?Chapter 1171:


    Karson remained silent for a long moment before speaking. “Let it be. What about William?”


    Lance sighed. “After the wedding incident, he and Marc went into the forest to find Ste. Since then, nothing. We still don’t know what happened.”


    Karson frowned. They only knew that Marc had returned—Ste unconscious in his arms.


    Nina had been taken in by the police.


    Karson’s voice turned grim. “William’s disappearance can’t stay hidden forever. When the truthes out, the Briggs family will face turmoil.”


    Lance met his gaze. “Then it’s better that Ste isn’t involved. At least she can live in peace.”


    It sounded selfish, but it was the truth.


    Karson nodded. “If William’s people need help, we’ll assist. But Ste must remain unaware. Forcing her to remember could affect her recovery.”


    They both understood—amnesia was a fragile defense. Forcing the past back into her mind could shatter it.


    “Marc wronged her once,” Karson said quietly, “but this time, he saved her. We owe him.”


    Without Marc, they would have lost her.


    Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Lance stared into the night sky. The city lights shimmered faintly in the ss, but all he could see was Ste’s smile at the hospital—bright, serene.


    …and heartbreakingly pure.


    In the end, he chose silence. Preserving the illusion was easier than shattering her fragile peace.


    He knew his decision was selfish—perhaps even unfair to William. But after everything Ste had endured, he couldn’t bring himself to destroy the one thing that made her truly happy.


    Still, William’s disappearance weighed heavily on him. He had already dispatched people to search, and he expected news soon.


    After a long pause, Lance turned back toward Karson. His voice was steady, but his eyes held a bone-deep exhaustion.


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    “And about Nina…”


    Marc’s words had been difficult for Lance and Karson to ept, but deep down, they both knew he was right. With Nina missing—just like William—uncertainty filled the room. No one knew what had be of her.


    The men Nina had sent to carry out the ambush were soon exposed after being interrogated by Luca’s team. Details of her involvement quickly reached them through Lance’swork of informants.


    Thinking of his granddaughter brought a weary, defeated look to Karson’s face.


    He had always known Nina held no fondness for Ste, but he never believed she would let that resentment drive her this far.


    “Nina is intelligent and proud,” Karson said quietly, “but this is the road she chose. Find her and bring her to me. It’s time she takes responsibility for what she’s done.”


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