?Chapter 1490:


    William had absolutely no interest in entertaining Marc’s alcohol-fueled tirade. He pivoted toward Mr. Hanson with an apologetic expression. “Mr. Hanson, my apologies for this spectacle. I’ll have to excuse myself to handle the situation. Your car is ready at the entrance.”


    Mr. Hanson cast a quick nce between William and Marc, clearly sensing some deeper conflict or misunderstanding festering between the two men. He gave a brief nod and made his exit without another word.


    The second Mr. Hanson disappeared through the door, Marc’s fury intensified, and he whipped his re back to William with renewed venom. “Stealing Stel away from me wasn’t enough for you? Now you’re going after my business partnerships too? I never realized you were this kind of ruthless bastard!”


    William arched one eyebrow, looking thoroughly unbothered by anythinging out of Marc’s drunken mouth.


    “I’ve never liked you—not for a single moment. You stole my business deal right out from under me, and I’m certain you fed Mr. Hanson a pack of lies to make it happen. If he knew the truth about how you kidnapped my fiancée, do you honestly think he’d still want anything to do with you?”


    Watching Marc sway unsteadily on his feet while slurring his usations, William regarded him with a look of absolute disdain mixed with cold mockery.


    Marc didn’t deserve a single ounce of Ste’s love.


    Marc hupped violently, and the sharp stench of alcohol rolled off his breath in waves.


    William’s expression tightened with disgust, and he shoved Marc aside with one hand. “Get out of my way. Stop blocking my path.”


    The instant William’s palm connected with Marc’s shoulder, Marc’s hand shot up and locked around his wrist in a tight grip. “Why the hell should I move? William, are you even a real man? Beyond locking Stel up like some kind of prisoner, what else are you actually capable of? If you gave her a real choice, she wouldn’t stay by your side for even a single second!”


    Perhaps it was the venomous way Marc spat those words that finally shoved William past his breaking point.


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    William drew his fist back and drove it straight into Marc’s cheek with brutal precision.


    Already unsteady from the alcohol flooding his system, Marc reeled backward and crashed to the ground with a heavy, graceless thud.


    Every head in the bar swiveled toward themotion, but the moment people registered the violent tension crackling in the air, they hastily retreated to safer distances.


    The bar owner started forward with the clear intention of breaking things up, but he froze mid-step the instant he caught sight of the dark, menacing expression carved into William’s face.


    William loomed over Marc, whoy sprawled on the floor unable to even push himself upright, and let out a derisive scoff. “Someone like you questioning whether I’m a man? Have you conveniently forgotten something? I’m not the one suffering from amnesia—Ste is.”


    William remembered every single thing Marc had done to Ste with perfect, unforgiving rity.


    If he weren’t so determined to shield Ste from any further emotional damage, he would have alreadyid out the entire ugly truth for her to see.


    Marc’s face had gone deathly pale. He hauled himself unsteadily to his feet and dragged the back of his hand across his mouth, smearing away the blood that trickled from his split lip.


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