?Chapter 1277:


    Then came the soft scrape of a key sliding into the lock. The click echoed through the room like a death knell. Ste’s pulse spiked with dread.


    The door swung open slowly, light spilling across the floor. William filled the doorway, tall and unyielding. His face was half-shrouded in shadow, but his eyes gleamed cold and predatory—like a wolf that had finally cornered its prey.


    He entered the room without haste, his presence cold enough to make the air feel heavier. The door shut behind him with a quiet thud—but this time, he didn’t bother to lock it.


    His gaze dropped to Ste, trembling on the floor like a cornered creature. His voice, low and steady, carried a cruel calm that cut deeper than any shout. “Did you hear that? Your friends are gone. No one’sing to save you.”


    Ste lifted her head, her tear-streaked face twisted with a mix of fury and despair. Even through her fear, her voice trembled with defiance. “What do you want from me? What will it take for you to let me go?”


    Hadn’t he done enough? He had already destroyed her dignity, torn apart her future.


    Even if she walked free now, she would never have the strength to face Marc again. Her life—her heart—were already in ruins. Was that still not enough for him?


    William didn’t answer. He only moved closer, each step deliberate, his eyes fixed on her pale, hollow face. A faint, merciless smile curved his lips.


    “Oh, right,” he said softly, almost amused. “There’s something I forgot to mention. Since I brought you here, your phone’s beenpletely silent. Apart from those two loyal friends of yours—no one’s tried to reach you.”


    From his pocket, he produced her phone—the screen ck, powerless—and turned it overzily in his hand, as though it were nothing more than a toy.


    He watched as panic surged in Ste’s eyes, and continued, each word piercing her. “Marc—the man you were so ready to marry—hasn’t called. Not once. Not a single message.”


    Ste’sposure cracked. Her scream tore through the room, raw and desperate. “That’s not true! You’re lying! Marc must be looking for me—he has to be! You turned off my phone, that’s why he can’t reach me!”


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    A harshugh escaped William, sharp and humorless. His eyes glinted with cruel satisfaction as he said, “You really think that, don’t you? You keep lying to yourself because it’s easier than facing the truth. Before I shut it off, I waited. I gave it time. And do you know what happened?”


    He bent closer, until she could feel his cold breath brush against her skin, sending a violent shiver through her. “It never rang. Not even once.”


    “Face it, Ste. All that devotion you keep clinging to doesn’t matter to him. To him, feelings are disposable. The second things get rough, he’ll toss you aside. He doesn’t love you.”


    “Stop lying! Don’t say that about him!” Her voice cracked hard, like she was holding the words together with nothing but stubborn hope.


    Ste covered her ears, tears spilling again in hot, helpless streaks.


    “Marc isn’t like that. He cares about me. He loves me more than anyone ever has. Why are you doing this? Why are you ruining everything?”


    Her trembling defense should have softened something. Instead, it only made William’s anger spike like a de driven deeper.


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