ã€ŠMarrying Her Was Easy, Losing Her Was Hellã€‹


 Chapter 1

    ?Chapter 1:

    A message lit up Ste Russell¡¯s phone, apanied by several photos. Clothes scattered carelessly, two people holding each other tightly, messy bedsheets, and a hazy reflection in a fogged-up mirror¡­ Ste had seen this kind of thing before. It wasn¡¯t new to her.

    One hundred thousand dors at the big hand holding that woman¡¯s wrist, and Ste knew it was Marc¡¯s. Her husband. The same man she¡¯d been married to for four years. Then her eyes caught the date on the pictures, and her stomach sank. It was the same day as their wedding anniversary.

    Marc had promised they¡¯d spend the evening together, but he¡¯d vanished for three days. All she got was a message from his assistant, saying he had some urgent business to handle.

    ¡°Urgent, huh?¡± Ste let out a cold chuckle. Clearly urgent¡ªin someone else¡¯s bed. She closed the message and called someone from her contact list.

    The person picked up almost immediately.

    ¡°Ste,¡± came the voice on the other end.

    ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision about the ssified research project,¡± she said calmly.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the candidate?¡± they asked.

    A heavy silence stretched on the other end of the line, then came a sharp, unwavering voice. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around, Ste. You know what this means! Once you¡¯re in the ssified research project, there¡¯s no turning back. No outside contact, no personal ties. You¡¯ll be officially listed as missing, and everything about your past will be wiped clean. A new identity will be created for you. So ask yourself¡ªare you really ready to walk away from your family? From Marc?¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes fell on the framed wedding photo hanging nearby. The smiles in it once made her feel warm, but now they only made her heart ache.

    Marc¡¯s promises, which used to sound sweet, now felt cold and empty.

    ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I¡¯lle by tomorrow to fill out the forms.¡±

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    She ended the call before the person on the other end could say anything else. She didn¡¯t want to hear more. Her mind was already made up.

    At that moment, a car pulled up outside. Momentster, Marc Walsh walked in, tall as ever, loosening his ck tie while heading straight for the bathroom. His jacket, tossedzily on the hook, still carried the suggestive scent of FIRE2, thetest.

    Women¡¯s perfume from the brand Vlexoot. Bold, heated¡ªeverything she apparently wasn¡¯t anymore.

    Marc came out minutester, dripping from a quick shower, wearing a gray bathrobe. The robe hung loosely, showcasing his chest and abs. Damp hair fell around his face, and the steam only made him look colder, sharper.

    Being the heir to the powerful Walsh family, Marc had everything¡ªlooks, status, and money. Once, she¡¯d been drawn to all of that. Now, it only made her sick.

    ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Marc chuckled, sliding an arm around her waist, his voice low and teasing. ¡°Miss me, babe?¡±

    His hand slid down her side, but his touch made her skin crawl. She quickly pulled away.

    Marc¡¯s hand stopped mid-motion, his eyebrows knitting together. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you mad at me?¡±

    Ste took a breath, steadying herself. She wasn¡¯t going to waste energy on another fight. Pushing down the ache in her heart, she leaned over and picked up a locked box from the drawer, handing it to him.

    ¡°Here. A gift.¡±

    Inside? The divorce papers she¡¯d already signed. Her final present.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to guess the password to open it,¡± she said tly.

    Marc gave it azy look, thinking it was just another one of her odd little games, and tossed it onto the table. Then he pulled her close again, resting his chin on her shoulder.

    ¡°You¡¯re the only gift I want.¡±

    Ste stiffened without meaning to. Marc noticed and gave a low chuckle. ¡°Still pouting because I missed our anniversary? Work¡¯s been nuts,¡± he said while brushing a kiss on her cheek.

    Then he let go, pulled a small box from his coat, and handed it to her.

    ¡°Do you like it?¡±

    Inside was a hairpin¡ªdelicate and gold-ted, clearly custom-made with careful detail.

    ¡°I got this made just for you. You¡¯ve always liked things like this, haven¡¯t you? Try it on.¡±

    His voice held that familiar mix of control and affection.

    That tone had once been enough to melt her resolve.

    People in Choria all believed Marc doted on his wife. Ste had believed it as well.

    If it weren¡¯t for the photos saved in her phone, she might have really been touched by the gift.

    The girl in the pictures was in her twenties, pretty and confident, with flirtatious eyes and long, wavy hair pinned up using the same hairpin that nowy in front of Ste. The loose style revealed her smooth neck¡ªmarked with hickeys.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one like it in the world. You like it, don¡¯t you?¡± Marc gently lifted her hair, his rough fingers brushing against her skin in a way that was both familiar and far too intimate.

    Ste¡¯s patience was wearing thin¡ªshe nearly stabbed the damn thing straight into his chest.

    She looked up at him, her eyes colder than usual. ¡°The only one in the world, huh?¡±

    Something about her felt off. Marc sensed it in his gut. But the moment she smiled, that familiar softness returning, his doubt vanished.

    ¡°If it¡¯s truly one of a kind, then yes, I love it.¡± Ste calmly closed the box. ¡°Got work to do tonight. You go ahead and sleep.¡±

    She stepped out of his arms, holding the box tightly, not sparing him a single nce.

    A cool draft slipped into his open robe, and for some reason, it left Marc feeling strangely hollow. Tonight, she seemed colder than usual.

    He nced at the locked box on the table, and a strange calm returned to him. After all, no one understood Ste¡¯s feelings better than he did. She loved him deeply¡­ so deeply that no matter what he did, she¡¯d never truly walk away.

    Not now, not ever.

    His phone buzzed repeatedly in his robe pocket.

    When he finally checked it, bold, flirty messages lit up the screen, tightening his throat.

    He gave a short reply, deleted everything, and carelessly tossed the phone aside before sinking into bed.

    The soft, familiar scent lingering on the sheets eased his nerves, and before long, he was fast asleep.

    Meanwhile, in the study, Ste quietly snapped a picture of the hairpin and sent it to a luxury resale boutique. ¡°Sell this. ASAP.¡± She attached a bank ount number. ¡°Send the money here.¡± It was the institute¡¯s official ount. Even something stained could still be put to good use.

    By morning, when Marc opened his eyes, Ste was already fully dressed.

    He leaned up on his elbows and motioned for her toe over.

    His voice was husky and soft with sleep. ¡°Come here. Give me a hug.¡±

    Ste¡¯s fingers paused on her blouse buttons. She drew in a breath, her gaze clear andposed. ¡°Something urgent came up at the institute. I¡¯ve got to leave now. Didn¡¯t have time to make breakfast¡ªyou¡¯ll have to sort it out yourself today.¡±

    She grabbed her bag and walked out, just likest night¡ªno nce, no hesitation.

    Marc¡¯s hands froze mid-motion, a hollow feeling creeping back into his chest. He slowly rubbed his brows, trying to shake it off.

    No matter how packed her schedule was, Ste never missed a morning. She always made sure breakfast was ready just in time. Then she¡¯d gently wake him, coax a hug, and offer a morning kiss with that sweet smile. But not today.

    Just as she opened the door, she heard his voice behind her. It felt like something ripped through her chest¡ªsharp and deep. She turned slowly, her eyes steady. ¡°Yes?¡±

    Marc looked at her for a long moment. She seemed normal. Maybe it was just in his head. ¡°Make sure you eat, even if things get hectic. And don¡¯t stay up toote. The Marina Horizon deal hit a snag, so I¡¯ll be workingte this week. Don¡¯t wait up.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Ste smiled.

    With sunlight on her face, that warm smile and sparkling eyes reminded him of the girl who¡¯d once taken his breath away.

    Marc¡¯s heart skipped a beat. His voice turned even softer. ¡°Once work calms down, let¡¯s go to Midstream Isle. Make up for the honeymoon we missed.¡±

    Her heart, already aching, felt like it was breaking all over again.

    Back when they were nning the wedding, she¡¯d carefully listed out ces they¡¯d travel to together¡ªone for every anniversary as another honeymoon. She¡¯d believed they¡¯d stay in love forever.

    But this year, Marc had taken another woman to that very ce. The photos of them together were still in her phone. Ste lowered her eyes and answered quietly, ¡°Sure¡­ when things settle down.¡± With that, she turned and walked out.

    Not a flicker of warmth remained in her eyes.

    And sadly for him, that chance would nevere.

    .

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 Chapter 2

    ?Chapter 2:

    Ste drove her modest ck Volkswagen straight through the gates of the Hookwood Research Institute.

    The moment she stepped inside the main office building, Lainey Lewis, her senior colleague, marched up and grabbed her by the wrist.

    ¡°You¡¯re seriously here to submit the application? What¡¯s going on, Ste? You didn¡¯t reply to my messages. You can¡¯t just make a decision like this on a whim. This project isn¡¯t some experiment, and you should¡¯ve at least discussed it with Marc.¡±

    A sharp ache rose in Ste¡¯s chest, but she remained silent. Instead, she unlocked her phone, scrolled to a WhatsApp conversation, and handed it over.

    Dozens of provocative messages and suggestive images stared back¡ªsent more than once. One photo in particr left nothing to the imagination.

    Lainey nced at the screen, then immediately shoved the phone back into Ste¡¯s hands, her eyes zing.

    ¡°That bastard! If it weren¡¯t for your patents back then, hispany wouldn¡¯t have even made it pastunch. And now he¡¯s cheating on you? Come on, we¡¯re going back. I swear I¡¯ll make him crawl on his knees begging for mercy.¡±

    Ste quickly caught her arm. ¡°No. That won¡¯t be necessary.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, not necessary? After what he¡¯s done? You¡¯re just going to stand there and let him get away with it?¡±

    Her voice was shaking, but Ste¡¯s was cool and even.

    ¡°Let him off? Never.¡± She slid her phone back into her coat pocket. ¡°Facing him head-on would be far too easy. I want him to suffer¡­ to truly regret everything.¡±

    Lainey said nothing more. She knew exactly the kind of person Ste was. Brilliant in theb. Honest to a fault. But if someone pushed her beyond her limits, she¡¯d never let it go quietly. She¡¯d bounce back when they least expected it¡ªwith precision and force.

    They walked together toward the administrative office, and the form submission went smoothly. A few steps, a couple of stamps, and everything was nearly finalized¡ªjust awaiting the final review.

    Before she left, Ste volunteered to attend an academic seminar on behalf of the institute and gather the necessary materials.

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    By 3:30 p.m., the event at the Grace Hotel had wrapped up. Holding a folder against her chest, Ste stepped out of the lobby, making her way toward the parking lot when a familiar,zy chuckle reached her ears.

    ¡°Come on now, be good.¡±

    Her body stiffened at once. The moment she heard that voice, she slowly turned around. A wave of betrayal crashed over her, as if the ground beneath her had shifted without warning.

    Marc had his arm wrapped around a long-haired woman with a slim waist, guiding her through the entrance of the hotel. The woman chirped, ¡°I miss you¡­ miss you so much,¡± her voice syrupy and intimate.

    As she said it, she leaned into Marc, her lips trailing from his earlobe down his neck, her red lipstick smudging along his skin.

    Marcughed, low and fond, drawing her even closer, his palm firmly resting at the curve of her waist.

    Ste¡¯s vision blurred for a second, her chest tightening.

    So this was where the woman had followed him¡ªto this very hotel¡ªand they couldn¡¯t even wait until nightfall.

    Then, through the slowly spinning ss of the revolving door, their eyes met. Marc¡¯s gaze was dark and full of desire, while Ste¡¯s eyes were calm and distant, with a hint of mockery.

    The air between them suddenly felt heavy.

    The woman noticed Ste too. But instead of looking startled, she simply smiled smugly, then turned and kissed Marc again¡ªthis time deeper, more deliberate, as if marking her territory.

    A bitter taste rose in Ste¡¯s throat. Her stomach churned with nausea. She turned away, refusing to witness the spectacle any longer.

    She reached for her car door, but before she could get inside, a hand stopped her from behind. Marc had chased after her, a little breathless, and the smell of that woman¡¯s bold perfume still clung to him¡ªstrong enough to make her sick.

    ¡°Let go!¡± Ste tried to shake him off, but the door wouldn¡¯t budge.

    Marc didn¡¯t say a word¡ªhe just grabbed her waist and pushed her into the back seat, sliding in right after. His sharp features looked tense, and his eyes flickered with a strange mix of anxiety and impatience.

    ¡°Ste, please, let me exin.¡±

    With nowhere to run, Ste shifted away and spoke in a frozen tone. ¡°Wipe that lipstick off your mouth before you start talking.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face fell. His hand flew to his mouth without thinking, eyes shing with a hint of panic.

    ¡°The Marina Horizon deal¡¯s in trouble. I¡¯ve been stressing over the funding and reached out to Nova Holdings. Haley Smith¡ªshe¡¯s the daughter of a board member at Nova Holdings. She doesn¡¯t speak ournguage well and had been drinking. I was just making sure she got back to the hotel.¡±

    His tone was gentle, and he leaned in the way he always did when he wanted to charm her. ¡°She¡¯s from Achury. People in her country are pretty rxed, you know that. I swear I¡¯ll be more careful. Don¡¯t be upset, okay? I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡±

    Ste looked at him, her eyes sharp and cold. ¡°So¡­ is that how you secure investments? By getting that close to their daughters?¡± There was no shouting, no tears.

    Ste spoke with a chilling calm, tooposed to be angry. Her quiet words stripped every excuse from Marc¡¯s mouth, leaving them meaningless.

    That same heavy emptiness crashed into him again. Frustrated, he pulled at his tie, trying to breathe. ¡°Ste,e on. It¡¯s for work. Can you not blow this out of proportion?¡±

    Ste almostughed.

    She hadn¡¯t even raised her voice.

    Did he want her to throw the photos in his face to make it count as drama?

    The love she¡¯d held onto all these years now burned like a de in her chest. ¡°If you¡¯re done with me, Marc, just be honest. I won¡¯t hold on¡ªI¡¯ll give you the divorce you want.¡±

    Why did he have to y games? Why lie?

    Right after those words left her mouth, Marc grabbed her shoulder¡ªhard. His eyes were ice. ¡°Don¡¯t ever say that. We promised¡ªno matter what, we¡¯d work through it. Divorce is not an option. Don¡¯t even mention it.¡±

    Work it out?

    He had already slept with someone else. What was left to fix now?

    It felt like she was trapped in a web of thorns. Every breath, every movement cut deeper.

    Suddenly, Marc¡¯s phone rang. He checked it, frowned, and declined the call.

    But Ste caught the name on the screen. ¡°Sweetheart Wild Thing.¡±

    Before he could tuck it away, the phone lit up again¡ªthis time, WhatsApp messages popping up. The sender¡¯s name? ¡°Sizzling Baby.¡±

    ¡°Baby, I¡¯m in pain.¡±

    ¡°I need you. Come now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m bleeding¡­ am I going to die?¡±

    Three texts, all in Achury, one after another.

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 Chapter 3

    ?Chapter 3:

    It was as if Marc believed she couldn¡¯t read Achury at all¡ªhe didn¡¯t bother hiding the screen and typed a swift ¡°On my way¡± before shutting off his phone without a word of hesitation.

    ¡°Ste, I¡¯ve got something urgent to handle. If you can¡¯t help, at least stay out of the way. Be good, alright?¡± he said softly, brushing her hair as if she were a child.

    Then he turned and walked away without once looking back. She just sat there and let him go. It felt like something inside her had been torn to pieces¡ªtoo much pain to feel anything at all.

    She dropped the conference materials off at the institute for recordkeeping, then quietly headed home without another word.

    Marc didn¡¯t return for the next three days, and she didn¡¯t call. Not even once. There was nothing left to say.

    While waiting for her final approval, she kept herself upied by sorting through her things¡ªanything to keep her mind from copsing.

    The storage room was a shrine to their years together¡ªhandwritten notes from their first confession, the lopsided pottery they made on their first date, a small heart-shaped stone from a mountain night sky, and rows of framed photos bundled by year. Even the Proid cameras were neatly arranged from oldest to newest.

    Ste had always been sentimental¡ªshe kept these things, hoping one day they¡¯d sit together as old souls,ughing over the past.

    But now, it all felt like some cruel joke. Without hesitation, she tossed the keepsakes into the firece and watched them burn.

    As for the expensive gifts¡ªdiamonds, luxury watches, delicate nes, and even the wedding ring¡ªshe lined them up, took photos, and messaged her contact at the resale boutique. She told him to clear them all out.

    When she saw the empty jewelry box, it finally sank in¡ªlove, no matter how glittering, was worthless once tainted by betrayal.

    After another two days, she got the news that her application for joining the closed-door research project had been approved. She had ten quiet days before the project would begin.

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    Wanting to stock up on essentials, she changed clothes and headed to the mall. But as she came down the esctor with her shopping bags, she caught sight of a scene that stopped her in her tracks.

    There stood Jazlyn Walsh¡ªher always-critical mother-inw¡ªsmiling warmly and clinging to that Haley woman¡¯s arm like they were old friends. The affection on Jazlyn¡¯s face was a stab to the gut.

    And next to them was Marc, the same man who¡¯d disappeared for days, carefully slipping a glittering diamond bracelet onto Haley¡¯s wrist with all the tenderness he used to reserve for her.

    They lookedplete¡ªlike a picture-perfect family. One that didn¡¯t include her. When Haley nodded with delight, Jazlyn praised her taste with a sparkle in her eye and casually handed over a ck card for payment. But to Ste, the moment was soaked in bitter irony.

    That ck card belonged to her. It was her money being spent.

    She had earned those privileges¡­ deep discounts, first picks from new collections, all because of her close friendship with the brand¡¯s director. What was meant as a thoughtful gesture to bring her and Jazlyn closer was now being used to tter Marc¡¯s mistress.

    Without hesitation, Ste marched up to the counter, yanked the card from the stunned saleswoman¡¯s hand, and said calmly, ¡°Sorry. This card¡¯s no longer valid.¡±

    The employee blinked in confusion. ¡°Ma¡¯am, that¡¯s a premium card. It doesn¡¯t expire, and it can¡¯t be canceled¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Ste broke the card clean in half and tossed it into the nearby trash without blinking. ¡°It¡¯s canceled now.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s fury exploded. She pped Ste hard across the cheek and hissed, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? Do you even realize how disgraceful you¡¯re being?¡±

    The Walsh family carried a spotless reputation, and Marc had always been praised as a prodigy in finance.

    From the very beginning, when Ste and Marc had only just started dating, Jazlyn had treated her with indifference. And after the wedding, that coldness only grew. No matter how hard Ste tried to earn her approval, a warm smile never came.

    She had always kept quiet, not wanting to put Marc in a tough spot.

    But that patience¡ªbuilt on love¡ªhad finally run dry.

    She had no reason to tolerate it anymore.

    Then, suddenly, two crisp ps rang out,nding squarely on Marc¡¯s face.

    The noise silenced everyone around them.

    This was Marc Walsh¡ªthe man hailed in financial circles like a legend¡ªand now he stood, red-cheeked, pped in broad daylight.

    ¡°Ste!¡± Jazlyn shouted, livid. She rolled up her sleeves as if ready to storm forward and retaliate.

    However, Ste stood her ground, her chin lifted high. ¡°Youy a hand on me again, and I¡¯ll hit him twice as hard. Want to test me?¡±

    ¡°You! You¡­¡± Jazlyn was so furious she clutched her chest for breath. ¡°Marc! Look at her! How can you let her act like such a shrew?¡±

    Ste turned toward Marc with a cold smirk. ¡°Tell me, Marc¡ªdidn¡¯t I have every reason to p you?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression hardened, his jaw clenched. He stepped forward and seized her wrist, muttering under his breath, ¡°Ste, that¡¯s enough. Just calm down. You¡¯re making a scene.¡±

    Suddenly, Haley rushed into Marc¡¯s arms, dragging his hand to her waist and whining in Achury about Ste¡¯s outrageous behavior.

    She clung to him like ivy, calling him ¡°darling¡± again and again, as if she wanted to dissolve into his skin.

    Marc murmured soft reassurances in Achury, speaking to her gently.

    The sight of them, so close and cozy, made Steugh in disbelief.

    Then, out of nowhere, Ste spoke¡ªher Achury fluent, her tone sharp.

    ¡°If you¡¯re bold enough to be someone¡¯s mistress, at least have the decency not to y the innocent. You¡¯re sleeping with another woman¡¯s husband¡ªdon¡¯t even think about denying it. If Achury¡¯s not working for you, we can switch. I speak sixteennguages. You pick one, and I¡¯ll keep up. If I lose the argument, I¡¯ll admit defeat.¡±

    Haley¡¯s face turned a deep red.

    She had clearly never imagined Ste could speak Achury so perfectly. Hadn¡¯t Marc said his wife was just some regr office employee?

    Marc¡¯s face darkened, his tone rigid. ¡°Ste¡­ when did you learn Achury?¡± The moment hit her like a knife twisting deeper into an open wound.

    Her lips curled into a bitter smile.

    ¡°Ah, Marc, you must really love me, huh?¡± The sarcasm in her voice was razor-sharp. ¡°Go on, enjoy your little shopping spree. I won¡¯t get in your way.¡± And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

    Marc quickly moved to follow, but Jazlyn and Haley eachtched onto one of his arms, stopping him.

    ¡°Marc, just divorce that shameless woman already! How dare shey a hand on you?¡± Jazlyn snapped.

    She had said those exact words countless times before, and Marc had always ignored them. But for some reason, this time, they felt different. They got under his skin.

    ¡°That¡¯s between me and her,¡± he muttered, shaking them off and hurrying after Ste.

    Luckily, he managed to catch her just as she reached her car.

    ¡°Ste.¡±

    The second his fingers touched her wrist, a wave of nausea hit her, and she shook it off in disgust.

    ¡°What is it, Mr. Walsh? Done ying house with your wild little darling?¡±

    Marc¡¯s face twisted in frustration. ¡°Haley¡¯s just a friend. Why are you being so jealous? Can¡¯t you be mature for once? Do you have to humiliate us in public?¡±

    Ste let out a dry, disbelievingugh.

    Of course. Somehow, in the end, it always circled back to being her fault. How convenient.

    ¡°So let me get this straight,¡± she snapped. ¡°Even if I walk in on you and your side piece in bed, I should smile, close the curtains, and stand outside to protect the family name?¡±

    His grip on her wrist tightened, his eyes shing. ¡°How many times do I have to say it? She¡¯s just a friend!¡±

    ¡°A friend, is it?¡± Ste¡¯s tone dripped with irony as she looked him up and down. Then her gaze turned yful,ced with something sharper¡ªlike seduction or maybe vengeance.

    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll go find myself a friend too. And I¡¯ll make sure to do everything you and Haley have done¡ªeveryst thing.¡± She leaned in slightly, her voice a whisper dipped in venom. ¡°And you, dear husband¡­ don¡¯t get jealous. That wouldn¡¯t be fair, now would it?¡±

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 Chapter 4

    ?Chapter 4:

    Ste¡¯s final words hit harder than any p. The way she called him ¡°husband¡± carried weight. It wasn¡¯t just to remind him of their rtionship but more like a warning. As if she really might walk out and find someone else¡­ just like that.

    Marc¡¯s hand mped tighter around her wrist, his voice low and livid. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±

    His grip was so tight it felt like he might snap a bone.

    But that was nothingpared to the ache in her chest. Ste felt as if something had pierced right through her heart, each heartbeat twisting the knife deeper.

    She met his eyes, pain and disbelief swimming in hers. ¡°So you do know you¡¯ve gone too far,¡± she whispered.

    Marc froze for a second, then shoved her away like her words had burned him. ¡°I told you, Haley and I didn¡¯t cross any line. But if you want to go and get yourself a malepanion¡ªdo what you want.¡±

    Her wrist throbbed, the ache spreading through her arm. But it was her heart that hurt more.

    She gave him a slow, mocking smile. ¡°You said it, so when it happens, don¡¯t you dare y the victim.¡±

    Without another nce, she turned, got into the car, and mmed the door. Marc ran after her, banging on the window. ¡°Ste!¡± But before he could pull the door open, Jazlyn and Haley caught up, each grabbing an arm to hold him back.

    The moment passed, and Ste didn¡¯t wait around. She stepped on the gas and left them behind in a roar of tires.

    The bar was drenched in neon lights and thick smoke, packed with people trying to escape their loneliness.

    Ste sat slouched in a booth tucked in the corner, already tipsy from drinking too much.

    She had seen the betrayal with her own eyes. Now, every bitter truth crashed into her, cutting through her like des, mixed with memories that used to be beautiful.

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    ¡°Excuse me.¡± A deep, smooth voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and her mind returned to the present in an instant.

    She blinked, lifting her head. There he was¡ªtall andposed, his legs long and poised in tailored ck trousers.

    His jacket was open, revealing a crisp ck shirt tucked neatly into his belt, highlighting a slim, well-toned waist. His frame was strong, his chest broad. A sharp jawline, well-shaped lips, and eyes that seemed to see right through her. He was dangerously attractive.

    Without a second thought, she pulled him down onto the sofa, climbed onto hisp, and yed with his tie, her breath warm and sweet.

    ¡°Wanna be my one-night stand?¡± she whispered boldly.

    Her fingers lightly brushed his chest. Her eyes sparkled, yful and seductive. ¡°Trust me, we¡¯d enjoy ourselves.¡±

    She sat up and swayed slightly, tempting like a me dancing in the dark, teasing him.

    She could feel herself losing control, letting her pain take over. But the man just stared at her with an unreadable expression, not even slightly tempted. It made her feel ridiculous, like she was performing alone on a stage. Whatever heat had been building inside her vanished in an instant.

    What if he was already with someone? Was she really about to be another Haley?

    The thought made her sick.

    A bitter smile curved her lips. She let her head rest lightly against his chest, trying to pull herself together.

    Because of Marc, she had nearly turned into the very kind of woman she couldn¡¯t stand.

    ¡°Sorry¡­ I drank too much,¡± she murmured, retreating into her seat. She curled up in the corner and finished another ss in a single gulp. She didn¡¯t move until the man stood and walked away. Only then did she get up unsteadily and vanish into the night.

    That night, Marc didn¡¯te home.

    As for Ste, she embraced the quiet and the peace it brought.

    The following morning, she went straight to the research center.

    Even though her participation had already been approved, she still needed toplete some paperwork.

    Lainey, who was sorting project files nearby, suddenly looked up with a cheeky grin on her face.

    ¡°Hey Ste, did you hear? This project¡¯s getting serious attention from the higher-ups. There¡¯s a VIP joining us¡ªsuper rich,es from a powerful family, and still single. Aren¡¯t you even a little curious?¡±

    ¡°Why would I be?¡± Ste replied tly, still looking at her research notes, not the least bit interested.

    The Hookwood Research Institute had a strong reputation, and she¡¯d seen plenty of wealthy heirse around just to boost their image.

    ¡°But this guy¡¯s on another level,¡± Lainey said, leaning over Ste¡¯s desk. ¡°Come on, with your looks and charm? You could have any man eating out of the palm of your hand. Once the research kicks off, your records vanish, your marriage to Marc wiped clean like it never happened. Just picture it¡ªwalking in with someone powerful and drop-dead gorgeous, letting Marc see exactly what he lost. Tell me that wouldn¡¯t feel amazing.¡±

    Ste finally looked up. Her eyes were clear but cold. ¡°That¡¯s petty. Marc will lose much more than that.¡±

    Just then, there was a knock at the door.

    It was an administrative coordinator, letting them know it was time to head to the meeting room and meet the rest of the project team.

    ¡°Do you think the VIP¡¯s here already?¡± Lainey said excitedly, grabbing Ste and rushing toward the meeting room.

    ¡°Wait, I haven¡¯t even packed my stuff,¡± Ste said, holding her folder close as she tried to keep up. When they got there, she quietly took a seat in a corner and focused on her files.

    She didn¡¯t look up until a round of apuse echoed through the room. Then, slowly lifting her head, she locked eyes with a man whose gaze was intense and powerful.

    Her heart gave a sudden jolt. She nced down and saw the same soft lips she remembered from the night before¡ªlips that looked far too tempting. How could it be him?

    .

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    .

 Chapter 5

    ?Chapter 5:

    Just the memory of what she¡¯d done at the bar made Ste drop her head in a hurry. She could almost feel the man¡¯s intense gaze burning into her, leaving her flustered and ufortable.

    ¡°He¡¯s ridiculously good-looking, right?¡± Lainey nudged her with a grin. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? You¡¯re blushing like crazy. Did you fall for him already? And to think, you were the one saying you weren¡¯t interested just a minute ago!¡±

    Ste¡¯s cheeks burned from the teasing, and her ears felt hot. ¡°Cut it out,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Good morning, everyone. I¡¯m William Briggs. It¡¯s an honor to join this project, and I look forward to working with all of you to see it through,¡± the man said in a deep, smooth voice that drew another round of apuse.

    Ste was caught off guard, her embarrassment fading as she looked up again. William Briggs?

    Could it really be that William Briggs¡ªthe genius who co-founded the institute and had joined a top-tierb at just fifteen?

    Her surprised gaze met his calm, unreadable eyes. William sat down casually, his sharp fingers tapping lightly on the table. ¡°Mr. Gibson, you may start,¡± he said coolly.

    Although the meeting was supposed to be just an introduction, everyone was expected to present their thoughts on how the project could be developed further.

    They began on the left side of the room, and each person shared their ideas in turn.

    Ste pushed aside her earlier emotions and forced herself to concentrate.

    Being the youngest on the team, Ste¡¯s ideas stood out for their creativity.

    After her ten-minute presentation, the room responded with apuse.

    William¡¯s gaze briefly flickered with approval.

    Mr. Gibson, seated next to William, leaned over and said softly, ¡°All those patent projects you¡¯ve been following? Ste either led or helped develop them. She¡¯s extremely gifted. Originally, she wasn¡¯t going to take part in this project due to family issues, but she submitted her application at thest minute. I think she¡¯s going to surprise us.¡±

    The meeting continued for more than an hour.

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    Just as the meeting wrapped up, Ste felt a sharp cramp in her lower belly, followed by a warm, unwee gush she couldn¡¯t control.

    She knew immediately what had happened. Frozen in ce by embarrassment, she waited until the room emptied out before rushing to the restroom across the hall.

    And just as she feared, there was a visible bloodstain on her white trousers. Her periods were never regr, and after everything she¡¯d been through emotionally, this one hade in strong.

    In her rush to the meeting room earlier, she hadn¡¯t even grabbed her phone¡ªso now, she couldn¡¯t call anyone for help.

    Letting out a frustrated sigh, she blew gently at her bangs, then gathered herself and stepped out, hoping she could slip into the underground parking lot unnoticed.

    But the moment she looked up, she froze. William was at the sink, calmly washing his hands.

    Caught off guard, Ste pressed herself against the wall. Her face flushed with heat.

    She couldn¡¯t go forward, and turning back wasn¡¯t an option either.

    The situation was awkward enough, and now it was ten times worse. She wished the floor would just open up and swallow her whole.

    Meanwhile, William dried his long fingers slowly with a paper towel. Then he nced at her and said in a calm, low voice, ¡°How long are you nning to stand there, Ms. Russell?¡±

    Ste forced a tight smile and mumbled, ¡°You go ahead.¡±

    His eyes flicked down to the blue folder she was using to hide her back. He paused for a moment, then casually took off his suit jacket and handed it to her. ¡°Would this help?¡±

    She was stunned. Her face flushed even deeper.

    Did he¡­ notice? Did he see the stain?

    The embarrassment was overwhelming, but there was no time to overthink it. She quickly epted the jacket and put it on.

    Thanks to the nearly eight-inch height difference between them, the jacket hung down just right, covering everything she wanted to hide.

    It was still warm from his body and carried that cool, clean scent unique to him¡ªreminding her of what happenedst night at the bar.

    She gave a stiff smile. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Briggs. And sorry¡­ this is kind of embarrassing.¡±

    William stared at her face, still a little pink. Her eyes were clearly flustered, though she was trying her best to act calm. Then, without warning, he stepped closer.

    His tall frame and quiet authority made the air around them feel heavy. The pressure was almost too much, and Ste feltpletely surrounded.

    ¡°Last night,¡± he said slowly, his voice low and unhurried. ¡°When you were pulling on my tie and inviting me to your bed, you didn¡¯t seem this shy.¡±

    Ah¡ªthere it was.

    Ste¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her mind went nk, and she instinctively took a few steps back, rattled.

    Why was he being so blunt? So shamelessly direct? He didn¡¯t even try to ease into it¡ªjust hit her with the truth, leaving her nowhere to hide.

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 Chapter 6

    ?Chapter 6:

    Caught between irritation and embarrassment, Ste shot him a look, her flushed face only making her more striking. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I already apologized for itst night.¡±

    William¡¯s throat moved as he swallowed, almost involuntarily.

    The memory of her on hisp¡ªmoving the way she did¡ªshed vividly through his mind. His fingers twitched slightly by his side, rubbing together as if recalling the sensation.

    ¡°Still out clubbing at a time like this, Ms. Russell? You really ought to start taking better care of yourself.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and walked off.

    Ste stood frozen, mortified and seething. Watching him walk away so casually made her want tosh out, but all she could do was tighten her grip on the coat and storm back to her office.

    Thankfully, Lainey had been pulled into a meeting with Mr. Gibson and wasn¡¯t around. Without wasting another second, Ste grabbed her phone and bag and hurried out of the institute.

    She found a mall nearby, bought a set of casual clothes, and finally got out of her ruined pants.

    It wasn¡¯t until she¡¯d changed and calmed down a bit that she noticed¡ªWilliam¡¯s coat had blood on it too.

    Even if it hadn¡¯t been stained, she knew she couldn¡¯t clean and return it properly. There was no question¡ªshe¡¯d just rece it with a new one. She checked thebel for the brand and drove straight to the gship store in the city.

    But the moment she parked, her phone lit up¡ªit was Marc calling.

    She rejected the call, but he kept calling again and again. It was clear he wasn¡¯t nning to stop until she picked up.

    Not wanting to be dragged into another pointless argument, Ste blocked his number without hesitation.

    Inside the store, she asked one of the staff about the coat and was told that it was custom-made. There weren¡¯t any off-the-rack versions.

    She had no idea what his exact measurements were, and a custom piece would take at least two weeks¡ªtime she didn¡¯t have. ¡°Please find me something close in style and price,¡± she said.

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    Once she got the recement, she headed home, thinking Marc was probably still off with Haley. But the moment she stepped into the living room, she froze. There he was¡ªsitting on the couch, looking stormy and tense. His ck shirt was half undone, exposing the sharp line of his corbone, and the moment his eyesnded on her, that cold, piercing stare weighed down on her like a storm ready to break.

    ¡°Why weren¡¯t you answering my calls?¡±

    His ming tone actually made herugh.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you off charming the heiress for investment deals? I wouldn¡¯t dare interrupt such an important moment.¡±

    ¡°When did you start talking like this?¡± Marc snapped, clearly annoyed, as he got up and moved toward her¡ªmaybe to calm her down. But then his eyesnded on the coat she was carrying. It was obviously a man¡¯s¡ªoversized and not hers. The fury in Marc¡¯s eyes red up without warning. ¡°Who does that coat belong to?¡±

    When she got back earlier, Ste had noticed that the shopping bag was far too big and shy¡ªbringing it to the institute would only raise unnecessary questions. So, she tossed it.

    But now, she stood there holding the coat inly in her arms.

    She didn¡¯t feel like exining.

    ¡°Why does it matter to you whose coat this is? You¡¯ve got your woman¡ªso I can have my man. Everything you did with Haley, I¡¯m allowed to do too, right? Isn¡¯t that fair?¡±

    ¡°Ste!¡± The mere idea of her in another man¡¯s arms sent rage boiling through him. His hand shot out, gripping her wrist tightly, his knuckles pale, and veins straining across his forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t care how angry or hurt you are! Don¡¯t you dare say that to provoke me.¡±

    Having known him for nearly a decade, Ste hade to believe she knew him better than anyone.

    And in this moment, through his fury and jealousy, she could clearly feel it¡ªhis love for her.

    But that so-called love felt twisted and filthy¡ªsomething that made her sick to her stomach.

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Whatever you did with Haley, I¡¯ve done with someone else too.¡±

    Her wrist throbbed in pain as Marc¡¯s grip tightened, like he meant to crush the bones.

    She winced from the pain but didn¡¯t pull away.

    Her heart had already been crushed¡ªthere was nothing left to protect. So why should Marc and Haley get to move on as if nothing happened?

    Just a few sharp words, and he was already losing control?

    Had he ever once stopped to think what it felt like for her to find out about him and Haley?

    Marc locked eyes with her, desperate to find a crack in her words, something to prove she was lying.

    But he found nothing.

    Her gaze was so unnervingly calm that it rattled him to the core.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me, Ste,¡± he muttered, beforepletely losing control and yanking her onto the sofa, pressing her down beneath him.

    His kisses burned against her neck, but the scent of someone else¡¯s perfume clung to him, and it wasn¡¯t hers.

    Ste felt as if something slimy and cold was wrapping around her, making her skin crawl.

    Marc seemed to have lost control. His movements were harsh and forceful. Infuriated by her resistance, he gripped her chin and bit her lips roughly. ¡°Did that man kiss you? Touch you? Ste, you¡¯re mine. If you ever let someone else put a hand on you, I swear, I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡±

    The sharp clink of a belt buckle being unfastened rang in her ears like a siren.

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 Chapter 7

    ?Chapter 7:

    Ste had had enough. In one swift motion, she brought her knee up sharply,nding a brutal blow between Marc¡¯s legs.

    Marc let out a low, pained groan as his body gave out, folding onto the carpet. He clung to her with one trembling hand, refusing to let go. His breath came in sharp, uneven bursts, and beads of cold sweat slid down the sides of his face, soaking into his hairline.

    Ste yanked a tissue from her bag and scrubbed her lips with disgust. Her gaze burned down at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say nothing happened with your precious friend? Then why are you acting guilty? What exactly are you so afraid of?¡±

    The veins on his forehead pulsed like they might burst, and for a second, it looked like he might lose controlpletely.

    But then, the coat she had been holding slipped from her grasp,nding in front of him with the tag still dangling¡ªbrand new, untouched.

    Marc froze. Then, to her surprise, a darkugh rolled from his throat. He got up slowly and slid his arms around her waist like she was already his again. ¡°Ste, this is all an act to make me jealous, right? You bought a new coat and pretended it was some other man¡¯s. I know you too well¡ªyou can¡¯t stay mad at me for long.¡±

    He buried his face against her waist, nuzzling her like a child seeking forgiveness, his domineering edge melting into tender pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t pull something like this again, okay? You¡¯re everything to me. If I lost you, I¡¯d lose my mind.¡±

    His voice trembled with emotion¡ªobsessive, desperate, and, for a brief moment, it stirred something deep in Ste¡¯s heart.

    During the first two years they were together, all they had ever shared were gentle kisses and warm, lingering hugs.

    Whenever things grew intense, Marc would simply hold her like this¡ªpressing close, murmuring in a raspy voice how he couldn¡¯t survive without her. Back then, Ste had truly believed that what they had would never break. That it was real. Unshakable.

    After a long stretch of silence with no reply from her, Marc finally lifted his gaze. His eyes, faintly reddened, held a touch of quiet hurt.

    ¡°Ste¡­ please don¡¯t stay mad at me, alright? There¡¯s nothing between me and her. My heart, my body¡ªit¡¯s always been yours. Only yours.¡±

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    He gently took her hand and ced it over his chest, looking at her with heartfelt intensity. ¡°I made a promise. I¡¯d never break that. Never.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t withdraw her hand. Her fingers rested over his chest, where his heartbeat pounded steadily beneath her palm.

    Her voice, however, was ice-cold. ¡°Do you remember the consequences of breaking that vow?¡±

    The moment she said it, the chest beneath her hand tensed instantly.

    She watched panic flicker in his eyes as she recited it slowly, word for word. ¡°If you break this vow, Marc¡­ may you be cursed with infertility, die a painful and untimely death, lose everything and everyone you love, and be left in ruin and despair.¡±

    Marc couldn¡¯t hold her gaze anymore. He turned away, sat up beside her, and muttered while holding her hand, ¡°If it means you¡¯ll stop being angry, I¡¯ll agree to whatever you say.¡±

    And just like that, Ste felt a bitter emptiness settle in. What was the point of all this?

    A man who could lie without blinking wasn¡¯t going to be shaken by a curse, not even one that damned his soul.

    She calmly pulled her hand away. ¡°You¡¯ve been busytely¡ªI get it. I believe you. No more fights. Didn¡¯t you say something about Midstream Isle? Let¡¯s go next weekend.¡±

    Marc exhaled in visible relief, drawing her into his embrace and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. ¡°Next weekend, then. I¡¯ll n everything.¡±

    With her soft figure in his arms and that familiar scent clouding his senses, he knew this was only a temporary peace. He had to find a way to make her truly his again.

    Ste buried her revulsion deep down, her eyes turning to frost.

    Next weekend, Marc would finally receive the ¡°surprise¡± she¡¯d been preparing for him.

    Night had fallen, and the sky was heavy with dark clouds, hinting at an approaching storm.

    Marc walked out of the bathroom, a towel loosely tied around his waist, steam still clinging to his skin. His toned body was fully on disy.

    He climbed into bed and leaned in close, resting against Ste¡¯s neck. ncing at the book she was holding, he murmured, ¡°Ste, a friend of mine brought back a box of ultra-thin condoms from Raskait. Want to give them a try tonight?¡±

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 Chapter 8

    ?Chapter 8:

    Marc¡¯s voice was gentle, almost teasing, and the ends of his damp hair brushed lightly against Ste¡¯s cheek. But instead of stirring any warmth in her heart, the touch made her skin prickle with unease.

    After discovering the affair with Haley, Ste had drawn a line. Whenever Marc reached for her, she always had a reason¡ªany reason¡ªnot to let him near. His hands wandered aimlessly, never crossing the boundary she hadn¡¯t allowed.

    He was careful not to touch the ces that would really make her react.

    He was holding back¡ªwaiting for her to say yes.

    There was a time when that kind of restraint meant everything to her. It had felt like love¡ªthat no matter how much he wanted her, he would never push her beyond her will.

    She used to believe it was his way of loving her. But now she understood¡ªwhen he didn¡¯t get what he wanted, he simply turned to someone else. That was his idea of love. What a joke.

    ¡°Ste, don¡¯t be like this. You know you¡¯re the only one I care about,¡± he whispered, the words sliding off his lips with the ease of someone who¡¯d said them a hundred times before.

    The taste of bile crept up her throat, but she kept it down. Gently cing a hand on his chest, she said, ¡°Let me freshen up first, okay?¡±

    Her response caught him off guard. His eyes lit up, hopeful. He leaned in, brushed a kiss by the edge of her lips, and murmured, ¡°No need. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Inside, sheughed bitterly. She knew this game well. If she pushed him away now, he¡¯d only get more insistent.

    With a soft, almost sweet smile, she whispered, ¡°I want tonight to feel special, something to remember. I won¡¯t take long.¡±

    The fake tenderness in her eyes was all he needed. It puffed up his pride. To him, all her anger was just an emotional phase¡ªnothing serious. She still loved him. He was sure of it.

    In the bathroom, she stared at her reflection¡ªcold,posed, emotionless. None of the softness she¡¯d just shown remained.

    She¡¯d made sure to bring her phone. Turning on the rear camera, she snapped a mirror shot.

    The kiss he left on her neck had stained her skin like a bruise¡ªfaint but noticeable in the picture.

    She perched on the toilet seat and calmly sent the photo, along with the earlier bed shots, to Haley. Then she sat still and began to count.

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    Sure enough, just a few secondster, Marc¡¯s phone lit up with a call from outside the bathroom.

    Ste twisted the faucet open, letting the sound of rushing water drown out any voicesing from the bedroom. A few minutes passed before Marc¡¯s knock sounded lightly against the bathroom door.

    ¡°Ste, something urgent came up at the office. I¡¯ve got to go. Don¡¯t wait up¡ªjust get some rest after your shower.¡±

    A faint smile tugged at her lips,ced with irony and quiet disbelief. So eager to leave, huh? She hadn¡¯t even stepped out of the bathroom, and he was already halfway out the door.

    She stood still, listening as the bedroom door clicked shut. Then, with a steady breath, she opened the bathroom door and looked around. The room was quiet and empty. Her heart sank a little more at the sight.

    She had nned this from the start¡ªsending those photos to Haley, knowing full well that Haley¡¯s jealousy would spark an immediate reaction. And it had worked. Like clockwork.

    Yet, deep inside, a tiny voice¡ªfaint and foolish¡ªhad hoped Marc would hesitate. That he might stay. That he¡¯d choose her, just once.

    But once again, reality proved crueler than hope. Marc, who swore he loved her, had dropped everything and run to Haley without a second thought.

    Was it really possible to share love like that¡ªhalf for a wife, half for another woman?

    Ste had already packed the things she cared about. Her suitcase sat quietly in the corner of the room, waiting.

    If Marc had really meant all those words, he would¡¯ve seen that most of her things were already gone from the bedroom.

    But he didn¡¯t. He noticed nothing, too sure of himself, thinking she would never actually walk away.

    The only thing left in that room that still connected them was the wedding photo on the wall. She looked at their smiling faces in that picture, and her eyes filled with tears she hadn¡¯t let fall.

    It only took a few short years for their shared dreams to fall apart and turn into two separate lives.

    She once thought marrying Marc was the best thing that ever happened to her.

    Now she knew how badly she had been mistaken.

    Ste took the photo out of its frame and quietly walked to the backyard. There, she found an old metal basin, tucked near the shed. She ced the photo inside, doused it in gasoline, and lit a match.

    The mes red up, lighting her face in a warm glow. The heat wrapped around her like a final goodbye to everything she and Marc once had.

    Just as the photo burned halfway through, she heard the front door creak open. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned and saw Marc walking in.

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 Chapter 9

    ?Chapter 9:

    Ste frowned slightly, confused by how quickly Marc had returned.

    Half of the photo in the metal basin was still burning, the past literally curling into ash before her eyes. On instinct, she shifted her stance, subtly cing herself between Marc and the basin, trying to block his view.

    His steps halted as he noticed the flickering mes. ¡°What are you burning?¡± he asked with a mild frown.

    ¡°Nothing important. Just tossing out some old junk,¡± she replied casually. ¡°What brings you back?¡±

    He didn¡¯t press further. With a tired look, he said, ¡°Forgot something. Just came to grab it,¡± and walked upstairs.

    As he climbed the stairs, he stayed glued to his phone, his fingers tapping away at something urgent.

    Forgot something?

    Ste¡¯s lips tugged into a wry smile. She stayed still, quietly watching as he disappeared upstairs and returned minutester.

    By the time he returned, the mes had died, leaving behind only ash. He walked over, gave her a quick hug, and brushed a kiss against her cheek, all too routine. ¡°Ste, I¡¯m sorry. Work¡¯s been nonstoptely. Once it eases up, I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°If only I could spend more time here with you.¡± How painfully insincere.

    His phone buzzed again. Without even checking the screen, he pulled away. ¡°I¡¯ve got to run,¡± he said, already halfway out the door.

    And just like that, he was gone again¡ªno nce back. But Ste didn¡¯t hurt anymore. Her heart had long gone numb.

    Marc hadn¡¯t noticed, but she had. The phone screen had lit up while he stood next to her, and it was Haley¡¯s message, in as day. ¡°Bring the ultra-thin condoms. If you forget, don¡¯t even think about touching me tonight!¡±

    She went upstairs, opened the bedside drawer, and sure enough¡ªthe box of ultra-thin condoms was gone.

    She had never agreed to use them, but he¡¯d found someone who would. Not a single one left behind.

    He¡¯d been in the room minutes ago and hadn¡¯t even noticed the missing wedding photo.

    Did he really think she wouldn¡¯t catch on? Or was he just that shameless?

    Marc didn¡¯te home that night. There was a time when Ste would¡¯ve stayed awake, clinging to her phone, waiting for a text that never came.

    But tonight, after burning their memories and cleaning up, she climbed into bed. The sheets felt soft, and the room was quiet.

    She fell asleep quickly, without a single dream.

    The next morning, Ste stretched slowly. For the first time in a while, she felt well-rested.

    As she blinked up at the soft morning light, something suddenly popped into her head¡ªthe coat. The one she had bought for William. It was still hanging in the closet, and she¡¯d meant to give it to him today.

    Later, at the research center, she went up to William¡¯s office, only to find the room empty.

    Just then, Lainey emerged from the break room. Ste stopped her.

    ¡°Is Mr. Briggs not in today?¡± she asked, puzzled.

    Lainey arched an eyebrow, her eyes filled with quiet amusement.

    Catching the teasing glint in Lainey¡¯s narrowed eyes, Ste hurried to exin, ¡°I¡¯m only here to return his jacket. Last time, I had an ident¡ªmy period started, and I messed up my pants. Mr. Briggs lent me his coat, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Laineyughed, shaking her head. ¡°Rx, I never said a word. He¡¯s in meetings all day. Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll catch him around here.¡±

    A meeting made sense. William held a senior position¡ªof course he was busy.

    Lainey returned to her workstation. Ste nced around, then borrowed a sticky note from her desk.

    On the note, she scribbled, ¡°Mr. Briggs, the jacket you lent me was custom-made, so I bought another of equal value to return. If you¡¯re not satisfied, feel free to contact me.¡±

    Then she hesitated briefly before adding her number at the bottom.

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 Chapter 10

    ?Chapter 10:

    Even if it didn¡¯t look that way on the surface, Ste truly had no hidden intentions; she simply didn¡¯t want to owe William anything.

    After slipping the note into the shopping bag, she quietly made her way to William¡¯s office.

    The space was spotless, everything lined up perfectly as if untouched by time. She didn¡¯t linger. With a respectful pause, she set the bag on his desk and quietly backed out, making sure not to nce at anything that wasn¡¯t hers to see.

    Once outside the office, Ste let out a soft breath. With that task done, she turned her thoughts to the uing research project and how she might begin getting more involved. But just as she reached the corridor, her phone buzzed in her bag.

    She pulled it out, her brows drawing together when she saw the caller ID.

    After a pause, she epted the call.

    ¡°Mrs. Walsh, the patent contract has expired,¡± said Marc¡¯s assistant, his tone all business,pletely detached. ¡°We¡¯ll be sending someone to your vi with the new documents for you to sign.¡±

    For years, Ste had let Marc use her patents without asking for a cent. The contract had always listed a price, but she never collected it. Back then, she believed they were one family, and Marc had said nothing to make her think otherwise.

    He probably assumed that being married gave him ownership over everything she had.

    And now, instead of calling her himself, he had his assistant handle it like she was just another supplier.

    Ste¡¯s grip tightened around the phone.

    Maybe she was never anything more than a convenient source of free profit.

    No pay required. Just empty promises she¡¯d swallowed whole.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯m free today anyway, so don¡¯t trouble your people,¡± she said calmly, then ended the call before the assistant could say anything more.

    In the early days of their marriage, she¡¯d visited Marc¡¯s office often, especially when her inventions needed adjusting. She used to know everyone in the building. Lately, though, she hadn¡¯t stepped foot inside. But even if their marriage was falling apart, she was still his partner. Showing up wasn¡¯t just her right¡ªit was long overdue.

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    Ste tucked her phone away and took a taxi to thepany.

    The moment she walked through the front doors, heads turned. Everyone knew who she was. The receptionist stood up quickly, offering a polite but slightly stunned smile. ¡°Mrs. Walsh! It¡¯s been a while¡ªwhat brings you in today?¡±

    Ste smiled politely, unfazed by the subtle nervousness in the girl¡¯s voice. ¡°Just here to sign a contract. Is Marc in?¡±

    The two receptionists exchanged nces. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ should be.¡± Without another word, Ste made her way to the elevator.

    As the doors began to close, she caught a glimpse of the receptionist picking up the phone in a rush, but she didn¡¯t care enough to stop and wonder why.

    The elevator opened on the top floor¡ªthe executive level. Marc¡¯s office was there, along with the legal department.

    Ste was nning to head straight to legal when Marc¡¯s assistant, Kody, came rushing around the corner. ¡°Mrs. Walsh! You¡¯re here!¡± he eximed, breathless and jittery.

    His face was tight with unease, though he tried to ster on a calm smile. The result was painfully awkward.

    ¡°I know where the legal department is,¡± Ste replied coolly, stepping forward. But Kody quickly moved to her side, almost too obviously trying to block her view down the corridor.

    Marc¡¯s office was just a short walk away, separated from the legal wing by a narrow passage.

    Even though Kody tried to block her line of sight, Ste still managed to catch a glimpse inside Marc¡¯s office, and sure enough, she let out a quiet, sarcastic scoff. Who else could it be but Haley?

    From where she stood, she could clearly see Haley sitting on the edge of Marc¡¯s desk, leaning in toward him. The two were whispering back and forth, smiling as if no one else existed.

    .

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 Chapter 11

    ?Chapter 11:

    Without giving Marc¡¯s office a second nce, Steposed herself and walked toward the legal department, as if she hadn¡¯t seen a thing.

    Inside, Marc happened to nce toward the hallway mid-flirt. His heart skipped a beat when he caught sight of Ste walking past.

    A sharp breath lodged in his throat, and his smile instantly vanished, reced by a grim scowl.

    ¡°You need to leave. Now,¡± he said curtly, the warmth in his voice gone.

    Haley blinked in confusion, lips still curved in a teasing smile. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±

    His grip on her wrist tightened unintentionally, making her flinch in difort. But before she could press further, Marc stormed out of the room, his steps purposeful and tense.

    He caught up to Ste, softening his voice. ¡°Ste, why are you here? What you saw back there¡­ it wasn¡¯t what it seemed.¡±

    Ste cut him off with a calm flick of her wrist. ¡°Rx. I get it¡ªjust work, right? You two enjoy yourselves. I¡¯m just here to handle the paperwork and go.¡± Her tone was so casual it almost sounded like indifference, but the message was clear¡ªshe hadn¡¯te to spy.

    Still, Marc stood stiffly, the tension in his body betraying his guilt.

    From the doorway, Haley peeked out and noticed their strained exchange. Her manicured fingers curled into fists, while her eyes narrowed with suspicion and irritation.

    With deliberate elegance, she strutted toward them with a syrupy smile on her face. Tossing her curls, she purred in Achure, ¡°Marc, you were amazingst time. I haven¡¯t stopped thinking about it. Honestly, working with you is the best decision I¡¯ve ever made.¡±

    Then, shooting Ste a smug nce, she added with a wink, ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯ll be waiting at the hotel. Got a surprise for you¡ªbrand-new lingerie, just how you like it.¡±

    Of course, Ste knew Haley was being deliberately provocative.

    She knew full well Ste spoke Achure, and yet she unted it right there, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.

    Truly, the woman had no shame.

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened, his expression darkening as he turned to respond¡ªbut Ste cut in again.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s offers tales worth telling

    ¡°Really, Ms. Smith? Aren¡¯t you bold? Maybe I should remind you that Mr. Walsh and I are still legally married, and yet here you are, shamelessly throwing yourself at him. Where Ie from, women like you have a name¡ªhomewrecker, or worse, a tramp.¡±

    She spoke in clear Ushainese, loud enough for everyone to hear. The moment the words left her lips, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward her in shock.

    Everyone already knew Marc and Haley were close, but no one expected them to unt it so openly, right under Ste¡¯s nose. And Haley trying to stir things up in Achure, thinking Ste wouldn¡¯t understand? That level of arrogance was almostughable.

    Haley, fluent in Ushainese despite her act, hadn¡¯t anticipated Ste firing back so sharply and so publicly.

    Her face flushed deep red. With everyone staring, she wished she could melt into the floor.

    She stumbled over a feeble lie. ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t catch what you said.¡±

    Ste chuckled coldly. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s no problem. I¡¯ll be happy to say it again¡ªin Achure this time.¡±

    Then, without blinking, she pronounced ¡°homewrecker¡± and ¡°tramp¡± in perfect Achure.

    Ste¡¯s calm demeanor only made Haley¡¯s humiliation feel more severe.

    Surrounded by stares, Haley felt like the ground was slipping beneath her. She had always been spoiled, used to being adored and protected, never once enduring this kind of public embarrassment.

    Her face twisted with rage, and with a shrill voice, she screamed, ¡°You frumpy old bitch! Who do you think you are? I¡¯ll kill you¡ª¡± She lunged forward, her hand raised to p Ste.

    But before she couldnd the hit, Ste caught it mid-air with a grip of steel, and without hesitation, pped her¡ªonce, twice. Then she yanked Haley¡¯s hair and didn¡¯t stop.

    ps rang through the hallway, mingling with Haley¡¯s high-pitched shrieks, shattering the stunned silence of the office floor.

    Meanwhile, Marc¡¯s face contorted in panic. ¡°Ste! What the hell are you doing?¡± He charged forward and shoved her with force.

    The sudden push caught her off guard. She stumbled, and her head mmed into the wall with a sickening thud. Pain exploded across her skull as the world tilted slightly around her.

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 Chapter 12

    ?Chapter 12:

    Startled, Kody rushed forward, steadying Ste before she could fall. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, are you okay?¡±

    Marc blinked, surprised by how hard he had pushed her. Even with one arm wrapped protectively around Haley, a flicker of regret shed through his eyes. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he hesitated and swallowed the words.

    Ste, having calmed herself, brushed off Kody¡¯s supporting arm. Her eyes shifted to Marc, and in that quiet stare was a coldness sharper than any p¡ªicy, detached, and distant, just like the way her heart now felt toward him.

    Marc winced beneath her frostbitten gaze but forced his voice steady. ¡°Ste, enough with the drama. I¡¯ve already told you, this isn¡¯t what you think. Why do you keep putting Haley down? You even crossed the line with violence. This is a workce, you should leave.¡±

    Then he softened his tone as he faced Haley. ¡°Ms. Smith, don¡¯t take what she said personally. She didn¡¯t mean it. I¡¯m sorry on her behalf.¡±

    Haley¡¯s anger melted into smug satisfaction as Marc defended her. She slid her arms around his neck, batting hershes. ¡°For you, I¡¯ll let it slide. But she better stay away from thepany. Tell her to get lost.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face tightened at Haley¡¯s harsh words. Turning back to Ste, concern shadowed his features. ¡°Ste, this is thepany. Can we not make a scene? It won¡¯t look good if this gets out.¡±

    But Ste stood tall, her posture firm and unwavering. She threw the two of them a cold, scornful nce, her voice steady and cutting. ¡°Save the fake politeness. I¡¯ll leave as soon as I¡¯m done. But Marc, you¡¯re truly disgusting.¡± Without another word, she spun on her heel and strode toward the legal department, leaving the pair locked in their own world behind her.

    Marc watched her retreating figure, and a strange knot tightened in his chest. Maybe he had been too rough earlier.

    Letting go of Haley, he massaged his temples wearily and asked Kody, ¡°Where did she go?¡±

    Kody lowered his voice. ¡°Legal department. And, um¡­ Mr. Walsh, Mrs. Walsh hit herself harder than we thought.¡±

    Marc paused for a moment, pushing aside Haley¡¯s continued protests as he moved quickly toward the legal department.

    In the quiet legal office, Ste sank into a leather armchair. ¡°I¡¯m done selling that patent. Now that the contract¡¯s expired, our partnership is over.¡± The legal staff exchanged confused looks.

    This patent had been a cornerstone of their coboration¡ªwhy was it suddenly being withdrawn?

    One of them finally spoke up, trying to keep their tone respectful. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, is there a problem with the contract?¡±

    Ste shook her head firmly. ¡°No issues with the contract. I¡¯ve simply found a new buyer.¡±

    Marc walked in just in time to catch the tail end of Ste¡¯s words. His brows drew together, his voice firm but not unkind.

    ¡°Ste, if you¡¯re upset, take it out on me. Yell at me, hit me¡ªwhatever you want. But don¡¯t mess around with the patent. That¡¯s serious business. Let¡¯s talk about this at home, alright?¡±

    So that was it? He still thought she was being emotional? That she was just throwing a fit, and all it would take was a little coaxing to get her back in line?

    The thought almost made Steugh. Her expression didn¡¯t change, but the coldness in her eyes deepened. ¡°I¡¯m not joking, Marc. The deal is off. I¡¯m not renewing the contract. And if yourpany continues using my patent without permission, I¡¯ll have mywyer file forpensation.¡±

    She picked up her bag with a calm, final motion, turned, and walked out without sparing him even a nce.

    ¡°Ste!¡± Marc called after her, stepping forward, but someone from the legal team intercepted him.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, what¡¯s going on?¡± the man asked in rm. ¡°If she pulls the patent, we¡¯re in trouble. We¡¯ve got multiple active projects riding on that technology. This could hit our bottom line hard.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    And with that, he rushed after Ste.

    She had to be acting out of anger. That had to be it. Ste wasn¡¯t reckless¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t tank thepany over a personal fight.

    If he could just talk to her, exin things properly, she¡¯d understand. She always did.

    Meanwhile, Ste stepped into the elevator and called for a ride.

    When she reached the building¡¯s entrance, a sleek ck car glided to a stop right before her.

    Without a second thought, she opened the passenger door and slid inside. It wasn¡¯t until she¡¯d settled in her seat that she noticed someone else already inside¡ªsitting in the back, wearing a serious, unreadable expression. Their eyes met in the rearview mirror. The energy in the car shifted immediately.

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 Chapter 13

    ?Chapter 13:

    It was William!

    Ste blinked in surprise. What were the odds? How did he end up in the very car she thought she¡¯d booked?

    Even William looked mildly taken aback, his one brow lifting with quiet curiosity.

    Without thinking, she blurted out, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    William raised a brow, his tone dry and just slightly amused. ¡°Ms. Russell, if you needed a ride, my driver would¡¯ve been happy to take you. But climbing into my car like this? A bit bold, don¡¯t you think? Or is this a habit of yours¡ªconfusing cars¡­ or people?¡±

    Meeting his deep, unreadable gaze, Ste finally realized her mistake¡ªshe¡¯d entered the wrong car.

    She hadn¡¯t checked the te¡ªjust saw the same model and color as the one she¡¯d booked and got in without thinking. She never expected to mess up like this.

    Still, did he have to be so sharp-tongued about it? Then again, thinking back, she did owe him an apology.

    Taking a breath, sheposed herself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Briggs. I didn¡¯t realize this was your car. My mistake. I¡¯ll get out.¡±

    But just as her hand touched the door handle, William¡¯s voice stopped her.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    She turned, puzzled. ¡°Yes, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    She¡¯d already apologized. Surely he wouldn¡¯t dwell on something this minor? His gaze carried a quiet weight¡ªso intense it felt suffocating, even though he hadn¡¯t raised his voice.

    Was he actually upset? Just because of this? Or was it something more?

    William spoke in his usual calm, deliberate tone. ¡°I saw the note in the jacket you returned. Frankly, since I gave it to you, I wasn¡¯t expecting it back. Ms. Russell, I¡¯d rather you focus on your responsibilities. The least you can do is show some professionalism.¡±

    His words caught her off guard. Did he really think she¡¯d left her number in some desperate attempt to flirt? That she got into his car today on purpose? She opened¡­

    She opened her mouth to exin, but he had already stepped out of the car, leaving her in silence.

    Heat rose to Ste¡¯s cheeks. How could she even begin to exin that night? It was impulsive, thoughtless. Better left forgotten. Some things just couldn¡¯t be talked away. She slipped into the correct car this time and slumped into the back seat with a heavy sigh.

    When she arrived at the research institute, she got straight to work, sorting through her things.

    Lainey, who was helping nearby, swung a cab door open and identally whacked the back of Ste¡¯s head.

    Ste let out a cry, instinctively holding her head as dizziness swept over her.

    rmed, Lainey gently pulled her hand aside to take a look.

    The area was red, already swelling, with a few spots of blood seeping out¡ªit looked worse than she expected.

    Lainey gasped. ¡°Oh no, Ste! That looks bad. We have to get you to a hospital now.¡±

    Ste winced but waved her off. ¡°It¡¯s okay, really. No need for the hospital. I¡¯ll be fine. And it¡¯s not your fault.¡±

    Not her fault? Lainey hesitated, then remembered Ste had said she was going to see Marc earlier.

    Her expression darkened. She grabbed Ste¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Tell me the truth. Did that scumbag Marcy a hand on you?¡±

    Once Ste had regained her bnce, she quietly exined what had gone down at Marc¡¯spany. ¡°Lainey, don¡¯t stress. I promise it¡¯s not serious. I¡¯ll be fine in a few days.¡±

    But Lainey wasn¡¯t pacified. She was fuming. ¡°Unbelievable! You¡¯re his wife¡ªhow dare he hit you over some other woman?¡±

    Watching Lainey rage, Ste¡¯s lips tightened.

    Yes, over another woman, her own husband had shoved her.

    When had he turned into this kind of man?

    Or maybe¡­ he¡¯d always been like this, and she¡¯d just been too blind to see it.

    While she stood lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang. Lainey nced at the screen and scowled. It was Marc.

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 Chapter 14

    ?Chapter 14:

    ¡°Unbelievable. He actually dares to call you? Don¡¯t answer, Ste¡ªit¡¯ll only make you feel worse.¡±

    Ste silently agreed. Lainey had a point. She wasn¡¯t nning on answering in the first ce, so she calmly hit the reject button.

    But barely a few seconds passed before the phone lit up again, buzzing with the same name¡ªrelentless, like he couldn¡¯t take a hint.

    Lainey¡¯s patience snapped. As the phone buzzed again, she mmed her finger on the answer button before Ste could stop her.

    ¡°How dare you keep calling her? You¡¯re her husband, yet you¡¯re out there messing around with someone else, and now you raise your hand at her too? Just stop. She doesn¡¯t want to hear your voice ever again.¡±

    Marc was caught off guard¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected anyone else to pick up her phone.

    Hearing Lainey¡¯s words, his expression darkened. So Ste had told her? He wasn¡¯t thrilled.

    This was between husband and wife¡ªwhat business did others have meddling?

    ¡°This is between me and Ste. I called her. I don¡¯t see how it involves you.¡±

    Lainey bristled, her voice sharp with fury. ¡°How is it not my business? I¡¯m her friend¡ªher real friend. If something affects her, it is my business.¡±

    Marc¡¯s tone dropped, sharp and icy. ¡°You must be incredibly free if you¡¯ve got time to stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong. But if you want to meddle, fine by me¡ª¡±

    The phone was still on speaker, and every word Marc said echoed in the room, clear for Ste to hear.

    She knew that tone all too well. When Marc started talking like this, calm but cutting, it meant he was angry, trying to intimidate.

    Not wanting Lainey to be dragged into this any further, Ste quietly reached for the phone and took it from her.

    Her voice carried a hint of coldness. ¡°Marc, she¡¯s my friend. The least you can do is show her some respect. You¡¯re the one cheating and still trying to have it all. I¡¯m not answering because just hearing your voice disgusts me.¡±

    It was rare for her to speak to Marc with such open contempt. But today, she couldn¡¯t hold it back.

    Marc¡¯s tone shifted immediately, his voice softening. ¡°Ste, I know I messed up. I¡¯m really sorry. Please don¡¯t be angry anymore. Let¡¯s talk calmly when you get home, okay?¡±

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    ¡°You honestly make me sick,¡± Ste snapped. ¡°You want both sides, both women¡ªdo you even hear how pathetic that sounds?¡± There was no point in pretending anymore.

    What she felt now wasn¡¯t just anger¡ªit was a gut-deep disgust.

    Marc paused, then spoke again in a lower and more deliberate voice. ¡°Ste, I¡¯ll wait for you at home. Just give me one chance to exin; that¡¯s all I¡¯m asking. You wouldn¡¯t want me showing up at your institute, right? If your coworkers and boss see me, that won¡¯t be good for you, so please¡­ just do the smart thing. Come home.¡±

    Ste¡¯s chest tightened. That same suffocating grip of Marc¡¯s control wrapped around her again.

    It wasn¡¯t an empty threat¡ªshe knew him too well.

    If he decided to show up at the institute, he wouldn¡¯t just cause a stir¡ªhe¡¯d dig until he found something, and that would ruin everything she had quietly nned for.

    After a pause, she forced herself to breathe, swallowed the fire rising in her throat, and softened her voice. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go back after I finish up here.¡±

    On the other end, Marc¡¯s voice rxed instantly, even carrying a hint of satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s my girl. It¡¯s been a while since we had a nice dinner together. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±

    As the call ended, Ste felt her whole body go rigid.

    Her hand, still wrapped around the phone, had turned pale from how tightly she was holding it.

    Lainey looked at Ste with concern. ¡°Ste¡­ what if he hits you again when you go back? Let mee with you¡­¡±

    But before she could finish, Ste met her gaze and gave a small, reassuring smile. ¡°He won¡¯t. Trust me, he wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±

    Lainey didn¡¯t look convinced. Her eyes searched Ste¡¯s face for any sign of doubt, but after a long moment, she gave in with a reluctant nod.

    Later that evening, after wrapping things up at the institute, Ste returned to the vi.

    As she stepped inside, Marc was already waiting for her on the living room sofa. He¡¯d changed into rxed clothes and looked calm, as if the events of earlier had¡­

    Never happened. The moment he saw her, he stood and reached for her hand with easy familiarity. ¡°I had the chef make all your favorites tonight. Come on, let¡¯s eat.¡±

    Ste forced down the queasy feeling swirling in her stomach, took her seat in silence, and barely touched her food. She kept her head down, saying almost nothing throughout the entire meal.

    Later, back in the bedroom, she stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection¡ªat the exhaustion behind her eyes, at the woman she barely recognized.

    Momentster, Marc stepped out of the bathroom and slowly walked over. He leaned forward, trying to kiss her cheek.

    But as if on instinct, Ste shifted away, putting space between them.

    He froze for a second, a flicker of impatience tightening his jaw.

    Still, he kept his tone even.

    ¡°Ste, about what happened earlier¡­ I didn¡¯t mean for it to blow up like that. You know how things are, right? Haley¡¯s family has deep ties to ourpany. I can¡¯t afford to upset them. But I get it, I went too far with you.¡± He let out a sigh and continued, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m giving you full admin ess to the security system. You¡¯ll be able to check any footage, any time you want. Thispany is yours too. You¡¯re practically half the boss here. So¡­ don¡¯t stay mad at me, okay?¡±

    He was trying¡ªpretending, perhaps¡ªto make peace.

    Seeing her unresponsive, he reached for her hand and gently rubbed his thumb along her fingers. ¡°I promise, this won¡¯t happen again. Today was thest time. Just trust me, please.¡±

    But Ste pulled her hand back, her voice low andced with irony. ¡°Half the boss, huh? Is that your way of saying you¡¯ll keep using my patent without paying a cent?¡±

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 Chapter 15

    ?Chapter 15:

    Marc stared at Ste quietly, choosing his words carefully. ¡°Stel, please don¡¯t stay upset. You know I can¡¯t stand it when you¡¯re cold with me or when you pull away like this. Haley¡¯s about to finish school, and her parents are nervous about her joining another firm. Our partnership with them means a lot for thepany. I only see her as a friend¡ªnothing beyond that, really.¡±

    But the more he exined, the more it felt like he was trying to cover something up.

    If he genuinely thought he¡¯d done nothing wrong, why keep repeating himself?

    Deep down, even he knew that what happened with Haley had gone too far.

    Ste¡¯s voice turned sharp, her eyes distant. ¡°Would you kiss a friend like that?

    Hold her in your arms, like you did in your office?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression wavered briefly, but he quickly changed the subject.

    ¡°Ste¡¯, let¡¯s have a baby,¡± he said instead. ¡°Didn¡¯t you always say you wanted one?

    If we have a child, you¡¯ll always be my wife. You won¡¯t feel so insecure anymore.¡±

    A cold shiver passed through her. Yes, once upon a time, she had wanted that¡ªa child with him.

    But that was back when she believed she was the only one in his heart. Back when having a child felt like the most natural thing¡ªa piece of the love they shared, a future built together.

    And now, after what he did with Haley, right in front of everyone, how could he still have the audacity to talk about having a baby?

    Did he think a child was some kind of bargaining chip? Just a way for her to hold on to the title of Mrs. Walsh?

    Was she supposed to ept being humiliated, sharing him with another woman, just for that?

    Was being Mrs. Walsh even something she cared about anymore?

    At that moment, it hit her¡ªMarc never really understood her at all. Everything they had, all those years, now felt like some tragic joke.

    Without a word, she shut her eyes and quietly slipped under the covers.

    Marc, however, took her silence as a green light. Smiling faintly, he switched off the light and wrapped his arms around her like everything between them was just fine.

    As his breath brushed against her ear, Ste¡¯s stomach turned. She kept her voice steady and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve got a headache. Maybe some other time.¡±

    Marc paused, caught off guard. He finally remembered the injury she sustained earlier. ¡°Maybe the wound didn¡¯t get handled right. Let me grab the first aid kit¡ªif it gets infected, that¡¯s serious! I¡¯m sorry, Ste. I should¡¯ve paid attention.¡±

    Chapters live now at ??????¦Ò????????.c§àm

    Ste let out a short, bitterugh. She shoved his hand away and stepped aside.

    ¡°Lainey already took care of it. No need for your concern.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face sank, the rejection hitting him like a ssh of cold water.

    Ste couldn¡¯t take another moment beside him. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the study,¡± she said quietly, slipping on her shoes and walking out without looking back. Marc didn¡¯t stop her and watched her go.

    He had to admit, Ste had always been stunning. From her graceful figure to her wless looks, she effortlessly drew every eye in the room.

    She wasn¡¯t just beautiful¡ªshe was unforgettable.

    And yes, he did love her. He loved the way she stood by him all these years, unwavering in her loyalty. He loved the stability she brought to his life, the way her presence grounded him.

    As for the women outside? They were just passing flings, brief moments of thrill. None of them could ever rece Ste. He¡¯d never let anyone take her ce as Mrs. Walsh.

    He just wanted some variety, that¡¯s all¡ªit was a mistake any man could make.

    It didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t care for her.

    She was just angry now, but he was sure she¡¯de around.

    The following morning, Ste had already left for the research institute by the time Marc even opened his eyes. She didn¡¯t bother waiting for him.

    As soon as she arrived, Lainey rushed over and pulled her aside. ¡°Ste, something¡¯s changed. They¡¯ve made adjustments to the team for the closed project.¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her voice shook. ¡°What do you mean? I thought the list was final. Why would it change now?¡±

    Lainey frowned, clearly just as frustrated. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. They said they¡¯ll release the updated listter. William¡¯s on the project too now. Because of his position, he has to personally review every name on the team.¡±

    A wave of unease hit Ste.

    If everyone was being reviewed again, that meant even those who had already been selected could lose their spot¡ªhers included!

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 Chapter 16

    ?Chapter 16:

    Ste wasn¡¯t sure why the rule had been changed so suddenly, but given how awkward herst exchange with William had been, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had changed the rule because of it.

    Still, this was her one shot at changing her current life, and she wasn¡¯t about to let it go to waste. If William had misunderstood her, she¡¯d clear things up¡ªno matter what it took.

    ¡°William¡¯s brilliant when ites to research,¡± Lainey gushed. ¡°But let¡¯s be real. The Briggs family basically owns half of Briset. He¡¯s their only heir, so I figure he¡¯s just here enjoying some freedom before heading back to take over the empire.¡±

    Whether it was admiration or fascination, Lainey clearly loved talking about him. Ste said nothing, her expression unreadable and her thoughts tucked far away.

    William¡¯s family wealth didn¡¯t impress her. In her eyes, he was simply a fellow researcher¡ªnothing more, nothing less.

    What his family owned or controlled had absolutely nothing to do with her goals.

    All she wanted was this opportunity¡ªto get her foot in the door and never look back.

    Lainey, mid-ramble, suddenly lit up with a mischievous grin and elbowed Ste. ¡°Hey, imagine if you actually won over William. Wouldn¡¯t that drive your pathetic husband crazy? Just picture it¡ªonce this project wraps up, you¡¯d have both a thriving career and a man who¡¯s way better than Marc. Sounds like a win-win, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Ste let out a softugh. Lainey¡¯s imagination never failed to amaze her.

    Right now, her mind wasser-focused on research. Men, love, or revenge¡ªnone of that had a ce in her current world. Getting into the team was all that mattered.

    So, if William was truly the one rechecking the list, then she needed to speak with him directly.

    But then, this wasn¡¯t the right ce¡ªnot here at the research institute with so many people watching. She needed a better time and a more private setting to approach him.

    Ste looked up and asked calmly, ¡°Lainey, can you help me get a moment alone with Mr. Briggs?¡±

    Lainey¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Of course! Leave it to me!¡± A private meeting?

    She was already daydreaming about being their matchmaker.

    With that settled, Ste felt a small sense of relief and threw herself back into her work.

    Fresh updates avable at ?@ln¦Ò¦Íe?s

    That afternoon, when she got home, she didn¡¯t expectpany, but Marc was there, sitting on the sofa like he belonged.

    He lounged casually, flipping through a magazine while she silently changed out of her shoes by the door.

    The moment he saw her, he stood up with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re home. Are you hungry? I can ask the kitchen to make something.¡±

    He wore that same warm, attentive mask, acting like there had never been betrayal, never been distance.

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but find his act utterly ridiculousughable, even. Marc used to tell her he was swamped with work, iming he couldn¡¯t make it home regrly. And she had believed him.

    Back then, before she learned the truth about him and Haley, she had trusted his every word. She never once questioned why he stayed outte or didn¡¯t show up at all.

    But now that everything hade to light, now that the illusion had shattered, he suddenly had all this free time toe back and y house?

    If work had really kept him so busy before, then how was he finding the time now?

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Eat by yourself.¡± Her voice was cold, detached. She didn¡¯t have the strength or desire to sit across from him and pretend things were normal. Even his smile made her sick.

    She headed upstairs without sparing him another nce, but Marc¡¯s brows knitted together, clearly displeased.

    ¡°Ste, skipping meals isn¡¯t good for your health. Just tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll have my assistant bring it.¡±

    Ste paused at the bottom of the staircase, turned back slightly, and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Looking at you ruins my appetite.¡±

    That shut him up. He nced at the fading bruise on her head and knew she was saying it to humiliate him. Still, her words stung more than he expected. After a brief silence, he took a deep breath and tried again, ¡°Didn¡¯t you once say you wanted to visit Hoxphis for a vacation? I¡¯ll be free next month. Let¡¯s go together.¡±

    Her brows lifted again. She had brought up the idea of visiting Hoxphis more than once after they got married, but Marc always brushed it aside, either ming work or promising he¡¯d ¡°arrange itter.¡±

    Now, out of nowhere, he was eager for a trip? If she hadn¡¯t pulled the plug on thepany¡¯s coboration, she knew full well he wouldn¡¯t have even considered taking time off during such a crucial phase.

    His efforts to please her now were painfully obvious. Anyone could see right through it. It wasn¡¯t about love or reconciliation¡ªit was about the patent she controlled.

    Just for that patent, he was now magically clearing his schedule and pretending to be the devoted husband again.

    To Marc, both she and Haley were just stepping stones to power, and nothing more.

    Ste let out a dryugh. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to Hoxphis anymore. I¡¯ve got better things to do. If you¡¯re still set on that trip, why don¡¯t you take Haley instead?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression turned stormy the moment she said that. ¡°Ste, don¡¯t talk to me like that. I hate it.¡±

    Her bluntness annoyed him. He had apologized, hadn¡¯t he? Why couldn¡¯t she just move on?

    He really did want to take her to Hoxphis.

    It wasn¡¯t like he ever held back when it came to making her happy, so what more did she want from him?

    ¡°Then how exactly am I supposed to talk to you?¡± she said sharply. ¡°Should I just sit down and have a pleasant little heart-to-heart?¡±

    Her sarcasm dripped like acid, but Marc missed the jabpletely. ¡°Yeah, we should definitely talk,¡± he replied seriously.

    That made Steugh¡ªnot from amusement, but disbelief.

    Fine. If he wanted to talk, they would talk. She was curious anyway.

    Was it just about the patent, or was he after something else too? Either way, she was done ying along.

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 Chapter 17

    ?Chapter 17:

    Ste walked over and sat down on an armchair, keeping a noticeable distance between them. Marc¡¯s eyes stayed on her.

    ¡°Alright, what is it you wanted to say?¡± she asked tly.

    Marc¡¯s tone turned serious.

    ¡°Ste, there¡¯s nothing going on between me and Haley beyond work. You¡¯re getting the wrong idea. This coboration with the Smith family could really take ourpany to the next level. Mr. Smith himself suggested that Haley should gain some hands-on experience by working here. And honestly, with her background in internationalw and her n to stay here long-term, I can¡¯t think of a more fitting role for her than the legal department.¡±

    The moment he started talking about Haley, Ste silently scoffed.

    ¡°What does her joining legal have to do with me?¡± she thought to herself.

    So that trip to Hoxphis¡ªof course, it wasn¡¯t about her at all. It was for Haley.

    Marc leaned a little closer, trying to soften the gap between them.

    ¡°This is why I brought it up. If your patent stays with us, it¡¯ll be the first project Haley takes on after joining. She¡¯ll be pleased, her family will be impressed, and it helps ourpany in the long run.¡±

    As far as Marc was concerned, he hadid everything out inly.

    This was about business.

    They needed the Smith family on their side, and if Haley was happy, things would go smoothly.

    As for Ste? All she had to do was sign a document¡ªit wasn¡¯t anything new. She¡¯d always sold her patents to him without much fuss. Today was probably just one of her rare moments of defiance.

    Once she calmed down, she¡¯d go back to doing what she always did.

    When he finished, he looked at her with that familiar, gentle expression.

    ¡°You won¡¯t turn me down, will you, Ste? It¡¯s just a renewal¡ªnothing changes for you.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t feel moved¡ªshe felt sick.

    Her gaze was cold as she spoke slowly, each word deliberate.

    ¡°So this whole talk¡­ is about using my patent to make Haley happy?¡±

    What kind of twisted logic was that? How could he say something so absurd with a straight face?

    Seeing her frustration, Marc frowned. ¡°I¡¯m just being honest. A strongpany benefits both of us. We¡¯re married, Ste. Isn¡¯t it normal for a couple to support each other?¡±

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    Normal? The word echoed in her head, and suddenly, she had nothing more to say.

    Every time he spoke, he somehow managed to make himself even more pathetic.

    She rose to her feet, towering over Marc with a piercing gaze.

    ¡°This is my patent,¡± she said icily. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. I¡¯m not selling. And no one, not even you, has the right to force me.¡±

    Marc hadn¡¯t expected her to be this uncooperative. He had already swallowed his pride, offered a vacation, and even put work aside.

    Why was she being so unreasonable?

    Losing his patience, he got up with a hardened look. ¡°Enough. This conversation is over. Go to the office tomorrow and sign the renewal. Don¡¯t act like a child.¡±

    Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked upstairs.

    Ste stared after him, and her lips curled into a bitter smile.

    Maybe the truth was simple¡ªthey were never meant for each other. There was no use arguing anymore. It was a waste of breath.

    Despite this, her emotions didn¡¯t settle.

    Her eyes rested on the coffee table, but her chest felt tight¡ªso tight she could barely take a proper breath.

    He really had the nerve to say it was only normal for her to help him¡ªlike it was expected, like she owed him.

    The thought made her let out a bitter, hollowugh. The sound echoed through the quiet living room, soaked in loneliness and disbelief.

