?Chapter 1330:


    But Nina sat stiffly on the deck, terror tightening around her chest as she struggled to figure out what to do.


    She didn’t know how William nned to deal with her, though a small, desperate part of her still hoped that for Ste’s sake, he might spare her.


    Yet the speedboat approaching in the distance shattered everyst delusion.


    A group of bodyguards in ck suits boarded the yacht, their tone respectful yet impossible to refuse as they “invited” her to disembark.


    Nina clung to Lionel’s wrist, trembling. “Mr. Boyd, I don’t want to go!”


    Lionel hesitated for only a moment before pulling his hand away.


    He liked Nina, yes—but he could not afford to provoke William. Between risking his entire family over one woman or cutting her loose, the decision was obvious.


    Nina stared at him, stunned, as he turned away and pretended not to know her. Then, out of nowhere, she let out augh.


    She wasn’t truly shocked. She had always known Lionel wasn’t dependable. What she hadn’t expected was Ste copsing from just a few drinks.


    As the bodyguards escorted her toward the speedboat, she shot Lionel a cold, cutting re. “Lionel,” she said, her voice low and steady, “you’re a coward. You’ll never measure up to William. You’re as spineless as a scared rabbit and destined to be nothing but a useless heir your whole life.”


    Lionel’s face drained of color, his reputation shatteredpletely by Nina’s outburst.


    But he didn’t deny it. Because she wasn’t lying—every ugly detail she’d spilled was true. So all he could do was stand there, silent, watching as the bodyguards dragged her away.


    They took her west, to a long-abandoned warehouse on the city’s edge.


    Two men in ck shoved her inside without a word. The ce was cold, damp, the air heavy with mildew and rust.


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    Nina was scared, sure—but underneath it all, a twisted satisfaction bubbled up.


    So William did care. He was this furious… all for that woman.


    The warehouse doors mmed open. William stepped inside. Still in his tailored suit, tie loosened, sleeves rolled back. His expression was cial. One look from him had Nina instinctively flinching.


    “William…”


    She tried to sound fragile, pitiful.


    But he cut her off before she could finish. “I warned you,” he said, his voice quiet, deadly. “Didn’t I tell you not to touch her?”


    The cold in his tone was worse than yelling.


    Nina’s eyes widened, still ying innocent. “I—I didn’t! She was already sick, and those drinks—those were from Lionel—”


    Crack!


    The p came out of nowhere. So hard and sudden it knocked her to the ground. Her cheek stung violently. A line of blood trailed from the corner of her lip.


    She clutched her face, staring at him in disbelief.


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