?Chapter 1438:


    She wasn’t in the mood. Not for games, not for veiled insults, and especially not for women who circled around William like vultures. After Nina, she’d learned to be cautious. She wanted nothing more than to keep her distance.


    Without another word, she started up the stairs, leaving the decision of whether Charis got to stand awkwardly at the door or not to the staff.


    Charis’s face twisted. “Ste, you won’t even face me. What’s the matter—guilty? You know you’re only here because you’re ying a role, right?”


    Ste didn’t break stride. She yawned as she climbed the stairs, pretending not to hear a word of it.


    Of course she wasn’t here out of love. William wasn’t exactly pretending either. The whole idea of anyone being emotionally invested in this twisted situation was almostughable.


    Not long after she returned to her room, another visitor showed up at the vi gates.


    Steven arrived and immediately spotted Charis still hovering outside. He paused, confused. They didn’t know each other well, but they moved in the same social circles. He approached and asked, “Are you here to see William?”


    Charis looked flustered the moment she saw him.


    Steven raised a brow. “You look jumpy. What did you do—get caught sneaking around?”


    His teasing tone made Charis go rigid. Her cheeks flushed red. But then she saw an opening.


    “Are you here for William too? I just checked, and he’s not home.”


    Steven already knew William wasn’t home. He hadn’te for him anyway—he was there to see Ste.


    “I’m not here for William,” he said casually. “If you need him, just give him a call.”


    He moved to head inside, but Charis trailed after him, quickening her pace. “Who are you here to see?” she asked, eyes narrowing slightly. “Let mee in with you.”


    gα?ησν????s, the ce for amazing tales


    Steven wasn’t slow on the uptake. One look at Charis’s expression, and he’d already pieced a few things together. He turned to her with a pointed look.


    “Miss Bailey, you should let go of those unrealistic illusions. William’s never going to be interested in you.”


    The bluntness hit hard. Charis’s face flushed with humiliation. Her pride red as she snapped, “When did I ever say I was interested in him?”


    Steven gave a low chuckle. “I didn’t say you were. But now you’ve gone and admitted it yourself.”


    That shut her up as she realized he had been messing with her. Turning away, Steven pressed the doorbell and waved her off without a backward nce.


    “Take care, Miss Bailey.”


    When Tasha opened the door and saw it was Steven, she stepped aside to let him in, shooting a sharp, wary look at Charis like she was some stray causing trouble on the doorstep.


    Steven ced the gift box he’d brought on the table. “Did she say what she wanted?” he asked.


    Tasha recounted the earlier encounter. Steven nodded as he listened. “Where’s Ste?”


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