?Chapter 1449:


    Ste’s heart lurched. “But he hasn’t shown any suspicion these past few days.”


    There were only two possibilities.


    Either William truly didn’t know, and Briggs Group had prepared an alternative from the start. Or he knew everything and chose not to expose it, waiting patiently to reel in something bigger.


    Neither option wasforting.


    In both cases, it meant William’s calctions were far beyond theirs.


    The hope Ste had been clinging to copsed quietly. She stood there in silence for a long moment before asking, almost hesitantly, “Is Marc… alright?”


    Josie and Sharon exchanged a look. To be honest, they didn’t care much about Marc. If not for Ste, they would rather never have contact with him again.


    Noticing their hesitation, Ste swallowed the rest of her questions. “If this didn’t work, then we’ll wait for the next chance,” she said softly.


    Sharon frowned immediately. “The next one? Stel, let it go. This is too dangerous. I think William already suspects you.”


    Ste was afraid of that too. But if not this way, then what other path was left?


    In the end, she only shook her head, her tone steady despite the unease in her chest. “I’ll be more careful. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”


    The wine event was lively, crowded in the way these gatherings always were. Conversations ovepped, sses clinked, andughter rose and fell in waves. Ste couldn’t linger with her friends for long under the excuse of using the restroom. Any longer and it would draw attention. In the end, she had no choice but to return to William’s side.


    As she approached, William instinctively nced toward the direction of thedies’ room.


    When his eyes caught Sharon and Josie nearby, his gaze withdrew just as subtly. As long as she wasn’t meeting Marc, he could pretend not to see.


    g?lnσνe??s is your update hub


    “Are you done talking?” Ste stopped beside him, her voice low. She had no energy left to feign enthusiasm, not after everything that had fallen apart.


    William gently wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning close to murmur in her ear. “You’re in such a hurry to escape from me. Who are you so eager to meet?”


    “I’m a little tired. I want to sit for a while. Your business conversations are your thing. I don’t want to interrupt.” She had nopanies under her management. As for whatever Steven had mentioned before about Neb, she couldn’t bring herself to care anymore.


    If she stayed glued to William while he spoke with partners, he might grow even more suspicious.


    Keeping some distance felt safer these days.


    William studied her for a second, then released his hold on her waist. His tone cooled. “Go, then.”


    Relief washed over her. Ste turned and left without hesitation.


    She settled onto a sofa, picked up a ss of champagne, and took slow, careful sips.


    A momentter, Sharon sat down beside her and quietly handed her a phone. “William took your phone, right? You must be bored. Use mine.”


    Sharon still couldn’t wrap her head around it. In this day and age, who confiscated someone’s phone?


    What she didn’t know was that Ste had already gotten hers back. It just couldn’t connect to the inte.


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