?Chapter 1474:


    William’s eyebrows lifted fractionally, though he didn’t immediately shut down the suggestion. Instead, he tilted his head and fixed her with an unreadable look. “Where would you prefer to sit?”


    In the past, she would have dropped into the seat beside him without hesitation, too terrified of his potential retaliation to even consider alternatives.


    But tonight, for reasons she couldn’t fully exin, she felt an unexpected surge of defiance—a desire to honor her own preferences for once.


    She’d barely approached the chair when a frigid st from the air conditioning unit hit her full force, sending an involuntary shiver rippling down her spine.


    Rutherford had been absolutely right. If she endured this frozen position throughout the entire meal, she’d undoubtedly end up catching a miserable cold.


    Since William had actually asked for her preference, why shouldn’t she voice what she truly wanted?


    Meeting William’s gaze directly, Ste lifted her hand with deliberate slowness and gestured toward the empty seat beside Rutherford. “I’d like to sit over there instead. It’s genuinely too cold here.”


    The moment those words left Ste’s mouth, Steven and Jewell, seated across from them, both shot a look at William.


    Ste was being unusually bold.


    Steven was the first to sense that William was close to snapping. He stood up at once. “I’ll ask the waiter to turn off the air conditioner,” he said quickly. Then he nced at Ste. “You’re already standing next to William anyway. Why don’t you just sit there?”


    Jewell immediately chimed in, nodding along. “The seat beside Mr. Schoenberg is further inside. It’s not very convenient to squeeze in. Sitting on the outside is morefortable.”


    The two of them were clearly trying to stop Ste from changing seats, and it irritated her more than a little.


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    If they had never intended to let her change seats, then why had William bothered asking her where she wanted to sit at all?


    She was just about to speak when William suddenly said, “No need to turn off the air conditioning. If she wants to sit inside, then let her.”


    With that, Steven and Jewell fell silent.


    Ste quietly let out a breath of relief, walked over, and sat down beside Rutherford. She pulled out the chair and gave him a polite nod.


    After she sat down, William nced at her, a trace of mockery tugging at his lips. “Ste,” he said lightly, “do you really not remember this man here?”


    Ste stiffened. So they really had met before.


    It wasn’t her imagination after all.


    William nced at Rutherford, his tone sharp with intent. “She has amnesia. Doesn’t remember anyone. You helped her so much back then, and now you don’t even exist in her memory.”


    Ste’s hands tightened in herp.


    Helped her?


    And she had forgotten himpletely. That didn’t sit right. She wanted to say something, anything at all, even if it was only an apology.


    But Rutherford beat her to it. “It’s fine,” he said calmly. “I know Ms. Russell doesn’t remember thest two years. What I did back then was nothing more than a small favor, andter she brought me far more in return. She doesn’t owe me anything.”


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