    Her head throbbed again, the pain from yesterday¡¯s injury creeping back as if in sync with her heartache.

    That night, she stayed in the study, curling up alone.

    But deep into the night, she was jolted awake by the sound of someone trying to open the door from the outside.

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 Chapter 18

    ?Chapter 18:

    Before going to bed, Ste made sure to lock the door from the inside. Not only that, she even took the spare key from the storeroom with her. So when someone tried to open the door in the middle of the night, it didn¡¯t budge. After a few moments of struggle, the person outside finally gave up. The noise had woken her, and lying in the quiet darkness, she stared at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. Curiosity got the better of her, so she checked the surveince footage, and as expected¡ªit was Marc.

    But by then, he was gone.

    Knowing she had a full day ahead, Ste made herself close her eyes and tried to fall back asleep.

    The next morning, she got ready and headed straight to the research institute, brushing off everything Marc had said the night before.

    She wasn¡¯t the same wife he used to manipte so easily. That version of her was long gone.

    From the moment she made up her mind, their marriage was over in her heart.

    Once at the institute, she threw herself into work and pushed everything aboutst night far from her mind.

    It wasn¡¯t until her phone rang that she paused her work and looked at the screen.

    The name shing on the screen was from Marc¡¯s legal department.

    Allegra had once helped Ste when thetter was at Marc¡¯spany, and Ste had always been polite and thankful for it.

    Seeing her name pop up now caught Ste off guard.

    They¡¯d only ever spoken for work, never anything personal, unless something unusual had happened¡­

    With a few uneasy guesses forming, Ste picked up the call.

    ¡°Hey Allegra, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Allegra¡¯s voice cracked when she heard Ste. After a pause, she steadied herself and said, ¡°Ms. Russell, Mr. Walsh asked me to inform you that you need toe to the office today.¡±

    Her voice wavered. She already knew Ste didn¡¯t want toe, and there had been talk around the office about her turning down the renewal offer.

    But it was a direct order from Marc, and Allegra had no choice but to follow it.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Allegra. But I¡¯ve decided not to work with yourpany anymore, so I won¡¯t being in.¡±

    Allegra had guessed this might happen, but hearing it directly still left her feeling defeated.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, I know you¡¯ve made up your mind, but Mr. Walsh said if you don¡¯te, it would be considered my error, and I could lose my job.¡±

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    Ste frowned, stunned.

    ¡°Wait¡ªare you saying Marc would fire you just because I refuse toe?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Russell, I know you don¡¯t want toe, and I understand. But I really have no choice. He said he¡¯d make sure no one else in the industry hires me. I know this is emotional ckmail¡­ but it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll find a way somehow.¡±

    Allegra choked on her sobs. She didn¡¯t want to make things worse for Ste, but she was stuck between loyalty and survival.

    Ste¡¯s hands trembled with fury.

    Marc must¡¯ve figured out that she and Allegra got along and used that connection to trap her.

    He really would stoop to anything just to get his way. It was so shameless that it almost made herugh.

    Hearing Allegra¡¯s shaky sobs, Ste squeezed her eyes shut and said firmly,

    ¡°I¡¯lle. Don¡¯t worry, Allegra. This isn¡¯t your fault¡ªhe¡¯s targeting me, not you. I won¡¯t let you lose your job over this.¡±

    Allegra¡¯s heart clenched at Ste¡¯s words. Her panic faded, reced by gratitude, guilt, and a deep sense of unfairness on Ste¡¯s behalf.

    ¡°Thank you¡­ thank you so much, Ms. Russell!¡±

    Ste almost said there was no need for thanks¡ªafter all, Allegra had once helped her too.

    Besides, she wasn¡¯t someone who forgot a kindness, no matter how small. If Marc wanted her there so badly, then fine. She¡¯d go. She wanted to see for herself exactly what kind of game he was ying now.

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 Chapter 19

    ?Chapter 19:

    After collecting her things, Ste said goodbye to Lainey, mentioning that she had to head out early.

    Lainey gave her a casual nod. ¡°Go on ahead. There¡¯s nothing urgent here today anyway.¡±

    When Ste reached Marc¡¯spany, Haley¡¯s sharp, entitled voice was already echoing from inside the legal department.

    Just as she was about to step in, Evie¡ªa familiar face from the past¡ªhurried over and tugged Ste aside. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, what are you doing here? That Haley girl is clearly targeting you. You really shouldn¡¯t go in.¡±

    Everyone knew how much losing the patent would hurt thepany, but Haley¡¯s arrogance had rubbed them all the wrong way.

    And on top of that, they all knew Ste was Marc¡¯s legal wife, and Haley was nothing more than a mistress, yet she strutted around like she owned the ce.

    Not sure what she¡¯d walked into, Ste raised a brow. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Evie pulled a face. ¡°What do you think? First day here, and she¡¯s already scolding the whole legal team, calling them useless for notnding the deal.

    Mrs. Walsh, seriously¡ªbetter not walk in there.¡±

    Ste gave her a calm smile, silently letting her know it was alright.

    As she walked in, Haley nced up and spotted her. Reclining on the sofa with her chin lifted high, she wore the smug look of a cat that had justpped up a bowl of cream.

    ¡°Well, look who finally decided to show up,¡± Haley sneered. ¡°You were all high and mighty yesterday, acting like you didn¡¯t need the contract. And now? You¡¯re back to sign it like nothing happened. If this was where you¡¯d end up anyway, what was all that drama for?¡±

    Haley¡¯s eyes were filled with contempt. To her, Ste was nothing inparison. She was the dignified daughter of the prestigious Smith family from Achury. What did Ste have? Just Marc as a husband¡ªand even that, she believed, was temporary. In her mind, Marc¡¯s affections had already shifted. Ste had no right to challenge her.

    Ste stood in the legal department¡¯s office, listening in silence as Haley rambled on and on. She didn¡¯t bother replying.

    Her expression was calm, almost indifferent, like none of it mattered.

    Eventually, when Haley realized she was the only one speaking, her smug smile disappeared. Her face darkened with frustration, and she snapped, ¡°What the hell are you pretending for?¡±

    Ste finally looked her way and let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°If Marc hadn¡¯t dragged innocent people into this, I wouldn¡¯t be here. So, this is your talent? Manipting people who have nothing to do with your feud? Impressive.¡±

    Haley¡¯s face turned red with rage. Ste had hit a nerve. It had been Haley¡¯s idea to pressure Ste into showing up by having Marc involve the legal department.

    ¡°Ste, all¡¯s fair in love and war! If it works, then it works. Now sign the damn contract¡ªright now!¡± Haley barked.

    But Ste just smiled faintly, unbothered. ¡°No. I¡¯m not signing anything.¡±

    ¡°You!¡±

    Before the argument could spiral further, Theo Haynes, the vice head of legal, let out a silent sigh. His temples were already starting to throb. He stepped in quickly, trying to defuse the growing tension. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, if something¡¯s bothering you, let¡¯s talk it through. You are Mr. Walsh¡¯s wife, after all. Just let us know what you need, and we¡¯ll work something out.¡±

    Ste shifted her eyes back to Haley and gave a small smile, calm but cutting. ¡°The reason I¡¯m not renewing the contract? Simple. It¡¯s her. If you want my signature, tell your Mr. Walsh to show me some sincerity. And by that, I mean start by kicking Haley out of thepany and make sure she leaves humiliated.¡±

    .

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    .

 Chapter 20

    ?Chapter 20:

    A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone stared at Ste and Haley, shocked by what they had just heard.

    Though most of the staff didn¡¯t care much for Haley, they knew better than to cross her. She held an influential position, and even Marc treated her with care. For Ste to tell her to leave thepany like that? It sounded impossible.

    The employees nced at one another, utterly lost, while Haley, overwhelmed by humiliation, snatched a cup from the desk and hurled it to the floor with a loud crash.

    ¡°Who do you think you are, Ste?¡± Haley snapped. ¡°It¡¯s just a damn patent! You think this entirepany revolves around you? Well, guess what? I¡¯m not going anywhere! Sign the contract or don¡¯t, I really don¡¯t give a fuck. But me, walking away? Keep dreaming!¡±

    Theo nearly lost hisposure. Just one damn patent? Did Haley even know what she was talking about? Ste¡¯s patent brought in massive revenue every year. The entirepany practically stood on it. If she walked away, everything could crumble.

    But Haley, blinded by rage, couldn¡¯t see past her bruised ego and even dared to tell Ste to get lost.

    Meanwhile, Ste had no interest in arguing anymore. Without a word, she turned and walked away.

    As she neared the door, Theo, realizing they had crossed a line that couldn¡¯t be taken back, hurried after her. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, allow me to walk you out.¡±

    It was clear this whole mess was thepany¡¯s doing, and no one could fault Ste for walking away.

    Just before she stepped into the elevator, Theo hesitated, then spoke. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, if you don¡¯t mind me saying¡­ would you consider having a word with Mr. Walsh? Haley clearly isn¡¯t fit for this role¡ªkeeping her around will only create more problems.¡±

    No matter what, Ste was still Marc¡¯s wife, and anything she said would carry far more weight than what the employees could express.

    And besides, it wasn¡¯t exactly a secret¡ªeveryone could tell Marc still had feelings for her.

    Ste gave a faint press of her lips but stayed silent.

    Before leaving, she made her way to Allegra¡¯s desk for a quick goodbye. ¡°Choria¡¯s a big city, Allegra,¡± she said calmly. ¡°There¡¯s no shortage ofpanies here that would value someone like you.¡±

    Allegra was clever. She knew exactly what Ste was hinting at.

    After all, Marc¡¯s firm wasn¡¯t the only ce worth working at¡ªChoria was full of opportunities.

    Allegra¡¯s eyes brightened, and a knowing smile passed between them. As Ste stepped into the elevator, Allegra called out warmly, ¡°Take care, Mrs. Walsh!¡±

    By the time Ste walked outside, the sun had disappeared behind thick clouds. It had been bright and sunny when she came in, but now the sky looked heavy and gray.

    She let out a quiet sigh, thinking it might start raining soon.

    Standing by the roadside, watching cars rush past, she quietly reminded herself, ¡°Just five more days, Ste. Only five more. Then all of this would finally be behind her. Gone in the blink of an eye.¡±

    Meanwhile, back at thepany, Haley wasted no time storming into Marc¡¯s office, unloading everything that had happened.

    ¡°Marc, you should¡¯ve seen her! She waspletely out of line. I was only doing what you told me¡ªtrying to get her to renew the deal, and she turned around and told me to get lost!¡±

    Marc was just wrapping up a meeting when Haley started venting. He looked mildly annoyed but kept his expressionposed. He then reached out and gently patted her back in an attempt to calm her down.

    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t get too worked up. I understand you¡¯re angry,¡± he said softly. ¡°Why don¡¯t I take you to your favorite ce for dinner tonight?¡±

    Hearing that, Haley felt a little less angry, but she still wasn¡¯t ready to let it go. Pouting, she clung to his arm and said, ¡°No. I want Ste to kneel and apologize to me!¡±

    She pressed her body against his, making sure he felt every curve.

    Marc didn¡¯t push her away.

    He simply brushed her hair back with deliberate gentleness, like he was indulging her.

    Just when she thought he¡¯d cave to her whims, his next words came like a p. ¡°You really think you¡¯re that important?¡± he said, his tone chillingly indifferent.

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    .

 Chapter 21

    ?Chapter 21:

    Haley froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Wait¡­ What did you just say?¡± Had she misunderstood him?

    Marc¡¯s mouth curved into a familiar smile, but his eyes were cold and unyielding. ¡°Ste is my wife¡ªand always will be. I¡¯ve told you before, what¡¯s between us is just a fling. Isn¡¯t this kind of thing normal where you¡¯re from? You didn¡¯t really think it meant something¡­ did you?¡±

    To Marc, the position of a wife belonged solely to Ste. Haley, on the other hand, was simply someone to pass the time with¡ªnothing more, nothing less. He didn¡¯t mind keeping her close, as long as she knew her ce.

    For a moment, Haley just stared at him, trying to process what he¡¯d said. What was that supposed to mean?

    Marc¡¯s recent attention had made her believe he was starting to fall for her. But now he was iming that she¡¯d misinterpreted everything?

    Did that worthless woman mean more to him than she did?

    Haley stiffened, her smile fading. ¡°Marc, what are you even talking about right now?¡±

    ¡°Exactly what it sounds like,¡± Marc replied, his tone t. ¡°If you don¡¯t like how things are, you¡¯re free to walk away.¡± A shadow flickered in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t afford to offend the Smith family, but no matter the cost, he¡¯d never rece Ste.

    Haley felt a sharp sting in her chest as she watched the finality in his face. He wasn¡¯t joking after all.

    Still, she wasn¡¯t someone who gave up easily. If she wanted something, she chased it until it was hers. Marc only clung to Ste because they hadn¡¯t spent real time together yet. But once they did, he¡¯d see that he belonged with her.

    With that thought anchoring her, Haley straightened up and forced a lightugh. ¡°Come on, I was just messing around. I got carried away¡ªdon¡¯t be mad. For you, I¡¯ll let it slide. I won¡¯t pick on her anymore. But¡­ you owe me for that.¡±

    Marc watched her, his expression unreadable. ¡°Fine. Whatever you ask for, I¡¯ll grant it. Just keep your promise¡ªleave Ste alone.¡±

    After leaving Marc¡¯s office, Ste didn¡¯t head back to the research institute. With only five days left until the project kicked off, she had to get everything in order before then.

    Find your adventure at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§àm (uso de ¡°?¡± y ¡°§à¡± cir¨ªlica)

    Ste returned to the vi and copsed onto the couch, massaging her tired eyes.

    Her phone began to ring. Without checking the screen, she answered and held it to her ear. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Ste, there¡¯s a party tonight. I managed to snag an invite. You should get dressed ande with me.¡±

    Ste blinked slowly, still not quite processing. ¡°Lainey, I¡¯m really wiped out. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve got the energy for a party tonight.¡±

    ¡°William¡¯s attending,¡± Lainey added casually. ¡°It¡¯s his friend¡¯s event. Weren¡¯t you hoping for a chance to talk to him in private?¡±

    That snapped her out of her haze. Ste bolted upright. ¡°Wait¡ªWilliam¡¯s going to be there?¡±

    ¡°Yep! And since I¡¯m on the guest list, I can bring you. A rxed setting like that is perfect for getting closer to him.¡±

    Lainey had clearly misunderstood her intentions again, but Ste didn¡¯t bother correcting her this time. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there. Just send me the details.¡±

    As soon as the call ended, Ste raced upstairs to get ready.

    By the time she came back down, her phone buzzed with a new message. Expecting it to be from Lainey, she tapped on it, only to realize it was from Haley instead.

    Ste scowled as she stared at the one-minute voice note. Her thumb hesitated for a moment before finally pressing y.

    Almost immediately, a sultry voice spilled from the speaker, sending a chill down her spine. ¡°Oh, Marc, you¡¯re incredible¡­ God¡­¡±

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 Chapter 22

    ?Chapter 22:

    Ste fumbled to hit pause, another surge of nausea churning in her gut. She lurched over the sink and vomited, her stomach empty except for the sour burn of bile. Nothing but acid came up¡ªshe hadn¡¯t managed more than a few bites all day. It made her skin crawl with pure revulsion.

    Never in her wildest nightmares had Ste imagined Haley would send her an audio recording like this¡ªaudio of her and Marc having sex. What kind of sick person not only made something like that but sent it out on purpose?

    Ste stared at her reflection, pressing a hand to her chest. This wasn¡¯t the reaction she¡¯d imagined. No heart pounding, no crushing weight of emotion¡ªjust a vague nausea and a strange emptiness.

    Somehow, she¡¯d always suspected Marc could sink this low¡ªnothing about him managed to shock her anymore. The only thing that truly grated on her was listening to that revolting recording. After a few steadying breaths, Ste smoothed down her hair, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out of the vi.

    Outside, under the soft glow of the entrance lights, Lainey waited, her figure striking in a stunning evening gown.

    As soon as Ste climbed out of the taxi, Lainey spotted her and waved with unrestrained enthusiasm. Dressed in a neat white blouse and faded jeans, Ste looked more ready for a business meeting than a night out drinking.

    Lainey¡¯s lips twitched with disapproval as she looped her arm through Ste¡¯s. ¡°Ste, what¡¯s with this outfit?¡±

    Ste blinked and nced at herself, genuinely puzzled. ¡°Is there something wrong with what I¡¯m wearing?¡±

    She¡¯d picked these clothes on purpose¡ªclean lines, nothing shy, just right for the asion.

    ¡°We came out to have drinks, not sign contracts. You look like you¡¯re about to pitch a business deal!¡±

    Ste exhaled, resigned. ¡°Fine. Lainey, can we just head inside?¡±

    L?t??¦Ó ch¨»¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?????.??????

    But Lainey dug in her heels, tugging Ste back. ¡°Absolutely not. You¡¯re already here, so you need to look the part. Otherwise, how do you expect William to pay any attention to you?¡± She grinned, triumphant, and held up a garment bag. ¡°Good thing I nned ahead. You¡¯re changing¡ªno arguments.¡±

    Before Ste could utter another word, Lainey swept her straight into the restroom at Light Story. Chatting animatedly, Lainey rummaged through her bag and produced a dark red slip dress, thrusting it into Ste¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Lainey, is this honestly necessary?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely! Come on, try it. You¡¯re gorgeous¡ªlet everyone see it for once!¡±

    Left with no room to argue, Ste ducked into a stall and reluctantly changed clothes. Stepping out in the new outfit, she felt like she¡¯d borrowed someone else¡¯s skin¡ªufortable and unsure.

    ¡°Lainey, isn¡¯t this dress a little¡­ too daring?¡± She tugged self-consciously at the hem, certain the dress barely concealed anything front or back.

    Lainey surveyed her, beaming with approval. ¡°It¡¯s perfect¡ªdefinitely not too short. You look absolutely gorgeous!¡±

    With her striking curves, smooth skin, and a face made for trouble, Ste belonged in a dress that broadcasted boldness, not hidden away in something dull. What she wore before? A style disaster begging for a makeover.

    Scooping up Ste¡¯s discarded shirt and jeans, Lainey crammed them into her bag and steered Ste down the hall toward the private room.

    ¡°It¡¯s William¡¯s childhood friend¡¯s birthday tonight. Everyone¡¯s here to unwind¡ªso make sure you give William something to look at.¡±

    Unsure how to say she wasn¡¯t there to impress William, Ste stayed quiet and trailed after Lainey into the room.

    Light flooded thergest private room as the doors swung open, revealing a lively crowd of well over a hundred, clustered in animated groups. The air thrummed with the energy and confidence of the city¡¯s young elite.

    Lainey guided Ste through the crowd, stopping before a tall man with gleaming gold-rimmed sses.

    ¡°Grady, meet Ste Russell¡ªshe was a few grades behind me back in school. And Ste, this is my friend, Grady Martel.¡±

    Ste had never seen Grady before, but out of courtesy, she offered a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Martel.¡±

    Grady, ustomed to people fawning over William, pegged Ste as just another face in the crowd, one of the many hoping for an introduction. Nearly everyone in the city, after all, was desperate to win William¡¯s favor. But the moment heid eyes on Ste, Grady faltered. Her striking beauty caught himpletely off guard.

    He cleared his throat and casually grabbed a cocktail from the bar, lifting the ss in Ste¡¯s direction. ¡°Ms. Russell, here¡¯s a bit of advice¡ªtake your time. Plenty of people try to cozy up to William, but he doesn¡¯t make it easy for just anyone.¡±

    Ste could tell exactly what he was implying, but her only concern was settling the list situation as fast as possible. She offered a stiff nod, feeling her difort creeping into her expression.

    After a few more polite exchanges, Lainey hooked her arm around Ste and guided her straight toward William.

    A noisy crowd had gathered around him, and Lainey had to nudge her way through before they finally made it to the sofa where William lounged.

    Raising her ss in greeting, Lainey called out, ¡°Mr. Briggs, what a shock running into you here! This is Ste¡ªshe¡¯s a colleague of mine at the institute. I think you two might¡¯ve crossed paths before. She¡¯s actually got some questions about a project and would really appreciate your insights.¡±

    Lainey gave her a light nudge before she could brace herself.

    The nudge wasn¡¯t forceful, but Ste was already off-bnce¡ªshe tripped forward and toppled straight toward William.

    She braced for impact, but the sting of a fall never came. Blinking in surprise, she realized she¡¯dnded squarely in William¡¯sp¡ªand the position was far too intimate forfort.

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 Chapter 23

    ?Chapter 23:

    The onlookers gasped, their surprise echoing through the room at the abrupt shift in atmosphere. Even with William sitting right there, no one had ever witnessed anyone so daring¡ªthis woman had taken a leap without a hint of hesitation.

    Everyone understood William¡¯s reputation: cold, detached, and wholly uninterested in romantic entanglements. Was she destined to be dismissed as abruptly as all the others?

    But before anyone could draw another breath, William¡¯s voice cut through the tension¡ªsteady and calm, threaded with annoyance rather than anger. ¡°Exactly how long were you thinking of sitting like that?¡±

    For a heartbeat, Ste froze, realization crashing over her as a hot flush swept up her cheeks. She started to rise, only to feel an abrupt resistance that sent a jolt of dread straight through her.

    Panic prickled her skin as she realized her dress had somehow snagged on something, trapping her in ce. Any sudden movement risked making things even worse for her.

    William arched a brow, the shift in weight on his legs drawing his attention.

    Ste¡¯s entire face flushed with mortification. Even if her position wasn¡¯t as outrageous as before, it was still painfully awkward¡ªall the more so because she¡¯de to have a serious conversation with him.

    Struggling to regain herposure, she blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Briggs. This really wasn¡¯t intentional¡ªmy dress is caught. Just give me a second, please.¡±

    She fumbled to free the tangled fabric, but a mockingugh sounded from above.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯ll have to do better than that. If you¡¯re going to stage an act like this, at least put some effort into subtlety.¡±

    Irritation and embarrassment churned inside Ste. ¡°That¡¯s not what you think, Mr. Briggs. I didn¡¯t do any of this on purpose. I came here today because I wanted to talk to you about the exclusive project roster. You¡¯ve insisted on reviewing every candidate yourself, and I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll consider giving me a shot.¡±

    I@te$t ¡é#@pter$ In g@!novel$.c0m

    Her plea made William¡¯s gaze drift to her cleavage. His eyebrows arched, dry amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°Is this your way of earning a spot on the team?¡±

    Ste faltered, realizing just how condescending he was being. She squared her shoulders, lips drawn into a thin line as determination shed in her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious about joining the project. I¡¯ve published papers in national journals, and I have patents to my name. I¡¯ve even conducted research on this project before¡ªthere¡¯s real value I can bring. And, Mr. Briggs, if you let me join the team, you¡¯ll have nothing to worry about. My focus will be on the work itself. I have the skills you¡¯re looking for, and¡­¡±

    For the first time, her words seemed to stumble and fall t.

    Why did every encounter with this man spiral into confusion?

    As soon as she tried to list her credentials, William¡¯s gaze flicked down to the woman perched awkwardly on hisp. Ste¡¯s long legs stretched across his, sleek and ufortably exposed. He gave a faint, cutting smile. ¡°Clearly, your talents stretch past what you let slip, Ms. Russell.¡±

    Before Ste could even process the jab, he rose smoothly to his feet, leaving her to slip from hisp in a graceless heap.

    Flustered, she mped a hand over her dress, heart thudding.

    Yet the moment he stood, the supposed knot between their clothing unraveled easily, as if the whole ordeal had been a trick of the light.

    With icyposure, William strode from the room, leaving Ste alone in the awkward silence.

    Ste lingered for a moment, a sense of injustice prickling beneath her calm exterior. She hadn¡¯t orchestrated the mishap, yet his usation hinted she¡¯d tried to leverage her appearance for a spot on the project.

    Her jaw tightened as she debated her next move, then strode after him, refusing to back down.

    William¡¯s long strides ate up the hallway, forcing Ste to pick up her pace, practically trotting to stay close.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, those earlier incidents weren¡¯t what you think. I¡¯m not after anything else¡ªI just really want to be part of the project team. I hope you¡¯ll let me prove myself. I¡­¡±

    She barely got the words out before William stopped short. Ste crashed right into his solid arm, thrown off-bnce by the sudden halt¡ªher sexy outfit doing nothing to disguise the impact or her embarrassment.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 24

    ?Chapter 24:

    This situation had spiraled out of control, and attempting to exin it now would only make things worse. That was the only thought pounding in Ste¡¯s head.

    William turned just enough to nce at her, his face nk. His eyes lingered for a moment¡ªsliding downward, deliberately slow¡ªtaking in her bold curves before he turned away and continued walking, not bothering to stop.

    Marc stepped out from the bend in the Light Story hallway just as a familiar voice reached his ears. He turned instinctively, drawn by the sound, and spotted a figure that seemed familiar yet somehow different. Narrowing his eyes, he took a step forward, intending to get a better look. But before he could move far, Haley came rushing out of the corridor and flung herself at him, clutching his arm tightly.

    ¡°Marc, what are you staring at?¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened slightly, irritation flickering in his eyes. ¡°Nothing.¡±

    Ste trailed behind William, but he made no effort to acknowledge her presence. Frustrated and desperate, she moved ahead of him, blocking his path by spreading her arms wide.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I meant every word I said. Please, just give it some thought.¡±

    William tilted his head and studied her, his gaze driftingzily across her frame. ¡°You do make quite the impression. But throwing yourself at me in front of everyone? If I add you to the team now, won¡¯t people assume I¡¯m ying favorites?¡±

    Ste¡¯s cheeks burned with embarrassment¡ªhe had misunderstood everything. A wave of frustration hit her, and the irritation showed clearly on her face.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t what you think! That happened by mistake!¡±

    From where he stood, William couldn¡¯t help but notice her curves. His throat moved as he swallowed hard and quickly looked away.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re very skilled at leaving a mark on a man. But I¡¯m not fond of women who are too forward.¡±

    Every tale finds a home at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    William didn¡¯t care to understand who Ste truly was. Yet, in just two encounters, she had left an impression on him that he couldn¡¯t quite shake. One thing was certain¡ªSte Russell was a clever woman who knew how to attract a man.

    At those words, Ste¡¯s hands curled into fists at her sides, her body rigid.

    When she finally spoke again, her voice had lost all warmth. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I take pride in what I do. I¡¯ve worked hard to get here¡ªI¡¯m not the kind of woman you¡¯re trying to make me out to be.¡±

    Ste had given it her all, done everything expected of her, but no matter how much she tried, William¡¯s assumptions about her refused to change.

    She exhaled slowly, steadying her breath as she fought to preserve her dignity. That, too, had value.

    ¡°I won¡¯t bother you again.¡± She turned and walked away without looking back.

    William¡¯s eyes followed her retreating figure, narrowing faintly, before he turned and stepped back into the private lounge.

    The moment he re-entered, Lainey turned toward him. ¡°Where¡¯s Ste? Didn¡¯t she leave with you?¡±

    They had exited almost at the same time¡ªyet now Ste was nowhere to be seen.

    William shrugged off the question. ¡°Not sure. Looks like she decided to go.¡±

    Lainey blinked, slightly puzzled, then leaned closer to speak in a low voice. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ste¡¯s not just talented; she was once at the top of her field. If she hadn¡¯t stepped back for family reasons, she¡¯d be on par with you today. One of thepany¡¯s most reliable core patents is still hers.¡±

    William shot her a dry look. ¡°Really? I thought her specialties were tight dresses and hanging on to powerful men.¡±

    There was clear mockery in his tone, and Lainey quickly caught on to the misunderstanding.

    Lainey¡¯s face turned solemn as she spoke hurriedly. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ste only wore those clothes because I insisted. She came dressed in a white shirt and jeans.¡±

    To prove it, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out the clothes, offering them for him to see.

    William¡¯s thoughts drifted to the first time he saw Ste¡ªdressed modestly, confident but understated. Compared to that version of her, the sultry dress had seemedpletely out of ce.

    And now he realized that the outfit hadn¡¯t been Ste¡¯s.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t deny that she had looked stunning.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 25

    ?Chapter 25:

    After failing to sway William, Ste left the gathering defeated, heading home with heavy steps. As soon as she walked in, she spotted a new message from Lainey lighting up her phone.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ste. I never should have pushed you to change. If it weren¡¯t for me, William wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood everything. This is on me. I handled it all wrong and ended up making things worse for you.¡±

    Ste read the message and let out a weary sigh. It wasn¡¯t just the clothes¡ªWilliam had always viewed her through a lens of suspicion.

    She began typing a response. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lainey. None of this is on you.¡± If William doubted her, then she¡¯d make damn sure he saw what she was capable of. She¡¯d prove herself with the same grit and honesty she¡¯d relied on all along.

    Lainey¡¯s reply came quickly, weighted with guilt. ¡°Ste, I only thought maybe if you dressed differently, William might actually notice your efforts¡­¡± Now, looking back, she felt like an idiot.

    William¡¯s logic was impossible to pin down.

    ¡°No, really, it¡¯s all right, Lainey. I know you had the best intentions. I appreciate you helping arrange my meeting with Mr. Briggs today,¡± Ste typed back. Whatever happened, she couldn¡¯t hold it against Lainey; the girl had only wanted to help.

    Seeing Ste¡¯s patient reply, Lainey finally let herself rx, though a hint of guilt still gnawed at her. She silently vowed to exin the situation if William¡¯s impression of Ste had soured because of her.

    Once the messages were sent, Ste set her phone aside and began getting ready for bed.

    Right then, the vi¡¯s front door swung open, and Marc stepped inside, trailing a sharp wave of alcohol.

    Ste¡¯s brow creased automatically. It was sote¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected him home tonight.

    Marc¡¯s head hung low, messy bangs nearly obscuring his face.

    Let your mind wander with g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??????

    Without a word, he fumbled the door shut and lurched across the room, each stride loose and unsteady as he headed straight for her.

    When he drew near, a vivid smear of red lipstick caught her eye on his cor.

    Now standing this close, Ste couldn¡¯t ignore the harsh mix of alcohol and some stinging perfume wafting off him, making her nose prickle ufortably. She stepped back instinctively, trying not to sneeze, but Marc¡¯s hand shot out and mped down on her arm, his fingers digging in.

    He leaned close, invading her space. ¡°All day gone without a trace, Ste¡ªwhat were you up to?¡±

    She answered promptly, her voice cold and steady. ¡°I was in the researchb. Is there a problem? Honestly, the way you smell right now is making me feel sick.¡±

    Marc held her gaze, his expression unreadable.

    She kept herposure, showing no trace of rm. Nothing in her expression betrayed a lie, and Marc, rubbing his forehead, finally let go of her arm.

    ¡°Alright, then.¡± Maybe he¡¯d been overthinking things.

    Ste slipped from his grasp and made her way upstairs to the study.

    Across town, William lounged in the heart of the lively gathering, a ss of champagne bnced in his hand as he sank into the sofa, quietly surveying the room like an outsider.

    Samuel Acosta, the head of a researchb, spotted William alone and wandered over, swirling his own wine. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I heard you¡¯re handpicking people for the new project. I¡¯ve been around the institute a long time¡ªwould you like me to introduce a few candidates?¡±

    William regarded Samuel for a moment, then dipped his head in a slow nod. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    With an easy smile, Samuelunched into introductions, breezing through the first few team members with polished, bite-sized summaries.

    The name ¡°Ste Russell¡± seemed to flip a switch¡ªsuddenly, he was all enthusiasm.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ste¡¯s the standout here¡ªno contest. She¡¯s picked up a shelf of awards since college, and her academic work pops up all over the web. Having her on the team is a real asset. She¡¯s the one behind that award-winning paper on biologically active factors.¡±

    William paused with his champagne halfway to his lips, caught off guard by the revtion.

    He remembered the paper well¡ªit had made waves across several fields, with results that spoke for themselves.

    Back then, he¡¯d scoured the journal, but the author¡¯s identity had been left out. So, she¡¯d been the one to write it all along?

    His mind wandered, recalling the unexpected softness of her touch earlier. Maybe he¡¯d gone too far in how he¡¯d treated her today.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 26

    ?Chapter 26:

    Ste had been determined to earn her spot on the project team through her skills, not by relying on her looks to take an easier path.

    When Samuel finished introducing everyone in theb, William said nothing, but a subtle shift in his expression hinted at a change of mind.

    The next morning arrived with golden sunlight spilling across the study. Ste stirred on the stiff bed, stretched, and checked her phone. There was a new assignment from the institute.

    She quickly washed up and nced at the dress she¡¯d worn the night before, mentally noting tounder it before passing it along to Lainey.

    By the time she reached the institute, William¡¯s assistant, Luca Chadwick, was already waiting. As the elevator doors slid open, he stepped forward to greet her.

    ¡°Good morning, Ms. Russell. I¡¯m Mr. Briggs¡¯ assistant. You can call me Luca,¡± he said with a warm tone. ¡°The project kicks off in five days, and we¡¯re forming groups so the team members can get familiar with each other. There¡¯s an opening to assist Mr. Briggs with document handling, and I think you¡¯d be great at it.¡±

    Document handling?

    Ste¡¯s brow furrowed faintly. Wasn¡¯t that usually an assistant¡¯s job or something a secretary handled?

    Why offer her a task that didn¡¯t align with her field of study?

    After pausing to consider, she asked, ¡°Will I only be organizing documents, or are there additional responsibilities involved?¡±

    Luca gave a reassuring smile. ¡°You¡¯ll also support Mr. Briggs directly, helping him with whatever taskse up.¡±

    That would mean spending more time around William.

    Given how things had gone yesterday, she wasn¡¯t sure that was a good idea. Who knew what he might assume if she agreed?

    So after a few seconds of thought, Ste politely declined. ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t think this position suits me. I¡¯d rather be assigned to another group with my peers.¡±

    Luca was caught off guard.

    The role was low-pressure, and working beside William came with advantages. Most people would have epted instantly, but Ste had declined.

    ¡°I really think this role matches your strengths, Ms. Russell. You could try it out, and if it¡¯s not working, we¡¯ll make a change,¡± he said, hoping she¡¯d reconsider.

    Ste simply smiled and shook her head. ¡°I appreciate it, but I¡¯d prefer someone else take the role¡ªsomeone better suited for it.¡±

    With that, she turned and walked off in the direction of the other workgroups.

    Luca stood there, watching her retreat,pletely at a loss.

    As he stood there, unsure how to break the news to William, a tall silhouette drew near, voice low andmanding, ¡°Is everything settled?¡±

    Luca¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell turned down the offer to join our group.¡±

    He braced himself for a scolding, lowering his gaze. But the harsh response never came.

    Instead, William let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°Smart girl.¡±

    Luca blinked, uncertain he¡¯d heard correctly. ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­¡±

    ¡°Forget it,¡± William said casually, already walking away.

    Luca remained baffled. But since William didn¡¯t seem bothered, he figured there was no reason to dwell on it either.

    Meanwhile, Ste was knee-deep in project tasks with the rest of her team.

    Breaks were rare, and time slipped by quickly.

    With the officialunch fast approaching, every detail had to be finalized, which only meant more work.

    ¡°Ste, we just wrapped up today¡¯s data. Can you drop it off with Mr. Briggs?¡± one of her teammates asked.

    William held the final say on everything. Without his approval, nothing could move forward. Each team had to submit their data to him for review.

    Though his looks were striking, his cold, unapproachable presence made everyone hesitant to deal with him. So, naturally, the responsibilitynded on Ste.

    ncing around and seeing her teammates still upied, Ste decided to go.

    But when she arrived at his office, he was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°He left? Where did he head off to?¡± she asked, brows furrowing.

    ¡°Yeah, but I think he¡¯s still heading to the underground parking garage. If you¡¯re quick, you¡¯ll catch him,¡± someone replied.

    The files had to be reviewed today. Any dy would throw off tomorrow¡¯s schedule.

    Ste didn¡¯t think twice. She turned around and raced toward the elevator. Once outside, she stood at the institute¡¯s exit, knowing every car had to pass through here.

    Momentster, William¡¯s sleek ck Bentley rolled into view. Ste stepped up to the curb and waved, hoping to g it down.

    But the vehicle kept moving.

    Flustered, she realized she had no choice. The review was urgent. Taking a bold step forward, Ste nted herself right in front of the car.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 27

    ?Chapter 27:

    Tires shrieked across the pavement, the piercing sound slicing through the air. William stomped on the brakes, rolled down his window, and scowled as he caught sight of Ste.

    ¡°Are you courting death?¡± he barked, his voice cold as steel.

    Ste didn¡¯t waste a second on his temper. She strode right up to the window and thrust the stack of documents toward him.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I just need a moment. These files require your immediate attention.¡±

    William¡¯s eyes flicked from her determined face to the documents in her grip.

    For a heartbeat, he said nothing¡ªthen hit the door release with a curt motion.

    ¡°Get in. I¡¯m on a tight schedule. We¡¯ll go over them as we drive.¡±

    She hesitated, pressing her lips into a thin line, ready to protest. But something about his expression made her swallow the words. Instead, she circled the hood, pulled open the passenger door, and slid inside.

    The car glided away from the research institute, its engine humming quietly. Neither of them noticed the watchful eyes fixed on them from a car parked just behind and to the right, watching every detail of their exchange.

    Marc had just finished a meeting with a client and, by chance, drove past the research institute on his way back. To his surprise, he spotted Ste at the entrance, slipping into another man¡¯s car.

    From where he sat, he watched Ste sh the man a bright, easy smile¡ªa smile Marc couldn¡¯t remember her giving him in ages.

    A storm gathered in Marc¡¯s expression as he reached for a cigarette and lit it, the me trembling slightly in his hand.

    He suddenly recalled the man from the bar the night before. Now that he looked closer, wasn¡¯t it the same guy?

    Did that mean Ste had been with someone else these past two days? The realization made him crush the cigarette between his fingers, embers snuffing out in his palm.

    His feelings for Ste ran deep. Throughout their marriage, he¡¯d done his best to give her everything she wanted.

    L¨»¦Ó??¦Ó c§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ??n g??l??ov?l??.??o??

    Had his recent attention to Haley pushed Ste into someone else¡¯s arms? Haley was just a fling to him; he would never rece Ste. But what was Ste doing here?

    Fury red¡ªhe mmed his fist onto the steering wheel, making the horn shriek through the enclosed car. Ste belonged to him¡ªno one else.

    Inside the Bentley, Ste extended the documents toward William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, my team and I prepared these documents for your review.¡±

    William arched an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her for several lingering seconds, making sure she really was just talking business.

    An amused smile curled at his lips. ¡°I have to say, you¡¯re a lot more tempting now than when you tried to y innocent yesterday.¡±

    She definitely caught his eye¡ªthere was something about her that set her apart from the rest.

    The word ¡°tempting¡± rolled off his tongue, paired with the same charged look he¡¯d given her that night.

    A chill crept over Ste as she caught the strange glint in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave the documents with you. There¡¯s no need for me to stay. Could you let me out here?¡±

    That unblinking stare unsettled her, and for a moment, she felt hunted. William¡¯s eyebrow flicked upward, but he did as she asked, steering the car to the curb.

    Ste wasted no time; she pushed open the door and slipped out.

    William¡¯s car sped off without a backward nce.

    She headed straight back to the office, burying herself in work.

    That night, she returned home to an empty house, well aware Marc wouldn¡¯t being back.

    If everything continued as nned, she didn¡¯t have much time left.

    She craved nothing more than to vanish from Marc¡¯s world for good. ncing around the house, her eyes caught on small things she hadn¡¯t managed to clear out.

    She¡¯d already packed away whatever wasn¡¯t on disy, but now she turned her attention to thest traces. A stack of instant photos with Marc lingered on the shelf, along with a handful of souvenirs from old trips.

    In recent days, the demands of the project had kept her too busy to dwell on these details.

    But now, with her ce on the project team secured and her schedule lighter, those forgotten bits resurfaced, impossible to ignore.

    Fragments of her life with Marc drifted through her thoughts, sharp and bittersweet.

    She reached for the pair of ceramic cups on the shelf, the ones they¡¯d shaped together on vacation.

    They¡¯d never actually used the cups¡ªjust left them out as a reminder of a different time.

    In those days, Marc¡¯s attention had belonged to her alone, his gaze never straying to anyone else.

    On one of their trips, the two of them had caught a rare glimpse of a shooting star streaking across the night sky.

    Ste could still recall the wish she¡¯d whispered to herself back then¡ªa simple hope that she and Marc would always be happy together. Now, as she remembered it, the memory felt almostughable.

    Her eyesnded on the pair of ceramic cups, and she let out a low, self-mocking chuckle.

    People really did change, she realized, and now she finally understood how true that was.

    With a tightness growing in her chest, Ste tore her gaze from those reminders of the past and began gathering them up, determined to throw them out.

    Just as she started to pack everything away, the sound of the front door opening made her pause.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 28

    ?Chapter 28:

    When Ste nced up, she found Marc standing in the door, dressed sharply in his usual suit.

    She hesitated, momentarily thrown¡ªhe was home far earlier than she expected. Marc never left work this soon.

    The timing couldn¡¯t have been worse, but Ste kept her calm, moving past him with her things cradled in her arms, her expression unreadable. She banked on the hope that he¡¯d be too distracted to pay her any mind.

    Marc didn¡¯t even nce at what she was holding¡ªhe strode right over and caught her wrist without hesitation.

    ¡°Ste, I was nning to pick you up at the research institute today. I waited outside for ages, but you never showed. Did you leave by another exit?¡±

    She coldly met his gaze, gently pulling her wrist free. ¡°I got a lift home with a colleague.¡±

    Marc fell silent, caught off guard by her answer. A colleague?

    Had that man really been her colleague?

    Marc scanned her face, hunting for the slightest flicker of guilt, but she gave him nothing.

    Not a single tremor, not a quiver¡ªshe held herself with theposure of untouched water,pletely inscrutable. However hard he stared, there wasn¡¯t a trace of dishonesty to be found.

    With a softugh, Marc strode over and slipped an arm around her waist.

    ¡°You¡¯ve put in so much effort, Ste. Now that things at thepany are settled, I finally have a free week. What do you say we use this time to try for a baby?¡±

    A frown pinched Ste¡¯s brow. Try for a baby? Was he serious?

    She could¡¯ve sworn she¡¯d spelled it out for himst time, but Marc clearly hadn¡¯t let go of his obsession.

    Her eyes iced over, voice sharp and distant. ¡°Marc, I¡¯ve already told you¡ªI don¡¯t want a baby right now.¡±

    Uncover new tales on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s??om

    Just four more days and she¡¯d be free of this maniptive man forever. The idea of starting a family with him feltughable.

    ¡°But Ste, after all these years together, don¡¯t you think it¡¯d be wonderful to have a baby? You always talked about wanting one before.¡±

    That word¡ªbefore¡ªmade something flicker in Ste¡¯s eyes, her mouth curving into a cold half-smile.

    She dropped the things she¡¯d been carrying without a second thought, lifted her gaze, and fired off a question with cutting ease.

    ¡°Marc, how are those condoms from Raskait working out for you? Bet they didn¡¯t disappoint.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate to drag his secret into the light, bluntly naming the night he¡¯d slunk away to meet Haley behind her back.

    Marc¡¯s entire body went rigid. For a moment, he just stared at her, stunned silent.

    He¡¯d honestly believed she hadn¡¯t suspected a thing¡ªuntil now, when he realized she¡¯d known every detail and simply chosen not to say a word.

    ¡°Ste, wait¡ªjust let me exin¡­¡± Marc¡¯s voice trembled with desperation.

    She had no patience left for any more excuses. Without looking back, Ste marched into the study, mmed the door behind her, and twisted the lock with a sharp click.

    Marc pressed his fingers to his temples, groaning in exasperation, then stomped down the stairs and made his way into the kitchen.

    He yanked open the cab and reached for the gas stove, flicking it on.

    Whenever Ste shut him out, he¡¯d head to the kitchen and whip up her favorite dishes¡ªfood had always been his go-to peace offering, and usually, she softened.

    But tonight, he sensed it would take more than a home-cooked meal to win her over.

    While getting the meal ready, his gaze darted around, and he realized the house felt strangely emptier than before.

    He hadn¡¯t spent much time heretely, but he distinctly recalled Ste¡¯s prized capsule coffee maker always sitting on the counter. Now, a bare patch marked where it had been.

    A knot formed in Marc¡¯s brow. He set the knife down and abandoned the half-prepared meal, taking the steps in a hurry.

    ¡°Ste, what happened to the capsule coffee maker? The one that was always in the kitchen?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 29

    ?Chapter 29:

    Ste faltered for a moment, caught off guard by his words. She¡¯d left most of her belongings behind; the only sizable thing she¡¯d carried out of the kitchen was the capsule coffee machine.

    That machine had been her first big purchase since they¡¯d be a couple, back when money was tight, and she¡¯d scraped together several months¡¯ pay to afford it. Marc hardly ever set foot in the kitchen, so she never imagined he¡¯d notice its absence.

    Lost in her thoughts, she startled at the sound of Marc knocking again.

    ¡°Ste, open up!¡±

    If she dyed any longer, he¡¯d start to suspect something¡ªand thest thing she wanted was for him to realize other things had quietly vanished too.

    She hurried to the door and pulled it open, matching his confused expression with a calm, steady gaze.

    ¡°The coffee machine stopped working, so I brought it out for repairs.¡±

    The machine had been around for years; it wasn¡¯t exactly a stretch for it to finally break down.

    Marc¡¯s shoulders eased, the worry fading from his face as he epted her exnation without another word.

    Rather than letting her go, he caught her arm with a gentle touch.

    ¡°Ste, I really messed up. Please, just give me another chance. Let me make your favorite meale downstairs and have a little with me?¡± His easy, charming grin was as familiar as it was calcted.

    Whenever she showed the slightest irritation, he would head into the kitchen and whip up something himself, pretending to bridge the gap with a homemade dish.

    She used to find it endearing¡ªthis man, who wouldn¡¯t so much as set a te on the table for anyone else, suddenly rolling up his sleeves just for her.

    Now, she recognized it for what it was: another routine performance. He had probably used the same trick on others before her.

    L§Ñt??t ch¨»pt?rs ?n g??ln¦Ïv?ls.??¦Ï??

    She kept her tone calm and unbothered.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really hungry. I think I¡¯ll skip it.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t lose his smile, still doing everything he could to stay in her good graces.

    He asked, ¡°Ste, what happened to that coat you got me a while back? I checked the closet yesterday, but it wasn¡¯t there.¡±

    Ste guessed he actually meant the one she¡¯d picked out for William instead. Every season, his closet overflowed with fresh deliveries; half the time, he couldn¡¯t recall what she¡¯d given him.

    His sudden interest struck her as odd, stirring a flicker of annoyance.

    ¡°I ended up getting the wrong size, so I sent it back,¡± she answered.

    Marc looked genuinely taken aback. ¡°Sent it back? Why not just swap it for another one if the fit was off?¡±

    If she¡¯d really meant to buy something for him, he doubted she would¡¯ve returned it at all.

    He hadn¡¯t examined the coat that day, but the logo on the shopping bag hadn¡¯t escaped his notice¡ªa high-endbel, unmistakably expensive.

    Ste pressed her lips together, her tone mild. ¡°Lately, your whole look has shifted. I wasn¡¯t sure what you¡¯d actually wear. Anyway, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re short on clothes¡ªyou¡¯ve got tons already, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Marc usually gravitated toward understated, ssic pieces.

    But his recent outfits had taken on a ssh of color and sh, which Ste easily traced back to Haley.

    Haley¡¯s taste was as loud as her personality¡ªconfident, eye-catching, never subtle.

    More than once, Marc hade home in clothing Ste didn¡¯t recognize. Knowing Marc¡¯s aversion to shopping, she could only guess Haley had been slipping him these gifts.

    He shook his head gently. ¡°But you picked that coat out for me, Ste. Whatever you choose, I¡¯ll always like.¡±

    Marc instantly sensed her hidden warning and tried to justify himself, his expression strained with anxiety.

    Ste retreated a pace, her tone brisk. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m turning in for the night.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, she swung the door shut, refusing to spare Marc another nce and leaving him alone in the hallway, isted and unwee.

    Back at her desk, Ste dove into the project files, her attention fixed on the task at hand. Momentster, the rumble of an engine drifted in through the window.

    She let out a quiet, knowing smile, having expected nothing less, and carried on reading without pause.

    Unbeknownst to Ste, Marc didn¡¯t drive off immediately. He loitered by the curb for several minutes before sending out a message. ¡°Keep watch on her. I want updates on everything she does.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 30

    ?Chapter 30:

    The following morning, Ste tossed the trash bag away and began her quiet trek up the mountain.

    Some years back, she and Marc had gone to the sacred tree to offer a wish for luck, leaving behind a wooden que inscribed with their hopes.

    Marc had written with boyish certainty, ¡°I want to marry Ste and cherish her forever.¡±

    She hadughed then, remarking that only time could prove a promise like that¡ªand by the time they¡¯d know for sure, they¡¯d both be old and worn, breathless from another climb to check if fate had listened.

    Marc had wrapped his arms around her, smiling into her hair, saying a lifetime was exactly what he nned to give her. He¡¯d spend every bit of it keeping that promise.

    Standing beneath the wishing tree as light rain fell, Ste quietly searched for the que she and Marc had once left behind.

    With the divorce underway, the que meant nothing to her now. She couldn¡¯t stand the thought of it still hanging there, silently asking for blessings on something already broken.

    To her, Marc wasn¡¯t worthy of it. Neither was the rtionship they¡¯d let fall apart.

    She searched carefully, sifting through countless nearly identical ques, and finally spotted theirs.

    The red string dangled loosely from the branch, and Ste couldn¡¯t help but think it might¡¯ve fallen on its own if she hadn¡¯t shown up today.

    The ink had faded, the writing barely legible, but Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. She tossed it into the nearest trash bin. In its ce, she bought a new que.

    This time, she wrote her own message¡ªjust for herself¡ªand tied it to the tree. From now on, she would be her own reason to keep going.

    As the que swayed gently in the breeze, the rain felt lighter, almostforting.

    L?t?st ch¦Ápt?rs ¦Én g??l??ov§Ö???.????

    Heading back down the mountain, the rain began to pour harder. She stopped at a roadside shop, picked up a cheap umbre, and continued walking slowly. Unseen in the shadows, someone quietly snapped her photo. After studying it for a few seconds, they sent it straight to Marc.

    Inside the Walsh Group office, Marc sat behind his desk as Haley crossed her legs, her high heel brushing lightly against his leg. ¡°Marc, how long are you going to stare at that screen? Look at me for once.¡±

    His frustration simmered just beneath the surface.

    Ste had be increasingly difficult to predict, and now she was outright refusing to renew her contract. With the patent agreement already expired, her decision threatened to cause serious financial damage to thepany.

    Since Haley joined the legal department, several coborations had fallen apart. She couldn¡¯t manage the responsibilities, struggling with even the basics, and the department was now in nearplete disorder.

    Despite being the root of the chaos, Haley acted as if nothing was wrong. Marc clenched his jaw, forcing down his irritation as he studied the documents in front of him, his expression turning stormy.

    Haley, pretending not to notice, shot a disdainful nce at the unsigned contract. ¡°Ste¡¯s being impossible. Why won¡¯t she just sign? Does she really think we¡¯re powerless? If she walks away, we¡¯ll find someone else!¡±

    Her clueless rant grated on him. Marc shut his eyes for a moment, massaging his temples, trying to keep his temper in check.

    Then his phone buzzed. He nced at the screen¡ªand froze. It was a photo of Ste, striking and serene even in the rain. Instantly, he forgot about Haley. No matter how many women came and went, only Ste had the power to unsettle him like this.

    His gaze darkened.

    ¡°Leave,¡± he said tly.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 31

    ?Chapter 31:

    Haley was caught off guard. She didn¡¯t understand why Marc wanted her out. Still, she stood her ground. ¡°I¡¯m staying. Unless there¡¯s something you¡¯re hiding from me?¡±

    Marc shot her a bored look, not interested in arguing. Instead of replying, he turned his attention to a new message on his phone. It said Ste had gone up the mountain about an hour earlier and had lingered by the wish tree, apparently writing something again.

    He instantly recognized the location. They¡¯d been there together once. But why was she recing her que now?

    His thoughts tangled into a knot.

    Something didn¡¯t sit right, but he couldn¡¯t put his finger on it.

    The only option that made sense to him was tracking down Ste and figuring out what was really going on.

    He stood abruptly, snatched his coat from the rack, and headed for the door. Before stepping out, he picked up the officendline and contacted the legal department, instructing them to revise the contracts.

    He spoke loud enough for Haley to hear, and the message hit its mark¡ªher face flushed with embarrassment. Seeing Marc heading for the door without a second nce only fueled her irritation.

    ¡°Marc, where are you going? What¡¯s wrong with the contracts? Did I mess something up?¡± She reached out, trying to stop him, arms spread to block the door.

    Marc walked right past her without acknowledging her presence.

    ¡°Marc!¡± she called after him, ring as his figure disappeared down the hall. She stomped her foot, furious. He didn¡¯t even pause. He waspletely ignoring her!

    Momentster, the head of legal arrived, informed by colleagues that Marc had called. He took one look at Haley¡¯s stormy expression and silently grabbed the documents from her desk, choosing not to say a word.

    Haley, still fuming, chased after him. ¡°Hold on! I spent hours on those contracts! Why are you taking them back? You¡¯re nothing but a useless leech!¡±

    Exclusive updates avable g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    The supervisor looked fed up. He hadn¡¯t even pointed out how disorganized and unusable the contracts were, yet Haley was already bragging about how carefully she had prepared them. How clueless could she be?

    Saying nothing, the supervisor simply observed as Haley¡¯s eyes darted around the room until they locked onto Allegra.

    Haley suddenly recalled that Allegra had some sort of connection to Ste. ¡°You! Yes, you! Aren¡¯t you in legal? Didn¡¯t you see the effort I poured into those contracts? You just sit there like a statue while I do all the real work. What does thispany even pay you for¡ªdecoration? People like you are dragging us down. Effective immediately, forget about getting a year-end bonus.¡±

    Everyone knew Haley was out to provoke someone.

    Allegra slowly rose from her seat and walked over, her expression unreadable. She had always been quiet, someone who kept her head down to maintain her position. But things had shifted.

    After talking with Ste, she realized there was no point enduring a dead-end job just to say she had one.

    A fancy office meant nothing if the one running it had no clue what they were doing. With a boss like that, her future would be stuck in ce.

    ¡°Ms. Smith,¡± she began calmly, ¡°have you actually looked at those ¡®contracts¡¯ you¡¯re so proud of? They don¡¯t even follow thepany¡¯s basic formatting standards. You call that detailed work? It¡¯sughable. Everyone knows you¡¯re from the Smith family, but who would¡¯ve guessed your abilities would be this embarrassing? Honestly, a kid with half a brain could¡¯ve done better.¡±

    The room went silent. People stared at Allegra like they were seeing her for the first time. She¡¯d always kept her voice low. Where had this version of here from?

    ¡°You! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? I¡¯ll have Marc fire you on the spot!¡±

    But Allegra only chuckled. ¡°Toote. My resignation¡¯s already been submitted. If you¡¯re hoping to kick me out, you¡¯ve missed your chance. And since we¡¯re being honest, I can¡¯t stomach people who climb with favors and destroy families in the process. You tick both boxes. Also¡ªnewssh¡ªwaving your foreign passport around doesn¡¯t make you special. Trash from abroad is still trash.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 32

    ?Chapter 32:

    Haley¡¯s reputation had already crashed and burned in front of the entirepany, so not a single person dared to stick up for her. The crowd just watched, eager to witness her downfall.

    She hissed, ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a shameless witch¡ªwho gave you the right to talk to me like that?¡±

    Rage twisted Haley¡¯s features, her face flushing a furious crimson. Even the lowest-ranking employees were emboldened to stand up to her now.

    Allegra shot back, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to college? Try acting like it, instead of hurling insults and making a spectacle of yourself. Anyway, I¡¯m not on the payroll anymore, so cut my year-end bonus if it makes you happy!¡±

    Having delivered her parting shot, Allegra saw no point in staying another second.

    Letting her resentment spill out in front of everyone felt like a small, hard-won victory.

    Without sparing Haley another nce, Allegra scooped up her things and strode out of the office building, chin lifted in quiet defiance.

    Outside, the air tasted sharper, as if the whole world had been scrubbed clean.

    ¡°Did you see Allegra just now? Who knew she had that kind of nerve!¡±

    ¡°She got pushed too far. Some folks think their title gives them a free pass, but all they do is dig their own grave.¡±

    Their colleagues¡¯ bitingments drifted over, setting Haley¡¯s teeth on edge. She let out a shriek that rattled the windows.

    ¡°Ugh! You clueless idiots¡ªjust wait until Marc gets back! I¡¯ll make sure every single one of you is out on the street!¡±

    No one bothered to argue. They traded knowing nces and quietly slipped back into their work routines, refusing to feed into Haley¡¯s meltdown.

    If Marc actually intended to let them go, there were still procedures to follow. They had nothing to fear.

    Your escape is on g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s

    As they sat at their desks, a creeping thought took hold¡ªmaybe Allegra had made the wisest move after all.

    The chaos Haley had unleashed had already left thepany in shambles, and no one could say how much worse things might get.

    It was probably time for everyone to start thinking about their own next steps.

    After leaving the mountain, Ste headed directly to the research institute. She¡¯d risen before sunrise to climb the mountain, but still made it to the institute right on schedule.

    As the project deadline loomed, Ste nted herself at the institute, buried in research from sunrise to nightfall¡ªshe hadn¡¯t stepped foot in the vi for days.

    Lainey watched Ste bury herself in research, worry etched across her face. ¡°You can¡¯t keep running yourself into the ground like this. What if you faint?¡±

    A gentle smile tugged at Ste¡¯s lips. ¡°I appreciate it, Lainey. Trust me, I know my limits.¡±

    Lainey could only sigh, resigning herself to Ste¡¯s stubborn streak. ¡°Hey, Ste, the list just came out! Come on, let¡¯s take a look. You could use a little breather.¡±

    A jolt of anxiety shot through Ste as she pushed herself to her feet and hurried over to the newly posted sheet.

    Her eyes darted from the first name to thest,bing through each line with mounting tension. But her name was nowhere to be found.

    A cold heaviness pressed down on her chest. Maybe she¡¯d skimmed past it? She started again from the top, scanning every letter as if willing her name to appear.

    Even aftermitting every name to memory, the result was the same¡ªhers simply wasn¡¯t there.

    Blinking in disbelief, Ste turned to meet Lainey¡¯s gaze, only to find her friend looking just as shocked and lost. Had she really not made it?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 33

    ?Chapter 33:

    Ste couldn¡¯t remember how she made it back to her desk. The low drone in her ears swallowed every other sound, blurring the world around her like she¡¯d slipped underwater.

    Lainey, hovering nearby, took in Ste¡¯s vacant stare and recognized the bruised look of disappointment. Without a word, she ced aforting hand on Ste¡¯s shoulder and rubbed her back in slow, gentle circles.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s all right,¡± she murmured, her tone soothing but tinged with concern. ¡°There¡¯ll be more research projectsing up soon. Missing out on this one isn¡¯t the end of the world.¡±

    Lainey¡¯s worried voice finally pierced the fog.

    Ste blinked, the office lights suddenly too bright, and managed a crooked, defeated smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡± Lainey¡¯s brow furrowed, unconvinced. ¡°You don¡¯t look fine.¡±

    Ste inhaled shakily, steadying herself with a few deep breaths. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m okay. Don¡¯t fuss over me, Lainey. Go take care of your own work.¡±

    She gave Lainey a nudge, forcing her away with a small, grateful nce, then slumped into her chair, numb and silent.

    She¡¯d pinned so much hope on this project¡ªbelieving it would finally cut thest thread tying her to Marc. But after everything, maybe those misunderstandings had sealed her fate from the start. William had never intended to put her on the team.

    Now, staring at her nk screen, a heavier question pressed in. How was she supposed to deal with the looming divorce?

    Ste massaged her aching temples, pushing herself toe up with a new n.

    The divorce agreement¡ªher so-called ¡°gift¡± to Marc¡ªhad been handed over long ago.

    If she couldn¡¯t join the project team, so be it. Maybe this was her cue to step back and disappear for a while.

    M??? ?¦Ñ????? ?? ?????¦Í???.???

    After all, the marriage was already finished; nothing about the project would change that fact.

    With that realization, some of the pressure in her chest finally loosened. She reminded herself, over and over, that problems always had a workaround, no matter how bleak things looked.

    Clutching her cup, Ste wandered toward the break room. She nearly collided with Luca, who¡¯d dropped by the institute for work.

    One nce at her expression and he immediately pieced it together¡ªshe¡¯d seen the team roster.

    ¡°Ms. Russell,¡± Luca called out, concern flickering in his eyes. ¡°Try not to let the list get to you.¡±

    Ste caught on btedly¡ªLuca was trying, in his awkward way, to cheer her up. The attempt struck her as almost endearing. A hint of a smirk yed on her lips.

    ¡°Luca, you really have no talent forforting people, you know that?¡±

    He looked flustered, searching for aeback anding up empty. After a brief silence, he shifted gears.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs is hosting a dinner at the Voyage Hotel tonight. If you¡¯re not busy, Ms. Russell, maybe you shoulde along. It might give him a chance to reconsider.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise at his odd invitation. She found it strange¡ªLuca, of all people, was supposed to know every detail of William¡¯s ns, maybe even help shape them behind the scenes.

    If William had truly made up his mind to exclude her, what was the point in showing up and begging for a spot?

    Anyone else might¡¯ve offered that advice, buting from Luca, it rang hollow. She set her jaw, her expression resolute.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Mr. Briggs must have his reasons. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s found someone better suited for the team.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, Ste turned and walked off, her cup in hand, heading for the break room and leaving Luca standing in the hallway, looking slightly defeated.

    He was trapped¡ªcaught between loyalty to William and his belief in Ste¡¯s talent, knowing that losing her would be the team¡¯s loss.

    While refilling her cup, Ste mustered a brittle, practiced smile.

    Now that William had made his choice, she saw no reason to linger in his orbit. Their connection had always revolved around the project, and with that door closed, she felt no urge to chase after a man so clearly indifferent.

    There was no use clinging to someone who barely acknowledged her existence.

    Back at her desk, the finalized team list gave her an unfamiliar stretch of free time. Ste propped her phone against her notebook, thumbing through flight options.

    Out of Choria. Each new city she scrolled past felt like a lifeline tossed into deep water.

    Marc would discover the divorce agreement sooner orter, and knowing him, he¡¯d move heaven and earth to hunt her down. If she stayed in Choria, escape would be impossible¡ªMarc¡¯s persistence was as relentless as ever.

    But the world outside Choria was wide.

    Marc¡¯s attention was tangled up with Haley now, and he wouldn¡¯t waste much effort tracking her if she vanishedpletely from his radar. The farther she fled, the safer she¡¯d be!

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 34

    ?Chapter 34:

    After weighing everything, Ste made up her mind to apply for leave from the research institute.

    Her supervisor didn¡¯t question her request and signed off on it right away. When Lainey found out, she walked over and asked, ¡°Ste, is this about the project team list?¡±

    She could tell Ste had been deeply invested in that assignment.

    Ste didn¡¯t exin, just offered a faint smile. It was the kind of look adults exchanged when words weren¡¯t necessary, and Lainey didn¡¯t push for more.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been going nonstoptely,¡± Lainey added. ¡°A break might do you good.¡± She¡¯d noticed how Ste barely gave herself a moment to breathe.

    Ste was always among the first to arrive and often thest to leave. There were even nights she stayed at the institute. No one there worked with as much intensity.

    After leaving the building, Ste stood near the road, trying to g down a taxi. She intended to collect thest of her things from Marc¡¯s vi.

    At that moment, a ck sedan pulled out of the garage. Luca was behind the wheel, and William sat in the backseat, eyes fixed on a file.

    Luca quickly spotted her.

    With her striking features and tall frame, she wasn¡¯t easy to overlook.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, that¡¯s Ms. Russell,¡± he said. ¡°Should we let her know the truth about the team selection? She didn¡¯t seem okay today.¡± Luca spoke inly, knowing she¡¯d asked for extended leave.

    Why else would she leave so suddenly if she weren¡¯t upset?

    But William stayed quiet.

    Through the car window, Ste caught a glimpse of William, and her chest tightened. She turned quickly and walked off, putting space between herself and the vehicle.

    Discover more

    Luca blinked in surprise. Was she deliberately avoiding them?

    William noticed as well. The way she hurried off felt more like she was escaping than simply walking away.

    His jaw tightened slightly, and his mood shifted.

    Back when she was eager to be part of the project team, she had gone out of her way to stay close. But now that the list had been announced, she didn¡¯t even try to hide her distance.

    A quiet, humorless chuckle escaped him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s not the delicate type.¡± Then, he motioned to Luca to drive away.

    The car rolled past her, tires kicking up dust in its wake.

    Only when the vehicle had vanished from sight did Ste finally exhale. Something about William set off too many rms in her¡ªit felt safer to keep their contact strictly professional.

    Elsewhere, Marc had noticed Ste hadn¡¯te home in days.

    Knowing howmitted she was to her position at the institute, he decided to spend the nights with Haley instead.

    By the sixth day without any sign of Ste at the vi, Marc grew increasingly unsettled.

    He called her, again and again, but her line never connected.

    She had blocked his number, that much was obvious.

    He stared at the screen in stunned silence, struggling to believe it. Ste had actually shut him out.

    A strange panic stirred in his chest, creeping in slowly until he waspletely uneasy.

    In the days that followed, he began waiting near the institute, hoping to catch a glimpse of where she went when she didn¡¯t return home. But each time, he left disappointed¡ªhe hadn¡¯t seen her once.

    Today, though, he arrived earlier than usual. Just as he was beginning to think the wait would end in vain again, he finally spotted Ste walking out. Just as he was ready to drive over, something caught his attention. A familiar ck sedan rolled out of the garage.

    He mmed the brake, killed the engine, and leaned back, eyes locked on the car.

    That was the same one she had entered before¡ªhe was sure of it.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 35

    ?Chapter 35:

    Previously, when Marc¡¯s suspicions were first roused, he¡¯d immediately sent someone to trace the license te, only to discover it belonged to William Briggs. That single fact gnawed at him¡ªhow on earth could Ste have any sort of tie to someone like William Briggs?

    Marc was well aware of William¡¯s influence in Choria. Men of William¡¯s caliber nevercked for female attention, and Ste was just amoner. There was no logical reason for a man like William to set his sights on her.

    Unless¡­ there was some hidden connection, something Marc hadn¡¯t yet uncovered.

    Lately, he couldn¡¯t ignore how Ste had grown increasingly withdrawn, slipping further and further from his grasp. Was her distance because of William? Or was something else pulling her away?

    Ste had just slipped free of William¡¯s orbit and was heading for the curb to hail a cab, relief only beginning to settle, when her gaze snagged on a familiar car idling across the street.

    A jolt of anxiety shot through her veins. The vehicle¡¯s headlights shed, and in the next moment, it swung into a tight turn and pulled up right in front of her. Marc¡¯s door flew open. He climbed out, straightened his jacket, and met her stunned eyes with a look she couldn¡¯t read.

    He nted himself in her path, his tone low but edged with usation. ¡°Ste, why haven¡¯t youe home these past few days?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but taste the sting of irony when Marc still called that ce ¡°home.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve just had a lot going on,¡± she replied, looking away as she fumbled for an excuse.

    This time, Marc wasn¡¯t so easily dismissed. He pressed her, his tone unyielding. ¡°So being busy means you have to clear out all your things? Half the house is empty, Ste¡ªand everything missing belongs to you.¡± He fixed his eyes on her, silently demanding an answer.

    Caught off guard, Ste felt a helpless frustration rising inside her. If she¡¯d been able to join the project team, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have to stand here facing Marc, struggling to invent exnations.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s©q??o?? is where stories live

    As she faltered for words, Marc closed the distance between them. ¡°You even blocked my number. And the wedding photo¡ªit¡¯s gone. Where did you put everything, Ste?¡±

    A faint, mocking smile tugged at Ste¡¯s lips. So he¡¯d finally realized the wedding photo was missing?

    After all this time, he¡¯d barely noticed¡ªtypical Marc.

    She drew a steadying breath, then lifted her chin to meet his stare. ¡°I ran into a little financial trouble, so I pawned my things. Once I¡¯ve sorted things out, I¡¯ll get them back. As for the wedding photo, the frame was damaged, so I took it to have it restored.¡±

    Ste offered no exnation for blocking Marc, silently willing her earlier excuse to be enough.

    Marc didn¡¯t press her about it¡ªjust as she¡¯d hoped¡ªbut his brow knitted with concern. ¡°If you needed money, why didn¡¯t you just tell me? There was no reason to pawn your things,¡± he said, his tone equal parts reprimand and disbelief.

    The items he¡¯d given her were barely worth anything at a pawn shop¡ªjust trinketspared to what he could provide.

    Without another word, Marc slid several bank cards into Ste¡¯s palm, his voice taking on that familiar, transactional warmth. ¡°Take these. Use them for whatever you want.¡±

    Whenever trouble red between them, Marc always tried to smooth things over with cash.

    In the early days of their marriage, he¡¯d delighted in showering Ste with expensive gifts¡ªluxury handbags, rare jewelry, anything with a hefty price tag. He¡¯d handed her more than one card with no spending limit, as if money could buy her contentment.

    Even then, she¡¯d barely touched them, leaving the cards to collect dust in a bedside drawer.

    Now, with divorce looming over them, she had even less reason to ept his generosity.

    Before he could pull his hand back, she brushed it aside with a firm shake of her head. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯ve already sorted the money myself. You can keep those cards.¡±

    Marc hesitated, caught off guard by her refusal. He caught a sh of chill and barely veiled impatience in her eyes. Almost reflexively, he reached out and caught¡­

    Her wrist, his grip tightening as if he could anchor her with words. ¡°Ste, what are you hiding from me?¡±

    His voice dropped, roughened by frustration. ¡°We¡¯re still husband and wife. No matter what¡¯s going on¡ªgood or bad¡ªyou can tell me. I¡¯ll handle it with you. You don¡¯t have to shoulder everything alone.¡±

    If she hadn¡¯t known he was whispering the same empty reassurances to Haley behind her back, maybe she¡¯d have fallen for his act again.

    Instead, Ste forced a thin, unbothered smile. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to tell. Work¡¯s been busy at the institute, and I have a business triping up. I¡¯ll be out of town for a while.¡±

    With that, she gently pried his fingers off her wrist and turned to leave.

    Marc¡¯s voice cut through the air, tense and insistent. ¡°Wait!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 36

    ?Chapter 36:

    Marc barely got a word out before Ste breezed right past him, raising her arm to wave over a cab as if he didn¡¯t even exist.

    Once inside the taxi, she rattled off an address to the driver, her voice low and steady. The engine rumbled to life, but Ste barely registered it¡ªher attention was fixed on herp as she rifled through her ne ticket and travel documents, mentally double-checking what she might have forgotten for her uing trip.

    Now that Marc was finally suspicious, there was no way she¡¯d risk heading back to the vi to grab anything she¡¯d left behind. She¡¯d have to make do with what she had.

    The car took a sharp turn. Ste lifted her gaze just in time to catch Marc¡¯s car lurking in the rearview mirror. A tight frown pinched her features. So, he¡¯d decided to tail her after all.

    Without missing a beat, she leaned forward and quietly gave the driver a new destination.

    If Marc wanted to follow her that badly, she¡¯d make sure he kept chasing. The taxi pulled up to a crowded shopping mall. Ste settled the fare and stepped out, melting seamlessly into the press of shoppers.

    After a few paces, she spotted Marc¡¯s unmistakable figure weaving toward her from behind.

    Amusement flickered across her face. She kept her stride rxed, feigning oblivion as she slipped into her usual caf¨¦.

    Once inside, Ste marched directly toward the restroom, barely ncing at the bustling caf¨¦ around her.

    Marc trailed after her, but by the time he reached the hallway, he caught only a glimpse of her vanishing into the restroom.

    He hesitated outside, the tension in his shoulders giving him away.

    Ste had deliberately picked this caf¨¦, knowing its restroom opened directly into the mall outside.

    Find thetest stories g?ln¦Òv??ls

    An escape route waited just beyond the window.

    No ordinary customer would ever risk crawling out, especially with security cameras covering every corner¡ªanyone who tried would be caught in minutes. But¡­

    Because of this, the management had never bothered to board up the window, leaving Ste a perfect loophole.

    With quick, practiced movements, she hoisted herself onto the ledge, slung her bag over her shoulder, and slipped through the opening. Shended lightly on the pavement outside, barely making a sound.

    Just as she straightened up, she found herself nearly nose-to-nose with a cleaningdy hauling a trash bag toward the dumpster.

    The cleaningdy blinked at her in confusion, clearly startled to see someone emerge from a restroom window.

    Ste shed a polite smile¡ªand in that instant, a bold n sparked in her mind.

    shing a quick, earnest smile, she beckoned the cleaningdy over. ¡°Ma¡¯am, if you help me out, I¡¯ll give you five hundred dors. When you head back in, just dump the water from your bucket onto the man waiting outside the restroom.¡±

    Baffled, the cleaningdy eyed the bills Ste held out, uncertainty etched across her face.

    Leaning in, Ste dropped her voice in a hushed tone. ¡°He¡¯s been following me since I left home. I¡¯m desperate. Please. If you can pull this off, the money¡¯s yours¡ªminus the price of a coffee, if you want one.¡±

    Thedy¡¯s eyes flickered with hesitation, but the weight of her own troubles¡ªan ailing daughter and bills piling up¡ªlingered behind her silence. Finally, she epted the cash with a quiet nod.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t let him know I¡¯m gone. And thank you¡ªreally,¡± Ste said, warmth and relief mingling in her tone as she turned away, not sparing another nce for Marc or whatever chaos would follow.

    Back inside the caf¨¦, the cleaningdy gripped the heavy bucket, sloshing with cloudy water from her morning rounds.

    Carrying out Ste¡¯s instructions, the cleaningdy made her way to the utility sink, acting as if she hadn¡¯t noticed Marc crouched sullenly by the tiled wall. Without hesitation, she flipped the entire bucket over his head, sending a foul wave of murky water sshing down.

    ¡°Serves you right, you creep,¡± she thought, her eyes shing with indignation. ¡°You might look respectable, but you¡¯re just a two-bit stalker.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± Marc bellowed, scrambling to his feet, filthy water dripping from his soaked hair and sttered suit.

    His expression darkened to a murderous red.

    Feigning shock, the cleaningdy pressed a hand to her chest. ¡°Oh my goodness, sir, I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t see you standing there. I thought you were just¡­ part of the plumbing. Please forgive me! Should Ipensate you somehow?¡±

    To her, a stalker was lower than the scum she scrubbed from the restroom drains.

    She yanked out an old rag¡ªthe one she reserved for the dirtiest jobs¡ªand, with forced enthusiasm, started dabbing at Marc¡¯s sleeve.

    The rag reeked of bleach and toilet grime. With exaggerated clumsiness, she smeared it across his cheeks, then, as if by ident, pped the filthy cloth right across his mouth, muffling his protests and smearing him with even more filth.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 37

    ?Chapter 37:

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Marc bent over as a wave of nausea swept through him, his gut twisting from the stench clinging to his soaked clothes.

    The cleaningdy jumped back in rm, her apologies tumbling out in a flustered rush.

    Marc clenched his jaw, knowing that exploding at her here would only make him look even more pathetic.

    He stood there shivering, the icy, foul-smelling water seeping through everyyer and sticking to his skin.

    Still, when his gaze drifted toward the restroom, his pride refused to let him retreat. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he shook off the cleaningdy¡¯s hand and snapped, ¡°Enough! Just go¡ªdon¡¯t bother me!¡±

    The cleaningdy blinked in surprise at his outburst. Taking in his pitiful state and stubborn refusal to leave, she silently concluded he really was a stalker.

    At least that poor woman had managed to get away from him.

    Having fulfilled her end of the deal, the cleaningdy hurried off, eager to put the bizarre scene behind her.

    Marc, left standing in a puddle of humiliation, awkwardly dabbed at his ruined shirt, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Still, he stubbornly refused to budge.

    Did Ste really think a cheap stunt like that would get rid of him? Not a chance. There was no way he¡¯d believe Ste would actually hole up in a restroom all day just to avoid him.

    Stepping out of the bustling mall, Ste finally breathed easier.

    She hadn¡¯t witnessed Marc¡¯s humiliation herself, but the mere thought of his uptight, obsessive self sttered with dirty water was more than enough to lift her mood.

    Marc, of all people, loathed mess. The idea of him reeking and sticky, frantically scrubbing himself clean, almost made herugh out loud.

    She headed for the curb, hand half-raised to g down a taxi, when her phone buzzed deep in her purse. Pulling it out, Ste hesitated¡ªan unfamiliar number shed across the screen, but something about it made her skin prickle with recognition.

    Stay connected at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    She answered warily. ¡°Hello?¡±

    A honeyed but sharp voice immediately cut in, all pretense gone. ¡°Ste, how much longer are you going to keep pestering Marc? He¡¯s finished with you. Why don¡¯t you have a little dignity and let go?¡±

    Haley¡¯s words dripped with mockery, her supposednguage barrier nowhere to be found. The performance was so ridiculous, Ste almost snorted.

    A steely glint flickered in Ste¡¯s eyes as she answered, her tone icy and unhurried. ¡°Maybe you need a reminder¡ªMarc and I are still married, whether or not love is involved. Thew¡¯s on my side. So tell me¡ªwho said you could call me up and start hurling usations?¡±

    Haley¡¯s lips parted, but nothing came out. For several seconds, she stood frozen, speechless.

    ¡°I¡¯m not here to fight with you. Why don¡¯t youe over so we can talk face-to-face? It¡¯s simple¡ªthe one who isn¡¯t loved is always the third wheel. Take my advice and know your ce.¡±

    A coldugh slipped from Ste, mocking and sharp. ¡°Haley, is this really what the Smith family taught you? To meddle in other people¡¯s marriages and y the mistress? I guess when you¡¯repletely shameless, there¡¯s nothing left to lose. It¡¯s almost admirable, how you can spout this nonsense without a single scrap of dignity or self-awareness.¡±

    Haley¡¯s face twisted with fury. ¡°You¡¯d better watch your mouth!¡±

    Ste arched an eyebrow, thoroughly unimpressed. Did Haley honestly think she could intimidate her?

    ¡°I¡¯ve got better things to do than y along with your bullshit. Maybe try focusing on the Walsh Group¡¯s plummeting profits instead of pestering me.¡± Ste¡¯s finger hovered over the screen, ready to end the call, when a cold, familiar voice cut in from the other end of the line. ¡°Ste, how could you speak to Haley like that?¡±

    It was Jazlyn¡ªMarc¡¯s mother.

    A thin smile curled on Ste¡¯s lips. No wonder Haley sounded so bold. Clearly, she had Jazlyn backing her, ready to swoop in at a moment¡¯s notice.

    Jazlyn had never bothered to hide her disdain for Ste. From the beginning, she¡¯d seen Ste as a nobody¡ªsomeone with no useful connections, no value to offer the Walsh family.

    Now, with Haley in the picture, Jazlyn acted like a shameless tterer, siding with anyone she thought could benefit her precious son.

    ¡°You¡¯d better show up right now,¡± Jazlyn snapped, her voiceced with threat. ¡°Let me make this clear, Ste¡ªclinging to my son will get you nowhere. You¡¯re nothing but a burden to our family. If you have any sense left, you¡¯lle to the Voyage Hotel immediately. If not, you can face the consequences.¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t nned on indulging their drama, but at those words, her expression tightened. After a beat of hesitation, she set her jaw and changed course.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 38

    ?Chapter 38:

    Ste had been waiting for a chance to draw a clean line with her former mother-inw and to let Jazlyn know she intended to reim everything that rightfully belonged to her¡ªpossessions Jazlyn would soon have to relinquish.

    As the silence stretched, Jazlyn¡¯s sharp voice continued grating through the phone. ¡°Are you deaf? Didn¡¯t you hear a word I said? Is this how you treat your elders? No wonder you lost my son!¡±

    The barrage of usations yanked Ste out of her thoughts, flooding her with irritation.

    During her marriage, she¡¯d endured Jazlyn¡¯s endless nitpicking with practiced patience, never once losing herposure, even before learning the truth about Marc and Haley.

    But years of civility had gotten her nowhere.

    Instead, Jazlyn had only grown more arrogant, using every chance to belittle her.

    Now, with everything unraveling, Ste saw no point in pretending any longer.

    Someone as petty as Jazlyn deserved to be put in her ce.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Ste replied, her tone cool and unbothered. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s mouth was already open, ready tounch another tirade, when Ste¡¯s sudden agreement caught her off guard. For a split second, Jazlyn faltered, blinking in surprise, but she quickly recovered her domineering air.

    ¡°You¡¯d better show up,¡± she snapped. ¡°You have half an hour. If you¡¯rete, I¡¯ll make Marc divorce you on the spot¡ªand don¡¯t expect to see a single cent from the settlement!¡±

    The threat almost made Steugh out loud. As if she had any interest in Marc¡¯s pitiful fortune.

    He was the one chasing after her now, desperate to buy back the patent she owned.

    After the call ended, Ste gged down a taxi and headed straight for the Voyage Hotel.

    Your favorite tales are on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§ànn

    Inside, it didn¡¯t take her long to spot Haley and Jazlyn together.

    They sat side by side, putting on a show of solidarity and warmth, like two actresses ying the role of a loving family.

    Jazlyn¡¯s eyes shed the moment she saw Ste walk in. Without hesitation, she mmed her palm onto the table, sending a jolt through the cutlery. ¡°So, you finally bothered to show up. I want you to divorce my son, right here, right now. Tell me, after all these years of marriage, what have you ever done for the Walsh family? You can¡¯t even give us a child. Absolutely useless. No ce in this family for a barren hen like you!¡±

    Her words stung, each one meant to cut deeper than thest.

    But Ste barely flinched. She¡¯d lost count of how many times Jazlyn had spat out the same vicious remarks over the years.

    Haley lounged next to Jazlyn, an unmistakable look of satisfaction ying at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Her family¡¯s nothing¡ªlost her parents young, raised without manners. You really shouldn¡¯t lower yourself, Jazlyn.¡±

    Jazlyn, emboldened by Haley¡¯s support, banged her fist against the table. ¡°Get those divorce papers ready by Monday. I refuse to tolerate you in my family for one more day!¡±

    Now that Haley had worked her influence, Jazlyn truly believed she deserved a daughter-inw like Haley¡ªsomeone polished and pedigreed, not a nobody like Ste getting in Marc¡¯s way.

    Haley braced herself, half-expecting a fight, but Ste merely nodded, calm and unflinching. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll divorce him.¡± The answer blindsided both of them.

    Their eyes locked, equally shocked by Ste¡¯s ready surrender.

    Catching the chill in Ste¡¯s smile, Haley stayedposed, sped Jazlyn¡¯s hand, and pressed. ¡°Ste, what do you want out of this?¡±

    With a sidelong nce, Ste¡¯s gaze lingered on Haley, recognizing a glimmer of shrewdness absent in Jazlyn.

