?Chapter 1596:


    As though she had anticipated exactly this demand for confirmation, Ste repeated herself with deliberate precision, emphasizing each word. “I’m asking — do you still want to marry me?”


    She leaned closer still, dipping her head to stare directly into his eyes — eyes churning with violentlyplicated emotions. “Before disaster struck, we were meant to be husband and wife, William. Regardless of whatever terrible person you believe me to be now, in my heart you’re already my husband. You were then, which means you still are now — unless you genuinely don’t want me anymore.” She paused, gathering courage, nervousness threading through her tone when she spoke again. “So tell me honestly — do you really not want me anymore?”


    The question struck William like a blow to the chest, flooding him with inexplicable, overwhelming fear.


    Not want her?


    How could he possibly—


    When he recognized the words forming in his mind, even he recoiled from himself. His every instinct screamed that he would never abandon her — could never abandon her.


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    Agony detonated in his skull without warning. His vision plunged into darkness as fabricated memories attacked his neural pathways with vicious intensity, threatening to tear his consciousness into fragments. He mmed back against the chair, eyes squeezing shut, brows furrowing deep. Cold sweat beaded across his forehead while hisplexion drained to a sickly gray.


    Ste registered his distress immediately and moved instinctively to circle the desk and reach him, but his hand shot up abruptly, halting her approach. Sensing her drawing closer, William’s eyes snapped open. The words ground out between clenched teeth. “No… no.”


    Ste froze.


    Ice flooded her veins. Though she had spent days mentally preparing for this exact rejection, hearing him voice it aloud made it unbearable — the pain carved straight through her heart.


    William watched the light die in Ste’s eyes instantaneously, and something mped around his heart like a vise, squeezing mercilessly. Yet speaking those words — agreeing to marry her — remained impossible for him. He’d never imed Arlo’s imnted memories had stopped affecting him. He’d never dered his trust in her restored. Under these circumstances, how could marriage possibly exist as an option?


    Ste fell silent briefly but refused to surrender. Fresh tears carved paths down her cheeks. “Why not? You still don’t believe me — you think those fabricated memories are real, don’t you? It doesn’t matter, William. I can wait.”


    Even if proving her devotion required years of effort, even if he never fully recovered the man he’d been before, fear wouldn’t stop her. However long the journey required, she possessed the patience to see it through. Even if she never received what she hoped for, she would remain beside him regardless.


    Wait?


    William let out a shortugh, as though he’d heard the most absurd joke imaginable. Mockeryced his words. “So how long exactly do you n to wait? A year? A decade? Your entire life? Ste, stop being naive.”


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