?Chapter 1687:


    She didn’t get the chance to finish. He cut her off abruptly, his tone sharp and distant. “You think Rufus treats you better than I do, don’t you? That’s why you think I’ve been awful to you, and now you want to leave. Just like before, you walked away from Marc without hesitation because you believed I was the better option. Isn’t that right?”


    The moment the words left his mouth, even William was stunned. He couldn’tprehend how something so cruel hade from him so easily. Marc was a wound Ste never allowed herself to touch — a chapter defined by betrayal that she had buried deep and refused to revisit. And yet, with reckless disregard, William had torn it open, exposing it without a second thought for her pain.


    Color drained from Ste’s face. She stared at him, eyes wide, disbelief and hurt flooding her features.


    “What did you just say?”


    Her voice was low and fragile — not a challenge, but a quiet, desperate hope that she had misheard.


    William parted his lips, meaning to retract what he had said. Instead, the words that followed cut even deeper. “I’m saying this, Ste — you’ve never really been loyal. You left Marc for me. Now that you think I’m no longer good enough, you’re turning to Rufus instead. So tell me, who’s next?”


    The room fell into an oppressive stillness, so silent that the sound of their breathing felt unbearably loud.


    After what felt like an eternity, Ste finally spoke, each word slow and deliberate. “William… is that truly what you want to say?”


    Even as she tried to convince herself that these weren’t his genuine feelings, the pain seeped in, impossible to ignore. As she met his eyes, filled with open contempt, she found herself unable to tell where the cruelty wasing from — was it Arlo’s influence twisting his behavior, or had William truly reached a point where he felt nothing for her at all? Which version of him was real?


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    William said nothing.


    A quietugh escaped Ste — light, but hollow — as though a realization had finally settled over her. She drew in a slow breath, looked away, and turned as if ready to walk out.


    Watching her calm, controlled movements, a sudden wave of unease gripped William. “Isn’t there anything you want to say?”


    He couldn’t even tell what emotion had pushed the words out of him.


    Ste turned back to face him. “What exactly do you expect me to say? Would you even believe me? No matter how I exin myself, haven’t you already decided what you think? William, honestly — if you truly want me gone, I can leave right now. But are you sure you won’t regret it?”


    The questions came one after another, each one carrying the quiet hope that he would finally give her a clear answer.


    William remained silent. At that moment, he didn’t understand his own heart at all.


    After a pause, Ste spoke again. “Let’s both take some time to cool off.”


    Soon after, the soft rolling sound of suitcase wheels echoed through the vi as Ste pulled her packed luggage down the stairs. Tasha noticed her leaving and instinctively wanted to stop her, but no words came to mind.


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