    ¡°I¡¯m not making any demands. Divorce is perfectly fine by me. But, Jazlyn, I expect you to pay back every cent I spent on your endless beauty appointments and imported supplements. And as for the casino? I hope you enjoyed yourst visit, because you won¡¯t be stepping foot in there again.¡±

    Jazlyn had wed her way through a harsh youth, and once Marc¡¯s fortunes soared, she wasted no time plunging into a life of extravagance.

    She reveled in every indulgence¡ªher weeks filled with pampering sessions at upscale salons and rare imported supplements lined up on her vanity.

    She also had a taste for gambling, though she was hardly discreet about it. Bad luck dogged her at every turn, and when her losses piled up, so did her foul temper¡ªher sharp tongue echoing through the casino until someone dragged her away. If not for Ste¡¯s discreet intervention, the casino staff would have barred her years ago.

    Now, hearing Ste¡¯s cool demands, Jazlyn¡¯s face twisted with fury.

    She saw straight through the act¡ªSte was stalling.

    Clearly, she had no real intention of letting go and dared to bargain as if she still held any cards.

    ¡°Ste, don¡¯t you dare get greedy with me. Why should I pay you back a cent?¡± Jazlyn snapped, her voice dripping with indignation. ¡°Those supplements? My son paid for them. As for the salon visits, I cover those with my own membership.¡±

    Haley interjected, her tone sharp and mocking, ¡°Ste, honestly, isn¡¯t this a little beneath you? Or could it be you¡¯re not actually ready for this divorce¡ªand you¡¯re just making excuses to keep Jazlyn on a leash?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 39

    ?Chapter 39:

    Ste nced at the pair and let out a bright, unrestrainedugh. ¡°I¡¯m justying out the truth here. That membership card you¡¯re so fond of? My friend owns the salon¡ªI got you a ny percent discount. The health supplements you¡¯re taking every month¡ªwhy not ask Marc who¡¯s really footing the bill? And everyone at the casino knows exactly how many toes you¡¯ve stepped on.¡±

    All those perks Jazlyn enjoyed had never meant anything to Ste before. Just the monthly supplements alone added up to a hefty sum, but Ste had never gone to Marc for a single cent¡ªshe¡¯d always covered the cost herself. Now that the divorce was underway, she saw no reason not to reim everyst bit, plus interest.

    Jazlyn¡¯s expression soured with each word.

    She might have outranked Ste socially, but Ste wasn¡¯t known for spinning stories.

    Jazlyn was thoroughly used to her regr beauty appointments, and those supplements felt indispensable. If she lost ess to either, her body would almost certainly show it.

    The thought left Jazlyn uncertain, her gaze dropping for a moment.

    Those perks were nothing if not real.

    Haley, picking up on her hesitation, felt a rush of nerves. She clutched Jazlyn¡¯s hand and blurted, ¡°Please, Mrs. Walsh, don¡¯t worry. From now on, I¡¯ll make sure you have everything you need. Your standard of living won¡¯t drop, I swear! Supplements, salon treatments¡ªI have plenty of connections. I¡¯ll handle it all.¡±

    Ste caught the desperate edge in Haley¡¯s voice and fought the urge to roll her eyes.

    Everything she¡¯d named so far barely scratched the surface.

    Jazlyn¡¯s condition was fragile, and ordinary supplements weren¡¯t enough¡ªshe relied on an elusive remedy that couldn¡¯t be bought, no matter how deep your pockets were.

    Ste herself had once flown overseas and spent more than two weeks tracking it down.

    Updates loaded at g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Jazlyn cared deeply about appearances and chased after every opportunity to climb the socialdder.

    After Ste married Marc, she¡¯d gone out of her way to secure Jazlyn a prestigious¡ªif mostly ceremonial¡ªprofessor title at a university. That title had opened countless doors for Jazlyn.

    At every school function, she could step onto the stage, soaking in the admiration that fed her pride year after year.

    But now, with Ste out of the picture, the university would almost certainly strip her of that honor.

    Haley might grit her teeth and try to pull strings, but as the heiress of the Smith family, would she really go that far for Jazlyn¡¯s sake?

    That seemed highly unlikely.

    If she refused toply, Jazlyn would kick up a storm, dragging the entire Walsh family into chaos.

    With that thought, Ste found herself almost anticipating the spectacle.

    Haley, oblivious to the amusement flickering in Ste¡¯s eyes, poured all her effort into manipting Jazlyn, urging her to pressure Ste and Marc into splitting up.

    Jazlyn¡¯s patience finally snapped. She jabbed a finger in Ste¡¯s direction, her voice quivering with frustration. ¡°Fine. If you im all that¡¯s gone, then so be it. But I want you to divorce my son¡ªright now!¡±

    Ste just gave a weary shake of her head. Predictably, Haley only needed to prod a little to get Jazlyn riled up.

    Settling back against the armchair, Ste studied the two women facing her, their postures stiff with self-importance. ¡°Alright. But a divorce requires both parties to show up. If you can get Marc here, I won¡¯t stand in your way.¡± She¡¯d expected some grand ultimatum, but this was all they had¡ªjust another ploy to make her file for divorce first.

    What a pointless waste of time.

    Neither Jazlyn nor Haley coulde up with a response.

    They were painfully aware that Marc refused to even discuss divorce¡ªif he hadn¡¯t, they wouldn¡¯t have dragged Ste out here in secret.

    Jazlyn¡¯s temper snapped. ¡°I¡¯m Marc¡¯s mother. Doesn¡¯t that count for anything? I want you out, and even if you refuse, you¡¯ll have to leave!¡±

    Ste found the whole thing faintly ridiculous. ¡°Jazlyn, I¡¯m not doubting your authority, but you can¡¯t sign those papers on Marc¡¯s behalf. If you¡¯re so determined, maybe spend your energy convincing him instead of wasting mine.¡±

    Ste had gotten what she needed from the meeting. With a cold nod, she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.

    Jazlyn instinctively tried to block her path but couldn¡¯t find any justification, so she was forced to let Ste walk out unchallenged. Still, Jazlyn refused to feel anxious¡ªsheforted herself with the thought that it wouldn¡¯t be long before Ste paid the price.

    .

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    .

 Chapter 40

    ?Chapter 40:

    Ste made her way toward the exit, each step weighed down by a growing sense of unease.

    Haley and Jazlyn had summoned her today under the pretense of discussing the divorce, yet hadn¡¯t presented a single concrete offer. Nopromises, and somehow she was expected to fall in line?

    It was absurd.

    Ste understood Jazlyncked formal education, but she wasn¡¯t a fool.

    There had to be some hidden agenda they hadn¡¯t revealed.

    She¡¯d been turning it over in her mind since the conversation ended, but nothing added up.

    Maybe she was reading too much into it.

    What she didn¡¯t know was that the moment she walked away, Haley and Jazlyn shared a conspiratorial look.

    A smirk tugged at Haley¡¯s lips. ¡°She really has no idea what¡¯sing. We gave her the chance to bow out gracefully, and she turned it down.¡±

    Jazlyn, standing beside her, nodded with conviction. She had arranged the meeting as a final opportunity for Ste to walk away clean.

    Had Ste agreed to the divorce, there would have been no need for underhanded tactics.

    But since she¡¯d refused, they no longer felt bound by restraint.

    ¡°She¡¯ll see,¡± Jazlyn said confidently. ¡°Once her name¡¯s dragged through the mud, Marc won¡¯t even look her way. And by then, leaving won¡¯t be her decision anymore.¡±

    Haley nced at her, saw the gleam of satisfaction in her eyes, and broke intoughter right alongside her.

    ¡°Jazlyn, you¡¯re the best. I swear, I¡¯ll be the most loyal daughter-inw you¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    The location they¡¯d picked for the meeting was on the third floor. As Ste walked toward the elevator, the doors slid open, revealing a man standing quietly, hands folded behind him.

    She gave him a quick nce, then stepped inside.

    Still, something about sharing that tight space with a stranger unsettled her. She instinctively moved to the far corner, positioning herself near the wall. Her head tilted slightly downward, eyes fixed on the floor¡ªor so it seemed. In truth, she was watching him closely from the edge of her vision.

    The moment he took a step in her direction, her breath caught. Her body stiffened.

    He was faster than she expected. Before she could react, he mped a cloth over her mouth and nose.

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened as panic set in, her limbs thrashing in resistance.

    A sharp, chemical odor hit her immediately, harsh and overpowering.

    The elevator, worn and sluggish, continued its slow descent.

    She had entered on the third floor. The first floor was still far off.

    Eyes shut tight, Steshed out with both arms, throwing every ounce of strength she had left. Even as the fog pressed in, she held her breath, clinging to thest shred of consciousness.

    The elevator dinged. As the doors slid open, shended a forceful kick at the man. In a split second, she slipped from his grip and bolted away.

    Inside the lounge adjacent to the banquet hall on the first floor of the Voyage Hotel, Luca handed a ss of champagne to William.

    He knew all too well how much William disliked events like this.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I really believe Ms. Russell is the ideal choice for the project. She¡¯s head and shoulders above the others.¡±

    Luca truly believed it was unfortunate that Ste wasn¡¯t part of the project. He couldn¡¯t wrap his head around why she had been excluded. Was it really still about the misunderstandings?

    He hesitated, then added, ¡°Also, earlier today, when she saw our car, she looked hesitant, almost anxious, and left right after. It felt like she didn¡¯t want to be misunderstood.¡±

    William remained silent, slowly turning the ss in his hand.

    Luca, having worked with him for years, feltfortable enough to speak inly.

    ¡°Honestly, sir, I don¡¯t believe she¡¯s the kind of woman you perceive her to be. She¡¯s always beenposed and respectful in everything she does.¡± Sure, there had been that awkward moment at the bar when she ended up on William¡¯sp¡ªbut it was nothing more than a clumsy ident.

    William set his champagne down and rose from the sofa without a word. Luca hesitated, unsure what to make of the sudden movement. His next sentence stalled before it could leave his lips.

    ¡°My attention is needed elsewhere. Inform me of our guest¡¯s arrival,¡± William said coolly, locking eyes with Luca for a brief moment before heading toward the door.

    Luca stood still, watching him go, a knot of unease tightening in his chest.

    Was William leaving because of something he¡¯d said?

    He gently pped his mouth, silently scolding himself. He wasn¡¯t usually this talkative.

    But the thought of Ste missing out on such an important opportunity had pushed him to speak up.

    As William exited the lounge, he caught sight of someone running across the far end of the corridor near the elevator.

    He slowed, eyebrows drawing together. The figure, dressed in white, stirred a flicker of recognition in him.

    Without meaning to, his mind conjured the shape of Ste¡¯s form¡ªgraceful, unmistakable.

    He parted his lips, ready to call out to her, but before he could speak, she darted through the stairwell door and vanished from view. Maybe it wasn¡¯t her at all.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 41

    ?Chapter 41:

    William couldn¡¯t say for certain if the woman he saw was Ste, but the image of her on hisp that night, paired with her recent avoidance, lingered stubbornly in his thoughts. Brows drawn tight, he pulled out his phone and fired off a message to Luca.

    ¡°Find out if Ste¡¯s at the Voyage Hotel.¡±

    Ste burst from the elevator in a daze, her steps unsteady and frantic. The only exit nearby was the emergency stairwell, and without thinking twice, she pushed it open and slipped inside.

    She didn¡¯t realize until it was toote that she was already on the ground floor, and the stairwell offered no exit except upwards.

    She had only managed to climb a few steps when the sound of footsteps echoed from above, fast and heavy.

    Her eyes lifted. More men wereing down, dressed like the one who had attacked her earlier.

    The truth struck her instantly¡ªshe¡¯d been herded straight into a trap.

    She spun around, desperate to escape, but the first man had already slipped inside behind her. His expression was twisted with cruel intent.

    Her knees buckled, and she fell onto the cold steps.

    ¡°Please¡­ I¡¯ll give you anything you want¡­ just let me go¡­¡±

    Her words barely made it out before a cloth was stuffed into her mouth. She was forced upright and hauled up the stairs.

    Ste whimpered softly, her vision blurring as tears filled her eyes.

    Even before the drug, she would have struggled to resist their strength. Now, her body felt like it no longer belonged to her.

    Her thoughts were intact, but her limbs refused to respond. She couldn¡¯t stop them from dragging her into a hotel room.

    ¡°Quit fighting. We¡¯re not here to harm you, we just need a few dirty pictures.¡± One of the men shoved her farther into the dimly lit room, his voice low and careless as he spoke.

    ???§ÁE ??P?¦«T¦®? I§ª G¦«?§ª?V¦®??.???

    The word ¡°pictures¡± rang in Ste¡¯s ears, sharp and jarring. Pictures? What type of pictures¡­?

    Before she could gather her thoughts, they forced her onto the bed. Hands wed at her clothing, tugging with brutal urgency.

    A rush of cold air from the open window brushed over her skin, and she began to shake uncontrobly.

    It clicked in an instant¡ªshe finally understood the kind of pictures they meant to take.

    ¡°Who asked you to do this?¡± She had no clue who had paid these men, but the way they operated made one thing clear: they were in it for the money. Pushed to the edge of the bed, she edged backward, forcing herself to stayposed. ¡°I have money. Whatever deal they made with you¡ªI¡¯ll match it and add more!¡±

    One of them scoffed at the offer. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. This¡¯ll be over soon if you stop fighting.¡±

    They were just carrying out instructions and had no interest in dragging things out.

    Backed into the corner of the mattress, Ste braced herself as they closed in.

    Her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her skin.

    She fought to keep her breathing steady.

    ¡°You¡¯re doing someone¡¯s dirty work, I get it, but do you even understand this is a crime? Sooner orter, you¡¯ll be arrested. I¡¯ll report everything, and none of you will walk away clean. Or¡­¡± she paused, her voice steadying. ¡°You take the money now, walk out that door, and I never mention this again. Think it over.¡±

    One of the men tilted his head, intrigued. He looked like he was about to say something. Then the door creaked open behind them.

    Haley stepped into the room, a ck stic bag dangling from her hand and a cruel smirk tugging at her lips.

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your energy,¡± she said coldly.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way out.¡±

    She dropped the bag onto the floor with a thud and strolled forward without hurry.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re going to stage something like this, it better look real. People care about that now¡ªbelievability,¡± she added with a mocking tone. ¡°These are your props. Use them however you want. And don¡¯t bother with condoms.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 42

    ?Chapter 42:

    Ste stared daggers at Haley, her whole body trembling with rage.

    Now she got it. This was a trap.

    The whole call, Haley¡¯s absurd demand¡ªit was all a setup. Her stomach churned as her eyesnded on the disgusting toys strewn across the bed.

    She clenched her fists and snapped, ¡°Haley, this is illegal! You think having foreign citizenship means you¡¯re untouchable?¡±

    The men standing around shifted awkwardly. Fear shed in a few of their eyes. Haley was a foreign national.

    They might¡¯ve been scumbags, but even they didn¡¯t want to go down for something like this¡ªespecially not for a foreigner who could skip town the second things got messy.

    Haley rolled her eyes and sneered. ¡°You bunch of wimps. Just do what you¡¯re paid for. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll handle it. None of this is on you.¡±

    Then she turned back to Ste, her voice dripping with spite. ¡°And you¡ªGod, you really think you¡¯re on Marc¡¯s level? You¡¯re trash, Ste. You¡¯ll never belong in our world. Wanna hear the best part? Marc knows. He¡¯s the one who told me to do this. You should¡¯ve signed that damn contract when you had the chance. Now, he wants you punished. This is what you get for crossing me.¡±

    She yanked a document from her purse, pped it on the bed, and grabbed Ste¡¯s limp hand. With one hard press, she forced her fingerprint onto the page.

    Ste couldn¡¯t move. Drugged. Tied up.

    Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

    Haley straightened up, gloating. ¡°There. Done. This contract¡¯s binding. And since you refused before, the patent rights now belong to Walsh Group¡ªfree of charge. Nopensation. No way out.¡±

    She tossed Ste a final smirk and strutted toward the door. ¡°She¡¯s all yours, boys. Enjoy.¡±

    And just like that, she was gone¡ªleaving only shadows and danger behind. A greasy voice rang out. ¡°Damn, you smell good. So soft too. Bet you¡¯ll look real pretty crying.¡±

    Don¡¯t miss out g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??ls?c?m

    Another one chimed in,ughing. ¡°Which toy should we use first, huh? Or maybe just try them all.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Ste¡¯s voice cracked, barely a whisper. But her body was too weak.

    One of the men stepped forward, reaching for her. Bang! The door flew open with a violent crash.

    ¡°What the hell¡ª¡± They turned, startled.

    Luca stormed in, nked by ck-suited bodyguards. Behind them, cold as ice, stood William.

    For a second, Ste thought she was seeing things.

    William? How could he be here?

    Luca¡¯s eyes scanned the room¡ªand locked on Ste. His expression darkened instantly. He barked, ¡°Get these bastards out of here!¡±

    The bodyguards moved fast, dragging the men out like trash. Their screams echoed down the hallway.

    Luca nced at Ste again, then quickly looked away. He knew this wasn¡¯t his moment. Without a word, he followed his men out.

    Now, only William remained.

    It was his first time seeing her so vulnerable, like a broken doll.

    He walked over and knelt beside the bed, examining her, noting that her injuries were superficial. Her pants were still in one piece.

    He undid the ropes around her wrists with quiet care. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    When she was finally free, Ste didn¡¯t cry. She didn¡¯t speak. She just pulled the bedsheet tight around herself, burying herself beneath it.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 43

    ?Chapter 43:

    Ste drew several shaky breaths, fighting to keep herposure, but a tremor still ran through her limbs.

    Her words came out unsteady,ced with vulnerability. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ all right, thanks.¡±

    Noticing the glimmer in her eyes, William¡¯s expression tightened, his tone softening without thinking. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get you out of here.¡±

    She nodded and tried to rise on her own, but the moment she put weight on her legs, they buckled beneath her. William, close at hand, caught her before she could hit the ground.

    Before she could utter a word of protest, he had already scooped her into his arms.

    A startled breath escaped her lips as she instinctively clung to his shoulders for bnce.

    William said nothing, simply tightening his grip and shifting her weight more securely against his chest.

    ¡°Careful,¡± he murmured.

    Then, without another word, he carried her steadily from the room.

    Ste clung to him, her grip tightening as she inadvertently pressed against his chest.

    No matter how carefully she tried to shift, her body brushed his with every small movement.

    From where William stood, he couldn¡¯t help but notice the fleeting closeness of her chest against him, each soft contact tightening his jaw.

    A flush rose in his face as he quickly looked away, carrying Ste in tense silence toward the car.

    At the hospital, the doctor gave her a meticulous checkup. The scrapes were superficial¡ªjust a few days and they¡¯d be gone. For now, they hooked up an IV to flush the remaining drugs out of her system before she¡¯d be cleared to leave.

    Ste sat motionless on the hospital bed, her gaze distant and shuttered. William remained close, hunched over his phone in silence, doing nothing to add to the weight already pressing down on her.

    L??t??st ch??pt??rs in g¦Ál??ovels.c?m

    Luca arrived soon after, pausing beside William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, we¡¯ve identified those people, but¡­¡±

    His voice faltered, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he nced at Ste. William understood Luca¡¯s hesitation, especially with Ste there¡ªbut he looked her way, then gave a quiet nod. ¡°Say it.¡± She deserved the truth.

    ¡°Some of them carry infectious diseases. If they¡¯did a hand on Ms. Russell, the fallout would have been catastrophic.¡± Luca was visibly shaken when he initially heard it.

    What kind of grudge could push someone to hire people this dangerous just to target Ste?

    William¡¯s gaze sharpened, his expression turning icy.

    On the hospital bed, Ste¡¯s fists twisted the nket until her knuckles nched.

    Haley clearly meant to destroy her, no matter the cost.

    After a tense pause, Ste finally turned to William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, thank you for everything you¡¯ve done today. But from here on out, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± She didn¡¯t want to drag William into her mess. This wasn¡¯t his battle, and she refused to be in his debt.

    Her voice sounded steady, almost detached, as if nothing could shake her. But William could see she wasn¡¯t thinking clearly¡ªnot after everything she¡¯d just endured.

    How was she supposed to face this alone?

    Pure bravado, but he had no reason to step into it.

    William shot her a brief look, gave a faint nod, and rose to quietly exit the room. Left alone, Ste bristled with a fury that made her whole body tense.

    She had never wanted more than a clean divorce and to reim what belonged to her. Even Marc¡¯s betrayal with Haley could have been something she endured in silence.

    The two of them were beneath her contempt; she¡¯d hoped karma would take care of them in the end.

    But their relentless cruelty had gone too far, crossing every line in their desperate attempts to destroy her.

    If that was how they wanted to y, then she was finished being merciful. She would hit back with everything she had¡ªand make sure they regretted every move.

    Kicking off the covers, she pushed herself upright, the decision igniting her every nerve. Just as she started pulling on her coat, William paused in the doorway, catching the sound of her movements.

    His voice cut through the silence. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Your IV¡¯s still running.¡±

    .

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    .

 Chapter 44

    ?Chapter 44:

    Ste hunched her shoulders, fiddling with the cor of her coat as she answered without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the research institute.¡±

    He¡¯d assumed she was out for reckless revenge, but maybe she wasn¡¯t as impulsive as he thought.

    William arched a brow, then said calmly, ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll drive you.¡±

    The ride passed in silence, Luca focused on the wheel while William and Ste sat quietly in the backseat.

    Ste sat with her gaze lowered, picking at a loose thread on her coat, her mind miles away.

    When they reached the dormitory entrance at the research institute, William pulled over. Ste quietly murmured her thanks, still avoiding his eyes, and slipped out of the car toward the building.

    Lainey was waiting in front of the elevator and flinched in surprise when she caught sight of her. ¡°Ste? What on earth happened to you?¡±

    Lainey¡¯s voice pulled Ste from her daze. Her outfit, ripped during the hotel chaos, left her lookingpletely unkempt.

    Her injuries had been tended to, but the skin still bore bold smears of reddish-brown iodine, impossible to miss.

    Lainey¡¯s eyes went wide, her shock clear. How could Ste look like this? She¡¯d seemed fine when she left the institute just hours ago.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright, Lainey,¡± Ste murmured, her words muffled as she kept her head low.

    She hadn¡¯t let herself cry in front of William¡ªafraid he¡¯d see her as weak or overly dramatic.

    But with Lainey, the friend she trusted most here, the urge to fall apart pressed painfully at the back of her throat.

    Lainey¡¯s concern cracked something in Ste. She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer¡ªtears spilled down her cheeks in heavy, silent drops.

    gal¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s.c?m is your update source

    Lainey¡¯s chest tightened at the sight. She wrapped Ste in a fierce hug. ¡°Oh, dear, what happened? Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯m right here. Tell me¡ªwho did this to you? I¡¯ll handle them.¡±

    Pressed close to Lainey¡¯s shoulder, Ste wiped her nose, her voice trembling.

    ¡°It was Marc and Haley.¡±

    The mention of those two names sent a bitter jolt through Lainey¡¯s chest. ¡°Marc? Did hey a hand on you? Has hepletely lost it? Thest time he hurt you was already more than enough!¡±

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯ty a hand on me. Can we talk about this inside?¡±

    Once they¡¯d stepped into the lounge, Ste began to exin everything that had happened that day.

    Lainey¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor the longer she listened, her eyes going wide with shock.

    ¡°Wait¡ªHaley actually did that to you? She ought to be behind bars!¡±

    Taking in Ste¡¯s fragile demeanor, Lainey felt a fierce protectiveness rise up in her chest.

    ¡°Lainey, Haley forced me to imprint my fingerprint on the document when I had no strength left to fight her. I¡¯m done working with them on that patent¡ªthey just stole it outright,¡± Ste insisted, her voice trembling but resolute. This wasn¡¯t a partnership anymore¡ªthey¡¯d t-out stolen the patent from her.

    Lainey, who understood how much that patent meant to Ste, reached out and squeezed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t stress, Ste. I¡¯ll help you get the patent back. Remember, you told me before you didn¡¯t want to sell to the Walsh Group? Well, I went ahead and found another buyer for you. I¡¯ve actually been putting together the contract these past few days.¡±

    Ste¡¯s shoulders slumped in defeat. ¡°But¡­ Haley already took the contract with my fingerprint.¡±

    Lainey reached for her hand, her tone gentle but certain. ¡°The buyer I found is trustworthy. Once you sign his contract, he¡¯ll take care of everything for you.¡± That contract Haley snatched hadn¡¯t been obtained through any fair or legal means. If this dragged out to court, the Walsh Group would only end up losing.

    Ste nced at Lainey, a flicker of hope brightening her eyes. ¡°Thank you.¡± It had never urred to her that things could be dealt with like this.

    Lainey¡¯s indignation simmered just beneath the surface, her jaw clenched. ¡°Marc, honestly¡ªhow could he stoop so low? I used to believe he was dependable, the way he always hovered around you, acting like the perfect partner. Now it¡¯s obvious it was just a facade. It makes me sick. All those years together, and he never felt a thing.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 45

    ?Chapter 45:

    Marc waited in the cafe for over an hour.

    His clothes were dry now, but they clung to him cold and sticky, making him feel worse.

    His head throbbed, and a low fever was creeping in. He¡¯d had enough.

    Just as he stood to leave, his phone buzzed. A message lit up the screen¡ªit was from one of his long-term business partners.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, the patent has expired. We¡¯ll be pausing our partnership with Walsh Group until further notice.¡±

    Marc stared at the message, brows furrowed. Then another one came in. And another. Differentpanies. Same message. All of them were pulling out¡ªrefusing to renew their deals unless Ste¡¯s patent was locked in.

    Marc¡¯s frustration boiled over. He tried calling Ste immediately, but her number was blocked. He tried her email, messaging apps¡ªnothing. Total silence.

    She was cutting him off, proving she could do things her way.

    Marc clenched his jaw, gripping his phone until his knuckles nched.

    He called a few other partners, trying to salvage what he could. No luck.

    Everyone gave the same answer: no patent, no deal.

    For the first time in a long while, Marc feltpletely cornered.

    With several deals falling through, he needed to find new opportunities; otherwise, thepany would inevitably suffer losses.

    Finally, he decided to contact Haley.

    ¡°Haley, where are you?¡± he asked, his voice low.

    Haley was lounging at a spa, fresh off the high of ruining Ste. Her voice was sugary sweet. ¡°At the spa. Why, miss me already?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a charity g tomorrow night. I want you toe with me.¡±

    Haley¡¯s heart practically did a somersault. Marc almost never brought women to public events¡ªespecially when he wasn¡¯t bringing Ste.

    She had a ce in Marc¡¯s heart that Ste couldn¡¯tpete with.

    She was already nning to leak the photos and videos from Ste¡¯s humiliation, but now? Now she had the perfect stage. At the g, once those images were out, Ste¡¯s name would be tarnished in all of Choria. Marc would have no choice but to drop herpletely.

    Fresh updates loaded g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    Haley grinned to herself.

    Tomorrow would be Ste¡¯s downfall¡ªit would be her official debut by Marc¡¯s side. She quickly texted her mother. Her mother had wanted to secure a deal with Walsh Group, but Haley¡¯s obsession with Marc had caused tension.

    She and her mom had a big argument over Marc. Haley had insisted he didn¡¯t love Ste anymore, that it was all over between them.

    But her mother wasn¡¯t buying it. She¡¯d t-out forbidden Haley from ying the other woman.

    This was her perfect chance to prove her mother wrong.

    Tomorrow would be her proof. At the g, her mother would see the truth with her own eyes¡ªMarc, publicly by her side, Stepletely out of the picture.

    By the end of the night, Haley wouldn¡¯t be a sidepiece. She¡¯d be the woman everyone was talking about.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be there on time,¡± she purred into the phone. ¡°But Marc¡­ I don¡¯t have a dress.¡±

    Marc sighed. He knew what she was getting at. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up early. We¡¯ll go shopping.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the best! Love you!¡±

    Marc ended the call with an irritated grunt, rubbing his temples.

    This g was important¡ªhe had a major potential partner attending. And Haley, with her Smith family background, might give him the edge he needed to sway the deal.

    He smirked. Ste thought she could strong-arm him? She had no idea who she was messing with.

    He didn¡¯t want to y dirty. He loved her.

    But if she kept fighting him, he wasn¡¯t above teaching her a little lesson.

    The next morning, Marc showed up early to take Haley shopping¡ªhe knew how long she could take.

    He knew her routine, so he arrived just in time.

    While she fussed over dresses, Marc waited on the boutique¡¯s sofa, flipping half-heartedly through a fashion magazine. His mind wasn¡¯t on fabrics or colors. He was already thinking about his pitch to the new investor.

    ¡°Marc, what about this one?¡± Haley called.

    Without looking up, he muttered, ¡°Yeah. Looks good.¡±

    Haley¡¯s smile faltered. Could he be thinking about Ste? She marched over, grabbed his face, and forced him to look at her. ¡°Really? You haven¡¯t even seen it. Look properly.¡±

    Marc sighed and pulled himself back into the moment. He gave her a quick once-over, then wrapped an arm around her waist. ¡°It suits you. The color works with your skin tone.¡±

    That was enough to satisfy her. She shed a triumphant smile and told the sales clerk that she¡¯d take the dress.

    Then she headed off to get her makeup done, leaving Marc to wait¡ªagain. He leaned back and let his eyes drift shut for a second. And just like that, his mind went to Ste. She never wasted time on makeup or borate clothes.

    A simple T-shirt, a ponytail, and she still looked effortlessly stunning.

    Getting ready with her took ten minutes, tops.

    Not like Haley, who took the whole day.

    Hourster, everything was finally done, and they headed to the g. The venue was buzzing¡ªfull of elites from Choria¡¯s upper crust. As Marc and Haley entered, heads turned.

    Whispers followed them like shadows.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the woman with Mr. Walsh? Isn¡¯t she the Smith girl? From Achury?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re awfully close. Are they having an affair?¡±

    Someone gasped. ¡°No way. Would an Achury noblewoman really stoop to being a mistress? Or did Mr. Walsh already divorce his wife?¡±

    The word ¡°divorce¡± cut through the buzz of voices and hit Marc like a p. His jaw clenched. His expression froze. That one word rattled something deep inside him.

    .

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 Chapter 46

    ?Chapter 46:

    Now wasn¡¯t the time to let emotions show. Marc quickly wiped the flicker of emotion from his face and continued moving through the crowd as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Whispers still lingered behind him, but he carried on, unbothered. At least, that¡¯s what it looked like.

    Around them, guests exchanged knowing nces, but none dared speak out loud.

    Haley noticed the way people were looking at her¡ªcurious, spective¡ªbut instead of shrinking under their judgment, she lifted her chin proudly. So what if Marc was still married? She was the one on his arm tonight. And today? Today was the day Ste finally lost.

    Up on the second floor, Marc spotted Mr. Williams and made his way over. ¡°Mr. Williams, long time no see.¡±

    Mr. Williams, a sharp investor known for backing only winners, turned with a gentlemanly smile and extended his hand.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh. It has been a while.¡±

    Then Mr. Williams¡¯s gaze shifted to Haley, eyes narrowing just slightly.

    Everyone in their circle knew about Marc¡¯s marriage to Ste.

    For years, Marc had crafted an image of a loyal husband¡ªreserved, deeply devoted. So seeing another woman clinging to him tonight raised some unspoken questions. But they were all adults here. No one would say it out loud.

    Haley, all confidence and charm, stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Williams, it¡¯s such a pleasure to finally meet you. I¡¯ve heard so much about your work.¡±

    Mr. Williams gave her a polite nod, though his smile didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. His attitude was civil¡ªbut cold. Haley felt it instantly, and for a second, her smile faltered.

    Before Marc could steer the conversation back, another guest swooped in to chat with Mr. Williams, cutting Marc off mid-sentence. Annoyance shed in Marc¡¯s eyes, but he swallowed it down.

    Haley tugged on his arm gently. ¡°Marc, let¡¯s go over there.¡±

    She was trying to sound casual, but inside, she was bursting with anticipation. ording to the n with Jazlyn, the photos should¡¯ve been released by now. Any minute now.

    Haley could already picture it¡ªSte¡¯s public humiliation, her mother showing up to see it all, and Marc finally realizing who deserved to stand beside him. But when she checked her phone¡­ nothing. No photos. No message. No Jazlyn. Her smile tightened. What the hell was going on? Jazlyn had the whole day to send her the pictures. Why wasn¡¯t she sending them?

    The n had been airtight. Only she and Jazlyn knew about it.

    Maybe Jazlyn got cold feet?

    After all, they had initially nned to fake it, but yesterday, Haley had taken it a step further. She had the men do it for real.

    Could it be that Jazlyn thought it was too much and deliberately withheld them? She whipped out her phone and sent Jazlyn a direct message asking her toe over.

    It would be easier to convince her in person.

    Meanwhile, Jazlyn had been lounging at a private card table all afternoon, growing increasingly irritated. She had waited since morning for the photos to arrive. Nothing. Even worse, the men they hired weren¡¯t responding.

    Her usual perks¡ªVIP salon appointments, luxury discounts¡ªhad mysteriously been revoked.

    She¡¯d meant to call Haley, but a card game with the other socialites had distracted her.

    Now, seeing Haley¡¯s message, she jumped to her feet. ¡°Oh, youdies keep ying. I¡¯ve got to run¡ªmy son and daughter-inw need me,¡± she said smugly. The other women exchanged amused nces. Daughter-inw? Since when does she admit that?

    On her way to the event, Jazlyn tried to make sense of it all. Maybe Haley got the photos directly and was waiting for her to show up so they could reveal everything together.

    That would be perfect. The thought thrilled her.

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 Chapter 47

    ?Chapter 47:

    Jazlyn arrived at the charity g in a frenzy, practically speeding the whole way. The moment she stepped through the entrance, Haley¡ªwho had been anxiously watching the door¡ªspotted her and rushed over, heels clicking. ¡°Jazlyn!¡± she called sweetly, her voice almost musical.

    Jazlyn turned and smiled, letting Haley sp her hand. She gave it a light, approving pat. ¡°You look absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart. That dress is stunning on you. Did Marc pick it?¡±

    Haley blushed, eyes dropping for a second. ¡°He did. Said the color suited me. But if you think I look good, then I know I nailed it.¡±

    So far, Jazlyn was pleased. Haley, no matter how calcting in private, always made sure to show her proper respect in public.

    But Jazlyn was here for more thanpliments. ¡°Alright, darling, why did you call me over? Something you need?¡±

    She eyed Haley closely, trying to figure out if this was the big moment¡ªif Haley was finally nning to release those scandalous photos of Ste. And more importantly¡ªwhy had the men gone off the radar? No texts, no calls, no photos. Had Haley gotten to them first?

    Jazlyn wanted to ask but bit her tongue. This wasn¡¯t the ce.

    Haley, meanwhile, watched Jazlyn¡¯s calm demeanor with growing relief. She figured that Jazlyn didn¡¯t dare to post those photos after all. Still, she couldn¡¯t say that out loud. Instead, she leaned in and spoke in a soft, suggestive tone. ¡°You know, tonight¡¯s a big deal. My mother¡¯s arriving soon to sign a direct partnership with Marc. But¡­ with my current status, things areplicated¡­¡±

    As if that exined it all, she pulled out a folded document from her clutch and handed it to Jazlyn.

    ¡°This,¡± she said with a triumphant gleam, ¡°is what Ste signed yesterday. Voluntarily. She was so scared, she didn¡¯t even argue. With this contract, the patent issue¡¯s resolved¡ªand she¡¯s got nothing left to bargain with.¡±

    Her implication was clear¡ªSte had no more cards to y. Haley wanted Jazlyn to stop being hesitant and release the indecent photos already. Once Ste¡¯s name was ruined and Marc had no choice but to file for divorce, she¡¯d finally be in the clear.

    L¦Á¦Ó??¦Ó ?§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??om

    Able to stand openly by his side. That way, her mother could confidently sign the partnership deal with Walsh Group.

    Jazlyn¡¯s eyes darted around. She picked up on the unspoken message, but her interpretation leaned a little different. So Haley got to the photos first¡ªnow she wanted Jazlyn to be the one to light the fire.

    Words had already reached Jazlyn¡¯s ears¡ªHaley¡¯s mother, a major Walsh client, would be attending tonight¡¯s event.

    That settled it for Jazlyn. She believed she now fully understood Haley¡¯s agenda.

    She gave Haley¡¯s hand a light pat, smiling with feigned warmth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear. I get it.¡±

    Her eyes hardened with resolve. Haley wanted drama? Fine. It was just a matter of timing. And when those photos dropped¡ªshe would make sure it was unforgettable. She would handle it.

    The two women exchanged a meaningful nce and headed into the banquet hall side by side.

    Marc, deep in conversation with an executive, caught sight of Jazlyn entering. His jaw clenched. What the hell is she doing here?

    He barely heard the man talking to him. Without hesitation, he cut the conversation short.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said stiffly and walked away.

    He stormed over to Jazlyn.

    ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡± His voice was low but sharp.

    Jazlyn saw the irritation brewing in his eyes¡ªbut she was ready.

    Grabbing Haley¡¯s wrist, she raised her voice¡ªloud enough for the whole hall to hear.

    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be here? Huh, Marc?¡± she snapped. ¡°Let me tell you something¡ªSte¡¯s not worthy of you! She¡¯s been messing around with other men behind your back! Shameless woman! You need to divorce her right now, before she drags the Walsh name through the mud!¡±

    The hall fell into stunned silence. Gasps, wide eyes, and then the whispers began.

    Haley blinked in surprise. She¡¯d expected Jazlyn to start with the photo leak¡ªnot an all-out verbal assault. Still, she couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªthat was bold.

    Jazlyn waited for Haley to follow through with the pictures. In that instant, Marc¡¯s face darkened.

    His voice boomed, sharp and cutting. ¡°Mom, that¡¯s enough! What nonsense are you saying?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 48

    ?Chapter 48:

    Jazlyn froze for a moment, caught off guard by Marc¡¯s cold tone. He had just dismissed her¡ªpublicly. Her face darkened.

    After a tense pause, she huffed. ¡°Look at you, Marc. Still defending that woman? She¡¯s been cheating on you! Haley is the one who actually deserves you. Divorce Ste already and be with someone who truly matches your status.¡±

    Before Marc could react, Jazlyn took Haley¡¯s hand and ced it firmly into his. Haley, ever the opportunist, clutched his hand quickly and beamed at Jazlyn. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jazlyn. I¡¯ll take good care of Marc.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t say a word¡ªhe couldn¡¯t. His brain froze at the word ¡°cheating.¡± What were they even talking about? Ste? Unfaithful? Impossible.

    He had been with Ste for years. Through thick and thin. She wasn¡¯t perfect, but her integrity? That had never once wavered. Yes, she¡¯d been in contact with Williamtely, but Marc trusted her. He always had.

    His gaze snapped to Jazlyn. ¡°Mom, what are you really doing here?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s smile thinned, her patience worn. But she wasn¡¯t about to back down now¡ªnot when the finish line was so close. From her bag, she pulled out a folded document Haley had handed her earlier.

    ¡°I told you. I¡¯ve seen the photos, Marc. They¡¯re disgusting! And you¡¯re still defending her?¡±

    She handed him the contract. ¡°Here. Look at this¡ªSte signed it herself. The same contract she refused to touch before. Why do you think she agreed so easily now? She¡¯s guilty, Marc. She¡¯s trying to clean up her mess quietly.¡±

    Marc stared at the document in his hands, a strange chill crawling up his spine. It was the patent renewal¡ªa contract far more ruthless than the one he¡¯d initially drafted. Even he thought it was excessive. But at the bottom, there it was. Ste¡¯s fingerprint. Clear, crimson, and unmistakable. His pulse throbbed.

    He blinked once, twice, as the realization sunk in. She signed this?

    His chest tightened. Why would she do that? Why now?

    Was his mother right? Had Ste betrayed him? Was it William?

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s is your story source

    The signed contract did nothing to lighten his mood.

    He tightened his grip on the paper, the corners curling under the strain. His jaw locked, eyes darkening with something dangerous.

    Around them, the whispers ignited like wildfire. Some people made up their own unpleasant version of the incident. Yet, a smaller group murmured doubts, refusing to believe Ste was what they were painting her to be.

    Jazlyn and Haley exchanged a subtle nce. The tide was turning. All that was left was the final blow¡ªthe photos. But minutes passed. Then more. No photos. No alerts. No shocked gasps from guests. Only silence.

    Then, the grand doors of the hall slowly opened.

    The guests turned in unison as Ste stepped into the hall, draped in elegance and quiet power. She moved like she belonged, as if the swirling rumors hadn¡¯t reached her at all¡ªor worse, as if she didn¡¯t care.

    Everyone recognized her instantly. The woman at the heart of tonight¡¯s scandal had just arrived in the flesh. Gasps rippled through the hall like falling dominoes.

    What the hell is going on?

    Was she here to defend herself? To reim Marc? Spections buzzed as eyes darted between her and Marc. Marc¡¯s reaction was almost instinctive. He stepped away from Haley, as if burned¡ªhis face shing with guilt, confusion, and a hint of panic.

    He hadn¡¯t expected this. He¡¯d promised her he wouldn¡¯t bring another woman to social events.

    Haley and Jazlyn were equally shocked.

    Haley¡¯s lips parted, but no words came out. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. After everything she and Jazlyn had done¡­ After Ste had supposedly been ruined¡ªhow was she standing here? Poised. Intact. Radiant. Jazlyn, too, was stunned. She had never thought Ste would dare show her face¡ªnot tonight. Not after those photos.

    All three of them¡ªMarc, Haley, and Jazlyn¡ªstared at Ste, their minds racing in different directions, tangled in schemes, panic, and desperate calctions. They wore the same expression¡ªpure, unfiltered shock.

    .

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 Chapter 49

    ?Chapter 49:

    Jazlyn nced at Haley, confusion clouding her expression.

    Earlier, Haley had assured her that Ste had agreed to sign the contract because she was terrified of the photos being leaked.

    So why was Ste here now? Shouldn¡¯t she beying low? And where were the photos?

    What Jazlyn didn¡¯t realize was that Haley was grappling with the exact same questions.

    Those pictures¡ªwhy hadn¡¯t they surfaced yet?

    Ste entered the venue, her expression unreadable, deliberately avoiding Marc and the others as she moved forward with determination.

    Marc¡¯s chest tightened. Seeing her soposed sent a pang through him. The nagging fear that she might have betrayed him sparked a desperate urge to chase after her.

    But before he could move, Haley gripped his arm.

    ¡°Marc, don¡¯t let her intimidate you,¡± she urged. ¡°My family¡¯s reasonable. Even if you leave Ste, they won¡¯t judge you. I¡¯ll still feel the same about you.¡±

    Marc began to pull his arm back, his brows furrowing, but before he could speak, a woman in a fur coat stepped forward.

    It was Beatrice Smith¡ªHaley¡¯s mother.

    Beatrice had been Marc¡¯s key contact in past business deals with the Smith family, one of his most significant clients.

    The Smiths were one of the most respected families in Achury, but Beatrice, originally from Ushain, had deep roots here. That¡¯s how Marc and Haley had first crossed paths.

    As Beatrice passed by Ste, she cast her a look full of disdain.

    Stopping beside Haley, Beatrice shed Marc a polished smile. ¡°Mr. Walsh, our family usually wouldn¡¯t consider a man who¡¯s been divorced. But since Haley¡¯s chosen you, we won¡¯t stand in the way. Just make sure you resolve things with your ex-wife properly, and we won¡¯t object to your marriage. Everyone knows the issues in your first marriage weren¡¯t your fault.¡±

    As Beatrice delivered the final line, she shot a pointed look in Ste¡¯s direction.

    Ste¡¯s expression brimmed with biting irony.

    So, they¡¯d already condemned her¡ªno proof needed, just theatrics.

    And poorly executed ones, at that.

    With a champagne flute in hand, Ste pivoted and walked straight toward Marc once more.

    Haley, now nked by Beatrice on one side and Jazlyn on the other, stared at Ste with smug confidence.

    The pictures hadn¡¯t gone public, but she wasn¡¯t worried. She had backup¡ªtwo people beside her¡ªwhile Ste stood alone. What did Ste possibly have that could rival that?

    ¡°Ste, is it? After everything you¡¯ve done, you¡¯d be wise to sign the divorce papers and spare yourself the shame.¡± Beatrice spoke to Ste as if she weren¡¯t worth basic politeness.

    To her, Ste was beneath notice.

    Ste didn¡¯t respond to her at all. Instead, she looked directly at Marc. His face held a tangled mess of unease and hesitation, and Ste let out a softugh.

    ¡°Well, Marc,¡± she said, voice calm but cutting, ¡°tell me, what was my crime in this marriage? What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment from you?¡±

    They weren¡¯t even legally separated, yet here he stood, silent, as these people dragged her through the dirt.

    Was this what he meant when he spoke of love?

    Haley and Jazlyn shared a nce, unsettled by Ste¡¯sposure yet convinced the n had worked.

    Jazlyn assumed Ste¡¯s fear of exposure had forced her to surrender. Haley believed the pictures were still in Jazlyn¡¯s hands and woulde out eventually.

    They both blinked, mistaking each other¡¯s confidence for certainty.

    Jazlyn was the first to speak, her tone dripping with scorn. ¡°Ste, is this the kind of behavior you think suits a daughter-inw? And you still have the nerve to ask what you did wrong? You were sleeping around while married, openly shameless. Isn¡¯t that reason enough?¡±

    As soon as Jazlyn finished, Haley jumped in without hesitation.

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    ¡°Ms. Russell, I used to believe your refusal to divorce came from genuine feelings for Marc. But if you truly cared about him, how could you be involved with other men and take such vulgar pictures? No one forced you in those shots, and the props, the outfits¡­ I never expected you to be like that. I won¡¯t let Marc continue to be with someone like you!¡±

    She spoke with a tone of moral outrage, as if it were her duty to save Marc from ruin.

    The surrounding guests turned their attention toward them, eager for more drama, as if Ste and Marc¡¯s scandal was the day¡¯s highlight.

    ¡°Seriously, Ste? Are you really that reckless? That¡¯s disgusting. Don¡¯t you even worry about your health?¡± Someone called out from the crowd.

    The jeers escted, eachment worse than thest.

    ¡°Honestly, someone from outside our circle probably wouldn¡¯t understand basic decency. No wonder Marc would rather be with the Smith girl after what Ste pulled.¡±

    ¡°Who could tolerate their wife being with other men? Just imagining it is sickening.¡±

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 Chapter 50

    ?Chapter 50:

    Just minutes ago, the crowd had been whispering behind Marc¡¯s back, yet the moment Haley cast the baseless usations at Ste, their judgment shifted to Ste without hesitation. It wasughable how quickly they flipped, loyal to no one.

    Ste didn¡¯t spare their words a second thought. After all, none of them actually knew her. If they could insult her today because of Haley, they could just as easily switch sides tomorrow.

    So, it wasn¡¯t worth her time to argue with such fickle minds.

    She threw a nce at Marc. His face was tight with hesitation, torn between sides, and Ste couldn¡¯t help but find the whole thing rather amusing.

    Then she shifted her attention to Haley, who looked far too pleased with herself. Ste¡¯s voice was calm but clear. ¡°You¡¯re using me of sleeping around¡ªdo you have proof? Because if not, then what you¡¯re doing is nder. And I can take you to court for it.¡±

    Ste stepped closer, staring at Haley. ¡°You speak with such detail¡ªabout the toys, the outfits. Were you hiding there in the room? Or maybe, just maybe, you were the one who set all this up from the beginning?¡±

    Ste had seen Haley at the hotel with her own eyes, so she was certain this had all been nned by Haley.

    The way she spoke now didn¡¯t even sound like a question¡ªit was more like a fact.

    Haley stiffened. She knew what she¡¯d done, but with Marc and the people watching, admitting it was out of the question.

    She quickly shook her head, fumbling for words. ¡°W-Well, someone saw it and told me. Ste, haven¡¯t you heard the saying? The truth alwayses out. You should really think about that.¡±

    Trying to regain her confidence, Haley stepped closer and raised her chin, forcing herself to look bold.

    But the more she puffed herself up, the more obvious it became¡ªshe was guilty and scrambling to cover it.

    Ste let out a quietugh. ¡°Alright then. If you¡¯re so confident, show us the evidence. What toys? Which men? Let¡¯s see it.¡±

    Ste had learned this long ago¡ªshe didn¡¯t owe anyone an exnation, least of all people like them.

    If Haley really believed what she was saying, then she should prove it. Otherwise, it was nothing more than hot air.

    Haley shot a desperate look at Jazlyn, who only frowned back, clearly just as lost.

    Growing frantic, she urged, ¡°Jazlyn, clearly signaling her toe up with something, anything.¡±

    But to her shock, Jazlyn flinched and blurted out, ¡°Haley, show them the proof already! Didn¡¯t you say you saw everything yourself?¡±

    Haley stood there stunned. What? Wasn¡¯t Jazlyn supposed to have the photos? As it turned out, both had assumed the other had the proof. Now, their entire setup crumbled before everyone¡¯s eyes.

    Ste watched their confusion y out like a poorly written script. She couldn¡¯t help butugh lightly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t find it now? Want me to give you a hand? Maybe I should startying out the details¡­ like when you and Marc started your little affair and what you two have been doing behind closed doors. Do you want me to spell it out for you?¡±

    She wasn¡¯t bluffing. She always came prepared for moments like this. The truth was, Marc and Haley had been so careless, she didn¡¯t even need concrete proof¡ªtheir actions spoke for themselves.

    As murmurs rippled through the room, people turned their eyes back to Marc and Haley, now standing awkwardly under the weight of public scrutiny.

    The tension in the air was unbearable.

    Marc¡¯s breath hitched as he met Ste¡¯s unwavering gaze.

    For the first time, it hit him¡ªshe had known all along. Known about everything. And still, she hadn¡¯t said a word until now.

    His voice trembled as he stepped forward. ¡°Ste, wait¡ªplease, let me exin.¡±

    But Ste didn¡¯t flinch. As Marc moved toward her, she calmly raised the wine ss in her hand, and in the next second, sshed the entire drink straight into his face.

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 Chapter 51

    ?Chapter 51:

    It wasn¡¯t Marc¡¯s first time being sshed in public, yet the crowd still erupted in shocked murmurs.

    He wiped his face, blinking as if trying to process what had just happened. Reaching out, he tried to take Ste¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Ste, I trust you. Please, just hear me out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯ty a finger on me! I feel sick just looking at you.¡±

    Without warning, Ste delivered a sharp p across his cheek.

    ¡°This is your idea of love, Marc? Loving two people at once? You call that real love? It¡¯s pathetic.¡±

    Marc stood frozen, stunned by the sting, but after everything that had juste to light, he bit back his anger. He reached out again and gripped Ste¡¯s arm¡ªnot tightly, but firm enough to hold her still.

    Ste let out a small cry. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me!¡±

    He immediately let go, startled, and only then did he notice the bruises and marks scattered across her skin. The sight left him shocked.

    ¡°Ste, what happened to you¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, Haley¡¯s face lit up with sudden realization.

    Then it had to be true¡ªSte had actually been raped by those men. The visible injuries alone spoke louder than any photograph ever could.

    Grinning with triumph, she released the arm she had been holding and dered loudly, ¡°You keep insisting you¡¯re innocent, but what about those bruises, Ste? Isn¡¯t that the aftermath of your night with them?¡±

    The aftermath of her night with them?

    Gasps rippled through the crowd, some even covering their mouths in disbelief. Even in their elite circles, such behavior, though not unheard of, was always kept behind closed doors.

    No one ever talked about those things in the open.

    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .

    And yet, here was Ste, showing up to a public event with visible marks and not the slightest sign of shame.

    ¡°You only signed the patent renewal yesterday because we caught you, didn¡¯t you? You were scared we¡¯d expose everything.¡±

    With a triumphant smile, Haley snatched the contract from Marc and held it up in front of Ste like a trophy.

    ¡°You could barely stand straight and yet you were still begging them not to stop. You kept saying how much you liked it. Do you really think anyone would forget a scene that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Disgusting? And now you want to act like you¡¯re the victim?¡± Her words were sharp, vulgar, andpletely indifferent to the people around them.

    The uglier Ste¡¯s expression became, the more energized Haley seemed.

    Ste¡¯s brow furrowed, and in the next second, she grabbed Haley¡¯s wrist hard. ¡°You know what you did is a crime, right? You could go to prison for this.¡± shes of the previous day surged through Ste¡¯s mind, dragging the fear from that moment back into her chest.

    Marc, meanwhile, stood frozen, Haley¡¯s words echoing in his head. What was she trying to say?

    Could Ste really have done something like that?

    The thought alone rattled him, stealing his focus from everything else¡ªincluding Haley¡¯s behavior. His attention narrowed entirely on the disturbing possibility that Ste had been with other men. A storm of anger gathered in his eyes.

    But the moment he met Ste¡¯s icy stare, reality struck him like a blow. The cold rity in her eyes cut straight through his confusion.

    ¡°Haley, what did you¡­¡±

    The words came out like venom, barely held back by restraint.

    Was Haley responsible for those bruises on Ste? Had she set something up?

    Haley¡¯s body shook, and for a moment, she couldn¡¯t speak.

    She lowered her head and didn¡¯t dare to face him.

    But it didn¡¯t take long before she nced up again, tears gathering in her eyes. She looked at Marc with a trembling, helpless expression.

    ¡°Marc, please don¡¯t believe her lies. She¡¯s only using me because I uncovered the truth. Now she¡¯s trying to twist it all and make me the viin!¡±

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 Chapter 52

    ?Chapter 52:

    Beatrice was fuming after hearing Ste use Haley. She was certain her daughter hadn¡¯t said anything of the sort.

    She stepped forward protectively, positioning herself in front of Haley. ¡°Ms. Russell, you might be bold, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to spout lies. That usation ispletely out of line.¡±

    Not giving Ste a chance to reply, Beatrice turned to Marc with her chin held high. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I only agreed to work with you because of Haley¡¯s feelings for you. But after this baseless nder against my daughter, I see no reason to continue our partnership.¡±

    And with that, she made a show of turning to leave, signaling for Haley to follow. Haley, of course, didn¡¯t want to go. But she was scared Ste might actually expose something real, so even though she hesitated, she followed her mother.

    Still, she dragged her feet slightly, watching Marc out of the corner of her eye, hoping he¡¯d stop her.

    Marc, however, found himself stuck between two paths.

    At first, teaming up with the Smith family had seemed like the smart move¡ªhe figured their power and connections could help pull hispany through the storm.

    To make it work, he didn¡¯t mind entertaining Haley¡¯s obvious interest in him. She was eager and persistent, and at the time, he hadn¡¯t seen any harm in ying along.

    But now, if what Ste said was true, then there was no longer any need to keep up the act. He couldn¡¯t keep pretending for the sake of business, not when it meant letting someone like Haley get close enough to hurt Ste.

    That thought hit him hard, and his expression darkened. He turned to Haley, eyes sharp and cold, a storm brewing behind them.

    ¡°Hold on¡ªwhat exactly did you do to Ste?¡±

    Haley¡¯s heart pounded. Trying to keep her voice calm, she said, ¡°Marc, I haven¡¯t done anything! Don¡¯t you believe me? Hasn¡¯t Ste been ignoring youtely and staying away from home?¡±

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    She wasn¡¯t wrong. Marc hadined about Ste avoiding him, often saying she¡¯d been staying at her work dorm.

    Haley had been holding onto that information, waiting for the right moment to strike. Now, she used it like a trump card.

    ¡°If she¡¯s so innocent, then why hasn¡¯t shee back home?¡± she said slyly.

    Her wordsnded exactly where she wanted. Marc¡¯s mind started to spin.

    Ste had been distanttely¡ªwas something going on between her and William?

    William had connections. Could it be that Ste was leaning on him¡­ maybe even growing close to someone else through him?

    Marc nced over at Ste, suspicion clouding his gaze. He looked torn, as if caught between love and betrayal.

    He still loved her deeply. But if she had cheated on him¡­ he wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d even begin to deal with it.

    The moment Ste met his eyes, she understood¡ªHaley had gotten to him again.

    Before Marc could say anything, Ste gave him a frosty smile. She pulled a recorder from her bag and pressed y.

    The speaker¡¯s voice rang out clearly: ¡°Do whatever you want. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    Then came another voice¡ªsharp and mocking. ¡°Ste, Marc told me to handle this. You refused to sign the contract nicely, so this is your punishment. Let¡¯s see how proud you act next time!¡±

    Before meeting Jazlyn and Haley, Ste had sensed that something wasn¡¯t right. Trusting her instincts, she had slipped a recording device into her bag¡ªjust in case.

    She never took it out, and when she leftter, she didn¡¯t get the chance to turn it off before those men grabbed her.

    That¡¯s why the recorder stayed hidden in her bag, quietly recording everything that happened in the hotel room.

    Later, during the struggle, Ste had hit the men with her bag, damaging the recorder.

    Yesterday, she gave it to Lainey to see if it could be fixed.

    And luckily, after some repairs, the recording turned out to be fully intact.

    Once the recording finished ying, Ste walked up to Haley with a cold look in her eyes.

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 Chapter 53

    ?Chapter 53:

    Marc¡¯s face darkened with anger as he turned to stare straight at Haley. Haley¡¯s eyes filled with tears, but no matter how many times she shook her head, nobody believed her.

    The recording Ste yed was clear and impossible to deny. There was nothing Haley could say to get out of it.

    She looked at Marc, hoping for some support, but all she saw in his eyes was disappointment and cold disgust.

    She quickly turned to Jazlyn, but Jazlyn had already stepped away, clearly not willing to stand by her anymore.

    Haley felt crushed inside, but then she clenched her teeth and pointed straight at Jazlyn. ¡°Marc, it¡¯s not what it looks like! Everything I did¡­ your mother told me to! You know she never liked Ste. She wanted you to leave her. She made me do this!¡±

    Her words shocked everyone. Now all eyes were on Jazlyn, who stood frozen in her elegant dress.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying about me! I never told you to do anything like that. Stop ming me without proof!¡± Jazlyn was so angry that shepletely lost herposure.

    Her reaction only made her seem even more out of control.

    ¡°Jazlyn, don¡¯t lie now! You were the one who said Ste wasn¡¯t even able to have kids, that she didn¡¯t have the right background to be good enough for Marc. You told me to figure out a way to make her leave him on her own. This was all your idea!¡± Haley shouted.

    She didn¡¯t care anymore.

    She couldn¡¯t afford to losepletely, not now. So she had to sacrifice Jazlyn!

    Marc looked at his mother with a chilling stare. It all made sense now. These were exactly the kinds of things she would say.

    So it was true¡ªhis own mother and Haley had nned this all along.

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    Ste stood quietly, watching them tear each other apart with a cold smile.

    Not long ago, they were pretending to be one big happy family. Now?

    They were crumbling from the inside, and she hadn¡¯t lifted a finger.

    Her eyes remained distant as she held the recorder tightly in her hand, quietly taking in the chaos.

    Meanwhile, back in his office, William was going through some paperwork when Luca came in holding a file. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell has already signed. Here¡¯s the contract.¡±

    William looked over the signature and instantly recognized Ste¡¯s neat handwriting. ¡°Did she ask for anything else?¡±

    Luca shook his head. ¡°No, she signed it easily. Didn¡¯t ask for anything.¡±

    William wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised. That was just like her.

    Noticing that Luca hadn¡¯t left, he asked, ¡°Is there more?¡±

    Luca paused, then said, ¡°Ms. Russell went to the Choria charity event by herself tonight.¡±

    William stopped what he was doing, something shifting in his gaze. ¡°Was the Walsh family there too?¡±

    Luca nodded. ¡°Yes, and there¡¯s already been some drama. Ms. Russell yed that recording from the other day.¡±

    William raised his brows in surprise. Ste had recorded it? That, he hadn¡¯t expected.

    Just imagining her handling it all on her own at such a big event made things a lot more interesting. It was exactly the kind of bold move she would pull.

    William set his pen down and grabbed his coat.

    Luca looked confused. ¡°Are you heading out, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    William fixed his cor calmly. ¡°She¡¯s our partner now. We just signed that deal¡ªif something happens to her, it could affect thepany.¡±

    His exnation made sense, and Luca quickly nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there, sir.¡±

    On the way, Luca kept sneaking nces at William in the rearview mirror.

    Was this really just about business?

    Somehow, it didn¡¯t feel like it. He¡¯d never seen Mr. Briggs act like this over any woman¡ªnot until Ms. Russell.

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 Chapter 54

    ?Chapter 54:

    The chaos in the banquet hall hadn¡¯t died down in the slightest. Ste stood still, observing as Haley and Jazlyn tore into each other, exposing nearly every dirty secret they¡¯d kept hidden.

    Jazlyn wasn¡¯t about to back down quietly. The moment Haley began throwing usations, she fired back without hesitation.

    ¡°Haley, you¡¯ve got some nerve,¡± she snapped. ¡°You knew my son was married and still chased after him like a lost puppy. Everyone at Walsh Group has seen you throw yourself at him. And let¡¯s not forget¡ªyou hired thugs to kidnap Ste!¡±

    Haley¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pin that on me! You¡¯re the one who told me to do it. I was following your orders!¡±

    Ste listened quietly from the crowd, her eyes narrowing at Haley.

    At first, she¡¯d thought Haley was just another spoiled brat¡ªpampered overseas, loud, and entitled. But after everything that had happened, Ste realized something far more unsettling. People raised in Achury acted as though thews of Choria didn¡¯t apply to them. They did whatever they wanted and expected to get away with it.

    Haley had no conscience. She¡¯d done all of it without a second thought¡ªand would undoubtedly do it again if given the chance.

    Even if Ste eventually divorced Marc, Haley was someone she would always need to keep an eye on.

    She nced at Marc, who had remained silent through it all. His expression was dark, as if the ground had just shifted beneath him. Good, Ste thought.

    He probably never imagined that while he was busy thinking he had everything under control, the two women closest to him were running their own shady schemes behind his back.

    What a sharp p to the ego.

    Realizing she was losing ground with Jazlyn, Haley quickly switched tactics. With tears welling in her eyes, she turned toward Ste and rushed over, pushing past Marc and his mother.

    The tales you love are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    ¡°Ms. Russell, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°This is all on me. I was tricked by Marc¡¯s mom. I swear, I never meant to hurt you. Whateverpensation you want¡ªmoney, anything¡ªjust say the word. My family will pay. Please, forgive me.¡±

    The implication was clear¡ªshe was admitting that Ste had been vited. Ste let out a soft scoff. ¡°Oh? And how much exactly were you nning to offer me?¡±

    Haley¡¯s face lit up, thinking Ste was willing to settle. ¡°Whatever amount you want! Just name it. My family can afford it.¡±

    Typical of the Achury elite. To them, money fixed everything.

    Marc¡¯s brow furrowed. Why would Ste even entertain this? Had he ever denied her money? Why go to Haley of all people?

    Haley was still watching Ste with hopeful eyes, desperate for a number¡ªany number.

    But Ste? She was enjoying every second of it. The more hope Haley showed, the sweeter the fall.

    ¡°Haley,¡± Ste said coolly, ¡°not everything in life can be solved by throwing money at it. I don¡¯t want your money. I¡¯m taking the evidence to the police. Let them handle it.¡±

    Her voice was calm, but her smile was ice-cold.

    Haley¡¯s face fell in an instant. She opened her mouth to say something else, but Ste cut her off with another sarcastic smile. ¡°Oh¡ªand by the way. All that effort you put in? It was a waste. Your guys failed. There are no pictures. I just walked away with a few scratches.¡±

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 Chapter 55

    ?Chapter 55:

    What?

    That was the breaking point for Haley. Hearing those words sent her into a silent rage.

    She was convinced that no matter how messy things got for her, Ste would be dragged down too. She had stirred enough chaos to ruin Ste¡¯s name.

    And now? Now Ste was saying she wasn¡¯t even harmed that night? That couldn¡¯t be right.

    She was seconds away from exploding. But with everyone watching, she swallowed her anger, even though her face said otherwise¡ªtight jaw, clenched fists, the works.

    Meanwhile, Marc¡ªstanding just a few steps away¡ªlet out a long, quiet breath. For him, the news came as a massive relief.

    Marc loved Ste deeply. Even if something terrible had happened to her, he wouldn¡¯t have walked away.

    But if she really had been vited, he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to touch her again.

    No matter how much he cared for her, he couldn¡¯t ignore his obsession with purity. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man who could pretend nothing had changed if his wife had been with someone else.

    So when he heard that Ste had only suffered minor injuries, it felt like a blessing from above.

    The fear had been eating him up inside. Now that it turned out to be false, he promised himself he¡¯d hold onto her tighter.

    He felt overwhelmed with relief and moved toward Ste, wanting to tell her to be more careful. But just as he reached out, she pped him hard across the face.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away from me? You make me sick.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the first p today either. She¡¯d done it once already.

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    Everyone around them gasped in shock¡ªno one expected her to go off on Marc like that.

    ¡°Ste?¡± Marc stood there, stunned. His cheek stung, but he didn¡¯t care¡ªhe just wanted to talk to her, to exin.

    Ste, however, took a step back and didn¡¯t give him the chance. ¡°I¡¯m not done with you yet. That patent? It¡¯s been under a differentpany for a while now. Your people forced me into a deal I didn¡¯t want, and they kept using my work after the deal expired. That¡¯s illegal.¡±

    When she brought up the contract, Marc remembered the one Haley had handed him. His unease was written all over his face.

    ¡°My new partners have already taken a hit because of your actions. Even if I wanted to spare you, they won¡¯t. So you¡¯d better be ready for a huge payout.¡± Her tone was icy. They were still technically married, but there wasn¡¯t a flicker of warmth in her eyes.

    Marc¡¯s heart dropped. The contract worried him, sure¡ªbut what really scared him was how cold and done she looked.

    Haley, sensing a chance to twist things, quickly jumped in. ¡°Oh,e on, Ste! Do you really think anyone¡¯s going to buy that story? Who would ever dare sue the Walsh Group? That patent¡¯s been under their name for years¡ªeveryone in the industry knows it. No one would even go near it!¡±

    In her mind, all this talk was just Ste¡¯s way of pulling Marc back in. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to y the sympathy card so Marc won¡¯t divorce you. You think that¡¯s gonna work? What do you even have to offer? I can bring him real deals¡ªforeign investors, key partnerships. You¡¯ve got nothing.¡±

    Haley never saw herself as second best to Ste. Not for a second. The only distinctiony in having met Marc at ater juncture. Yet in matters of affection, did precedence hold any relevance? The one who wasn¡¯t loved was the real outsider!

    ¡°What have you even done besides that one lucky patent? If Marc hadn¡¯t backed you up, you¡¯d have been out on the streets a long time ago. That patent? He only used it because he felt sorry for you. Do you seriously think you¡¯re some brilliant inventor?¡±

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 Chapter 56

    ?Chapter 56:

    Haley stared at Ste with visible contempt, as though she hadn¡¯t been the one pleading moments ago.

    Ste remained silent, allowing Haley to unleash her fury uninterrupted. Once the outburst ended, she spoke in a steady tone. ¡°You call me disgraceful, but what about your own behavior? Public misconduct, knowingly bing someone¡¯s mistress, and doing it all with pride¡ªthis is what passes for aristocratic grace in Achury? What an inspiring example of moral decay.¡±

    Haley opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t form a response. Instead, she stamped her foot in irritation.

    Unbothered, Ste went on. ¡°You say my patent is worthless, yet the Walsh Group¡¯s sess over the years would suggest otherwise. Should we talk about those wed contracts of yours? Or maybe look at the patent agreements that clearly outline the monthly fees owed? Take a closer look and see whether Walsh Group¡¯s actually paid me.¡±

    Living off someone else¡¯s work while pretending to be righteous, what a joke.

    Haley clenched her jaw, unwilling to back down. ¡°You keep saying someone signed your patent deal, then prove it. Where¡¯s the contract? Aren¡¯t you always going on about having evidence?¡±

    She was certain Ste had nothing to show, and that belief fueled her boldness. ¡°Go ahead, bring it out. I want to see who dares challenge the Walsh family!¡±

    Beatrice hade to Haley¡¯s side again, standing tall and offering her silent backing. She ced her full trust in her daughter, not Ste.

    By doing so, she made one thing clear: anyone bold enough to sign a contract with Ste wasn¡¯t just opposing the Walsh family, they were going up against the elite circles of Achury as well.

    The confrontation dragged on, and the crowd buzzed with anticipation, waiting to see whether Ste could actually produce the agreement she imed to have.

    But the contract had been finalized at the research institute, and Lainey was the one holding the document. Ste didn¡¯t have it with her.

    Just as she reached for her phone to ask Lainey to send a copy, a voice rang out from beyond the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m the one who signed her patent. Is there an issue with that?¡±

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    A hush fell over the gathering.

    Heads turned instantly, and the crowd stepped aside to make way. William appeared, walking in with confident strides.

    It was him! Not just a mysterious figure behind the research institute, but also a powerful businessman.

    Even Ste was caught off guard by his presence. She knew Lainey had arranged a new partnership for her, but she hadn¡¯t imagined that her new employer was William himself.

    William spotted Ste standing by herself, facing a small crowd of hostile faces, and walked directly toward her.

    Positioning himself beside her, he turned toward Haley and Marc, his voice sharp and cold. ¡°I¡¯m the one who signed the contract. Does anyone here have a problem with that?¡±

    William¡¯s influence far outshone that of the Walsh family. The fact that he had acquired Ste¡¯s patent proved it held real value, contrary to everything Haley had imed.

    ¡°After years of working with the Walsh Group, Ms. Russell hasn¡¯t received a single payment. But let me make this clear,¡± William said, directing his words to the room. ¡°I run a principledpany. You¡¯ll be paid every cent you¡¯re owed, Ms. Russell. And my legal team will assist you in recovering everything you¡¯re entitled to.¡±

    Marc¡¯s behavior of living off Ste¡¯s work withoutpensation was, in William¡¯s eyes, pathetic.

    Turning back to her, William gave Ste a warm smile, his expression calm but filled with assurance.

    Ste inhaled sharply. She¡¯d never seen him look at her like that before. Her eyes fluttered, uncertain if what she saw was real¡ªor if her mind was ying tricks on her.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 57

    ?Chapter 57:

    Marc saw the way William and Ste looked at each other and felt a sharp pang of jealousy. He wanted to step in and pull them apart, but William¡¯s high status made him hesitate.

    All he could do was re at Ste, silently hoping she¡¯d notice his frustration and take the hint to back away from other men.

    Being a man, he could easily recognize the meaning behind William¡¯s gaze. It was possessive and dangerous.

    But Ste didn¡¯t look at him even once. She didn¡¯t care.

    Haley studied the man beside Ste. Sure, he was good-looking and tall, but so what?

    ¡°And who exactly do you think you are?¡± Haley sneered. ¡°Saying you signed some contract doesn¡¯t make it real. Did Ste hire you to y along in this little act of hers?¡±

    Haley had grown up in Achury and only moved to Choria because of Marc. She didn¡¯t know many people here.

    So in her eyes, William was just some extra Ste had pulled in¡ªnot someone powerful.

    Beatrice crossed her arms with a scoff. ¡°What matters is proof, not who can talk the biggest game.¡±

    The people at the banquet held their breath. Haley might not know who William was, but they all certainly did.

    And now, they waited eagerly to see how Haley and her mother would embarrass themselves.

    William, on the other hand, didn¡¯t lose his temper. Instead, he let out a quiet, amused chuckle.

    It had been a while since he¡¯de across such pure stupidity.

    Honestly, seeing just how foolish people could be every now and then wasn¡¯t the worst thing¡ªit was almost entertaining.

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    ¡°William Briggs,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Heir to the Briggs family in Briset. The MUE project with the Achury royal family and the Hookwood Research Institute? All under my name. Is that enough to qualify for Ms. Russell¡¯s patent?¡±

    Towering at 6.2ft, William¡¯s presence alone was enough to make Haley and Beatrice feel small.

    Haley remembered her father talking about the MUE project¡ªit was a huge deal, and they couldn¡¯t even get close to it. Yet this man had secured it himself. It was tied to royalty, something even local elites failed to win. Was William really that powerful?

    Beatrice was just as stunned, though her experience helped her hide her reaction better.

    Jazlyn, who had been quiet until now, was shaken by what she had just heard. She never imagined that this man was the head of one of the top business groups in Briset. His status was something most could only dream of.

    How in the world did Ste end up knowing someone like him?

    Marc already knew who William was, but watching him stand beside Ste with such calm authority made his blood boil.

    ¡°Ste,e here,¡± Marc said firmly. ¡°You¡¯re still my wife. Being seen beside someone like Mr. Briggs might cause rumors.¡±

    Ste frowned. She could tell Marc was only saying this to protect his wounded pride.

    Hearing that, William let out a cool chuckle. ¡°Oh? So you do remember she¡¯s your wife, Mr. Walsh? That¡¯s funny! I thought the woman beside you was your true match.¡±

    His words, sharp and dripping with sarcasm, left Marc red with embarrassment. Marc clenched his jaw, his fists curling at his sides.

    ¡°Ste,¡± he called again, hoping that if she came over now, he might still save face in front of William.

    But Ste stepped away. ¡°Marc, stop the act. I was serious when I said I wanted a divorce. You betrayed me first. What did you expect would happen?¡± Did he really think she¡¯d stay chained to him forever?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 58

    ?Chapter 58:

    Marc felt a wave of panic surge through him the moment Ste brought up divorce again.

    ¡°Ste, I know you¡¯re upset today,¡± he said, trying to sound calm. ¡°Let¡¯s talk when we get home, alright? Whatever apology you want, I¡¯ll give it to you. Juste here. Don¡¯t make a scene.¡±

    Ste let out a coldugh. He thought she was just being dramatic?

    Marc nced at William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, regardless of what happened, you signed my wife¡¯s patent. I¡¯m genuinely happy for her. Thank you for recognizing her talent.¡±

    He emphasized ¡°my wife¡± deliberately¡ªstaking his im in front of William. It was a move meant to intimidate, to mark his territory. As long as the divorce wasn¡¯t finalized, he still had that hold over her.

    Haley, standing just behind him, nearlybusted on the spot. Her face twisted in fury.

    William watched it all, amused. ¡°Mr. Walsh, perhaps you should focus on calming your mistress. She looks ready to blow. As for Ms. Russell¡¯s patent¡ªher work speaks for itself. It¡¯s got nothing to do with you, so there¡¯s no credit for you to take.¡±

    William wasn¡¯t usually this talkative, and Ste felt moved. It felt like justice¡ªto finally have someone on her side who saw through Marc¡¯s performance.

    Every time she confronted Marc, he twisted it into some petty tantrum, some jealous outburst. But now, with William exposing him in front of a crowd, Ste felt a deep sense of vindication.

    Marc¡¯s face darkened. The charity event had gone up in mes for him. And worse, Ste wasn¡¯t on his side anymore. She was staring at him now¡ªstone-faced, unmoved.

    Marc stared at Ste¡¯s unwavering expression, his anger overshadowed by panic. His fingers trembled. He didn¡¯t want to lose her. He couldn¡¯t lose her.

    Divorce? Absolutely not.

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    Gripped by desperation, Marc reached out to grab her hand again, thinking maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe could reel her back in. But before Ste could even move, William stepped in and blocked him without hesitation.

    Marc froze. Ste looked at his pitiful, wounded expression¡ªand felt absolutely nothing. She¡¯d been through too much with him¡ªand Haley. Whatever pain he was in now didn¡¯t even scratch the surface of what she¡¯d endured.

    Marc opened his mouth to say something when¡ªWEE-OOO. The sound of police sirens sliced through the banquet hall. Momentster, a team of officers walked in, their expressions hard and professional.

    One of them read from a file, ¡°We received a report of kidnapping and assault. Haley Smith, Marc Walsh, and Jazlyn Walsh¡ªpleasee with us.¡±

    Haley¡¯s mouth dropped open. Ste had really called the police?

    She turned pale, grabbing her mother¡¯s hand in a panic. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t want to go!¡±

    Beatrice was stunned. But she didn¡¯t believe her daughter hadmitted such a crime.

    Then, snapping into action, she turned to the officers. ¡°This must be a mistake. My daughter hasn¡¯t done anything wrong! You can¡¯t just arrest someone over an usation.¡±

    But the officer was firm. ¡°We¡¯ll sort that out at the station, ma¡¯am. Please don¡¯t interfere.¡±

    Beatrice¡¯s heart dropped.

    Back in Achury, she could¡¯ve shut this down with a single call. But this was Choria¡ªher name meant nothing here. She¡¯d onlye because Haley insisted, and now she was standing helpless as her daughter was about to be taken away.

    Haley clung tightly to her mother¡¯s hand, pleading with her eyes. But the officers were already moving in.

    One stepped forward with handcuffs. His voice was t. ¡°Ms. Smith, pleasee with us.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 59

    ?Chapter 59:

    Haley was panicking, backing away frantically. ¡°NO! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! Why should I go with you? I¡¯m not going¡ªdon¡¯t touch me!¡±

    The police didn¡¯t flinch. Her outburst didn¡¯t faze them one bit. When she refused to cooperate, one of the officers calmly reached for the handcuffs on his belt. ¡°We¡¯d appreciate your cooperation, ma¡¯am. If you¡¯re really innocent, the truth wille out. Justice always does.¡±

    That word¡ªjustice¡ªsent Haley into full-blown hysteria. ¡°Mom, say something! We¡¯re not from here, we don¡¯t know how things work! Ste¡¯s lying! Please¡ªdo something!¡±

    Beatrice looked just as helpless. She reached out, but with the cuffs already closing in, there was nothing she could do. She could only watch as her precious daughter was led away in shame.

    Meanwhile, Jazlyn had been slowly trying to sneak off through the crowd. But the moment she heard the officers call her name, she froze like a deer in headlights. ¡°Jazlyn Walsh?¡±

    She turned around, visibly shaking. ¡°Officer¡ªI swear, I don¡¯t know anything! I¡¯lle with you. I¡¯ll tell you everything I do know!¡±

    To be fair, she really didn¡¯t know much. Haley had done most of the scheming on her own. Since Jazlyn wasn¡¯t resisting, the officers didn¡¯t cuff her. One look at her terrified face, and it was clear she wasn¡¯t the ringleader. Two down. One to go.

    Marc never expected Ste to pull this move¡ªcalling the police right there at the g and having them take him too. He might¡¯ve tried to slip away quietly, but Jazlyn, clueless as ever, called out to him, blowing his cover.

    And just like that, the grand charity g came to a crashing, scandalous end. Guests stood around, whispering, wide-eyed and stunned. With Marc taken away, Ste finally turned to leave. She hadn¡¯te to party anyway.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± a calm voice asked beside her.

    She turned to see William walking up, his tone low and casual.

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    ¡°Back to the research center,¡± she answered truthfully. Since deciding to end things with Marc, she hadn¡¯t stepped foot in the vi. She¡¯d already packed up everything important. No reason to go back.

    William nodded. ¡°That¡¯s on my way. I¡¯ll drop you.¡±

    Ste blinked, surprised. It was alreadyte¡ªwas he heading there too?

    ¡°There¡¯s no need, Mr. Briggs. I can manage,¡± she said quickly. She didn¡¯t want to keep riding around in his car. She already owed him a favor¡ªracking up more debt wasn¡¯t part of the n.

    William just kept walking beside her and smirked. ¡°I help you out once, and now you¡¯re trying to keep your distance?¡±

    Thatment caught her off guard, and she flushed. Yes, she owed him thanks for earlier¡ªbut what did that have to do with getting in his car? Still, she said nothing and awkwardly followed him to the vehicle. She opened the door, slipped inside, and sat quietly.

    Luca was driving, and William sat in the back.

    In her flustered state, she forgot to fasten her seatbelt. The ride was smooth at first, the silence almostforting. Ste let herself rx just a bit.

    But then, at a junction, the car made a sharp turn and suddenly braked hard. Before she could react, her body lurched sideways¡ªand she crashed right into William. Her hands shot out to steady herself, but it was toote. She mmed straight into his chest.

    And to make things worse, her chest¡ªsoft and unprotected¡ªended up pressed right against his arm.

    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, the sudden jolt tugged at her clothes, and with a loud snap, one of the buttons on her blouse popped open.

    Ste froze, her face burning. If there was ever a moment to disappear, this was it. She seriously wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 60

    ?Chapter 60:

    Ste didn¡¯t dare nce at William. She immediately scooted away, trying to create some distance between them. That¡¯s when her hair snagged on his belt buckle. The sharp tug made her wince.

    She shifted again, attempting to free herself, but only made things worse. Now it looked like she was doing it on purpose.

    She froze.

    God, no. This was definitely not intentional.

    But instead of pushing her away, like he had before, William just nced down and said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±

    He leaned forward and gently untangled her hair.

    Ste scrambled backward as soon as she was free, her face burning. She clutched her shirt closed and backed away, creating a proper and professional distance between them. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Briggs! I didn¡¯t mean to, the car turned suddenly, and I just¡­ lost my bnce. I swear, I have no improper intentions toward you whatsoever!¡±

    She looked so earnest that one might think she was taking an oath.

    William raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her dramatic sincerity.

    But Ste misinterpreted his look. She thought he didn¡¯t believe her. She rushed to add, ¡°If I did have any improper thoughts about you, may I get hit by a car the moment I step outside!¡± Even Luca, sitting up front, flinched at that.

    Ste clearly was pulling out all the stops to clear the air.

    William¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°No need for such a dramatic curse. I¡¯m not blind. I saw what happened¡ªit was just the turn.¡±

    Ste muttered under her breath, ¡°Well, you were basically blindst time.¡± He hadn¡¯t been like this before.

    She thought she said it quietly enough. She hadn¡¯t.

    The entire car went silent¡ªawkwardly so. William heard it. Luca definitely heard it.

    Luca cringed.

    William¡¯s voice was low and unreadable. ¡°Where did thate from?¡±

    Ste knew she had messed up the second he asked. Her mouth had run faster than her brain¡ªagain. Now there was no way to take it back.

    Since she couldn¡¯t walk it back, she decided to be honest. They saw each other nearly every day at the institute. She couldn¡¯t keep walking on eggshells around him.

    Taking a deep breath, she sat up straighter and met his gaze. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I just feel like¡­ you¡¯ve got a bit of a bias against me. It makes things really difficult whenever you¡¯re around.¡±

    William held her gaze, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. ¡°When have I ever made things difficult for you?¡±

    First, she¡¯d called him blind. Now, she was using him of being the source of her anxiety. Bold, but that little burst of courage quickly fizzled when she met his cool, unreadable eyes. He was far too calm.

    Ste instantly shrank back, her eyes darting toward the window. ¡°Forget I said anything, Mr. Briggs. Just pretend I was rambling.¡±

    She pressed herself against the car door, as though the window might offer an escape. There was no way she was risking another idental brush.

    William watched her for a beat, a smile barely there.

    Ste really was more interesting than he¡¯d expected.

    Then, casually, he said, ¡°Ms. Russell, you took my measurements earlier. So the suit should fit perfectly this time, right?¡±

    His voice had the faintest teasing edge.

    Ste blinked. Wait, what? Hadn¡¯t he told her not to waste her time on ¡°trivial¡± things like that? Was he changing his mind now?

