?Chapter 1328:


    She sat up straighter, looked Nina in the eye, and answered calmly. “You keep talking about love because you don’t have it, don’t you? Real or not, I have something you want and can’t get. That bothers you.”


    She effectively trampled on Nina’s dignity with her direct and cruel remarks. The adjacent wealthy heirsughed quietly at Ste’s loud voice.


    Nina’s face flushed, then went pale with anger.


    She stood up fast. “You have no shame!”


    Ste didn’t look away. “People who can’t find love are the ones without shame.”


    Nina shook with fury. Those words struck her hardest weakness. Her entire life had been a quest for love, yet it always eluded her.


    She took a deep breath and changed tactics.


    Nina grabbed a bottle of strong liquor, filled several sses, and forced a smile as she held one out to Ste. “I’m sorry, I was out of line.” She raised her own ss. “Let’s drink and forget it. One drink to make up. Please.”


    Ste looked at the clear alcohol and felt her stomach turn.


    The memory of being forced to drink at the club came rushing back. She pulled away. “I don’t drink.”


    Lionel walked over, put an arm around Nina’s waist, and looked down at Ste. “That’s not very nice, Ms. Russell. Nina said sorry. You can’t even take one drink?”


    The other young men joined in right away.


    “Yeah, loosen up! You’re at a party—have some fun!”


    “Come on, it’s only one drink. You’re not seriously gonna leave us hanging, are you?”


    Nina saw Ste hesitate and instantly pounced. A smug little smile curled her lips as she waved the guys on, egging them closer.


    As they sought to force the drink into Ste’s grip, they gathered around her, a chorus of ovepping voices using abination of persuading and coercion.


    Ste was stuck in the midst with no way out. Her prior calmnesspletely disappeared as fear took hold of her once more.


    Ste nced helplessly toward the inner cabin, silently praying that William would appear, but the door remained tightly shut. She had no idea whether he even knew what was happening to her.


    When she refused to drink, several people took it upon themselves to force the wine into her mouth.


    As she struggled to dodge them, others pinned down her arms and restrained her trembling body.


    Everyone on the cruise had heard about William’s recent fallout with Ste. What status could a woman marked by William possibly have left? To them, Ste was nothing more than a toy they could do whatever they wanted with.


    So even though plenty of people stood nearby, not a single one stepped forward to pull her out of danger.


    ss after ss was forced down her throat. Ste felt as though mes were churning in her stomach, each wave of burning pain sharper than thest. Cold sweat gathered on her forehead, and her vision started to blur.


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