?Chapter 1435:


    Ste paused. Schoolmate?


    She hesitated, then took the hand.


    Charis barely brushed her fingers against Ste’s before pulling away, like she might catch something from touching her. Her eyes drifted across the room, zeroing in on William with a soft sigh of admiration. Even from this angle, even only seeing his profile, her longing was obvious.


    Ste rolled her eyes mentally. Great. Another one in love with William.


    Ste instinctively shifted an inch farther away, not trusting the woman for a second. Anyone who stared at William like that couldn’t be normal. For all she knew, Charis might be just as unhinged as Nina.


    Charis turned slightly, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “He really is something, isn’t he? There’s no one else like him. So sharp, so brilliant… so dazzling.”


    Her eyes were fixed on William across the room, like she was watching a dream she fully intended to im. Ste followed her gaze.


    William did look like he belonged in another world—clean-cut, effortlessly powerful, always at ease in a room full of sharks. It wasn’t that he wasn’t impressive. He was. But kind? No. Kindness had never been part of the package.


    Before Ste could figure out how to respond, Charis spoke again—this time, her tone harder.


    “How much would it take for you to leave him?”


    Ste blinked, caught off guard. “Wait. Are you actually trying to pay me off?”


    Charis gave her a tight smile, clearly annoyed to have to spell it out. “What else would I be doing? You’re only with him for money, right? Otherwise, I can’t see why someone like you would leave Marc at the altar and suddenly cling to William.”


    So that was her angle. Money, power, jealousy. The usual mess. But the one thing Ste needed right now wasn’t something Charis could offer—not with all the cash in the world. She needed freedom.


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    So she looked her in the eye and calmly said, “Sorry. I can’t take your offer.”


    A flicker of irritation passed through Charis’s expression. “Trying to y hardball? Hoping I’ll raise the amount?” Her voice lowered, icy now. “Don’t push your luck, Ste.”


    Just then, William caught sight of Ste locked in what looked like a tense exchange across the room. His gaze sharpened. Without missing a beat, he murmured a quick apology to the man beside him, set down his ss, and headed straight toward her.


    As he neared, a sharp phrase drifted to his ears—”Don’t push your luck.”


    He stopped beside them, voice calm but edged. “How exactly is she pushing her luck?”


    Charis froze. She hadn’t even realized he was there.


    Slowly, she turned her head, her expression flipping into one of soft surprise. “Mr. Briggs… I— It’s nothing. I’m Charis Bailey. We went to school together. Do you remember?”


    Her voice softened into something almost shy, like she was waiting for him to light up with recognition.


    William gave her a cursory nce. And then he turned his attention to Ste. “What were you two talking about? Didn’t I tell you not to entertain strangers?”


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