    Was he expecting another suit¡ªequal value, custom-fitted?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 61

    ?Chapter 61:

    Ste stared out the window, quietly turning his words over in her mind. She had been lost in thought for a while, and just as she was about to speak, the car rolled to a gentle stop.

    She nced over at him, only to hear him say calmly, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the research institute¡¯s dormitory, Ms. Russell. Please take care.¡±

    The way he said it¡ªpolite yet distant¡ªleft her with no room to ask anything further. Ste had no choice but to hold back the question that hovered on the tip of her tongue. It was clear he was politely drawing the line, and pressing him now would onlye off as rude.

    So she simply lowered her head, whispered a soft ¡°thank you,¡± and stepped out of the car without another word.

    When she returned to the dorm, Lainey was still awake. The moment she heard the door, she sat up, her eyes filled with worry. ¡°Hey, how did it go? Everything alright?¡±

    Ste could tell Lainey had been worried. ¡°It went well,¡± she said. ¡°And honestly, if you hadn¡¯t fixed my recorder, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to show everyone that Haley framed me.¡±

    Haley and Marc were probably having a rough time at the police station right now. Even if they managed to walk outter, their reputations were already in shambles. Once she filed for divorce, the truth behind it would be out in the open.

    As for the patent, Marc could forget about it. That ship had sailed, and his troubles were only just beginning.

    Lainey waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Please, those two snakes deserve everythinging to them.¡±

    In fact, Lainey thought this was letting them off easy. If she had her way, they¡¯d be skinned alive.

    Ste chuckled at how fired up Lainey was. As she changed clothes, she asked casually, ¡°Hey, why didn¡¯t you tell me that Mr. Briggs was the one behind thepany I signed with?¡±

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    Lainey blinked. ¡°Wait. What are you talking about?¡±

    Ste gave her a look. ¡°Thepany that offered me the new contract¡ªit¡¯s under the Briggs Group.¡±

    Lainey gawked at her, totally floored¡ªjust as stunned as Ste had been when she found out earlier.

    Ste had assumed Lainey was already aware, but it was obvious now that she had no clue.

    ¡°Oh my god! William? You¡¯re working with him? I seriously had no idea!¡± Lainey gasped. ¡°I only knew the rep seemed generous and professional over the phone. They felt legit, so I told you to go for it. I didn¡¯t know he was behind the whole thing.¡±

    She truly hadn¡¯t realized it was linked to William. If she had, she might¡¯ve thought twice and definitely would¡¯ve given Ste a heads-up.

    Ste didn¡¯t actually mind¡ªit just felt a little awkward. But since Lainey clearly hadn¡¯t known, Ste waved it off, saying it didn¡¯t matter. As long as the partnership worked out, that was all that mattered.

    Lainey agreed quickly. ¡°Honestly, they¡¯re offering a much better deal. This will be way more worthwhile than anything Marc ever gave you.¡±

    When it came to business, Lainey felt she could count on William to be fair and professional.

    ¡°By the way,¡± Lainey began, ¡°you¡¯re all over the inte right now. After what happened at the g, everyone¡¯s talking about how Marc stole your patent. Looks like Briggs Group is getting ready to take legal action, and thepensation alone might bankrupt him.¡±

    Marc¡¯spany had only grown because of Ste¡¯s invention. So when the news broke that the patent was no longer his to use, his business partners didn¡¯t waste a second¡ªthey pulled out.

    Earlier today, Marc had been trying to line up new investors. But after the scandal, no one in Choria wanted anything to do with him.

    Covering thepensation fees now would be nearly impossible for him. At this rate, he¡¯d have no choice but to mortgage thepany, maybe even lose it entirely. That would be the end of the Walsh Group. Ste hadn¡¯t heard something this satisfying in a long time.

    And Lainey wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°As for Haley¡ªshe thought she could get away with anything just because she¡¯s not from around here. But the authorities aren¡¯t letting it slide. She¡¯s probably headed to jail.¡±

    With two nations involved, the whole thing had be a diplomatic issue, not something that could be brushed under the rug.

    Letting Haley off the hook like that would damage the government¡¯s credibility.

    Even if it was only for show, they couldn¡¯t afford to go easy on her.

    Meanwhile, Ste stepped out of the shower, feeling clean and much more at ease. The steady chirping of cicadas outside created the kind of calm that made sleepe easily.

    She curled up in bed, pulled the nket over her, and closed her eyes with a quiet sense of peace.

    The chaos and hurt she¡¯d been through finally ended today. She had taken her stand¡ªand won.

    While Ste and Lainey slept peacefully, Marc was having a far rougher night.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 62

    ?Chapter 62:

    Since the police needed a full ount of the incident, they began by interviewing everyone separately before moving on to a joint session. Frightened by the thought of prison, Jazlyn broke down and confessed everything.

    ¡°Officer, I swear I didn¡¯t know Haley had arranged for anyone to hurt Ste. She told me it was just about staging some fake photos. I wasn¡¯t thinking straight, I just wanted to push Ste into leaving my son. I never intended for anyone to get hurt!¡±

    Her face was earnest as she spoke, and in an attempt to prove her innocence, she even handed over her message history with Haley as evidence.

    The messages did, in fact, mention nothing beyond staging a few photos to smear Ste¡¯s image.

    One of the officers nced at Jazlyn with clear disapproval. ¡°Even if you wanted to break them up, there are legal ways to go about it. She¡¯s your daughter-inw, and you still agreed to this? What you¡¯ve done is criminal.¡±

    Now consumed by regret, Jazlyn couldn¡¯t believe she had trusted someone like Haley. She had hoped Marc would move on to someone more suitable, but instead, he had be entangled with someone far worse.

    ¡°Officer, I see now how wrong I was. It was that woman¡ªshe kept filling my head with lies, telling me Ste wasn¡¯t good enough. I was foolish to believe her. I swear, I¡¯ll never let something like this happen again!¡±

    Once the officers saw she had nothing more to add, they had her escorted out and brought Haley and Marc in for questioning, one at a time.

    After the initial interviews, the three of them were ced together in a single room.

    ¡°I¡¯ve gone over each of your statements,¡± the officer announced. ¡°I¡¯ll read them aloud now. If everything is correct, you¡¯ll each sign.¡±

    As the officer began reading, Marc¡¯s face grew darker with every word. He shot a furious look at Haley, who sat beside him in silence.

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    ¡°It really was you,¡± he snapped. ¡°What gave you the right to drag Ste into something like this?¡±

    Marc had already made his stance clear. His involvement with Haley was nothing serious. He might entertain himself outside, but Ste would always be his wife.

    As long as Haley didn¡¯t interfere with Ste, Marc was content to let her remain by his side. But she had crossed the line.

    Haley, meanwhile, was far too preupied with the fear of jail time to pay attention to Marc¡¯s fury.

    Marc¡¯s anger built steadily, not just toward Haley for disregarding his warning, but also toward Ste. She had handed her patent to the Briggs Group, knowing full well hispany was struggling to renew its contracts. Now, she was showing up at formal events with William by her side.

    What exactly was going on between them?

    ¡°I need to leave,¡± Marc muttered. ¡°I had no involvement in this at any point. I wasn¡¯t part of any of it! I need to get out now!¡±

    What he really wanted was to find Ste, to confront her, to understand why she had suddenly shut him out sopletely, and to uncover what kind of connection she had with William.

    ¡°Once everything is on record and fully admitted,¡± the officer said, ¡°you¡¯ll be free to go.¡±

    The officer continued reading aloud.

    Once he finished, he looked up. ¡°Any objections to the statement?¡±

    Haley was quick to react, lifting her hand. ¡°Yes, Officer. I already said earlier, this whole scheme was Jazlyn¡¯s idea. She was the one calling the shots. I just followed her instructions. I had nothing to do with nning any of it!¡±

    She had lied earlier during her individual questioning, and now she stuck to the same false story.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying Jazlyn directed you. Do you have anything to prove that?¡± The officer asked, his tone t.

    Haley hesitated for a moment beforeunching into her response. ¡°How would I have proof? She told me face to face that she didn¡¯t want her daughter-inw around anymore. She said to find some men to assault her¡ªI remember her saying that exactly!¡±

    The officer gave her a t look, clearly unconvinced, and let out a quiet, humorlessugh.

    ¡°You¡¯re offering no evidence to support your im, while Jazlyn¡¯s chat history only mentions a staged photo shoot. There¡¯s nothing else suggested.¡±

    ¡°She must¡¯ve deleted the rest, I swear she did!¡± Haley doubled down without a second thought.

    But her ount was riddled with contradictions. First, she insisted the conversation happened in person, leaving no evidence, then suddenly imed Jazlyn had deleted messages. The inconsistency made it clear she was lying.

    ¡°You¡¯re making things up! I didn¡¯t delete a single thing. We came to the station without warning. How would I even have time to erase chat logs?¡± Jazlyn snapped, her voice sharp with frustration.

    She was beginning to see Haley for who she truly was¡ªcalcting and willing to throw anyone under the bus to save herself. All those moments of feigned affection, the promises to be like family¡ªthey had all been empty words.

    ¡°What exactly did I lie about? Are you seriously going to im you¡¯ve never had a problem with Ste? Weren¡¯t you the one who told me to put her in her ce?¡± Haley shot back, not flinching.

    Overwhelmed by the situation, Jazlyn broke down in tears right there at the police station, shouting that Haley was a heartless and cruel woman.

    ¡°Marc, please, you have to believe me. I would never tell her to do something like that to Ste. I swear I didn¡¯t!¡± Through her sobs, Jazlyn begged Marc to believe she was telling the truth.

    She wiped at her face, her eyes scanning the room in desperation.

    While Haley was the one who escted the situation and turned a staged setup into something real, it had been Jazlyn who initially floated the idea of punishing Ste. She had nted the seed from the beginning.

    As the investigation progressed, it became increasingly clear that the truth wasn¡¯t going to favor her. Both women had yed roles in the scheme, and now each was scrambling to shift the me and protect herself.

    Meanwhile, Marc¡¯s thoughts kept returning to Ste¡ªwhere she might have gone after everything that had happened, and whether she had left with William.

    He made up his mind in that moment. He had to go after her immediately.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 63

    ?Chapter 63:

    Marc stared at the officer, frustration evident in his voice. ¡°Let me out, or I¡¯ll have mywyer contact you.¡±

    The officer didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°You¡¯re wee to call yourwyer, but it won¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re not going anywhere tonight. You¡¯re under investigation for intellectual property infringement. The opposingpany has already submitted evidence. Until we sort this out, you stay put.¡±

    That was the final blow. Marc slouched back in the hard chair, jaw clenched. He had nned to find Ste, to talk things through, maybe even fix everything. Now, that hope was shattered.

    To make matters worse, Jazlyn and Haley were still sobbing beside him. Their constant sniffles and dramatic cries were grating on his nerves.

    Suddenly, he mmed his hand on the table. ¡°Enough already! What are you even crying for? You two worked together to hurt Ste, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The outburst silenced them. Jazlyn choked on her sobs. Haley red at him, her lips trembling.

    She couldn¡¯t understand why everything was going in Ste¡¯s favor. First, Ste had married Marc, then William showed up, practically shielding her from harm.

    Haley was almost certain that William had intervened and ruined her entire n. Why was Ste always so lucky? Why did men like Marc and William gravitate toward her?

    Marc, who used to be so gentle with Haley, had been cold and irritable with her all day. The injustice burned inside her.

    The next morning, the sun rose on what should¡¯ve been a milestone day at the institute¡ªthe start of the confidential research project.

    The lobby buzzed with activity. Selected members stood with their luggage, excited and proud. Those not chosen gathered to see them off.

    Ste stood off to the side, quietly observing. On the surface, she was calm, but her eyes betrayed the disappointment she felt.

    She had poured so much into this project, fully believing that her skills and dedication would earn her a spot. But in the end, she had overestimated herself. Now, she could only watch as the others chased a dream she thought would be hers.

    Her suitcase was already packed. Not for the project, but for something far more personal. She had made up her mind to step away and focus on the divorce.

    Last night¡¯s drama had drawn too much attention, and she needed space. She had already informed the institute of her nned leave, and her superiors had not objected. After the project team left, she walked into the office to submit her leave request.

    Her supervisor looked at her with a kind expression. ¡°Ste, sometimes a break is a good thing. Come back when you¡¯re ready.¡±

    She forced a smile and nodded.

    Her supervisor saw the disappointment in her eyes and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. There will always be other chances.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Ste replied softly. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay¡­ eventually.¡±

    Dragging her suitcase behind her, she made her way toward the exit.

    Just as she neared the door of the institute, she saw Lainey rush in.

    Lainey spotted her immediately, sprinted over, and grabbed her hand, panting and wide-eyed.

    ¡°Ste! Don¡¯t go out¡ªMarc¡¯s at the institute gate. He¡¯s causing a huge scene!¡±

    Ste froze. Marc?

    With all the charges against him, how could he be out already? Was he here because of what happenedst night at the g? Maybe he wanted to confront her.

    ¡°Who knows what kind of tricks he pulled to get out so quickly!¡± Lainey muttered, clearly shaken.

    Lainey didn¡¯t want Ste to face him. After all, Marc had once hit her. Who knew what he was capable of now?

    Suddenly, a strong hand gripped the handle of Ste¡¯s suitcase and yanked it back.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 64

    ?Chapter 64:

    Ste froze for a moment, then turned to find it was William. He was walking toward the garage.

    He took a few steps before realizing she wasn¡¯t following. He turned around, his expression slightly frowning. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡±

    For a brief moment, she was at a loss. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to have left with the project team? Why was he still here?

    Her mind raced with questions as she followed him to the parking lot. Without breaking stride, he effortlessly lifted her suitcase with one hand and ced it in the trunk.

    He opened the driver¡¯s side door but nced back at her before getting in.

    ¡°Get in.¡± His tone was low and firm¡ªnot a request, but amand.

    Ste hesitated for a moment but eventually climbed into the passenger seat. After all, her suitcase was already in the trunk.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, weren¡¯t you supposed to leave with the project team? Why are you¡­?¡± She trailed off. She wanted to ask why he was still here and where he was taking her, but the questions seemed to stack up. William didn¡¯t appear eager to answer.

    Instead, he started the car, and it shot forward with speed.

    As they sped past the institute¡¯s gates, Ste spotted Marc outside, pacing like a man on the edge. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned her face away from the window.

    The silence inside the car became palpable. She stole a nce at William, who was focused on driving as though she wasn¡¯t even there.

    Ste finally broke the silence. ¡°Mr. Briggs, did you see Marc out there?¡±

    William didn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°Do I look blind to you?¡±

    She blinked, caught off guard. ¡°Sorry.¡±

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    He let out a dry, humorlessugh, as though her apology was pointless.

    She wasn¡¯t the one who had invited Marc there. Why was she apologizing?

    Ste sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t gone to that charity eventst night, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have shown up today.¡±

    She didn¡¯t regret confronting Marc¡ªbut she regretted the trouble it had caused for everyone else. That guilt weighed more heavily on her than her own anger.

    ¡°That¡¯s very considerate of you,¡± William said with a soft chuckle, but his tone made her wonder if he was mocking her.

    Ste fell silent. She didn¡¯t even ask where they were headed. She figured, wherever it was, he probably wasn¡¯t driving her off a cliff.

    The stoplight ahead turned red. As the countdown ticked, William finally spoke again. ¡°The core project members¡¯ names aren¡¯t public, for confidentiality. The list that went out was only partial.¡±

    Ste blinked. Her breath hitched. She stared at him. Was he saying¡­?

    ¡°You mean¡­ I¡¯m on the confidential list?¡± she asked, her voice rising slightly.

    William didn¡¯t answer, only hitting the gas when the light turned green.

    But Ste leaned forward, her eyes shining with hope. ¡°I¡¯m willing to join. Are we heading to the team now?¡±

    No matter what role she was assigned, she was eager to join the team.

    He gave a soft ¡°Mm¡± in response. Then, casually, he added, ¡°But if you join¡­ have you thought about what to do with your husband?¡±

    She tensed. William continued, ¡°He¡¯s not going to let this go. Especially now that you didn¡¯t show.¡±

    Ste leaned back slowly, her voice calm but cold. ¡°I¡¯m done with him. I¡¯ve signed the divorce papers. Once I¡¯m on the project team, I¡¯ll erase every trace of myself. Let him think I¡¯m dead for all I care. Let him regret it for the rest of his life.¡±

    William gave her a sidelong nce. Letting Marc believe she was dead? That was¡­ intense.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow.

    Ste stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past. ¡°Besides, he has bigger problems. The patent theft, the stuff with Haley¡ªhe¡¯ll be too busy dealing with that mess to even think about me.¡±

    Her voice had a trace of satisfaction. It was ironic, really.

    Haley had tried to destroy her, and in the end, she¡¯d dragged Marc down with her.

    Someone as selfish as Marc wouldn¡¯t havee today unless he thought it served his interests.

    The thought made Ste chuckle coldly.

    William nced her way, taking her in. There was something new in his eyes¡ªsomething closer to recognition.

    She definitely wasn¡¯t the naive woman people mistook her for.

    When she decided to be tough, she didn¡¯t just dip her toe in¡ªshe dove straight into the fire.

    And strangely, William admired that about her.

    Blind submission was dull. Mindless rebellion? Just exhausting.

    But Ste struck a rare bnce¡ªsoft where it mattered, sharp where it counted. She¡¯d clearly learned where the line was¡ªand when to cross it.

    After a moment, he spoke again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Marc. The institute will deal with him.¡±

    Ste blinked at him but didn¡¯t question it.

    Whoever handled Marc¡­ he was no longer her problem.

    Back at the institute¡¯s entrance, Marc was still yelling, demanding to see Ste. He knew she was still in there¡ªshe hadn¡¯t returned home.

    His eyes were wild. His fists mmed against the gate. ¡°If she doesn¡¯te out, I swear¡ªI¡¯ll tear this whole damn ce down!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 65

    ?Chapter 65:

    Marc had spent the entire night locked up at the police station. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to change clothes before storming over to the institute in a frenzy to find Ste.

    Too bad for him¡ªthe guards at the gate weren¡¯t letting him take a single step past the entrance, leaving him no choice but to shout from outside.

    His shouting got so obnoxious that it finally drew out a man in a tailored suit and sleek sses, clearly someone important.

    ¡°I need to see Ste Russell! Get her out here, now!¡± Marc barked, not caring who he was yelling at.

    The man didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Ste¡¯s not here. And if you keep this up, I¡¯ll call the police.¡± His tone was calm but firm, the kind that didn¡¯t invite negotiation.

    Marc¡¯s face twisted in anger, irritated by the man¡¯s poise. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±

    Seeing Marc¡¯s unreasonable behavior, the man introduced himself as Paul Hoffman, the director of the institute.

    ¡°Ste is my employee,¡± he added. ¡°She submitted a leave request this morning and left. Where she went isn¡¯t my concern¡ªand it¡¯s certainly not yours.¡±

    To prove his point, Paul pulled out Ste¡¯s handwritten leave note and showed it to Marc.

    Marc stared at the familiar handwriting, suddenly unsure of himself.

    He had been so sure she¡¯d still be here¡ªwhere else could she have gone?

    Paul didn¡¯t wait for a response. He turned and walked back inside, casually instructing security to call the police if Marc caused any more trouble.

    Marc flinched. After spending the night in a holding cell, thest thing he wanted was another trip back. Now that he knew Ste wasn¡¯t here, he had no choice but to slink away, humiliated.

    Back in the Maybach, Ste burst into quietughter as William exined that Paul had personally handled Marc.

    The image of Marc being tossed out like a stray dog? Utterly satisfying. After all his self-righteous posturing, watching him crash and burn was the sweetest kind of justice.

    William caught theughter in her eyes and immediately knew¡ªshe was thinking about Marc. His gaze darkened, the corners of his mouth tightening.

    ¡°The project¡¯s demanding,¡± he said coolly. ¡°If your head¡¯s still stuck on personal drama, maybe it¡¯s better you stay home and y house.¡±

    Ste¡¯s smile vanished as she straightened up. ¡°Mr. Briggs, don¡¯t worry. The moment I join the project team, I¡¯m all in. No distractions. I¡¯ll be focusedpletely.¡±

    Her tone was firm, eyes unwavering. She was dead serious. If she¡¯d had to swear on it, she would¡¯ve.

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    Having made her decision, she was determined to follow through, leaving the past behind and pursuing a better future.

    William seemed satisfied. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he focused on the road. From Ste¡¯s angle, she caught a glimpse of his sharp jawline¡ªclean, strong, like it had been sculpted.

    She hated to admit it, but he really was unfairly good-looking. She used to think Marc was attractive, but now? William made Marc look like a dor-store knockoff.

    That suddenparison made her cringe. She quickly shook her head to banish the thought.

    They arrived at the project base¡ªa hidden facility tucked into the side of a mountain. William cut the engine and nodded at her to get out.

    She took a deep breath before stepping out of the car.

    The others were already neck-deep in work, and since she¡¯d arrivedter than the rest, she was directed through the back entrance.

    As a core team member, her identity was confidential. Regr staff didn¡¯t even know she existed. There were five core members in total, herself included. She hadn¡¯t met any of them before now.

    When they stood together for the first time, the air was polite but stiff. No one really knew each other. No one knew what to expect.

    ¡°Once you get to know each other, feel free to choose any dorm,¡± the team leader addressed them.

    Ste scanned the group and gave a brief nod to the two other women, but she wasn¡¯t picky.

    A bed was a bed¡ªshe just chose one and got on with it.

    They were expected to dive straight into work. Their first task was to head into the surrounding mountains and collect biological specimens for research. Before leaving, Ste buried herself in the project files, scanning every detail to familiarize herself with the mission.

    Just as she slung her backpack over her shoulder, ready to head out, the team leader stopped her to inform her that she had a partner. ¡°Your partner¡¯s waiting. Men¡¯s dormitory, room 305.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 66

    ?Chapter 66:

    Ste followed the directions to the room and stopped at the door. She reached out to knock, but the door opened easily with just a gentle push. A little thrown off, she stepped inside cautiously. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±

    She barely got the words out when her eyesnded on William¡ªhe was in the middle of a shower, the bathroom door wide open.

    Her breath hitched. Just as she turned to leave, William turned toward her. Their eyes locked, and Ste wished the floor would swallow her whole.

    ¡°What brings you here?¡± His expression was tight, clearly caught off guard by her presence.

    Flustered, Ste stammered, ¡°I¡¯m your partner. We need to collect some samples.¡±

    William paused for a beat, then nodded and told her to give him a moment. Ste stood frozen, struggling to stop her gaze from drifting toward his defined frame. Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out, ¡°Do you want help washing your back?¡±

    It felt wrong to let that strong, sculpted back go to waste.

    The second the sentence left her mouth, regret hit hard, especially when she noticed William looking at her with a strange, unreadable look. Her heart thudded, and she quickly tried to fix the situation. ¡°Wait, Mr. Briggs, I didn¡¯t mean anything weird. Really. It¡¯s just¡­ I figured it must be hard to scrub your back alone, and if I helped, you¡¯d finish faster¡­¡±

    She meant to sound helpful, but each word made things worse. The awkwardness thickened in the air, and William¡¯s expression only grew colder.

    She wished she could take it all back. What was she even saying? Was she seriously implying she wanted to join him in the shower?

    William emerged from the bathroom, a towel tied around his waist. The sight of his broad, chiseled torso made Ste¡¯s breath catch again. Without thinking, she pped both hands over her eyes. ¡°Mr. Briggs, what are you thinking? Y-you might want to put something on!¡±

    After all, they were a man and a woman, alone in the room, and he hadn¡¯t fully dressed yet¡ªit simply felt improper.

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    William said nothing as he stepped toward her, his calm presence contrasting sharply with the visible panic on her face.

    But instead of touching her, his hand reached past her shoulder.

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened as he closed the distance. Instinctively, she backed away to avoid contact.

    Embarrassment overwhelmed her, and all she wanted to do was flee. But before she could, William reached for the bathrobe hanging just behind her.

    He slipped it on just as Ste lost her footing and tumbled backward.

    Startled, William reacted quickly, catching her before she hit the floor.

    Ste¡¯s arms iled in panic, and in the process, she identally yanked at the robe, tearing it halfway off his body.

    His arm slid around her waist to steady her, pulling her against him unintentionally.

    His skin, still cool from the shower, was damp against her warm cheeks, which were now burning with embarrassment.

    Ste felt her heart drop.

    Whenever she tried to rify things with him, it always seemed to go wrong.

    Thest time, she somehow ended up on hisp during a formal event, and now, here she was, in his arms again, with him barely dressed.

    For a moment, she froze,pletely forgetting to move.

    William looked down at her, an amused glint in his eyes. ¡°Ms. Russell, you seem awfully settled in my arms. Aren¡¯t you nning to move?¡±

    Ste¡¯s entire face turned crimson. She scrambled to free herself. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that¡ªwait!¡±

    As she shifted, she felt a tug and realized, toote, that her clothes had caught on his towel.

    In one horrifying second, the towel slipped¡ªand William, once decently wrapped, now stoodpletely exposed before her at painfully close range.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 67

    ?Chapter 67:

    Ste wanted to vanish from sheer embarrassment until she realized he had been wearing pants the whole time.

    So¡­ she¡¯dpletely misunderstood the situation.

    Pressed against his chest, she could hear his steady heartbeat¡ªcalm, firm, andpletely opposite to her own, which was racing like crazy.

    From this close, she picked up the clean, faint scent of his body wash. It wasn¡¯t overpowering¡ªjust smooth and refined, like it belonged to him.

    William reached over her to grab his clothes, and when he finally stepped back, Ste felt like she could breathe again, as if light had returned to the room.

    She quickly stepped back, this time carefully.

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside, Mr. Briggs. Just let me know when you¡¯re done,¡± she said, then turned and walked out without ncing back.

    Outside, she exhaled deeply, patting her chest as if trying to calm her nerves. That had been way too much for one day.

    About ten minutester, William stepped out, perfectly dressed and once again looking like the cool, collected version of himself.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, we¡¯re scheduled to collect some samples outside. Shall we go now?¡± Ste asked, putting on her professional tone.

    William gave a small nod and began walking beside her, his pace steady and purposeful.

    Compared to before, he seemedpletely unbothered now.

    As she followed his tall, straight figure, Ste thought maybe he hadn¡¯t taken the earlier awkward moment seriously after all.

    While her nerves were still tight, William seemedpletely calm, as if nothing had shaken him at all.

    This was their first official assignment at the research institute, and thankfully, collecting the samples turned out to be pretty easy. In about an hour, they were done and headed back.

    With the day¡¯s work wrapped up, everyone at the institute gathered for dinner in the cafeteria.

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    As usual, gossip filled the room. Someone whispered, ¡°Did you hear? There¡¯s still one more person who hasn¡¯t shown up for the project.¡± Ste looked up curiously, wondering who they were talking about.

    ¡°Apparently, it¡¯s some genius who studied overseas. And get this¡ªrumor has it she and Mr. Briggs had a thing. Maybe she¡¯s avoidinging here to skip the drama,¡± the gossip continued.

    That surprised Ste. She had always thought someone like William wouldn¡¯t be interested in romance.

    The person added, ¡°They say there¡¯s still something going on between them. Like maybe neither of them has moved on.¡±

    Ste looked down, poking at her food, suddenly feeling a little guilty. Even though what happened earlier wasn¡¯t intentional, it seemed like she might¡¯ve caused some trouble for William.

    Maybe she should find a moment to apologize once dinner was over.

    With that thought, she finished her meal a little faster, but then she heard footsteps and voices approaching from the hallway.

    Looking up, Ste saw a graceful-looking woman, surrounded by a few people, walking past them. They were carrying bags¡ªit looked like she had just arrived.

    Strangely, Ste had a feeling¡ªno proof, just a gut instinct¡ªthat this was the woman from the rumors. The one William liked.

    Although she¡¯d never seen her before, something told her it had to be her. Ste kept watching as the woman walked away, her eyes lingering on her back for a long while.

    It was a pity she hadn¡¯t gotten a look at the woman¡¯s face¡ªjust her silhouette. ¡°If Mr. Briggs likes her, she must be really stunning,¡± someone nearbymented.

    ¡°I honestly thought he didn¡¯t have feelings for anyone,¡± another person chimed in. ¡°Every time I look at him, it¡¯s like staring at an ice statue. Who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯s actually been carrying a torch for someone this whole time? That¡¯s some real dedication.¡±

    Ste quietly held her fork, her gaze drifting over to William, who was sitting calmly at another table.

    .

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 Chapter 68

    ?Chapter 68:

    Ste kept a close watch on William¡¯s face, and sure enough, there it was. His expression darkened, and a flicker of anger shed in his eyes.

    She smirked inwardly. The ssy woman who had just walked by? Definitely his ex. Probably the one who still had a hold on him¡ªthe one he couldn¡¯t have.

    Ste clicked her tongue. Being in the same ce, seeing someone you once cared about but couldn¡¯t be with? That had to sting. For a brief moment, she felt a little sorry for him.

    Meanwhile, William remained quietly focused on his meal when a prickle of instinct told him he was being watched. He nced up¡ªand sure enough, there she was. Ste. She wasn¡¯t even trying to hide it. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her expression full of amused curiosity¡ªlike she was watching a particrly juicy episode of a drama, and he was the main act.

    His face turned stormy in an instant. Was he some reality show for her entertainment?

    He said nothing, just quietly finished his meal. Once he was done, he picked up his tray and strode past her table. As he passed by, he leaned in slightly and said in a cool, almostzy tone, ¡°Ms. Russell, it appears that your appetite is limited at the moment. However, without sufficient energy reserves, it may be challenging for you to help wash my back.¡±

    Ste choked on her breath. She turned beet red before she could even think of aeback, but William was already gone, striding away like nothing had happened.

    Her colleagues, having overheard William¡¯s remark, immediately turned their curious gazes toward Ste.

    ¡°What are you helping him with, Ste?¡± one asked, eyebrows raised in intrigue.

    Caughtpletely off guard, Ste froze with her fork mid-air. Her face flushed so quickly it felt like she¡¯d stepped into a sauna. Was William trying to embarrass her?

    ¡°Is it some kind of¡­ intense task?¡± another added, a little too innocently. ¡°You know¡ªphysically demanding?¡±

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    Her colleagues,pletely unaware of her embarrassment, kept pressing. All Ste could do was shake her head, her cheeks still warm, trying to exin that William was just making a joke.

    But¡ªjoking?

    Everyone around the table exchanged nces, as if they¡¯d just heard the most absurd thing imaginable. The man barely spoke to anyone, let alone joked. If he was suddenly joking with Ste¡­ what did that mean? Was something going on between them?

    Ste managed to finish her meal amidst the barrage of questions and finally made it back to her dorm. She showered, threw on somethingfortable, and flopped onto her bed. The mattress was firm, but honestly, she felt better than she had in weeks.

    Leaving Marc had been the best decision she¡¯d ever made. Before moving here, she¡¯d switched phones and numbers. Marc could try all he wanted¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to find her.

    In a few days, she¡¯d probably be dered missing. Her name would vanish from any traceable records. It¡¯d be like she¡¯d never existed.

    Turning on her phone, Ste opened WhatsApp and saw a message from Lainey.

    ¡°Ste, where did you go? Marc showed up at the institute again today, raising hell. Security had to step in to get him to leave. Also, since finding out you left, he¡¯s been searching everywhere in Choria¡ªposting missing person notices, writing these long sob stories online. It¡¯s pathetic. He¡¯s just trying to y the victim again.¡±

    Ste burst outughing. She didn¡¯t even need to look¡ªshe could already picture Marc making a spectacle of himself, pretending to be some tragic, abandoned lover.

    Of course, Lainey didn¡¯t know where she was now. No one did. The base¡¯s strict confidentiality protocols ensured that. And that was exactly how Ste wanted it.

    She hesitated for a moment, thumbs hovering over the reply box. Even if Lainey meant well, one slip was all it would take for Marc to track her down.

    The best-kept secrets were the ones kept from everyone.

    Still, she felt a twinge of guilt for worrying her friend. But this¡­ this was the only way.

    With a soft sigh, she turned off her phone and let sleep take her.

    Meanwhile, Marc was going out of his mind. He¡¯d turned the city upside down¡ªsent people to dig through every possible lead. And still, nothing.

    It was like she had disappeared into thin air.

    He¡¯d always thought she¡¯d never really leave him. That she¡¯d eventuallye crawling back. So he didn¡¯t take her seriously¡ªuntil now.

    Now she was gone. No message. Just gone.

    He¡¯d called her a thousand times, but her phone stayed off.

    Back at the vi, everything felt colder. The warm light she used to leave on for him? Off.

    Desperate, he rummaged through her stuff¡ªmaybe she¡¯d just taken a break, maybe she¡¯d be back.

    But when he opened the closet, reality hit hard. Most of her clothes were gone.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 69

    ?Chapter 69:

    Although the jewelry Marc had once bought for Ste still sat untouched, every single piece she had brought with her was now gone.

    He suddenly remembered Ste mentioning that she had sold off a lot of her things. A bit unsettled, he picked up his phone and quickly made a call to confirm. But the person on the other end sounded confused.

    ¡°No,¡± they said. ¡°I haven¡¯t received anything from your wife to sell.¡±

    Marc¡¯s stomach dropped. A cold realization hit him.

    She hadn¡¯t sold them¡ªshe¡¯d taken them with her.

    His gaze wandered around the room, eventuallynding on the now-empty frame that used to hold their wedding photo. For a moment, his heart skipped a beat. He grabbed his phone again and dialed another number.

    ¡°Hi. Can you check if my wife sent in our wedding photo for restoration sometime recently?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, we looked into it. There¡¯s no request under your name. We haven¡¯t received anything from you or your wife.¡±

    The phone slipped from Marc¡¯s hand and fell to the floor with a dull thud.

    She hadn¡¯t sent it for restoration. So, what had she done with it?

    Without wasting another second, he rushed downstairs to the garden. There, tucked away in a corner, was the same metal basin Ste had used thest time¡ªwhen she was burning something. That day, he had been in such a rush to sleep with Haley that he hadn¡¯t bothered to ask what Ste was burning.

    Kneeling beside the basin now, he began sifting through the charred remains. It didn¡¯t take long before his fingers brushed against a small, partially burned fragment.

    He picked it up, and his breath caught in his throat. It was a torn piece of their wedding photo.

    Most of it was ckened and scorched, but he could still make out the hem of Ste¡¯s white dress.

    There was no mistaking it¡ªit was their photo.

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    That day¡­ she had been burning their wedding photo.

    She had looked him in the eye and told him it was just trash.

    Trash? That was what she had called it.

    And where had he been? With Haley. Laughing. Forgetting all about the woman who had once been his everything.

    Regret mmed into Marc like a wave. His pulse raced, and his mind reeled.

    What had he done? What had he done to her?

    Later, he slumped onto the sofa, lighting cigarette after cigarette, sinking into a pit of silent misery.

    Ste had always hated it when he smoked. Because of her, he rarely ever lit one in the house. But now, with no one around to stop him, he found nofort in it¡ªonly bitterness.

    Eventually, he tossed the lighter and cigarette pack on the table and sat there, burying his face in his hands. He rubbed his temples slowly, as if trying to ease the weight of guilt pressing down on him.

    Then, suddenly, he remembered thest gift Ste had given him¡ªa safe. She hadn¡¯t shared thebination, only saying she¡¯d tell him when the time was right, calling it a surprise.

    He sprang up from the sofa like a man possessed, headed straight to the storage room, and pulled out the dusty safe.

    Marc stared at thebination lock and tried everything he could think of¡ªhis birthday, the day he and Ste first got together, even their wedding anniversary.

    But none of them worked.

    Just then, one of the house staff, who had been quietly observing his efforts, hesitated, then spoke up in a low voice. ¡°Mr. Walsh, maybe it¡¯s Mrs. Walsh¡¯s birthday?¡±

    The suggestion hit him like a punch to the gut. Ste had said once, offhandedly, that the password might be her birthday.

    But now that he actually needed it, he couldn¡¯t remember when her birthday was.

    His face darkened in frustration. He waved the servant away without a word, and the poor man quickly slipped out of the room, sensing the storm brewing. Marc tried again, using random guesses, but the safe stayed stubbornly locked.

    Ste was different from Haley; she rarely asked him for anything on her birthday, not even gifts.

    She had always acted like it didn¡¯t matter, and he had believed her. He thought she¡¯d be happy with whatever he gave her, whenever he remembered.

    Now he sat there, fumbling with the lock like a fool, realizing he hadn¡¯t remembered at all. His jaw clenched in self-directed anger as he grabbed his phone and dialed his assistant, Kody.

    He vaguely recalled telling Kody to send Ste birthday gifts every year in his name. So now, with a dry voice, he asked, ¡°When¡¯s Ste¡¯s birthday?¡±

    On the other end, Kody answered groggily, clearly woken from sleep. He was silent for a moment, caught off guard.

    Marc had spent the past few days searching desperately for Ste, even putting out a missing person notice. He acted like a man madly in love, yet now he didn¡¯t even remember her birthday?

    Kody couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Ste was Marc¡¯s wife. How could he not know something so basic and personal? And why was he asking his assistant for it?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 70

    ?Chapter 70:

    Kody found the whole situation a little ridiculous, but since Marc was his boss, he kept his sarcasm in check and simply told him Ste¡¯s birthday.

    Funny thing was, Kody always had to be the one reminding Marc about her birthday. Eventually, Marc just passed the entire responsibility off to him¡ªpicking the gifts, getting the cake, even delivering everything.

    So, naturally, Kody remembered the date better than Marc ever did¡ªno need for notes.

    Marc ended the call and stared at the safe. His hands were mmy as he punched in the code. Click. The lock released with a soft sound, and the lid sprang open.

    He had no idea what Ste might¡¯ve left inside, but this¡ªthis safe¡ªwas thest thing that connected them. Hisst shot at finding some kind of clue. Some kind of hope.

    Inside, there was just a single folder lying there quietly.

    His heart sank before he even touched it. He reached in, fingers brushing the smooth paper, and slid the folder out. He¡¯d barely pulled a third of it free when the words ¡°Divorce Agreement¡± jumped out at him.

    His breath caught. His hand trembled, and the folder slipped from his grasp, scattering papers all over the floor.

    His eyes locked onto thest page¡ªSte¡¯s signature, written in that familiar, graceful handwriting.

    So this was her surprise? She had already signed the divorce papers.

    He thought back to the odd look on her face when she handed him the safe. Back then, he¡¯d brushed it off, thinking she was just hiding something silly.

    Turns out she was hiding her exit n.

    She had nned to leave him since then¡­ while he was still busy thinking his affair with Haley was well-covered.

    Marc¡¯s heart twisted, a sharp, suffocating pain tightening in his chest as he stared at the papers. His eyes reddened, but he didn¡¯t look away.

    Meanwhile, Ste had been part of the project team for several days now. Every day, she was out collecting samples, trekking through mountains and woods.

    The samples changed daily, and the difficulty of finding them increased with each assignment. In the beginning, she and William could finish within an hour. Now? Sometimes they¡¯d search for hours and stille back empty-handed. Ste knew it would only get harder from here.

    Aware of the growing challenge, the team had assigned a few more colleagues to join her and William on today¡¯s search. They were all hunched over,bing through the woods, but after a while, it was clear they wereing up short.

    Ste stood still, flipping through the reference materials again. Today¡¯s target had a few very specific traits¡ªit thrived in moisture, hated sunlight, and always grew in damp environments. She ran through the facts in her head, then looked up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s try the riverbank.¡±

    Her teammates blinked at her.

    ¡°The river? It¡¯s a half-hour hike from here,¡± one of themined. ¡°And we haven¡¯t finished searching this area yet.¡±

    They were exhausted and frustrated, and nobody wanted to waste time on a hunch.

    ¡°I just think,¡± Ste started, ¡°based on its environmental needs, the river makes sense.¡±

    But the doubtful expressions didn¡¯t fade.

    ¡°You think?¡± one woman scoffed. ¡°If it¡¯s not there, we¡¯ll have wasted all that time. We¡¯re not here to chase guesses.¡± The words stung, leaving Ste a bit rattled.

    Then William, who had been quietly standing behind them, spoke up. ¡°We haven¡¯t checked the river yet. It¡¯s worth a look.¡± His calm, firm tone silenced theints.

    He didn¡¯t raise his voice, but the others fell in line instantly. William was their senior¡ªmore experienced and definitely more intimidating. No one dared argue with him.

    Grudgingly, someone muttered, ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Ste nced at William, a quiet thank-you in her eyes. Without his help, the other team members wouldn¡¯t have listened to her.

    As they walked side by side, Ste leaned a little closer and whispered, ¡°Thanks.¡±

    William, as always, looked unmoved. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. I just want to find the sample quickly. If it¡¯s not there, don¡¯t expect help next time.¡± Then he walked off ahead, cold as ever.

    Ste let out a breath and rubbed her nose, muttering to herself, ¡°He¡¯s really got ice in his veins.¡±

    They eventually reached the river, the gentle gurgle of water greeting them. Ste rolled up her sleeves and got to work, carefully checking beneath mossy rocks. The rocks were slippery and massive, and the ground uneven, but Ste kept going.

    Then something caught her eye¡ªa narrow cave opening, barely visible behind a cluster of rocks.

    Her heart skipped.

    It was dark, damp, secluded¡ªexactly the kind of ce that nt would grow.

    She crept closer and peeked inside. Sure enough, there it was. A rare, vibrant nt nestled in the shadows.

    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± she shouted, excitement bubbling up.

    But in her joy, she forgot to be careful. Her foot slid out from under her¡ªin the blink of an eye, she tumbled straight down.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 71

    ?Chapter 71:

    ¡°Careful!¡± A firm voice called out from behind, and before Ste could react, a hand reached out and steadied her just in time.

    Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to see William standing there, his hand still loosely holding hers.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

    As soon as she regained her bnce, William let go without a word. Just then, the rest of the group caught up, their eyes lighting up as they spotted the nt tucked in the shadows.

    With William¡¯s brief assistance, Ste managed to carefully collect the nt.

    ¡°Finally! We¡¯ve found it!¡± someone eximed.

    The atmosphere lifted instantly, and any earlier doubts about Ste faded away.

    One colleague walked up to her with a grin. ¡°Ste, you¡¯re incredible! I can¡¯t believe you actually found it here by the river!¡±

    Ste was just about to exin that it was simply a coincidence when a cold, mockingugh suddenly rang out from the back of the crowd. She turned to find none other than Nathalia Fuller standing behind the group, with her arms crossed and eyes full of disdain. Ste hadn¡¯t even realized Nathalia had tagged along.

    With icy sarcasm, Nathalia sneered. ¡°Ms. Russell, we¡¯re here to work, not to watch you throw yourself at men. That fall of yours¡ªyou nned it, didn¡¯t you? Just so William would catch you. Honestly, your behavior is downright shameless.¡±

    The usation hit Ste like a p. For a moment, she was stunned,pletely caught off guard.

    What was Nathalia even talking about?

    The rest of the team exchanged confused nces, no one quite understanding where Nathalia¡¯s anger wasing from.

    Nathalia pushed her way through the crowd and stopped right in front of Ste. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the nt in Ste¡¯s hand. ¡°William must¡¯ve told you the location, didn¡¯t he? He¡¯s the most experienced here. Let¡¯s not pretend you found this on your own.¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m, your destination for tales

    Ste had no idea why Nathalia was so riled up, but she knew there was somethingplicated between her and William.

    But who was chasing whom? From the look of it, Nathalia seemed to care more than William did. Maybe seeing him help Ste had stirred some jealousy. Whatever it was, it clearly burned.

    For a second, Ste was at a loss. First, she¡¯d been wrongly used by Haley before even joining the project team, and now she was being dragged through the mud by William¡¯s so-called unattainable ideal.

    Maybe she had been too quiet, too tolerant all this time¡ªso much so that people thought they could walk all over her without consequence. Without a word, Ste handed the nt to a colleague and stepped up to Nathalia.

    ¡°Miss Fuller, I don¡¯t know what kind of grudge you have against me, but let me make a few things clear. First, I found this spot on my own¡ªit had nothing to do with Mr. Briggs. Second, I didn¡¯t fake that fall. The path is slippery. You were all a good fifteen feet behind me when it happened.¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t thought William would catch up to her so quickly. If she were really trying to pull some stunt, she would¡¯ve waited until he was right behind her. Doing it earlier would¡¯ve been too risky¡ªit made no sense.

    She squared her shoulders and then added, ¡°I came here to work, and I take this seriously. And if Mr. Briggs really knew the location all along, are you suggesting he just stood by and let everyone wander aimlessly?¡±

    That shut Nathalia up right away. If she pushed her argument any further, it would mean using William of deliberately watching everyone struggle.

    Left with noeback, Nathalia could only shoot daggers at Ste with furious eyes.

    Ste quickly looked at William, thinking he might be upset that she spoke up, especially since Nathalia seemed important to him. But to her surprise, he didn¡¯t look annoyed at all. He stayedposed and unbothered, ignoring Nathalia entirely. The crowd stayed quiet, their eyes bouncing between the three of them, too nervous to say a word.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 72

    ?Chapter 72:

    William stepped forward, his voice calm but clear. ¡°Ste found the nt. There¡¯s a lot of moss around¡ªeveryone, be careful. Let¡¯s head back.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say much, but his words aplished two things¡ªfirst, he gave Ste credit for finding the nt; second, he made it clear that her fall was simply an ident¡ªnot anyone¡¯s fault, but certainly not hers.

    He didn¡¯t directly me Nathalia, but the tone was unmistakable. Nathalia stood frozen as William walked right past her without even a nce. Her heart sank.

    He defended Ste.

    He never used to speak up like that¡ªespecially not for someone else.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go! It¡¯s getting dark!¡±

    The rest of the group urged one another to move. Ste stayed at the rear, gently tugged along by her colleagues, not sparing Nathalia a single nce.

    Behind them, Nathalia stomped her foot in frustration, seething silently.

    Back at the institute¡¯smunal dining hall, everyone gathered for dinner. Ste sat with her usual group, and Laura Brooks, her roommate, plopped down beside her, practically buzzing with words of praise.

    ¡°Ste, you¡¯re seriously amazing,¡± Laura beamed. ¡°We searched all afternoon and came up with nothing. If it weren¡¯t for you, we¡¯d still be out there in the dark!¡±

    A few other team members chimed in, eyes filled with admiration.

    ¡°Yeah, how did you even know to check the river?¡±

    The nts they had to search for in the mountains were rare.

    Ste gave a modest smile. ¡°I just looked at its properties¡ªit likes moisture and shade. The river made sense.¡±

    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s impressive! We should all learn from you. We¡¯ve been going off pictures and merely matching appearances. You actually read the material?¡±

    New chapters now on .c?m

    Ste shrugged with a soft chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s just luck. You¡¯ll all get used to it with time.¡±

    She genuinely didn¡¯t feel like she had done anything special. The guess had just paid off.

    Laura sipped her soup, then suddenly remembered something. She leaned closer, whispering, ¡°By the way¡­ Did you know Nathalia and William used to be a thing? Back in the day. She went abroad for further studies, and their research took them in different directions. They split after that.¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t heard a word of this.

    Laura continued, ¡°No one really knows who broke it off, but they¡¯ve always been a bit¡­petitive. Kind of like rivals now.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow. William didn¡¯t strike her as someone who cared about rivalry. But then again, what did she really know about him?

    Laura gave her a reassuring pat. ¡°I think you just got caught in their unresolved drama today. Nathalia might not¡¯ve been aiming at you; she probably just can¡¯t stand William.¡±

    Ste nodded. It wasn¡¯t worth overthinking. As long as Nathalia stayed out of her way, she had no interest in getting involved in their past.

    After dinner, Ste headed back to the dorms for a shower. A day of hiking through the woods meant one thing¡ªdirt, sweat, and the desperate need to scrub it all off.

    She was rubbing her sore neck and walking back when she suddenly froze at a corner. A man and a woman were standing close¡ªtoo close¡ªWilliam and Nathalia. From where she stood, it looked like they were kissing¡ªforeheads nearly touching, bodies close, heads tilted slightly. The whole scene screamed intimacy.

    Ste blinked, cheeks flushing with awkwardness. It felt wrong to stand there staring. She quickly turned around and took the long way back, her heart thudding a little too fast.

    But the reality was different. William was staring down at Nathalia, his expression cold, brows slightly furrowed.

    ¡°Nathalia,¡± he said tly, ¡°I¡¯ll say it onest time¡ªI never agreed to be with you.¡±

    This misunderstanding had been dragging on for years. He¡¯d ignored it for too long, but now that they were face-to-face again, he figured it was time to end it.

    Nathalia looked up at him, her voice trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that. If I hadn¡¯t gone abroad, we would¡¯ve been together, right?¡±

    Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she bit her lip, holding onto onest thread of hope.

    William exhaled sharply, the beginning of a headache forming. ¡°No. Even if you¡¯d stayed, I still wouldn¡¯t have dated you. This has nothing to do with you leaving.¡±

    He had no idea where that rumor came from¡ªabout them being together and breaking up because of distance¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t even remotely true.

    Nathalia¡¯s eyes reddened, her gaze refusing to ept his bluntness.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in you, Nathalia,¡± William said coolly. ¡°I¡¯m here to do research. I hope you are too. And I don¡¯t want to see anything like what happened today again.¡±

    He hated drama, especially the kind built on false assumptions. He turned to walk away, done with the conversation. But before he could take a step, Nathalia grabbed his arm.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    And then, without warning¡ªwithout hesitation¡ªshe closed her eyes, tiptoed up¡­ and kissed him.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 73

    ?Chapter 73:

    Nathalia refused to believe that William didn¡¯t feel anything for her. No¡ªhe had to. He was just too stubborn to admit it. If she pushed a little harder, maybe he¡¯d stop pretending to be so distant. But the moment she leaned in, her lips barely brushing his, William¡¯s eyes widened. In a sh, his hand came up to block her.

    Nathalia ended up kissing his hand. She froze. The next second, he pushed her back.

    ¡°Miss Fuller, get a grip on yourself.¡±

    Just one sentence¡ªbut it hit her harder than a p. She¡¯d already thrown away her pride to take the first step. And still¡­ he wouldn¡¯t even waver? Her body swayed slightly, and the tears she¡¯d been holding back started to fall one by one.

    William didn¡¯t even spare her another look. He turned and walked away. But just as he rounded the corner, he stopped. On the floory a familiar hair tie¡ªblue, with a little star on it.

    He bent down and picked it up, dusting it off with his thumb. He recognized it instantly. Ste¡¯s.

    He¡¯d teased her once about it¡ªwasn¡¯t it too childish for her? Yet somehow, it suited her perfectly. Only Ste could pull off something so silly-looking and still make it seem natural. He stared at it for a beat longer than necessary, then tucked it into his pocket. Something about it tugged at his heart.

    That night, Ste showered, dried her hair, and curled up under the covers. Her thoughts wandered back to the scene she¡¯d identally witnessed earlier. William and Nathalia¡­ standing so close. From her angle, it really did look like they were kissing. She buried her face in the nket and sighed. ¡°Can¡¯t those two be a little more discreet?¡±

    The next morning, Ste arrived early for breakfast. The cafeteria was still mostly empty, so she picked a quiet spot and began eating. Halfway through, a familiar pair of clean, ck shoes stopped right in front of her. She didn¡¯t need to look up to know who it was. William.

    He sat down across from her, and her whole body stiffened. Why did he choose this table when there were literally dozens of empty ones?

    Was he out of his mind?

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s, your source for inspiration

    What she didn¡¯t know was that, in his head, it made perfect sense¡ªthey were in the same group. Might as well eat together and head out afterward.

    But Ste didn¡¯t consider that. All she saw was Nathalia walking into the room. Without a second thought, she grabbed her tray and bolted as if she had just spotted a ghost. She didn¡¯t want any part of their love triangle drama.

    William¡¯s brow twitched. He hadn¡¯t even said anything.

    Watching him now, sitting alone, Nathalia made her move. She grabbed her tray, walked over, and asked sweetly, ¡°Mind if I sit here?¡±

    William said nothing, so she sat.

    She noticed his tray was mostly greens. Trying to seem considerate, she picked up her untouched chicken leg and moved her fork toward his te.

    William blocked it without hesitation. ¡°Miss Fuller,¡± he said calmly, ¡°this is a research institute. I suggest you focus more on your work. And please¡ªdon¡¯t worry about my meals.¡± With that, he stood up and left, tray in hand.

    Nathalia was left sitting there alone, her appetite gone. Her eyes trailed across the cafeteria until she spotted Ste at another table. She clenched her fists, then got up and headed straight toward her.

    Ste was feeling pretty proud of herself for dodging disaster, until Nathalia sat down across from her. She braced herself, forcing a polite smile.

    Nathalia, trying to lookposed, said, ¡°Ms. Russell, I hope you won¡¯t cling to William. He and I just have a few unresolved issues. That¡¯s no excuse for you to take advantage.¡±

    Ste blinked. Was this woman serious? Which eye of hers had seen Ste ¡°clinging¡± to anyone?

    She calmly set down her fork and cleared her throat. ¡°Miss Fuller, let me say this clearly: I have no interest in William. I¡¯m here to work, not flirt with someone else¡¯s ex. I barely have time to sleep, let alone deal with jealousy games.¡±

    Nathalia¡¯s expression hardened, but she wasn¡¯t giving up. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pretend with me. I know you¡¯re just trying to get his attention.¡±

    Ste rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out. ¡°Your rtionship problems are not my responsibility. I¡¯ve kept everything with him strictly professional. If you don¡¯t like seeing us talk, maybe you should request a transfer.¡±

    She had done her best to steer clear of the drama, but Nathalia seemed hell-bent on dragging her in. They were all part of the same research institute, and she couldn¡¯t just run away every time she saw William, could she?

    ¡°If it¡¯s not you chasing him¡­¡± Nathalia sneered, ¡°are you suggesting he¡¯s chasing you?¡±

    Compared to what Ste had said, Nathalia found it even harder to believe that William would be the one pursuing her.

    Ste didn¡¯t bother exining any further. What was the point? Love had a way of making people irrational.

    ¡°Believe what you want, Miss Fuller,¡± she said with a small smile. ¡°Enjoy your meal. I¡¯m done here.¡±

    Back in her dorm room, Ste flopped onto her bed with a heavy sigh. She rubbed her temple, then reached for her phone, hoping a mindless scroll through social media would help her dpress. But the moment she unlocked the screen, a new notification lit up at the top. A message from William, sent ten minutes ago. She sat up abruptly, blinking in disbelief.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 74

    ?Chapter 74:

    The bold message read, ¡°I¡¯m in my room. Bring me something to eat.¡± Ste blinked in disbelief, wondering if she had misread it. But no¡ªshe double-checked the contact. It really was from William.

    Was he seriously expecting her to y room service? Did something happen to his legs or hands? Couldn¡¯t he grab his own food?

    They were just colleagues. It wasn¡¯t like she owed him anything. She wasn¡¯t his assistant, let alone his maid. And besides, hadn¡¯t she seen a te of food in front of him during dinner? Hadn¡¯t he eaten already?

    The more she thought about it, the less sense it made.

    She was tempted to ignore the message entirely, but after lying in bed for a while, she couldn¡¯t shake the unease gnawing at her.

    William was her direct superior at the research institute. If she ticked him off, what if he held it against her?

    He did seem like someone who held grudges. They¡¯d already had a few awkward run-ins, and he clearly hadn¡¯t forgotten, especially that embarrassing shower incident¡­

    Just thinking about it made Ste shiver. With a sigh, she reluctantly climbed out of bed.

    Whatever. She wasn¡¯t going to stoop to his level. Delivering food wasn¡¯t a big deal. Twenty minutes tops, and she¡¯d be back under the covers.

    When Laura came out from the bathroom with damp hair, she noticed Ste slipping on a coat and getting ready to leave. Her brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Ste? It¡¯ste¡ªwhere are you going?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just a little hungry,¡± Ste said casually. ¡°Heading to the cafeteria to see if there¡¯s anything left.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, she opened the door and stepped out. Laura watched the door close behind her, feeling a bit puzzled. Ste never ate thiste.

    Maybe she really was hungrier than usual today.

    Your adventure awaits at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c©–m

    Shrugging it off, Laura went back to her reading.

    Meanwhile, Ste walked straight to the cafeteria. Luckily, they kept a fewte-night snacks on hand. The options weren¡¯t impressive, but it was enough to satisfy a grown man¡¯s appetite.

    With a tray of noodles and some sides in hand, she made her way toward Room 305.

    Once she reached the door, she knocked softly.

    William was already inside when he heard the knock and quickly got up. After messaging Ste, he¡¯d been sitting on the sofa, still wearing the same robe she¡¯d seen him inst time.

    There was a mirror near the entrance, and as he walked over, he paused to check his reflection. He adjusted his cor slightly, making it look effortlessly rxed, then casually opened the door. The door swung open, and William¡¯s tall frame came into view. Ste¡¯s eyes darted up, caught a glimpse, then instantly looked away.

    Seriously? Why was he opening the door like that¡ªhalf-dressed and showing off his chest?

    ¡°Here¡¯s your food,¡± she said quickly, holding the tray out to him. She wasn¡¯t nning to step inside and made sure to keep her eyes fixed on the tray.

    It might¡¯ve been quiet now, but who could say if someone would step out of his room? Therefore, she wasn¡¯t going to take any chances, especially not with Nathalia having confronted her earlier that day. Thest thing she needed was to be caught at William¡¯s door.

    William let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by how she avoided looking at him. While epting the food, he teased, ¡°What¡¯s got you flustered? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t seen it before. You were pretty fearlessst time, weren¡¯t you?¡±

    Her cheeks heated up in embarrassment. This man really didn¡¯t let things go. He remembered everything!

    Taking a quick step back, she said, ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve got your food. I¡¯ll get going now.¡±

    She turned to leave, but before she could take another step, William caught her wrist from behind.

    ¡°What¡¯s the hurry?¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Stay with me.¡±

    Her heart gave a sudden jolt. What exactly was he trying to do now?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 75

    ?Chapter 75:

    Ste froze, both confused and startled. William wanted to have a meal¡ªshouldn¡¯t Nathalia be the one sitting across from him?

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I don¡¯t think this is appropriate,¡± she said firmly, standing her ground as if protecting her moralpass.

    William didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he reached out and gave her forehead a light flick. ¡°When I¡¯m done eating, take the tray with you. I¡¯m not delivering it myself.¡± With that, he turned and walked inside, leaving the door open behind him like a silent cue.

    Ste blinked a few times before the pieces clicked. Oh.

    He didn¡¯t mean he wanted to eat with her¡ªhe just didn¡¯t want to make a second trip. She let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding. Honestly, she¡¯d been overthinking. For a second there, she thought he was being weirdly forward.

    She followed him in and gently shut the door behind her, quietly taking a seat while he moved around the room.

    But instead of starting his meal, William opened a drawer and pulled something out. He handed it over. ¡°Is this yours?¡±

    Ste looked down and instantly recognized her hair tie.

    ¡°Huh? Why do you have this?¡±

    Yesterday, she¡¯d had it wrapped around her wrist, butter that night, she found that it had disappeared. She figured she¡¯d lost it somewhere and didn¡¯t bother looking.

    ¡°Were you at the corner near the break room yesterday?¡± William asked casually, setting the tie on the table. ¡°You¡¯re so careless. Can¡¯t even keep track of a hair tie. How old are you?¡± His tone was teasing, but it still annoyed her.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I go there?¡± she muttered. ¡°It¡¯s not like there was a sign. How was I supposed to know you were having a secret rendezvous with your first love? I didn¡¯t mean to walk in on it. If you¡¯re gonna do that kind of thing, maybe pick a more discreet spot.¡±

    She grabbed the hair tie and shoved it into her jacket pocket with a huff.

    William, still holding his fork, paused before taking a bite. His brow furrowed at her words.

    g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s, your storytelling home

    ¡°What secret rendezvous?¡± he asked slowly. ¡°What did you see?¡±

    Ste gave him a t look. Was he seriously pretending he didn¡¯t know? She felt awkward saying it out loud, but then again¡ªshe didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so why should she feel embarrassed?

    ¡°What else could I have seen? You and Nathalia kissing,¡± she snapped, arms crossed, wearing a stiff, indignant expression.

    William gave a slight nod, then said,pletely deadpan, ¡°I don¡¯t like kissing. Don¡¯t even know how to kiss. I¡¯ve never kissed a woman.¡±

    Ste froze. Her eyes flew wide open. Wait, what?

    Those three simple sentences hit her like a brick.

    He didn¡¯t like kissing? Didn¡¯t know how? And had never kissed a woman?

    Her brain screeched to a halt. Had she seen it wrongst night? She reyed the angle in her head and realized¡ªyeah, maybe she could¡¯ve misunderstood the scene. But hold on¡­ what did he just say?

    He didn¡¯t like kissing women? Did that mean¡­ he liked kissing men? Ste gasped, as if she¡¯d just uncovered the plot twist of the century, pping a hand over her mouth in pure shock.

    So that was it! No wonder he always looked like he¡¯d bitten into something sour every time she got too close¡ªhe wasn¡¯t into women at all. He was gay.

    All her idental touches? Probably pure torture for him.

    And poor Nathalia¡­ Was she still holding out hope without knowing the truth? Or did she know and just refuse to let go?

    As all these ridiculous thoughts tangled in her head, she actually started to feel a little bad for Nathalia.

    Meanwhile, William was quietly eating, not one to exin himself often¡ªbut for some reason, when he found out that Ste had misunderstood the situation, he felt the need to rify.

    He nced up and caught her staring at him like he¡¯d grown an extra head.

    What was with that look? Why did she seem so¡­ fascinated? Did she think it was funny¡­ or just in sad that a guy his age had never kissed anyone?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 76

    ?Chapter 76:

    For a moment, William regretted clearing things up earlier. In hindsight, allowing Ste to continue misunderstanding him might have been the smarter choice.

    ¡°Ms. Russell,¡± he said casually, between bites, ¡°since you¡¯re working at the research institute, maybe you should stay up to date with the outside world. You may not be able to contact anyone, but you can still read the news.¡±

    That threw Ste off. Then it clicked¡ªhe was hinting at something.

    Marc.

    The thought of him instantly soured her mood.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about that, Mr. Briggs!¡± she snapped, her voice sharp with irritation.

    William, meanwhile, ate with theposure of someone sitting in a fine-dining restaurant. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bother either, but your husband seems¡­ rather restless. At this rate, the whole world might hear about it.¡±

    He even chuckled afterward, which only irritated Ste more. First off, why was he still calling Marc her husband? And second, thatugh¡ªwas it aimed at Marc or at her? Either way, she wasn¡¯t amused.

    Seeing that William was nearly done eating, Ste stood abruptly and grabbed the tray.

    ¡°Well then, Mr. Briggs, since you¡¯ve eaten, I suggest you get some sleep. Wouldn¡¯t want to risk insomnia!¡± she said, her tone pointed. She turned and stormed out without another word.

    Back in the dorm, Laura was still awake. Seeing Ste walk in with a scowl, she raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°You okay? Was thete-night snack that bad?¡±

    Ste flopped down into her chair with a dramatic huff. ¡°Ugh, yeah. Disgusting. Never going for that again.¡±

    Lying back in bed, Ste reyed William¡¯s crypticment in her mind and picked up her phone. It had been a while since she¡¯d checked social media anyway. Sure enough, her feed was buzzing with updates about the Walsh family.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m brings endless adventures

    There were endless posts about Marc¡¯s search efforts¡ªand the fallout from her patent withdrawal from Walsh Group.

    Headlines. Spections. Even some blurry, unttering tabloid shots of Marc.

    She stared at one of the photos and nearlyughed out loud. Marc, who had once been obsessed with his image, now looked like aplete mess.

    His hair was disheveled. His cheeks hollow, as if he hadn¡¯t slept in days.

    The abs he used to unt like trophies? Probably just a sad memory now.

    Ste snorted.

    Watching someone she hated fall apart was strangelyforting. That smug satisfaction made her fall asleep faster than she had in weeks.

    Meanwhile, over at the Walsh Vi, the atmosphere was bleak. Marc sat alone in the dim study, a single floormp casting long shadows across the room.

    Hisputer screen was filled with grim news¡ªterminated contracts, a plummeting stock price, endless messages from his assistant asking how to fix it all.

    The ashtray on the desk was overflowing. A fresh cigarette burned slowly between his fingers.

    But the thing haunting Marc the most wasn¡¯t thepany¡¯s mess. It was the divorce agreement sitting on the desk.

    He hadn¡¯t slept properly in days. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was Ste¡¯s cold, distant stare.

    How had he missed all the signs?

    How had he not realized she¡¯d already made up her mind to leave him?

    By the time the sky began to lighten, Marc finally sshed some water on his face, threw on a coat, and drove straight to the research institute.

    He parked out front and, just like before, asked to speak to the management.

    Last night, something Ste had said came back to him¡ªshe¡¯d mentioned a closed project. He couldn¡¯t remember the exact details, but one thing was clear¡ªit mattered to her.

    That got him thinking. What if she was part of that project? What if that was why no one could reach her?

    The security guard, already tired of his face, immediately called Paul.

    Paul came out, looking more exhausted than annoyed this time. ¡°What now, Marc? I¡¯ve already told you¡ªSte resigned.¡±

    Marc¡¯s visits every other day were bing a nuisance.

    Marc ignored him. ¡°What about the closed project? Is she part of it?¡±

    Paul sighed deeply, as though his soul had left his body for a moment. This guy was relentless. ¡°If I show you the personnel list, will you leave and not make a scene?¡±

    Marc nodded earnestly.

    Paul led him to the office and handed him a printed document. ¡°Here. Official stamp and all. Go ahead, check.¡±

    Marc grabbed it like it held the meaning of life, scanning every name twice. Then a third time. No Ste.

    His shoulders slumped. The faint glimmer in his eyes faded away.

    Paul looked at him, his tone softening. ¡°If you still can¡¯t find her¡­ maybe it¡¯s time to file a missing person report.¡±

    Marc¡¯s breath caught. Missing? The thought hit him like a punch to the gut.

    No¡ªhe refused to believe something had happened to her.

    He couldn¡¯t let anything happen to her.

    Leaving the institute, he immediately contacted a private investigator and poured a fortune into the search.

    He wasn¡¯t going to rest until he found her, whether she was in the country or halfway across the world.

    Haley had been lying low ever since the police incident. Her family had barely kept her from ending up in jail, and now she was stuck at home under constant watch.

    No more scandals. No more trouble.

    But while she was stuck inside, she couldn¡¯t help but scroll through the same social media news¡ªMarc was searching everywhere for Ste.

    The jealousy burned like acid. Ste had left. Why was he still so obsessed with her?

    Haley couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She booked a beauty treatment, put on a fresh new outfit, and headed straight for the Walsh Vi.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 77

    ?Chapter 77:

    Inside the Walsh Vi, Haley stared at Marc¡¯s hollow expression, torn between heartbreak and frustration.

    ¡°Get out,¡± Marc muttered, waving her off like a bothersome fly. But Haley wasn¡¯t giving up so easily. She rushed forward, grabbing onto his arm again. ¡°Marc, I know things are rough right now with Walsh Group, but I can help you! If you work with my family, we can get through this. I promise!¡±

    At the mention of help, Marc finally blinked, a flicker of interest returning to his dull eyes.

    Sensing she had his attention, Haley lit up with renewed confidence. ¡°Marc, thepany needs you! You have to pull yourself together. I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll always be by your side, no matter what.¡±

    Marc looked at her, his voice low and raw. ¡°And how exactly do you n on helping me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy,¡± she said, beaming. ¡°My family¡¯s got massive influence in Achury. You just need a few projects, right? I¡¯ll talk to my dad. He¡¯ll back you.¡±

    To Haley, this was nothing.

    A simple favor. One she¡¯d been saving for the right moment.

    Now that Marc was at rock bottom, she believed her timing was perfect¡ªhe¡¯d be desperate, dependent. And once he owed her, he¡¯d be herspletely.

    Marc didn¡¯t reply, but he didn¡¯t tell her to leave either.

    That silence gave Haley hope. Encouraged, she went on, ¡°But if my dad¡¯s going to help you, you¡¯ll have to marry me. Be his son-inw. Don¡¯t worry about Ste¡ªshe¡¯s long gone. A woman like her, always chasing some thrill¡­ who knows which random guy she ran off with?¡±

    That was it. Marc¡¯s fingers twitched.

    Then, without warning, he snapped¡ªgrabbing Haley by the throat.

    ¡°Ahh!¡± she shrieked, eyes wide in terror.

    She struggled against him, but his grip was relentless.

    ¡°Marc! What are you doing?! Let me go!¡± Her voice cracked with panic, but his eyes zed with fury¡ªcold, violent, unrecognizable.

    She didn¡¯t get it. Everything she said was true, so why was he losing it?

    Marc red at Haley, suddenly realizing something he had missed. Ste used to trust him.

    Blinded. Completely. So when had that changed? When had she stopped believing in him?

    Unless¡­ someone had told her. There was no other way she could have found out.

    His gaze darkened as he stared at Haley. Of course. She had told her.

    ¡°Give me your phone,¡± he growled, his grip tightening.

    Haley didn¡¯t know why he wanted her phone, but she didn¡¯t dare resist, fearing he might snap her neck if she said no.

    ¡°I¡ªit¡¯s in my bag¡­ Marc, please¡­ just let me go, I can¡¯t breathe¡­¡±

    Still holding her with one hand, he dug through her bag with the other. The second he unlocked her phone and opened the messages, his jaw clenched.

    She hadn¡¯t even bothered to delete the evidence. She was truly stupid. The chat logs with Ste were all there.

    Messagesced with provocation, maniption, and photos. Enough to turn a mild suspicion into cold certainty.

    He threw the phone down, his grip tightening even further.

    Haley was losing air, her face turning purple.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you? I told you never to tell Ste about us. How did you promise me back then, huh?¡± His voice dropped to a whisper, lethal and full of menace. ¡°If you think your life¡¯s running too long, I can end it for you right now.¡±

    Haley thrashed wildly, eyes bulging, face flushed and contorted. Her nails scraped at his arms.

    She was slipping fast.

    Just when she was on the verge of passing out, Marc shoved her away like garbage. She hit the floor hard, coughing violently, gasping for breath with tears streaming down her face.

    She looked pitiful¡ªmakeup smeared, hair tangled, pride in shreds.

    ¡°Marc¡­ why? Why do you treat me like this?¡± she sobbed. ¡°Is Ste really that important to you?¡±

    Marc stared down at her, eyes zing. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Haley, let me make this very clear¡ª¡± His voice was ice. ¡°You could multiply yourself a thousand times and you still wouldn¡¯t be worth a single strand of Ste¡¯s hair. The mistress of the Walsh family can only be Ste. Never you. You were nothing but a distraction. Did you really think I loved you?¡±

    Haley broke downpletely, sobbing into her hands as Marc walked away without a second nce.

    He didn¡¯t ept the Smith family¡¯s help. He didn¡¯t need them. He had his own ways of dealing with thepany. Right now, none of that mattered¡ªnot stock prices, not contracts, not damage control. The only thing that mattered was finding Ste.

    Later, in his study, Marc sat in front of the camera. He hit record and began to speak.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 78

    ?Chapter 78:

    Marc¡¯s talksted for ten full minutes, detailing every interaction between him and Steying bare how deeply he cared for her¡ªand ended with a heartfelt apology.

    ¡°Stel, I love you. I know I did wrong. I¡¯m not here to beg for forgiveness. I just want to make sure you¡¯re safe. If you choose to stay away from me forever, I¡¯ll understand. I just can¡¯t stop worrying about you.¡±

    Once posted, the video spread like wildfire, racking up views and shares until it took over social media again.

    But at the high-security research facility, Ste remainedpletely in the dark.

    She had long since stopped keeping up with anything rted to Marc.

    ¡°Ste, the process for our new identities is almost done. We¡¯ll finally be allowed to reach out beyond these walls. Isn¡¯t that amazing? I¡¯ve felt so boxed in here!¡± Laura chatted as she lounged in their dorm.

    Ste perked up at that and began to ask more questions. What would be of their former identities?

    Laura replied, ¡°That¡¯s all handled. Once we sign the consent forms, the institute sends our families a formal notice, presumed dead.¡±

    ¡°Presumed dead?¡±

    So it wasn¡¯t a rumor after all.

    Ste found the idea reassuring. She was eager for the notice to go out. Naturally, she signed.

    Back outside, Marc had tracked down Lainey at the research facility.

    ¡°Tell me where Stel went. You¡¯re her closest friend, you¡¯d know.¡±

    Lainey shot him a t look and responded with thinly veiled contempt. ¡°Don¡¯t act clueless now. Haven¡¯t you done enough? You broke her heart, and now you¡¯re here asking me? I don¡¯t know where she is.¡±

    Marc stepped in front of her. ¡°I know I messed up. But I¡¯d never hurt her again, I swear it. Just tell me where she went.¡±

    Read more chapters at g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls

    Lainey wasn¡¯t buying it. If anything, she felt relieved Ste had stayed silent and hadn¡¯t contacted her.

    With a touch of irony, she pulled up her chat log and held it out. ¡°See for yourself. She hasn¡¯t answered me either. Nobody knows where she is. So do us both a favor and leave me alone. Try anything else, and I¡¯ll report you.¡±

    She walked away without offering a single clue.

    Marc stood there, reying the empty thread in Lainey¡¯s messages.

    Ste hadn¡¯t even replied to Lainey. Could she really be¡­

    No. He wouldn¡¯t believe that.

    He kept searching, no matter how much it cost, pouring money into investigators and contacts.

    Then, one afternoon, the doorbell rang. Marc opened it to find two police officers waiting on the porch.

    ¡°Are you Mr. Marc Walsh?¡±

    His expression shifted to cautious confusion. ¡°Yeah, I am. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Though he¡¯d used every connection he could think of, he¡¯d never gone to the authorities. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe Ste had vanished¡ªshe just didn¡¯t want him in her life.

    The officers didn¡¯t soften their tone. ¡°We¡¯re here to deliver a formal notice of presumed death.¡±

    Marc blinked at them, his thoughts scrambling to catch up.

    Noticing the disbelief on his face, one of the officers produced an ID. ¡°Here¡¯s our identification.¡±

    Marc scanned the badge number, reluctant but forced to ept its legitimacy.

    Even then, the words made no sense.

    He took the document from the envelope and unfolded it. The moment he saw the name printed at the top, his vision sharpened, and a jolt ran through him.

    ¡°Seriously?¡± His voice rose with disbelief.

    That couldn¡¯t be right.

    The notice was for Ste?

    Marc looked up at the officers, stunned. ¡°This has to be a mistake. Ste? No, she¡¯s just avoiding me. She¡¯s angry, not¡­¡±

    She was probably just angry and avoiding him. There was no way she could actually be gone.

    One of the officers answered steadily, ¡°Sir, we don¡¯t handle these notifications lightly. The cause and date are both listed. Our job was to deliver it. We¡¯ll take our leave now.¡±

    Because the marriage hadn¡¯t been legally dissolved, the notice was sent to Marc as the next of kin.

    Once they left, Marc copsed onto the couch, the document still in his hands. He read it again, and again.

    It said Ste had taken personal leave, and then been in a vehicr incident.

    Still unwilling to believe it, Marc began digging for information about that day. There had been a vehicr incident, exactly as the letter described. And her name really was on the passenger manifest.

    He felt like the air had been knocked out of him. His grip on the document grew unsteady as his fingers shook.

    How was that possible? How could Ste be gone all of a sudden?

    He¡¯d finally made up his mind to walk away from Haley.

    Ste wanted a child, and he was ready for that. He wanted it too.

    He had imagined rebuilding their life together.

    Whatever had existed between him and Haley had always been about the investment. His heart never left Ste.

    So why had ite to this?

    The official paper lying in his hands offered no answer, only a brutal, undeniable fact.

    Marc sat frozen, his eyes fixed on the paper in his hand. The entire morning passed in a blur, with the household staff moving quietly, afraid to disturb him.

    Then, without warning, Marc flung the document to the floor.

    No, no way!

    This wasn¡¯t real. It had to be a lie.

    Ste worked at a high-level research facility, one that dealt with ssified information. If they wanted to fabricate an official document, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult.

    This so-called notification must have been forged.

    A scheme by the institute to help Ste disappear, to push him toward giving up and signing the divorce.

    The realization sparked a fit ofughter. It was manic and sharp.

    She¡¯d really gone this far, just to be rid of him?

    His attention drifted to the untouched divorce papers lying nearby. His expression hardened.

    Even if she truly was dead, he wouldn¡¯t sign them.

    He¡¯d track her down and expose the farce.

    Leaving the paper where it had fallen, Marc threw on his coat and stormed out the door.

    By five in the evening, after the institute¡¯s daily operations wrapped up, Lainey made her way out with her bag slung over her shoulder. She was ready to call it a day and rest.

    Ste still hadn¡¯t texted or called her. While a trace of worry lingered, she didn¡¯t think Ste was in danger, at least not physically.

    But as she reached the main gate and stepped onto the road, a shadow loomed ahead.

    Startled, Lainey halted and took a cautious step back. Marc stood there.

    Her surprise quickly gave way to irritation.

    ¡°Marc, what kind of mess are you trying to stir up this time?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 79

    ?Chapter 79:

    Marc¡¯s voice was hoarse, frantic. ¡°Where the hell is Ste?¡±

    Lainey looked like she¡¯d just about had it with him.

    Her tone was sharp, her eyes zing. ¡°I told you already¡ªI don¡¯t know. You saw ourst messages. She didn¡¯t even reply. What do you want from me? You¡¯re the one who wrecked everything. And now you suddenly care?¡±

    She scoffed, folding her arms. ¡°You should¡¯ve thought about this before you tore her apart. Don¡¯t show up now acting like some tragic lover. It¡¯s pathetic.¡±

    She was genuinely fed up with Marc¡¯s theatrics. Marc¡¯s bted affection was as worthless as stale news.

    Marc wasn¡¯t listening. His eyes were bloodshot, fingers clenched into fists.

    ¡°Two people came to my house this morning iming to be police. They handed me a death certificate. Said it was Ste¡¯s.¡± His voice cracked. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. I can¡¯t believe it. This is your research institute¡¯s doing, isn¡¯t it? Some trick¡ªjust to keep me away from her.¡± He jabbed a finger at her, trembling with fury. ¡°Don¡¯t even try to deny it. I¡¯m not going anywhere until you tell me where she is.¡±

    He had been taking things easy with Lainey, and this was why they were messing with him.

    Lainey froze. ¡°A death certificate?¡± she repeated, eyes narrowing in shock.

    Marc watched her like a hawk. She looked¡­ genuinely surprised. Not the reaction of someone in on some twisted scheme. His heart sank. Could she really not know? She was one of Ste¡¯s closest friends, yet she didn¡¯t know about this?

    Could it be true?

    ¡°Stop pretending. Don¡¯t you really know?¡± Marc tried to keep his calm, his voice trembling as he pressed on.

    Lainey¡¯s eyes widened, filled with a mix of panic and disbelief. ¡°How would I know? Ste¡¯s dead? She¡¯s really dead?¡±

    Your next story starts here: g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Lainey¡¯s eyes were wide with panic, but deep inside, her mind was racing.

    The institute did issue death certificates for members of ssified projects¡ªit was protocol.

    That meant¡­ Ste had joined.

    So that was what she¡¯d been hiding. A strange mix of relief and pride washed over her¡ªSte had finally gotten what she wanted, and as a bonus, ditched Marc in the process. Perfect.

    But now, she had to keep up the act.

    She blinked hard and forced a few tears to well up. She grabbed her purse and hurled it at him.

    ¡°How dare youe here using me?!¡± she screamed. ¡°Why is she dead, Marc? Huh? That¡¯s on you! You killed her!¡±

    Marc wasn¡¯t buying it. He dodged Lainey¡¯s outburst, his face like stone, his voice low but unrelenting.

    ¡°Was it William? Did he take her away?¡± He kept asking, again and again.

    It was the only thing that made sense.

    Why else had Ste vanished without a trace? William¡ªcold, calcted, powerful. Of course he¡¯d be the one to help her disappear. Lainey flinched slightly. His guess was scarily urate. But she held her ground, masking her surprise with a cracked, tearful expression.

    ¡°Are you insane? You¡¯re using her of running off with someone right after hearing she¡¯s dead?! Do you even hear yourself? You¡¯ve got no shame!¡± She shoved his shoulder hard. ¡°Get out! Just get out¡ªI never want to see your face again!¡±

    Covering her face, she stormed back to her dorm, sobbing loud enough for the entire hallway to hear.

    Marc stood there for a beat, torn between chasing after her and screaming into the sky. But just then, his phone rang. It was Kody.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, you need to get back to the office. Fast. A bunch of investors just pulled out¡ªwe¡¯re barely hanging on.¡±

    Kody¡¯s tone was urgent. Marc¡¯s expression turned grim, his jaw locked as he stared down at the screen.

    Right now¡­ thepany couldn¡¯t afford to copse.

    No matter what it took, he was going to get to the bottom of Ste¡¯s disappearance.

    Without another word, he ended the call, then turned and headed straight back to thepany.

    Meanwhile, in apletely different world, Ste was living a full, focused life inside the confidential project group. Every day was packed. Some tasks were¡­

    Challenging, but the team was sharp¡ªthey solved problems fast and moved forward even faster.

    Marc? He hadn¡¯t crossed her mind muchtely. But if she had to guess, she figured his life was only spiraling deeper into chaos.

    Now, with the prep work nearlyplete, the team was gearing up to enter the formal research phase.

    That meant round-the-clockmitment. No distractions. No outside noise.

    Sitting in her chair that afternoon, Ste leaned back and let out a long breath. She didn¡¯t want to just bury her past¡ªshe wanted to rebuild herself from scratch. When this was all over, she hoped she¡¯d emerge as someone entirely new. Someone better.

    Six months passed in the blink of an eye.

    Ste now sat on a ne bound for Choria, lost in thought as the skyline slowly came into view through the window.

    William sat beside her. He noticed the quiet tension in her face and asked softly, ¡°Have you decided what you¡¯ll do now that you¡¯re back?¡± The project had been a huge sess.

    As part of their confidentiality agreement, every member had the option to either take up their old identity¡ªor disappear into a new one forever.

    Hearing his question, Ste gave a faint smile. ¡°Ste died six months ago,¡± she said calmly. ¡°There¡¯s no reason to go back to a name that doesn¡¯t mean anything anymore.¡±

    William nced over at her, a flicker of something like admiration passing through his eyes.

    ¡°If you¡¯re interested,¡± he said, ¡°I could offer you a position at Briggs Group. Technical Director.¡±

    Ste blinked, genuinely caught off guard. Six months ago, this man had been ice cold andpletely dismissive of her skills.

    Now he was offering her a high-ranking role?

    She turned to him, her smileced with yful sarcasm. ¡°Mr. Briggs, are you finally admitting I¡¯m good at what I do?¡± By now, their dynamic had shifted.

    What had once been formal was now rxed¡ªfriendly, even.

    Her eyes sparkled with yful mischief.

    William chuckled under his breath, eyes glinting. ¡°Let¡¯s just say¡­ you passed.¡±

    ¡°Passed? That was it?¡±

    Ste opened her mouth to ask more, but before she could say anything, a cold voice cut in from a few seats over.

