?Chapter 1278:


    Even now she was shielding Marc.


    His jaw flexed as he stared down at her, eyes sharp enough to cut straight through her. “So even if he’s already abandoned you, you’d still pick him?”


    Ste lifted her head and red at him. The fear from earlier was gone. What reced it was raw, simmering hate. He had destroyed the one future she had fought so hard for, the one she could practically touch.


    How was she supposed to feel anything else?


    She gritted her teeth. “Yes. I love him. I’m going to marry him. I’ve loved him my whole life.”


    The words hit him like a gunshot.


    “Love him?”


    His handshed out before she even blinked. Fingers mped around her throat and pinned her against the cold wall. Not enough to cut off her breath, but enough that she felt the threat curl around her like a noose. His eyes were bloodshot, wild, the kind of wild that didn’t think about consequences.


    “That’s what your love means? That you’d forgive him the moment he betrays you? That after everything I did for you, after almost dying for you, you still run to him without looking back?” His voice dropped, rough and dangerous. “Ste, your love is worthless and shameful.”


    The pressure on her neck made her whole body shudder. The words stung worse than the grip. Terror and fury tangled inside her until she could hardly breathe.


    “Let go! Let me go, you bastard!” She wed at his arm, nails digging hard. “I never betrayed you! I don’t even know you!”


    For a moment, something in her eyes—fear, disgust, rejectionnded sharply enough to make him flinch.


    He dropped his hand from her throat, but only so he could seize her wrist. His grip was iron, bruising instantly. “You’ll remember,” he said, voice low and cracked around the edges. “I’ll make you recall every piece of what you owe me. Until the debt is paid, you’re not leaving.”


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    Nor would shey eyes on Marc again!


    Because Marc had a debt of his own.


    “You’re insane! You’re a devil!” Ste screamed, jerking and thrashing, but it was useless. He was too strong. Too determined.


    She cried until her voice rasped, cursed him until her throat burned, begged until her knees gave out. He didn’t budge.


    The torn wedding dress around her, the ruined room, her hair sticking to her wet cheeks—it all sat like proof of a storm neither of them had been willing to step away from. And now they were trapped in the aftermath.


    Meanwhile, chaos had erupted at the Carter mansion.


    Word of the ruined wedding shot through Choria like lightning. Karson and Lance dragged themselves home after dismissing guests, both looking grim and exhausted.


    Karson’s face was pale with fury, the hand braced on his cane trembling.


    Lance paced like he was seconds from exploding. He never imagined William would be bold enough to drag Ste away in public.


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