?Chapter 1475:


    His calm understanding eased the tension, and Ste felt her heart flutter unexpectedly.


    She couldn’t help but notice how considerate he was.


    William gave a short, mockingugh. “How noble of you. That piece of equipment was worth at least seven figures, yet I don’t remember you being that generous with anyone else.”


    His taunts chipped away at what little emotional bnce Ste had left.


    Ste’s eyes widened slightly. Seven figures?


    That was no small amount.


    Rutherford had once considered William a friend, but as the atmosphere tightened and Sharon and Josie’s earlier words surfaced in his mind, a clearer picture began to take shape.


    “William, I’ve always known you to be direct with your words, no need dancing around in circles. Are you implying you’re jealous of me and Ms. Russell?”


    Steven and Jewell exchanged looks, then nodded almost instinctively.


    It was rare to see someone talk about William’s feelings so directly.


    William’s expression hardened. “You’re reading too much into it. Someone like her could never make me jealous. I just find the way you treat her… interesting. If you’re that fond of her, consider her a gift from me. We are friends, aren’t we?”


    Ste looked at William, stunned, disbelief shing across her face as she struggled to make sense of what he’d just said.


    Was he actually trying to hand her off to Rutherford?


    Even if Rutherford seemed harmless enough, she was still a living person and had her own will.


    How could he treat her as a mere object or pet, ready to be handed over at will?


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    Rutherford’s expression darkened as well.


    He could understand that William and Ste had unresolved misunderstandings from the past. That much, he could tolerate. What he couldn’t ept was William turning his character into a punchline.


    Rutherford stood up, his expression settling into something firm and restrained.


    “William, if you really consider me a friend, then show me the respect I deserve. As for what you said about me being interested in Ms. Russell, you’re not wrong. I do admire her. But that doesn’t give you the right to belittle her.”


    William looked up at him, caught off guard by the sudden shift.


    His chest felt oddly heavy.


    So Rutherford really did like Ste.


    “There’s no point in continuing this dinner,” Rutherford said tly.


    With that, he turned and walked out of the private room, leaving Ste seated there, momentarily unsure of what to do.


    She hesitated for only a second before standing up and hurrying after him.


    Steven watched as the two figures left one after the other. The room seemed to sink into silence, the atmosphere dropping to its lowest point.


    “Excuse me,” Ste called out to Rutherford. “Could you wait a moment?”


    Rutherford stopped and turned around.


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