?Chapter 1302:


    He said each word slowly, almost savoring the way color drained from her face.


    Then he leaned in, his breath brushing her ear. Only she could hear the next sentence. “Ste, how many people are you nning to drag down with you?”


    A violent tremor ripped through her—worse than anything Fred had done earlier.


    She forced herself to lift her head. Her eyes met William’s, dark and unreadable. There was no doubt. No hope of him relenting. He meant every threat.


    He was insane. A man with no boundaries, no lines he wouldn’t cross.


    He’d even hurt his own friends if it meant keeping control of her.


    The decision hit her in an instant.


    She couldn’t do it.


    She couldn’t drag Steven into the mess. Couldn’t let Josie or Sharon suffer because she tried to escape. She couldn’t repay their kindness with disaster.


    The small me of hope Steven had handed her… William crushed it without even touching her.


    She should have known. As long as William wasn’t done with his game, she’d never leave freely.


    Steven felt her tremble at his side, felt the helpless way she shrank in on herself. Something snapped inside him. He turned sharply toward William, anger burning hot in his eyes.


    “William, that’s enough. Do you even hear yourself? Does forcing her like this actually make you feel good?”


    Good?


    William didn’t remember what good felt like.


    And wasn’t all of this her fault anyway?


    Mσrε υpdαтes ιn Gαlnσνels.cσm


    Why did Ste—the one who betrayed him—earn everyone’s pity? Even his closest friend?


    Why was he the viin for giving her exactly the consequences she’d earned?


    Did her tears matter more than the pain she’d caused him?


    William straightened, his expression wiped clean except for ayer of cold, sharp indifference. “Steven,” he said, his voice t, “this is between her and me. I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of my business.”


    Steven’s temper snapped. “She’s my friend too.”


    “Friend?” William let out a low, humorlessugh. “Since when? While I wasn’t around? Or is it that you’re interested in her?”


    Steven froze for half a beat.


    Even with all of Choria whispering about William’s ruthless streak, he still thought William had lines—especially when it came to women.


    But now, watching him tear into Ste with no hesitation, Steven could barely recognize the man in front of him.


    He shook his head slowly. “Are you really still the William I knew? What happened to you?”


    William looked away, his jaw tightening. “If you don’t understand what I’ve been through, don’tment.”


    .


    .


    .