?Chapter 1338:


    “What did I do?” she spat. “Why don’t you ask what William did to me?” She held up her bandaged hand, voice shaking with rage. “Because I made Ste drink a few extra sses at a party, he had someone cut off my finger. Are you satisfied now? I’m disabled.”


    Lance flinched. He stared at the hand, the blood-soaked gauze, not quite believing it.


    Nina’s eyes were ssy and sharp. “You think I’m lying? Of course you do. Everyone always thinks I’m lying.”


    She stepped back inside and tossed a folded hospital report at him.


    “You only ever see Ste. Shees back and ruins everything, and you all worship her like she’s untouchable. Now I’ve lost everything because of her.” Her voice cracked. “I’ll never be able to do research again. I’ll never measure up. So congrats, Lance. You got what you wanted.”


    Lance picked up the report and scanned it. The damage was real.


    He hated what Nina had be. No—he hated what she chose to be. Time and again, she’d gone after Ste like it was some twisted personal mission.


    And yet… she was still his cousin. The same girl he’d watched grow up.


    He never thought William would actually go that far. Cutting off her finger? That was beyond anything he imagined.


    Nina turned her back, walking slowly into the dim interior of the apartment. She left the door half-open—not quite inviting him in, but not shutting him out either.


    A silent white g. Or maybe she just didn’t care anymore.


    Lance stepped inside. The room was dark, the curtains pulled tight.


    He looked around, then back at her slouched figure. His voice was low. Firm. “Nina, you wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t kept going after Ste. At that party, you led those rich brats like it was a game. You let them corner her, humiliate her. You pushed and pushed, and now look where it got you.”


    Nina sank into the sofa and let out a cold, bitterugh.


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    “Yes, I chose this. I know that.” Her voice wavered, then steadied. “But why are you here, Lance? To mock me? You haven’t seen me as your cousin in a long time. I might as well be dead to you.”


    She turned away defiantly, refusing to look at him.


    Lance watched her—this girl who used to be so proud, so sure of herself—now pale, hollow, wounded. Something twisted in his chest.


    But then he remembered Ste shaking in fear, Ste being dragged around and targeted again and again. He remembered every mess Nina had made.


    Any pity he felt died just as quickly.


    He let out a slow breath, then said, “Since you’re around, go home. Visit your parents. They’re worried about you.”


    Her parents still thought she was overseas. They had personally dropped her off at the airport, hugged her goodbye—unaware she’d snuck off the ne and thrown her life into chaos the moment they left.


    Nina’s tears spilled over again, silent and hot.


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