?Chapter 1427:


    William didn’t respond immediately. He continued eating at his usual slow pace, methodical, expression unreadable. He hardly ever ate from this kind of menu himself. Anyone walking in might think he was the one on a special diet.


    When he finished, he wiped his mouth, tossed the napkin onto the table, and finally spoke. “You don’t need toe back tomorrow. You’ll be paid as agreed—one thousand for the night. My assistant will wire it.”


    And with that, he stood and left the dining room without a second nce.


    Karina was stunned. She had thought that if he’d eaten the meal, it meant she had a foot in the door.


    Especially after watching him speak so coldly to Ste—she assumed her position was secure.


    Apparently not.


    The maids exchanged nces. They hadn’t liked Karina from the start.


    In the kitchen earlier, she’d refused to let them prepare meat dishes. imed Ste’s body couldn’t handle anything greasy. And then had the nerve to serve braised eggnt—hardly light fare.


    The woman clearly had her own agenda. Good riddance.


    In the end, Karina hadsted less than two hours in the vi before getting dismissed.


    Now she stood alone by the side of the road outside the estate, fuming.


    She’d studied abroad. Had credentials. Worked with elite clients. And yet William Briggs didn’t want her?


    Her eyes flicked up to the second-floor window, where warm light spilled out—likely Ste’s room. She stared at it for a long second, jaw tight with resentment, before turning and walking away.


    Later that night, Stey in bed, wide awake. Her stomach growled painfully. She hadn’t eaten at the office, and dinner had ended in an awkward standoff.


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    Her health wasn’t great to begin with, and now—thanks to a skipped lunch and an untouched dinner—she was experiencing something she hadn’t in a long time. She was too hungry to sleep.


    Sighing, she climbed out of bed, cracked open the door, and tiptoed downstairs.


    The lights were already off. No sign of William. She exhaled a soft breath of relief and made her way toward the kitchen.


    Just as her fingers brushed the doorknob, a soft voice startled her from behind. “Ms. Russell? Would you like some water?”


    Ste spun around, heart racing. It was Tasha, her voice gentle and unassuming.


    Ste pressed a hand to her chest. “You scared me.” Then, cheeks a little flushed, she admitted, “I was actually… thinking of cooking some noodles. Just something light.”


    She nced around, nervous. She didn’t know if William was still awake—and if he’d sneer at her for sneaking around the kitchen like some guilty teenager.


    Tasha’s gaze softened instantly.


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