?Chapter 1295:


    They didn’t know exactly what had gone down between them, but whatever it was—it had burned hot enough to leave scars. And if William was really offering them a taste of the woman he used to love… well, that was an opening none of them expected.


    They couldn’tpete with William in power or money. But this? Getting to toy with someone he once cherished? That was tempting.


    Ste could feel it. Their eyes crawled over her skin like ants, and her shoulders curled in without thinking—trying to make herself smaller.


    Like amb thrown into a room of wolves.


    William finally looked at her. There was no warmth in his gaze. Just ice. He let his eyes roam over the dress—his choice—then lingered on the way she trembled beneath it, her shameid bare.


    Nothing in his expression changed. Just cold detachment.


    A flicker of disdain.


    Then, he said calmly, “Come here.”


    She flinched. And then she moved.


    The room didn’t erupt inughter ormentary. But every single nce dragged against her like sandpaper.


    Each step toward him felt like walking barefoot over broken ss. The distance was short, but it stretched and stretched—until her legs went numb. Still, eventually, she reached him.


    That mocking curve at the edge of his mouth nearly undid her. She felt it rise in her throat, the burning wave of humiliation so sharp it made her sway. Her fingers curled into the fabric at her sides, gripping tight.


    William didn’t spare her a nce. He tilted his chin toward the low table beside them, where several sses of liquor had already been poured. “Go serve the drinks,” he said. “One for each executive.”


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    That was it. No name. No title. No introduction. Just an order.


    As if she wasn’t a guest or a person—just a tool. A pretty decoration meant to pour drinks and entertain.


    Something hollowed out in her chest. Never in her life had she imagined being pushed this far. Forced into a role she hadn’t agreed to. Forced to serve the very type of men she’d spent her life avoiding.


    Her hands twitched. She didn’t move.


    William’s voice came again, this time with an edge. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”


    She didn’t answer. Her jaw clenched.


    Of course she didn’t want to. He knew that. He’d dragged her here, stuffed her into this dress, thrown her to these wolves—and now he wanted her to y hostess like it was a choice?


    William’s smile faded. “Then leave,” he said tly. “But don’t forget—your family will pay for your pride.”


    Thatnded like a de to the gut. She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again.


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