?Chapter 1281:


    For the Carter family, that was already a huge concession. They were practically begging.


    William, however, didn’t even bother to hide the mockery in hisugh. A quick, soft sound—but sharp enough to slice through thest bit of hope Lance had been holding onto.


    Fixing his sleeve with an air of bored elegance, William looked at them like they were kids performing a terrible school y. “Lance, you seriously think your family has something I want?”


    He leaned in slightly, eyes sharp, voice cool and vicious. “The Carter family is a pebble in my way. If I want to kick it aside, I will. End of story.”


    William wasn’t the reckless type—never had been. Back when the Carters had nothing to do with him, he couldn’t have cared less whether they rose to the top or fell off the map.


    But now? If they didn’t know their ce, he wouldn’t hesitate to let Arlo’s men handle them.


    That was the entire point of keeping Arlo close.


    “You—!” Lance’s whole body shook. His fists were clenched so tight his veins nearly popped.


    He had never been insulted like this. Not in front of his grandfather. Not in front of his staff.


    Karson stepped forward, face grim but voice calm—the kind of calm only decades of experience could produce. “William, what exactly did Ste do? She might not even know what’s going on. Why go after her like this?”


    And that—that question hit a nerve.


    For a split second, the ice in William’s eyes cracked. Something darker slipped through—rage, hurt, betrayal so deep it twisted the air around him.


    Everyone kept insisting Ste was innocent.


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    But what about him? What had he done wrong?


    People rushed to shield her,fort her, defend her. And he could still hear her voice—raw, desperate—screaming that the man she loved most was Marc.


    How was he supposed to swallow that?


    Just as quickly, he shut the emotion down. His face turned cold again. “She doesn’t need to understand anything,” he said tly. “She only needs to pay the price for what she’s done.”


    He didn’t exin. He didn’t intend to. In his mind, the lies fed to him had already carved themselves in stone. To him, her betrayal wasn’t a misunderstanding—it was a scar he couldn’t forget.


    Lance finally lost it. “What could she possibly have done that’s so unforgivable? What ‘price’ are you even talking about?!”


    William barely looked at him. His expression said everything: Lance was not worth the exnation.


    William’s voice dropped, cold and dismissive. “If you’re done talking, leave. If you won’t, I’ll have my men throw you out.”


    Lance stepped right into his space, eyes zing red. “If you don’t hand over my sister today, I’m not leaving this house.”


    Then, without waiting for a response, his gaze shot over William’s shoulder toward the staircase. And he ran.


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