?Chapter 1721:


    He stepped aside smoothly and gestured her inside, guiding her toward the living room sofa before posing the question. “Can I offer you something? Tea or coffee?”


    “No, thank you.” Josie settled onto the sofa and fixed him with an unwavering stare. “I came here specifically to ask you about William.”


    Steven lowered himself onto the sofa beside her, crossing his long legs with studied casualness even as tension coiled visibly through his frame. William’s recent behavior had deteriorated to the point where even Steven could no longer formte a proper assessment of him. Dread flooded through him at the possibility that Josie had discovered what had transpired between William and Alisha, and his voice tightened fractionally. “Go on.”


    Josie maintained direct eye contact, her words measured and deliberate. “A woman named Alisha has been circling William recently. Do you know her?”


    Several seconds of weighted silence passed before Steven responded. “I’m aware of her existence. What happened?”


    “I witnessed them in a private meeting at a café this afternoon. The atmosphere was deeply unsettling.”


    Steven’s breath caught audibly, surprise flickering unmistakably across his features. Seeing his reaction, Josie felt certain he hadn’t known about the meeting either. For reasons she couldn’t quite articte, something tight loosened in her chest.


    “Steven, you’re William’s closest friend. You must know something. What exactly is the nature of Alisha’s rtionship with him?” She saw no reason to beat around the bush.


    Steven redirected his gaze toward the window, buying time. His fingers drummed a restless rhythm against the armrest while he mentally navigated his options.


    Lying to Josie felt fundamentally wrong. But revealing the truth meant Ste would inevitably discover everything as well.


    In the end, he could only feign ignorance. “I only know there’s someone named Alisha. Beyond that, I genuinely don’t know the nature of their rtionship. William has loved Ste with unwavering devotion — what possible rtionship could he have with another woman?”


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    Josie wasn’t convinced.


    “Do you really know nothing at all? Ste is my closest friend in this world. If William has betrayed her and you’re protecting him by lying to me, I will never trust a single word that leaves your mouth again.”


    She never issued empty threats, and her fierce solemnity made that abundantly clear.


    Confronted with it, resignation saturated Steven’s reply. “Please don’t force this. Whatever exists between William and Alisha is his private business. If you need answers, direct your questions to him personally.”


    Steven’s evasive response convinced Josie that he was withholding something.


    She had studied male behavior patterns for years. Men typically presented as articte andposed, but the instant their eyes began darting and their words stumbled, it signaled concealment. She locked onto his gaze with unwavering intensity. “Steven, do you honestly believe I can’t tell when you’re hiding something from me?”


    Steven’s brow creased fractionally. “Ms. Patel —”


    Josie surged to her feet, cutting him off mid-sentence. “You’re fully aware of William’s deteriorating mental state. Are you seriously nning to protect him regardless? He probably doesn’t evenprehend what he’s doing anymore!”


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