?Chapter 1390:


    Something she’d always dismissed as imaginary had just been yanked into reality.


    The shock was overwhelming, leaving her speechless.


    Just then, his phone buzzed, and he answered. Luca informed him about something at thepany needing him onsite.


    Without a word to her, William stood, grabbed his coat, and walked out. Didn’t even look her way.


    The front door clicked shut. Still, her eyes stayed glued to the screen.


    Only after he was gone did her body start to rx. Her hand lifted slowly, like she wasn’t entirely sure the ring wouldn’t vanish if she blinked. She reached out, fingertips brushing the ss.


    At thepany, Luca met him at the entrance, tight-lipped. “Mr. Briggs,” he said quietly, “someone from overseas has been trying to get through. They couldn’t reach your cell, so they called here. Said you have thirty minutes to return the call.”


    William didn’t need to ask who. He already knew it was Arlo. His face darkened as he strode toward his office without another word.


    The moment the line connected, Arlo’s voice shot out, sharp and irritated. “William. Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone?”


    William dropped into his chair, calm and slow. “Did you call? Huh. Didn’t see anythinge through.”


    The tone waszy, almost bored—designed to infuriate. And it did.


    Arlo paused, clearly biting back a reaction. “Have you seen Ste since you got back?”


    William gave a vague hum. Nothing more.


    “Since you hate her so much, and now that you’ve confirmed she’s alive, bring her to headquarters when you have time.”


    That made William sit up a little straighter. His eyes narrowed. “You want to see her?”


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    “William,” Arlo said, like he was exining something obvious, “don’t forget—her mother’s forms are still in her memory. Once we extract them, we won’t need her anymore. The tech can be replicated. Anyone can take over.”


    William’s jaw tightened. So Arlo still hadn’t let that go.


    “You wouldn’t refuse, would you?” Arlo pressed.


    William didn’t shrug it off this time. His voice came low and firm. “She’s mine. If you want her involved, you go through me.”


    Arlo let out a short, humorlessugh. “Still protecting her? Did you forget she betrayed you? You were dead, William. Dead at the bottom of that cliff. I gave you a second chance.”


    In Arlo’s eyes, William was already his—a dog trained to follow orders.


    He had only allowed William to return to Choria for one reason—to leverage the Briggs Group and retrieve Ste.


    And now William was pushing back?


    Annoyed, William rubbed his ear, clearly uninterested in indulging Arlo’s posturing.


    “You know exactly why I fell off that cliff,” he said coolly. “I’ve made peace with it. I’ll provide the funds you need, no problem. But I’m not bringing Ste in.”


    There was a sharp bang on Arlo’s end. Furniture? A kicked chair? Didn’t matter.


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