?Chapter 1730:


    Hearing Alisha bring William up unprompted made Ste’s expression harden noticeably. “Alisha, even if nobody says it out loud, anyone with working eyes can see what William and I are to each other. Refusing to acknowledge it is just self-deception on your part.”


    Tears pooled in Alisha’s eyes, threatening to spill at any moment. “That’s not true…”


    Ste had no patience for this conversation and turned to leave — but Alisha suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.


    “Ms. Russell, I think I’m pregnant.”


    Time seemed to freeze. Ste’s entire body locked up, a high-pitched ringing flooding her ears. She stared at Alisha while her mind wentpletely, utterly nk.


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    Pregnant?


    Whose child could it possibly be? What did any of this have to do with her?


    Ste pulled her arm free from Alisha’s grasp, her voice turning distant and cold. “That’s your personal business. There’s no need to involve me.”


    Alisha looked flustered. She threw her arms out wide, blocking Ste’s path. “But the baby’s father is Mr. Briggs. Doesn’t that concern you?”


    Ste’s heart kicked into a frantic rhythm. Even though she had braced herself for exactly this possibility the moment Alisha opened her mouth, hearing it spoken aloud sent ice rushing through her veins, as though her blood had reversed course.


    Alisha bit down on her lower lip, aplicated tangle of emotions swimming in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you this — but if you and Mr. Briggs really are together or engaged, then you deserve to know.”


    She wore the perfect mask of someone acting in Ste’s best interests.


    The ground seemed to tilt beneath Ste’s feet, and the scene before her began to spin sickeningly. She clenched her jaw hard, forcing herself to stay upright, refusing to show any weakness in front of Alisha.


    She fixed Alisha with an icy stare, her gaze razor-sharp with suspicion. “Do you understand what you’re iming? Spreading false usations like this cannd you in serious legal trouble.”


    Alisha sniffled as fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I’m not lying. That night, Mr. Briggs was the one who initiated everything — and he told me he had no feelings for you, that you two had already grown indifferent to each other. Isn’t that right?”


    Ste said nothing, though something cold and dangerous flickered in her eyes. Since when had her rtionship with William be something for outsiders to dissect and pass judgment on?


    She took her time before responding, and Alisha’s unease seemed to grow with each passing second of silence.


    “Ms. Russell, I never meant to threaten your position with him. If Mr. Briggs wants to stay with you, I won’t get in the way. But this child is innocent — I don’t want my baby born without a father.”


    As the words left her mouth, she began crying again, her entire body trembling with what appeared to be genuine anguish. Any passerby witnessing the scene would probably have assumed Ste was the one doing the bullying.


    “So what exactly are you telling me all this for? Do you want me to convince William to ept you and this baby? Or are you hoping I’ll simply step aside and clear the way for you?”


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