?Chapter 1246:


    “Steven,” he said evenly, “what’s going on?”


    Steven stood at once. “Where have you been this past month? Do you have any idea how worried we were? And Ste—”


    He hesitated, ncing toward Nina, then lowered his voice. “Even if she’s marrying Marc, you don’t have to… get tangled with her, right?”


    There were countless women in the world. Why did William always end up between these two?


    William looked at him, expression unreadable. He waited until Steven ran out of words before asking quietly, “Are you done?”


    Steven blinked, caught off guard. Then he gave a small nod.


    “Then you can leave now,” William said calmly. “I have matters to discuss with Nina.”


    Steven’s eyes widened. “You’re kicking me out?”


    What could possibly be so secret that William couldn’t say it in front of him? Steven frowned, disbelief tightening his chest. He had known William for years—stood by him through everything. Their bond ran deeper than any connection William could have with Nina.


    William didn’t answer. He simply sat down in his chair, adjusted his sleeve, and nced up at Steven again—cool,posed, unbothered.


    The message was clear. Steven was dismissed.


    Steven threw his hands up, a gesture of sheer resignation, his words caught like a fishbone in his throat. “Fine, fine! You two have your little pow-wow. I’ll take a hike and get out of your hair, alright?”


    As he walked out, Steven muttered under his breath about how odd Ste and William had be.


    Ste seemed to have forgotten all about William and was now set on marrying a scoundrel, while William himself had turned cold as ice and started getting close to Nina.


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    What a mess.


    Once Steven was gone, Nina quietly approached William’s desk with a bag in hand. She carefully unpacked it, setting the dishes neatly before him. “I made these especially for you. You haven’t been well, and they should help you regain your strength.”


    The food looked and smelled wonderful, but William showed no sign of hunger.


    His gaze stayed fixed on theputer screen as he asked, “How much did Arlo want me to transfer this time?”


    Nina’s heart sank. After a pause, she spoke nervously. “William, I really think you should reconsider. You don’t need to keep dealing with someone as dangerous as Arlo. You’re back in Choria now—he can’t touch you here.”


    William’s fingers stopped mid-typing. He looked up at her. “Who said this was a one-sided arrangement where I only serve him?”


    Nina blinked, not fully catching his meaning.


    “I provide Arlo with funds,” William continued evenly. “But his mercenaries will answer to me. It’s business, not a sacrifice.”


    He hadn’t lost his memory. Every move he made was deliberate.


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