?Chapter 1707:


    Sharon cheerfully tugged Rufus down into the seat beside her and pressed a winess into his hand. “Rx a little. You’re Stel’s junior, so that makes you one of us. I’ll smooth things over with your supervisorter — no one’s docking your pay.”


    Rufus hesitated, embarrassment flickering across his face, but when Ste made no objection, he epted the drink.AdChoicesADVERTISING


    Soon the four of them fell into easy, lighthearted drinking games, and the stiff mood slowly dissolved. Ste was tense at first, yet the warmth of the moment gradually eased her nerves. Rufus, youthful and quick-witted, was well-versed in all kinds of party games, and before long he had Sharon and Steughing along,pletely swept into the rhythm.


    Genuineughter spilled from Ste’s lips. When she smiled, her eyes curved sweetly, catching the glow of the lights and shimmering with an irresistible charm. Rufus found himself watching her a second too long, a spark of admiration surfacing before he quickly masked it, careful not to draw attention.


    What none of them realized was that their cheerful scene was being watched from the VIP balcony above by Amon.


    Hezily rotated his ss, eyes fixed on the group below with open intrigue. His stare lingered on Ste and Rufus, a faint disbelief etching his expression. Had he gotten it wrong? Was Ste really at a bar with another man — and without William anywhere in sight?


    He pulled out his phone, snapped several photos, then scrolled to William’s contact and sent them. Once the images were delivered, he added a message: “She looks pretty carefree tonight. Did the two of you split up?” He couldn’t help recalling the woman he had seen at William’s office days earlier — so simr to Ste — and unease crept in.


    Inside the Briggs Group CEO’s office, William sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on the documents glowing on his monitor. A notification chimed. He opened it, and the instant the photos loaded, his breath hitched.


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    He had buried himself in work all day, deliberately staying away from the vi, unwilling to confront the hollow silence Ste’s absence left behind. When his phone buzzed, he had secretly hoped it was finally her reaching out.


    Instead, the screen showed Steughing freely in a bar, seated close to a young man — her school junior. They sat almost shoulder to shoulder, and Rufus’s gaze lingered on her with open, unconcealed interest.


    A sharp surge rushed to William’s head, his ears buzzing painfully. Hadn’t she insisted there was nothing between her and that junior? Then why were they sharing drinks, leaning in so closely? He was still reeling from her departure, questioning whether he had crossed an unforgivable line — and yet here she was, apparently spending the evening with another man. She would ratherugh in a bar than answer a single message from him. She could smile so freely with others, yet refused to meet him even once.


    The violent mood swing brought on by his bipr disorder surged upward, drowning thest fragments of his rational thought.


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