?Chapter 1658:


    Ste’s eyes settled on the younger woman, assessment sharpening her gaze. Alisha was perceptive enough to read volumes in that single look, and the realization of what Ste likely meant to William only heightened her nervousness.


    Alisha took the seat directly across from William, her white dress simple and unadorned. She looked young and unsure — caught somewhere between innocence and unease. “Mr. Briggs, may I ask who this is?”


    Her gaze drifted toward Ste, uncertainty clouding her expression.


    Ste extended her hand first, a polite smile fixed firmly in ce. “Hello, Miss Cooper. William has mentioned you several times. My name is Ste Russell.” As the words left her mouth, she cast a deliberate nce toward William. The way she said his first name carried an unmistakable note of familiarity that spoke volumes about their rtionship.


    William remainedpletely impassive in the seat beside her, offering neither confirmation nor denial.


    Alisha reached out and shook Ste’s hand. “Hello, Ms. Russell. I’m Alisha Cooper. I’m terribly sorry — I had no idea you’d be joining us this evening. If I’d known, I would have reserved arger room.”


    The private room couldfortably amodate four diners, but with just the three of them inside, the space felt suffocatingly ufortable.


    Ste kept herposure intact, her expression pleasant and controlled. “Don’t worry about it — this room is lovely. You’re studying at Crossroads University, aren’t you?”


    “Yes, I’m in my final year. I’m doing an internship at Dixon Group right now,” Alisha replied, though her eyes kept drifting back to William despite her best efforts. He had barely spoken since they’d arrived and didn’t seem to look at Ste much at all. The dynamic between them confused her, making it impossible to pin down the exact nature of their connection.


    Course after course arrived until the table was crowded with tes, yet none of them made more than a token effort to eat. Ste and Alisha fell into sporadic conversation — university life, internship challenges, career aspirations. Though Alisha seemed reserved and a little guarded, she responded to Ste’s questions with genuine warmth, her answers painting a picture of someone quietly optimistic about whaty ahead.


    Ste raised an eyebrow and asked deliberately, “You mentioned your internship at Dixon Group. That’s quite impressive — not just anyone manages tond a position there.”


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    Alisha tensed slightly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “To be honest, I owe it all to Mr. Briggs. If it hadn’t been for his help, I never would have gotten the opportunity to intern at Dixon Group.” She turned toward William with unmistakable sincerity, her eyes bright with gratitude. “Mr. Briggs, I truly can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.”


    She had only learned his full name after striking up conversations with her fellow interns at Dixon Group. The man who had helped her turned out to be none other than the renowned heir to Briggs Group — one of the most powerful families in Choria.


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