?Chapter 1699:


    Now Amon’s interest was genuinely piqued. He examined Alisha’s face more carefully, and realization seemed to click into ce. “Wait — you’re interested in William? Well, in that case, you definitely have a legitimate reason to get drunk.” As far as Amon knew, William had never loved anyone except Ste in his entire life.


    Bitterness dripped from Alisha’s voice. “So you think I don’t measure up to Ste either?”


    She had never despised her own reflection as much as she did now, solely because it bore a resemnce to Ste’s. Though part of her felt grateful too — if she didn’t look like Ste, William probably never would have noticed her at all that day at the hospital.


    Amon’s mouth curved into a smile that heldyers of meaning Alisha couldn’t parse through the alcohol fog. “Ste and William were together when you were probably still in elementary school. And they’ve never actually ended things. So if anyone’s ying the role of home-wrecker here, I’d say it’s you.”


    All color fled from Alisha’s face. “What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t tried to break them up!”


    Watching her attempt to defend herself, Amon kept his voice calm. “Doesn’t matter what you call it. My advice? Drop this pursuit. If you manage to upset either William or Ste, you’re going to regret it.” He spoke from painful personal experience on that particr subject.


    Alisha dismissed his warning as dramatic exaggeration. “You just said I’m younger than Ste. Why couldn’t I win him over eventually? Besides, from what I’ve seen, Mr. Briggs doesn’t even seem that into her.”


    Amon suddenly realized the woman sitting beside him was spectacrly naive. “Ste surpasses you in literally every category that matters — particrly in her professional achievements. What do you bring to the table besides youth and a pretty face?” His words cut with brutal honesty, as though in his estimation, Alisha wasn’t worth a single strand of Ste’s hair.


    The fierce defense made Alisha’s alcohol-soaked brain start wondering about the exact nature of this man’s rtionship with Ste. She looked him up and down with newfound suspicion. “You’re awfully protective of her. Are you in love with her too?”


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    Amon blinked in surprise before recognizing the conclusion she had jumped to. Rather than correct the misunderstanding, he found himself entertained by it. He leaned into the deception with a yful smirk. “Oh? You caught me?”


    Alisha’s eyes flickered with disdain, as though she had found some leverage. “Wow, Ste really is something else — collecting handsome men left and right. Does Mr. Briggs know you’re pining after his woman?”


    Amon lifted his shoulders in an unconcerned shrug. “Why would it matter if he knows? Ste’spletely devoted to William anyway.” He found himself curious about what this young woman might do now that she believed he harbored romantic feelings for Ste.


    As Alisha stared at Amon, her resentment toward Ste intensified yet another degree. So Ste wasn’t satisfied with having William — she had to go around captivating other men too? How fickle.


    Alisha regarded Amon with open contempt. “You’re in love with a woman who’s already taken. How do you have the audacity to use me of being a home-wrecker?” Weren’t they in the same boat?


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