    ¡°If I were you, Ms. Russell,¡± Nathalia said sharply, ¡°I¡¯d have a little more self-awareness. The Briggs Group doesn¡¯t hire people through backdoor connections. They hire based on merit.¡±

    Nathalia had spent thest six months circling William like a hawk¡ªdoing everything in her power to earn his attention. But William had been polite at best, indifferent at worst.

    Despite her qualifications, he hadn¡¯t once offered her a position in hispany. And now here he was¡ªextending a job offer to Ste of all people.

    What was it about Ste?

    Ste turned toward her with a raised brow, unbothered.

    At first, Ste had assumed Nathalia was just another unfortunate soul. But as time went on, it became clear¡ªthis had always been one-sided.

    William was naturally distant. He kept people at arm¡¯s length, always cool, alwaysposed.

    And Nathalia? She was just another name on the list.

    Ste actually felt a little sorry for her. Because William liked men. And Nathalia, no matter how hard she tried, was chasing a ghost.

    Ste didn¡¯t feel angry¡ªjust amused. She turned, smiled sweetly at Nathalia, and said with that disarming calm, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Ms. Fuller. I¡¯m not good enough. You¡¯re the best match. The perfect match, really.¡±

    Then she tilted her head, almost thoughtfully. ¡°Oh! I just remembered¡ªI need to check something with Maia. I¡¯ll let you two¡­ bond.¡±

    And with that, she stood and walked away, settling into the seat beside Maia, giving the two space.

    William¡¯s gaze followed her the whole way. His expression darkened by the second.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 80

    ?Chapter 80:

    Ste¡¯s careful demeanor seemed to sit well with Nathalia, who smiled gracefully and took the seat next to William.

    ¡°William, where are you headed after wend in Choria? If we¡¯re going the same way, maybe we can go together.¡±

    But William cut her off without giving her the opening she wanted.

    ¡°Wherever that is, it¡¯s not along my way.¡±

    Nathalia was left speechless. All the lines she¡¯d rehearsed had suddenly be meaningless.

    After saying that, William got up and walked over to Ste¡¯s side, his gazending on Maia, who was sitting next to her.

    ¡°I need to talk to Ste about work,¡± he said inly.

    Maia had been mid-conversation with Ste when she noticed a tall shadow fall over her.

    Looking up, she was met with William¡¯s serious expression. Remembering how strict William could be at the research institute, she instinctively nodded, almost like a reflex. ¡°Sure.¡±

    She gathered her belongings in a hurry and moved to the seat William had vacated, offering a polite nod to Nathalia as she passed.

    ¡°Nice to see you, Nathalia.¡±

    Nathalia clenched her jaw, barely containing her irritation.

    Ste, on the other hand, was left momentarily speechless.

    She¡¯d just handed him a golden chance to get closer to Nathalia¡ªwhy was he sitting next to her instead?

    She looked up at him with a faint, teasing smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t we wrap that up already? What¡¯s left to talk about now?¡±

    William casually tossed a folder onto the table, his gaze firm. ¡°There¡¯s an uing coboration in Briggs Group. You¡¯ll be handling it.¡±

    Your escape begins at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Ste blinked in surprise. When had she signed up for this? Since when was she dealing with Briggs Group¡¯s business?

    Before she could speak, William shot her a cold look. ¡°What? Think you¡¯re not up for it?¡±

    She knew he was baiting her.

    But truthfully, the opportunity with Briggs Group was the most strategic move for her right now. There was no reason to turn it down.

    After a brief pause, Ste raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Is this a test, Mr. Briggs? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get it done.¡±

    There was a glint in her eyes¡ªconfident and unwavering.

    William¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s see how it turns out.¡±

    An hourter, the ne touched down in Briset¡ªthe city where Briggs Group was headquartered. Since she¡¯d already epted the role of director in William¡¯spany, there was no reason to return to Choria. What she didn¡¯t expect, however, was for William to hand her a set of keys right then and there.

    She stared at him, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    She hadn¡¯t even officially started yet, and he was already giving her¡­ something?

    A quiet warning echoed in her mind: Beware of unexpected gifts. She eyed the keys cautiously, making no move to take them.

    William turned to look at her, one eyebrow lifting as he leaned in slightly. Their eyes locked, and the closeness between them brought a hint of tension to the air.

    ¡°It¡¯s part of your employee benefits,¡± he said, his tone calm. ¡°You¡¯re working in Briset now, so this ce is yours. The Briggs Group makes sure its people are well taken care of.¡±

    Ste blinked, raising a brow. ¡°Do all your employees get handed vis, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    William stood up straight again and shot her a look. ¡°It¡¯s not a gift¡ªit¡¯s temporary housing. You¡¯re free to find your own ce if you prefer.¡± With that, he turned and headed toward the exit, leaving Ste pressing her lips together in thought.

    She had no doubt the vi would be luxurious. Honestly, it would be a waste not to use it.

    Now that the recent project had wrapped up, Ste officially joined the project team, but her presence was only required as needed. The remaining time was hers to manage, free from the research institute¡¯s oversight.

    So using her spare hours to pick up part-time work at Briggs Group felt like a smart move. After all, who in their right mind turned down extra ie?

    Ste wheeled her suitcase into the vi. Though unupied, it was spotless¡ªclearly kept tidy through routine maintenance.

    She spent the next two days unpacking, stocking up on essentials, and giving the ce a light cleanup. On her third evening in Briset, she had an event to attend.

    William had already emailed her the documents, and she had studied them with care.

    Her role was to represent a newlyunched firm and negotiate a partnership with SummitRise Group¡ªone of Briset¡¯s oldest and most established names.

    As she sat in the car, Ste couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this was William¡¯s way of testing her.

    The sess of this coboration woulde down to her own skills.

    At the entrance of the banquet hall, she took a moment to adjust her coat, then stepped inside¡ªher silver, diamond-studded heels catching the light with every step.

    The doorman held the door open, revealing an opulent, glimmering banquet hall beyond.

    The sound of her entrance drew attention; people paused mid-conversation and turned toward her.

    Since Briset was far from Choria, few had seen Ste before. But watching her stride in with poise in a designer gown, admiration sparked in their eyes.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never seen her before. Maybe some heiress fresh back from abroad?¡± someone murmured.

    ¡°No idea, but that dress? I saw it in a magazine¡ªit¡¯s a limited edition,¡± another whispered.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 81

    ?Chapter 81:

    Facing a banquet hall full of unfamiliar faces, Ste stood poised and unflinching. Her gaze swept across the crowd at an even pace, her lips curved in a polite smile as she nodded to those who met her eyes.

    Every inch of her radiated quiet confidence.

    She stood tall and unhurried, allowing others to take her in.

    For years, she¡¯d yed the part of Marc Walsh¡¯s wife¡ªa life of dinner parties and social niceties reced with domestic routines. She¡¯d wondered if those years had dulled her ability to navigate a room like this.

    But the moment she walked in, she realized she hadn¡¯t lost her touch. There was no anxiety, no hesitation. Just a calm, grounded certainty that she belonged. That she would shine.

    Beforeing, she had done her homework on the SummitRise Group and the man at the center of it all¡ªSteven Harrison.

    Young, aplished, and rarely seen on home soil after years abroad. It didn¡¯t take long to spot him. Even in this sea of designer suits and polite ambition, he stood out.

    ss of champagne in hand, Ste made her way to him, heels clicking softly across the marble.

    ¡°Mr. Harrison,¡± she greeted with a soft but steady voice. ¡°I¡¯m Ste, representing Neb.¡±

    Steven had already noticed her when she entered, but now that she introduced herself, his brow arched. ¡°¡®Neb¡¯? And which Neb would that be?¡±

    Thepany was new¡ªstill carving out its ce¡ªso the question didn¡¯t surprise her.

    Without missing a beat, she offered him aposed smile and calmly pitched thepany. ¡°Neb is a promising youngpany, Mr. Harrison. And if you give us a chance to coborate, I¡¯m confident we¡¯ll exceed your expectations.¡±

    He swirled the wine in his ss, amused. ¡°Everyone here represents apany. What makes you think you¡¯ll do better than the rest?¡±

    ¡°I understand thepetition,¡± Ste said calmly. ¡°But I¡¯ve studied your project specs, yourpany¡¯s vision, and your needs for this particr coboration. They align¡­¡±

    Find your favorite stories at g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s., conn

    ¡°Seamlessly with what we offer. If you give us the chance, I¡¯m confident our first proposal will meet your expectations.¡±

    Steven gave her a slow, intrigued look. ¡°That¡¯s quite a im.¡±

    Meeting his expectations with the first proposal wasn¡¯t going to be easy. She gave a small smile. ¡°I have great confidence in ourpany¡¯s professional capabilities.¡±

    Still, Steven felt the need to ground her. ¡°You¡¯re young, Ms. Russell. It¡¯s good to be bold. But overconfidence tends to lead to a harder fall.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Confidence backed by ability isn¡¯t arrogance. Let me put it this way: if our proposal doesn¡¯t pass, Neb willpensate SummitRise financially. No strings, no second chances. And we¡¯ll also provide global-grade technical support.¡±

    The air between them shifted. Steven¡¯s ss stopped mid-swish. He stared at her for a moment, surprised. No one in the room had made that kind of offer¡ªespecially not from a startup.

    The financialpensation would be huge, and she was offering it if the proposal failed, without even needing a second chance.

    He met her gaze again, this time more seriously.

    She wasn¡¯t bluffing. Her eyes held no trace of doubt. Just rity. After a long pause, Steven nodded. ¡°Since you¡¯re that confident, I¡¯ll give you the opportunity, Ms. Russell.¡±

    Ste¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Thank you. I promise¡ªyou won¡¯t be disappointed.¡±

    Steven studied her quietly for a moment longer, a spark of genuine admiration in his eyes.

    No wonder William had sent her. She wasn¡¯t just beautiful¡ªshe was sharp, articte, and bold.

    Her negotiation style was nothing short of elegant.

    She was¡­ interesting.

    He could see why she had William¡¯s attention.

    As they continued talking, a voice interrupted them from the side.

    ¡°Mr. Harrison.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes flickered. She turned her head slowly, unsurprised.

    Marc and Haley. She knew this moment woulde eventually.

    Now that she was back, crossing paths with Marc was inevitable. But seeing him now¡­ it felt distant. Hollow. They were nothing more than strangers.

    Marc and Haley stood together in matching attire¡ªHaley clinging to Marc¡¯s arm like a prized essory.

    ¡°Mr. Harrison, long time no see,¡± she said sweetly.

    Marc offered a practiced smile.

    Six months ago, Haley had used her connections in Achury to help bail out the Walsh Group.

    Now, with SummitRiseunching a new energy project, Walsh Group was eager to get a foot in the door. Haley¡¯s familiarity with Steven had been their entry point¡ªand she was making full use of it.

    Steven gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. ¡°Ms. Smith. And this is¡­¡±

    Haley smiled. ¡°This is Marc Walsh, CEO of Walsh Group in Choria. He heard about your bid and came to take a look.¡±

    Marc was just about to introduce himselfy out his pitch¡ªwhen his eyes fell on the woman beside Steven.

    A silver gown. Slender frame. That face.

    Marc froze.

    His heart clenched.

    It was her.

    In that moment, Marc¡¯s mind short-circuited¡ªbusiness, Haley, everything just disappeared. He rushed forward, grabbing Ste¡¯s hand like a drowning man clinging to driftwood.

    ¡°Stel¡­ it¡¯s really you.¡± His voice cracked with disbelief. ¡°I knew it. I knew you weren¡¯t dead. You¡¯ve forgiven me, right? That¡¯s why you¡¯re here¡­ right?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 82

    ?Chapter 82:

    Even Haley stood frozen, her smile faltering as she stared at the woman beside Steven Harrison. That face. That posture. That aura. It can¡¯t be¡­ Ste? But that was impossible. She was supposed to be dead. There had even been an official death certificate.

    Yet here she was¡ªalive, glowing, and even more striking than before. Haley¡¯s hands tightened involuntarily around her clutch. No¡­ it¡¯s not her. It can¡¯t be.

    Just then, Ste¡¯s arm was gripped hard¡ªMarc, his voice trembling, looked as if he¡¯d just seen a ghost.

    But Ste quickly yanked her arm away, her expression turning icy. ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t know you. You¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else. I¡¯m here to discuss business with Mr. Harrison.¡± Her tone was sharp, clipped, and distant.

    Marc panicked. ¡°Ste, enough. Don¡¯t do this. Do you have any idea how long I¡¯ve been searching for you? I turned the whole damn county upside down! I know I was wrong¡ªI swear I¡¯ll make it right this time. Come home with me.¡±

    He thought¡ªmaybe hoped¡ªthat he could still pull her back. He hadn¡¯t signed the divorce papers¡ªshe was still his wife.

    ¡°You are Ste. I¡¯m sure of it. You¡¯re my wife.¡±

    Ste almostughed. After all this time¡ªsix whole months¡ªMarc hadn¡¯t changed a bit. Still trying to charm his way through everything with that same self-righteous attitude.

    She let out a soft, mocking chuckle.

    ¡°Your ¡®wife¡¯? Wow. That¡¯s cute. Sir, if this is your idea of flirting, you¡¯re seriously off the mark. And for the record, I prefer gentlemen.¡± Then she turned toward Steven with an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry about this, Mr. Harrison. I¡¯ll stop by your office another time to continue our conversation.¡±

    After all, she was under William¡¯s protection. Steven wouldn¡¯t dare let anything happen to her¡ªnot in his presence.

    Steven gave a slight nod, clearly about to respond when Marc suddenly reached out again and grabbed her arm.

    ¡°It¡¯s not possible,¡± he said, his voice hoarse with desperation. ¡°You are Ste.¡±

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§àm, where stories thrive

    His voice broke as the scene around them slowed¡ªguests now fully focused on the growingmotion.

    Ste¡¯s patience snapped. Smack! The sound of the p cracked through the air, silencing the room. Her eyes were like frost as she looked down at him. ¡°You¡¯re being extremely rude, sir.¡±

    She reached into her clutch, pulled out her ID, and held it up for him to see. ¡°My name is Sylvia Gilbert. I don¡¯t know any Ste. And as for your wife¡­¡± She tilted her head, her smile cool. ¡°Maybe get help for those delusions.¡±

    Marc¡¯s cheek stung, but he couldn¡¯t care less at the moment. His gaze was locked on the ID in disbelief.

    It wasn¡¯t just the name¡ªit was the birth date, the address, the background. Everything was wrong. And yet¡­ her face was unmistakable.

    How could this not be Ste?

    As he stood there, stunned, she casually slid the card back into her bag and added lightly, ¡°If this was some desperate tactic to get my attention, sir, I¡¯d advise you to try a little harder¡ªand a lot less creepily.¡±

    Marc, dazed, shook his head. ¡°No¡­ no, if you¡¯re not Ste, then why are you even here? You knew I¡¯d be at this banquet, didn¡¯t you? You came for me.¡±

    Steughed, amused by his shallow reasoning. ¡°Sir, what gives you such extraordinary confidence for someone so¡­ ordinary? I¡¯m here to discuss business with Mr. Harrison. What does that have to do with you?¡±

    Marc¡¯s face darkened. Business? With Steven? He stood there, momentarily stunned.

    He pursed his lips slightly, his expression a mix of confusion and something else. ¡°Ste, whatever this is, you¡¯re pushing it now. Let¡¯s deal with our personal matters privately.¡±

    Regardless, he had to secure the SummitRise Group¡¯s project. Once he did, he wouldn¡¯t be under Haley¡¯s thumb anymore.

    He turned to Steven. ¡°Mr. Harrison, I apologize for the earlier scene. Walsh Group is fully capable of managing the new energy project, and I hope you¡¯ll give us fair consideration.¡±

    Steven had been silently observing the entire exchange, expression unreadable.

    Now he smiled faintly. ¡°Of course, Mr. Walsh. Fairpetition is the only way to do business. But you should know¡ªNeb Group has offered quite apelling proposal. They¡¯ve guaranteed the n will pass on the first round, no revisions.¡±

    needed. ¡°And if it doesn¡¯t, they¡¯re prepared to offer immediate financialpensation. Can Walsh Group offer the same?¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw ckened. No revisions? Immediatepensation?

    He turned to look at Ste. Was she out of her mind?

    How was she so confident their n would pass on the first try? The risk alone was astronomical¡ªeight-figure losses at minimum if the proposal failed. And she agreed to that?

    Moreover, Steven had just said Ste could provide thetest technology.

    Her previous patent had already made waves¡ªit was cutting-edge at the time. So what could she possibly havee up with now that was even better?

    He felt a dull ache creeping into his temples. What the hell had she been up to during the six months she vanished?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 83

    ?Chapter 83:

    Haley stood stiffly beside Marc, trying to make sense of what Steven had said.

    That outrageouspensation use? Maybe¡ªmaybe¡ªshe could pull some strings with her father to cover it. But the rest? The cutting-edge tech Ste imed to have? She had nothing.

    Haley¡¯s expression soured. She squeezed Marc¡¯s arm like a vice and shot Ste a venomous re.

    ¡°What new technology could you possibly have? Besides WAY2, what else is there? The Walsh Group already mastered WAY2. Don¡¯t talk big just to show off¡ªyou¡¯ll only dig your own grave.¡±

    Ste looked at her like she was watching a toddler throw a tantrum in public. ¡°WAY2?¡± she said, one brow raised. ¡°Miss Smith, are you sure that¡¯s the name? Because I think what you meant was WAY MORE¡ªthe upgraded version of the original WAY tech.¡±

    A hush fell over the small group. Haley¡¯s face flushed beet red. She¡¯d gotten the name wrong in front of everyone¡ªa painfully obvious sign she had no idea what she was talking about. She was obviously all talk, a joke to everyone.

    She clenched her fists but said nothing. What could she say?

    Ste turned back to Steven, her voice calm and steady. ¡°Mr. Harrison, WAY MORE dropped three years ago. It was groundbreaking at the time, sure¡ªbut three years is a lifetime in tech. If the Walsh Group is still peddling that, then that¡¯s honestly kind of sad.¡±

    Marc stared at her under the dazzle of the chandelier, momentarily lost. The light danced on her skin, but it wasn¡¯t just the glow that struck him¡ªit was her.

    In the six months since she vanished, she¡¯d transformed into someone else entirely.

    She stood taller, spoke sharper, moved like a woman who no longer second-guessed herself. Stronger. Smarter. Untouchably radiant. What had she been up to for the past six months? Had she really emerged with brand-new technology in hand?

    Steven¡¯s gaze lingered, his interest sharpening into something more serious. His admiration for Ste wasn¡¯t just growing¡ªit was cementing.

    ?¦Ò???? ¦Ô???????????? ¦É?? ?????????????????.??????

    His smile deepened, and he turned back to Marc. ¡°So, Mr. Walsh? Anything to add?¡±

    Marc¡¯s lips parted, but no words came out. He had nothing. Ste had walked out with her patent, and the Walsh Group hadn¡¯t produced anything worth bragging about since.

    Steven gave a light p, as if the performance was over. ¡°In that case, the project will go to Neb. I trust you have no objections, Mr. Walsh?¡±

    Marc stood frozen. He had just been publicly outmaneuvered. Again. He couldn¡¯t even deny it. He simply kept silent.

    Ste didn¡¯t bother lingering either. She turned to leave without another nce.

    But Marc, clearly out of his depth, scrambled after her like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. ¡°Stel¡ªwait! Are you really working with Neb? Thatpany¡¯s brand new. It has no backing, no stability. You can¡¯t be serious.¡±

    She ignored himpletely, walking as if he didn¡¯t exist.

    Marc wasn¡¯t ready to give up. ¡°Stel, don¡¯t do this. I know I messed up, okay? But you¡¯ve been gone for six months. You¡¯ve had time to cool off. Come home. You don¡¯t need to work for some unstable startup. Come back to the Walsh Group. It¡¯s yourpany too. You¡¯re my wife.¡±

    At that, Ste stopped.

    She turned around slowly, her tone razor-sharp. ¡°First of all¡ªI am not your wife. Second¡ªNeb, even as a brand newpany, just beat your Walsh Group in a fair bid. And third¡ªyou¡¯re clinging to outdated tech like it¡¯s some kind of achievement. Let me remind you¡ªyou lost.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face turned a deep shade of crimson, but he swallowed his pride and tried again. ¡°Okay. Fine. Scold me all you want, I don¡¯t care. Juste back to me, okay? You want to stay at Neb? Fine. I¡¯ll support it. I¡¯ll support anything. Just¡­ don¡¯t shut me out like this.¡±

    Ste stared at him like he was speaking anothernguage.

    Before she could reply, Steven reappeared at her side and casuallyid a hand on Marc¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m going to stop you right there. We all know your wife disappeared six months ago. But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to im a random woman as your spouse. That¡¯s called harassment.¡±

    Ste gave Steven a sideways nce, gratitude flickering in her eyes.

    Marc clenched his jaw. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. She¡¯s not a random woman. She¡¯s Ste Russell. I know my own wife¡ªI¡¯d never mistake her.¡±

    Steven let out a shortugh. ¡°You must have incredible eyesight, then, because I¡¯m pretty sure the name on that ID wasn¡¯t Ste Russell. It was Sylvia Gilbert. You still think they¡¯re the same person?¡±

    That did it. The crowd, already whispering, broke out in a fresh wave of hushed giggles and scandalized murmurs.

    ¡°I heard about this. His wife left him after he cheated, right?¡±

    ¡°Men like him alwayse crawling back when it¡¯s toote.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t he show up with that other woman earlier? And now he¡¯s ying the heartbroken husband? Seriously?¡±

    The remarks stabbed Marc from every angle, but Steven wasn¡¯t done.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± Steven said coolly, his voice carrying through the murmuring crowd, ¡°a true gentleman doesn¡¯t harass a woman. Show a little ss, will you?¡±

    Marc froze. That one sentence pinned him to the wall harder than any p.

    If he kept pushing now, he wouldn¡¯t just lose face¡ªhe¡¯d confirm every whisper in the room that he was nothing more than a possessive fool, clinging to a woman who no longer belonged to him. And in Choria¡¯s elite circles, reputations didn¡¯t bend¡ªthey shattered.

    This would put Walsh Group in a bad light.

    He nced at Steven, jaw clenched so tight it could¡¯ve cracked teeth. But the man standing before him wasn¡¯t just anyone¡ªhe was Steven Harrison.

    So Marc swallowed his pride, forced a stiff nod, then turned to Ste.

    His eyes lingered¡ªdesperate, pleading, full of regret. But she didn¡¯t flinch. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the hall.

    Haley, still reeling from the earlier humiliation, didn¡¯t dare stay a moment longer. She lifted her gown and scurried out after him. The spectacle was over. The ballroom slowly returned to its usual rhythm.

    Ste let out a small breath and looked at Steven. ¡°Thanks for stepping in just now.¡±

    Steven gave azy flick of his hand, lips curled into the faintest of smiles. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me,¡± he said, eyes twinkling. ¡°I¡¯m not the one you should be thanking.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 84

    ?Chapter 84:

    Ste frowned, confused. He wasn¡¯t the one she should be thanking?

    Then who was?

    Steven caught the look on her face but didn¡¯t offer an exnation. Instead, he just smiled slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what you do next.¡±

    She had no idea what he meant, but didn¡¯t push it. She¡¯d already said her thank-yous, and pressing for more would just feel awkward. With the partnership officially in ce, she figured it was time to head to Briggs Group and update William.

    Meanwhile, Marc had stormed out of the banquet hall, walked a good few hundred meters, and finally stopped. Frustrated, he yanked out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag.

    There was no way he had mistaken her. That was Ste. Even if she pretended not to know him in front of everyone, he was sure of it.

    But why was she acting like this?

    Yeah, maybe he¡¯d screwed up in the past, but he¡¯d apologized. He¡¯d promised it wouldn¡¯t happen again. Couldn¡¯t she at least give him one more chance?

    They were married for years. Did she really feel nothing¡ªno shame, no regret¡ªfor humiliating him like that in public?

    He rubbed the bridge of his nose, a wave of helplessness washing over him.

    Not far behind, Haley stood fuming.

    For the past six months, she¡¯d given everything to Marc¡ªrisked cutting ties with her family, begged her father to support Walsh Group, and endured it all. And now? With Ste back in the picture, she was shoved aside like an afterthought.

    Why?!

    Why was she always the runner-up? Why couldn¡¯t she ever outshine Ste?

    She was furious, but she knew better than to take it out on Marc now.

    L¦¡¦Ó??¦Ó ch¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??????

    Comining would only push him further away.

    What she wanted¡ªwhat she needed¡ªwas to keep him close.

    So if that meant helping him get Ste back, then so be it.

    Haley took a few steadying breaths, walked up behind him, and said softly, ¡°Marc, don¡¯t get too worked up. I know it¡¯s tough seeing Ste pretend she doesn¡¯t know you. But I think¡­ I might have a way to get her back.¡±

    Marc turned to her, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

    ¡°What kind of game are you ying now, Haley?¡±

    He didn¡¯t believe Haley would genuinely help him win Ste back. She blinked innocently, tears welling up as she looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m not ying games. I just want you to be happy.¡±

    That softened him a little. His voice lost its edge. ¡°What¡¯s this n of yours to bring Ste back?¡±

    Haley gave a faint smile. ¡°Think about it. In just six months, she¡¯s changed so much. She even locked in that big project with Steven. That kind of turnaround? She¡¯s gotta have someone backing her.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face darkened. He was ready to argue¡ªSte wouldn¡¯t get involved with someone else. But then he remembered her getting into William¡¯s car.

    Haley went on, ¡°And those tech solutions she mentioned? I¡¯m sure some of that came from Walsh Group. She worked there, right? She must¡¯ve had ess to confidential info. She probably used it to win Steven over.¡±

    The more she spoke, the more convinced she became that Ste hadn¡¯t done this all on her own.

    Marc didn¡¯t want to believe she¡¯d stoop to stealing, but he also couldn¡¯t fully believe she had the ability to pull it off solo.

    So¡­ if it wasn¡¯t theft, then what was it?

    ¡°Even if someone¡¯s behind her and she did use Walsh Group¡¯s data¡­ how the hell does that help me get her back?¡± he muttered, frowning. He didn¡¯t care aboutwsuits or revenge. He just wanted her beside him again.

    Haley stepped in closer, rising up on her toes to whisper in his ear. ¡°use her of stealingpany secrets. That way, she¡¯ll face prison time.¡±

    Marc¡¯s eyes snapped wide open, shocked by what she¡¯d just said.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 85

    ?Chapter 85:

    ¡°Haley, what¡¯s wrong with you? How could you even suggest turning Ste in? She¡¯s the woman I married. I¡¯d never do that to her!¡± Marc¡¯s voice rose with disbelief. The thought of Ste being arrested made him sick, and he knew Haley wasn¡¯t being honest.

    Haley¡¯s eyes welled up with what looked like hurt. ¡°Marc, how can you think I meant it that way? That¡¯s not what I was trying to do. I just thought¡­ if you filed a report anonymously and then stepped in to pull some strings, she¡¯d have no choice but to rely on you. That might bring her back.¡± She sounded sincere.

    Marc went quiet, weighing her words. Was that even possible?

    ¡°This might be the only option you have left,¡± Haley continued softly. ¡°You¡¯re the head of the Walsh Group. If you choose not to press charges, nothing will happen to her. She won¡¯t end up in prison. But think about it, she¡¯s made so much progress in just six months. The usual ways won¡¯t reach her anymore.¡±

    It was true. Halfway into the year, she had grown even more impressive.

    She had more choices now, and maybe that was why she no longer looked his way.

    But what if she had nowhere else to turn? If he helped her¡­ could she really keep walking away from him?

    As Marc¡¯s expression began to shift, Haley recognized that he was thinking about it.

    And while he stood there silently, her eyes gleamed with something sharp and bitter¡ªsomething he never noticed.

    Marc did have the power to decide whether or not Ste ended up behind bars. But if word got out that she had stolen Walsh Group¡¯s confidential material, her reputation would copse.

    There wouldn¡¯t be a singlepany in all of Choria, or even in Briset, that would take her in.

    The influential figure backing her now would walk away the moment she lost her usefulness.

    And when that happened, Ste wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against her.

    At Briggs Group, Ste followed Luca into William¡¯s office.

    Luca gave a polite nod and quietly stepped out.

    Now only the two remained.

    Ste looked toward the man behind the desk, focused on the files before him.

    His features were breathtakingly sharp, as if carved from marble. Even after seeing him so many times, she still found herself catching different traces of beauty in his expression. It was almost unreal.

    She cleared her thoughts and began her update. ¡°SummitRise Group has agreed to work with Neb. I gave them my word that the proposal would pass in its original form, with no edits.¡±

    William lifted his head to look at her.

    Ste braced herself, expecting a lecture, maybe something about making risky promises. She thought he might demand that she ensure its approval.

    But instead, he gave a slow nod and spoke with an unexpected softness. ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise. That was it? No criticism? ¡°You¡¯re¡­ not upset?¡±

    William let out a lowugh. ¡°Why would I be?¡±

    ¡°But¡­ what if SummitRise ends up rejecting the proposal?¡± The payout would be huge.

    ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°You were sure about that before you made the call, weren¡¯t you?¡±

    His tone was light, almost like he was remarking on something ordinary.

    Ste fell silent, caught off guard. She had believed she was the confident one, but clearly, it was William.

    She turned slightly. ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll return to my desk.¡±

    There likely wouldn¡¯t be much more for her to do with SummitRise now.

    William ced his pen aside, opened a drawer, and pulled something out. ¡°Hold on. Take this with you.¡±

    She looked down and saw a sleek ck credit card resting on the desk. It looked like one of those rare global exclusives. ¡°You want me to pick something up for you?¡±

    That was the only reason she could think of¡ªwhy else hand her the card?

    William¡¯s lips lifted in a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s for you. Think of it as an early payment. Buy yourself something you actually like, maybe clothes.¡±

    She happened to be wearing a dress he had chosen for her that day. Her figure was graceful and well-proportioned, but she stuck mostly to in T-shirts and jeans.

    Though she had the frame to wear anything well, her outfits always downyed it.

    Ste gave him a confused look. ¡°I have plenty of clothes.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°You mean those washed-out outfits you wear to theb?¡±

    She fell silent.

    Were they really that bad?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 86

    ?Chapter 86:

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re officially part of Briggs Group, you¡¯ll be meeting clients often. Buy yourself a few new outfits, and make sure you represent thepany properly.¡±

    Ste¡¯s lips twitched faintly. So that was it¡ªhe thought she might embarrass thepany.

    She forced a smile as she epted the card, then muttered through clenched teeth, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried I¡¯ll drain this card dry, Mr. Briggs? You know how much girls enjoy shopping.¡±

    William nced at her begrudging expression and chuckled. ¡°Rx. Your sry¡¯s decent, and we¡¯ll just deduct it from that if needed.¡±

    Ste sighed in defeat and shoved the card into her bag, clearly annoyed.

    Straightening her posture, she turned and walked out of his office, holding her head high.

    As he watched her walk away, William felt his spirits unexpectedly lighten. Even the stack of reports in front of him didn¡¯t seem quite as tedious anymore.

    As Ste stepped out of the Briggs Group building, she tried to soothe herself. Alright¡ªat least she had a vi and a ck card. That was more than mostpanies offered. Sure, her boss was a little odd¡­ but tolerable.

    Back in the office, moments after Ste left, William¡¯s phone rang. Steven¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°This one¡¯s interesting. I can see why you picked her.¡±

    William didn¡¯t bother asking questions. He just responded coolly, ¡°Stay away from her.¡±

    That only piqued Steven¡¯s interest further. ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re actually serious this time.¡±

    William didn¡¯t react to the teasing. With eyes still on his screen, he said tly, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªthis is important,¡± Steven cut in. ¡°You¡¯ll need to stop by in a couple of days to sign the contract.¡±

    Steven had no doubt about Neb¡¯s proposal, especially now that Ste was involved.

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    There was no question in his mind¡ªhe was definitely signing with them.

    William gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment and, after ending the call, shot Ste a message with the contract signing date for SummitRise Group.

    Ste was browsing racks of clothes when the message came through. With the ck card in her hand, and knowing any overspending would just be docked from her pay, she shopped without the slightest guilt.

    After checking the contract date, she casually sent back an ¡°OK¡± emoji and resumed her carefree shopping spree.

    The day of the contract signing came quickly. Dressed in a sharp ck business suit that gave her a sleek, polished look, Ste walked into the towering headquarters of SummitRise Group with quiet confidence. Just as she stepped into the elevator and the doors began to slide shut, they suddenly reopened with a chime. Two people had pressed the button from outside.

    Her brows lifted slightly when she saw who it was¡ªMarc and Haley.

    What were they doing here?

    She didn¡¯t have time or energy to care.

    Without saying a word, Ste shifted to the side, pretending she hadn¡¯t even seen them.

    Marc looked at her with a mix of restraint and barely hidden excitement. But unlike before, he didn¡¯te near her.

    Haley, on the other hand, had a different agenda. There was a satisfied curl to her lips as she stood beside Marc, her thoughts dripping with spite.

    She had found out that Ste was scheduled to sign a contract with SummitRise today, and she¡¯d shown up for one reason only¡ªto ruin her.

    She had even hidden a tiny camera in her purse, ready to capture Ste¡¯s downfall on video.

    The n was simple¡ªhumiliate Ste, post the footage online, and let the worldugh.

    After this, Ste wouldn¡¯t just lose Marc¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t even have the dignity to walk around in public.

    Ste caught the calcting glint in Haley¡¯s eyes and narrowed her own slightly.

    Something was off.

    They were clearly plotting something, but she wasn¡¯t worried. Let them try.

    The elevator ride was tense and silent. When it finally stopped on the conference room floor, Ste walked out, only to hear footsteps behind her.

    Steven stood by the meeting room entrance. He hadn¡¯t scheduled anyone else today, so when he spotted Haley and Marc trailing behind Ste, his brows furrowed.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, Ms. Smith,¡± he said coolly, ¡°I don¡¯t recall setting up a meeting with either of you.¡±

    Haley immediately stepped forward, taking charge. ¡°Mr. Harrison, we¡¯re here to share something important. A truth, actually. We just didn¡¯t want you to be misled.¡±

    Steven tilted his head slightly, an amused gleam in his eyes. ¡°Misled? And who exactly is trying to mislead me?¡±

    Haley didn¡¯t hesitate. She pointed right at Ste, her voice rising with righteous indignation. ¡°Her, Mr. Harrison! She told you she had some so-called new technology to coborate on, but the truth is¡ªit¡¯s stolen. She took confidential files from Walsh Group!¡±

    Steven raised his eyebrows and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Is that so? Mr. Walsh?¡± He turned toward Marc. ¡°Can you confirm this? Did Ms. Gilbert really steal trade secrets from yourpany? I¡¯m curious¡ªhow did she manage that?¡±

    He had expected Marc to show some level of dignity, maybe even hesitate before tossing such an usation.

    But Steven had clearly overestimated him.

    Marc looked at Ste with conflicted eyes that flickered with something unreadable. Then he said slowly, ¡°Yes, Mr. Harrison. She¡¯s my wife. And I can confirm that around six months ago, out of anger, she took ssified documents from the Walsh Group and disappeared. If you don¡¯t believe me, check her ID. It¡¯s likely fake. If you proceed with this coboration, you might find yourself tangled in legal trouble.¡±

    Haley jumped in with even more dramatic ir. ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s not Sylvia Gilbert¡ªher real name is Ste Russell! Marc gave her a chance to work at Walsh Group out of kindness, and this is how she repaid him¡ªby stealing sensitive data. And now she¡¯s using ourpany¡¯s core technology to strike a deal with SummitRise Group!¡±

    Haley used Ste with self-righteous anger.

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 Chapter 87

    ?Chapter 87:

    Ste stood calmly off to the side, her face unreadable.

    She had to admit¡ªHaley was slightly sharper than before, though not by much.

    Ste gave a lightugh. ¡°I¡¯m not your wife, so how could I have stolen yourpany secrets? As for the fake ID im, why don¡¯t you show me your evidence?¡±

    She had moved on from Marc long ago. As far as she was concerned, as long as they didn¡¯t cross her path, she could act like they never existed. Still, when her eyes met Marc¡¯s¡ªfull of determination¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help but feel how absurd it all was.

    Marc, of all people, knew her better than most, yet he was standing here, using her of stealing hispany¡¯s technology?

    She had once hoped they could part peacefully. Clearly, Marc had no such intention.

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯ve got proof,¡± Haley snapped, her chin raised with confidence. ¡°That proposal you¡¯re holding is all the evidence we need. Do you dare show your files and let the data teampare them?¡±

    Ste looked Haley straight in the eye. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare? But since you and Mr. Walsh are so eager to throw around usations, how about this¡ªif I prove I didn¡¯t take anything, you both owe me a public apology. And after that, stay the hell out of my life. Fair enough?¡±

    ¡°Deal,¡± Haley snapped back without hesitation. ¡°You should be nervous¡ªusing Marc¡¯s core tech to score this deal with SummitRise? You¡¯re nothing but a fraud.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, sheughed under her breath. ¡°Fine then. A deal¡¯s a deal. Just don¡¯t forget¡ªwhoever loses pays the price.¡±

    She then turned toward Steven with a calm, professional tone. ¡°Mr. Harrison, here¡¯s the tech I¡¯ve prepared for yourpany¡¯s project. You¡¯re wee to have your analystspare it with Walsh Group¡¯s system. I¡¯ll let the data do the talking.¡±

    Steven, the man in charge at SummitRise, had a skilled team behind him. Running IP checks and analyzing ovepping tech structures was standard procedure for them.

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    He gave a brief nod and motioned to his assistant to begin the analysis. Twenty minutes passed before the assistant quietly delivered the results to Steven¡¯s screen.

    Steven read through the report, leaned back in his chair, and nced at the group. ¡°There is an issue with Ms. Gilbert¡¯s proposal,¡± he stated.

    Haley immediately let out a smugugh, turning to Ste with glee. ¡°What did I say? It¡¯s obvious you stole the Walsh Group¡¯s tech. There¡¯s no way you created something this advanced on your own in just six months.¡±

    Marc remained seated on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, silently watching Ste with an intense gaze.

    ¡°Ste,¡± he said gently. ¡°I¡¯ll let this slide if youe home with me. We can act like none of this ever happened. I won¡¯t let the police get involved.¡±

    His tone was tender, almost noble, as though he was doing her a favor for a crime she hadn¡¯t evenmitted.

    But before Ste could reply, Steven cleared his throat a few times, his expression shifting as his eyes darkened slightly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not done talking yet,¡± he said calmly.

    Haley and Marc turned to face him again, confused.

    Steven leaned forward slightly and spoke with deliberate calm. ¡°What I said was that there¡¯s an issue with Ms. Gilbert¡¯s submission, but I never imed it had any ovep with Walsh Group¡¯s data. The issue is that her design is too advanced. Entirely original. Not a single element from Walsh Group appears in her system. I¡¯m honestly¡­ impressed. I was hoping to ask how she managed something so cutting-edge.¡±

    The revtion hit Marc and Haley like a thunderp.

    They stared at Steven in disbelief.

    It didn¡¯t add up.

    Hadn¡¯t Ste developed this more advanced system by enhancing her own patent, which was once licensed to the Walsh Group as their core technology?

    How could her new system be entirely different?

    ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Haley shouted, her voice shrill. ¡°There has to be a mistake. She couldn¡¯t have developed something new on her own¡ªshe had to copy us!¡±

    She refused to ept that Ste might actually be that capable.

    ¡°What did you do, Ste? Did you bribe Steven? You must¡¯ve used some dirty trick to get him on your side!¡± Haley¡¯s voice dripped with usation, trying to twist the situation now that her n had fallen apart.

    Ste let out a light chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m done wasting energy exining myself. There¡¯s always someone better out there, maybe that¡¯s what you can¡¯t ept. What now, Ms. Smith? Too proud to say you were wrong? If you can¡¯t bring yourself to apologize, I¡¯ll just take legal action for defamation.¡±

    Haley clenched her jaw and red daggers at Ste, her fury simmering just beneath the surface.

    Meanwhile, Steven¡¯s tone turned icy as he spoke again. ¡°Ms. Smith, what exactly are you suggesting? That SummitRise is rigging results? That we¡¯re conspiring against the Walsh Group? Ms. Gilbert won this deal fairly. You and Mr. Walsh, on the other hand, stormed in without invitation and created chaos. I¡¯d say it¡¯s your behavior that¡¯s out of line.¡±

    His wordsnded hard. For a moment, both Haley and Marc were too stunned to respond.

    Just then, the assistant, who had been silently waiting at the door, tapped gently and stepped in to ease the tension. ¡°Mr. Harrison, Mr. Sampson has arrived.¡±

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 Chapter 88

    ?Chapter 88:

    ¡°Let him in,¡± Steven said with a nod.

    Standing by the doorway, Kevin Sampson¡¯s expression was difficult to read. He had caught the tail end of everything that had just happened. He hade to discuss a potential coboration with Steven, but instead, he walked into the middle of a scandal, and a pretty revealing one at that.

    It didn¡¯t take him long to recognize the man at the center of it all¡ªMarc Walsh, from the Walsh Group.

    Kevin had previously been leaning toward partnering with the Walsh Group, but with their patent no longer secure, he was already second-guessing that decision.

    Haley, on the other hand, had been leveraging her family¡¯s clout in Achury to push him toward going through with the deal.

    Though he¡¯d been wavering, Steven¡¯s remarks only solidified his decision. He was now firmly set on pulling out of the coboration.

    Marc looked up and froze when he saw Kevin at the entrance. The very investor he and Haley had been courting relentlessly.

    ¡°Mr. Sampson!¡± he eximed in shock.

    Kevin¡¯s face remained unreadable. After a brief pause, he got straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Walsh, since fate has brought us together here today, I¡¯ll give you my answer now. I won¡¯t be pursuing the coboration with Walsh Group. If the stars align in the future, we might revisit it, but for now, I¡¯m out.¡±

    After delivering his message, Kevin turned to Ste. Her poise amidst the chaos caught his attention. She hadn¡¯t flinched once. Intriguing, to say the least.

    Even with everything unfolding around her, she radiated calm confidence¡ªa quiet strength that hinted at sess.

    ¡°Miss,¡± Kevin began, ¡°I overheard a bit about your technology earlier. It sounds promising. Would you be willing to share more details?¡±

    Ste immediately recognized him¡ªKevin Sampson, the influential head of one of Briset¡¯s three major families.

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    Ste began to smile and offered her hand, but before she could say anything, Haley cut in, practically shouting, ¡°Mr. Sampson, don¡¯t let her fool you! She¡¯s not who you think she is! We were supposed to coborate¡ªremember? You made a promise to me¡­ and to my family!¡±

    The moment she mentioned her family, Kevin¡¯s face clouded.

    His tone sharpened as he interrupted, ¡°Ms. Smith, you¡¯re standing on our soil now. I suggest you tread carefully. Don¡¯t let your family¡¯s influence abroad make you forget where you are. Push too far, and you just might regret it.¡±

    Since when did the Sampson family bow to pressure from foreign interests?

    Haley¡¯s face drained of color, and her hands balled into fists. ¡°She¡¯s a fraud! Even her name¡¯s not real!¡±

    That struck a chord.

    For the first time, Ste¡¯s gaze turned icy.

    ¡°Ms. Smith,¡± Ste said coolly. ¡°What exactly is your connection to Mr. Walsh that makes you so invested in his problems?¡±

    Without missing a beat, Haley dered, ¡°Marc and I are together. I¡¯m his girlfriend. Of course, his business is mine, too!¡±

    Upon hearing that, Ste turned to Marc with a look of mock surprise, her voiceced with sarcasm. ¡°Oh? So it¡¯s official now?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression instantly darkened as he shot a sharp re at Haley. His displeasure was obvious.

    The moment she saw his reaction, Haley¡¯s confidence faltered. A flicker of unease crossed her face.

    Deep down, she knew Marc had never truly seen her as a girlfriend. But in front of Ste, she couldn¡¯t help herself¡ªshe had to stake her im, even if it was just an illusion.

    She had stayed by his side for six months and shared everything with him. Why shouldn¡¯t she be acknowledged as his girlfriend?

    Noticing how Marc was clearly furious but trying to keep it in, Ste let out a soft, mockingugh.

    ¡°I had no idea you two were a couple,¡± she began, her tone drenched in sarcasm. ¡°But didn¡¯t you just tell me at the party a few days ago that your heart belonged to your wife, Mr. Walsh? And now, suddenly, you¡¯ve fallen for someone else? That was quick. From the looks of it, this doesn¡¯t seem like a rtionship¡ªit seems more like an affair. Or maybe you both enjoy this kind of sneaky little drama. I may not know this ¡®Ste,¡¯ but whoever she is¡­ I feel bad for her. Watching two people shamelessly parade around like soulmates? What a joke.¡±

    With both Kevin and Steven watching, Ste didn¡¯t bother with politeness. She tore straight through their carefully crafted facade.

    Marc¡¯s face froze. But then something flickered behind his eyes.

    Could this be jealousy? Was she upset because she still cared? She had to care. Why else would she react like that to Haley¡¯s im?

    That must¡¯ve hurt.

    His lips curled into a smile, mistaking her disgust for longing. ¡°You¡¯re jealous, aren¡¯t you, Stel?¡± he said smugly. ¡°That¡¯s why you said all that. You can deny it all you want, but you¡¯re still my Ste.¡±

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 Chapter 89

    ?Chapter 89:

    Ste shot Marc a look and rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by whatever nonsense he¡¯d just said.

    Even Steven, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, finally lost his patience and said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, let¡¯s set the record straight¡ªMs. Gilbert isn¡¯t here as anyone¡¯s substitute. You¡¯ve seen her ID. She¡¯s not your long-lost wife; she¡¯s Sylvia Gilbert, representing Neb Group.

    Frankly, your actual wife deserves better than a man who two-timed her. If you truly cared about her, you¡¯d stop dragging innocent people into your mess and start paying attention to Ms. Smith.

    The way things stand, Walsh Group and SummitRise Group have zero partnership now¡ªand I can¡¯t see that changing. Mr. Walsh, I think it¡¯s time for you to go.¡±

    Steven¡¯s voice made it clear he¡¯d reached the end of his tolerance. Marc flushed, embarrassment burning on his face.

    With the entire office watching him like he was a joke, he finally rose from the couch, every ounce of swagger gone.

    As he shuffled past Ste, desperate for onest lifeline, he murmured her name, almost pleading, ¡°Stel¡­¡±

    But Ste didn¡¯t so much as nce in his direction, as if he¡¯d vanished into thin air.

    With her silence hanging heavy in the air, Marc hesitated briefly, then shoved the office door open and walked out.

    Out in the car, Haley sat in the front seat, ncing nervously at Marc¡¯s thunderous expression. She inhaled shakily and tried to smooth things over with a brittle smile.

    ¡°Marc, honestly, SummitRise Group just lost out on something great. If they won¡¯t work with us, that¡¯s their own misfortune¡ªah!¡±

    Her words died in her throat. Marc, suddenly ovee with fury, lunged and wrapped his hand around her neck.

    His grip tightened, his eyes burning with usation. ¡°Haley, was that deliberate? Why did you have to say that back in the office?¡±

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    Haley¡¯s eyelids fluttered shut, her face flushing red as she fought for air.

    ¡°Marc¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ please¡­ let go¡­¡±

    Marc flung her aside with a savage jerk, sending Haley¡¯s head crashing against the car window with a muffled crack.

    ¡°Out,¡± he snapped, his voice raw with fury.

    Still gasping for air, Haley didn¡¯t dare linger. She fumbled with the handle, tumbled out of the car, and barely had time to steady herself before Marc roared off, the exhaust burning in her lungs.

    Left in the fading taillights, Haley¡¯s rage boiled over. She stamped her foot into the asphalt, eyes zing.

    That wretched Ste¡ªnone of this would¡¯ve happened without her!

    Marc headed straight for home, the tension in his knuckles refusing to ease. For weeks now, he¡¯d poured himself into restoring the vi, determined to resurrect every detail from before Ste¡¯s departure. Every corner, from the custom sofas to the precise arrangement of the bedroom furniture, looked untouched, as if she¡¯d never left.

    Even the wedding portrait Ste had burned¡ªhe¡¯dmissioned an identical one, and it was in its old ce on the wall of the master bedroom.

    Marc¡¯s gaze lingered on the portrait¡ªSte¡¯s hand resting on his arm, her smile warm and gentle. The image carved a fresh ache through his chest.

    Memories of happier days crashed over him, each one shing bitterly with her icy indifference now.

    He couldn¡¯t stand the reminder. Turning away, Marc yanked the bedroom door shut, the sound echoing through the empty vi. He didn¡¯t dare look back at anything that might unravel him. Minutester, he sped off, leaving the vi behind once more.

    The bar pulsed with deafening music, the kind that rattled the ssware and made conversation impossible. Marc sat hunched over the counter, tossing back one drink after another, desperate to drown out any trace of Ste from his mind.

    Someone stepped out of the restroom and caught sight of him, hesitating for a moment before breaking into a surprised grin. ¡°Marc? Well, this is a surprise¡ªI didn¡¯t expect to bump into you here!¡± Marc hadn¡¯t joined them for a night out in more than half a year. Ever since his wife¡¯s sudden disappearance, he¡¯d vanished from their social circle too.

    Marc, bleary-eyed, nced over and recognized his old friend, Travis Acosta.

    Throwing an arm around Travis¡¯s shoulders, he chuckled, ¡°Travis, look at that¡ªwhat are the odds? Sit down, drink with me!¡±

    Travis slid onto the stool beside him, brows knitting in concern. ¡°Talk to me, man. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Marc shook his head, a bitterugh escaping him. ¡°What else could it be? Ste, as always.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡ªwasn¡¯t she¡­ I thought she died. Marc, you¡¯re still hung up on her?¡± Travis asked, incredulous.

    Marc mmed his ss down, his voice rough. ¡°She¡¯s not dead. She¡¯s just out there, pretending to be someone else. Why? Wasn¡¯t I good to her? She¡¯s my wife¡ªthere¡¯s no substitute. What more does she want from me? I gave her everything. No one else could give her the life I did. If she left me, who¡¯s going to take care of her? Without me, what does she even have? That thing with Haley, it¡¯s nothing¡ªjust a meaningless fling.¡±

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 Chapter 90

    ?Chapter 90:

    Even now, Marc remained convinced he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. In his mind, everything he¡¯d done had been justified.

    He simply saw it as part of business¡ªgetting close to other women was just strategy. But in his heart, Ste had always been the only one. She had stood by him for years. Surely, she should¡¯ve known his heart never wavered. At least, that¡¯s how Marc saw it.

    And yet, here she was, using another name¡ªSylvia Gilbert, of all things¡ªas if Ste Russell had never existed. To Marc, it was utterly ridiculous.

    Travis had heard enough. ¡°Marc,¡± he cut in, his voice sharp. ¡°The Walsh Group made it big in Choria thanks to Ste¡¯s patents. Do you have any idea how much those patents could¡¯ve gone for? But because she trusted you, she didn¡¯t ask for a dime.¡±

    It was no secret. Everyone in Choria knew where the sess really came from.

    Marc¡¯s face clouded over. He turned a hard stare on Travis. ¡°What are you getting at?¡±

    Travis hesitated, then exhaled. ¡°Marc, let¡¯s be real. Without Ste, you¡¯d have never made it here. Your reputation, yourpany¡¯s foothold in Choria¡ªeverything stems from her. A lot of those projects only worked with Walsh Group because of the tech she provided.¡±

    Marc¡¯s fingers clenched around his ss. ¡°Travis, if you¡¯re just here to talk nonsense, then shut your mouth.¡±

    Travis gave a slow shake of his head. ¡°You¡¯re too close to see it clearly. This whole mess? It¡¯s on you.¡±

    Marc shot up from his seat, anger shing in his eyes. ¡°Oh, and now you¡¯re some moral high ground? Don¡¯t forget who you used to be, Travis¡ªyou were no better than the rest of us.¡±

    Travis sighed and rose to leave. ¡°Fine. I shouldn¡¯t have bothered. Enjoy your evening, Marc.¡±

    Without looking back, he walked away, silently thinking how Marc had no clue how much he owed Ste and how ungrateful he had be.

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    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened as he watched Travis walk out of the bar. After a long, tense pause, he leaned back slightly, lifted his ss, and swallowed the remaining liquor in one go.

    The alcohol hit fast, clouding his mind with a dull haze. The music thundered around him, but all he could see was Ste¡ªover and over again.

    A deep ache clenched in his chest, sharp and suffocating, as though some invisible force had wrapped around his heart and refused to let go.

    After she was thrown out of the car, Haley returned home. But she refused to give up. When he stopped answering her calls, she sent someone to track him down.

    When she heard he was drinking alone at a bar, she rushed there immediately.

    She pushed open the heavy door, scanning the dim room until her eyesnded on Marc, slouched over the counter.

    Hurrying to his side, she looped her arm through his. ¡°Marc, what are you doing? You¡¯ve had too muche on, let¡¯s get you home.¡±

    At the sound of her voice, Marc sluggishly turned his head. His vision was hazy, but when he saw the figure beside him, his expression softened. He reached out, fingers brushing her waist.

    ¡°Stel¡­ you came back¡­ don¡¯t leave me again¡­ I love you, I always have¡­¡± he murmured, his words slurred but heartfelt.

    Haley froze, as if someone had poured ice water down her spine. Her hands trembled. So all this¡ªevery drink, every silent minute¡ªwas for Ste?

    While all that was happening, Ste and Steven had smoothly finalized their cooperation agreement.

    Not wasting any time, Ste threw herself into work¡ªorganizing ns, going through the proposal from the nning team, and tweaking the key points before passing it on to William.

    William flipped through the folder with sharp, focused eyes.

    His expression didn¡¯t shift, but the moment he spotted the revisions, he knew exactly who had made them. Ste¡¯s touch was evident¡ªsubtle yet effective.

    So, she wasn¡¯t just a pretty face with a story. She had real skill. No wonder Steven had taken an interest in her after only a couple of meetings.

    Closing the file, William raised his head and looked at her. His voice was steady butced with something colder. ¡°Ms. Russell, now that you¡¯ve joined Briggs Group, I expect you to create real value. I suggest you stop wasting time on distractions¡ªpeople or matters that are irrelevant. We don¡¯t keep dead weight here. If you¡¯re drawing a paycheck, make sure you earn it.¡±

    Ste blinked, surprised by the sudden jab.

    What was that supposed to mean?

    Did he hear about Marc showing up earlier?

    Was he calling her out over that? Or maybe he just liked dragging up her past, treating it like some stain that wouldn¡¯t wash off.

    Still, she had worked hard¡ªgoing through every detail, staying upte to polish that proposal. How could he use her of not creating value? Her heart tightened, but she didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, she met his gaze with a calmer, colder tone.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I¡¯m here to work, and I take my responsibilities seriously. But what I do in my personal life outside this office has nothing to do with you,¡± she said steadily.

    She didn¡¯t feel she owed anyone an apology. Everyone had a past. So did she. That didn¡¯t make her any less capable.

    But her words made William¡¯s face turn slightly grim. So, she was drawing a line now?

    Did she think he¡¯d just turn a blind eye if she flirted with Steven during working hours too? That wasn¡¯t something he was going to tolerate.

    Ste kept her posture firm. She stood tall, head held high, not backing down. After a deep breath, she added, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else about the proposal, Mr. Briggs, I¡¯d like to get back to work.¡±

    She turned as if to leave, but William¡¯s voice came again, low and direct. ¡°Wait.¡±

    She stopped.

    ¡°Your revisions were well done,¡± he said. ¡°But Briggs Group isn¡¯t the same as the Walsh Group. You still have a lot to learn. I¡¯ll introduce you to someone.¡±

    Ste paused, then slowly turned back toward him. There was a slight frown on her brow, and her tone carried a hint of surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d hand outpliments so easily. Who exactly is this person you want me to meet?¡±

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 Chapter 91

    ?Chapter 91:

    William could tell she was bothered.

    After working alongside her for half a year, he hade to understand that Ste wasn¡¯t as mild as she appeared.

    She gave off a calm presence, but when pushed, she didn¡¯t hold back.

    He said nothing about her earlier reaction. Instead, he reached into his drawer and pulled out a sleek envelope, cing it gently in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s an invitation to Saul Vance¡¯s birthday banquet. He¡¯s the head of the Vance family in Sleka City.¡±

    The Vance family? Back when she was with Marc, she had heard of them more than once.

    They were a longstanding powerhouse in Sleka, dominating their field, and meeting them wasn¡¯t something just anyone could arrange. Even Marc, considered one of Choria¡¯s rising figures, had never had ess to them.

    ¡°You want me to go with you?¡± she asked, unsure.

    There had to be others in thepany better suited for that kind of event, like his personal assistant.

    William looked at her with a slight arch of his brow. ¡°No. I want you to attend on my behalf.¡±

    She blinked, caught off guard by the answer.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go?¡± His question snapped her back to the moment. Ste quickly curved her lips into a smile. ¡°If you trust me with it, I¡¯d be d to go. I just hope my limited knowledge ofpany matters won¡¯t embarrass us.¡±

    A chance like this didn¡¯te often.

    William lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Get ready properly, and don¡¯t make me look bad.¡±

    Their eyes locked for a moment, and something unspoken passed between them.

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    He always gave off that air¡ªunshaken,posed¡ªas if nothing surprised him, as though no matter what she said, he¡¯d already anticipated it.

    Around him, her abilities felt insufficient.

    Ste picked up the invitation and smiled. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    In Sleka, Ste stepped into Saul Vance¡¯s birthday banquet wearing a champagne-colored gown.

    The room buzzed with conversation, the tter of sses, and soft music.

    With a ss of juice in hand, she moved through the crowd, scanning for Saul.

    Before she could find him, a few all-too-familiar faces caught her attention.

    Haley and Beatrice stood close by, dressed in coordinatedvender shades¡ªone in a floor-length gown, the other in something shorter. They could¡¯ve passed for sisters.

    Ste sighed inwardly. Of all people to run into again¡­

    She turned to walk away, pretending she hadn¡¯t noticed them. But Haley caught a glimpse of her from the side while engaged in small talk.

    Her hand gripped Beatrice¡¯s arm with sudden force. Beatrice turned toward the motion and spotted Ste too.

    Her expression changed instantly. ¡°Is she here?¡± she muttered, her tone sharp.

    Haley had already told her about Ste¡¯s so-called death. To them, Ste was a nuisance that never went away.

    With her jaw tight and eyes burning, Haley stepped away from her group and strode straight toward Ste, blocking her way.

    Haley leaned in slightly and said under her breath, ¡°What are you doing here, Ste? This is Saul Vance¡¯s banquet. You don¡¯t belong at an event like this.¡±

    Ste let out a soft chuckle and lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Ms. Smith, I¡¯ve said it before, my name is Sylvia Gilbert. As for where I choose to go, that¡¯s really none of your business. Unless¡­ you¡¯ve taken an interest in me? Like me, perhaps?¡±

    Haley¡¯s cheeks burned with fury. ¡°You can stop pretending. Call yourself Sylvia all you want, but I know exactly who you are. You¡¯re not that important. Why would I ever like someone like you? You hang onto powerful men like it¡¯s a job. What¡¯s appealing about that? So, which man brought you here tonight? You showing up at Saul¡¯s party is a disgrace to the guest list.¡±

    To Haley, this was the perfect opportunity to trample Ste underfoot. Her family had close ties with the Vance family and had stayed in touch ever since their days together in Achury.

    Even if the situation escted, Haley believed Saul would take both her side and her mother¡¯s.

    Ste¡¯s yful tone faded, reced by a sharp, cold look. ¡°Ms. Smith, did you skip brushing your teeth this morning? The smell is a bit much. I¡¯ve had a bit of spare timetely, so I did a little research. Turns out, there¡¯s something quite interesting¡­¡±

    ¡°Ms. Smith, your hatred for Ste runs deep. Is it because you¡¯ve been with her husband and hoped to rece her?¡±

    Ste¡¯s usation sent a ripple through the nearby guests.

    A woman of Haley¡¯s social standing, exposed as someone¡¯s mistress? The shock was immediate.

    .

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    .

 Chapter 92

    ?Chapter 92:

    This was Sleka. Here, gossip about Choria barely made it past a whisper.

    Haley¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°What nonsense are you saying?¡±

    Ste gave a calm, deliberate smile. ¡°I found out that Ms. Russell once reported you and Marc to the police. Not just for cheating behind her back, but for stealing her patent, too. Pretty sure there¡¯s still a record of it sitting at the station. It caused quite a stir back then. Funny how you walked out of it all without a scratch. I¡¯m guessing your family had to pull some serious strings, huh? And now, here you are, still obsessing over a woman who¡¯s been gone for ages. What¡¯s your real angle, Ms. Smith?¡±

    The crowd started whispering. And it wasn¡¯t in Haley¡¯s favor.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t she that wealthy heiress from Achury? What¡¯s she doing here ying the mistress? Her family must be mortified.¡±

    ¡°Rich? Please. Ever hear the saying ¡®the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree¡¯? Maybe her mom wasn¡¯t much better¡ªhow else would she end up like this?¡±

    ¡°Poor Ste. Who knows, maybe she was killed by Haley and that dirtbag husband of hers.¡±

    Haley and Beatrice could hear every word. The sneers, the judgment¡ªit all hit like a p in the face.

    Haley snapped, her voice shrill. ¡°Ste, stop making up lies! You just can¡¯t stand that Marc¡¯s moved on. He doesn¡¯t love you anymore! You were the one clinging to him! You disappeared for six months hoping he¡¯d chase after you¡ªand when he didn¡¯t, you crawled back with a new name, hoping to win him over again. Pathetic.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll say this onest time,¡± Ste said, voice steady and cold. ¡°My name is Sylvia Gilbert, not Ste Russell.¡± Her expression darkened. ¡°Ms. Smith, not everyone settles for scraps like you do. Maybe Marc¡¯s a prize in your eyes, but to the rest of us? He¡¯s trash.¡±

    She had let go of her feelings for Marc a long time ago. In fact, looking back, she regretted ever wasting years on him.

    All those empty promises¡ªshe¡¯d been blind.

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    ¡°Ste, who are you calling trash?!¡± Haley couldn¡¯t take it. The moment she heard someone insult Marc¡ªespecially Ste¡ªshe lost it.

    She lunged at her, hand raised to p.

    But Ste wasn¡¯t about to just stand there and let it happen.

    She smoothly dodged, stepping aside just as Haley came swinging.

    The problem was, Haley was in stilettos¡ªheels at least ten centimeters high¡ªand after missing her mark, she stumbled hard,nding t on the floor in the most awkward, ridiculous way.

    Her face contorted into a half-shocked, half-pained grimace.

    People around them covered their mouths, bursting intoughter.

    Beatrice¡¯s face turned stone-cold. She¡¯de to this event hoping tond a deal with the Vance family, but they hadn¡¯t even gotten to the negotiation table and were already a walking joke.

    In the lounge nearby, Saul was seated at a chessboard, deep in thought. He moved a pawn with a focused hand, totally absorbed in the game. It was his birthday today, and he¡¯d finally found a chess partner worth ying with.

    Across from him, William nced over at the surveince monitor set up in the corner of the room.

    The screen showed a clear feed of the banquet hall¡ªright in time to catch Haley¡¯s fall in front of Ste.

    He smirked, clearly entertained. Ste had reallye a long way. Turning his attention back to the game, he chuckled softly. ¡°Your game¡¯s gotten better.¡±

    Saul beamed at thepliment. ¡°Been practicing ever since ourst match.¡±

    William made his next move, sliding a knight into position, blocking Saul¡¯s bishop.

    He spoke casually, eyes still on the board. ¡°Saul, if I¡¯m not mistaken¡­ Haley and Beatrice¡ªaren¡¯t they your rtives?¡± His tone was light, almost amused, as he waited for Saul¡¯s next move.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 93

    ?Chapter 93:

    Saul paused mid-move, a chess piece in hand, his expression tightening. ¡°Barely rtives,¡± he muttered. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen either of them in over ten years.¡±

    William already knew the background. Haley had stayed in Achury all her life, while Saul had built his world in Sleka. They might¡¯ve shared some blood, but there wasn¡¯t much of a bond.

    ¡°But today¡¯s your birthday, and they made a point to show up,¡± William said casually. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re trying to gain some favor.¡±

    Especially after how they embarrassed themselves back in Choria¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they were here trying to clean up their image. That clearly rubbed Saul the wrong way. He hadn¡¯t been strict with the guest list today; anyone who wanted to celebrate was wee. But if Haley and Beatrice were here just to cozy up and benefit off his name? They were set up for a big surprise.

    ¡°They can keep dreaming.¡± The sharpness in his voice made his stance crystal clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t about to let them take advantage of him. He rarely visited Achury, and even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t need Haley to apany him.

    ¡°I mean,¡± William continued, ¡°they¡¯re already causing a scene. Your birthday celebration¡¯s at risk of turning into a circus. Haley just took a tumble out there. Sure, it¡¯s her own embarrassment, but if things keep escting, your whole party could get derailed.¡±

    Saul shot a nce at the monitor, clearly irritated, then moved his bishop without a word.

    William moved his queen, smirking. ¡°Checkmate. Looks like I won this round.¡±

    Saul tore his gaze away from the screen, scanned the board, and let out a scoff. ¡°You crafty bastard.¡±

    William had been rattling on about Haley and her mother¡¯s social climbing to distract him¡ªand it had worked.

    He¡¯d fallen for it and made a bad move.

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    Not many people could match Saul in chess, and even fewer dared to sit across from him.

    William was one of the few who could go toe-to-toe with him on the board.

    But this win? It didn¡¯t sit right with Saul.

    ¡°You set me up for your little office crush? This round doesn¡¯t count. Let¡¯s go again.¡±

    William didn¡¯t argue. He just started resetting the board, but added, ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend. She works at Briggs Group. I just value her skills.¡±

    Saul didn¡¯t believe a word.

    There were many employees at Briggs Group, but William had never openly backed anyone like this.

    But he wasn¡¯t about to admit it.

    Saul rolled his eyes. ¡°Anyway, enough of that. One more game. And no distractions this time. I¡¯ll take care of those two outside.¡±

    Williamughed under his breath. ¡°Fine by me.¡±

    Once the board was reset, Saul waved at the butler standing quietly behind them. ¡°Go handle it. This is my birthday. If anyone causes a ruckus, toss them out. No exceptions.¡±

    The butler gave a small bow. He¡¯d heard everything and didn¡¯t need more instructions. ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡±

    With that, he left the room. Saul rxed and leaned back in his chair.

    ¡°Now, can we finally focus on this match?¡±

    William didn¡¯t answer¡ªjust moved a pawn forward.

    Outside, Haley was still fuming, barely steady on her feet as Beatrice helped her up. She red daggers at Ste. ¡°You really think you can humiliate me and walk away? Do you even know who my father is? We¡¯re here for Saul Vance¡¯s birthday¡ªI¡¯ll have you kicked out of here in seconds!¡±

    She shoved Beatrice¡¯s hand away and made to charge at Ste again.

    But before her raised hand coulde down, a cold voice rang out. ¡°Who dares to make a scene at Mr. Vance¡¯s birthday?¡± It was Terence, the Vance family¡¯s butler.

    He stepped between Haley and Ste like a wall.

    Haley scowled. ¡°And who do you think you are?¡±

    Terence didn¡¯t flinch. His expression was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to his tone.

    When Saul went abroad to recuperate, he had been busy managing domestic affairs and hadn¡¯t gone along, unaware of how arrogant the Smith family was.

    ¡°I¡¯m Terence Ramsey. Butler to the Vance family. And when I speak, I speak on behalf of Mr. Vance himself.¡± The room went quiet.

    He continued, his voice firm, ¡°Miss Gilbert is a distinguished guest of the Vance family. Anyone who disrespects her¡ªdisrespects us. And Mr. Vance doesn¡¯t tolerate disrespect in his home.¡±

    Everyone around froze in shock.

    Terence Ramsey? The butler of the Vance family?

    That meant Mr. Vance was Saul himself.

    Just moments ago, Haley had been unting her so-called family connection to the Vances. But now? Saul was openly backing Sylvia.

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    .

 Chapter 94

    ?Chapter 94:

    Haley¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! Why would Saul defend her of all people? She shouldn¡¯t even have the right to be here!¡±

    Terence¡¯s tone turned sharp as he replied, ¡°Ms. Gilbert was personally invited by Mr. Vance. Is that an issue for you, Ms. Smith? Or do you think he needed your permission before sending his guests an invitation?¡±

    At this moment, he was speaking on behalf of Saul himself.

    Even though Haley was upset, she didn¡¯t have the courage to go against him. She pressed her lips together, preparing to walk away.

    But just then, Terence called out, stopping her in her tracks. ¡°Ms. Smith, hold on. You were quite rude to Ms. Gilbert earlier. Mr. Vance would like you to apologize to her right now.¡±

    His tone was steady and clear, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

    Haley froze mid-step and spun around, staring at Terence in disbelief. ¡°Excuse me? You expect me to apologize to her?¡±

    With her background, she saw no reason to lower herself and apologize to Ste.

    ¡°Yes. Now,¡± Terence confirmed, his tone cool andposed.

    Haley¡¯s temper red as her face turned red with rage. ¡°That¡¯s never going to happen! Are you insane? We¡¯re Saul¡¯s family! And you want me to apologize to someone who climbed her way up through men?¡±

    Terence moved slightly to stand protectively in front of Ste, his voice still steady. ¡°If you can¡¯t offer an apology, then I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to leave. You¡¯re not wee here.¡±

    Ever since she returned to the country, Beatrice had been humiliated time and again because of Ste, and now she finally lost her temper. Her expression turned stormy as she turned to Terence with a sharp, scornful re. ¡°You get to decide we¡¯re not wee in the Vance family? Don¡¯t tter yourself. You¡¯re just an employee¡ªwho do you think you are, giving us orders like that?¡±

    Hearing that, a flicker of contempt passed through Terence¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯m simply rying Mr. Vance¡¯s exact words. If there¡¯s no apology to Ms. Gilbert, you¡¯re no longer wee as guests of the Vance family.¡±

    Beatrice¡¯s eyes burned with anger as she stared at him, but she didn¡¯t act rashly.

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    If Saul had really given the order, then making a scene now would only mean losing the Vance family¡¯s support in Sleka¡ªa cost far too great. Yet lowering themselves¡­

    to apologize would be humiliating¡­ people would talk. Stuck in a bitter dilemma, Beatrice clenched her jaw and gave Haley a subtle nod.

    After all, the Vance name carried too much weight. They hade here to make allies, not throw everything away because of someone like Ste.

    Left with no other option, Haley swallowed her pride and lowered her head in a stiff, reluctant gesture. ¡°I apologize, Ms. Ru¡ªGilbert,¡± she muttered through gritted teeth. ¡°I crossed the line earlier. I hope you¡¯ll be generous enough to let it go.¡±

    Terence added calmly, ¡°And one more thing, Ms. Smith. Earlier, you tried to strike Ms. Gilbert. The Vance family believes in fairness, and that includes letting Ms. Gilbert return the gesture. What you tried to do, she has every right to return.¡±

    Haley¡¯s heart sank. She had thought the forced apology was already the peak of humiliation, but now¡ªthis?

    She stared at Terence as if he¡¯d lost his mind. ¡°I didn¡¯t even hit her! She¡¯s not hurt, so why should I just stand there and let her p me?¡± But Terence only smiled. ¡°In that case, you may leave. Mr. Vance has made it clear¡ªyou¡¯re not wee here.¡±

    Haley¡¯s fury bubbled up, ready to erupt, but before she could unleash it, Beatrice reached out and grabbed her arm.

    The warning in Beatrice¡¯s gaze was sharp and immediate. Haley froze. She understood instantly¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just about ego anymore.

    Her father¡¯spany in Achury had been treading on thin icetely, and they couldn¡¯t afford to burn bridges, especially not with someone like Saul Vance.

    His influence overseas could be the lifeline they needed.

    If getting pped by Ste meant they¡¯d still get a chance to speak to Saul, then so be it. Her mother would help her settle the scoreter anyway.

    Haley clenched her jaw and forced her voice out. ¡°Fine.¡±

    Terence gave a satisfied nod and stepped back, respectfully turning the stage over. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡±

    Ste, who had silently watched the entire exchange unfold, found herself genuinely curious.

    She didn¡¯t even know Saul Vance personally, so why was he standing up for her so directly?

    Was it simply that even Saul couldn¡¯t stomach Haley¡¯s arrogance? Or¡­ was someone quietly backing her?

    Either way, Ste had no intention of letting this chance slip by. Her eyes gleamed as she gave Terence a slight nod, then turned to face Haley.

    Without hesitation, she raised her hand and delivered a clean, loud p to Haley¡¯s cheek. ¡°That¡¯s for confusing me with someone else,¡± she said coldly. Another p followed without pause. ¡°That¡¯s for thinking you can act high and mighty wherever you go.¡± And then came the final one¡ªharder than the rest, echoing across the room. ¡°And that¡­ is for your disgracefulck of shame.¡±

    Each pnded with reason, leaving Haley with no room to argue.

    Haley stood there, stunned, her trembling hand covering her stinging cheek as tears welled up and rolled down uncontrobly. All she could do was stand there, humiliated beyond words.

    .

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 Chapter 95

    ?Chapter 95:

    Ste waved her hand with a sharp flick, her expression dripping with contempt. ¡°Ms. Smith, those three ps were just a taste of what you¡¯ll get if you ever try spewing garbage in front of me again. Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡±

    Haley pressed her hands to her stinging cheeks and fled in tears. Beatrice cast a frosty look in Ste¡¯s direction before turning to leave as well.

    With the scene finally over, the onlookers quietly drifted away, and Terence headed upstairs to make his report.

    Halfway through the banquet, the host, Saul, appeared at the top of the staircase. Dressed in a rich blue suit, he radiated a vigorous energy that belied the silver streaks in his hair. As Saul descended the staircase, guests immediately clustered around him, their faces beaming with ttery.

    ¡°Happy birthday, Mr. Vance!¡±

    ¡°Many more years of good health and fortune, Mr. Vance!¡±

    The chorus of well-wishes echoed throughout the hall, but Ste lingered quietly at the back, unfazed by the excitement swirling around her.

    Haley and Beatrice, catching sight of Saul atst, lit up with anticipation. Determined to be first, Haley shoved past the crowd, clutching her gift tightly, her stinging cheek forgotten in her eagerness.

    She stepped up to Saul and offered the box with both hands. ¡°Saul, I picked out something special for you¡ªa vintage tobo pipe. I searched everywhere for it. It¡¯s one of a kind.¡±

    Her words earned a few surprised looks from the crowd. Everyone in the city knew Saul¡¯s weakness for antiques. By choosing an old tobo pipe, Haley had clearly yed to his tastes¡ªthere was no doubt this gift would hit the mark.

    Saul epted the box, lifted the lid, and regarded the contents with a measured gaze. After only a moment, he snapped the box shut, his face unreadable.

    ¡°Take it away and put it with the others.¡±

    Seriously, that was how it ended?

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    Disappointment shed in Haley¡¯s eyes as she exchanged a look with Beatrice, confused by Saul¡¯s impassive reaction. Had the tobo pipe failed to impress him after all?

    Earlier, she¡¯d pictured Saul lighting up with joy¡ªshe¡¯d even nned to take the chance to whisper her grievances about Ste. Instead, his face gave nothing away, leaving Haley at a loss, uncertain, and unwilling to risk any yful gestures.

    Jittery and desperate to deflect Saul¡¯s irritation, Haley scanned the room for an easy target. Her gazended on Ste, who lingered quietly at the back of the crowd.

    A sly spark ignited in Haley¡¯s eyes as she raised her voice. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, since you¡¯vee all this way for the birthday banquet, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve prepared a meaningful gift for Saul, haven¡¯t you? He did speak up for you earlier¡ªwhy not take this chance to show everyone your present?¡±

    The crowd shifted, parting to give Ste space as every pair of eyes fell on her.

    With everyone watching, Ste moved forward with steadyposure, her features unflinching and serene. She approached Saul and offered her gift with measured grace. ¡°Our Briggs Group prepared this gift for you, Mr. Vance¡ªwishing you strength and longevity.¡±

    When Saul lifted the lid, a gleaming amber tobo pipe rested inside, catching the light with a warm, golden glow. Amber, often called the jewel of time, was exceptionally rare. Ste had unearthed this particr ten-thousand-year-old specimen during her work at the research institute, making it all the more extraordinary. Given Saul¡¯s seventy-six years, Ste¡¯s offering carried a subtle message: may his life remain steady and enduring, like the ancient amber, imbued with depth and meaning.

    Saul¡¯s brows inched upward, ready to respond, when Haley let out a disdainfulugh. ¡°Amber? Please. That¡¯s just a chunk of resin¡ªtotally worthless. You¡¯d find piles of this stuff at any street stall, and only you, Ms. Gilbert, would have the nerve to give something so cheap to Saul. Aren¡¯t you worried people areughing behind your back? Honestly, this isn¡¯t even good enough to leave outside as a decoration. If I were Briggs Group, I¡¯d be embarrassed to have you on my team.¡±

    Ste nced over her shoulder, the corners of her mouth tilting into a cold, almost amused smile.

    Haley wasn¡¯t just rude; her words betrayed herpleteck of sense. Right then, Saul spoke up, his tone deliberate and clear. ¡°This is wonderful¡ªI¡¯m very fond of it. Terence, bring it up to my study. I¡¯d like to keep it close so I can see it every day.¡±

    Terence offered a respectful nod, handling the amber tobo pipe with care as he took it from Ste, his expression solemn.

    Haley froze in disbelief, mirroring the surprise etched on everyone else¡¯s faces. How could a simple amber trinket win Saul over sopletely?

    Haley and Beatrice traded a look, each scowling in silent frustration.

    ¡°Saul, why¡­¡± Haley faltered, her voice rising. ¡°Didn¡¯t you like the antique I picked out? What¡¯s so special about this amber? If you¡¯re fond of it, I can get you plenty more!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t ept it¡ªthe tobo pipe had taken real effort for her and Beatrice to track down, yet somehow Ste¡¯s gift had stolen all the attention. What had Ste possibly done to earn Saul¡¯s admiration so effortlessly?

    Saul shot Haley a look brimming with annoyance. He couldn¡¯t stand her tactless, dim-witted behavior. If not for the Smith family¡¯s remote connection to him, neither Haley nor Beatrice would have set foot past his threshold. He dismissed her withplete indifference, not sparing her another nce.

    Breaking the awkward silence, Ste¡¯s voice came across soft andposed. ¡°Ms. Smith, it¡¯s not that Mr. Vance disliked your gift. The issue is, the tobo pipe you brought¡­ appears to be a counterfeit.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 96

    ?Chapter 96:

    A fake?

    Haley¡¯s face twisted in outrage. ¡°What are you talking about? Don¡¯t be ridiculous! I spent a fortune on that! There¡¯s no way it¡¯s fake.¡± She turned to Saul, trying to reel him back in. ¡°Mr. Vance, she¡¯s just talking nonsense. She¡¯s not even an expert. Don¡¯t let her fool you!¡±

    In her mind, Ste was just jealous¡ªtrying to ruin her moment, especially in front of Saul. But Saul? He looked at Ste with nothing but admiration.

    He¡¯d been watching everything from the lounge, including the moment Ste pped Haley three times. And he didn¡¯t think she was being petty¡ªhe thought she had excellent judgment. She struck when she needed to, kept calm when it counted, and handled herself far better than Haley ever could. It wasn¡¯t hard to see why William was backing her.

    Haley, seeing that Ste hadn¡¯t fired back right away, kept pushing. ¡°Ste, today¡¯s Mr. Vance¡¯s birthday. I don¡¯t want to cause a scene, but you¡¯re out of line. You¡¯ve got no proof. How can you say my gift is fake without evidence? You¡¯re just trying to embarrass me. Mr. Vance, she¡¯s clearly trying to stir trouble!¡±

    All eyes turned to Ste, waiting to see what she¡¯d say next. Standing under the weight of everyone¡¯s stares, she looked Haley dead in the eye. ¡°I can prove it. Mr. Vance, if it¡¯s alright with you, could you bring the pipe out for inspection?¡±

    Saul already knew it was fake¡ªWilliam had given him the real one ages ago. But he was curious how Ste had figured it out with just a quick nce. How could she be so sure?

    He gestured calmly. ¡°Bring it over.¡±

    The box was brought out and opened. Inside was the pipe. Ste stepped forward, pointing at specific spots.

    ¡°From the outside, it looks old. But real pipes from the Middle Ages have distinct features. This one doesn¡¯t match any of them. For starters, real medieval pipes were almost always carved from wood. This one is supposedly made from briar, but that¡¯s not the natural color of briar wood. Whoever faked it clearly didn¡¯t know¡­¡±

    ¡°Much about the material. Also, the shape is just¡­ wrong. Look at the angle¡ªit¡¯s off. And the sides aren¡¯t even symmetrical.¡±

    Your next favorite is on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s£®??o??

    Saul listened quietly, clearly impressed. He loved antique pipes. And everything Ste said? She was spot on. Real antique pipes were meticulously crafted. The bowl was never perfectly vertical, and when split down the middle, the two sides were usually minor images. They were handcrafted, demanding high craftsmanship.

    But this one? The color was off, the angle awkward, and the symmetry¡ªnonexistent. Anyone who actually knew about pipes would spot it immediately. Who would¡¯ve thought Ste knew her antiques so well?

    The pipe was ced on the table for everyone to see. One by one, people leaned in to inspect it based on Ste¡¯s points. Sure enough¡ªthe ws were obvious. This pipe really seemed to be fake.

    ¡°This pipe really does look fake. No wonder Mr. Vance didn¡¯t look impressed when he opened it earlier.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. He¡¯s a collector. He must¡¯ve noticed but didn¡¯t want to embarrass Haley right away.¡±

    The whispers around the room hit Haley like ps. Her ears burned with shame. She didn¡¯t even know it was fake.

    Haley turned toward her mother, silently begging for help. With the situation having escted to this point, she didn¡¯t know what to do.

    Beatrice caught her look and quickly stepped forward, putting on her best smile. ¡°Mr. Vance, there must¡¯ve been some mistake. We had no idea the pipe wasn¡¯t genuine. But our intentions were sincere. When you stayed in Achury, we took such good care of you¡ªsurely you don¡¯t think we¡¯d do something underhanded? Today¡¯s your birthday. Why let someone from outside the family stir up drama? Isn¡¯t that what¡¯s really going on here?¡±

    She dropped the ¡°Achury¡± reference deliberately, hoping Saul would soften up. After all, they were technically rtives, and she was reminding him they¡¯d once hosted him generously¡ªhoping he¡¯d return the favor with some leniency.

    .

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 Chapter 97

    ?Chapter 97:

    Saul¡¯s brows knitted together as he shot her a sharp look. ¡°Outsider? If something from an outsider is more to my liking than your cheap knockoff, then I¡¯ll take it¡ªno questions asked.¡±

    Beatrice¡¯s expression froze. She clearly hadn¡¯t expected him to be so direct.

