoulders, his tone cool and final. “They’ve already been informed. Their approval isn’t necessary.”


    To him, a wedding wasn’t a discussion. It was a deration. No matter how much the Briggs family whined andined about it, William remainedpletely indifferent.


    Ste epted it with a nod. “Alright. Your call.”


    Over the next few weeks, wedding preparations kicked into high gear. Ste’s team at the institute rose in influence, her research gaining recognition across departments.


    Nina, on the other hand, didn’t sleep. She spent her days chasing every whisper, every rumor of Erebus remnants still hiding overseas.


    Every time she hit a dead end, she came back harder.


    Desperation made her relentless. Finally—someone responded.


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