?Chapter 1399:


    She was still mulling it over when her phone suddenly rang.


    William had taken Ste’s phone before—but after their recent conversation, maybe he let his guard down. He had given it back to her. It was lying quietly beside her now.


    She picked it up and noticed an iing call from an unfamiliar number. No name, no contact saved. She didn’t recognize it at all.


    Normally, she would’ve ignored it. Probably just spam. But something about thosest four digits—1580—made her hesitate.


    She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t look away. Her thumb hovered over the screen, and despite herself… she answered.


    “Hello, Ste, how have you beentely?”


    Haley’s voice floated through the phone, light and mocking. She was calling from abroad—having just heard the news that Ste had lost her memory… and was now with Marc.


    She hadn’t called out of concern. She called to mock her.


    Ste frowned. The voice was unfamiliar, and the tone was off. “Sorry, who is this?” she asked tly.


    Haley let out a sharpugh, loud and mean. Like she’d just heard the punchline of some inside joke. “You really forgot everything, huh? Wow. Amazing. Tell me—did you forget all about me and Marc, too? Or are you just pretending to be in love with him now?”


    Ste didn’t know who this woman was, but the ridicule dripping from her voice made her skin crawl. She stiffened. “If this is some kind of joke, it’s not funny. And if you have nothing else to say, I’m hanging up.”


    “Oh,e on,” Haley said, stillughing. “I’m bored out of my mind over here. News of your little amnesia fiasco was the best entertainment I’ve had in weeks.”


    Ste’s grip on the phone tightened. She hated the woman’s smug tone, but… she clearly knew a lot about her.


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    Trying to stay calm, Ste said, “Who are you, and why are you calling? Did William put you up to this?”


    The timing was way too suspicious. William had just given her the phone back, and now this woman called? It was hard not to wonder if it was all connected.


    At that, Haley almostughed again.


    It was just too ironic, considering the history William and Ste once shared.


    “My name’s Haley Smith. Ring any bells? No? Thought so. But if you’re really that clueless, just Google it. The drama between you and Marc was trending for ages.”


    Ste’s heart dropped. She hadn’t been able to check anything. William had denied her ess to the outside world.


    “I don’t know you,” Ste said firmly. “And I’m not going to believe everything some stranger says over the phone. If you have nothing else to add, don’t call me again.”


    Before Haley could say another word, Ste hung up. Her hand trembled slightly as she lowered the phone. Her heart was racing.


    Something about that call shook her. It felt like she’d been one breath away from learning something important—but she was too scared to dig deeper. Too scared to ask the hard questions.


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