    Haley, growing flustered, tried to salvage the moment. ¡°It¡¯s just an amber tobo pipe, Saul. If you like it, I can send over a few more.¡±

    ¡°Just an amber tobo pipe?¡± Saul scoffed, already losing patience. ¡°Do you have any idea how rare fossilized amber is? Or how difficult it is to carve an authentic piece like this? This isn¡¯t something you toss around like party favors.¡±

    Haley was stunned. How did Ste manage to get her hands on something so rare and expensive?

    She clenched her jaw, unable to ept yet another defeat, but no words came out.

    Saul turned his eyes from Beatrice to Ste, his tone much gentler now. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I really liked the gift you gave me. Would you mind taking a walk with me in the garden? I¡¯d like to have a quick word with you in private.¡±

    Ste was here on William¡¯s behalf, mainly to discuss business coboration. But now, with Saul personally requesting a chat, she gave a polite smile and nodded. ¡°I¡¯d be d to.¡±

    Haley and Beatrice stood still, watching Ste leave with Saul. Jealousy burned in their eyes. They were so bitter, it seemed like they might explode. At that moment, they both wished they could tear Ste apart. As Ste passed them, she let out a soft, mocking chuckle, clearly unfazed.

    So what if Haley came from a noble family in Achury? A name alone couldn¡¯t cover up shallow roots and dull minds.

    Ste walked alongside Saul through the back garden when her gaze caught a quick-moving figure in the distance.

    It vanished too fast to identify, but something about it felt strangely familiar.

    Could that have been William?

    The idea popped into her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

    If William were here, he wouldn¡¯t have sent her instead.

    She shook her head slightly. Maybe she was just overthinking it.

    Saul noticed where she was looking, his gaze turning thoughtful. But he said nothing, simply smiling. ¡°You¡¯re here on business today, I take it?¡±

    Ste answered without dy. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m here on behalf of Briggs Group. Mr. Vance, if you give us a shot, I¡¯m confident both parties will benefit.¡± Her tone was poised, respectful, and unmistakably confident.

    Saul chuckled softly and changed the subject. ¡°With your talent, Ms. Gilbert, I imagine you¡¯ve got plenty of admirers. Are you seeing anyone?¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise, unsure where this was heading. But she answered inly, ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Vance. No, I¡¯m not dating anyone.¡±

    ¡°Really? Then what kind of man do you like? I happen to know several excellent bachelors. I¡¯d be happy to make an introduction.¡±

    Was he trying to set her up? Ste politely declined without missing a beat. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but my focus right now ispletely on work. I¡¯m not in a ce to think about romance.¡±

    Saul noted her resolute tone and pressed his lips together in thought.

    He thought back to William¡¯sposed strategy during their earlier board game. At the time, he had assumed William was the predator and Ste the prey. But now, the roles weren¡¯t so clear anymore. How amusing.

    They resumed talking business, and Saul seemed pleased, eventually agreeing to the partnership with Briggs Group.

    With her mission aplished, Ste politely excused herself. Outside the hall, just as she reached the roadside, a car rolled up from the underground garage.

    She narrowed her eyes. That car¡­ it looked very familiar.

    The car slowed to a stop right in front of her, the window rolled down, and there he was. William.

    Ste¡¯s gaze sharpened. So that shadow earlier¡­ was it really him after all?

    .

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    .

 Chapter 98

    ?Chapter 98:

    ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Briggs. What brings you driving out of the Vance family¡¯s garage?¡± Ste asked, her voice calm butced with surprise.

    She had worked so hard to help him secure that deal, only to find out he¡¯d been at the banquet the whole time. Was he meeting with Saul behind her back?

    Did he not trust her to handle it?

    A strange sense of being sidelined crept over her, like she¡¯d been underestimated.

    William nced at her, his tone easygoing. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t shown up today, do you really think you could¡¯ve walked out of that party without trouble?¡±

    He looked pointedly at her. ¡°Haley and Beatrice may not have the power they used to, but they¡¯re still capable of stirring the pot. With their background, causing chaos for you wouldn¡¯t be hard.¡±

    Ste blinked, caught off guard. ¡°So¡­ you were the one who sent the butler to help me? And¡­ Mr. Vance agreeing to work with me¡ªwas that because of you too?¡±

    Thatst part came out softer, more hesitant.

    William¡¯s expression shifted, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. ¡°Are you doubting yourself?¡±

    Sure, Saul was an old friend, but that didn¡¯t mean he made business decisions based on friendship.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for Ste¡¯s solid proposal and technical edge, Saul wouldn¡¯t have been impressed.

    She wasn¡¯t some charity case. Just being associated with William wasn¡¯t enough to swing deals like that.

    Ste rushed to correct herself. ¡°I mean, of course not. I just thought¡­¡±

    ¡°Thought what?¡± William cut in, raising an eyebrow.

    She paused, embarrassed. He had gone out of his way to support her, and here she was questioning his motives¡ªagain.

    Your favorite stories are on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s?c?m

    It kind of made her look like a jerk.

    Her voice dropped to an embarrassed whisper.

    ¡°I just thought¡­ well, I was that good, you know? Knew I¡¯d make it for sure. Haha¡­¡±

    William gave her a long, unreadable look. Then, casually, as if talking about the weather, he dropped the real news. ¡°The earlier negotiation with Steven, and today¡¯s deal with Saul¡ªboth were tests. You passed. So now, I¡¯m handing Neb over to you.¡±

    Ste stared at him, her expression one of disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re giving Neb to me?¡±

    She had only been at Briggs Group for what¡ªless than a month? Neb was still a startup, but it had serious potential. Every project under its name was solid, and feedback from partners had been glowing. And now, he was handing it to her?

    ¡°Why?¡± she asked, still stunned.

    First, a ck card, now apany? He was being far too generous.

    William slid into the seat beside her, studying her with quiet intensity. ¡°You always question things. But when you do¡ªwhat kind of answer are you hoping to hear? What would finally calm that restless little mind of yours?¡±

    Ste froze. She stared at him, mouth slightly open, her heart pounding in her chest. What was she hoping to hear?

    The air between them shifted.

    The next second, William straightened, checked his phone, and said tly, ¡°But if you¡¯re not confident, forget it. Pretend I never mentioned it.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait¡ªwho said I wouldn¡¯t take it?¡± Ste blurted, sitting up straight. ¡°Why are you so quick to take it back, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    ¡°Some things are better settled fast,¡± he replied, barely moving his lips, his tone unusually soft.

    Ste muttered three simple words. ¡°I want it.¡±

    He looked right at her, his gaze intense and unwavering.

    Ste¡¯s cheeks flushed instantly. The car suddenly felt much too warm.

    Flustered, she reached for the window switch, trying to breathe, when the car hit a small bump. She lost her bnce and fell forward¡ªright onto William¡¯s chest.

    She blinked, surprised by how solid he felt. The man was built like a rock.

    He said nothing, just looked down at her sprawled across him, his expression unreadable. ¡°Old trick,¡± he muttered dryly.

    It seemed she had a knack for finding ways to fall into him.

    Embarrassed, Ste coughed awkwardly and tried to push herself up¡ªbut instead of finding solid ground, her handnded squarely on his thigh.

    Her palm slipped, and she fell again. This time, thending spot was¡­ awkward. William¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he let out a small grunt of pain, his jaw tightening.

    Ste turned crimson. She knew exactly where she¡¯dnded.

    Mortified, she scrambled off him, ttening herself against the car door like a guilty cat. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Briggs! I didn¡¯t mean to¡ªreally, I didn¡¯t!¡±

    She sounded like she was reciting a formal apology, and William still hadn¡¯t said a word.

    His silence only made it worse. She didn¡¯t dare look at him, her gaze fixed firmly ahead until the car finally rolled to a stop outside her vi.

    She practically jumped out of the car. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Briggs. And sorry again. Have a good night!¡± Three polite phrases, all in one breath.

    She turned and started walking, but then¡ªclick¡ªshe heard another door shut behind her. Confused, she turned. William had gotten out too.

    ¡°Um¡­ Mr. Briggs, you really don¡¯t need to walk me in¡­¡± Ste unlocked the door with her fingerprint, but before she could finish her sentence, William slipped inside, right behind her.

    .

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    .

 Chapter 99

    ?Chapter 99:

    Ste frowned. ¡°Is there any additional assistance you require from me?¡±

    William nced around the room before meeting her eyes again. A small smile tugged at his lips. ¡°I¡¯m famished. Go cook something for me.¡±

    She stared at him,pletely thrown off. Was he actually treating her like a personal chef?

    ¡°I skipped the food at the banquet,¡± he added smoothly. ¡°And I just handed you apany. Ms. Russell, surely you won¡¯t let me go hungry after that?¡±

    She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Part of her wanted to throw something at him. But after a moment, she calmed herself. William had been unusually helpful today. He said Saul signed because of her skills, but she knew the reputation of Briggs Group had yed a role too.

    Ste exhaled slowly and convinced herself to let it slide¡ªshe could treat it as a small gesture of gratitude.

    She walked into the kitchen, checked the fridge for ingredients, and lit the stove to start cooking.

    From the living room, William listened to the gentle tter of dishes and the soft hiss of the stove. He turned slightly to watch her move around in an apron, and for a brief moment, a calmness settled over him.

    For a fleeting moment, she looked like the perfect image of a homemaker.

    A few minutester, Ste set down a te of spaghetti. ¡°This is all there was. You¡¯ll have to settle for it.¡±

    She half-expected him to turn his nose up at the dish, but he simply picked up the fork and began eating.

    He didn¡¯t say a word, chewing with quiet precision, even managing to make spaghetti look refined.

    Once he¡¯d cleared the te, Ste took it back into the kitchen. She figured she¡¯d clean it properly the next day. But when she returned, William was still sprawled on the sofa. She raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving?¡±

    Reclining with one leg crossed over the other, he replied in a rxed tone, ¡°The chef at my ce quit recently¡ªfamily problems. The recement isn¡¯t exactly working out.¡±

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    Ste gave him a puzzled look and spread her hands. ¡°So?¡±

    How was that her problem?

    ¡°You cooked something edible. Slightly better than what I¡¯ve been dealing with. I¡¯ve decided to stay here for a while, at least until I hire someone who can actually cook.¡±

    Her eyes went wide. The two of them¡­ under the same roof? That couldn¡¯t be real.

    William, watching her expression shift, added in a low voice, ¡°Calm down. I¡¯m not going to touch you. Unless¡­ you think I might. Is that what¡¯s making you nervous, Ms. Russell?¡±

    A chill crept down her spine, but after a moment of silence, she looked straight at him. ¡°Where did you get that idea? I wasn¡¯t thinking anything at all.¡±

    William studied her reaction with quiet amusement. Her slight fluster didn¡¯t escape him. ¡°Good,¡± he said, his lips curving faintly. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Get steak tomorrow. I¡¯m craving it.¡±

    With that, he stood up and walked toward the guest room.

    This vi had originally belonged to him, so he moved aroundfortably, not needing any help from Ste.

    She stood still, watching his tall frame disappear down the hallway, and suddenly snapped out of her daze, irritation bubbling up.

    What did he mean by saying ¡°it¡¯s settled¡±?

    She never agreed to anything!

    But¡­ he was technically her superior. And this house had once been his.

    He had given her Neb as well as the house.

    Being generous wasn¡¯t so bad. If he wanted to stay for a while, she supposed she could tolerate it.

    With a resigned sigh, Ste climbed the stairs. As she passed the window on her way up, something outside caught the corner of her eye, a flicker of light.

    Frowning, she turned to look. Nothing. Maybe she was just imagining things.

    At the Walsh estate, Marc stood seething, gripping a stack of surveince photos from his investigator. With a roar of fury, he swept everything off his desk. The photos clearly showed William and Ste entering the same vi¡ªand not leaving. More than an hourter, only William¡¯s driver exited the property, alone. There was no mistaking what this meant: William had spent the night at Ste¡¯s ce.

    And she still had the audacity to im there was nothing between them? He had been convinced Haley was just stirring trouble, but now it looked like Ste really hadnded herself a powerful man. And that man was William.

    Marc¡¯s fury simmered well into the night, keeping sleep far out of reach.

    Elsewhere, Ste rose early to prepare breakfast. She kept it simple: sandwiches and ck coffee.

    William joined her not long after. He took a bite, then cast a sideways look at her and said with a smirk, ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re surprisinglypetent at this. The vor¡­ suits me.¡±

    Ste shot him a cold look and silently continued eating.

    Once breakfast was over, William headed to the bathroom, and Ste followed right behind him. ¡°Wait¡ªdo you even have your own toothbrush? Or a towel? I don¡¯t have any spares here. The ones hanging up are mine, and don¡¯t think you can just use them!¡±

    Her scolding drew a lowugh from William. ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re starting to sound like my mother. I¡¯m going to shower¡ªunless you n on helping again?¡±

    Ste was speechless. She spun on her heel and walked out, refusing to entertain thement. A momentter, the sound of water echoed from the bathroom.

    That moment had been ages ago. Why was he still bringing it up? Was he really going to hold onto that memory forever?

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 Chapter 100

    ?Chapter 100:

    William finished getting ready and grabbed his coat, clearly about to head out. Ste stayed put on the couch, making no move to see him off.

    At the door, William said casually, ¡°Had a new car deliveredst night. It¡¯s yours to use when you go out.¡±

    Only then did Ste nce over and notice the Ferrari keys sitting neatly on the entryway table.

    Her lips twitched. They¡¯d just argued this morning, but somehow, she was walking away with a Ferrari. Not bad.

    ¡°Well then. Thanks, Mr. Briggs,¡± she said, her voice dry but not ungrateful.

    About half an hour after William left, Ste finished tidying up and decided to head out herself. She grabbed the keys, unlocked the car, slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and buckled up in one smooth motion.

    Just as she was about to drive off, her eyes caught movement near the gate.

    She squinted. Marc.

    She instantly rolled her eyes, hard. Without hesitation, she mmed her foot on the gas.

    Marc had been lurking since early morning. He saw William leave, then Ste step out alone. Fueled by impulse and whatever false sense of entitlement he had left, he moved in front of the car to block her path.

    But he hadn¡¯t expected Ste to be so ruthless; even with him standing in front of her car, she showed no hesitation in pressing the gas pedal. As the car sped toward him, he panicked and dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a real-life ident.

    ¡°Ste! I¡¯m your husband! Are you seriously trying to run me over?! You want to see me dead or what?!¡±

    Ste rolled the window down, her gaze sharp and her voice full of disdain. ¡°Mr. Walsh, are you hard of hearing or just stupid? You block my car first thing in the morning¡ªwhat did you think was going to happen?¡±

    She leaned an elbow casually on the window frame. ¡°I was just giving you what you clearly wanted. You got in my way. Don¡¯t act like the victim now.¡±

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    Marc¡¯s expression twisted in frustration. ¡°Stel, how long are you gonna keep up this act?¡±

    Ste scoffed. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you should probably go see a doctor. I¡¯ve told you a hundred times¡ªI¡¯m not Ste. Maybe your brain¡¯s broken, but are your ears busted too?¡±

    Marc, clearly fed up, yanked at her car door, but she¡¯d locked it. Of course, she had.

    His eyes flicked to the car¡ªa Ferrari¡ªand the jealousy hit him like a punch.

    William had bought her that.

    ¡°You and William¡ªthis whole thing¡¯s just to get back at me, isn¡¯t it? How can a car change your loyalty? I¡¯m your husband, for God¡¯s sake!¡± He was practically shaking.

    William might have bought her a car, but Marc had given her all his love. Why was she being so heartless, pushing him away?

    Ste¡¯s face turned cold, and her voice rose. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m not your wife. What I do, who I¡¯m with¡ªit¡¯s none of your business. If you don¡¯t back off, I¡¯ll call security.¡±

    As if on cue, a security guard approached. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, is everything alright?¡±

    Ste pointed directly at Marc. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him in my life. He¡¯s unstable and harassing me. I don¡¯t want to see him near thisplex again.¡±

    The guard didn¡¯t need more than that. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. We¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    In this upscalemunity, the residents were all wealthy or influential, and the security guards were obligated to protect them from harassment. He signaled, and within seconds, five more guards appeared and closed in on Marc. ¡°Sir, please leave. If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll have to call the police.¡±

    Marc tried to struggle, yelling as they dragged him off. ¡°You cheating woman! Sleeping around with another man while still married to me! Haley would never do this¡ªshe¡¯s kind, gentle, and knows how to please me in bed! You? You always did the same boring things¡ªno spark at all!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, she smiled coldly and rolled up her window. ¡°d to hear you¡¯ve found your happily-ever-after, then. Hope you and Haley make lots of little heartbreakers together.¡±

    With that, she stepped on the gas, leaving Marc¡ªand all his nonsense¡ªin the dust.

    He stood there, mouth open, watching the Ferrari disappear down the road.

    She¡¯d really left. Just like that.

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 Chapter 101

    ?Chapter 101:

    At Briggs Group, William sat silently in front of hisputer, his fingers steepled under his chin as he studied the surveince footage from Ste¡¯s vi. His expression gave nothing away.

    Watching the clip, he came to a conclusion¡ªshe clearly needed a bodyguard. Dealing with unexpected visitors could be a real problem.

    He then reached for the internal line. Momentster, Luca entered the room.

    ¡°You called, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    ¡°Bring Rita to me,¡± he ordered simply.

    Luca hesitated for a beat¡ªhe wasn¡¯t sure why Rita was suddenly needed. But he nodded and responded dutifully, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll let her know right away.¡±

    Later that evening, after finishing her work, Ste returned home. The moment she walked in, she saw William lounging on the sofa like he lived there.

    Before she could say anything, a middle-aged woman stepped out of the kitchen, her apron still on.

    Ste blinked in confusion. ¡°Um¡­ and you are?¡±

    William didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°This is Rita. She¡¯ll be living here with us from now on. If you need anything, just let her know.¡±

    Ste was speechless. If he had a housekeeper now, shouldn¡¯t he go back to his own ce? Why was he still parked here? Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense for Rita to live with him?

    Or was Rita¡¯s cooking not up to His Majesty¡¯s standards either?

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± Ste said carefully. ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe you could take your housekeeper back to your own ce?¡±

    Before she could finish, William turned and looked directly at her, his face unreadable.

    ¡°Thest housekeeper resigned. Rita¡¯s the new one. You¡¯ll be teaching her how to cook from now on.¡±

    Ste blinked, stunned. Had she heard him right?

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    He hired a housekeeper and expected her to train her?

    ¡°You mean I have to teach your housekeeper?¡± Ste asked, pointing at herself in disbelief.

    ¡°Is that a problem?¡± William replied calmly. ¡°She¡¯ll handle everything else. She can even look after you. Isn¡¯t that a win-win situation?¡±

    Ste stared at him like he was speaking anothernguage.

    Win-win? In what world?

    William studied her face for a moment, then lifted a brow. ¡°Or are you saying¡­ you actually want to keep cooking for me forever?¡±

    And there he went again with that smug attitude.

    Without saying a word, she spun on her heel and stormed upstairs, choosing to ignore himpletely.

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    .

 Chapter 102

    ?Chapter 102:

    William watched her go. She hadn¡¯t changed at all these past months¡ªalways mumbling things under her breath that were hard to catch. Who knew what was on her mind?

    Later, after showering, Ste came downstairs, still drying her hair with a towel. Just then, she heard William¡¯s voice echoing from the study.

    ¡°Ste, I feel like having a sd. Make one, will you?¡± he called out, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

    Ste froze, then clenched her fists so tight that her knuckles nched. She was already worn out from the daily grind, and now he expected her to y chef too? Was this the price that came with epting his so-called kindness?

    Rita, standing nearby, quickly spoke up. ¡°Ms. Russell, let me help out. I¡¯ll try to learn everything quickly so you won¡¯t have to do all this for long.¡±

    Hearing that, Ste nced at Rita¡¯s sincere face and softened. The sharp edge in her expression faded as she nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±

    Inside the kitchen, Rita took charge of washing the veggies, while Ste busied herself with selecting and prepping them.

    After a moment of quiet, Rita turned to her with a warm smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡­ what¡¯s your rtionship with Mr. Briggs?¡±

    Ste¡¯s hands paused for a moment as the question caught her off guard.

    Noticing Ste¡¯s reaction, Rita quickly added, ¡°Oh no, please don¡¯t get me wrong. I just want to know how I should address you properly in the future¡ªI¡¯d hate to be disrespectful by mistake.¡±

    Ste thought about it for a moment, genuinely unsure how to answer. ¡°Honestly? It¡¯s kind of a weirdbination. Somewhere between boss and roommate.¡±

    She chuckled awkwardly, realizing how absurd that sounded. She couldn¡¯t exactly call him her superior¡ªwhat kind of boss moved into their employee¡¯s house?

    And calling him a friend? That didn¡¯t seem right either. William wasn¡¯t exactly the warm and friendly type.

    With the two of them sharing a roof like this, it was awkward at best. So after racking her brain, that was the bestbel she coulde up with.

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    Rita blinked, visibly startled by that answer. Mr. Briggs? Living with a woman? That was new.

    He¡¯d personally asked her toe from the Briggs Mansion today, so she assumed she was here to help William and his girlfriend.

    But instead, this youngdy imed they were roommates? Had Mr. Briggs really gotten bored of mansions and decided to experiment with co-living?

    She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it and stole a few more nces at Ste.

    Well¡­ she was sweet, attractive, and had a gentle presence. And truth be told, Mr. Briggs was at an age where he should start settling down. If it was with Ms. Russell, Rita wouldn¡¯tin.

    Still, she decided it was best to stay out of it and let him figure it out himself.

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 Chapter 103

    ?Chapter 103:

    The following morning, Ste headed to Neb to officially start her new role.

    Her sudden promotion had caught many off guard, but after sessfully negotiating two high-stakes deals, even the most skeptical staff now greeted her with genuine respect.

    Both coborations were on track, and with the research institute experiencing a lull, her only responsibilities there were a handful of minor tasks she could handle remotely between meetings.

    Once she¡¯d finished double-checking every document, Ste rolled her stiff shoulders, Steven¡¯s uing business trip shing through her mind.

    Determined to stay ahead, she made a mental note to sort the project files early and wrap up the handover before he left town.

    Despite how smoothly her career was running, Ste¡¯s mood at home had taken a nosedive.

    Ever since Rita moved into the vi, Ste¡¯s evenings had turned into impromptu cooking lessons.

    Unfortunately, Rita¡¯s progress was cial¡ªher age showing in every halting attempt¡ªand her cooking somehow managed to get worse by the day.

    Ste had lost count of the failed dishes, sighing more than once at the thought that Rita simply wasn¡¯t built for kitchen work.

    Sometimes, she even wondered if William had sent Rita just to give her a hard time.

    That evening, as if determined to test her patience, William requested spicy food once again.

    Resigned, Ste exchanged a look with Rita before stepping up to handle the cooking herself.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, let me help you!¡± Rita¡¯s eyes sparkled with her usual eagerness, already hovering at Ste¡¯s side.

    Pausing, Ste recalled the time Rita¡¯s ¡°help¡± had almost ended in disaster¡ªa scorched pot and smoke rms ring.

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    ¡°Rita, why don¡¯t you just handle the veggies tonight?¡± she suggested gently. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything else.¡±

    Rita¡¯s enthusiasm didn¡¯t falter; she shot Ste a cheerful thumbs-up and eagerly rolled up her sleeves. ¡°You got it!¡±

    When thest ingredient was finally prepped, Rita sidled closer, brimming with hopeful anticipation. ¡°Ms. Russell, maybe I could try cooking this time?¡±

    Instantly on alert, Ste felt as if she were bracing forbat. She steered Rita gently but firmly toward the kitchen door. ¡°That¡¯s sweet of you, but I¡¯ve got it covered. Just rx.¡±

    Rita faltered, a flush creeping up her cheeks. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Russell. I guess cooking¡¯s just not my thing.¡±

    Ste offered her a gentle, reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, really. You did your best.¡±

    But in truth, with William being the one who¡¯d hired Rita, Ste couldn¡¯t exactly send her packing, even if she wanted to.

    Standing alone by the stove, Ste flipped on the exhaust fan and let out a slow breath, thinking back over the long week. She¡¯d been dutifully looking after William, always preparing borate meals just for him.

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 Chapter 104

    ?Chapter 104:

    Left to her own devices, she would¡¯ve been perfectly content with a simple meal, but for William, every day demanded something special. A sly idea crept into her mind. If her food was truly awful, maybe William would finally move out for good.

    The thought sent a secret thrill through Ste. Without hesitation, she seized the spat and set about cooking a table full of fiery dishes, each one smothered in chili except for the soup.

    When dinner was ready, Rita entered the dining room, her eyes widening at the sight. ¡°Ms. Russell, tonight¡¯s menu is¡­¡± she began, hesitating.

    Ste smiled, breezing past the concern. ¡°Is something wrong? William asked for spicy food, didn¡¯t he? These are ssic recipes¡ªexactly how I like them.¡±

    Rita fell quiet, clearly unsettled, but dared not protest further. A few minutester, William appeared, only to find Ste busilydling food onto his te with a suspiciously cheerful energy.

    He arched a brow, easily seeing through her scheme.

    Ste patted the chair beside her. ¡°You¡¯re just in timee eat. I made several signature spicy dishes tonight. You should have seconds; they¡¯re some of my favorites.¡±

    William surveyed the mountain of chilis on each dish, immediately understanding her little game. Ste handed him the fork and knife, and as he sat down, she made a show of picking a chunk of meat drenched in chili and cing it squarely in front of him.

    ¡°Go ahead, try it,¡± she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

    William met her gaze, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smirk. Under her expectant stare, he calmly picked up the utensils and took a deliberate bite of the fiery meat.

    A sh of anticipation lit up Ste¡¯s eyes. ¡°So? How is it?¡±

    William nodded, utterly unbothered. ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡±

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    With a burst of enthusiasm, she loaded his te with more chili-soaked meat. ¡°Here¡ªhave some more.¡±

    He epted every bite she offered, amused by her sudden attentiveness. Meanwhile, Ste barely touched her own food, her focus entirely on piling his te higher and higher.

    When the meal was nearly finished, she eyed him hopefully. ¡°Are you done? Are you feeling¡­ ufortable or something?¡±

    William wiped his mouth with practiced elegance, his gaze cool and unreadable. ¡°Did you slip something into the food? Why would I be ufortable?¡±

    Her heart skipped, and she forced a sheepishugh. ¡°No, nothing like that. I just thought¡­ maybe the spice was too much.¡±

    Yet, despite drowning the dishes in chili, he finished the entire meal without so much as a wince.

    .

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 Chapter 105

    ?Chapter 105:

    William leaned back in his chair, his tone breezy. ¡°Oh, right¡ªI used to live abroad. Ordinary chili really doesn¡¯t faze me. If you want to impress me next time, try the hottest peppers you can find. Also, the meat was a bit salty. Keep that in mind.¡±

    With a nonchnt air, he stood up and headed upstairs, leaving Ste utterly dumbfounded at the dining table.

    All this time, he actually liked spicy food?

    Ste stiffened.

    For the first time, she truly understood what it meant when a npletely backfired.

    The following morning, just as Ste arrived at Neb, her assistant, Annie, rushed in, visibly anxious. ¡°Ms. Russell, we¡¯ve got trouble! Something¡¯s wrong with the engineering department. I think you¡¯ll need to step in yourself.¡±

    Ste furrowed her brows. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°The workers can¡¯t make sense of the engineer¡¯s blueprints. And when the engineers tried to exin, it was like they were speaking two differentnguages. Now everything¡¯s stuck¡ªno one can move forward,¡± Annie exined.

    Ste let out a frustrated sigh. She hadn¡¯t expected such a small issue to cause such a big disruption.

    Without wasting time, she grabbed her things and headed straight to the construction site with Annie in tow.

    The deadline for the project was tight. If they didn¡¯t wrap things up on time, they¡¯d face a breach of contract penalty, something they could not afford.

    When they reached the site, the reason for all the confusion became crystal clear.

    The engineer turned out to be from Skeynia and barely spoke anynguage other than Skeynian. Unfortunately, none of the local workers understood a word of it, resulting in total mimunication. Luckily, Ste had picked up some Skeynian on her own. It wasn¡¯t fluent, but it was good enough. She spent the next thirty minutes going over the blueprints with the engineer, ironing out every detail. Once she had everything rified, she turned to face the construction team and began rying the instructions.

    The workers weren¡¯t highly educated, and it showedmunication was rough. Ste stood on the ground, trying to yell directions to those working higher up, but it wasn¡¯t working well.

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    Determined to get it done properly, she shrugged off her jacket and prepared to climb up so she could speak to them directly.

    Annie panicked when she saw what Ste was about to do and quickly grabbed her arm. ¡°Ms. Russell, it¡¯s not safe up there. Please just stay down and talk from here.¡±

    Ste waved her off and reached for a helmet on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll climb up¡ªit¡¯ll be faster this way.¡±

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 Chapter 106

    ?Chapter 106:

    Annie had no choice but to watch as Ste climbed thedder with both hands and feet, heading up to exin the blueprints face-to-face. Atst, the workers nodded in unison. ¡°We understand now. You exined it clearly. But that foreign engineer? We had no clue what he was saying.¡±

    Ste let out a small, amused sigh. Well, at least things were moving again.

    ¡°Hey, before you head down, could you pass me that brush?¡± one of the workers called, gesturing toward a tool that was just beyond his reach. ¡°It¡¯s too far for me to grab.¡±

    Ste nced at the tool, then carefully reached over to grab it, one hand gripping her helmet for bnce.

    The construction site was fully exposed, in in view of anyone passing by. But that didn¡¯t bother Ste. Out here, titles didn¡¯t matter. Everyone was just part of the crew, and she had no problem pitching in when needed.

    She slowly reached out for the brush, holding onto the railing to keep her bnce. She looked like she might slip at any moment.

    At that moment, Marc¡¯s car pulled up to a red light nearby. He took off his sunsses and casually nced around¡ªonly to freeze when he spotted a familiar figure in a dusty, battered helmet.

    Ste was standing on the scaffold, covered in dirt and clearly worn out. The old-fashioned helmet on her head looked awkward, evenughable.

    Marc¡¯s first reaction was surprise, but it quickly gave way to a mix of emotions he couldn¡¯t quite name.

    He¡¯d always assumed that after choosing William over him, Ste would live a life of luxury. But now it seemed like nothing had changed.

    She was still toiling like a regr worker.

    Was this the reality she chose after turning her back on him?

    He stared at her slight figure on the scaffold and let out a sigh. There was no way a man like William could genuinely care about her.

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    It had to be a passing interest¡ªsomething new and temporary. If William really cared, why would he let her work in the heat like this? Marc had seen this kind of temporary obsession before. It neversted longer than six months.

    Once the site work was done, Ste took off her helmet and prepared to leave. Annie had already left to deal with something at the office, so Ste was on her own to catch a cab.

    While she stood by the roadside, waiting for a ride, footsteps approached from behind. Before she even turned around, an all-too-familiar, annoying voice called out, ¡°Stel?¡±

    Ste internally groaned. Just her luck¡ªrunning into him again. Without acknowledging him, she kept her eyes on the passing cars, pretending he wasn¡¯t even there.

    Marc didn¡¯t seem to mind her coldness and spoke earnestly. ¡°I saw you working at the site earlier. If it¡¯s gotten this hard, why not juste back to me?¡±

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 Chapter 107

    ?Chapter 107:

    Ste frowned, thinking his logic was ridiculous. Just because she worked at a construction site didn¡¯t mean she was suffering. How did he evene to that conclusion?

    Marc went on, ¡°If youe back to me, you can have any position at Walsh Group¡ªwhatever you want. Isn¡¯t that better than breaking your back here? You followed William thinking life would be easier, but he can¡¯t give you what I can. There¡¯s no need for you to keep lowering yourself like this¡­¡±

    As Marc finally wrapped up his lengthy speech, Ste cut in sharply. ¡°Wait a second¡ªwho exactly told you I¡¯m struggling? And let¡¯s be honest, with Walsh Group crumbling like it is, does it really matter whether someone¡¯s a janitor or a project manager? You¡¯re better off finding someone else to bail you out.¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression soured, and he snapped back, trying to sound proud. ¡°Even if Walsh Group is struggling, I¡¯d never let a woman like you work yourself to the bone on a site. Back when we were together, did I ever let you live like this?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, stop trying to define me through your narrow lens. If you¡¯ve got this much free time, maybe focus on fixing your own life first.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face went pale, clearly losing control of his temper. He blurted out without thinking, ¡°What¡¯s so special about William that¡¯s got you hooked? Do you even know how many women he¡¯s juggling behind your back? You think a man like that would ever be loyal? You¡¯re just being used!¡±

    Just as Ste opened her mouth to fire back, a sleek ck Lincoln rolled to a stop in front of them.

    The back window slid down, and there was William, calm and unreadable as ever.

    His eyes settled on Marc, expression steady. ¡°Mr. Walsh, is harassing my employee part of your busy schedule? Or is Walsh Group¡¯s plummeting stock not keeping you upied enough?¡±

    Ever since thest scandal, Walsh Group¡¯s stocks had tlined, showing no signs of recovery.

    Not even Haley¡¯s connections in Achury could salvage the damage.

    Marc froze, caught off guard, but before he could get a word in, William continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t you once im¡ªpublicly, no less¡ªthat Ste was the woman you loved? And now you¡¯re pestering Ms. Gilbert? That¡¯s quite the contradiction, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    William wasn¡¯t known for talking much, so his unusually long string ofments made one thing clear¡ªhe was genuinely irritated.

    Ste nced at him, slightly stunned. William¡¯s uncharacteristic outburst left her wondering¡­ had he heard Marc trash-talking him just now?

    Marc, on the other hand, was now visibly frustrated. He turned back to Ste with a mix of anger and wounded pride.

    ¡°So that¡¯s it, huh? You were already messing around with him before our divorce. That¡¯s why you were so cold to me. You saw a chance to trade up¡ªdumped me andtched onto someone richer. And now you act like I don¡¯t exist just because I can¡¯tpete with his bank ount?¡±

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 Chapter 108

    ?Chapter 108:

    Marc¡¯s words hit a nerve, and Ste¡¯s expression turned cold. His usations were as absurd as they were insulting.

    She had stopped loving Marc a long time ago and had let go of any hope for him, yet hearing him twist her past into something ugly still stung in a way she hadn¡¯t expected.

    In his eyes, all she had ever been was a shallow gold-digger. But she remembered those early days¡ªwhen Walsh Group was nothing but a name, she¡¯d stood beside him, helping draft contracts, handling negotiations, and even funding thepany from her own pocket when he had nothing.

    He once said thepany couldn¡¯t afford to pay patent fees, and without a second thought, she¡¯d agreed to put the payments on hold. And now, he acted like none of that ever happened. As if all she ever wanted was a step up in life. As if she had used him to climb higher. In that moment, Ste couldn¡¯t help but think how blind she¡¯d been¡ªgiving so much to a man like Marc had been her biggest mistake.

    William¡¯s expression had already grown grim from Marc¡¯s rant, but before he could utter a single word, Ste moved ahead without warning and delivered a crisp p across Marc¡¯s face.

    Marc clutched his cheek, stunned. ¡°You hit me because the truth hurts, huh?¡± he sneered.

    Ste flexed her wrist slightly, letting out a mockingugh. ¡°Mr. Walsh, maybe I should¡¯ve reminded you earlier¡ªwatch what you say, or you¡¯ll get smacked again. Keep talking trash, and I won¡¯t stop at one. You know why investors are running from Walsh Group? It¡¯s because you¡¯re crude, narrow-minded, and only ever think of yourself. Who in their right mind would want to partner with someone like you?¡± As she listed off his ws, Marc¡¯s face turned darker with each word, the humiliation hitting him hard.

    With a sharp scoff, she added, ¡°Take that p as a warning. Show up spewing nonsense again, and next time, I won¡¯t go easy.¡±

    She didn¡¯t wait for a response¡ªshe walked straight to the Lincoln and got in.

    William gave Marc onest nce, calm yet full of contempt, then quietly said to the driver, ¡°Drive.¡±

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    The Lincoln pulled away smoothly, leaving Marc standing there, alone and fuming.

    He raised a hand to his lip and winced¡ªhis lip was split. Clenching his jaw, he turned and walked back to his car, the low purr of the engine sounding almost like mockery in the background.

    As he sat behind the wheel, her cold words echoed in his mind. The way she walked away without hesitation and stepped into William¡¯s car like she belonged there¡ªit hit him hard.

    Was it possible Ste had really moved on? Had she stopped loving himpletely?

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 Chapter 109

    ?Chapter 109:

    The thought crossed Marc¡¯s mind¡ªbut he shook it off almost immediately.

    No way. He and Ste had been married for years. He knew how much she¡¯d loved him. There was no way she¡¯d fall for someone like William. Just. Impossible.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t shake the unease building in his chest. Right then, his phone lit up in the passenger seat. He picked it up, answered without thinking, and immediately regretted it.

    Haley¡¯s syrupy voice filled his ear. ¡°Marc, where are you? I miss you. Come shopping with me, please? I haven¡¯t bought a dress in forever.¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. He snapped, ¡°Haley, is your entire life just eating, drinking, shopping, and fooling around? I¡¯ve got real work to do. Get lost.¡±

    He ended the call and tossed the phone aside, annoyed.

    Back at the other end, Haley stared at the disconnected call in shock. All she did was ask him to go shopping. Did that suddenly make her useless?

    After everything she¡¯d done for Walsh Group¡ªall the help, the connections, the influence¡ªthis was how she got treated?

    Fuming, she kicked the sofa leg and stormed into the garden to find her mother.

    ¡°Mom! You have to help me. Marc doesn¡¯t want to see me. I can¡¯t even get close to him anymore!¡±

    Beatrice, watering her roses, nced over with a weary look. She had watched this obsession drag on for months and still didn¡¯t get what Haley saw in Marc.

    ¡°Haley, what¡¯s so special about this man that you¡¯re clinging to him like this? You could find someone ten times better abroad. Why waste yourself like this?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Beatrice said it. And, as always, Haley didn¡¯t listen.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± she yelled, her voice shrill. ¡°I love him, Mom. I love Marc! I want him¡ªall of him. Body and soul!¡±

    Meanwhile, a sleek ck Lincoln glided through the streets. William sat in the back, a slimptop on hisp, typing as he reviewed reports. Without even looking at Ste sitting beside him, he spoke with dry sarcasm. ¡°Didn¡¯t realize you still had feelings for your ex. What¡¯s the n¡ªrekindle the me, be a housewife again?¡±

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    Ste stared out the window, the wind brushing through her hair.

    Without turning, she said tly, ¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing decent to say, keep your mouth shut. That kind of talk is disgusting. Even if I were thest woman on Earth, I still wouldn¡¯t go back to Marc.¡± The thought alone made her nauseous.

    William chuckled quietly to himself, hiding a smile.

    After a moment, he asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you off today? What¡¯s the point of rushing to Neb¡¯s site?¡±

    She gave him a side nce. The timing of his appearance was way too convenient. No way this was a random encounter.

    Was he checking up on how she was managing Neb? Or spying on Marc?

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 Chapter 110

    ?Chapter 110:

    No, that second one didn¡¯t sound like him.

    ¡°Anyway, I heard you were doing an inspection,¡± he continued casually. ¡°Figured I¡¯d pick you up. There¡¯s only Rita at home anyway, and I haven¡¯t had lunch. I¡¯m starving. I want braised ribs.¡±

    He didn¡¯t even blink. She stared at him, stunned. He ordered a dish?!

    The driver up front tried hard not tough.

    Ste just sat there in silence, fuming. He treated her like his personal chef, and the worst part? She couldn¡¯t even say no.

    Back at the vi, she headed straight to the kitchen without even changing out of her clothes. Rita didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger this time¡ªjust managed the stove.

    Once the ribs were simmering, Ste went upstairs to shower and change.

    By the time she came back down, the aroma filled the entire kitchen¡ªthe ribs were ready to be served.

    She set the te in front of William with a forced smile. ¡°Mr. Briggs, dinner is served.¡±

    She practically spoke through clenched teeth, but William didn¡¯t seem to mind. He gave her a small smile. ¡°Thanks, Ms. Russell. Join me?¡± She wanted to roll her eyes but sat down anyway. There was no point in arguing¡ªshe never won.

    After dinner, she nced at the time. She needed to shop.

    She had a meeting with Stevening up and not a single decent outfit to wear.

    Later, at the mall, Ste stood in front of a full-length mirror in a boutique, admiring the bold red dress she had on. It hugged her curves and made her feel confident. She liked it. She then asked the assistant to wrap up all the clothes she had chosen, including the red dress she was wearing.

    Back when she was with Marc, she¡¯d never have worn something like this. He¡¯d hated anything too bright or too revealing. He used to say it made him jealous. He¡¯d made her wear long sleeves in the summer. But that wasn¡¯t her anymore. Now, she liked what she wore. She liked who she was.

    Being expected to y the role of the dutiful wife¡ªthat was the biggest cage of all. A painful reminder of how she¡¯d once been stripped of her freedom.

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    A woman could be anything¡ªsoft, sharp, sexy, smart. But she should never be just dutiful.

    After checking out at the clothing store, Ste headed toward the home goods store. But as the elevator doors slid open, she froze.

    She hadn¡¯t even stepped in yet, and already her mood took a nosedive¡ªthe sight of the two people inside was enough to kill her shopping vibe.

    Marc stood silently in the elevator when his eyes lifted¡ªand locked on her. Ste. Dressed in a striking red dress, standing just outside the doors. For a second, he forgot how to breathe.

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 Chapter 111

    ?Chapter 111:

    He¡¯d never seen her like this before. Not when they were married. Not once. Back then, she was always modest. But this woman? Radiant, confident, sexy as hell? This was a version of Ste he had never met.

    Ste had nned to turn and leave. She didn¡¯t want to spare a nce at either of them¡ªMarc or Haley. As far as she was concerned, they didn¡¯t exist.

    But Haley wasn¡¯t going to let that happen.

    The moment sheid eyes on Ste¡ªand that dress¡ªsomething in her twisted with jealousy.

    She clutched hermbskin purse tight enough to wrinkle the leather, eyes scanning Ste from head to toe. Her voice came low and snide. ¡°Marc, I never realized Ms. Russell had such a bold side. Is she dressed like that to meet William? Funny, she never wore anything like that for you.¡±

    The words hit Marc like a p.

    His jaw clenched. His mind shed with the image of Ste¡ªhis Ste¡ªdressed like that, walking into William¡¯s arms. His anger bubbled over.

    He stormed out of the elevator and stood directly in Ste¡¯s path, eyes narrowed, voice cold. ¡°This is what you meant when you said you weren¡¯t getting cozy with another man? You dress like this for him? What¡¯d he give you¡ªmoney? Gifts? Is that what it takes now?¡±

    He didn¡¯t even wait for her response before turning to Haley and adding, ¡°You¡¯re better than this, Haley. At least you¡¯re not chasing men for handouts.¡±

    Haley jumped on the opportunity, her tone dripping with condescension. ¡°Clearly someone was raised without any manners. I suppose when you grow up without proper values, you end up selling yourself short.¡±

    Ste let out a sharp, mockingugh. ¡°Oh? Wasn¡¯t the pst time loud enough for you to learn some respect?¡±

    She stepped closer, eyes glittering like polished steel. Her red dress clung to her frame, entuating every graceful line of her figure. She looked stunning¡ªand deadly.

    ¡°You want to talk about money?¡± she said coolly. ¡°Marc, you¡¯re broke. Living off a woman. Can¡¯t even afford your own patent fees. So now you¡¯re upset because someone else treats me well? Buys me clothes? If it bothers you so much, why don¡¯t you buy something for Haley?¡± She tilted her head, feigning curiosity. ¡°Or is it that she¡¯s not worth it¡ªor just too proud to ept your handouts?¡±

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    Her words hit like daggers. Marc froze. Haley gaped. Ste didn¡¯t wait for a reply. She turned and walked away with confidence¡ªback straight, heels sharp against the floor, every step dripping with poise. Marc watched her disappear, something hollow expanding in his chest. It hit him then. Ste really didn¡¯t care about him anymore. Not even a little.

    Haley stood frozen beside him, fuming.

    Her fists clenched at her sides.

    Why? Why was he still looking after Ste like that?

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 Chapter 112

    ?Chapter 112:

    She turned to confront him, ready to explode¡ªbut stopped herself. Her mother¡¯s advice rang in her head. So she smiled instead, looping her arm through Marc¡¯s with forced sweetness.

    ¡°Marc, tomorrow¡¯s banquet is huge. That project could save Walsh Group. You¡¯ve got to secure it. My dad¡¯s done a lot for you¡ªand he said this is thest time he¡¯ll step in.¡±

    She didn¡¯t say it out loud, but her meaning was clear¡ªhe owed her.

    Not Ste. He should be grateful to her, not clinging to Ste.

    Marc snapped out of his daze at her words.

    She was right. He wasn¡¯t at Briggs¡¯ level¡ªyet.

    If he could turn things around, rebuild Walsh Group¡¯s reputation, climb back to the top, then maybe¡ªmaybe¡ªSte woulde crawling back.

    Later, Marc climbed into the car with Haley. That¡¯s when she noticed it, a small plush sunflower dangling from the rearview mirror.

    Definitely not something a man like Marc would choose.

    Haley¡¯s smile faltered, but she kept her tone light. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    Marc nced at it, his face unreadable. He remembered exactly where it came from. Ste had hung it there one afternoon, calling it a scent sachet. He thought it was pointless at the time¡ªbut never took it down. After she left, it stayed. He got used to it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Haley said, still smiling. ¡°It doesn¡¯t match your style. I¡¯ll get you a new one. This one¡¯s old¡ªjust toss it.¡± She blinked at him innocently, but inside, she was boiling.

    That little thing was a mark¡ªa g that said Ste was here. And she wanted it gone.

    She looked at Marc expectantly, waiting for his reaction.

    Marc didn¡¯t respond at first.

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    But as Ste¡¯s face shed in his mind again¡ªthe look in her eyes, that red dress, the cold, dismissive tone¡ªsomething snapped. Without a word, he reached up, tore the plush sunflower down, and tossed it out the window.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then it¡¯s gone.¡±

    Ste swept into the vi, arms full of shopping bags, her mood still buoyant despite her run-in with Marc earlier.

    The moment she stepped inside, she spotted William sprawled on the living room sofa, the top buttons of his crisp shirt undone, long legs casually crossed¡ªhe looked as effortlessly elegant as a magazine cover.

    Caught off guard by his presence, Ste found herself staring a second too long before snapping out of it. She quickly averted her eyes, clutching her bags and heading for the stairs.

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 Chapter 113

    ?Chapter 113:

    ¡°Big shopping trip?¡± William¡¯s smooth, teasing voice drifted over.

    Ste replied softly, ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°How many outfits did you end up with? Why don¡¯t you try them on for me?¡±

    She hesitated at the foot of the stairs, confused. ¡°Why would I do that?¡± She was already worn out from hours of fitting room marathons.

    William leaned back with azy, knowing smile. ¡°You¡¯re representing Neb now, and Steven¡¯s well aware you¡¯re tied to me. I just want to make sure you look the part.¡±

    Ste pursed her lips, silently questioning whether her fashion sense really worried him that much.

    Still, she carried her bags upstairs, resigned.

    She emerged in her first new outfit¡ªa champagne-hued dress with a luminous sheen. Delicate pearls trimmed the slender straps, drawing elegant attention to her swan-like neck.

    William¡¯s gaze lingered on Ste as she paused before him, the faintest shift of his Adam¡¯s apple betraying his attention.

    Her hair spilled down her back in glossy waves, catching the light and swaying as she moved¡ªa quiet but undeniable allure.

    With a casual twirl, she opened her arms wide and sought his opinion.

    ¡°What do you think of this one? Not too embarrassing, right?¡± William¡¯s expression barely shifted. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    She arched a brow, unimpressed. ¡°Fine?¡±

    As she turned away, Ste shot him a pointed look, silently criticizing hisck of taste. This dress was effortlessly morous, and all he could muster was ¡°fine¡±?

    After that, she cycled through a few more options¡ªeach dress hugging her figure in its own way, with only minor variations in shade and cut. Finally, she reappeared in herst choice: a tailored pencil skirt paired with a crisp, light-blue sniped shirt.

    It was standard office attire, but Ste wore it with a confidence that made it maic¡ªher slim calves glimpsed beneath the hem, every movement quietly tempting.

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    William lounged back, pretending indifference as his eyes lingered on her longer than he intended. He quickly looked away, but curiosity got the better of him, and he nced back just as fast.

    ¡°Did you buy that a size too small?¡± he inquired, his tone deliberately casual.

    Ste¡¯s lips curled in a dry, knowing smile. ¡°I think I know my own size better than you do.¡±

    William was certain the fit was perfect¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t the problem. The real issue was how daring the dress looked on her.

    Ste spun once more, giving him a full view of the outfit before shooting a look over her shoulder. ¡°Finished staring? Can I go to bed now?¡±

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 Chapter 114

    ?Chapter 114:

    Her words were barely out before she turned and made her way up to the second floor.

    Halfway up, she paused, bent over the railing, and gave William a pointed look. ¡°If you¡¯re that eager to watch people try on clothes, maybe you should buy a ticket to a runway show.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, she disappeared into her room, the door clicking shut on the second floor.

    William stayed rooted to the sofa¡ªnot out of reluctance, but necessity. He leaned back, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose, cursing softly under his breath. Only after several minutes, once the evidence of his arousal faded, did he finally head upstairs himself, silently regretting the decision to let her model the clothes.

    By morning, Ste¡¯s rm dragged her from sleep. She didn¡¯t bother checking if William was up¡ªshe simply got ready and slipped out the door. The drive to thepany went by in a blur.

    When she arrived, the conference room was already buzzing, and Steven stood waiting just outside the door.

    Stepping out of the elevator, Ste blinked in mild surprise as she queried, ¡°I¡¯m notte, am I?¡±

    She nced at her watch¡ªthere were still ten minutes before the meeting was set to begin.

    Steven greeted her with an easy smile. ¡°Rx, we just got here early. How¡¯s everythinging along? Ready to step into the spotlight?¡±

    ncing at the packed meeting room, Ste squared her shoulders and drew a steady breath. ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯m ready.¡±

    Steven caught the spark of confidence in her eyes and nodded approvingly. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll be here waiting for your good news.¡±

    With her heart thumping, Ste timed her entrance perfectly, gliding into the conference room and setting her documents on the table with practiced poise. She offered a slight bow to the crowd. ¡°Good morning, everyone. I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert, Neb¡¯s project lead. I¡¯ll be walking you through our proposal today.¡±

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    Her voice rang out steady andposed¡ªsoft, but carrying a quiet strength that cut through the murmurs in the room.

    For the next thirty minutes, Ste guided them through Neb¡¯s proposal, highlighting thetest innovations, her exnations crisp and thorough as she fielded questions and borated on every detail.

    When she finished and the final slide faded, a tense silence fell. The attendees exchanged uncertain looks, skepticism etched into their faces.

    ¡°Is Neb really sending someone so young to negotiate a coboration? Do they actually think we¡¯ll take them seriously?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s confident, I¡¯ll give her that, but her pitch sounds more like theory than practical experience. Is this how Neb handles important partnerships?¡±

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 Chapter 115

    ?Chapter 115:

    ¡°I told you¡ªNeb¡¯s a newpany. This whole thing is a waste of time.¡±

    Ste stood calmly on stage, her smile polite butposed as a low hum of conversation buzzed around the table. She didn¡¯t rush to speak, simply waited with poise until the attendees quieted down.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± she began, her voice clear, ¡°if you have any questions about our technology, feel free to bring them up. I¡¯ll be happy to answer.¡±

    The room shifted its focus to her, but the tone was far from friendly. ¡°The tech you mentioned earlier¡ªwe¡¯ve never even heard of it. How do we know it actually works?¡±

    Ste remained unfazed. ¡°That¡¯s a fair concern. But rest assured, it¡¯s all clearly outlined in the contract¡ªif we fail to deliver on the first day of coboration, it counts as a breach of contract, and you¡¯ll be fullypensated.¡±

    A ripple of surprise moved through the room. Compensation starting from day one? That wasn¡¯t just rare¡ªit was unheard of.

    Before they could throw another doubt at her, Ste continued, ¡°I understand this technology might be unfamiliar to many of you. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve prepared a brief demonstration video¡ªjust three minutes. It should give you a better sense of what we¡¯re offering.¡± The screen came to life behind her, ying a concise yet powerful presentation that broke down the capabilities of Neb¡¯s new tech.

    Once the video ended, Ste stepped forward again. ¡°Of course, we tailor the implementation based on your project¡¯s specific needs. Neb doesn¡¯t do one-size-fits-all¡ªwe deliver precision. You have our word.¡±

    The crowd started murmuring again, but this time the tone had shifted. ¡°This tech actually seems promising.¡±

    ¡°And with thatpensation use in the contract? They¡¯re clearly serious. I¡¯ll admit, the proposal¡¯s solid. If it works like she says, this could be a game-changer.¡±

    At the back of the room, Steven listened quietly, arms crossed, his eyes on Ste. She hadn¡¯t flinched once¡ªnot when they questioned her, not when they doubted her, not even when they implied she was bluffing. Calm. Controlled. Completely inmand.

    Impressive, he thought.

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    He hadn¡¯t encountered many people as outstanding as herpetent and unppable. William really did know how to pick them. Once the meeting ended,

    Ste walked each representative to the door, shaking hands and exchanging cards.

    As thest one left, she finally allowed herself a quiet sigh of relief.

    Steven¡¯s voice came from behind her. ¡°You okay? Didn¡¯t scare you off.¡±

    She turned to him with a small smile. ¡°Thanks for checking. I¡¯m good.¡±

    ¡°You actually exceeded my expectations.¡± He stepped closer, lowering his voice. ¡°There¡¯s one more client I¡¯ve been hesitant about. If wend him, we¡¯re not just ahead¡ªwe¡¯re miles ahead. He¡¯s got ess to thetest chip tech on the market.¡±

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    ?Chapter 116:

    That got her attention. ¡°But,¡± Steven added, ¡°he¡¯s a nightmare.¡±

    Ste arched an eyebrow, intrigued.

    Advanced chip tech could catapult their entire roadmap forward. Just how difficult was this client?

    Steven slid a folder from the drawer and handed it over. ¡°We tried three times¡ªdidn¡¯t even make it past the front desk.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like my kind of challenge.¡± Ste took the file and returned to her office. She sat down, flipped through the documents, and paused when she saw the address. Her eyes narrowed slightly. That building¡­ of course it was him.

    Meanwhile, across town, on the top floor of the sleek Griffinlife Building, Marc sat in a quiet reception room, awkwardly watching the steam curl from a coffee cup.

    He shifted in his seat. When the door finally opened, he jumped to his feet, all smiles. ¡°Mr. Haywood, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Marc Walsh¡ªHaley¡¯s fianc¨¦.¡± He extended his hand with forced enthusiasm.

    Winston Haywood barely spared him a nce, gave a curt nod, and walked past him to take a seat, ignoring his outstretched hand.

    Marc awkwardly pulled his hand back. Trying to recover, he sat opposite, forcing a smile. ¡°Mr. Haywood, with your rtionship to Haley, I believe this partnership could be a win for both sides. Walsh Group is ready to go all in.¡±

    Winston slowly raised his eyes, fixing Marc with a stare that could cut ss. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve reviewed your proposal. Let¡¯s get to the point: what exactly does Walsh Group bring to the table? Real tech? Or integrity?¡±

    Marc¡¯s smile faltered. He immediately sensed Winston wasn¡¯t here for pleasantries.

    ¡°Mr. Haywood, we bring both¡ªtechnology and integrity. I can guarantee that.¡±

    Winston let out a dry chuckle. ¡°Is that right? Funny, becausest I checked, yourpany doesn¡¯t even own that core patent anymore. And your integrity? Let¡¯s just¡­¡±

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    ¡°Say the news paints a different picture. You im to be Haley¡¯s fianc¨¦, but I remember the headlines¡ªyour little affair, the fallout, the scandal. A man who lets his mistress w her way up by wrecking his own marriage? That¡¯s not someone I¡¯d trust with my money, Mr. Walsh.¡±

    Marc sat frozen, the burn of humiliation crawling up his neck. He already knew what people were saying about him online. But hearing Winston Haywood throw those headlines in his face, right to his face, cut deeper than he expected.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t afford to blow this deal.

    He forced a measured breath and said, ¡°Mr. Haywood, those rumors aren¡¯t true. My ex-wife cheated first. She ran off with another man. I didn¡¯t get together with Haley until after that. As for the patent you mentioned, sure¡ªit expired. But Walsh Group doesn¡¯t rely on just one. We¡¯ve got a pipeline of tech ready to go.¡±

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    ?Chapter 117:

    It should¡¯ve ended there¡ªbut Marc couldn¡¯t help himself. He had to twist the knife. ¡°When I married my ex, I thought she wanted a simple, stable life. Turns out she was vain. Greedy. I kept quiet out of respect for what we used to have. But if the truth came out¡­ she wouldn¡¯t even be able to show her face in public.¡±

    His tone turned somber, ying the victim so well that even he almost believed it.

    Winston raised a brow, not buying a word. ¡°Is that so? Then tell me, Mr. Walsh¡ªwhat was the core functionality of yourpany¡¯s WAY MORE system?¡±

    Marc blinked. Winston leaned back, sharpening the question. ¡°Or better yet, do you even have the original data for that tech?¡±

    Marc froze. He was a CEO, not a software engineer. How the hell would he know the raw data?

    If he had to micromanage every little detail himself, then what was the point of having a team in the first ce?

    ¡°Mr. Haywood, you¡¯re really putting me in a tight spot here. This kind of specialized technical info isn¡¯t something a CEO usually knows inside and out¡ªit¡¯s confidential, after all. But if it¡¯ll help move things along, I¡¯ll check with our engineers and get you the answers you need.¡± Marc thought his response covered all the bases¡ªuntil a clear voice cut through from the doorway.

    ¡°I can answer your question about the WAY MORE system, Mr. Haywood.¡±

    Both men turned. Ste stood in the doorway, dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, calm as ever.

    Ste looked at Marc, a cold smile flickering deep inside.

    Running into him here was unexpected¡ªand hearing what he¡¯d just said? That was rich.

    He was out here dragging her name through the dirt, but she wasn¡¯t about to let that slide.

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    Winston looked between them. ¡°And you are?¡±

    She stepped forward confidently. ¡°Mr. Haywood, my name is Sylvia Gilbert. I¡¯m here on behalf of Neb to discuss a possible partnership on chip technology.¡±

    At the mention of Neb, Winston raised a skeptical brow. Neb? That was a small firm, wasn¡¯t it?

    He tilted his head and continued. ¡°Alright then¡ªdo you know the answer to my earlier question?¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Of course. The WAY MORE system is built on modr design¡­¡±

    After running through her pitch, she added, coolly, ¡°These are the fundamentals. Anyone seriously pursuing this coboration should already know them.¡± Marc¡¯s face paled.

    He opened his mouth to defend himself. ¡°Mr. Haywood, that kind of technical detail is typically handled by the R&D team. It¡¯s perfectly normal that I wouldn¡¯t be across every bit of it.¡±

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 Chapter 118

    ?Chapter 118:

    Ste didn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°But you¡¯re the CEO, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said calmly. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand the core features of your own product, what are you managing, exactly? Are you sure you¡¯re taking this project seriously?¡±

    She turned back to Winston. ¡°Mr. Haywood, Neb isn¡¯t just here to talk. Our tech ispetitive with WAY MORE¡ªand we¡¯ve already optimized the system in several key areas. All we ask for is a fair chance to prove what we can do. I promise you won¡¯t be disappointed.¡±

    Ste spoke with steady, unshakable confidence. Neb might still be a youngpany, but the way she carried herself, you¡¯d think she came from one of the industry giants.

    Winston had been in business long enough to meet all kinds¡ªplenty talked a big game, but few had both the skills and the substance. Some had smooth words, others knew the tech but couldn¡¯t navigate the business side. Sylvia had both.

    Marc had rarely seen this side of Ste before. She used to be gentle around him, never pushy¡ªeven when she was working on technical patents, she stayed in the background, neverpetitive or forceful. But today, she was sharp,posed, answering questions with ease and confidence.

    This wasn¡¯t the Ste he knew¡ªand she definitely wasn¡¯t here to help him.

    And he couldn¡¯t take it. Without thinking, he snapped, ¡°Ste, are you seriously trying to back me into a corner? Do you really have to challenge me on every project? Is this Neb¡¯s strategy now¡ªstealing deals from everyone else?¡±

    Ste arched a brow at Marc, cool andposed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s rify two things. First, I¡¯m not Ste¡ªI¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert. Second, in this industry, it alles down topetence. Whoever brings the best nnds the contract.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face darkened, outrage shing in his eyes.

    Haley grew increasingly anxious as the minutes ticked by with no sign of Marc. Finally, unable to wait any longer, she hit the elevator button and rode it up to his floor.

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    She barely made it to the office door before she saw Ste.

    Instantly, irritation red across Haley¡¯s face.

    ¡°Why is it always you?¡± she snapped, her voice sharp with annoyance. ¡°You just can¡¯t stay away, can you?¡±

    Winston, startled by yet another interruption, pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. His office was beginning to feel more like a marketce than an executive suite.

    Shooting a steely re at Marc and Haley, he announced,

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve heard enough for today. Take your girlfriend and go. I have business with Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Marc blinked, caught off guard by Winston¡¯s blunt dismissal. He had shown up first¡ªhow had things spun so quickly out of his control?

    Haley¡¯s re only sharpened, her hands curling into fists at her sides, ready tosh out.

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    ?Chapter 119:

    Winston¡¯s chilly stare, however, left no room for argument.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t walk out right now, I¡¯ll have security escort you. Trust me¡ªif ites to that, the one left embarrassed will be the Walsh Group.¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. Thest thing the Walsh Group needed was another scandal.

    Swallowing his pride, he shot Winston and Ste a look filled with bitterness before finally standing, stiff with reluctance, and heading out the door.

    So this was it¡ªSte was really determined to cut him off for good?

    If that was how she wanted to y it, he¡¯d see just how far she was willing to go. She could only me herself for what happened next.

    Once the door had closed behind Haley and Marc, Winston turned his attention fully to Ste.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you¡¯ve piqued my curiosity. This new technology you brought up¡ªespecially after the impact of the original WAY MORE¡ªhonestly, I¡¯m impressed you¡¯ve managed to develop an even stronger version.¡±

    Ste wasted no time. Sensing his genuine interest, she slid the proposal across the desk,unching smoothly into her exnation. ¡°We¡¯ve secured a new patent¡ªalready approved¡ªand established a partnership with Mr. Hanison. If you agree to join us, Mr. Haywood, the project will be truly unstoppable.¡±

    Winston considered her with a shrewd, satisfied look.

    His instincts told him this woman could deliver even more than she promised.

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said atst. ¡°I¡¯ll give it some serious thought.¡±

    Ste knew better than to expect an immediatemitment. She offered a courteous nod and exited with quiet confidence.

    Back at Walsh Group, Marc tried to push through another stack of paperwork, but a sharp, throbbing pain in his head suddenly stole his breath and left him dizzy.

    Shit. The migraines were back, just as fierce as ever.

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    He pressed a hand to his temple, cursing under his breath. Why now, of all times?

    He jabbed at the inte and called Kody in.

    ¡°Bring me my medication right now!¡± Marc demanded, his irritation barely contained.

    Kody hurried over, concern flickering across his face. ¡°Mr. Walsh, is your migraine back again? But¡­ wasn¡¯t the treatment you¡¯ve been using something Ms. Russell prepared? No one else knows the exact form.¡±

    Marc¡¯s eyes narrowed in confusion as he pressed. ¡°What do you mean? When did she ever make medicine for me?¡±

    Kody looked genuinely surprised. ¡°That little plush sunflower she hung in your car wasn¡¯t just for decoration. She filled it with essential oils and herbs¡ªit was basically aromatherapy.¡±

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 Chapter 120

    ?Chapter 120:

    Marc stiffened, Haley¡¯s words echoing in his mind¡ªshe¡¯d told him to toss that days ago. Only now did he finally piece it together.

    So that was what it was!

    He¡¯d never realized Ste had been quietly taking care of him all this time, her efforts hidden in something as small as a handmade ornament.

    His face grew tense, torn between regret and disbelief.

    Finally, the pain became unbearable. Marc grabbed his things and left work early, desperate to see a doctor.

    The moment Haley caught sight of him heading out, she hurried over andtched onto his arm, all sugar-sweet enthusiasm. ¡°Marc! Leaving so soon? That works out¡ªI¡¯lle over tonight,¡± she dered, already tugging him toward the parking lot.

    Settling into the passenger seat, Haley¡¯s eyes immediatelynded on the rose-shaped ornament dangling from the rearview mirror¡ªthe one she¡¯d bought to rece Ste¡¯s. She shed him a self-satisfied grin. ¡°This one¡¯s much prettier than that old thing Ste hung in your car, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    The moment she said it, Marc¡¯s patience shattered. Her words hit a raw nerve he¡¯d been trying to ignore.

    His eyes darkened, jaw clenched, and he cut her off with a furious snarl, ¡°Get out.¡±

    Startled by his sudden outburst, Haley scrambled out of the car, eyes wide with fear.

    She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Why did he keepshing out at her? Left alone, Marc watched her retreat in the rearview mirror, his agitation only mounting as the silence closed in. He floored the elerator, racing back to the vi, storming up to the second floor without so much as a nce downstairs.

    Copsing onto his bed, he hoped the pain would fade, but the relentless throbbing in his skull only intensified.

    He held out as long as he could, but eventually, desperation forced him to reach for the painkillers stashed in his nightstand.

    Marc¡¯s migraines had been a constant torment long before Ste started mixing up those remedies for him. Back then, the hospital handed him a bottle of painkillers, but they came with a heavy price¡ªnasty side effects, including the risk of wrecking his sex drive if he used them too long.

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    Once his headaches seemed to fade, he ditched the pills entirely. He was way too young to be dealing with problems when it came to sex!

    As he mulled it over, only one answer surfaced¡ªhe had to find Ste. She was the only one who held the form to that medication, and right now, she was his only hope.

    ¡°Find Ste¡¯s number for me¡ªno, Sylvia Gilbert¡¯s number,¡± Marc barked into the phone. ¡°Get it within ten minutes.¡±

    He¡¯d called Barnard, his assistant, and wasn¡¯t in the mood for dys.

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 Chapter 121

    ?Chapter 121:

    A few minutester, the number was in his inbox. Marc¡¯s jaw tightened as he hit dial.

    Ste¡¯s phone rang. She nced at the unfamiliar number and hesitated. It might¡¯ve been a potential client, so she picked up.

    ¡°Hello Stel¡ª¡±

    The sound of Marc¡¯s voice made her instantly want to hang up.

    But as if sensing her impulse, he jumped in quickly. ¡°Wait¡ªdon¡¯t hang up. I know I messed up today, alright? I¡¯m sorry. But I¡¯ve got info about the Haywood Group. Thought you might want to hear it.¡±

    She said nothing. Marc pressed on. ¡°I¡¯ll trade with you. I give you info, you give me the form you used to treat my headaches.¡±

    Ste rolled her eyes, already guessing he had no real intel. Just another bait-and-switch.

    ¡°Sorry, I think you¡¯ve got the wrong person. I don¡¯t know anything about a form. And like I said before¡ªI¡¯m not Ste. So I have no clue what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    Marc¡¯s temper snapped. His head was already pounding, and her tone only pushed him further.

    ¡°Ste, don¡¯t y games with me. It¡¯s just a form for headaches! If you won¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯ll find someone else to reverse-engineer it!¡± His voice turned bitter. ¡°If it¡¯s about the money, I¡¯ll pay¡ªtop dor. You¡¯re clinging to William for cash anyway. Here¡¯s a chance to get paid without crawling around for a man. Isn¡¯t that a win-win?¡±

    Steughed. A full, richugh. ¡°Oh, that form? Yeah, I know it. Since you¡¯re so generous¡­ how about a billion for it?¡±

    Marc froze. ¡°A billion?! Are you out of your mind? What kind of headache cure is worth that?¡±

    She didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Mr. Walsh, that¡¯s riching from a man who said everything has a price. So what¡¯s the issue? Can¡¯t afford it? Going bankrupt already?¡±

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    Before he could say another word, she hung up¡ªand blocked the number.

    Ste tossed her phone onto the desk and leaned back. Her head was clear, her heart even clearer.

    Thest few weeks had been a whirlwind of closed deals and professional wins.

    And now, the final confirmation hade in. The official appointment letter. William was holding a shareholders¡¯ meeting to make it public¡ªshe would be named CEO of Neb. The announcement was set for tomorrow.

    The next morning, Ste arrived at Neb right on time.

    The meeting room was already filled with thepany¡¯s senior management.

    As she walked in, every head turned.

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 Chapter 122

    ?Chapter 122:

    She stepped confidently to the front and said, ¡°Good morning. I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert¡ªand as of today, I¡¯ll be serving as the chief executive officer of Neb.¡±

    The room was silent for a beat. Then a voice rang out, sharp and cold. ¡°You¡¯re just a manager parachuted in from the outside. Every project you¡¯ve handled was handed to you by someone else. What gives you the right to be our CEO?¡±

    Ste turned toward the voice and found herself looking at a tall woman in a fitted gray suit¡ªDocie Myers.

    She recognized the name. Sharp, ambitious¡ªand from what she remembered, someone who held a decent amount of sway inside Neb. So what was this hostility about?

    Docie red at Ste with barely concealed disdain.

    She hadn¡¯t juste to Neb for a career. She came for William. She¡¯d worked hard, hoping her dedication would get her noticed¡ªget her closer to him.

    But she¡¯d never even seen his shadow.

    And now, out of nowhere, this woman was stepping in and taking the CEO seat.

    Why?!

    Docie stared at Ste, irritation brewing just beneath her polished exterior.

    She didn¡¯t know exactly what kind of rtionship this woman had with William¡ªbut for her to walk in and instantly be appointed CEO?

    That wasn¡¯t normal. No way that was just business.

    Ste, meanwhile, met her gaze calmly, a quiet curiosity in her eyes.

    Since joining Neb, Ste had barely had time to interact with the internal team. Between business trips, contract revisions, and back-to-back meetings, she hadn¡¯t built personal connections yet.

    All she knew about Docie Myers was that she was sharp and respected¡ªand clearly had something to prove.

    Ste stepped forward, her voiceposed but clear. ¡°Ms. Myers, I¡¯m not sure what prompted yourment earlier, but I¡¯d like to rify a few things.¡± She looked directly at her. ¡°First, I didn¡¯tnd this role by relying on any man. Everyone in this room has seen what I¡¯ve done for Neb over the past few weeks.¡±

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    She paused, letting that truth settle. ¡°Second, I¡¯d suggest we, as women, stop throwing around phrases like ¡®climbing through a man¡¯s bed.¡¯ It¡¯s cheap. And frankly? It¡¯s beneath you.¡±

    Her voice didn¡¯t waver¡ªbut there was a quiet edge to it, firm and self-assured. Ste could handle being disliked. But being reduced to someone¡¯s arm candy? That she wouldn¡¯t tolerate.

    She wasn¡¯t someone¡¯s wife, someone¡¯s ex, or someone¡¯s something. She had her own name¡ªand she was going to make sure people used it.

    Referring to her as anything else would be disrespect.

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 Chapter 123

    ?Chapter 123:

    Around the room, the other team members shifted awkwardly. Docie¡¯sment hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed, and now people were speaking up.

    ¡°Docie,e on¡ªMs. Gilbert has secured major projects since she got here. Just this morning, we finalized a deal with the Haywood Group. You can¡¯t deny she¡¯s earned her spot.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll admit I had doubts at first too. But after everything she¡¯s pulled off¡­ I think Neb¡¯s in good hands.¡±

    Support rippled across the room. Docie¡¯s smile was tight. She couldn¡¯t understand it.

    Why were they backing Ste so quickly? She¡¯d been here for what¡ªbarely a month? Docie had worked hard for years. And now they were praising someone who just parachuted in?

    Still, she wasn¡¯t stupid. Pushing any further would only make her look petty.

    And she needed these people on her side.

    Docie took a breath, then offered a practiced smile. ¡°I was out of line. My apologies. Since we¡¯re now colleagues, I hope we can support each other moving forward.¡±

    Ste nodded, her voice steady. ¡°Of course, Ms. Myers.¡± They shook hands.

    After the meeting, the team returned to their workstations. Docie headed back to the technical department, where she still had considerable clout.

    Most staff turned to her for guidance on tough projects¡ªshe was the go-to forplex code issues.

    Ste came downstairs and passed by the tech floor just as a cluster of developers were crowded around a screen, locked in discussion.

    ¡°Docie, you¡¯re the only one who really understands this segment. Can you take a look? We¡¯ve already got the system up on the desktop.¡±

    Docie stepped forward automatically¡ªthen paused when she saw Ste approaching.

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    She stepped back with a faint smirk. ¡°This one¡¯s tricky. I¡¯m not sure I can help,¡± she said, shrugging. ¡°But since Ms. Gilbert handled simr tech in her previous role, I¡¯m sure she knows what to do.¡± Her tone dripped with amusement.

    She had always been in charge of technical issues before Ste¡¯s arrival. The bug was advanced, and she knew it. There was no easy fix here. No way Ste could solve it on the spot. Not without losing face. If they were all going to act like Ste was the savior of Neb¡ªfine. Let her prove it.

    Ste heard this and raised her eyebrows slightly, not missing the hint of malice in Docie¡¯s eyes.

    She walked up to the group and nced at the documents spread across the desk.

    The issue wasplex. But not impossible.

    Still, she didn¡¯t move toward the keyboard. She wasn¡¯t here to code. She was here to lead. If she jumped into every fire herself, what was the point of having a tech team?

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 Chapter 124

    ?Chapter 124:

    Instead, her gaze swept over the department¡ªuntil itnded on a quiet figure in the corner.

    Flora Brooks. Soft-spoken. Under the radar. Barely noticed during team meetings. But Ste had done her homework. Flora had won multiple coding awards in university. Her analytical reports were sharp, her instincts solid.

    She just needed someone to notice her. Someone to give her a shot. So Ste decided to give her this opportunity.

    ¡°Since Ms. Myers isn¡¯t sure,¡± Ste said, her voice even, ¡°maybe it¡¯s time someone else stepped up. We can¡¯t expect one person to carry the entire tech department.¡±

    Docie narrowed her eyes. Was she dodging the problem? Maybe she wasn¡¯t so skilled. Otherwise, why would she find someone else to fix the bug?

    The rest of the team exchanged uncertain looks. Who else could possibly take it on?

    They were lost on how to approach it.

    Then Ste turned, walking toward Flora¡¯s desk. She stopped in front of her, her tone warm but direct. ¡°Flora, would you be willing to take this on?¡±

    Flora blinked in surprise, stunned that Ste had called on her¡ªher of all people.

    She¡¯d never been the center of attention in the tech department. Most days, she felt invisible.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡­ I don¡¯t think I can handle it,¡± she said nervously.

    ¡°Maybe someone else would be better for this.¡±

    Even though Flora spent her nights studying thepany¡¯s tech, doubt still clung to her. She wasn¡¯t sure she had what it took to seed.

    Ste just shook her head and kept going. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed your file. Your skill set is impressive, Flora. I trust you can do it. Forget about failing¡ªwhat matters is you try. This kind of opportunity doesn¡¯te around often. Don¡¯t you want to seize it?¡±

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    Flora felt something shift inside her as those words sank in.

    She definitely didn¡¯t want to stay a small-time employee forever. All thete nights, all the effort¡ªshe was working toward something bigger. To be seen, to be valued¡­ Maybe this was her moment to grab. Opportunities like this didn¡¯te around twice.

    She inhaled deeply, straightening her shoulders. ¡°Yes, Ms. Gilbert. I¡¯ll give it a try.¡±

    Ste¡¯s smile softened with warmth the moment she heard Flora agree to take on the task. ¡°Great. If you need help, just ask. Take your time with it.¡±

    Flora approached the desk, sat at the terminal, and ced her fingers on the keyboard. Her expression hardened with focus.

    Watching from a few steps away, Docie raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Really? Her? She almostughed. Flora barely spoke up in meetings. She was like office furniture¡ªalways there, but easily forgotten. What skills could she possibly have?

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 Chapter 125

    ?Chapter 125:

    If this was Ste¡¯s idea of identifying talent, it was borderlineical. Flora, meanwhile, typed with steady, practiced ease.

    The problem was tough, but not unfamiliar. She¡¯d seen something like it before. All she had to do was stay calm¡ªand trust herself.

    Ten minutes ticked by. Then twenty.

    By the thirty-minute mark, Docie¡¯s smirk had returned. But then¡ªFlora hit the enter key with a note of finality.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± she said, turning away from the screen, ¡°I¡¯ve solved it.¡±

    The room went still. Flora herself looked stunned¡ªlike the words hade out before she fully believed them. She had been so afraid of messing up. But somehow¡­ she did it.

    The other engineers leaned in toward her screen.

    ¡°Wait¡ªseriously? It¡¯s working!¡±

    ¡°No way, Flora¡ªyou¡¯re a genius. We didn¡¯t even know you had this in you!¡±

    Flora¡¯s cheeks flushed pink as the praise washed over her. Her eyes flicked toward Ste, filled with gratitude.

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Gilbert,¡± she said softly. ¡°Thank you for believing in me.¡±

    Ste smiled. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of untapped talent in this department. It shouldn¡¯t go unnoticed.¡± Then, her gaze shiftednding directly on Docie. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Ms. Myers?¡±

    Docie stiffened, her expression souring. Flora? Seriously? How was that even possible?

    Still unconvinced, she pushed past Flora and leaned over the terminal,bing through the code.

    But no matter how hard she searched, she couldn¡¯t find a single error.

    Not one.

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    Ste stood beside them, arms folded, coolly observing.

    ¡°Flora,¡± she said, loud enough for everyone to hear, ¡°from now on, you¡¯ll be the lead on the Haywood project. If any tech issuese up, you¡¯ll take point.¡±

    The entire floor buzzed. That was it¡ªFlora had just been brought onto one of Neb¡¯s biggest projects.

    Docie¡¯s face twisted.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯m supposed to be the technical lead on that project. Flora¡¯s not experienced enough for that responsibility.¡±

    Ste arched an eyebrow. ¡°She just solved a problem you admitted you couldn¡¯t,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Everyone here saw it.¡± Her voice was firm, final. ¡°Talent deserves a spotlight, Ms. Myers. I suggest we start letting more people shine.¡±

    Before Docie could argue again, Ste nodded once and turned to leave. ¡°It¡¯s decided.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 126

    ?Chapter 126:

    She gave Flora onest encouraging look before heading back to her office.

    Docie watched Ste walk away, her face burning with anger¡ªlike someone had smeared a painter¡¯s palette across her cheeks.

    She had to admit¡ªSte definitely knew how to y her cards.

    Snatching the project lead role the moment she stepped in? Infuriating!

    Back in her office, Ste had barely sat down when her phone buzzed.

    It was William.

    She answered. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Are you at thepany?¡± he asked, voice clipped.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied cautiously.

    William said, ¡°Good. Come to the thirty-third floor.¡±

    The thirty-third floor?

    Ste worked on the twenty-seventh; she¡¯d never had a reason to visit the thirty-third before.

    She had no idea what was located there, but after ending the call, she stepped into the elevator without hesitation.

    When the doors slid open, her heels met the soft texture of high-end carpet. She followed its plush trail down the corridor and immediately noticed a spacious office at the very end.

    And inside it¡­ William sat. So, this was his office?

    Ste was momentarily taken aback.

    Of course, it was his. As the CEO of Briggs Group, it made perfect sense. Extravagant barely captured the scale of it¡ªhow many people had an entire floor to themselves?

    ¡°I heard you¡¯ve already secured a preliminary deal with Haywood.¡±

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    Ste lifted her chin slightly. ¡°We¡¯re nearly at the signing stage.¡±

    William let out a lowugh. ¡°Not bad. You officially stepped into the role of CEO at Neb today. How do you feel about it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she replied, then added with a dry smile, ¡°Though I picked up some interesting chatter about you from the nning Department earlier.¡±

    Ste was in reasonably high spirits as she stood across from his massive desk, lips parted mid-thought while speaking.

    William remained impassive, his features calm and steady. ¡°Oh? I¡¯m curious. What did they say?¡±

    Ste lifted her brow in mock intrigue. ¡°You sure you want the details?¡±

    He ced the folder he¡¯d been reading onto the desk and met her eyes. ¡°Do you n on telling me?¡±

    Hisck of awareness made her want to toy with him. Wasn¡¯t he the one said to have no interest in women?

    .

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    .

 Chapter 127

    ?Chapter 127:

    She leaned in, bracing her palms against the desk¡¯s edge, her voice dropping to a near whisper. ¡°Ask me nicely, and if I¡¯m in a good mood, I just might tell you.¡±

    William didn¡¯t break his gaze.

    Without saying a word, he reached past her, and with a swift motion, tugged the folder out from under her hands.

    Before she had time to react, her bnce slipped. In a heartbeat, she toppled forward.

    ¡°Oh dear!¡± Before Ste could make sense of the situation, she had already fallen onto him.

    It wasn¡¯t until a momentter that she realized she hadnded awkwardly between his legs.

    Even with what she¡¯d heard about his disinterest in women, the situation stunned her.

    ¡°How much longer will you keep nesting in myp?¡± His voice, low and unbothered, sent a jolt through her. She scrambled upright, her movements clumsy and rushed.

    Trying to push herself up, her handnded somewhere entirely inappropriate, sending another wave of panic through her.

    William instinctively drew in a sharp breath, while Ste, flustered, jerked her hand back.

    ¡°I swear, that wasn¡¯t on purpose!¡± she blurted, mortified.

    She finally stood upright, her cheeks burning.

    William¡¯s gaze held steady, and his voice carried a faint rasp. ¡°Ms. Russell, is this your preferred way of getting attention?¡±

    Ste backed away a few steps, her face already burning, and quickly tried to defend herself. ¡°You pulled the folder! That¡¯s why I stumbled!¡±

    William studied her¡ªher eyes were everywhere but on him.

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    ¡°You were pressing down on my documents. Was I supposed to just leave them there?¡± he asked calmly. ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯ve just stepped into a senior role. I¡¯d suggest staying focused.¡± He lowered his head and returned to reading.

    Ste was fuming inside but couldn¡¯te up with a decent rebuttal. Instead, she red at him. ¡°No need to worry, Mr. Briggs. I¡¯m entirelymitted to the job.¡±

    She spun on her heel and walked out.

    Her temper red. The whole thing had been an ident.

    And even if her heart was still capable of fluttering¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be for a man who, as far as she knew, only found men attractive.

    Elsewhere, Haley, though reluctant after being tossed out of the car by Marc, made her way to the Walsh residence the following day.

    But this time, she didn¡¯t even make it past the entrance.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 128

    ?Chapter 128:

    Haley hadn¡¯t imagined Marc would treat her like this. Back overseas, admirers surrounded her, yet here, Marc acted as if she were beneath him.

    Fury coursed through her, making her entire frame tremble.

