?Chapter 1463:


    From the moment William recognized who was at the door, he’d already nned to have the staff send them away. But with Ste looking at him like that, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.


    Taking his silence as approval, Ste’s face lit up. “Come in! Tasha, can you set two more tes?”


    Tasha smiled, happy to see Ste’s friends, and headed for the kitchen without hesitation.


    Sharon and Josie stepped inside. Only then did Ste notice they were carrying something.


    She leaned closer, peering down.


    It was zhini.


    Sharon set the zhini down on the table and leaned in toward William. “Mr. Briggs, you spend your entire day running thepany, and then youe home to take care of Stel. Perhaps you should try some zhini soup to help you cool off. It’s very soothing. Good for the nerves.”


    Ste nearly choked on her soup but caught herself just in time, swallowing hard to keep it down.


    Anyone with even a shred of sense could see that Sharon was needling William deliberately, hinting that his temper ran hot and needed some serious cooling.


    William threw Sharon an icy look, but she only shrugged and turned to Tasha, who had just emerged from the kitchen, pressing the zhini into her hands. “Tasha, I brought this especially for you. Make sure you prepare soup with it tomorrow. I’ve noticed Mr. Briggs has been rather tense and short-tempered these days.”


    Tasha blinked in surprise, taking Sharon’s words at face value, and her face creased with worry. “Mr. Briggs, are you feeling ill?”


    William’s face darkened to an rming shade.


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    Sharon slid into the seat beside Josie and cast another nce at William. “Mr. Briggs, please keep eating. Don’t let my rambling ruin your appetite. Skipping meals isn’t healthy. I have a habit of speaking clumsily, so try not to take offense!”


    Her words only made the urge tough bubble up stronger inside Ste.


    It was the first time Ste had ever witnessed someone render Williampletely speechless.


    Unable to endure another second of it, William fixed Sharon with a hard stare. “If you don’t want to be here, leave.”


    Sharon wasn’t entirely clueless—she simply wanted to help Ste settle a few scores with William.


    Once she saw genuine anger shing in his eyes, she decided it was time to back off.


    She handed the rest of the conversation over to Josie.


    “Mr. Briggs, Sharon and I came here today for two specific reasons. The first was to check on Stel, and the second was to inquire about your connection to Nina.”


    At Nina’s name, William’s brow creased ever so slightly. “I don’t believe my rtionship with her is any of your business.”


    Unlike Sharon’s blunt provocations, Josie let out a softugh. “Of course, your personal affairs aren’t our concern. But Nina has hurt Stel time and time again. In our eyes, she’s the greatest threat. Wasn’t she the reason Stel lost her memory in the first ce?”


    Her words served as a pointed reminder that Nina had been the viin all along. If he genuinely cared for Ste, he had no business shielding Nina with excuses.


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