?Chapter 1618:


    Her stomach dropped. Arlo had moved faster than any of them had anticipated. Why had Carson arrived early? How had Merrick adjusted so quickly?


    She met his gaze. “This is Arlo’s doing. Merrick works for him.”


    His face hardened. “And I’m supposed to believe that?”


    She struggled to find the right words. “You may not trust me, but trust your friends. Jewell and Steven found proof. Ask them yourself. I simply hadn’t expected Carson to arrive early.” Regret flooded through her. If she had gone to William the moment she received Steven’s message, perhaps none of this would have happened.


    William stared at her coldly before turning back toward the study, attempting to shut her out. Ste stepped quickly inside before he could close the door. “You can call Steven right now.”


    Despite his bloodshot eyes, William pulled out his phone and dialed.


    “We’re on our way to your vi, William. We should arrive in ten minutes.” Steven’s voice carried unmistakable urgency.


    Surprise flickered across William’s face.


    Ten minutester, all four of them sat assembled in the study, wearing equally somber expressions.


    “William, Ste was telling the truth,” Jewell said, breaking the tense silence. “We’ve been monitoring Merrick’s phone and overheard his conversations with Arlo.”


    But it felt like one step toote. Carson canceling the coboration struck a significant blow to Briggs Group.


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    William pressed his lips together, surveying the group with a voice still stripped of emotion. “Even knowing the truth now, what can I do?”


    Steven looked at him, bewildered. “Fire Merrick and have him arrested for financial misconduct, of course.” If Merrick remained at Briggs Group, Arlo would inevitably continue exploiting him. Next time, it might escte well beyond a single lost project.


    Ste recognized the validity of Steven’s words and nodded. “William, we can meet with Carson, exin everything, and hope he understands enough to salvage the coboration. But Merrick must be held ountable.”


    William didn’t even lift his head. “The coboration is gone. I’ll handle Arlo myself.”


    Ste’s heart ached as though pierced by needles. She remembered when William had been different. She sat there studying his familiar profile — the set of his jaw, the deliberate nkness of his expression — and understood he had no interest in continuing the conversation.


    She straightened her posture and spoke with calm determination. “I can set aside your issues with Arlo for now, but we cannot let Carson slip away.”


    William’s hands stilled for a moment. He regarded her in silence before finally replying, his voice cold. “Suit yourself.”


    Two words. And somehow, they cut deeper than any aggressive response could have.


    Ste couldn’t sit still any longer. She pushed herself up and left the study. What William and Steven discussed after her departure, she had no idea — and right now, she couldn’t let herself care.


    As the door clicked shut behind her, William lifted his head, something unreadable flickering across his austere features.


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