    It had to be Ste¡¯s fault. She must¡¯ve filled his head with lies. Why was everyone so taken with that woman? Even the most untouchable businessmen couldn¡¯t seem to stop talking about her.

    Haley stood rigid outside the Walsh estate, her expression twisted with frustration.

    She¡¯d tried everything to pull Marc away from Ste¡ªand she wasn¡¯t about to let that woman continue poisoning his view. Marc belonged to her. Only her.

    Haley pulled out her phone and tapped in a number. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s time. Go ahead with what we discussed.¡±

    Whatever response she received left her grinning, and she ended the call, clearly pleased.

    Initially, Haley had considered moving at a leisurely pace, but if Ste insisted on courting disaster, there was no point in holding back.

    After work, Ste sank into the driver¡¯s seat of her car. She took out her phone and opened WhatsApp. Her breath caught. The WhatsApp chat she¡¯d kept pinned for Sharon¡¯s new number suddenly blinked¡ªthose stubborn gray checks finally turned blue. Her spirits instantly lifted.

    She clicked into the chat and quickly typed, ¡°Took you long enough! Where have you been hiding these days?¡±

    Sharon Mitchell was her closest friend. Ever since she¡¯d joined that confidential project, Ste had lost touch with Sharon. Even after the project wrapped up, she hadn¡¯t been able to track Sharon down. A little digging revealed Sharon had switched to a new number and abandoned all her old social media ounts.

    For more than two weeks, she¡¯d tried to get back in touch with Sharon.

    Today, atst, Sharon read her messages.

    A surge of excitement bubbled up inside her.

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    Sharon¡¯s message popped up. ¡°Oh, nothing major. I switched numbers because the scam calls got out of control, and I¡¯ve just been swampedtely¡ªtotally missed your messages.¡±

    Ste¡¯s fingers flew over the keyboard. ¡°Want to grab dinner tonight?¡± She couldn¡¯t remember thest time Sharon had crossed her path.

    ¡°Dinner¡¯s a stretch¡ªI¡¯m tied up this afternoon. But how about we hit a bar tonight instead? Could use a little fun!¡± Sharon shot back.

    A teasing emoji danced at the end of her message, coaxing a grin from Ste.

    That one little icon conjured Sharon¡¯s familiar, mischievous face as clearly as if she were standing right there.

    After dinner, Ste stepped into the bar at nine sharp, right on time. Warm country melodies drifted through the air, giving the ce an inviting charm that never veered into chaos.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 129

    ?Chapter 129:

    Heads turned the moment Ste stepped inside, her red dress impossible to ignore amid the low, golden light.

    With her eyes fixed ahead, she scanned the bustling, shadowy bar for any sign of Sharon, but the packed room and dim corners made it nearly impossible to pick her out.

    Finding no familiar face, Ste reached for her phone¡ªonly to feel a gentle tap on her shoulder.

    She turned to find Sharon standing there, dressed in a tailored brown suit and vest, a beret perched yfully on her head.

    ¡°Stel, you have no idea how much I¡¯ve missed you!¡± Sharon greeted her, her voice brimming with delight.

    Ste took in Sharon¡¯s gender-neutral outfit, amused to find that nothing about her friend¡¯s style had changed. The only difference was how much time had slipped by since they¡¯dst met¡ªno wonder it took Ste a moment to recognize her.

    ¡°Stel, you¡¯re even more stunning than I remembered!¡± Sharon dered, looping an arm around her and drawing Ste close for a warm kiss on the cheek.

    Sharon¡¯s boyish charm hadn¡¯t faded; with her sharp suit and confident grin, she easily passed for a dashing young man.

    The men who¡¯d been eyeing Ste from across the bar suddenly thought better of it and backed off.

    Ste simply shook her head with a soft, knowing smile, perfectly used to Sharon¡¯s bold affection. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed a bit,¡± she teased.

    ¡°Oh, what¡¯s so bad about sticking to your old self? Anyway, rumor has it you finally kicked Marc to the curb. Did that really happen?¡± Sharon had meant to ask about Marc for ages, but work kept getting in the way. Now that they were finally reunited, she refused to let Ste dodge the topic.

    Ste downed thest of her craft beer, thenunched into a brutally honest recap of everything that had gone down over thest six months.

    Her role at the research institute had been top secret, but with the project wrapped and Sharon still her closest friend, Ste figured it was safe to spill.

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    ¡°You¡¯re serious? Wait¡ªyou¡¯re telling me you¡¯re officially divorced and have a whole new life now?¡± Sharon burst out, eyes wide with shock.

    Ste gave a brisk nod. ¡°Exactly, so keep this to yourself.¡±

    Sharon shot her a reassuring grin. ¡°Rx¡ªI¡¯d never sell you out! Honestly, I¡¯m relieved you left Walsh Group. Word is, their business is tanking¡ªteetering right at the edge of bankruptcy.¡± As she spoke, delight flickered across her features.

    Marc had always struck her as deadweight¡ªunreliable, unfaithful, andpletely dependent on Ste¡¯s patent to stay afloat.

    Now that the divorce was official, she couldn¡¯t be happier.

    Sharon pressed on. ¡°When you asked me to cancel Marc¡¯s mother¡¯s membership card, I was stumped for a second. But honestly, it¡¯s for the best. Dealing with his mom was a nightmare¡ªmy team at the beauty salon hasined about her more times than I can count.¡±

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 Chapter 130

    ?Chapter 130:

    Hearing those words, guilt pricked at Ste¡¯s conscience.

    Years ago, Marc had told her his mother wanted to try Sharon¡¯s beauty salon.

    He¡¯d insisted the standard treatments weren¡¯t good enough and demanded the most expensive options¡ªeach one costing tens of thousands¡ªyet acted as if it was perfectly reasonable for Ste to foot the bill.

    Even with her close bond to Sharon, Ste couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy about epting such costly services for free.

    Still, whenever she tried to pay, Sharon tly refused, leaving Ste quietly indebted all this time.

    ¡°Sharon, let me send you the money for that membership card,¡± Ste suggested, her tone earnest.

    Those monthly visits of Jazlyn¡¯s had been anything but cheap. Without warning, Sharon threw her arms around Ste¡¯s shoulders and shot her a yful look.

    ¡°Stel,e on¡ªwhat kind of friend do you take me for? You really think I care about that money?¡± Sharon gave her cheek a teasing tap, then tilted in closer to Ste with a mischievous grin. ¡°If you feel so guilty, a kiss will do.¡±

    With a resignedugh, Ste leaned over and brushed a quick kiss against her cheek. ¡°Happy now, you little troublemaker?¡± Their lighthearted banter didn¡¯t go unnoticed.

    From a nearby table, Travis watched the exchange, caught off guard by Ste¡¯s warmth with this man.

    She seemed even more at ease than she ever had around Marc. Curiosity and something sharper flickered across Travis¡¯s face. After a pause, he rose from his seat and strode over to their table.

    ¡°Ms. Russell. It¡¯s been a while. I heard about your divorce from Marc¡ªhow are you holding up these days?¡±

    Ste lifted her gaze, lips tightening as she realized the man addressing her was Travis¡ªMarc¡¯s friend.

    She offered a chilly, dismissive smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve got the wrong person. I don¡¯t know any Marc, and my name isn¡¯t Ste.¡±

    Discover fresh chapters g¦Áln¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Her frosty tone made Travis pause, memories of Marc¡¯s drunken confessions resurfacing.

    Of course¡ªMarc had mentioned she was trying to shed her old identity. Maybe this was for the best.

    Travis raised his bottle with a sheepish shrug. ¡°Sorry about that¡ªI thought you were someone else. You¡¯re the spitting image of her. Let me make it up to you¡ªI¡¯ll finish this bottle as an apology.¡±

    He promptly tipped his head back and drained the bottle in one go, leaving Sharon gaping in disbelief at his theatrics.

    After downing thest of the bottle, Travis swiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shot Ste a hopeful look.

    .

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 Chapter 131

    ?Chapter 131:

    ¡°So, can we start over? I¡¯m Travis. Mind telling me your name?¡±

    Something about his persistence struck Ste as strange.

    Why did he care so much?

    In the past, she and Travis had barely exchanged more than a handful of words.

    Was he trying to dig for information for Marc?

    Ste¡¯s face clouded over, suspicion flickering in her eyes.

    Sharon leaned in, her fingers weaving through Ste¡¯s and her tone dropping to a low murmur. ¡°Excuse us, but she¡¯s with me tonight. You¡¯re kind of intruding.¡±

    Travis lingered, watching them in silence until disappointment crept across his face. ¡°Sorry for bothering you,¡± he said, voice subdued.

    Clutching his empty bottle, he drifted away.

    At that moment, Marc strode in with a crowd of acquaintances. The bar was caught between sets, the overhead lights ring down and brightening every corner.

    Ste, radiant in her red dress,manded attention amid the lively crowd.

    Johnny Ruiz, Marc¡¯s friend, startled by the sight, jabbed Marc¡¯s arm. ¡°Marc, isn¡¯t that Ste over there? Looks like she¡¯s with another man!¡± Marc followed Johnny¡¯s gaze, narrowing his eyes to get a better look.

    Who the hell was that man beside her?

    A crooked smile tugged at Marc¡¯s lips. So, Ste was just another fickle woman. Since she¡¯d moved on from him, there was no point in wasting another thought on her.

    Trailing just behind Marc, his other friend, Tommy Frazier, leaned in and spoke in a low voice. ¡°I just saw Travis walk away from Ste¡¯s table.¡±

    Travis?

    The group exchanged nces and quickly spotted Travis sitting alone at another table, shoulders hunched, face tight with frustration.

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    ¡°What was he doing over there?¡± someone asked. ¡°Did Ste say something to him? He looks like a puppy that has just been kicked.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t answer. He led the group toward Travis, who nced up as they approached. Marc got straight to the point. ¡°What did you say to her?¡±

    Travis shrugged, keeping his tone neutral. ¡°Nothing. Just bumped into her and said hi.¡±

    Marc eyed him suspiciously, searching his expression for anything more. Then, casually¡ªtoo casually¡ªhe said, ¡°Well, since we¡¯re all here, might as well have a few drinks.¡±

    Travis stood halfway from his chair. ¡°I¡¯ve got somewhere to be.¡±

    But before he could leave, Johnny was already pulling him back down with an arm around his shoulder. ¡°Come on, Travis. One drink won¡¯t hurt.¡±

    Reluctantly, Travis sat.

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 Chapter 132

    ?Chapter 132:

    Marc poured himself a drink and threw it back fast, his eyes flicking constantly toward Ste¡¯s table across the room.

    Johnny leaned in, raising his ss. ¡°Marc, lighten up. We¡¯re all here with you¡ªwhat¡¯s the point of sulking alone?¡±

    Marc said nothing.

    Tommy, ncing in Ste¡¯s direction, chimed in suggestively, ¡°You¡¯re still hung up on her, huh? She changed her name just to get away from you. Maybe it¡¯s time to let it go.¡±

    Everyone at the table knew the truth.

    Ste had changed her name, her identity¡ªjust to stay as far from Marc as possible.

    And yet¡­ Marc¡¯s behavior didn¡¯t add up.

    He was the one who¡¯d cheated before the divorce. Now that Ste had finally walked away, he acted like he was the one who¡¯d been wronged.

    Marc set his ss down with a loud clink. ¡°I never wanted the divorce,¡± he snapped. ¡°She ran off with another man. Took the patent and teamed up with him to go against Walsh Group.¡±

    His anger spilled out like it had been waiting for an excuse¡ªbitter, sharp.

    No one responded for a moment, until Johnny forced augh. ¡°Marc, seriously. You¡¯re still young, still rich. There are plenty of women out there.¡±

    Marc scoffed. ¡°Right. And what kind of life is Ste gonna have without me? No man will care for her the way I did. She¡¯s ungratefulpletely blind to what she lost.¡±

    That was too much for Travis. He set down his ss with a quiet clink and looked Marc dead in the eyes. ¡°Marc, seriously¡ªhave a little conscience. We all saw how you treated her. If you actually cared, why¡¯d you mess around with Haley?¡±

    Johnny¡¯s head snapped toward him in surprise. What the hell was he doing?

    But Travis didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Ste leaving you was probably the best thing that could¡¯ve happened. Now she doesn¡¯t have to get dragged through your mess. And as for that patent¡ªdidn¡¯t it originally belong to her anyway?¡±

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    Marc¡¯s expression darkened instantly. His grip on his ss tightened until his knuckles nched. ¡°What do you mean by that, Travis?¡± he said, standing abruptly.

    Travis stayed seated, calm. ¡°You heard me.¡±

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re asking for trouble,¡± Marc growled. ¡°You seem to have forgotten your ce.¡±

    Marc¡¯s hand shot up, ready to strike¡ªbut Travis didn¡¯t flinch. He met Marc¡¯s fury head-on, standing his ground without so much as a blink. Before things could blow up, Johnny jumped between them, raising both hands. ¡°Hey, heye on. We¡¯re all friends here. No need to throw punches over a woman. Let¡¯s just drink and cool down.¡± He threw a look at Tommy, who immediately moved to hold Marc back. ¡°Marc, rx. You know how Travis is¡ªhis mouth moves faster than his brain. Don¡¯t take it personally.¡±

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 Chapter 133

    ?Chapter 133:

    Marc let out a cold snort but didn¡¯t push further. Travis, though still tense, seemed ready to keep going¡ªbut Johnny didn¡¯t give him the chance. He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the table.

    Once they reached a quieter corner of the venue, Johnny let go and turned to him with a heavy sigh. ¡°What the hell was that, Travis? You know Marc¡¯s been on edge. Why poke the bear?¡±

    Travis didn¡¯t back down. His jaw was clenched, eyes sharp. ¡°Because he¡¯s full of it, and you know it,¡± he said, his voice tight. ¡°We all saw how he treated Ste. She stuck¡­

    by him for years, put up with so much crap, even brought him stuffte at night when he was too busy to eat. ¡°You remember that¡ª¡±

    Travis was visibly agitated, angered by all Ste had to put up with all those years.

    Johnny hesitated, caught off guard by how worked up he was. He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying him. ¡°You¡¯re really fired up about this. Way more than usual.¡± Then, slowly, Johnny asked, half-joking, half-curious, ¡°Be honest¡ªhave you taken a liking to Ste?¡±

    Travis didn¡¯t confirm anything. Didn¡¯t deny it either.

    He just looked at Johnny and said quietly, ¡°They¡¯re divorced. That¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    Johnny studied him, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he patted Travis lightly on the shoulder. ¡°Look, I know Marc hasn¡¯t exactly treated you well these past few years. But now¡¯s not the time to throw fuel on the fire. We¡¯re all friends¡ªthis doesn¡¯t need to blow up.¡± He had wondered, briefly, if Travis might actually like Ste.

    But after thinking it through, it just didn¡¯t add up.

    They¡¯d barely interacted. Maybe ten times, tops¡ªand always with Marc around.

    No private conversations, no chemistry, no signs.

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    How could Travis possibly have real feelings for Ste?

    More likely, Travis just had years of pent-up frustration with Marc and had used this situation as an excuse to finally call him out.

    That made more sense.

    So Johnny softened his tone. ¡°I know things haven¡¯t been easy for you. But this? It¡¯s not worth it. I¡¯ll talk to Marc, smooth things over. Just go back, say a few words, and it¡¯ll all pass. No one¡¯s going to hold a grudge.¡±

    But Travis shook his head, eyes resolute. ¡°No. I¡¯ve got something else to do. Have fun.¡±

    And with that, he turned and walked out of the bar without a second nce.

    Johnny stood frozen, watching him disappear through the door.

    A knot twisted in his chest. Wait¡­ was it actually true?

    He ran a hand through his hair, sighed, and headed back to the table.

    .

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 Chapter 134

    ?Chapter 134:

    Marc had calmed down¡ªon the outside¡ªbut his eyes were still locked on Ste across the room, sharp and intense, like he was trying to burn holes into her from a distance.

    Johnny tried to break the tension. ¡°Marc,e on, stop staring. If you want a girl, say the word¡ªI can call a hundred over, all your type.¡± It earned him nothing but a death re.

    Johnny raised his hands in surrender, not daring to say another word. Tommy leaned in, muttering under his breath, ¡°He¡¯s been staring at her for almost half an hour. His neck¡¯s probably cramping.¡±

    Johnny followed Marc¡¯s gaze. ¡°Who¡¯s that guy with her anyway? He looks familiar, but I can¡¯t ce him.¡±

    Tommy rolled his eyes. Johnny really knew how to hit a sore spot. Sure enough, that one casual question snapped Marc¡¯sst thread of patience. He stood up abruptly and stormed toward Ste¡¯s table.

    Ste and Sharon had nned for a chill night¡ªjust a few drinks to take the edge off. No drama. No overindulgence.

    That was the agreement. But Sharon wasn¡¯t sticking to the n. Every time Ste tried to pass, Sharon topped her ss again, all with a mischievous smile.

    Ste sighed, rubbing her temples as another headache crept in. She was about to raise her ss when an annoyingly familiar voice cut through the music.

    ¡°Ste, you seem to be in a great mood tonight.¡±

    That smug, bitter tone could only belong to one man. Marc. Ste didn¡¯t even hide her eye roll.

    She¡¯d seen him the moment he walked in¡ªand ignored him ordingly.

    This bar didn¡¯t belong to him. She had zero obligation to pretend he existed.

    She leaned back in her seat, bored. ¡°Mr. Walsh, how much have you had to drink to forget I¡¯m not Ste? If you¡¯re that bored, go find a corner to rot in quietly.¡±

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    Before Marc could p back, Sharon shot up from her seat like a firecracker. ¡°Excuse me, sir, who are you exactly? Why are you harassing my friend?¡±

    Sharon¡¯s eyes were sharp and full of fire.

    She had never met this arrogant excuse of a man in person before, but she¡¯d heard plenty. Every time Sharon wanted to confront him, Ste would hold her back¡ªtell her to let it go.

    Not tonight. Tonight, he came looking for trouble. And Sharon wasn¡¯t about to let it slide.

    She stood up sharply, stepping in front of Ste like a human shield, her re fixed firmly on Marc.

    Marc stared back coldly, his toneced with mockery as he addressed Ste. ¡°Who¡¯s that guy with you? Bet William doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re running around with another man. With the way you act, I wonder how long he¡¯ll bother keeping you around.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 135

    ?Chapter 135:

    He scoffed, adding cruelly, ¡°You know, Ste, I never realized just how¡ª¡±

    Sharon didn¡¯t let him finish. Her fist mmed into his face with precision and zero hesitation.

    ¡°The hell are you talking about?¡± she snapped. ¡°How much trash do you have to swallow to spit out crap like that? You show up uninvited and spew nonsense¡ªwhat, desperate for attention?¡±

    Marc reeled, blinking through the shock, his cheek turning red from the blow. ¡°You hit me?¡± he growled.

    Sharon didn¡¯t back down an inch. ¡°Yeah. I did. Want me to pencil you in for a second round?¡±

    She stood there, chin up, hands on her hips, her whole stance radiating pure defiance.

    Tonight, she wasn¡¯t letting this scumbag walk away untouched. She was going to put him in his ce¡ªproperly.

    Marc clutched his nose, pain shooting through his face, his anger simmering just below the surface.

    With a growl, he lunged and grabbed Sharon by the cor.

    ¡°Damn it! Who let this lunatic in here?!¡± He pulled his fist back, ready to swing¡ª

    But Sharon calmly stepped back, lifted her fingers, and let out a sharp whistle.

    In the next breath, half a dozen men in ck suits appeared behind her, each towering well over six feet and built like tanks. Their gazes locked onto Marc, cold and unflinching.

    ¡°They¡¯re all national boxing champions, Mr. Walsh,¡± Sharon said with a sweet, dangerous smile. ¡°So unless you¡¯re nning to leave here in pieces, I suggest you back off.¡±

    And she wasn¡¯t bluffing. This was her bar. Her turf. No one came in here and threw punches¡ªespecially not at her.

    Marc froze, his pride bruised more than his nose. After a beat, he let his clenched fist drop.

    ???¨¨?? ¡é?¦¤T?¦Å§Á? ?¦Ç ?a?§Úo¦Í???.???

    His re shifted to Ste, his eyes full of disdain and disappointment. ¡°Ste,¡± he sneered, ¡°look at what you¡¯ve be. Just throwing yourself around, no shame at all.¡±

    Ste tilted her head, genuinely amused by his delusion.

    Who she chose to be with was none of his business.

    She leanedzily against Sharon¡¯s shoulder, a smirk tugging at her lips. ¡°Who I spend time with is none of your business, Mr. Walsh. You and I? We¡¯re nothing. So who are you to judge me?¡±

    Marc¡¯s face twisted, hand still pressed to his bruised nose. ¡°Fine. I gave you chances, but you just keep pushing it. Don¡¯te crying when you regret it.¡±

    Sharon rolled her eyes hard enough to strain a muscle, and with one small wave of her hand, her bodyguards stepped forward.

    Marc startled, stumbling slightly before backing away like a scolded dog. He shot onest re at Ste, then turned and stormed off. Sharon watched him leave, grinning with satisfaction. ¡°How¡¯s that for a mic-drop moment? Admit it¡ªI was incredible.¡±

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 Chapter 136

    ?Chapter 136:

    Steughed. ¡°Incredible? You were iconic. With you around, I don¡¯t need pepper spray. By the way, are those guys really boxing champions?¡±

    Sharon gave a smug little shrug. ¡°Ehh¡­ I hired them from an employment agency. They¡¯ve got some moves, but mostly it¡¯s the muscles that do the talking.¡±

    Ste blinked. The employment agency?

    Only Sharon would walk into a staffing office and walk out with a personal SWAT team.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± Sharon said, looping her arm through Ste¡¯s. ¡°You free tomorrow?¡±

    Ste looked at her curiously. ¡°What¡¯s up? Need something from me?¡±

    Sharon nodded, smiling. ¡°Nothing major. It¡¯s my grandpa¡¯s birthday soon, and I was hoping you coulde with me to pick out a gift. You know how it is¡ªshopping¡¯s way more fun withpany. Plus, he¡¯s been missing you.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Of course! I know just the ce to find the perfect gift. Trust me¡ªhe¡¯ll love it.¡±

    Sharon beamed. ¡°Perfect. Let¡¯s meet at ten tomorrow morning.¡± After a few good drinks, putting Marc in his ce, and letting off some steam, it was finally time to call it a night and head home.

    Ste went home humming a tune. She showered, dried her hair, and fell asleep in the best mood she¡¯d had all weekpletely forgetting that William still hadn¡¯te home.

    The next morning, Ste stood in front of her vanity, applying a touch of light makeup.

    When she stepped into the living room, she found William at the dining table, calmly drinking his coffee.

    He looked up as she walked by, his gaze lingering a second too long¡ªtaking in her effortless glow and the subtle polish to her look.

    ¡°You¡¯re in high spirits,¡± he said casually. ¡°Got a date this weekend?¡±

    Your update hub: g?l¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s?c?m

    Ste raised an eyebrow as she reached for her ss of milk. ¡°Not a date. I¡¯m meeting someone.¡±

    William sipped his ck coffee, his voice cool. ¡°A man?¡± Then, after a pause, he added without blinking, ¡°Marc?¡±

    The name alone was enough to sour her mood. Ste set her ss down, her appetite gone.

    ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful day. Don¡¯t ruin it by bringing him up. Even if every other man on earth disappeared, I still wouldn¡¯t date Marc.¡± She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder, giving William a pointed look before heading for the door.

    William stayed seated, still holding his cup, a quiet smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.

    Not far off, the maid blinked, visibly confused.

    Didn¡¯t she just say ¡°Even if every other man on earth disappeared¡±? Didn¡¯t that include William? So why was he still so happy?

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 Chapter 137

    ?Chapter 137:

    Ste found Sharon waiting in the cafe on the mall¡¯s first floor.

    As soon as Sharon spotted Ste, she perked up and waved with excitement. ¡°Stel! Over here! So where¡¯s that gift shop you mentioned? I walked all around and didn¡¯t find anything remotely interesting.¡± Clearly intrigued, Sharon was expecting something impressive¡ªafter all, Ste had talked the ce up quite a bit.

    Linking arms with her, Ste smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s kind of tucked away in a strange corner. You¡¯d never find it on your own. Come on, I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    After twisting through a few narrow corridors, they reached a tucked-away alley with a shopfront paintedpletely ck.

    The entrance had no sign, no name¡ªnothing to suggest it was even a store.

    Sharon nced around, clearly thrown off. Without Ste leading the way, she never would¡¯ve guessed it was a shop.

    It was almost suspiciously low-key.

    ¡°Can a store this hidden even stay in business?¡± Sharon asked, genuinely curious.

    ¡°It¡¯s hidden, yeah,¡± Ste said with a smallugh. ¡°But you know what they say¡ªgood things don¡¯t need to shout for attention.¡±

    They stepped inside, where a lone employee behind the counter greeted them warmly. ¡°Wee! Take your time, feel free to look around.¡±

    After that, the assistant didn¡¯t hover or follow them around¡ªsomething both of them appreciated.

    The shop felt more like a cozy little art gallery than a typical store. Paintings lined the walls¡ªsome were masterpieces by well-known artists, their age adding to their value, while others were brilliant creations by up-anding talents. Each piece seemed carefully chosen.

    Sharon wandered through the space, curiosity lighting up her face. When her eyesnded on a particrndscape painting, she froze for a second, her expression shifting into one of surprise.

    ¡°Wait, is this a painting by Sterion? An actual original?¡± she asked. Sterion was considered the brightest star among the new wave of artists.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s£®?§àm takes you away

    Her talent knew no bounds¡ªwhether it was realism or abstract, every piece she created left asting impression.

    Thanks to her versatility and fearless creativity, she had earned numerous international awards. Sharon had seen her original works featured on TV before, and even through a screen, they left her amazed. But every time Sharon considered buying one, the auction prices were far too high, keeping her from ever making a purchase.

    She had once nned to wait for the prices toe down, but instead, Sterion¡¯s value kept climbing. Her paintings became more like solid investments than art pieces.

    That was why it was bing harder and harder to find any avable for sale.

    ¡°Miss, rest assured¡ªeverything here is original. We don¡¯t deal in knockoffs,¡± the store clerk called out from the front desk.

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 Chapter 138

    ?Chapter 138:

    Hearing that, Sharon was even more thrilled.

    Her grandfather was a passionate art lover too, and she remembered him once speaking highly of Sterion¡¯s work.

    If she could surprise him with this painting, he¡¯d be absolutely delighted.

    ¡°Stel, what do you think of this one?¡± Sharon asked eagerly, pointing toward the painting.

    Ste smiled and gave a nod. ¡°If you really love it, then don¡¯t hesitate. Get it.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m sold! I¡¯m buying it right now!¡±

    Sharon carried the painting over to the front desk with a spring in her step. But just as she opened her mouth to ask the price, the shop¡¯s ck door creaked open behind them, and someone stepped in.

    Both Ste and Sharon turned to look and were stunned to see Jazlyn, Marc¡¯s mother.

    Jazlyn froze at the sight of Ste, her hand flying to her chest in pure shock. ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± she gasped.

    Her eyes flew wide open in disbelief as she stared hard, trying to make sure she wasn¡¯t imagining things.

    Was that really Ste standing there? But Ste had died six months ago¡­ right? Was she looking at a ghost now?

    Up until now, Jazlyn had been living a rxed life in Choria, spending her days ying cards and enjoying leisure.

    But just yesterday, after hearing Marcin about his project falling apart, she¡¯d booked the first avable flight and rushed over. She had an old acquaintance in the city and had nned to ask for a favor. At her age, she wouldn¡¯t have made the trip if Marc hadn¡¯t sounded so desperate.

    Thest thing she expected was to run into Ste, and with a man at her side.

    Her brain scrambled to process everything, and within moments, her face twisted with rage.

    ¡°Ste! So you faked your death just to hook a wealthy man? You¡¯ve got some nerve. So who¡¯s the fool now? And don¡¯t tell me Marc¡¯s troubles at work are just a coincidence¡ªthis is your doing, isn¡¯t it? Are you seriously trying to get his attention again? You¡¯ve been married for years and still haven¡¯t had a child. What makes you think you have any right to keep showing up in my son¡¯s life?¡±

    ???€$? ?§ß?t??§ñ? 1¦Ð ?al§Úo¦Í¦Å??.???

    Just saying it out loud made Jazlyn¡¯s temper spike even more. She had believed that the moment Ste married Marc, a grandchild would follow soon after.

    But year after year, there had been no baby.

    Despite all her pampering¡ªmaking soups, giving health advice¡ªnone of it had worked.

    It now felt like all her efforts over those years had beenpletely wasted.

    Sharon was about to speak up, her brows already furrowed, but Ste gently caught her wrist.

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 Chapter 139

    ?Chapter 139:

    Ste stepped forward, her tone calm but sharp. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m not sure who you¡¯re mistaking me for, but standing in public and shouting insults like that? Clearly, ss isn¡¯t part of your vocabry. You probably struggle to even recognize a few characters, so I won¡¯t waste time arguing.¡± She smiled coldly. ¡°But for the record¡ªmy name is Sylvia Gilbert. I have nothing to do with whoever you think I am. You and your son? Definitely cut from the same cloth¡ªloud and clueless.¡±

    She found that Jazlyn hadn¡¯t changed at all from before, still the same vulgar shrew. Wealth had done nothing to refine her.

    Jazlyn stood frozen for a second, not quite processing the verbal smackdown she¡¯d just received.

    Before she could regain her footing, Ste continued, her voice steady and cutting, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re talking about your daughter-inw. Let me give you a tip¡ªyour son¡¯s lucky anyone married him at all. Instead of being grateful, you keep dragging her name through the mud. No wonder she left. Maybe take a moment and reflect. People like you should seriously rethink their lives.¡±

    ¡°You¡ªyou little punk!¡± Jazlyn snapped.

    She hadn¡¯t understood most of Ste¡¯s words, but thatst line hit home.

    Ste gave her a look of exaggerated innocence. ¡°Well, whoever reacts must be the one I¡¯m talking about. Why so worked up? You¡¯re not exactly young anymore. Careful¡ªtoo much excitement, and you might drop right here.¡±

    Jazlyn trembled, pointing at her with fury, unable to outtalk her.

    She shifted her re to Sharon.

    Dressed sharp, short hair, androgynous aura¡ªJazlyn jumped to a conclusion immediately. She figured this guy was Ste¡¯s kept man. And in her mind, he must have been broke, mooching off women.

    With that thought fueling her confidence, Jazlyn puffed out her chest. ¡°You there! Young man!¡± she called, pointing at Sharon. ¡°Why waste your youth as some woman¡¯s boy toy? Let me tell you¡ªshe¡¯s broke. She doesn¡¯t have a dime. She¡¯s living off men and pretending to be something she¡¯s not.¡±

    Her gaze shifted to the painting in Sharon¡¯s hand, and her tone suddenly turned generous. ¡°You¡¯ve got potential. If you¡¯re ready to turn your life around and ditch this woman, I¡¯ll buy that painting for you as a gift.¡±

    Latest stories on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    She turned triumphantly to the cashier. ¡°How much is this painting? I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    The cashier smiled professionally. ¡°Certainly, ma¡¯am. That piece is priced at fifty million. Will you be paying by card or check?¡±

    Jazlyn reached into her handbag without missing a beat¡ªbut then froze, her hand hovering midair. Did the cashier just say fifty million? She looked up at the cashier. ¡°Wait¡­ what did you say? How much is it?¡±

    ¡°Fifty million, ma¡¯am.¡± The cashier continued smiling, her tone sweet and pleasant.

    Jazlyn¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Fifty million?! For that painting? It¡¯s not even by someone famous!¡± Her voice was rising. ¡°This is robbery! This is fraud! I¡¯m calling the police. You and this woman are obviously in on it¡ªscamming people!¡±

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 Chapter 140

    ?Chapter 140:

    She hadn¡¯t seen thising. She fumed in frustration.

    The cashier¡¯s tone didn¡¯t change. ¡°Our gallery operates legally. The business license is posted right there on the wall. As for the price, that piece was appraised and certified. You¡¯re wee to call the police¡ªit won¡¯t change the number.¡±

    Jazlyn stood trembling in fury.

    Next to her, Sharon looked at the painting, then gave her a mocking grin. ¡°Oh no, ma¡¯am, you¡¯re incredible. If you really buy this painting for me, I¡¯ll leave her right now. What¡¯s the hold-up? Can¡¯t afford it?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s face flushed crimson. ¡°You people are insane! This painting isn¡¯t worth that much! It¡¯s junk! Get your manager! I demand an exnation!¡±

    The cashier smiled again and picked up the phone. Momentster, a man in ck-rimmed sses approached. Calm and polite, he walked straight over.

    ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m the manager of this store. How can I help you?¡±

    Jazlyn angrily pointed at the painting in Sharon¡¯s hands. ¡°This painting! Fifty million?! What kind of scam are you running here?!¡±

    The manager didn¡¯t flinch. His voice was smooth, professional, but firm. ¡°That piece is indeed priced at fifty million. You¡¯re under no obligation to buy it, of course. If our store doesn¡¯t meet your expectations, we won¡¯t trouble you again.¡±

    Then he turned to the cashier. ¡°Lottie, please show thisdy the door. Be sure to note in our system¡ªwe won¡¯t serve her in the future.¡± He gave a curt nod.

    walked away. The cashier, Lottie, smiled sweetly and held the door open. ¡°Take care, ma¡¯am.¡±

    Seeing everyone looking at her with thinly veiled disdain, Jazlyn clenched her teeth and stormed out, her heels clicking furiously against the floor.

    Just a lousy shop, she fumed to herself. Like she even cared!

    After Jazlyn finally stomped out of the gallery in a fit of embarrassment, Lottie walked over to Ste and Sharon with a bright smile. ¡°Would you like me to wrap this painting for you?¡±

    New updates live on g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s

    Sharon blinked, confused. ¡°Wait, seriously? You¡¯re selling it for fifty million?¡±

    Fifty million? That was way beyond what she could afford¡ªshe¡¯d have to sell her car, max her cards, and then some.

    But Lottie shook her head, still smiling. She gave Ste a quick, meaningful nce. ¡°No need to worry. This painting is a gift¡ªfor you.¡±

    ¡°Free?¡± Sharon asked, her voice full of suspicion.

    She leaned closer to Ste and whispered, ¡°Stel¡­ is this ce shady or something?¡±

    A fifty-million-dor painting¡ªfor free? That screamed scam.

    She should probably check the reviews online first.

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 Chapter 141

    ?Chapter 141:

    Ste couldn¡¯t help butugh, immediately catching the concern in her friend¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I promise. The gallery¡¯s legit, and the painting really is a gift¡ªfor you.¡±

    But Sharon didn¡¯t look convinced. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she leaned in closer. ¡°Alright, spill it. Something¡¯s not adding up. What aren¡¯t you telling me, huh?¡±

    Ste sighed in defeat. ¡°Alright,¡± she said with a sigh, ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to keep secrets, but¡­ I¡¯m Sterion. I painted that, so yeah¡ªit¡¯s free.¡±

    Sharon froze. ¡°Wait¡­ what?¡± She stared at Ste like thetter had just grown wings. ¡°You¡¯re joking. You¡¯re Sterion? As in the art-world genius? The mysterious painter no one¡¯s ever seen, whose works are practically legend?¡±

    Sharon could hardly believe it.

    The artist she and her grandfather admired was her best friend all along. Wow, Ste did a great job keeping it a secret.

    Meanwhile, Lottie had already finished wrapping the painting, handing it over with both hands. The two finally stepped out of the gallery.

    As they stepped out of the gallery, Sharon was still in awe. ¡°Stel, I seriously thought you were broke after the whole Marc mess, but nope¡ªyou¡¯re loaded! A single painting of yours sells for millions! How did you keep this a secret for so long?¡±

    Steughed as Sharon hugged her excitedly, both of them totally unaware that someone had been listening just around the corner.

    In a shadowed alley nearby, William had stopped in his tracks. He hadn¡¯t meant to eavesdrop¡ªbut hearing the name ¡°Sterion¡± fall from Sharon¡¯s lips caught his attention. And then came the rest.

    He knew the name well. Sterion¡¯s work had made waves in the art world¡ªabstract and powerful. He¡¯d tried more than once to purchase a piece, but they were always sold out before he could get a word in.

    Ste¡­ was Sterion?

    He had known her for over six months, and she still managed to keep that a secret?

    Stay tuned galnov??????.co??

    He chuckled softly to himself.

    She was full of surprises.

    Ste and Sharon, oblivious to William¡¯s presence, continued chatting as they walked out arm in arm.

    Sharon¡¯s bodyguard opened the car door, and she slid into the backseat, lowering the window to wave. ¡°Call meter, Stel! See ya!¡±

    Ste nodded with a smile, watching Sharon¡¯s car disappear down the road before crossing the street.

    But as she reached the middle of the crosswalk, a loud roar shattered the calm. VROOOOM.

    A motorcycle shot out from the corner, speeding straight toward her.

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 Chapter 142

    ?Chapter 142:

    For a second, Ste froze. She barely had time to react.

    Then¡ªsuddenly¡ªa strong hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back. She stumbled into a firm chest, breath caught, heart pounding. When she looked up, she was met with a familiar face¡ªcool, focused, sharp-jawed. William.

    He held her steady with one arm wrapped around her waist, his eyes still fixed on the motorcycle.

    The rider swerved, trying to adjust and circle back toward them. Without letting go of her, William stepped forward, lifted one leg, and mmed it into the side of the bike with precision.

    The motorcycle flew off bnce, skidding and crashing against the sidewalk.

    The rider groaned and scrambled to get up, clearly nning to flee. But William was faster. He lunged, grabbing the man by the cor and hauling him upright in one fluid motion.

    The rider struggled, but it was no use. William ripped off the helmet and turned to Ste. ¡°Do you recognize him?¡±

    Ste knitted her brows and gave a faint shake of her head in response to William¡¯s question.

    William didn¡¯t say much either¡ªhe just took out his phone and made a call.

    A few minutester, Luca showed up with some bodyguards and walked straight over to William. ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± Luca greeted firmly.

    William¡¯s face remained cold and unreadable. ¡°Take this man to the station. He tried to hurt us on purpose. Let the police look into it properly.¡±

    The moment the man realized William was serious about handing him over to the authorities, panic shed across his face.

    ¡°Wait, I-I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± he stammered.

    But no one gave him a chance to finish. He was swiftly escorted away, struggling uselessly as the bodyguards led him out.

    Read exclusive updates g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls

    Now that the chaos had passed, Ste finally noticed the throbbing in her knee.

    She nced down and saw the skin had been scraped, probably when William had pulled her aside earlier.

    She figured it wasn¡¯t anything too bad. But the next second, without warning, William leaned down and picked her up into his arms. Caughtpletely off guard, Ste let out a small gasp and instinctively clutched onto his neck.

    ¡°O H-hey! What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he said calmly. ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡±

    Luckily, the hospital was only about ten minutes away from the shopping district.

    When they arrived, William exined the situation to a nurse, who then pointed them toward a treatment room to wait.

    The room was quiet and empty, and William gently lowered Ste down onto a chair.

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 Chapter 143

    ?Chapter 143:

    Even though she reminded herself that he was gay, being carried like that still made her feel a little¡­

    As he gently lowered her, she meant to grab the back of the chair for bnce. But maybe her weight had shifted too suddenly, or her angle was off, because instead, her hand ended up grabbing his waist by mistake.

    Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could feel the firm, defined lines of muscle beneath.

    Her breath hitched. A wave of heat rushed to her face, and she immediately pulled her hand back as though she¡¯d touched something scorching. Oh no. What had she just done?

    William nced at her flushed cheeks and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Come on, this isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve ended up doing something like this. You should be used to it by now.¡±

    Ste shot him a sharp re, clearly unimpressed by hisment. She¡¯d never tried to take advantage of him on purpose, so how could he say she was used to it? That was ridiculous.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re pretty skilled at carrying people around. I take it this isn¡¯t your first time?¡± she quipped.

    Instead of getting annoyed, William simply grinned. ¡°Yep. Practically mastered it.¡±

    Ste opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t think of aeback. There was no beating him in a battle of wits.

    She took a breath, letting her irritation melt into calmness. ¡°Anyway, thanks for helping me out today,¡± she said gently.

    William lifted a brow. ¡°No need to thank me. Just happened to be walking by.¡±

    Technically, he had been passing by¡ªthrough a small alley where he saw her parting ways with her friend. Not exactly a lie¡­ but not the full truth either.

    Ste lightly scratched the tip of her nose. ¡°Mr. Briggs, that move back there¡­ you¡¯ve definitely had some training, haven¡¯t you? That was quite impressive.¡±

    Feel inspired by ga  ln o vels .

    If she hadn¡¯t witnessed it herself¡ªWilliam kicking a motorcycle and dragging that man off the ground, she wouldn¡¯t have believed someone like him would ever get physical.

    William nced down at Ste, seated on the chair and appearing smaller inparison. With a cool expression and a raised brow, he remarked, ¡°It¡¯s not me being impressive. You¡¯re just that weak.¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath hitched at his blunt words. ¡°Says who? That was a surprise attack! I didn¡¯t have time to react, that¡¯s all. I can totally take care of myself!¡±

    But just as her emotions surged, she moved a little too quickly. Her knee bumped against the chair leg, throwing off her bnce. She staggered forward, and, before she could catch herself, her forehead lightly collided with William¡¯s abdomen with a soft thud.

    Flushed with embarrassment, she tried to get up quickly, reaching out to grab anything for bnce, but unfortunately, her handsnded¡ªof all ces¡ªright on his crotch.

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 Chapter 144

    ?Chapter 144:

    Ste froze, horrified. It was like fate enjoyed setting her up¡ªevery encounter with William ended in some impossible misunderstanding. How was she ever supposed to clear her name at this rate?

    Before she could even sputter out an apology, the door suddenly swung open, and a sharp, using voice pierced the room. ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡±

    Nathalia showed up at the hospital today and, to her surprise, ran into Luca. Excitement surged through her. William must be here as well. Without hesitation, she decided to look for him. Since returning from the research facility, she had been searching for the right moment to see William again.

    But he never picked up her calls, always saying work kept him upied. So when she finally got the chance toe by, she hadn¡¯t expected the scene that greeted her when the door swung open.

    They were¡­ together. Back at the institute, she¡¯d already gotten the sense that Ste didn¡¯t know how to keep proper boundaries. And now, that gut feeling seemed spot on. How could she be this bold? Ste had already pulled away from William.

    She cleared her throat awkwardly and tried to exin, ¡°I lost my footing¡­ It wasn¡¯t on purpose.¡±

    Nathalia¡¯s mouth curled in disdain. ¡°Really? You just happened to fall straight into his arms? Do I look that naive to you?¡±

    William nced at Nathalia, his expression darkening. ¡°You¡¯re crossing a line.¡±

    Nathalia froze for a split second, but quickly realized her tone might havee off too harsh. She inhaled slowly, then softened her expression with a smile. ¡°I¡­ I was just surprised, that¡¯s all. I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here. Actually, there¡¯s something from the institute I wanted to discuss. Do you have a few minutes for coffee?¡±

    William didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°If it¡¯s about the institute, speak to the director. He¡¯ll pass along anything relevant. I¡¯ve got other things to handle.¡±

    The light in Nathalia¡¯s eyes faded immediately. ¡°But William, we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡± he cut in. ¡°If not, I¡¯ll have to ask you to leave. Someone here needs to rest.¡±

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    The message couldn¡¯t have been clearer.

    Ste felt a sharp jolt, then turned toward him with a mix of disbelief and frustration. Once again, he was using her to drive someone away. What a ruthless man.

    Nathalia¡¯s heart clenched at how openly he showed concern for Ste. Her lips tightened, and she left.

    Ste followed her with her eyes until the woman vanished, then shifted her attention back to William. She let out a few soft clucks of disapproval and shook her head.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, that was harsh. Ms. Fuller obviously cares about you. Maybe you should just be honest with her. Who knows? She might even take it well.¡±

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 Chapter 145

    ?Chapter 145:

    She hinted that he should be honest about his orientation¡ªeven if it was awkward, at least Nathalia would stop viewing her aspetition. Ste had no intention of continuing as his decoy. Jealousy, especially from a woman, could turn dangerous. Who could predict what Nathalia might resort to if the confusion lingered?

    Could shebel it a workce injury and ask William for damages?

    William¡¯s brow creased. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    Ste blinked, surprised he was still pretending. ¡°Seriously? It¡¯s not exactly taboo anymore. People are a lot more epting these days. I think Ms. Fuller would take it just fine.¡±

    Her attempt at exnation only served to confuse him more.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got no idea what you¡¯re trying to say. Just stay put, I¡¯m calling the doctor.¡± Without another word, he walked out.

    Left behind in the treatment room, Ste exhaled and shook her head. Apparently, even someone like William couldn¡¯t bring himself to be open. Given his position, maybe admitting he preferred men felt more shameful than losing face in a business deal.

    Well, if he wasn¡¯t ready to be honest, she didn¡¯t see the point in continuing the conversation.

    Soon, William returned with a doctor in tow.

    After checking the wound, the doctor carefully cleaned and disinfected it.

    ¡°Keep it dry for the next few days,¡± he advised. ¡°Let the skin scab over before taking a full bath.¡±

    Ste thanked him politely and went back to the vi.

    She let out a long breath, slumping back into the sofa.

    William, unusually gentle for once, nced in her direction and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about cooking for the next few days.¡± Her face lit up instantly.

    L??t§Öst ch¦Ápt?rs in g??l??ov???s.??????

    ¡°Are you going back to your ce?¡± Was this her lucky break atst?

    But his expression darkened the moment she spoke. ¡°No. I meant exactly what I said¡ªyou don¡¯t need to cook. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±

    Was she really that eager to see him leave? The thought irritated him, and his mood worsened.

    ¡°Then¡­ should we just order takeout?¡± she asked, offering a weak smile to ease the tension.

    In this house, she was the only one who could prepare a proper meal. But ordering food wasn¡¯t out of the question.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Rita still around?¡± he replied.

    Ste froze, wondering if she¡¯d misheard. Did he just suggest Rita should cook? The same Rita who only managed to pick and wash vegetables? The one who, even after multiple tries, still managed to serve eggs with bits of shell inside? Was he nning to put his stomach at risk?

    .

    .

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 Chapter 146

    ?Chapter 146:

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but worry that one of Rita¡¯s meals mightnd her in the emergency room.

    Rita nced at William beside her before stepping forward with determination. ¡°Ms. Russell, I¡¯ve been practicing a lottely. Please let me try again¡ªI promise not to mess it up this time!¡±

    Ste responded with a polite, strained smile. ¡°Of course, Rita. I have full confidence in you.¡±

    As she spoke, she discreetly opened the food delivery app on her phone.

    An hourter, Rita¡¯s voice rang out from behind them. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready, Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t until William helped Ste over to the dining table that she caught sight of the spread¡ªand stared at Rita in disbelief. Had Rita actually made these dishes?

    ¡°Rita, when did you start practicing behind my back to reach this level?¡± Ste asked, recalling how disastrous Rita¡¯sst attempt in the kitchen had been.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, have a taste first. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s up to your standards,¡± Rita said with a cheerful smile, politely pulling out a chair for her. It wasn¡¯t that shecked the skills¡ªWilliam simply never allowed her near the stove. She hadn¡¯t really had the chance until now.

    Ste sat down and tried a spoonful.

    To her surprise, every dish tasted amazing.

    ¡°Rita, this is incredible! I¡¯m honestly impressed,¡± she eximed.

    She couldn¡¯t hide her surprise as she looked at the beautifully ted dishes. Was this really the same Rita who, not long ago, only knew how to rinse vegetables and couldn¡¯t seem to learn anything no matter how many times she tried?

    Rita stood beside her, beaming. ¡°Ms. Russell, you actually taught me these recipes a while ago. I just practiced a few more times. You¡¯re a great teacher, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Herpliment sounded genuine, but something about it made Ste pause.

    Feel the thrill at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©q??o??

    She couldn¡¯t say exactly what it was, just a faint feeling that something didn¡¯t sit right.

    Still, she chose to brush it off. At the very least, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about cooking anymore¡ªRita could handle that.

    After dinner, Rita helped her upstairs. Ste took a quick shower, then eased into bed with her tablet in hand, ready to go through some work. Her injured knee meant she couldn¡¯t make it to the office in person, but that didn¡¯t mean she could simply disconnect.

    Too much was going on over there. Even if working remotely wasn¡¯t the most convenient option, she had no choice but to stay involved however she could.

    Hours passed without her noticing. By the time she wrapped everything up, the clock had crept past 11:40 PM. Letting out a quiet sigh, she shut down the tablet, nestled under the nket, and quickly drifted off to sleep.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 147

    ?Chapter 147:

    The next morning, Ste slowly opened her eyes.

    She hadn¡¯t showered the night before, and the difort was starting to get to her. Unable to manage it alone with her injured knee, she called out from the¡­

    From the second floor, after a few calls, Rita finally came up.

    ¡°I want to take a shower,¡± Ste said, feeling a little awkward. ¡°But my knee can¡¯t get wet. Can you help me cover it with some stic wrap?¡±

    Rita responded right away, ¡°Of course, Ms. Russell. I¡¯ll just take off my apron and wash my hands first. Please give me a minute.¡±

    With that, she rushed downstairs, while Ste made her way to the bathroom to get changed.

    With her back to the door, she had just lifted her T-shirt halfway up when the door creaked open.

    Thinking it was Rita, she said casually, ¡°Oh good, you¡¯re here. Can you turn on the water and wet the towel for me?¡±

    But the silence behind her felt strange. No footsteps, no response.

    Uneasy, she turned around to check.

    Standing there was William, dressed in a rxed, casual outfit.

    Time felt like it stopped.

    Ste stood frozen, staring at him in shock.

    William quickly looked away from the glimpse he¡¯d caught of her undergarments.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± he muttered. ¡°I heard you calling and thought you needed something¡­¡±

    In a panic, Ste quickly tugged her shirt down, not realizing there was water on the floor.

    Her foot slipped, and she let out a startled cry as she lost her bnce.

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    William, catching the movement from the corner of his eye, turned sharply¡ªhis expression tightening. Without thinking, he stepped forward and caught her before she hit the ground.

    She ended up falling straight into his warm, steady arms.

    Though she¡¯d always known William was well-built, this was the first time she had felt it so clearly.

    Even during their brief contact at the hospital, she had only brushed against his side. Now, being held this close, she could feel the tension ripple through him.

    His breath caught, and his arms stiffened slightly as if he, too, was unsure of what to do next.

    She blinked, feeling a subtle tremble in his arms.

    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be into men? Why did he seem so awkward while holding a woman?

    .

    .

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 Chapter 148

    ?Chapter 148:

    Realizing his body was reacting, William¡¯s face darkened.

    ¡°Are you nning to just stay there now?¡± he said tly.

    Startled by his tone, Ste quickly stepped back and looked down to fix her clothes.

    However, the moment her eyes lowered, she spotted something that made her freeze¡ªa noticeable bulge in his trousers.

    She wasn¡¯t naive. She instantly knew what that meant.

    But¡­ how could he have that kind of reaction?

    Ste quickly turned her head away, her face burning with embarrassment.

    She didn¡¯t dare meet William¡¯s eyes. But he had already followed her stunned gaze, and when he realized what she was looking at, his expression turned stormy.

    To him, it felt like a perfectly natural reaction. She had been squirming in his arms just moments ago. He was a healthy adult man, after all.

    What was so shocking?

    Without saying anything, William spun around and walked out.

    Ste remained in the bathroom,pletely mortified and unsure what to think.

    But then again¡­ did that mean William swung both ways?

    She didn¡¯t know much about that kind of thing. She wasn¡¯t judgmental, but she also didn¡¯t have any real experience navigating that part of the world.

    Still, she couldn¡¯t think of a better exnation.

    Just then, Rita entered from outside, apologizing for beingte. She exined she¡¯d been held up in the kitchen turning off the stove.

    Once she finally wrapped up her bath, Ste went over some Neb paperwork in her room.

    It wasn¡¯t untilte afternoon, with the sun dipping low, that she got a call from the research institute.

    Find thetest updates g????????????????.??????

    It was Lainey.

    ¡°Stel, where¡¯ve you been? You¡¯re back in town, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been back for a while now,¡± Ste replied.

    ¡°Perfect timing. We¡¯ve got a new research projecting up,¡± Lainey said, her voice bubbling with energy. ¡°If you¡¯re free, we¡¯d love to bring you back on board. Everyone here¡¯s hoping you¡¯ll rejoin.¡±

    Ste¡¯sst project had gone incredibly well, and the whole institute had seen what she could do. It was no surprise they wanted her back for the next big thing.

    Hearing that, Ste lit up with excitement.

    She enjoyed her job at Neb, but research had always been her true calling. A new project meant new challenges, and she was all in.

    ¡°Lainey, count me in!¡±

    .

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 Chapter 149

    ?Chapter 149:

    Lainey chuckled, clearly amused by her eagerness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited just yet. Take a few days to sort things out on your end. We¡¯ll be waiting.¡±

    As soon as the call ended, Ste got straight to work wrapping up her responsibilities at Neb.

    She didn¡¯t know how long she¡¯d be away, so she carefully handed everything off to her assistant and a few reliable team members. Luckily, most of the recent projects had already been finalized. Only a few contracts and proposal drafts remained.

    With everything sorted out in a single day, Ste packed her bags. It was time to return to Choria.

    As she walked down the stairs, she spotted William already dressed, sitting in the living room with his own ck suitcase by his side.

    She paused for a moment. William was part of the institute too. If they had called her back, it made perfect sense they¡¯d want someone of William¡¯s caliber as well.

    Hearing her footsteps, William nced up. ¡°All set, Ms. Russell? Just make sure you don¡¯t trip on your way down again¡ªI¡¯d rather not end up catching you yet again.¡±

    Ste rolled her eyes at his teasing but carried her suitcase down anyway. ¡°Thanks for the warning. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±

    Once she reached the first floor, William stood up and wheeled his suitcase toward the door. A sleek ck BMW was already waiting outside.

    He popped open the trunk and, being surprisingly courteous, helped load her suitcase in.

    After they got into the car, Ste gave him a polite ¡°thank you.¡±

    William gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°Let¡¯s hope you keep it to a thank-you next time and no more dramatic falls into my arms.¡±

    Every story starts at g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,

    Ste was speechless. He really couldn¡¯t let things go.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you clearly don¡¯t like me, so even if I really did throw myself at you, would it even matter to you?¡±

    William gave a calm, unbothered reply. ¡°I¡¯d just prefer if you kept things professional, Ms. Russell.¡±

    Honestly, he had never met someone who identally fell into his arms so often. At this point, he¡¯d lost track of how many times it had happened.

    Ste gave a dry smile. ¡°Wow, how nice of you to act like none of that was your fault. Each time was an ident, and let¡¯s not forget¡ªyou¡¯re the one who walked into my bathroom yesterday¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough. Keep your voice down,¡± William cut her off before she could say more.

    The driver, who had been silently focused on the road, couldn¡¯t help but sneak a nce at them through the rearview mirror.

    From what little he caught, it sounded like things between William and Ste had gotten¡­ interesting.

    .

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 Chapter 150

    ?Chapter 150:

    Once they reached Choria, the car pulled up in front of the research institute. Ste got out, and the two went off in different directions.

    As she headed toward her old dorm, a familiar voice called out,

    ¡°Stel!¡±

    Ste was caught slightly off guard when she saw it was Lainey waiting for her.

    Lainey gave her a subtle once-over, her gaze lingering on Ste¡¯s brightplexion and steady demeanor. She hadn¡¯t lost weight or looked exhausted¡ªif anything, she looked more alive than before. A sense of relief quietly settled in Lainey¡¯s chest.

    Clearly, life without Marc was doing wonders for her.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the new project this time?¡± Ste asked as she unpacked her things, eager to dive back into work.

    ¡°It¡¯s a fresh research initiative,¡± Lainey exined. ¡°There¡¯ll be a lot of hands-on experimentation, so being back at the institute is perfect timing. The results will be submitted for an academicpetition, and¡±¡ªshe smiled¡ª¡±I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll win us a few awards.¡±

    The wordpetition lit a fire in Ste¡¯s eyes. She had always been fiercely driven when it came to her work.

    ¡°Are you joining the project team this time?¡± she asked.

    Ste had hoped to partner with Lainey, but Lainey shook her head. ¡°Nope. Sitting this one out.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Ste looked surprised. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°While you were gone, we had a batch of transfers¡ªresearchers from other institutes. This round is their shot to prove themselves. It¡¯s policy to give new arrivals a chance.¡±

    Ste nodded slowly. That exined all the unfamiliar faces she¡¯d seen around the building.

    Lainey went on to exin that the new team members had been split into several small groups. Ste had been assigned to one of them, alongside four researchers she didn¡¯t know.

    Every story unfolds at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s£®??????

    And William? She didn¡¯t need to ask. It was obvious he¡¯d be ced in Group A¡ªwhatever team had the highest status and most ess.

    ¡°This project¡¯spetitive,¡± Lainey said. ¡°All the groups are being evaluated. Only the best-performing team will move forward to join the advanced stage of the research.¡±

    Ste understood, kind of.

    In other words, if William was in Group A, she and her new colleagues were in Group B.

    Trantion: Group B¡ªher team¡ªwas still under review. If they wanted to keep moving, they¡¯d need to outperform the others.

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 Chapter 151

    ?Chapter 151:

    Lainey added, ¡°Once you¡¯ve settled in, go meet your team. You¡¯re the fifth and final member.¡±

    Ste nodded again.

    During her marriage, she hadn¡¯t kept many friends. But now she weed the chance to meet new people. She had confidence in her ability to work well with a team.

    Before dinner, Ste had finished unpacking. With Lainey leading the way, they headed to a nearbyb space where four people were already gathered.

    Lainey gestured toward the group. ¡°Everyone, meet your final team member¡ªSylvia Gilbert.¡±

    Ste smiled and stepped forward. ¡°Hi, everyone. We¡¯ll be working closely for a while, so I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±

    The room was quiet for a beat¡ªuntil a girl in a pink sweatshirt practically bounced over and grabbed Ste¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Sylvia! I admire you so much! Do you have any idea how hard it was to get into yourst project? You¡¯re basically a legend to us!¡±

    She paused, then grinned sheepishly. ¡°Oh, right! I¡¯m Sandra Foster¡ªtwenty-two, tech enthusiast, full-on fangirl. It¡¯s honestly an honor to be in your group.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s words were a bit exaggerated, but her bright eyes were full of sincerity, clearly showing she was an outgoing girl.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Sandra.¡±

    Next came a tall man in slightly scruffy overalls. He stepped forward, offering a firm handshake.

    ¡°Elbert Green,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m the team lead.¡±

    As soon as he introduced himself, Ste shook his hand and greeted him warmly.

    Then she turned to the two others¡ªone man, one woman¡ªwho hadn¡¯t moved an inch since she walked in.

    Elbert took over. ¡°That¡¯s Jamir Palmer¡ªquiet guy, but solid. And over there is Cecelia Brown. She holds a master¡¯s degree from Crossroads University.¡±

    Ste gave them both a polite nod.

    Jamir gave a faint smile¡ªbarely there, but at least it was something.

    Cecelia, however, didn¡¯t bother responding. She nced at Ste with the barest hint of interest, then turned her gaze away without a word.

    Ste raised an eyebrow at the cold shoulder but said nothing.

    Lainey, sensing the energy shift, gave Ste¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it¡ªget to know your team.¡±

    After she left, Ste quickly got into the rhythm of things.

    Her interactions with the team were fairly harmonious, especially with Sandra, who was like a little ray of sunshine, keeping the group atmosphere lively.

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 Chapter 152

    ?Chapter 152:

    Later that evening, as the group reviewed some preliminary materials, Sandra nudged Ste with a grin.

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re seriously amazing. I heard it takes most people five years toplete a closed research project like yours. You did it in six months!¡± She sped her hands under her chin dramatically. ¡°You¡¯ve totally broken the institute record!¡±

    From across the room, Cecelia let out a sharp, amusedugh¡ªdry and dripping with sarcasm.

    ¡°Wow. What an inspiration,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°Too bad it¡¯s more about who you know than what you know.¡±

    Cecelia¡¯s voice had been barely audible, but Ste caught it clearly.

    She paused for a moment.

    That tone, the subtle edge¡ªit wasn¡¯t her imagination. Cecelia really was hostile.

    Ste turned slightly, catching a glimpse of Cecelia, who had already buried herself back in her work, head down, eyes distant.

    Why the animosity?

    Ste couldn¡¯t figure it out. She¡¯d barely interacted with Cecelia. Was she overthinking things?

    Still unsure, she set her thoughts aside and refocused on the data in front of her.

    Once she finished reviewing the sheet, she handed it to Elbert.

    ¡°Elbert, does this data need to be processed in the Instrumentation Lab? Why don¡¯t we head over after lunch?¡±

    Elbert nodded. ¡°Sounds good. Let¡¯s meet at theb.¡±

    At lunch, Ste sat with Sandra as usual.

    ¡°Here, I saved this chicken leg just for you,¡± Sandra said with a grin, cing it on Ste¡¯s tray. ¡°You look like you could use a little extra protein.¡±

    Find new stories on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Ste gave her a helpless look but epted it anyway.

    After eating, the two headed to the Instrumentation Lab together. By the time they arrived, the rest of the team was already there, setting up for the afternoon¡¯s work.

    Ste had just reached for a set of materials when the door suddenly swung open.

    A young man, maybe twenty, strolled in like he owned the ce. He scanned the room, unimpressed, and scoffed.

    ¡°Well, well. I was wondering who booked thisb¡ªfigures it¡¯d be you guys. Hate to break it to you, but we¡¯re using it today. Time for you to clear out.¡±

    Elbert straightened up, frowning. ¡°We booked it first. You¡¯ll have to wait your turn like everyone else.¡±

    Theb was shared space¡ªalways firste, first served. It was basic institute protocol.

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 Chapter 153

    ?Chapter 153:

    But the guy wasn¡¯t budging. He raised his chin arrogantly.

    ¡°Yeah, well, our team got priority ess from the management. So unless you want to take it up with them, pack your things and go.¡±

    Ste leaned toward Sandra, lowering her voice.

    ¡°Who is this guy?¡±

    Sandra crossed her arms.

    ¡°Allen Curtis. He¡¯s from Group B. We¡¯repeting for the same project slot.¡±

    Ah. That exined the attitude.

    Lainey had mentioned before that several groups were inpetition. But Ste hadn¡¯t expected such open hostility.

    Allen looked at Elbert again, expression dripping with disdain.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not make this messy. Take your people and leave.¡±

    Sandra bristled.

    ¡°What do you mean by priority ess? We¡¯re all on the same level, and theb operates on a firste, first-served basis. Who approved your priority ess?¡±

    Allen gave a coldugh.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been here three years. Your team¡¯s new and green. Show some respect.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s face turned red with anger, ready to retort, but Ste, standing behind her, pulled her back.

    Then, stepping forward calmly, she said,

    ¡°The institute values capability, not seniority. Let¡¯s keep it fair. How about a simple challenge? If you can answer my questions, theb¡¯s yours. If not, you step aside.¡±

    Allen¡¯s eyes narrowed. He knew who she was¡ªeveryone did. Ste had wrapped a closed-case project in just six months. But he wasn¡¯t impressed.

    In his eyes, she¡¯d just gotten lucky.

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    He crossed his arms.

    ¡°Fine,¡± he said smugly. ¡°Ask away.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. She fired off a string of technical questions, each moreplex than thest. Her tone was cool, her delivery wless.

    Allen¡¯s smirk slowly faded. His silence was answer enough.

    ¡°Need me to repeat them?¡± Ste asked, tone edged with polite mockery.

    Allen¡¯s jaw clenched.

    Sandra was grinning ear to ear.

    ¡°Wow, Allen. Struggling already? These questions are based on past institute projects¡ªjust slightly evolved. Didn¡¯t recognize any of them?¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t intended to embarrass him¡ªjust shut this down cleanly.

    ¡°Since you can¡¯t answer, could you please step aside? We¡¯re on a schedule.¡±

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 Chapter 154

    ?Chapter 154:

    Allen stood frozen, fists tight. He hadn¡¯t expected to be schooled this hard¡ªand definitely not in front of an audience.

    But he wasn¡¯t ready to back down.

    ¡°I never said I¡¯d leave just because I couldn¡¯t answer.¡±

    Sandra rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Seriously? No shame at all, huh? Ever heard of keeping your word?¡±

    Her voice was sharp¡ªand loud enough that people outside theb had started to gather.

    Before Allen could shoot back, a deep voice cut through the tension.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    The sudden appearance of William took everyone by surprise, Ste included. No one had expected to see him here.

    William usually worked from his own privateb, so showing up in this one was definitely out of the ordinary.

    Without wasting time, he walked over to Allen and the rest, his face unreadable.

    ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss about?¡± he asked coolly.

    The moment Sandra spotted William, she wasted no timeunching into herint.

    ¡°William, we reserved theb first for this afternoon, but Allen came in iming they had priority ess and tried to push us out!¡±

    William¡¯s brow lifted slightly.

    ¡°Priority ess?¡± he echoed, clearly unimpressed. That was news to him.

    ¡°And Sylvia even made a bet with him¡ªif he couldn¡¯t answer her questions, he and his group had to leave. But even after he lost, he wouldn¡¯t go!¡± Sandra added, frustration clear in her tone.

    William¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned his attention to Allen. His tone turned icy.

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    ¡°This ¡®priority ess¡¯¡­ who told you that was a thing?¡±

    William¡¯s presence alone was intimidating. He stood a full head taller than Allen, his shadow casting a pressure that made Allen shrink back instinctively.

    Allen was fully aware that William was the major benefactor behind the institute. One wrong move here, and he could kiss his future at theb goodbye.

    With a stiff expression, Allen quickly swallowed his pride and bowed his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, William. I wasn¡¯t thinking clearly. There¡¯s no such thing as priority ess¡ªI won¡¯t let it happen again.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, he hurried off with his team, avoiding even a nce in William¡¯s direction.

    Once Allen¡¯s group disappeared, William turned his attention to Ste.

    ¡°You do enjoy putting people on the spot with your little questions, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Ste gave a yful smirk.

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 Chapter 155

    ?Chapter 155:

    ¡°My games are nothingpared to how you dismantle things so precisely.¡±

    The two exchanged teasing remarks as if no one else was present, while the others watched quietly, too nervous to interrupt.

    ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to what your group delivers this time,¡± William said with genuine interest.

    With so many teamspeting, he was curious to see if hers would rise to the top.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s worth your while,¡± Ste replied, brimming with confidence.

    Seeing that confident glow in her expression, William couldn¡¯t help the faint smile tugging at his lips. He knew this look all too well. Whenever Ste got this spark in her eyes, she lit up like she owned the room.

    ¡°If that¡¯s all, you should go. We¡¯ve got work to start,¡± Ste added as she turned her back to him.

    William gave a simple nod and walked out without another word. The entire room was stunned. Did Sylvia just tell William to leave? And did he¡­ actually listen to her?

    Once he was out of sight, Sandra eagerly moved closer.

    ¡°Sylvia, you and William seem pretty close!¡±

    Sandra had been around the institute long enough to hear the whispers¡ªWilliam was known for being distant and difficult. But the way he¡¯d just spoken to Sylvia? That didn¡¯t match his usual image at all.

    Before Ste could respond, Cecelia let out a derisive snort from her seat.

    ¡°Huh. Seems like it doesn¡¯t take much to cozy up to William now. A few polite words, and suddenly some people start clinging to him like lost puppies. Pathetic.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t hard to guess who she was throwing shade at.

    g¦Á ?¦Ç ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s holds great reads

    Sandra raised an eyebrow, finding Cecelia¡¯s words out of line, but before she could speak, Ste cut in sharply, her eyes sharp.

    ¡°Only people with twisted minds read too much into a normal chat. Maybe it¡¯s because that¡¯s how they think of themselves.¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯t the type to lose her temper easily¡ªshe usually stayed polite, even with strangers. But that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d sit quietly while someone tried to step on her.

    Sensing the rising tension, Elbert quickly stepped in.

    ¡°Okay, everyone¡ªback to work.¡±

    He shut theb door and started delegating tasks to keep things organized and running smoothly.

    Ste was assigned to data verification and analysis¡ªa crucial task, though not as physically demanding.

    Unsurprisingly, this didn¡¯t sit well with Cecelia.

    ¡°Why does she get the easiest role? Just because she¡¯s gotten close to William, she thinks she can cherry-pick her duties? That¡¯s tant favoritism! What about the rest of us?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 156

    ?Chapter 156:

    The more she thought about it, the more worked up Cecelia became, utterly convinced Ste was using her connection with William to manipte things in her favor.

    Unable to hold back, Sandra retorted directly,

    ¡°What¡¯s your problem, Cecelia? Sylvia already proved how sharp she is. She doesn¡¯t need to rely on anyone to get by. You¡¯re just being mean for the sake of it.¡±

    Cecelia tipped her chin upward, radiating smug defiance.

    ¡°I¡¯m just calling it like I see it. If someone doesn¡¯t want their business aired out, maybe they shouldn¡¯t be doing it in the first ce.¡±

    Elbert¡¯s brows knitted in frustration. Thest thing he needed was another pointless argument dragging out the workday.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep this professional. Cecelia, you¡¯ve said more than once that you don¡¯t enjoy proofreading. Sylvia knows these projects inside and out, so she¡¯s the best fit for the task. If you¡¯re not in the mood to work today, take the day off and get some rest.¡±

    His calm but firm authority settled the room. Cecelia shot Sandra a loaded nce, but neither woman dared answer back.

    Cecelia stormed back to her desk, her posture rigid with thinly veiled frustration.

    Meanwhile, Ste dropped her gaze, quietly immersing herself in the mountain of proofreading before her.

    As the afternoon wore on, the team steadily wrapped up their assignments in the bustlingb.

    Sandra, her own tasks finally finished, stretched and wandered over to Ste¡¯s desk.

    One nce at theputer screen stopped her in her tracks¡ªrows of wlessly cross-checked data glowed beneath Sylvia¡¯s quick fingers.

    ¡°Wow, Sylvia, this is unreal! You¡¯ve practically mastered the dataparison. I remember only William ever produced work like this¡ªand his is still the gold standard for our annual reviews!¡±

    Feel the thrill on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    Proofreading might have looked straightforward, but in reality, it required a nuanced approach and had to sync with the progress andpletion rate of the entire team.

    Reaching that level of uracy demanded both patience and skill. Sandra knew that if she had been assigned this task, she could never have managed it with the same precision as Sylvia.

    As soon as Sandra voiced her admiration, the others gathered around Ste¡¯sputer, curiosity lighting up their faces.

    Elbert nced at the screen, his surprise quickly turning into genuine delight.

    ¡°Sylvia, this is outstanding work!¡± he praised.

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 Chapter 157

    ?Chapter 157:

    Though Jamir stayed quiet, his eyes gleamed with respect, and his usual reserve seemed to thaw as he looked at Ste. Everyone could appreciate what it meant to have trulypetent colleagues.

    Ste offered Elbert a modest smile. ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied, her voice warm but even.

    Cecelia lingered at a distance, her arms crossed and a bitter scowl tugging at her mouth, while the others crowded around Ste¡¯s desk, their praise echoing through theb. Jealousy simmered beneath her frustration.

    It was just proofreading. She didn¡¯t see what the fuss was about. It was nothing more than double-checking numbers and skimming data, hardly a challenge worthy of apuse.

    Refusing to shrink away, Cecelia lifted her chin defiantly, her pride refusing to let her acknowledge Ste¡¯s achievement.

    Once the workday finally ended, Elbert seized the moment. It was their very first day as a team, and everything had gone off without a hitch¡ªso why not celebrate?

    ¡°Let¡¯s grab dinner together tonight,¡± he suggested, his tone warm and encouraging. ¡°I¡¯ll make a reservation. How does a buffet sound to everyone?¡±

    Sandra instantly lit up, throwing her hand in the air. ¡°Yes, please! I can¡¯t remember thest time I had a buffet. Count me in!¡±

    Across the room, Ste hesitated, exhaustion clinging to her shoulders after a long day on her feet. She looked ready to make an excuse, but Sandra noticed and quickly looped her arm through Ste¡¯s. ¡°Come on, Sylvia! We¡¯re a team now. You have to join us!¡±

    With Sandra¡¯s insistence and everyone watching, Ste managed a reluctant nod.

    The group headed out to the buffet restaurant. As soon as they settled in, Sandra dragged Ste with her toward the sprawling food disys, chattering excitedly about all the dishes she nned to pile on her te.

    Meanwhile, Cecelia hung back, slouched at the edge of the table and absently scrolling through her phone.

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    That persistent feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu nagged at her¡ªshe¡¯d definitely seen Sylvia somewhere before, but the memory kept slipping away. Unable to shake it, Cecelia quietly messaged a friend and asked them to dig up some information.

    The revtion left Cecelia reeling¡ªSylvia was the spitting image of the Walsh Group CEO¡¯ste wife, Ste Russell.

    The timing, the circumstances, even Sylvia¡¯s low-key debut in the public eye lined up so well it felt almost scripted. It was too much to be a coincidence. Cecelia¡¯s gut told her that Sylvia and Ste were one and the same.

    Choria¡¯s rumor mill had long whispered about the CEO¡¯s heartbreak after Ste¡¯s ¡°death,¡± his legendary devotion turning into a ghost that haunted the city¡¯s elite. But did he even realize that Ste hadn¡¯t vanished at all? That she¡¯d used the research institute as cover, shed her old identity, and stepped straight into a brand-new life?

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 Chapter 158

    ?Chapter 158:

    As Cecelia scrolled through the files her friend had dug up, a sly, vindictive satisfaction unfurled in her chest, burning away the day¡¯s umted irritation.

    People actually think Ste was impressive? What a joke. She was just discarded leftovers pretending to shine.

    So when Ste and Sandra came back to the table, Cecelia didn¡¯t bother hiding her glee. She arched an eyebrow and shed a smileced with malice. ¡°Sylvia, you really are something else. Barely dumped by your ex-husband, and here you are¡ªcozying up to William, jumping onto every project like it¡¯s your personaleback tour. Living the dream, huh?¡±

    Her words hung in the air, heavy and cutting. The table went dead quiet. The others exchanged stunned nces¡ªthey¡¯d had no idea Sylvia had been married, let alone divorced.

    Cecelia leaned into the silence like it was her stage cue. She pressed a hand to her mouth in mock dismay. ¡°Oh no¡­ did I say too much?¡± she gasped, her voice syrupy-sweet. ¡°Silly me. I wasn¡¯t thinking.¡± The sly smile she shed Ste was pure triumph¡ªsmug, gleaming, andpletely insincere.

    Ste could tell from Cecelia¡¯s smirk that she¡¯d figured out her past, so she didn¡¯t bother to deny it. She raised an eyebrow, her expression calm. ¡°Yes, I was married. And divorced. I don¡¯t see anything shameful about that. If a rtionship doesn¡¯t work out, walking away is better than dragging both people down. It¡¯s 2025¡ªsurely, you¡¯re not still clinging to old-school stigmas, are you, Ms. Brown?¡±

    She paused and then added casually, ¡°As for Mr. Briggs¡ªwe¡¯ve worked on a project together. We¡¯re simply more familiar with each other than most.¡± Her tone was even, unbothered by Cecelia¡¯s obvious attempt to provoke her.

    Sandra, sitting nearby, immediately looped her arm through Ste¡¯s. ¡°Seriously, Sylvia¡ªbeing divorced isn¡¯t some kind of curse. Anyone who judges you for that needs to grow up.¡±

    Ste gave her a warm smile, appreciating the support. Across the table, both Elbert and Jamir lifted their sses silently in a show of quiet solidarity.

    Cecelia tried to make Ste look bad but ended up being the fool putting on a solo show. Her eyes narrowed, cold and bitter. She was convinced Ste was just a gold-digger riding someone else¡¯s coattails. She would make sure to expose her for everyone to see her for what she really was.

    L?t?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.??????

    The conversation continued as they ate. Sandra couldn¡¯t stop talking about the research. ¡°Elbert,¡± she said between bites, ¡°I heard this project¡¯s a big deal¡ªlike, careerunching. Is it true that if we do well, we couldnd jobs with top-tierpanies in Choria?¡±

    Elbert nodded, confirming that this project indeed offered significant personal development opportunities. Otherwise, Allen wouldn¡¯t have been so worked up.

    He leaned in slightly. ¡°Rumor is, if we finish the project sessfully, evenpanies in the global top fifty would be within reach.¡±

    Everyone at the table paused.

    ¡°Wait¡ªseriously?¡± Sandra¡¯s eyes went wide.

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 Chapter 159

    ?Chapter 159:

    Elbert just shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s what I heard. Can¡¯t promise anything, but trust me¡ªpeople are paying attention to this project. We won¡¯t be overlooked.¡±

    Ste listened in silence, her thoughts turning. The more she heard, the more curious she became. Just how high was the ceiling on this research? Either way, she was going all in.

    After dinner, the group parted ways. Sandra wanted to leave with Ste, but their dorms were in opposite directions. Ste reassured her with a smile, promising to catch upter.

    Just as Ste stepped out to call a ride, a sudden downpour hit. She barely made it under the nearest bus stop before the skies opened up. A familiar car rolled to a stop in front of her. The window lowered, and William looked out from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Get in.¡±

    Ste hesitated. ¡°Mr. Briggs, it¡¯s okay. I can just call a cab.¡±

    They weren¡¯t living together anymore. No need to ride together either. William¡¯s voice was steady. ¡°It¡¯ll take you an hour to get a cab in this weather.¡±

    She nced down at her phone. Two hundred and thirty people ahead of her in the queue on the ride-hailing app.

    Sighing, she stepped forward and opened the back door. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Briggs. Just drop me at the research institute.¡±

    William nced at her in the rearview mirror. ¡°You nning to live at the institute forever?¡±

    Ste frowned. What was wrong with that?

    ¡°It¡¯s convenient.¡± She could start work as soon as she woke up and return to her dormitory with just a few steps, saving time. There was nothing wrong with that.

    He gave a low chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re easily satisfied, Ms. Russell.¡±

    Ste narrowed her eyes. Was that apliment or an insult? She leaned forward slightly. ¡°Not all of us have penthouses and apartments scattered across the city, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    William blinked¡ªcaught off guard by her bluntness. He remembered the house in Briset he¡¯d loaned her before. She wasn¡¯t wrong.

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    They pulled up to the dormitory a few minutester. As soon as the locks clicked, Ste opened the door. ¡°Thanks again, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight.¡±

    William gave a small nod.

    Ste stepped out into the light rain, heading toward the building. But just before she reached the door, she paused. Someone was standing nearby, half in shadow. Watching her.

    Ste sighed inwardly, wishing she could just pretend Marc wasn¡¯t there and slip past unnoticed. But he stepped right in front of her, blocking the way.

    ¡°Stel, why did youe back in William¡¯s car? And didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re not Ste? Why are you working at the research institute and living here too?¡± Marc questioned.

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 Chapter 160

    ?Chapter 160:

    He had run into her in Briset, but she had shut him down cold. Later, he found out she¡¯d already returned to Choria.

    She insisted her name was Sylvia, but here she was¡ªsame face, same everything¡ªworking at the very ce Ste used to be. The odds didn¡¯t add up.

    Marc hadn¡¯t believed her denial for a second. And now, he was absolutely sure she was lying.

    There was no way two unrted people could have lives this intertwined. Not unless they were the same person.

    Ste shot him a cold re, clearly fed up.

    She didn¡¯t remember him being this pushy before.

    It was honestly starting to make her feel sick.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know you. Move,¡± she said curtly, trying to step past him.

    But Marc¡¯s face clouded over.

    ¡°Ste, stop ying dumb. If you keep this up, I¡¯ll tell everyone who you really are. Pretending to be someone else is illegal¡ªyou could go to jail, you know!¡± he threatened, his voice sharp and cruel.

    One moment he acted like he cared, and the next he was throwing threats like knives. It was mentally draining.

    Ste seriously wondered if Marc had two different sides fighting inside him.

    She looked him dead in the eye, and for a second, Marc mistook her calm for fear. A smug grin began to form¡ªuntil Ste said,

    ¡°Feel free to report me. That¡¯s your business, not mine. But if you don¡¯t step aside right now, I¡¯m calling security.¡±

    The dorm didn¡¯t have tight visitor rules, but if someone was clearly harassing a resident, security would escort them out without blinking.

    While they were still caught up in their argument, steady footsteps echoed from behind. Before Ste¡­

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    She hadn¡¯t had the chance to look back when a tall figure came to a stop right beside her.

    William had returned from the car and was now standing beside her like a silent shield.

    His eyes locked on Marc, cold and sharp.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, pestering women in the middle of the night¡­ sounds like something only you would do.¡±

    Marc clenched his jaw, wanting to snap back and ask what this had to do with William.

    But the words never made it past his lips¡ªreason held him back at thest second.

    He knew better than to pick a fight with someone like William.

    After saying that, William gave Ste a light nudge at the waist, quietly urging her to go inside the dormitory building.

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 Chapter 161

    ?Chapter 161:

    Without a word, she walked in beside him, their shoulders almost touching, while Marc was left standing outside, burning with anger.

    Inside the elevator, Ste snuck a nce at William.

    The confusion in her eyes was obvious¡ªhe didn¡¯t live in the dorms, so¡­ why was he following her in?

    She exhaled softly when the elevator doors slid open. But he didn¡¯t leave. Instead, he calmly followed her out onto the same floor.

    She paused and turned slightly.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you don¡¯t need toe any further. I appreciate what you did back there, but I¡¯m fine now.¡±

    William didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he stepped up to the door directly across from hers and pulled out a key.

    Ste froze, staring at him in disbelief.

    So he had a dorm room here? At the institute?

    And that too directly across from hers? But wait¡ª

    ¡°But I thought you didn¡¯t stay here?¡± she asked, still trying to wrap her head around it.

    After all, hadn¡¯t he just teased her about living in the dorms like she couldn¡¯t afford better?

    Lifting his gaze to meet hers, William replied evenly,

    ¡°You were right, actually. Staying at the institute really is more practical. It saves time, and I don¡¯t have to bother with the dailymute anymore.¡±

    Dailymute? Seriously? Ste almostughed.

    This was the man who owned the research institute and headed the powerhouse Briggs Group, and he was worried about saving a few bucks on travel?

    Right when she was about to fire back something sarcastic, William added with a straight face,

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    ¡°And don¡¯t forget¡ªyou¡¯re still my acting CEO at Neb. Living here will make it easier to coordinate on the Briset matters.¡±

    With that, he turned and calmly closed his door, leaving no room for further discussion.

    Ste stared at the now-shut door, her head slightly tilted.

    Something about this didn¡¯t sit right, but technically, it all added up.

    She let out a sigh and gave the door onest look before heading into her own room.

    Meanwhile, Marc was still standing outside, feeling like a stray dog.

    Humiliated and seething, he clenched his fists.

    He refused to be treated like some insignificant passerby.

    Ste had gone too far this time, and in his eyes, she needed to be put in her ce.

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 Chapter 162

    ?Chapter 162:

    Back at the vi, he didn¡¯t waste a second. Picking up his phone, he called Kody.

