?Chapter 1657:


    Ste’s mind reyed his words, finding them almostughable. “William, if you didn’t want to have dinner with me, you could have just said so directly. Do you find this entertaining? You’re deliberately trying to provoke me by epting another woman’s invitation right in front of my face. You—”


    William cut her off. “What makes you think I’m doing this because of you?”


    Ste froze, confusion clouding her features as she searched his face for meaning.


    He continued. “I epted her invitation because I have no interest in having dinner with you. Compared to you, herpany would be far more pleasant.”


    A bitterugh nearly escaped Ste’s throat. “So what you’re telling me is that you’d rather spend time with her than with me?”


    For the first time, genuine emotion flickered across William’s face — though it morphed rapidly into irritation. “Ste, there’s nothing between us anymore. I don’t require your approval or permission regarding who I choose to spend my time with.”


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    Each wordnded like a de driven into the most vulnerable part of her heart. Painnced through her chest so acutely it nearly stole her breath.


    William turned back to his paperwork and let the silence stretch unbearably before he spoke again, his voice low and dismissive. “If there’s nothing else you need to say, you should go. I have dinner ns.”


    The phrase “dinner ns” drew a scoff from Ste’s lips before she could suppress it.


    She never could have imagined that the man who had once chosen her without hesitation — who had been absolutely steadfast in his devotion — would now be nning dinner with another woman. Even during those terrible months when she had lost her memories, William had never been this callous toward her.


    Ste pushed herself to her feet, crossed the distance between them, and braced her hands against the edge of his desk, staring into his eyes. “Fine. If you’re going to this dinner, then I’ming with you.”


    William’s frown deepened, irritation written inly across his face. “What possible reason do you have toe along?”


    “To eat, obviously. What else?” A cold smile curved Ste’s mouth. “I simply want to see for myself what’s so remarkable about this Miss Cooper that you’d ept her invitation.”


    William knew this was her desperate measure. In truth, he had no genuine interest in dining with Alisha at all. Yet somehow, whenever Ste stood before him, he found himself powerless to resist thepulsion to hurt her — fully aware that watching him go to dinner with another woman would shatter her, and still unable to make himself stop. Even though the anguish on her face brought him no satisfaction whatsoever.


    Silence stretched between them before he finally bit out, “Do whatever you want.”


    At seven o’clock that evening, in a private dining room at a restaurant called Bamboo, Alisha’s face lit up the moment William pushed through the door. Her smile faltered when she caught sight of Ste trailing just behind him. It froze altogether, and she stood there awkwardly, uncertain about what connection existed between them.


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