?Chapter 1561:


    Marc paused at the door and spoke without turning, his voice sharp and cold. “I will give you money. If you tell anyone about today, I will make sure you have no ce left in Choria. Choose wisely.”


    He walked out of the lounge, leaving Livia sitting alone on the bed, tears falling freely.


    Even though this was what Jazlyn had told her to do, his indifference still cut deep. It had been her first time, and he had shown her no care whatsoever. No matter how calcted her intentions had been at the start, she had truly given herself to him. Her hands curled into fists. Remembering Jazlyn’s warning to dy him by any means necessary, she gritted her teeth, pulled on her clothes, and rushed after him.


    By then, he had already left the studio. As dusk settled over the street, dizziness hit him in waves. He did not know what she had used to dull his senses, but one thing was clear — this had been nned. He had noticed the marks on her skin and the rumpled state of the bed before leaving. It made no difference to him. She had chosen this path. If she thought he would take responsibility, she was mistaken. Money was all she would receive.


    Elsewhere, Ste crouched in the garden, smiling as Felix rolled happily across the grass,pletely unaware of what had just unfolded.


    On the second floor, William stood at the study window, his gaze fixed on her below — dark and unreadable. Luca’s message remained open on his phone, detailing Marc’s recent movements.


    “Marc,” he said quietly, a cold smile touching the corner of his lips. If trouble was being sought, he was more than willing to give it a push.


    What happened between Marc and Livia had only slowed his ns by a single day. At dawn the next morning, he dismissed Livia and called Jazlyn to confirm she hadnded overseas.


    On the call, Jazlyn could not hide her unease. “Son, did something happen yesterday? Are you really still going after Ste?” She had arranged for Livia to dy him. It should have worked.


    The moment he heard her tone, he understood. A coldugh escaped him. “Mom, did you really think sending a woman to my bed would make me change my mind?”


    A????????t?v?? ??o????l?? о?? ?????????????????.??????


    Jazlyn stiffened. “What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean!” she denied at once.


    He did not bother arguing. “That is enough. I am moving forward as nned. As for Livia — I gave her money and sent her away.”


    Her voice broke as desperation crept in. “Marc, I am begging you. Just stop, all right? If you did not like Livia, I can find someone who looks like Ste. That should be enough, should it not?”


    She had assumed youth and beauty would be sufficient. She had underestimated his fixation entirely.


    He shook his head. “No one else is Ste. She is right in front of me. Why would I look for a recement?” He ended the call without another word and set Jazlyn’s number to Do Not Disturb.


    At this point, Ste was no longer merely a means to reim what he had lost. She had be an obsession carved into the very core of his existence. He had never been consumed by any woman like this — and every time he reached for her, someone ced themselves in his way. The more resistance he faced, the stronger his resolve became. He refused to believe William could keep her forever.


    That night, under a moonless sky, Marc learned that William would be attending an elite banquet in Choria. He drove quietly toward the vi where Ste was staying and parked where the shadows were deepest, tension coiled tight inside him — madness edged with a terrible certainty.


    He approached from the side facing the mountains, where thick trees obscured the sightlines and security cameras were sparse. Several canisters of powerful elerant were packed into a discreet ck backpack. Dressed in a dark tailored suit, he slipped into the forest behind the vi. The wind moved softly through the branches, swallowing every sound of his footsteps.


    .


    .


    .