?Chapter 1369:


    Ste shivered yet refused to step back, chin lifted, stubborn even while fear flickered in her eyes.


    That defiance only fed the suspicion wing up his spine.


    He stopped close enough to feel the warmth of her breath. Leaning in, he murmured, deadly quiet, “Ste, what game are you ying?”


    She shook her head fast, eyes wide and guileless. “No game. I just wanted you to have something on your birthday. Dr. Vance said you never celebrate. There wasn’t even cake.”


    She stole another nce at him. The ck frosting still clung to his lower lip, turning the terrifying man momentarily, absurdly boyish.


    William caught the flicker of amusement in her eyes andpressed his mouth into a hard line.


    He stepped back and took the gift box from her outstretched hands.


    It was heavier than it looked. He set it on the mahogany desk and lifted the lid with deliberate care.


    Ste, unaware of his reaction, mustered the courage to face him. “Do you like it? I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure what you’d prefer, but I thought this might suit you.”


    Before she could finish, William’s hand closed around her throat and pinned her hard against the wall.


    “Didn’t you say you couldn’t remember anything? Then how do you remember the stargazing telescope?”


    He still remembered their past clearly: the two of them using that telescope to look at the stars together.


    Ste met his furious eyes. Her heart raced and her breathing grew shallow.


    Just as she felt she might pass out, he suddenly let go. Her legs gave out. She slid to the floor, coughing hard and clutching her throat.


    Your next chapter is here gα?ησν???s


    Terror filled her eyes—had he really meant to strangle her?


    He stood over her and demanded in a low voice, “Ste, answer me.”


    She had insisted she remembered nothing of their past. So why had she chosen a telescope?


    Ste didn’t understand why he was so angry, though she had a faint idea.


    She took several deep breaths, stood up, and asked, “Did we use a stargazing telescope together before?”


    Her question made him angrier, but when he saw how pale she was, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her again. He turned away. “Get out.”


    This time, Ste left the study without hesitation.


    Jewell was no longer in the living room. A servant said he had left half an hour earlier.


    Ste sank onto the sofa, still shaken by William’s outburst. Was her n to gain his trust only to destroy him a mistake from the start?


    A servant noticed the red marks on her neck and asked, “Ms. Russell, would you like some ointment?”


    Ste touched her neck, felt the sharp pain, and shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m tired. I’ll go rest upstairs.”


    .


    .


    .