?Chapter 1681:


    As they passed the gymnasium, they encountered a group of Rufus’s ssmates heading in the opposite direction. One of them spotted Ste and called out with a grin, “Rufus! Who’s the gorgeous woman? Finally got yourself a girlfriend? Come on, introduce us!”


    Rufus’s face flooded with color. “Shut up! This is Ms. Ste Russell — she’s here as a distinguished guest for the anniversary celebration!”


    The guy clearly wasn’t from their department and had no idea who Ste was. All he registered was that she was stunning and appeared close to their age. “Wait, so are you into her or not? Because if you’re not making a move, I definitely will!”


    Fury shed across Rufus’s face. “I said stop talking like an idiot! Not everyone thinks with their hormones like you do!” He turned to Ste, mortified. “Ms. Russell, please ignore him. He’s always like this — speaks without thinking.”


    Ste had no intention of getting into an argument with college students. She offered a dismissive smile to show she hadn’t taken any offense.


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    At that exact moment, William and Alisha were passing nearby.


    William’s eyes locked onto Ste instantly. She stood surrounded by a cluster of young men, her smile soft and genuinely rxed — an expression he hadn’t seen cross her face in months. The young man standing closest to her gazed at her with transparent admiration. Even from a distance, his feelings were painfully obvious.


    Jealousy and rage detonated through William’s chest. His hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles ached, his eyes boring into Ste withser focus.


    Alisha caught the shift in his demeanor immediately. She followed his line of sight and spotted Ste with Rufus, and satisfaction bloomed warm in her chest. So Ste could getfortable with other men too. She had assumed Ste waspletely devoted to William — that no one else could possiblypete.


    Seeing that William looked unhappy, Alisha deliberately put on a concerned expression. “Mr. Briggs, isn’t that Ms. Russell over there? That young man with her looks like one of our students. Did they know each other before this? They seem… awfullyfortable together.”


    Her words were gasoline on the fire already raging in William’s chest. His face darkened. He pivoted and strode toward Ste,pletely forgetting Alisha’s existence.


    Alisha stood frozen for a heartbeat before scrambling after him. “Mr. Briggs, wait! Wait for me!”


    Ste had just turned to continue walking with Rufus when the sound of rapid footsteps made her pause. She looked up to find William bearing down on her, his expression terrifyingly dark.


    He came to a halt directly in front of her, his voice emerging cold and sharp. “What the hell are you doing?”


    Ste looked at him calmly. “Nothing. Walking around campus. Answering questions for a graduate student. Is that somehow a problem?”


    William’s gaze snapped to Rufus, his eyes icy.


    Did answering a few academic questions really require standing that close together,ughing like that?


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