?Chapter 1392:


    Luca had tried digging deeper, but Marc had covered his tracks with disturbing thoroughness.


    Almost like Marc had known someone woulde looking eventually, so he’d erased every trace from day one.


    William’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “So Nina kidnapped Ste, and Marc yed the hero?”


    Luca nodded slowly. “Yes, sir. And honestly, I don’t understand why you’re suddenly friendly with Ms. Carter. Before all this, she spent every waking moment sabotaging you and Ms. Russell. Pure jealousy, nothing else.”


    Luca despised Nina. A woman that calcting and consumed by jealousy had no business being anywhere near William. As far as Luca was concerned, William and Ste belonged together—period. Nobody else fit.


    William went quiet for several beats. “What’s Marc been doingtely?”


    Luca considered the question before shaking his head. “Hard to say. Ever since you took Ms. Russell from that wedding, Marc’s been a mess. Drinking himself stupid or hiding at home. Nothing productive.”


    A harshugh escaped William’s throat.


    Did Marc honestly think that pathetic wounded lover routine would work? All performance, no substance. Only Ste was naive enough to buy into the idea that bastard actually loved her.


    William waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve heard enough. You can go.”


    Luca stood and bowed, but paused at the door. “Mr. Briggs, do you want me to send someone to… have a word with Marc? Remind him of his ce?”


    Luca had been itching to deal with Marc for weeks. The man had betrayed Ste, then exploited her memory loss to keep William away from her.


    If Marc didn’t get what wasing to him, Luca didn’t know how he’d live with himself.


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    But William’s expression stayed nk, his voice almost bored. “Don’t bother.”


    William knew men like Marc weren’t worth the energy. Marc would eventually strangle himself in his own web of lies—it was only a matter of time.


    On the other side of town, Nina hadn’t stepped outside once since William broke her finger.


    She was terrified—constantly imagining he’d sent someone to finish her off.


    To her, the whole world had turned on her. The Carter family had cut her off. Strangers hated her. She didn’t see the point in going out and facing any of it.


    So she stayed holed up at home, surviving on her savings, slipping deeper into istion. Her hand had already scabbed over, but she refused to take off the bandage. She couldn’t bear to look at what was underneath. Couldn’t bear to face what she’d be.


    Lying in bed, eyes nk, mind heavier than ever, she stared at the ceiling. Then her phone rang.


    After so long in silence, the sound made her heart jolt. For a second, a flicker of hope lit her face.


    But the second she saw the name on the screen, that hope died.


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