?Chapter 1496:


    She met his eyes, searching them uncertainly.


    Did he know, or was he just fishing?


    “I… I was just looking around,” she stammered. “Nothing specific.”


    William’s brow furrowed slightly as he withdrew his hand and turned his back to her. “Ste,” he said, “I’m giving you onest chance.”


    With those words, she knew it was over.


    He had found out.


    Seeing her fall silent, he moved to stand by the floor-to-ceiling window, his tone darkening further.


    “Do you think I wouldn’t notice what you took from my office? Or do you really believe I’m stupid enough to leave anything truly useful to Marc within your reach?”


    Ste’s breath caught, and the question tumbled out before she could stop it. “So you did it on purpose?!”


    No wonder the two pieces of information she’d passed to Marc had led nowhere.


    They had been useless from the very start.


    Her face drained of color as she stood there, rooted in ce, not knowing what to do.


    William turned to face her then, his deep eyes locking onto hers. “Is this what you meant when you said you’ve never lied to me?”


    A lump formed in Ste’s throat, leaving her speechless.


    “Ste, you swear you won’t go back to him, but then you keep deceiving me just to buy his trust. I have to hand it to you—you’re good. I almost believed you.”


    She shook her head desperately, desperate to exin that it wasn’t what he thought.


    “I just want my freedom. Not to be with him again!”


    Exclusive updates gαlησν??s.c?m


    “Enough!” he snapped, his temper finally erupting, his voice echoing with a shrill edge through the empty vi. “I won’t swallow any more of your lies. This is your final warning: without my say-so, you don’t go anywhere—not even for coffee with your friends.”


    Ste’s body shook, and before she could respond, William had already dragged her upstairs.


    “William, please refrain from doing this. Have we not already resolved our mutual misunderstanding? Why are you refusing to let me go? I truly don’t want to be with Marc any longer. Please, just calm down.”


    Despite her entreaties, William dragged her into the room and threw her violently onto the bed.


    “If I hear you mention Marc again, you’ll regret it!”


    Ste’s breath caught, and she closed her eyes in pain.


    An eternity passed. Only after he had moved off of her did she stir, her body stiff and unyielding.


    This was how he was all the time. He used her as a means to vent his anger when he was upset.


    He treated her body as though it were a toy that he could manipte any way he wished.


    She opened her eyes only after she sensed that he had left the room. Then, slowly, she sat up and made her way to the bathroom.


    .


    .


    .