?Chapter 1414:


    Ste looked up. “Is Williaming home tonight?”


    The maid hesitated. “I… I’m not sure.” They rarely knew his schedule.


    Later, Ste sat at the dining table, the seat across from her empty. Her hand curled around the fabric of her dress. Finally, she looked at the maid again. “Could you call him?” she said quietly. “I want to talk to him.”


    The call connected. “Hello? What is it?” William’s voice came through t, almost dismissive. He thought it was just one of the household staff calling.


    Ste tightened her grip on the phone.


    “It’s me,” she said quietly. “I wanted to ask… how much longer until youe home for dinner?”


    She had been pondering these words for a while, choosing not to ask if he woulde home, but rather when, reducing the likelihood of refusal.


    William’s surprise was palpable. He hadn’t expected her call. She’d never called him like this before. Not just to talk, and certainly not to ask him to have dinner together.


    “I’m afraid I won’t make it tonight,” he said after a beat. “You go ahead and eat.”


    Ste had been bracing herself, but still, hearing him say no stung a little.


    “Then I’ll wait for you,” she offered gently. “We’ll eat when you get back.”


    It was the only thing she coulde up with.


    William’s heart gave a strange little jolt. He masked it quickly with a cold tone. “What are you ying at?”


    The same woman who once looked at him with such disgust was now asking to share a meal?


    What, he was just supposed to believe she’d suddenly had a change of heart?


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    Ste lowered her eyes, blinking slowly. “I want to apologize. Not for anything else—just for using you of lying about my amnesia.”


    She wanted to be fair. Even if she still held a grudge for everything he’d done, she had to admit she’d jumped to conclusions.


    William froze on the other end. Her apology cracked something open in him.


    Part of him was convinced it was another setup. But another part—one he tried hard to ignore—wanted to believe she meant it.


    There was a long pause. Not even his breathing came through the phone.


    She tried again, softer this time. “Would that be alright?”


    That one line… somehow, it got to him.


    Eventually, he gave in. “I’ll try to finish things quickly.”


    The call ended. It took Ste a few seconds to realize—he’d said yes.


    She sat there on the couch, barely noticing the movie flickering on the screen in front of her. Her mind was too wrapped up in what she’d say to himter.


    At exactly ten o’clock, the rumble of an engine drifted in through the windows.


    She turned instinctively, heart jumping.


    William stepped in, still in his ck suit. The chill from outside clung to him as their eyes met across the room.


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