?Chapter 1252:


    The sunlight cut across his profile but could not warm the shadow that had settled there. He stared at the restless city and spoke again, each syble deliberate and cold. “I will make you and Marc pay. You will know what true suffering is.”


    After leaving Briggs Group, Steven got into his car but didn’t start it right away.


    He sat there for a while, staring out the windshield, his mind a tangle of questions that refused to settle. Finally, he pulled out his phone, scrolling down to a contact he hadn’t called in ages—Josie.


    He hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen. Then, with a quiet sigh, he pressed dial.


    The line rang several times before a curt, wary voice answered. “Steven? What do you want?”


    Her tone was clipped, cold—just as he expected.


    Josie had never been fond of him, and with Ste set to remarry Marc, she probably had even less patience now. But if there was anyone who could help him untangle this mess, it was her.


    He forced a lighter tone. “Don’t sound so defensive, Josie. I know I’m not your favorite person, but this isn’t about me—it’s about Ste.”


    A brief silence followed. When Josie finally spoke, her voice was tight with suspicion. “Stel’s life isn’t your business, Steven. She’s about to start over.”


    “Start over?” he scoffed. “With Marc?”


    Theugh that left him was sharp and humorless.


    “You and I both know that’s not what she really wants. Are you honestly going to watch her walk straight into that?”


    “This is Stel’s choice,” Josie snapped, but even through the phone, he could sense the crack in her resolve.


    Steven dropped the friendly act. His voice grew serious, firm. “Then let me tell you something you don’t know. William’s back.”


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    The silence that followed was deafening. Steven could hear her breathing quicken through the line.


    “When?” she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    “Recently,” Steven said gravely. “But he’s not the same. He’s colder, harder—and the way he talks about Ste… it’s as if he’s been brainwashed. That’s why I wanted to meet. I know you don’t want her to end up with Marc.”


    Even though she said she was going to respect Ste’s decision, Steven knew Josie wouldn’t just stand by and watch Ste make a grave mistake.


    He could almost hear Josie’s internal struggle. A few secondster, she exhaled sharply. “Fine. Time and ce.”


    Later that afternoon, in a quiet, private room of an upscale cafe, Steven arrived to find not just Josie waiting—but Sharon as well.


    Josie looked pale, worry clouding her normallyposed expression. Sharon, on the other hand, sat straight-backed in a fitted suit, her eyes sharp as ss.


    As soon as Steven walked in, Sharon crossed her arms and got straight to the point. “Let’s skip the small talk, Steven. You said William’s back. Is that true?”


    Steven nodded, serious for once. “Yes. I saw him myself.”


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