?Chapter 1611:


    William got out of the car and walked straight into the vi without once turning back to see if Ste was following.


    Once inside her bedroom, Ste’s tears slipped free, falling despite her efforts to hold them back — not because of anything else, only William’s coldness. She quickly wiped her face and pressed her lips together, steadying herself. She couldn’t afford to give up now.


    The next morning, William sat in the dining room. It was the weekend, and for once he didn’t need to go to the office. Ste came down the stairs slowly and took a seat beside him. “William, do you have a moment? I’d like to talk.”


    His resistance surfaced almost instinctively. “There’s nothing for us to talk about.” He rose as if to leave, but Ste immediately reached out and ced her hand over his. “Wait. I promise it won’t take long.”


    Seeing the guarded, almost pleading look in her eyes, William hesitated. After a moment, he relented and sat back down. “I’ll give you ten minutes,” he said coolly. “Not a second more.”


    Ste’s lips curved into a faint, restrained smile as she spoke, her voice steady despite the tension beneath it. “William, I know you’re still transferring money to Arlo. I don’t know your reasons, but whatever they are, you shouldn’t keep any contact with someone like him.”


    William’s breathing grew heavier, a vein pulsing sharply at his temple. He fixed his gaze on Ste, anger surging up from deep within his chest — hot and uncontroble. When he spoke, his voice was low, saturated with barely restrained fury. “I’ve already told you — my affairs are none of your concern.”


    Beside him, Ste’s fingers tightened until her knuckles ached. She knew pressing on would only provoke him further, but for his sake, she couldn’t stop now.


    “Arlo isn’t a good person,” she said, forcing herself to remain calm. “You know he tampered with your memories. He caused you so much pain. Why are you still helping him?”


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    William stared at her, his expression hardening, the chill in his eyes deepening. A coldugh escaped him. “Ste, who do you think you are? It’s not your ce to dictate how the Briggs Group uses its money. And who gave you the right to investigate me?”


    The transfers to Arlo were something only he knew about. Without digging into his affairs, there was no way she could have found out.


    Seeing that he still wasn’t grasping the real danger, Ste’s anxiety spiked. “I’m worried about you,” she said earnestly. “You understand better than anyone what Arlo is using that money for. What happens if one day his influence grows strong enough to reach Choria?”


    William yanked his hand free from her grasp. “If he ever sets foot in Choria, it’ll be because I allowed it.” Without his consent, Arlo wouldn’t be able to interfere in Choria’s affairs — not in a lifetime.


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