?Chapter 1645:


    His wordsnded like a ssh of ice water. Ste bit her lower lip and reminded herself that he was going through something difficult — it helped ease the sting, just slightly. Even so, the hurt lodged in her chest wouldn’t dissolve. She hadn’t done a single thing to deserve this treatment. She had watched him interact with that girl with her own eyes, and yet when she asked about it, he had chosen to lie to her face.


    That girl — did he truly not know her?


    Jewell arrived just in time with the test results, breaking the tension between them. “Most of the results look good. There are a few areas we’ll need to monitor closely. I’m going to write some prescriptions. William, you’ll need toe in for regr check-ups — particrly to track your mood stability. Make sure you take your medication consistently.”


    William’s attention seemed miles away, barely registering Jewell’s words. His mind kept circling back to Alisha — whose face mirrored Ste’s so perfectly from those long-ago university years. Back then, he hadn’t known Ste yet. She had still been with Marc. He had regretted it countless times — why hadn’t he crossed paths with her during the bloom of her youth?


    Jewell continued speaking, and only when he turned to face William directly did he notice William wasn’t listening at all.


    William epted the report without a flicker of emotion. “I understand. I’m leaving now.”


    Ste shot Jewell an apologetic nce, murmured a quick apology, and followed William toward the parking lot.


    Romаnс?? ?????e???? o? ????lno????????.??????


    On the drive back, the atmosphere plummeted to an icy silence. Ste opened her mouth several times to speak, but each time she glimpsed William’s thunderous expression, the words died in her throat.


    She kept reying the image of the girl she had spotted in the corridor. If her eyes hadn’t deceived her, William had actually held that girl for a moment before she came out of the restroom. He had never shown this much patience with a stranger before.


    So who exactly was that girl?


    Questions crowded Ste’s thoughts, one after another, until she could no longer keep them contained. Atst, she turned toward William and spoke quietly, her voice cautious. “That girl at the hospital — had you met her before?”


    William’s eyes shed with sudden anger. His tone dropped, sharp and frigid. “If you don’t trust what I already told you, why are you even asking?”


    His reaction caught Ste off guard. “I just saw you—”


    His face darkened further, impatience seeping into every word. “Saw what exactly? I already exined it. She nearly fainted. I didn’t want her copsing on me, so I helped her up. Ste, know your position. You’re not my fiancée anymore.” In truth, she wasn’t even his girlfriend now.


    “I’m not trying to interfere,” Ste said quickly. “I was just worried.” Arlo had recently sent Merrick into Briggs Group — what if that girl had been sent by him as well?


    William let out a harsh, humorlessugh, his restraint unraveling. “Worried? Worried that I might actually be interested in her? Ste, don’t you think you’re being a little absurd?”


    She stared at him, disbelief written across her face. “Is that really how you see me? You think I asked because I’m scared you’ll end up with another woman?”


    .


    .


    .