    His tone was cold and full of intent.

    ¡°Ste forged an identity. I want you to file a report with the police immediately. She¡¯s broken thew, so make sure they arrest her.¡±

    Kody was stunned by the order. Was Marc seriously intending to involve the police over Ste?

    ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ are you really going through with this?¡±

    ¡°I gave you instructions. Just follow them!¡± Marc barked, mming the phone onto the desk.

    Though ufortable with the direction things were heading, Kody didn¡¯t dare question him further. He followed through and contacted the authorities.

    The response came quickly. Sylvia¡¯s legal status was confirmed without issue.

    Kody was left feeling both relieved and puzzled. On one hand, he was d things were in order and that Ste wouldn¡¯t face legal trouble. But on the other, he couldn¡¯t understand how it was even possible. The police gave no detailed exnation, only that their system had verified everything as legitimate.

    After hanging up, Kody returned to Marc and ryed the update.

    Marc¡¯s face twisted in disbelief.

    ¡°Legal? How could that be? She¡¯s always gone by Ste Russell. How can she change her entire identity and have it be consideredwful? That shouldn¡¯t be allowed!¡±

    Kody had no answer either, but seeing how tense Marc had be, he offered a careful suggestion.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, I doubt the police would mislead us. If they confirmed everything, then Ms. Russell must¡¯ve handled it properly. Maybe it¡¯s time to drop this.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t understand Marc¡¯s obsession. This was the same man who once imed to love Ste¡ªand yet now, he was dragging her through unnecessary drama.

    Marc had been the one who strayed first. Even if he was struggling to ept that Ste had truly let go, none of this justified making a scene.

    Marc didn¡¯t bother continuing the conversation with Kody. Instead, he pulled up the Department of Motor Vehicles¡¯ contact details and dialed the number himself, repeating his usations directly.

    ¡°And what exactly would you like us to do with this information?¡± the director asked, keeping a professional tone despite finding Marc¡¯sint almostughable.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you that Ste Russellmitted identity fraud,¡± Marc pressed. ¡°If your department refuses to investigate, I¡¯ll make your inaction public.¡±

    The director almost chuckled at the threat.

    ¡°Sir, both our office andw enforcement have confirmed that Ms. Russell¡¯s name changeplied with legal¡ª¡±

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 Chapter 163

    ?Chapter 163:

    Procedures. There¡¯s nothing fraudulent here. If you¡¯re determined to stir up trouble, that¡¯s entirely your choice.¡± He moved to end the conversation.

    Marc clutched his phone harder, his voice rising with fury.

    ¡°Is this really how your department handles things now? You¡¯re not even worried your superior might step in? You¡¯re just a civil servant working behind a desk¡ªare you really willing to gamble your career for some woman?¡±

    In Marc¡¯s mind, he was convinced Ste had someone powerful backing her, maybe William, or one of the other influential men she was connected to.

    There was no way everything had been handled by the book.

    ¡°If you truly believe there¡¯s been misconduct,¡± the director said coolly, ¡°you¡¯re wee to take it up with my superiors.¡±

    The line went dead from the other side, and Marc was left simmering with frustration he couldn¡¯t seem to let go of.

    How had Ste managed to gather so many people in her corner?

    Her brief encounter with Marc outside the research institute earlier that day left barely a ripple in her mood. In truth, it didn¡¯t bother her at all.

    After taking a shower, she lounged on the sofa with herptop, focused on her research project.

    Once she¡¯d made enough progress, she headed to bed, falling asleep with ease.

    By morning, she felt well-rested. She stretched leisurely, then turned toward the kitchen, nning to make herself breakfast. But before she could take a step, her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

    She picked it up and saw a short message from William¡ªjust three words:

    ¡°Unlock the door.¡±

    For a second, she stood frozen.

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    When she finally opened it, thest person she expected to see was standing on the other side.

    Ste blinked in surprise. ¡°Rita? What are you doing here?¡± Wasn¡¯t she supposed to still be in Briset?

    Rita gave her a sheepish smile. ¡°Mr. Briggs asked me toe. He said since he¡¯s living in Choria now, he¡¯d like me to keep looking after him. Oh¡ªand Ms. Russell, these are the ingredients for breakfast today. Mr. Briggs would like some shrimp congee¡­ if it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡±

    Ste stared, dumbfounded. Shrimp congee? That was William¡¯s craving, not hers. Why was that suddenly her problem?

    Rita gave her a hopeful look. ¡°The recipe¡¯s a bit tricky, and I haven¡¯t quite mastered it yet. I was hoping you might help just this once? I can try to make it in the kitchen next door, but¡­ I¡¯m afraid I might mess it up. And if Mr. Briggs doesn¡¯t get a proper breakfast, it might ruin his whole day.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright¡ªI¡¯ll do it.¡± Ste waved her hand, exasperated. She sighed. She owed him for helping her shut down that loser Marc the night before, so fine¡ªshe could handle one pot of shrimp congee.

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 Chapter 164

    ?Chapter 164:

    Still, this felt way too familiar. She thought moving back to Choria would be the end of her part-time personal chef duties. But somehow, it was like being back in Briset.

    As she stared at the bubbling congee in the pot, she let out a heavy sigh. When would Rita finally be able to prepare a meal? And didn¡¯t William have anyone in Choria who could cook?

    For the rest of the week, William lived in the dorm across from hers. It started with breakfast requests, but soon he demanded dinner too. Back when William wasn¡¯t here, she just ate at the institute cafeteria like everyone else.

    But William? Absolutely not. He turned his nose up at the cafeteria food. And if he wasn¡¯t eating it, that meant she couldn¡¯t either.

    She tried sneaking food back for him once. That night, he ended up being rushed to the hospital.

    The doctor told them he had a sensitive stomach. He needed to be careful with his diet.

    A sensitive stomach? She had never heard of anyone having a sensitive stomach. Was the cafeteria food so terrible? Ste had eaten two bowls herself and felt fine.

    Still, she didn¡¯t want to risk another emergency room visit. And just like that, she was stuck cooking every day.

    At least William wasn¡¯t picky. He ate whatever she made withoutints. But between juggling the institute¡¯s research during the day and Neb¡¯s business meetings at night, Ste felt like she was being stretched in ten directions.

    Rewarding? Sure, but totally exhausting.

    One evening, she came home to find Rita already prepping ingredients in the kitchen.

    As Ste rolled up her sleeves and started cooking, Rita spoke up casually. ¡°Ms. Russell, Mr. Briggs¡¯ grandfather is celebrating a milestone birthday soon.¡±

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    A milestone birthday celebration? What did that have to do with her? She wasn¡¯t part of the Briggs family. Not even close.

    Rita smiled at her confusion. ¡°Mr. Briggs was hoping you could help choose a gift. He said youngdies tend to have better taste.¡±

    Seriously? Choosing a birthday gift for William¡¯s grandfather felt way too personal. Way outside their current¡­ arrangement.

    Ste opened her mouth to object, but Rita was already a step ahead.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs also said you have excellent taste and a good eye for unique gifts,¡± Rita added. ¡°Plus, you can pick something nice for yourself too¡ªas a thank-you for all the meals you¡¯ve made himtely.¡±

    Now that got Ste¡¯s attention. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well¡­ in that case, sure.¡±

    Indeed, she deserved a huge reward for all the dishes she had made. She should choose a proper gift for herself.

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 Chapter 165

    ?Chapter 165:

    ¡°Let¡¯s go on Saturday, then. It¡¯s my day off,¡± Ste said, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

    Rita nodded, smiling brightly.

    Early Saturday morning, Rita knocked on Ste¡¯s door.

    They headed to the mall to find a birthday gift but had no luck. Since Rita had worked for the Briggs family for years, she knew a bit about William¡¯s grandfather¡¯s tastes. So when she mentioned that the old man enjoyed calligraphy and painting, Ste took her to the art shop tucked away in a nearby alley.

    The store was lined with colorful pieces, but Rita¡¯s gaze quickly locked onto a serenendscape painting. ¡°Ms. Russell, I think this one¡¯s lovely. What do you think?¡±

    Ste paused. It was one of her own.

    It wasn¡¯t particrly eye-catching, yet Rita had chosen it immediately. Coincidence? Maybe. But it felt uncanny.

    Rita leaned in for a closer look. ¡°Wow, the flowers look so real! Let me check who painted this¡­ Sterion. Sounds like someone famous. What do you think? If it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll go ahead and buy it!¡±

    Ste smiled awkwardly but didn¡¯t stop her. Rita used the card William had given Ste for gift shopping. As she paid, Ste still found the whole situation a little too coincidental to ignore.

    While they were at the counter, checking out, neither of them noticed the figure lurking outside the shop window¡ªjust out of view, watching but never stepping inside. Ste, caught up in her thoughts about her hidden identity, missed it entirely.

    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Marc sat across from the doctor, listening to a summary of his test results.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± the physician said, folding his hands, ¡°your headaches are stress-rted. There¡¯s a clear connection between your migraines and emotional tension. You¡¯ve been overworking and overthinking. I¡¯ll prescribe something mild, but what you really need is emotional regtion.¡±

    Marc leaned back, rubbing his temples in frustration.

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    Thepany was already under strain. Now with Ste acting cold and distant, everything felt like it was spiraling. Couldn¡¯t she just go back to how she used to be? Obedient, gentle.

    Couldn¡¯t she stop pushing him away?

    Thinking of her only made his head throb harder.

    He closed his eyes, trying to block out the memory of her face. Only then did the pain ease slightly.

    Just as he was about to leave the hospital¡¯s parking garage, his phone rang. It was his mother.

    ¡°Marc, where are you?¡± Jazlyn asked. ¡°I¡¯m at your ce¡ªwhy aren¡¯t you home?¡±

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 Chapter 166

    ?Chapter 166:

    Sighing, Marc turned the key and headed back.

    The moment he walked through the door, Jazlyn stormed up to him, fury written all over her face.

    ¡°You won¡¯t believe what I saw today!¡± she fumed. ¡°That bitch Ste¡ªsince she came back, she changed her name and started throwing money around like it¡¯s nothing. She just bought a painting worth tens of millions like she was buying groceries!¡±

    Marc frowned, confused.

    ¡°What painting? What are you talking about?¡±

    Jazlyn grabbed his arm andunched into a blow-by-blow of what she saw outside the art store.

    ¡°Hmph. Look at her¡ªliving it up while we¡¯re struggling! Marc, tell me the truth¡ªwhere is she getting all that money? It has to be from Walsh Group. She lived off us for years! That money should be yours. You need to get it back!¡±

    Jazlyn fumed. Ste had the nerve to throw money around while the Walsh Group was crashing?

    Marc¡¯s thoughts tangled into knots.

    ¡°That¡¯s not our money,¡± he muttered. ¡°It¡¯s someone else¡¯s¡­¡±

    He had assumed Ste wouldn¡¯t get much from William. After all, hadn¡¯t he seen her working at the construction site?

    But tens of millions? Really?

    Was William really being that generous?

    Or did Ste strike wealth that he didn¡¯t know of?

    The headache returned full force.

    Jazlyn wasn¡¯t done.

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    ¡°What?¡± she gasped. ¡°Another man¡¯s money? Is she not ashamed of herself? You two are still married on paper! Sue her! Drag her to court if you have to!¡±

    Marc clenched his jaw. ¡°She won¡¯t even acknowledge her name anymore. If we push this into legal territory, we¡¯ll be the ones looking bad. The Walsh Group can¡¯t afford that kind of scandal right now.¡±

    Jazlyn froze for a second, blinking at him.

    Was Ste really so powerful now that without her, the Walsh family could crumble?

    No. She refused to believe that.

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t go public,¡± she huffed, ¡°but she¡¯s out there throwing money around like she¡¯s royalty. Shouldn¡¯t she at least give us a portion of it? She¡¯s still Ste, and if she¡¯s afraid of being exposed, we¡¯ve got leverage. If things get ugly, let¡¯s see who blinks first.¡±

    Marc said nothing.

    All those years, he had supported her. Was it really too much to expect her to step up and help when he needed her now? After all, the Walsh Group was in trouble¡ªand Ste¡­ she should also contribute her part.

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 Chapter 167

    ?Chapter 167:

    After finishing the gift shopping for William¡¯s grandfather with Rita, Ste decided to pick up a small present for Rita too.

    Rita looked genuinely surprised, her eyes shining with warmth at the unexpected gesture.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, this is way too generous. I really can¡¯t take it!¡± she said, clearly flustered.

    Ste simply smiled and slipped the gift box into her hands. ¡°Come on, just take it. It¡¯s nothing fancy.¡±

    It was a delicate little brooch from Sterion¡ªa brand Ste owned the copyright to.

    Only then did Rita ept it with pure joy.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Ms. Russell. You¡¯re incredibly kind,¡± she eximed.

    Ste epted the shopping bag from the clerk and passed it to Rita. ¡°You¡¯re kind too, always helping me keep the ce in order without asking for anything.¡±

    Ste truly appreciated Rita, not just for cooking, but for everything she did.

    Just as they stepped out of the store with their shopping bags, they unexpectedly ran into two familiar faces in the alley outside¡ªJazlyn and Marc were heading their way.

    Ste paused for a moment, remembering Marc¡¯s vi was nearby. She hadn¡¯t expected to bump into them here¡ªwhat terrible luck.

    Assuming it was a coincidence, Ste didn¡¯t pay them any mind and started to walk off with Rita.

    The moment Marc and Jazlyn saw her, their eyes lit up. They had been nning to go to the institute to track her down, but fate had handed her to them early.

    Marc quickly stepped in front of her, cutting her off. ¡°Stel! How long are you going to pretend? You¡¯re not Sylvia¡ªyou¡¯re Ste. Aren¡¯t you scared someone will find out?¡±

    Ste arched an eyebrow and calmly looked at the two of them. ¡°And what exactly changes if I admit it or not?¡±

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    She truly didn¡¯t understand why Marc was still so obsessed with all this. Whether she was Ste or Sylvia, it didn¡¯t matter¡ªshe didn¡¯t love him anymore. She didn¡¯t even want to see him. As far as she was concerned, they were nothing.

    Marc¡¯s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. ¡°So you¡¯re finally admitting it, huh?¡±

    Before she could respond, Marc pressed on, ¡°You¡¯re Ste Russell¡ªmy wife. We never divorced. I never signed those papers. You¡¯re still mine!¡±

    Watching him get so worked up, Ste took a step back andughed coldly. ¡°Marc, didn¡¯t you dig into my background? I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert. Every record says I¡¯m single. Is reading that hard for you, or are you just in denial?¡±

    He still thought she was his wife?

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 Chapter 168

    ?Chapter 168:

    It wasughable at this point.

    She continued, ¡°If you insist I¡¯m Ste Russell, go ahead and prove it. Bring legal documents. Otherwise, stop wasting my time with this nonsense.¡±

    Marc¡¯s chest tightened when she pulled away from him so decisively. This level of helplessness was new to him¡ªhe¡¯d never felt so powerless.

    The hope and excitement he¡¯de over with drainedpletely from his face, and he looked like all the air had been sucked out of him.

    When he looked up and saw Ste staring back at him with a cold, emotionless gaze, it felt like being stabbed over and over, each second more painful than thest.

    ¡°Stel, please don¡¯t be like this. You know you¡¯re the one I¡¯ve always loved the most. We¡¯ve shared so many years together. Can¡¯t you show me just a little kindness?¡±

    Rita stood beside them, quietly observing Marc¡¯s sudden shift in tone.

    Just moments ago, he had been cold and arrogant, and now he was practically begging. The contrast was so sharp it made her wonder if he was mentally unstable.

    Ste, however, didn¡¯t even blink. Her face was calm, emotionless,pletely untouched by Marc¡¯s pleading.

    Without sparing him another nce, she turned to Rita and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    She didn¡¯t hesitate. With steady steps, she walked right past Marc and Jazlyn, who were blocking the way. Neither of them dared to stop her. Meanwhile, Marc stood frozen, watching her retreating figure. His shoulders slumped slightly, and a long sigh slipped from his lips. Then, without a word, he turned away and left through the opposite end of the alley. His eyes, once full of fire, were now dull and filled with quiet despair.

    And Jazlyn was burning with rage. She had shown up expecting to stir trouble or at leaste out with something, but Ste had humiliated her and walked off like she didn¡¯t even exist. With Ste refusing to even recognize who she was, how were they supposed to get any money out of this?

    Just as Ste and Rita reached the entrance of the alley, someone called out to them again.

    ¡°Ste, wait right there!¡±

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    Ste let out a tired sigh, her patience thinning. Was this never going to stop?

    Haley came to the shop craving some dessert. She hadn¡¯t expected to bump into Ste. The memory of theirst encounter hit her hard, and her face tightened with a frown. She still couldn¡¯t believe Ste had slipped away without a scratch. But that luck wouldn¡¯tst.

    ¡°Ste, I¡¯m talking to you! Did you hear me? Stop right there!¡±

    Ste turned around. Haley was marching toward her, eyes sharp with contempt. She caught sight of the bag Ste held and let out a sharp, mockingugh.

    ¡°Ste, you¡¯re unbelievable. Spending money like water, huh? Must feel good blowing someone else¡¯s cash. This shop isn¡¯t cheap, is it? I bet you were seeing another guy while you were still with Marc, weren¡¯t you? You¡¯ve got no shame, yet you still have the guts to act all proud in front of us. It¡¯s like being fake and still wanting to look like a saint.¡±

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 Chapter 169

    ?Chapter 169:

    Ste looked at Haley¡¯s screwed-up face and figured she must have woken up in a bad mood. Without a word, Ste raised her hand and pped Haley¡ªtwice, fast and clean¡ªacross her wless face. The smacks rang out in the narrow alley like gunshots.

    Haley staggered, hair falling messily around her face. She clutched her cheek, eyes zing. ¡°Ste, how dare you hit me!¡±

    ¡°What, should I book an appointment first?¡± Ste said coldly. ¡°You really are dumb, Haley. If you¡¯re going to bait me, at least hide your recorder better. Did you really think that little rant would trick me into spilling something useful?¡±

    Haley hadn¡¯t thought Ste would catch on so fast. Her n was simple: rile Ste up, catch something damning on tape, and expose her real identity. But instead of falling for it, Ste turned the tables¡ªand Haley was the one who got pped.

    Still, Haley refused to back down. ¡°Who said anything about recording? You¡¯re just guilty and scared!¡±

    Ste scoffed. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten a little smarter, but you¡¯re still not bright.¡± She never saw Haley as a real threat because Haley wasn¡¯t actually smart.

    Maybe it was the way her family in Achury had always shielded her, or maybe she just wasn¡¯t that sharp. Either way, Ste thought it was almostughable to treat her like a serious rival.

    ¡°Next time you try to trap someone,¡± Ste added, her voice calm, ¡°maybe get your head checked. Sounds like a few screws are missing.¡±

    Haley was shaking now, burning with rage as Ste kept insulting her. ¡°Ste, you bitch, who do you think you are talking to me like that?¡±

    She lunged, but Rita, who stood nearby, stepped in and shoved her back hard.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing to Ms. Russell?¡±

    Rita wasn¡¯t some weakling¡ªshe had strength in her.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s£®?????? brings magic to life

    Haley stumbled, yelling in frustration, ¡°Where is everybody? Get out here right now!¡±

    No sooner had she spoken than two burly men in ck suits stepped from the shadows. Atst, a flicker of satisfaction crossed Haley¡¯s face.

    She would see how lucky Ste was today.

    ¡°Beat her up! Mess up her face!¡± she ordered, lips curled into a sneer. If Ste couldn¡¯t rely on her looks anymore, maybe she¡¯d finally shut up.

    The two bodyguards moved closer. Ste¡¯s brow creased. Her eyes darted to a nearby corner. This wasn¡¯t looking good.

    Clenching her jaw, Ste turned to Rita, who was just in front, trying to protect her. ¡°Rita, get out of here.¡±

    Rita looked shaken when she saw the bodyguards, but she stood her ground.

    She kept Ste behind her, shielding her, and said to Haley, ¡°Honestly, this whole mess started because of you. And now you¡¯re dragging more people in and making it even worse!¡±

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 Chapter 170

    ?Chapter 170:

    Haley¡¯s eyes burned. ¡°You didn¡¯t say that when she pped me! Don¡¯t waste my time. Get them now!¡±

    Rita¡¯s voice rose, panicked. ¡°There arews, you know! What you¡¯re doing is illegal! Stop this now or I¡¯ll scream¡­ Help, someone!¡±

    ¡°Shut up, you hag!¡± Haley snapped, then barked at the men, ¡°Get them!¡±

    The bodyguards moved in. One of them¡­

    Snatching the gift bag from Rita¡¯s hand, the bodyguard tore it open. Its contents scattered across the pavement. Among them, a delicate brooch¡ªa gift from Ste¡ªhit the concrete floor and snapped in two.

    Rita froze, staring at the pieces. Her voice came low and slow. ¡°You broke my thing?¡±

    As Rita finished speaking, a breeze swept past, and Haley¡ªdressed in a skimpy skirt¡ªsuddenly felt a chill down her spine.

    But she shook it off. Just her imagination. ¡°Go on. Grab her,¡± she ordered coldly.

    The two bodyguards stepped forward.

    What happened next¡­ stunned everyone. The seemingly mild, well-mannered Rita moved like a shadow. In one swift motion, she kicked the man closest to her straight to the ground.

    Then, grabbing the second one¡¯s arm, she spun and executed a perfect shoulder throw.

    In under a minute, both towering men were down¡ªt on their backs, groaning in pain and clutching their sides.

    The air went still.

    Ste stood frozen. ¡°Rita?¡±

    Rita, now sprawled dramatically on the floor, let out a theatrical wail. ¡°Oh¡ªmy elbow! My knees! Ms. Russell, call the police! I¡¯ve been assaulted! Someone help, I¡¯m being attacked!¡±

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    Still in shock, Ste did as instructed and dialed 911.

    She stared at Rita sprawled on the floor. Her brain hadn¡¯t quite caught up with what just happened. Where did William find this woman?

    As if Haley and her bodyguards weren¡¯t already confused enough, they looked downright panicked when the sirens wailed in the distance. How the hell did she beat them? They were professionals!

    The cops arrived, greeted by the scene of Rita moaning on the floor and the two bodyguards barely upright. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± an officer demanded.

    Ste didn¡¯t say much. She let the chaos speak for itself.

    Haley, flustered and panicking, rushed forward. ¡°Officer! This has nothing to do with us. She just threw herself on the floor!¡±

    The officer stared at her nkly. ¡°You think I¡¯m an idiot?¡±

    ¡°I swear! She attacked my people! We didn¡¯t touch her!¡± Haley cried, on the verge of tears, still finding it hard to understand what just happened.

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 Chapter 171

    ?Chapter 171:

    The officer nced from Rita to the tworge men groaning beside her. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that woman¡ªwhat, in her fifties?¡ªtook down both of your bodyguards by herself?¡±

    It was absurd to think that a woman in her fifties could overpower two burly men.

    Haley stammered, ¡°There¡¯s no security footage, but¡ªsomeone nearby must¡¯ve seen it! Ask them!¡±

    The officers headed to the nearest shop, asking witnesses what they¡¯d seen.

    One shopkeeper pointed a finger. ¡°That woman in the skirt¡ªshe¡¯s the one who told the guys to ¡®get them.¡¯ That¡¯s all I heard.¡±

    Haley blinked. That was all? ¡°No¡­¡±

    Why didn¡¯t they see Rita take them down? Why only that one line? Before she could think too hard about it, the officer came back. ¡°You¡¯re suspected of inciting assault. You¡¯ll need toe with us.¡±

    ¡°What?! No¡ªI didn¡¯t touch anyone¡ª¡± Haley protested.

    Toote. She was already being escorted toward the squad car.

    At the station, Ste didn¡¯t waste time. Her stance was clear: Haley had assaulted her maid. She wasn¡¯t interested in apologies,pensation, or smoothing things over.

    Haley tried everything¡ªapologies, promises to make amends¡ªbut Ste didn¡¯t budge.

    The officers followed standard procedure. With the victim unwilling to drop the charges, Haley was hit with a penalty: fifteen days of detention.

    The moment she heard it, Haley¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What?! Fifteen days? No way¡ªI¡¯m not epting that. I want to make a call. I know my rights!¡±

    The officer just waved at the phone on the desk.

    Haley frantically searched her contacts and finally tapped Marc¡¯s number.

    ?¦Ál§Ú¦Òv???.c§àm has the newest content

    It rang. He picked up at the second ring. Before he could speak, she burst out, ¡°Marc! I¡¯m at the Arcade Street police station¡ªthey¡¯re detaining me for fifteen days! You have toe bail me out!¡±

    Marc had assumed Haley was calling to nag him about shopping or ask for some petty favor. Thest thing he expected was her sobbing over the phone from the police station.

    He paused, momentarily caught off guard. ¡°How did you end up there again?¡±

    Months ago, they¡¯d ended up at the station¡ªthanks to Ste. That whole ordeal had left a bad taste in his mouth. And now it was happening all over again? His irritation bubbled over.

    Haley¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Marc, I swear, it wasn¡¯t my fault. Ste¡¯s making things up¡ªshe¡¯s saying I attacked her maid, and now they¡¯re trying to lock me up for fifteen days! Please, you have to help me!¡± Her desperation spilled through the phone, but all Marc felt was a rising tide of frustration.

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 Chapter 172

    ?Chapter 172:

    He closed his eyes, exhaled, and pushed himself up from the couch. Tossing on his coat, he headed out with a scowl pulling at his lips.

    Arcade Street. Again. Wasn¡¯t that the ce he¡¯d just left after confronting Ste? How were Haley and Ste crossing paths everywhere he went?

    He clenched the steering wheel harder as he drove. By the time he reached the station, all he wanted was to sign whatever paper needed signing and get the hell out.

    But the officer at the desk didn¡¯t even let him finish his sentence before holding up a hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. To bail her out, we need a signed letter of forgiveness from the victim.¡±

    Hearing the police¡¯s words, Marc frowned slightly. A letter of forgiveness?

    He turned his head and looked at Ste, who was sitting quietly on the other side of the station, and his heart clenched with unease. If all it took was a letter from her to settle this, Marc couldn¡¯t help but feel that she was doing it on purpose. Just today, she had shown him nothing but cold indifference¡ªand now she had the upper hand.

    Marc¡¯s expression was conflicted, but in his mind, he was sure of one thing: Ste had set this up to make hime to her.

    Haley clung to his arm, her voice anxious. ¡°Marc, you have to help me. She¡¯s doing this on purpose. I swear I didn¡¯t do anything this time!¡± Marc nced at Ste again. He believed this was exactly what she wanted¡ªusing this incident to draw him closer, forcing him to speak to her.

    After a few seconds of thought, Marc walked over to her. Ste sat on the cold stic bench, sipping her coffee calmly while Rita lounged beside her, looking more than rxed. As long as Ste didn¡¯t sign that letter, Haley was getting locked up. Last time, she¡¯d let it go. This time, not a chance.

    Hearing footsteps approach, Ste didn¡¯t even lift her head. She continued sipping her coffee like she hadn¡¯t noticed Marc at all.

    Marc sat across from her, putting on a face of sincerity. ¡°Stel, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡¯ll apologize. Can you give me the forgiveness?¡±

    Back home earlier, Marc had thought about this over and over. He figured this was just Ste¡¯s way of throwing a tantrum. She was stubborn, always had been, and she needed time to cool off. They¡¯d been together for years. He believed that as long as he softened his tone and gave her space, she¡¯de back around eventually. He still remembered how much she used to love him¡ªhow she hung on his every word and never got mad no matter what he did.

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    He figured she was just being petty now. He could afford to be patient. Ste said nothing, while Rita simply gave Marc a sideways nce and let out a quiet snort.

    ¡°Stel,¡± Marc continued, ¡°Haley and I are just business partners. If she gets detained, it¡¯ll seriously affect thepany. I know you don¡¯t like her, but¡­ if you can let this go, I promise to stay away from her moving forward. Okay?¡±

    He¡¯d said this kind of thing before¡ªtoo many times. And Ste had heard enough. It seemed he hadn¡¯t changed at all. She took another sip of coffee and finally looked at him.

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 Chapter 173

    ?Chapter 173:

    ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you two are business partners or lovers. And I really don¡¯t care if yourpany crashes and burns.¡± She paused, her voice steady and unwavering. ¡°Today, she attacked us first. The bodyguards are standing right there¡ªyou can ask them who hit who. I don¡¯t want money. I don¡¯t want an apology. I just want to follow the rules.¡±

    Marc¡¯s smile froze on his face, his eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°Stel¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you mentally sound?¡± she cut him off tly. ¡°How many times do I have to say it? I¡¯m not Ste Russell. If you still can¡¯t understand basic words, go back to wherever you crawled out from. The more you speak, the more you look insane.¡±

    Her tone was sharp, slicing through whatever sentimental nonsense he¡¯d nned to say. She wasn¡¯t budging.

    Marc sat back stiffly, hands clenched on his knees. The difference between the woman in front of him and the Ste he remembered was too stark. Was it that he had never really known her? Or had someone changed her?

    It didn¡¯t take long for Marc to settle on thetter. He thought of William¡ªSte had changed the moment William entered the picture. She had be colder, sharper, more distant. She wouldn¡¯t even spare Marc a nce now.

    But William wouldn¡¯t always be there. Someone like him was probably just having fun.

    He might protect Ste now, but could he protect her forever? What did a man like that want with a divorced woman from a poor background? The Briggs family would never ept someone like Ste.

    Marc was certain of one thing¡ªonce William discarded her, she¡¯de crawling back. Eventually, she¡¯d beg him.

    Just thinking about it made Marc look at Ste with a moreplicated expression.

    Ste caught every subtle shift in Marc¡¯s expression. After spending years with him, she could read him like a book and knew exactly what he was thinking. But she couldn¡¯t be bothered. Let him daydream all he wanted. It wasn¡¯t going to change a thing for her.

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    Getting to her feet, she turned to Rita and said, ¡°Come on, Rita, let¡¯s go.¡± As they headed back to the institute, she nced at the honest, down-to-earth girl sitting next to her. She couldn¡¯t hide her amazement. ¡°Rita, I honestly didn¡¯t expect you to be that good at fighting!¡±

    Rita scratched her head sheepishly, a hint of pink on her cheeks. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s nothing big. My family¡¯s been into boxing for three generations, so I picked up some basic stuff growing up.¡±

    Ste was genuinely impressed by how modest she was. ¡°You¡¯re seriously amazing, though! You handled those two bodyguards like it was nothing.¡±

    Rita wasn¡¯t used to praise like that and felt a little bashful. She quickly waved her hand and mumbled, ¡°Oh, Ms. Russell, you¡¯re exaggerating. It wasn¡¯t that impressive!¡±

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 Chapter 174

    ?Chapter 174:

    Ste leaned toward her with a grin. ¡°Hey, Rita, why don¡¯t you teach me? Then I can finally deal with troublemakers like Marc and Haley myself!¡±

    She¡¯d always been curious about learning martial arts, not just for protection, but to handle people like Marc and Haley without needing anyone¡¯s help. Sadly, she had never found the right person to teach her and didn¡¯t trust random instructors either, so the idea had always been on hold. But now, with Rita standing right there, it finally felt like the right moment hade.

    Rita¡¯s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. She really liked Ste, and besides, William had also asked her to look out for her. Delighted by Ste¡¯s interest, she beamed. ¡°Of course, Ms. Russell! If you really want to learn, I¡¯ll teach you. It¡¯s not that hard.¡±

    ¡°Great, it¡¯s settled then!¡±

    Once they got back to the institute, Ste made them a meal. Rita took a portion over to William and waited until Ste was done eating before heading with her to the courtyard below the dorms to begin their lesson.

    Rita started with a few simple moves, showing Ste how to mirror them. To her surprise, Ste caught on fast. Her movements were clean and precise.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯ve got real talent for this.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but smile at thepliment.

    Rita added, ¡°You¡¯re seriously flexible, and your stamina is no joke. You¡¯ve been training with me for over an hour and haven¡¯t even slowed down.¡±

    It was the first time Rita had ever seen someone, especially a beginner, keep pace with her entire routine without so much as losing their breath.

    ¡°My job demands a fair amount of physical endurance, so I guess I¡¯m a bit fitter than most,¡± Ste replied casually.

    Her research work often involved climbing up and down rugged terrains. It had be second nature. Without staying fit, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to keep up. A few years ago, in particr, she¡¯d spent a full three months deep in the mountains with her research team.

    But just as her team was about to receive a major award, Marc imed there was a family emergency and dragged her home, making her miss the ceremony entirely.

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    Because of that, she ended up missing the chance to receive an internationally acimed award¡ªone that held immense prestige and recognition in the industry. Had she received it, it would¡¯ve opened doors to countless opportunities and pushed her career to new heights.

    Thinking back on it now, Ste couldn¡¯t help but feel foolish. She¡¯d sacrificed everything¡ªher achievements, her future¡ªjust to y the role of the ideal wife beside Marc.

    The memories weighed heavily on her, bringing nothing but regret. If she had the chance to relive it all, she¡¯d never make the same mistake again.

    At Choria Police Station¡­

    ¡°Marc, please don¡¯t leave me here! I want to go home!¡± Haley cried, clutching his arm with desperation.

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 Chapter 175

    ?Chapter 175:

    But no matter how long Marc argued with the officers, they stood firm and refused to let her go.

    ¡°Haley, just stay calm. Let me figure something out. Clinging to me won¡¯t solve anything, right?¡± Marc tried to reason, pulling her hand away.

    Tears welled up in Haley¡¯s eyes as she watched him turn and leave the station. Momentster, the officers came forward, took her by the arm, and led her into the holding cell.

    Once outside, Marc wasted no time and called a contact of his who had ties to the police station.

    ¡°Doug, help me get Haley out of there. I¡¯ll throw in a two-point discount on any Walsh Group project you handle,¡± Marc offered.

    But Doug wouldn¡¯t budge easily. In the end, Marc had to give up a valuable project¡ªone that had taken months tond¡ªjust to get Haley released.

    Doug¡¯s eyes gleamed slyly. All this for a woman? If Marc was throwing away top-tier projects for Haley, then clearly, things weren¡¯t looking too good for the Walsh Group.

    Marc eventually got Haley out, but the entire episode was caught on camera by nosy reporters. It made its way onto Choria¡¯s trending list and refused toe down for days.

    Marc became the butt of every joke in town. Fed up and humiliated, he drowned his frustration at a bar.

    Johnny and Tommy sat beside him, helplessly watching as he downed drink after drink in silence.

    Back when Ste was around, Marc always looked put-together, polished, and even stylish. Now, his clothes were wrinkled, his jacket didn¡¯t match his tie, and he lookedpletely off, like someone who had stopped caring.

    Johnny clicked his tongue and gave a low whistle. ¡°Man, say what you will about Ste, but at least she made sure you didn¡¯t walk around looking like a mess. Guess she had her uses after all, huh?¡±

    Johnny¡¯s offhand remark hit a nerve, and Marc shot upright, ring at him. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    Johnny flinched, immediately waving his hands in defense. ¡°No, no¡ªslip of the tongue! I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I just meant your outfit is¡­ uh, something else!¡±

    Marc turned back around, his voice low and cold. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t ever mention that woman in front of me.¡±

    Johnny exchanged a look with Tommy. One nce said it all¡ªthey¡¯d both seen Marc like this before, but never this bad.

    Tommy cleared his throat and said gently, ¡°Marc, are you really nning to just let things go on like this? You were married for years. Maybe it¡¯s best to end things cleanly and stop holding on.¡±

    He reached out, intending tofort Marc with a pat on the shoulder, but Marc jerked away.

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 Chapter 176

    ?Chapter 176:

    ¡°Shut up! If any of you say her name again, or take her side, you¡¯re no friend of mine.¡±

    After several rounds of whiskey, Marc was fully wasted.

    He sprawled across the table,pletely disheveled.

    With a swipe of his arm, he knocked every bottle to the floor¡ªss ttering and echoing through the private room.

    Still, he kept murmuring Ste¡¯s name, his voice hoarse, tone swinging between bitter and longing.

    Johnny and Tommy both sighed. They helped him stumble outside.

    After only a few steps, Marc stopped short, digging in his heels. He started yelling, demanding Johnny call Ste¡ªswearing he¡¯d tear the ce down if someone didn¡¯t.

    After trying to calm him for nearly an hour, both men gave up. Exhausted, they copsed on a stone bench at the curb, half-supporting Marc¡¯s dead weight between them.

    Johnny shivered in the night wind, wondering how things hade to this.

    But the truth was, Marc had always had poor drinking habits.

    It had nothing to do with his issues with Ste. Marc just turned into aplete mess when he was drunk. Back then, Ste would always take care of him.

    Johnny turned to Tommy. ¡°Call Haley. Let here take him.¡± There was no way they¡¯d dare call Ste.

    Meanwhile, Haley was sprawled on her bed, alternating between sulking and stewing. She¡¯d waited all day for Marc to call¡ªhe hadn¡¯t. Just as she was about to hit the shower, her phone buzzed.

    ¡°Marc? You¡¯re finally calling?¡± she answered, her voice suddenly hopeful.

    But it wasn¡¯t Marc. Tommy cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s me. Marc¡¯s drunk¡ªhe¡¯s out on Seabreeze Boulevard. Can youe get him?¡±

    Haley froze for a beat, then quickly got dressed and rushed out the door.

    Fresh updates now on g??ln????e??s.c??m

    By the time she arrived, she spotted Marc slouched on the bench, nked by Johnny and Tommy. She hurried over, squatting down in her heels to touch his shoulder. ¡°Marc, I¡¯m here. Let¡¯s go home, okay?¡±

    Later, in the backseat of the car, Haley nced at him. The stench of alcohol was overwhelming, but she still leaned in slightly. ¡°Marc, do you want me to roll down the window? Are you feeling warm?¡± Her voice was soft, careful¡ªeerily simr to how Ste used to sound. And in that moment, Marc¡¯s blurry gaze locked onto her face.

    ¡°Stel¡­ why are you doing this to me?¡±

    Marc suddenly yanked Haley into his arms, holding her close as if she might vanish. His breath hit her cheek, his voice thick and low. ¡°Stel, I knew you couldn¡¯t leave me. Back then¡­ whenever I got wasted, you were always the one who looked after me. Took me home. You still love me, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Haley¡¯s chest burned with rage. Did he seriously just call her Ste? What was it about that woman that made men lose their minds? Still, Haley couldn¡¯t walk away. Not like this. She loved him too much, so she swallowed her pride and kept steady.

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 Chapter 177

    ?Chapter 177:

    But when they reached the vi, things slipped¡ªliterally. Haley lost her grip, and the two of them tumbled forward like rag dolls.

    The jolt snapped Marc a little out of his drunken daze. He blinked, winced, then looked up at her. For a second, he just stared¡ªthen came the realization, like a p. It wasn¡¯t Ste. It had been Haley the whole time!

    ¡°What are you doing here? Haven¡¯t I been humiliated enough already?¡±

    Haley gawked at him, stunned. The change in his tone threw her off guard. ¡°Marc, your friends asked me to bring you back. I didn¡¯t mean to trip, but you can¡¯t justsh out at me like that.¡±

    ¡°You pretended to be Stel.¡± His voice was low, bitter. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see through you. You¡¯re trying to take her ce¡ªbut you never will.¡±

    Haley lost her patiencepletely. She shoved him hard, and he staggered. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m done. Go find your precious Ste¡ªif she even gives a damn about you anymore!¡± She turned and walked off, fury in every step.

    Marc stood there, dizzy from the push, the world spinning around him until everything went dark.

    He was roused by the re of horns and the sting of the cold wind. His head throbbed. He groaned and sat up slowly, his eyes catching the blur of cars rushing past. People walked by, giving him puzzled, amused looks.

    Only then did it hit him¡ªhe¡¯d passed out by the roadside.

    Marc¡¯s face tightened. He looked down, trying to piece together the night before. Around him, the whispers started.

    ¡°Wow, is he really just lying there? So funny!¡±

    ¡°He must have been hammered. Who even lets him drink that much? Wait, who is he anyway? Looks kinda familiar¡­¡±

    Each word pricked at Marc. He clenched his jaw and pushed himself off the ground. But as he stood, something felt off.

    He looked down and froze. His belt fromst night was gone, and so was his watch. It was clear someone had taken advantage of his drunken state to steal them.

    ???§ï$¦Ó ?§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?§ñ$ ¨ª¦Ð galno¦Íe?s

    Marc¡¯s face darkened. Humiliation wrapped around him like smoke. He tugged at his pants to keep them from sliding down and stormed off without a word.

    Ste finished her long day in theb, rolled her shoulders, and pulled out her phone. A message from Sharon lit up the screen¡ªsent ten minutes ago.

    ¡°Hey, want to grab a drink tonight?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t have to think twice. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be there within an hour!¡± she typed back.

    Then she remembered William. After a moment¡¯s pause, she shot a quick message to Rita. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to do tonight. Won¡¯t be able to cook¡ªlet William handle dinner himself.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 178

    ?Chapter 178:

    Just as she sent it, another message popped up. It contained Sharon¡¯s location. A private restaurant they used to haunt back in university.

    Ste smiled.

    This memory from her university days felt like a warm breeze.

    Back then, she really enjoyed going to that restaurant with Sharon. The food was always good, and it didn¡¯t cost much. They even became familiar with the owner.

    But once she started dating Marc, he began turning his nose up at ces like that, calling them cheap and maybe even dirty.

    He had once sneered, ¡°That ce? Why bother? Our chef at home can make anything you want. And if you¡¯re craving something special, I¡¯ll take you to a real restaurant¡ªnot some greasy dump. Don¡¯t go there anymore.¡±

    To keep the peace, Ste had stopped going.

    She hadn¡¯t expected the ce to still be open. But now, with Marc out of the picture, maybe it was time to reim a little piece of herself.

    When Ste walked in, Sharon was already there, waving her over with that old familiar grin. ¡°I ordered all our favorites. Still like the same stuff, right? Or has your taste changed?¡±

    Ste gave a small smile as she sat down. ¡°Same as always. You pick.¡± She was sure Sharon knew her preferences perfectly.

    Sharon slid a ss toward her, filled hers with beer, and downed it in one gulp.

    Something felt off. The way she drank, the slump of her shoulders. Ste leaned in, looking concerned. ¡°Hey. Are you okay? You seem¡­ off.¡±

    Sharon was always loud, carefree, full of bite and charm. This quiet shadow sitting beside her? It didn¡¯t fit. Ste could count on one hand how many times she¡¯d seen Sharon look like this.

    Sharon ced her disposable cup down on the table, then turned to Ste with a weary look in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, really¡­ it¡¯s just that sometimes, I feel like there¡¯s nothing meaningful in my life. I have money, sure, but that¡¯s all I¡¯ve got.¡±

    She leaned back slightly and exhaled a deep sigh, visibly weighed down by her thoughts.

    Discover more g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    Ste was d the restaurant wasn¡¯t packed. If anyone had overheard Sharon¡¯sment, it definitely would¡¯ve rubbed some people the wrong way.

    ¡°Sharon, maybe what you really need is to fall in love,¡± Ste said gently.

    Sharon had always kept to herself. She¡¯d never had a boyfriend, not even a casual rtionship. She was used to being alone.

    But the moment Ste said that, Sharon nearly choked on her beer.

    Sharon blinked at Ste like she¡¯d just heard the most senseless thing ever. She pointed to herself, utterly baffled. ¡°Wait, are you talking about me? You seriously think I need to fall in love?¡± To her, that idea was just in absurd.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 179

    ?Chapter 179:

    In fact, if she were thest woman on earth, she still wouldn¡¯t consider dating a man. She¡¯d rather fight wild animals than get into a romantic rtionship.

    ¡°Just because you¡¯re dating someone doesn¡¯t mean you have to marry them,¡± Ste said earnestly. ¡°If it¡¯s not working, you¡¯re free to walk away.¡±

    She meant it sincerely¡ªit wasn¡¯t a joke.

    Sharon had her reasons for avoiding love¡ªdeep ones she didn¡¯t talk about.

    The pain she carried hadn¡¯t faded with time; instead, it had hardened into invisible chains, and breaking those chains meant facing a lot of pain.

    However, pretending they weren¡¯t there didn¡¯t help either. Ignored wounds don¡¯t heal¡ªthey just keep tearing open, over and over again.

    For a second, something unreadable shed through Sharon¡¯s eyes. But then she gave a loud, carefreeugh and waved it off like a joke. ¡°Stel, take a good look at me. I¡¯m more of a man than most guys out there. They can¡¯t evenpare. Falling in love? That¡¯s never gonna happen for me!¡±

    Ste pursed her lips but didn¡¯t push the topic. Sharon clearly wasn¡¯t ready to open up.

    Suddenly, Sharon¡¯s face lit up with a mischievous grin. ¡°Oh! I almost forgot.¡± She grabbed her phone, opened up a viral news thread, and shoved it toward Ste.

    ¡°Look at your ex-husband. This is too good! He spent the night on the side of the road, and someone even stole his belt! I swear, he¡¯s been spiraling ever since you left him. He really thinks all his sess came from his own brilliance, but it was you doing all the work behind the scenes. The man¡¯s blind if he thought you depended on him¡ªhe was the one mooching off you!¡±

    Ste remained unfazed and passed Sharon a fork and knife as the food arrived. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about garbage while we¡¯re eating. Just eat while it¡¯s still hot.¡±

    After all, Marc¡¯s name alone was enough to ruin her appetite.

    With that, they dug into their meals, both pleasantly surprised that the food here hadn¡¯t changed one bit. It was just as rich, vorful, andforting as they remembered.

    M??? ??????s ?? ????????s.???

    Ten minutes into their meal, the restaurant had be noticeably busier. It was lunchtime, and nearly every table around them had filled up.

    Then someone took the only free seat at the table next to Ste. Out of habit, Ste turned her head and froze. That familiar silhouette¡­ it was William.

    For a second, she forgot all about the meat still poised on her fork. Her eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

    Choria was a sprawling city, and this quiet, tucked-away eatery wasn¡¯t exactly a popr hotspot. What were the odds they¡¯d cross paths here of all ces?

    It felt too strange to be mere coincidence.

    Before she could say a word, the owner appeared from the back, grinning at William like an old friend. ¡°Back again? Your usual today?¡± she asked warmly.

    Ste¡¯s brows knitted together. The usual?

    That meant he came here often. With how many people passed through here daily, the owner wouldn¡¯t remember his order unless he was a regr.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 180

    ?Chapter 180:

    So this was indeed a coincidence.

    William gave a polite nod. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, his voice calm and casual, without any trace of the high-powered executive persona he usually wore.

    Even dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, there he was¡ªsettling into a modest diner like it was nothing. It felt oddly grounded.

    The owner chuckled and headed back inside. William turned slightly, catching Ste¡¯s stare.

    ¡°What a coincidence,¡± he said in his soft, unreadable tone. The owner nced between the two, clearly picking up on something.

    ¡°Oh, you two know each other? What a small world! You bothe here often, but I never realized you were acquainted,¡± the owner said with a surprised smile. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, would you mind sharing a table today? It¡¯s getting pretty full outside, and we¡¯re short on seats.¡± Noticing the hesitation between them, she quickly added, ¡°But of course, no pressure. If you¡¯d rather not, that¡¯spletely fine too¡ªyou¡¯re wee to eat separately.¡±

    Her tone was friendly and light, just hoping to help, not insisting on anything.

    William remainedposed and gave a short nod. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll leave it to Ms. Russell.¡±

    Ste turned to Sharon beside her. ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked, not wanting to make the decision alone.

    Sharon had already been watching William out of the corner of her eye¡ªtall, good-looking, and surprisingly polite.

    She¡¯d caught enough of their exchange to put two and two together. When Ste mentioned she¡¯d been working at the research institute for the past six months alongside colleagues, Sharon quickly connected the dots¡ªthis man was likely one of them.

    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwas he the next guy Ste might be interested in?

    Wanting to y the supportive friend and maybe get a closer look, Sharon shed a grin. ¡°I¡¯m cool with it!¡±

    With her on board, Ste turned back to the owner. ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll share the table.¡±

    I/t?$+ ?h?pt?r? ?? g????v¨º??.c?m

    The table was square with three open seats. William walked over and calmly took the spot right next to Ste.

    What was originally meant to be a quiet meal for two had suddenly turned into dinner for three.

    Sharon tugged Ste aside. ¡°Stel,e with me. I need to use the restroom.¡±

    The second the restroom door closed behind them, Sharon¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. ¡°Okay, spill. Who is he? Is he your new guy?¡±

    Ste let out a long sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. No, he¡¯s not. And honestly¡­ we¡¯re not even that close.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a lie. They weren¡¯t involved. They were strictly colleagues. Even when they lived under the same roof in Briset, they¡¯d barely chatted.

    .

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 Chapter 181

    ?Chapter 181:

    Sharon wasn¡¯t buying it for a second. ¡°Yeah, right. He¡¯s tall, handsome, definitely richer than Marc¡ªand that watch? Limited edition. Two mil, easy. Honestly, Stel, if he¡¯s even slightly interested, you¡¯ve won the lottery.¡±

    Rubbing her temples, Ste muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not dating anyone right now.¡± She¡¯d just crawled out of a messy marriage and had way too much on her te. William? Please. He wasn¡¯t even into women. What a joke!

    He liked men!

    But she didn¡¯t say that to Sharon¡ªit wasn¡¯t her secret to tell. Sharon pouted. ¡°You were just telling me I should start dating. And now look at you, backing off.¡±

    ¡°I just got my freedom back. I want to breathe a little, not rush into anything,¡± Ste said, nudging Sharon toward the stall.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you had to go? Go already before you burst open.¡± Sharon eyed her suspiciously. She could tell Ste was hiding something¡ªbut fine, she¡¯d let it go. For now.

    When the two returned to the table, William was still seated, looking perfectlyposed.

    Ste felt uneasy seeing him, while he appearedpletely at ease, as if he were at home.

    The owner brought over another menu and politely asked William if he¡¯d like to order something.

    Since Ste and Sharon hadn¡¯t ordered much, they decided to add a couple of dishes too.

    The owner handed each of them a menu. Ste nced down. ¡°Caesar sd.¡±

    ¡°Caesar sd,¡± William said at the exact same time.

    Ste blinked. Weird coincidence, but whatever.

    Your next story is here g?ln¦Ò¦Íels

    She kept flipping.

    ¡°Apple pie.¡±

    ¡°Apple pie,¡± William echoed again.

    Now even Sharon tilted her head, watching the two of them with a curious smirk.

    Ste, increasingly uneasy, decided that was enough. She handed her menu back to the owner. ¡°Just add those two, thanks.¡±

    The owner smiled. ¡°And for you, young man?¡±

    William flipped a page. ¡°Buffalo wings.¡±

    Sharon perked up. These dishes were all perfectly suited to Ste¡¯s taste.

    She leaned closer to Ste, grinning. ¡°You know what I read the other day? They say if two people like the same food, they¡¯re meant to be together. It¡¯s science.¡±

    Ste was half-distracted, still stewing in the awkward energy surrounding the table. ¡°What?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 182

    ?Chapter 182:

    ¡°I¡¯m serious. Shared taste buds? It¡¯s a sign. Perfect match, guaranteed!¡± Sharon said, nudging Ste just enough that she tilted slightly toward William.

    Startled, Ste sat up straight and gave Sharon a sharp look. ¡°Sharon, please stop reading those fake online articles.¡± That was ridiculous.

    Sharon, unfazed, turned to William and raised her brow. ¡°You believe in that kind of stuff, sir?¡±

    William¡¯s lips curled in amusement.

    He didn¡¯t answer, but the way he chuckled made Ste want to melt into the floor.

    He was her boss. Her sry literally depended on that man. If he thought she was entertaining some weird office romance fantasy, would she get fired?

    Her face heated up, and she wanted to vanish.

    But Sharon kept going. ¡°So, sir¡­ what kind of women do you like? What do you think of my friend¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sharon!¡± Ste cut her off before she could finish, her voice tight. ¡°The food we ordered is getting cold.¡±

    Under the table, she yanked Sharon¡¯s sleeve, shooting her a look of warning. ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t say another word. He¡¯s my boss.¡±

    ¡°Boss?¡± Sharon blinked.

    Ste spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°Yes, so don¡¯t say anything careless.¡±

    Sharon knew better than to push further, so she simply arched a brow and kept quiet. Still, judging by how those two acted around each other, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something more was going on.

    Once the dishes were brought out, they returned to their meal. The conversation faded into a calm,fortable silence.

    Each time William visited this spot, the vors seemed to awaken pieces of his childhood¡ªnostalgic and familiar, as if pulling him back in time.

    Dining here had be something of a quiet ritual. And with every visit, he brought along a small hope tucked deep in his heart.

    Gal n o v el s . is your destination for fiction

    Countless years and visits had passed, yet he still hadn¡¯t seen the girl from long ago¡ªthe one whose small act had quietly reshaped the course of his life.

    Without her presence back then, he wasn¡¯t sure what kind of person he would have turned into.

    Despite all his attempts over the years, she remained just out of reach, like a name whispered in the wind¡ªimpossible to trace.

    Meanwhile, Marc stood at the edge of the sidewalk, his shiny ck shoes tapping rhythmically against the ground.

    The overcast sky hung low with the promise of rain, perfectly matching the heaviness clouding his mood.

    He eyed the restaurant¡¯s lively crowd, the air buzzing like a small street market. It had that old-fashioned charm, but it irritated him.

    .

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 Chapter 183

    ?Chapter 183:

    ¡°Hey, young man! Looking for a meal? Come on in!¡± A cheerful server called out with a friendly smile.

    But Marc just gave a faint, indifferent frown in response.

    He clearly wasn¡¯t thrilled to be there. In truth, he disliked this ce, though the food reminded him of Ste¡¯s cooking.

    She had always been an incredible cook, and every dish she made carried a kind of warmth that stayed with him. For years, she¡¯d been the heart of the kitchen in their home.

    He could still picture her smiling at him from across the dining table¡ªthose memories refused to fade.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need a chef, I¡¯ll cook for you,¡± she used to tell him with a grin, and for years, she actually did.

    He had grown used to her food, and now, no matter how many chefs he hired, nothing ever came close. Nothing tasted like home anymore. He lingered at the doorway for what felt like ages before finally stepping inside.

    Just as he raised his eyes to take in the room, his heart skipped¡ªhe saw a figure he knew too well.

    Everything else in the restaurant blurred out of focus. All he could see was Ste seated beside William.

    Were they actually having a meal together?

    A wave of unease and bitterness washed over Marc. Had their rtionship really grown that close?

    What made it even worse was that this very restaurant had once been introduced to him by Ste, right after their wedding.

    She¡¯d looked so happy back then, her face lit up with pure joy as she told him how this had been her favorite hangout during her university days. She¡¯d said the food was the best, and the way her eyes sparkled with excitement had been unforgettable.

    But now? She hadn¡¯t even married William, yet she¡¯d brought him here. To the ce she once called her favorite.

    More chapters avable at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s

    What did that say about everything they had shared?

    Marc stood there, struggling to breathe through the tangle of emotions tightening in his chest. Regret for the things he¡¯d done wrong, bitterness at how things had ended, and a sharp sting of resentment¡ªall of it came crashing down. How could she so easily share the pieces of her past with someone else like it meant nothing?

    Watching Ste sitting beside William, rxed and at ease, made him feel like his heart was being ripped in two.

    He regretted everything.

    He really did love Ste, so much that he would have given up everything just to be with her.

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 Chapter 184

    ?Chapter 184:

    So how had thingse to this?

    The woman who used to smile just for him now wouldn¡¯t even look his way.

    Clenching his fists tightly at his sides, Marc turned around and walked away from the restaurant without looking back.

    He was determined¡ªhe would prove to Ste that he could start over and win her back.

    Back at the Walsh Group, he sat quietly in his leather chair, his eyes sharp with resolve. He¡¯d make things right¡ªcut ties with Haley for good and fight to win Ste back.

    However, just as that thought settled in, Kody entered and gently ced a report on his desk.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, our operations are shrinking fast. Most of our partners have already pulled out. If this keeps up¡­ thepany won¡¯t survive.¡±

    Kody¡¯s words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and his own heart pounded nervously, unsure of how Marc would take the news.

    Marc lifted his eyes slowly, frowning deeply. The shadows under his eyes made his worn-out face look even more drained. He looked nothing like the confident man he used to be.

    ¡°What the hell is happening here? How is apany this big failing to secure even a single partnership? What do I even pay you people for?¡± He mmed the report down with a loud thud.

    Kody looked helpless. ¡°Sir, that video of you drunk on the street¡­ it went viral. Our partners saw it. They think you¡¯re not stable and that maybe you¡¯re not in the right frame of mind to run apany right now.¡±

    The report slipped off the desk andnded by Kody¡¯s feet with a heavy flop.

    The tension in the office was stifling. Kody barely dared to breathe.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± he ventured carefully, ¡°maybe it¡¯s time to contact Ms. Smith again. She still has international ties in Achury. If anyone can save thepany now, it¡¯s her.¡±

    Discover more on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??¦Ï?? (uso de ¡°?¡± y ¡°¦Ï¡± griega)

    At this point, Haley was the only one left who had the power, or the reach, to pull the Walsh Group out of its nosedive.

    Marc inhaled deeply, rage simmering just beneath the surface. ¡°Get out!¡± he barked hoarsely.

    His voice was raw, every wordced with frustration. His staff were useless¡ªhe was surrounded by ipetence.

    Kody didn¡¯t dare utter a word. He quickly scooped up the files and made a swift exit.

    Alone again, Marc slumped into his chair and shut his eyes, his thoughts spiraling.

    Stel¡­ she should understand him, right?

    Everything he did¡ªwasn¡¯t it all for thepany? Not because he actually liked Haley. Of course not. It was all strategy, all necessity. Clinging to that belief, Marc pulled out his phone and sent Haley a message. ¡°I¡¯m free tonight. Come by the vi for dinner.¡±

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 Chapter 185

    ?Chapter 185:

    Across town, dinner had just wrapped up between Ste, Sharon, and William.

    As Ste stood to pay the bill, William dabbed his mouth with a napkin and looked up, his voice unusually warm. ¡°Next time, it¡¯s on me.¡±

    Sharon tilted her head, brows raised. William Briggs was more polite than she¡¯d expected.

    The three of them exited the restaurant together. Dark, dense clouds nketed the sky, threatening to unleash a downpour at any moment. William¡¯s phone buzzed. He answered, listened for a moment, then said, ¡°I¡¯ve got something urgent at the office. Where are you headed? I can have the driver take you.¡±

    Ste shook her head gently. ¡°No need. We¡¯re just going shopping.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled¡ªwhy was William being so¡­ polite? So attentive?

    After he left, Sharon linked arms with her, eyeing her closely. ¡°Stel, are you really telling me nothing¡¯s going on with you two? That¡¯s just your boss?¡±

    Ste bumped her shoulder yfully. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s the boss who wires my paycheck. Let¡¯s go.¡± They wandered the mall, picking up odds and ends, sharing quietughs as they strolled.

    When they reached the street, arms full of bags, someone stepped out of a nearby car.

    Travis. His eyes lit up the second he spotted Ste. ¡°Stel¡­ Ms. Gilbert!¡±

    What a coincidence.¡±

    She nodded calmly, keeping her expression neutral.

    Seeing her hands full, Travis stepped toward her. ¡°Let me help you with those.¡±

    Ste subtly shifted the bags behind her. ¡°No need. They¡¯re light.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t used to Travis¡¯s enthusiasm and wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it.

    She didn¡¯t want to give him the wrong idea. They¡¯d barely spoken before¡ªthis kind of eagerness felt misced.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of,¡± she added, polite but firm. ¡°I¡¯ll be off, Mr. Acosta.¡±

    ????t??st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.c????

    She looped her arm through Sharon¡¯s and walked across the street, sliding into the car quickly.

    Sharon hopped into the driver¡¯s seat. In the rearview mirror, she spotted Travis still watching them from across the road, his gaze lingering. She smirked. ¡°Stel, that guy is totally into you.¡±

    Ste nearly choked. ¡°What? No way! We¡¯ve barely met five times!¡± Sharon didn¡¯t believe Ste. After all, that man who¡¯d stepped out of the Mercedes had been looking at Ste with such deep affection in his eyes, like a lovesick puppy. But Ste imed they¡¯d only met no more than five times? Impossible!

    Sharon wondered if Ste¡¯s emotional radar had been off since her divorce, unable to see the obvious.

    ¡°Stel, I think you need sses,¡± Sharon said with mock seriousness.

    ¡°No, babe¡ªyou need a date,¡± Ste shot back, halfughing.

    She had work, goals, a life to build. Romance? Not on the list.

    When they pulled up to the research institute, Sharon nced around. ¡°You¡¯re really living here?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 186

    ?Chapter 186:

    ¡°It¡¯s convenient,¡± Ste replied with a shrug. Ste saw nothing wrong with that.

    But Sharon didn¡¯t look convinced. She reached over and touched her arm gently. ¡°Sweetie¡­ let me buy you a ce. You don¡¯t need to squeeze into a tiny dorm.¡±

    Ste stopped her right there. ¡°Sharon, I get to sleep thirty extra minutes living here. That¡¯s priceless.¡±

    She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out with a grin.

    Tonight, she didn¡¯t need to cook for William, so she treated herself to a quiet evening. A book, an early night, and a little peace.

    The next morning, the sun was bright overhead.

    Inside the researchb, Ste adjusted her protective gear, fully focused¡ªuntil Sandra ran over, waving a hand in front of her face. ¡°Sylvia! I need your help. Come quick!¡±

    Ste trailed after Sandra and leaned in to inspect the cultivation samples, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the numbers had dipped by a full ten percent since theirst check.

    ¡°Sylvia, something¡¯s off with this batch,¡± Sandra blurted, a tremor of worry threading through her voice. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Anxious energy radiated from Sandra¡ªthese samples were valuable, and any slip-up would throw the entire team off schedule.

    Taking in the tension, Ste drew a steadying breath, her brow creasing with concern. ¡°Let me see the data.¡±

    She stepped up to the incubator, scanning the readouts in silence. ¡°What temperature is this set to right now?¡± she asked, her tone calm but insistent.

    Sandra hesitated, flustered. ¡°Um¡­ I think it¡¯s somewhere between fifty and seventy-seven degrees Fahrenheit.¡±

    Fifty to seventy-seven. That exined everything.

    Ste straightened, her expression sharpening. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. This strain loves heat¡ªin the wild, it flourishes at around eighty-two degrees. Anything lower, and it just starts shutting down.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sylvia. I should¡¯ve caught that. But what now? This incubator maxes out at seventy-seven. We¡¯d need a second-tierb to crank it any higher.¡±

    Explore fresh updates g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Ste gathered the documents and headed directly to Elbert. Once she¡¯d exined the situation, the two quickly agreed to submit a request for ess to the second-tierb on the upper floor.

    Elbert brought Ste along to the director¡¯s office. Usually, the approval process was fairly straightforward¡ªprovided theb wasn¡¯t already in use.

    But as Paul scrolled through theb bookings, he remarked with a frown, ¡°Uh-oh. That second-tierb¡¯s already reserved for today.¡±

    Reserved?

    ¡°Who put in the request?¡± Ste pressed, her brow knitting.

    Her team didn¡¯t actually need to upy the space¡ªthey just needed a ce to leave the samples to incubate.

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 Chapter 187

    ?Chapter 187:

    Paul swiftly checked the log. ¡°Allen¡¯s group grabbed the slot. They checked in earlier this morning.¡±

    The moment Allen¡¯s name came up, a shadow flickered across both Elbert¡¯s and Ste¡¯s faces.

    Their rivalry with Allen¡¯s team was hardly a secret.

    Knowing Allen, he¡¯d be in no mood to make concessions¡ªnot after what happenedst time.

    Elbert straightened, determination settling in his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go talk to them. Maybe we can at least set our samples in there for a few hours.¡±

    After returning from the director¡¯s office, Elbert hoisted the incubator and led the way to the second-tierb.

    Ste tapped lightly on the door, then waited as it swung open to reveal Allen. He lounged in the doorway, eyebrows lifted and a smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Looking for something? Thisb¡¯s booked¡ªfair and square,¡± he drawled, making no move to let them in.

    Even if William himself showed up, Allen would stand his ground without blinking.

    Ste kept her tone calm. ¡°We just need to use a few incubators. Our samples won¡¯t interfere with your experiment¡ªwe only need to set them inside for a while.¡±

    Allen¡¯s eyes flicked to the box she held, his smile never wavering. ¡°No can do. All the incubators are spoken for. Not a single one free.¡± There were at least ten machines lined up behind him. Ste didn¡¯t buy it for a second.

    Elbert tamped down his frustration and pressed on. ¡°When are you nning to finish up, then?¡±

    Allen had clearly anticipated the question. With an exaggerated ir, he cast a dramatic look at his teammates. ¡°Hate to break it to you, but we¡¯re swamped in here. It might not be done by the end of the day.¡± Without another word, he pulled the door shut, cutting off any chance of negotiation.

    A weary sigh escaped Elbert. ¡°Now what? Our samples won¡¯tst much longer at this rate.¡±

    A tense silence settled in. Every second was slipping through their fingers.

    There wasn¡¯t a single other incubator on site that could reach the necessary temperature.

    New content avable g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Ste pressed her lips together, mind racing for alternatives. Suddenly, brisk footsteps rang out down the corridor. A new voice called out, cutting through the tension, ¡°Is something going on here?¡±

    Ste looked up and was surprised to find William standing there, his expression unreadable but clearly curious.

    His face was full of inquiry.

    Elbert straightened immediately, speaking with respectful urgency. ¡°William, our samples need to be incubated at eighty-three degrees, but the second-tierb is full and doesn¡¯t have a spare incubator.¡±

    William shifted his gaze to the small device in Ste¡¯s hands. Inside were a few fragile green samples¡ªthin-stemmed, their leaf tips already beginning to yellow from the low temperature.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 188

    ?Chapter 188:

    His tone was calm and steady, almost casual. ¡°Use myb. I¡¯ve got an extra incubator.¡±

    Both Elbert and Ste blinked, caught off guard by his generosity. The offer came out of nowhere, but there was no time to hesitate¡ªthey quickly followed him.

    Back in the second-tierb, Allen stood by the door, pretending to be cleaning up.

    But in truth, he was listening for any begging or pleading from Ste¡¯s team.

    Last time, they had embarrassed him greatly, and he wasn¡¯t going to let it go easily.

    But to his surprise, William showed up and offered help¡ªagain. Always bailing Sylvia out. They were really lucky.

    William¡¯s privateb was spacious and pristine, every piece of equipment spotless and well-organized.

    Ste gently ced the incubator on the rack and turned to thank him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow, voice light. ¡°Consider it repayment for that meal you treated me tost time.¡±

    Ste paused. That dinner hadn¡¯t even cost one-fifty, but the value of these samples was several times more.

    Still, she was used to William¡¯s quirks and didn¡¯t argue.

    William had other matters to attend to in the afternoon, so Elbert and Ste left theb.

    Back at theirb, Sandra rushed up to them, eyes wide with worry. ¡°What happened? Did you find a ce for the samples?¡±

    Jamir and even Cecelia were watching quietly from a distance, pretending not to care but clearly listening in.

    Elbert nodded with a relieved smile. ¡°It¡¯s all settled¡ªwe¡¯ve got an incubator.¡±

    Everyone let out a collective sigh.

    Ste turned to Sandra with a calm but serious tone. ¡°Next time, pay more attention to observing the samples¡¯ behavior. You can¡¯t afford to be this careless again.¡±

    Keep reading at g¦Ál¦Çovels?c©–m

    Sandra nodded quickly, remorseful. ¡°Got it, Sylvia. I promise it won¡¯t happen again!¡±

    By dinner time, Sandra had perked up again and grabbed Ste to go line up for food. ¡°I heard tonight¡¯s menu¡¯s amazing. Sylvia, my treat!¡±

    ¡°Slow down,¡± Ste said with a chuckle, trying to keep up.

    But just as she spoke, someone bumped into her, and a cold ssh hit her chest.

    Cecelia stood nearby, tray in hand, giving Ste a look of pure disdain. ¡°Are you blind?¡±

    Even though Cecelia had clearly knocked into her and spilled the soup, she acted as if it were Ste¡¯s fault.

    Sandra immediately snapped, ¡°It was clearly your fault!¡±

    ¡°You came into my way first,¡± Cecelia saidzily, rolling her eyes and walking off like nothing had happened.

    .

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 Chapter 189

    ?Chapter 189:

    Sandra wanted to argue, but Ste held her back, reminding her that they were all part of the same team and shouldn¡¯t cause a scene outside, lest they be theughingstock of others.

    Still, now drenched and ufortable, Ste had no choice but to head back to the dorm to change.

    Later, William returned to the dormitory building and noticed Ste¡¯s room door slightly ajar.

    His brows furrowed. He knocked once, then again. No response.

    Her sneakers were by the door, so she had to be inside.

    William frowned, wondering where she had gone.

    Just as he was about to leave, he heard a noise from the bathroom and instinctively froze.

    Inside, Ste had rushed to wash up and was now drying off, wrapped in a towel as she headed out of the bathroom.

    The moment she stepped out, she froze. So did William. Their eyes met. Ste blinked, stunned to see him in her living room.

    From his vantage point, all he saw was smooth, bare skin peeking from the cor of the oversized robe and her slender legs beneath it. William turned away almost instantly, his ears faintly red.

    Ste let out a startled yelp and darted back into her bedroom. A few minutester, now properly dressed, she stepped out¡ªcheeks still flushed.

    She red at him, her voice tight. ¡°Mr. Briggs, do you always barge into people¡¯s rooms uninvited?¡±

    William pressed his lips into a thin line. ¡°Do you always shower with the door wide open?¡±

    Ste froze for a second¡ªthen it hit her. She¡¯d rushed back in a hurry andpletely forgotten to shut the door.

    ¡°Still, that doesn¡¯t give you permission to barge in without knocking,¡± she retorted.

    For once, William found himself at a loss for words. He turned away, clearly ufortable, just as Rita stepped in carrying fruit. ¡°Ms. Russell, you haven¡¯t started cooking yet?¡±

    L?t?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.??????

    She nced curiously at William, who was already walking out the door, clearly in a huff.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, aren¡¯t you staying for dinner?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± he said tly, without looking back.

    Not hungry? Rita squinted. His face looked a little flushed¡ªand if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, he was walking like he had something on his mind. Had they gotten into a fight?

    Ste didn¡¯t dwell on it. She ate dinner with Rita as usual and went to bed early.

    She figured it wasn¡¯t a big deal¡ªhe hadn¡¯t seen anything anyway.

    Nothing worth making a fuss over.

    One weekter, Ste¡¯s team wrapped up their experiment.

    Everyone was in a great mood. Even Jamir, who usually looked like he hadn¡¯t smiled in a decade, cracked a small grin.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 190

    ?Chapter 190:

    Ste stayed behind to tidy up theb. As she was leaving, she happened to run into William opening the office door next door.

    She was in high spirits after the sessful project and greeted him brightly. ¡°We finished the experiment. Do you want to check out the results?¡±

    They had used his privateb, after all. She figured he¡¯d want to know it hadn¡¯t been a waste of space.

    But William¡¯s face remained expressionless, his tone cool. ¡°No need. Given my position, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to review your group¡¯s results.¡±

    Right¡ªhe was involved in the evaluation panel. Ste quickly understood.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right. Well, thanks for letting us use yourb. I cleaned it up¡ªit¡¯s just like before. I¡¯ll get going now.¡± She waved casually and jogged off to catch up with the others who had already headed downstairs.

    William turned and looked inside theb. Sure enough, it was spotless, not a single item out of ce.

    It was like she and her team had never been there.

    His lips pressed tighter as he quietly closed the door.

    This woman really didn¡¯t leave behind a trace¡ªemotionally or otherwise.

    With the experimentplete, Ste shifted her focus back to Neb¡¯s affairs.

    Midway through her coboration with Steven, shepiled a final project proposal and sent it to his email.

    Minutester, her phone rang.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± Steven¡¯s cheerful voice came through. ¡°The proposal is excellent¡ªexactly what our firm needs. I¡¯d love to take you to dinner and talk more about it.¡±

    Ste smiled at his praise. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s meet this afternoon.¡±

    At six sharp, she arrived at the restaurant Steven had chosen.

    The ce had an old-world charm¡ªssic architecture, a stone cherub fountain in the center, and flowers lining the walkway. It felt more like a garden vi than a restaurant.

    Read more at g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Inside, Steven was already waiting in a private room.

    He wore a slightly open, soft-cored white shirt and well-fitted ck jeans. He looked like aid-back prince out of a modern-day fairytale. When he saw her, he stood up and pulled out the chair beside him.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, please.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ste said with a smile as she sat.

    Steven handed her a menu. ¡°Take a look¡ªsee if anything catches your eye.¡±

    Ste flipped through it. Everything looked good, which made it hard to decide.

    Noticing her indecision, Steven offered, ¡°Need a rmendation?¡±

    She passed him the menu. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Do you like spicy food? Any ingredients you avoid?¡± His tone was warm and thoughtful, as if he genuinely wanted to get her preferences right.

    In the end, Ste picked two dishes and let him order the rest.

    Five dishes in total¡ªplenty for the two of them.

    .

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 Chapter 191

    ?Chapter 191:

    As Steven handed her utensils, she reached out to take them¡ªonly to knock her phone off herp.

    It hit the floor with a crisp ck, making her jump slightly.

    Ste bent down to pick up her phone, and when she straightened up, she noticed Steven¡¯s hand gently covering the sharp edge of the table. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, there¡¯s no need to be so formal,¡± he replied with a smile. While waiting for the food, the two started discussing technical specs and project ideas.

    The AC in the private room was a bit too strong, and partway through the conversation, Ste subconsciously rubbed her arms. She¡¯d worn a short-sleeved blouse and was starting to feel chilly.

    Without her saying a word, Steven noticed. He stepped outside and gged down a waiter. ¡°Could you raise the temperature a bit? And bring a pot of warm water, please.¡± His attentiveness caught Ste off guard.

    She hadn¡¯t said anything¡ªjust a small reflex¡ªand he noticed right away?

    That¡­ was unexpectedly thoughtful.

    Once the room warmed up, Ste rxed.

    The food was delicious, the setting quiet, and throughout the meal, she genuinely feltfortable in hispany. Once the project talk was over, the topic shifted.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, have you always been on your own?¡±

    ¡°For now, yeah,¡± Ste answered calmly. It was the truth. She was single, in and simple.

    Steven said, ¡°Someone as impressive as you should definitely take their time choosing the right person.¡±

    Ste took a sip of water, her gaze steady. ¡°Love doesn¡¯t always go ording to n.¡±

    You could have a checklist a mile long, and it still wouldn¡¯t guarantee the right person.

    Steven smiled, then asked casually, ¡°So what kind of guy do you like, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    ???l????v??????.c??m brings fresh updates

    As he spoke, he reached over to refill her half-empty water ss.

    By now, Ste had a pretty good idea of what direction this was heading. ¡°My focus right now is work. I haven¡¯t given much thought to rtionships.¡±

    A gentle, graceful rejection.

    Steven¡¯s smile faded just a touch. But he didn¡¯t push further.

    He admired her¡ªthe real kind of admiration. Even if she wasn¡¯t interested now, there would be other chances.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he said, raising his ss slightly. ¡°Here¡¯s to a great partnership ahead.¡± They clinked sses.

    When dinner wrapped up, they walked out of the restaurant together.

    ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Steven asked. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡±

    Before Ste could respond, a ck Bentley rolled up right in front of them.

    The window slid down¡ªWilliam.

    His expression was calm, like this just happened to be a coincidence. ¡°Headed back to the research institute?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 192

    ?Chapter 192:

    Ste blinked. What was he doing here? This ce wasn¡¯t even close to their usual spots.

    She nodded, somewhat dazed.

    ¡°Alright, hop in. I¡¯ll drop you off. It¡¯s on the way.¡± His tone was neutral, no emotion on the surface.

    Ste hesitated, then nodded. She turned to Steven and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll get going then, Mr. Harrison. Thanks again for dinner.¡±

    Steven nodded back, watching her get in the car.

    As the Bentley drove off, he rubbed his temples. That expression William had just now¡­ was way too cold. Was he¡­ blocking him on purpose?

    Inside the car, the atmosphere was unusually quiet.

    After a moment, William asked, ¡°Steven invited you to dinner today?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ste replied. ¡°We were discussing the project. Just grabbed a bite at the same time.¡±

    William nodded, his eyes still focused ahead. ¡°What do you think of him?¡±

    Ste looked over. He waspletelyposed, as if this was just small talk. ¡°He¡¯s a good guy. Smart, capable. But I see him as just a colleague. Nothing else.¡±

    At first, William¡¯s face darkened.

    But when she said ¡°nothing else,¡± the tension in his jaw eased. There was even the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

    ¡°d you¡¯ve got your head on straight,¡± he muttered.

    Ste stared at him.

    Why did he care so much about Steven?

    And¡­ was he angry earlier?

    Wait.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s is full of thrilling adventures

    She stared at her phone, suddenly struck by apletely wild thought. Could it be¡­ that William and Steven were actually a thing?

    Was that why he looked so sour when she called Steven a ¡°good guy¡±¡ªbut rxed the second she said she wasn¡¯t interested? That¡­ would exin a lot!

    Determined to untangle the misunderstanding, Ste blurted out her exnation in a breathless rush. ¡°Honestly, I have zero interest in Steven. Today¡¯s lunch was just about business¡ªthere¡¯s nothing going on between us outside of work.¡±

    The more she spoke, the more William¡¯s expression softened, his fingers tapping out emails with a rare gentleness.

    Sensing his mood, Ste pressed on, her tone more assured. ¡°I really mean it¡ªI respect everyone¡¯s personal lives. People have different sexual orientations, and it¡¯s not my ce to interfere, no matter who they¡¯re into. If you¡¯re still concerned, I can let you know ahead of time anytime I have to meet Steven, just so there¡¯s no confusion.¡±

    William had been quietly enjoying her exnation, a faint smile lingering¡ªuntil she brought up ¡°different sexual orientations.¡± Suddenly, his hands stilled above the keyboard.

    He nced at her, eyes narrowed. ¡°Why are you exining all this to me?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t understand why he would ask such a question. Wasn¡¯t it obvious enough?

    .

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 Chapter 193

    ?Chapter 193:

    She said, ¡°Well, I just¡­ I don¡¯t want you to get the wrong idea about Steven and me. Isn¡¯t it true that you and he¡­¡±

    She caught herself, mping her mouth shut, aware the driver was just a few feet away.

    William¡¯s face turned thunderous at her implication.

    ¡°Stop the car,¡± he ordered, his voice t and dangerous.

    The driver jerked to a stop, hazard lights shing as the car lurched to the curb.

    Ste lurched forward, barely catching herself on the back of the front seat before shooting William a sharp look.

    Before she could speak, William¡¯s voice sliced through the tension¡ªcold, clipped. ¡°Get out.¡±

    Ste blinked in disbelief.

    What did she say wrong this time? Hadn¡¯t she made herself clear enough?

    Her frustration boiled over. She shoved the door open and climbed out, mming it behind her.

    The Bentley peeled away, leaving Ste stranded beneath the glow of the streetlights.

    Watching the taillights vanish around the corner, Ste pressed her lips together, cursing her luck for running into William at his absolute worst.

    Inside the Bentley, William stared nkly at hisptop, unable to focus on a single line.

    Was it really okay to leave her out here alone?

    Even if it was a crowded street, he¡¯d been the one to offer her a ride in the first ce.

    His conscience gnawed at him. After a tense pause, he snapped hisptop shut. ¡°Turn around.¡±

    The driver didn¡¯t dare question him, silently swinging the car into a U-turn at the next intersection.

    Back at the curb, Ste scrolled through her phone to call for a ride¡ªonly to look up as the ck Bentley glided to a stop in front of her. William stepped out of the car and nced down at her, his face unreadable. ¡°Take my car back. I¡¯ll get home on my own.¡±

    Explore captivating tales at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s???o??

    Ste blinked in confusion, thrown by his sudden generosity¡ªespecially after he¡¯d just kicked her out. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I already called for a ride¡­¡±

    Before she could finish, William raised an arm, gged down a passing taxi, and climbed in without a backward nce.

    Left standing on the curb with the Bentley¡¯s back door hanging open and the driver watching her expectantly, Ste let out a frustrated sigh.

    She slid into the car, feeling both ridiculous and strangely small.

    William¡¯s moods were impossible to predict. Was this about Steven? Was he really the jealous type? Love made even the most rational people act in absurd ways.

    A faint chill ran down her spine. From now on, she¡¯d keep her distance from Steven outside of work¡ªno matter what.

    Later that night, Steven and William sat in a dimly lit private room at a club, empty beer bottles littering the table between them.

    .

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 Chapter 194

    ?Chapter 194:

    Steven swirled his beer, lost in thought over the way William had gone out of his way for Ste earlier that day.

    After a pause, he set his half-empty beer on the table and leaned in, ncing sideways at William, who sat still and silent, his expression unreadable. ¡°William, tell me honestly¡ªwhat do you actually think about Sylvia? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going back on your word and want to chase after her now.¡±

    He recalled William¡¯s previous insistence that his interest in Sylvia was purely professional, nothing more.

    William shot Steven an unimpressed nce. ¡°You¡¯re tipsy already? That was barely your second drink.¡±

    Unfazed, Steven pressed on. ¡°So, does that mean you¡¯re not into her at all?¡±

    William answered with a slow, sardonic smirk, holding Steven¡¯s gaze for a long moment.

    He didn¡¯t say a word, but the silence was louder than any answer.

    Steven ducked his head, reaching for another bottle. ¡°Right, right¡ªI forgot. You¡¯re still chasing after your first love. Guess Sylvia¡¯s not your type. Any luck finding hertely?¡±

    William¡¯s gaze turned stormy, shadows flickering across his face. ¡°I¡¯ve picked up a few leads. Still working to confirm them.¡±

    Years of searching had brought him nothing but disappointment, buttely, he¡¯d finally glimpsed a sliver of hope¡ªeven if it was still just out of reach.

    Steven perked up, his curiosity piqued. ¡°That¡¯s something, at least. Are you free this weekend? Maybe give me some pointers on how to actually impress a girl? Or at least get her to smile at me?¡±

    William gave a sharpugh, already pushing his chair back. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind. I¡¯m busy.¡±

    Undeterred, Steven grabbed his sleeve, a desperate grin on his lips. ¡°Come on, man, aren¡¯t we supposed to be best friends? Sylvia¡¯sing in this weekend to sign the contract. Can¡¯t you spare an hour for my future happiness?¡±

    Neb was based in Briset, so every agreement had to be approved and signed by Ste in Choria before being forwarded there. William paused briefly. ¡°Understood.¡± He turned and walked off.

    Check what¡¯s new on g?ln¦Òv???s?c?m

    Steven sulked. William¡¯s attitude was truly unbearable.

    That weekend, Ste arrived at the designated restaurant to finalize the project details with Steven.

    As she entered, she spotted William seated next to him.

    The sight gave her a small jolt, and her guard immediately went up. Was he still annoyed about theirst interaction? Had hee today just to keep an eye on her?

    She walked over and took a seat. ¡°Did you bring the contract with you, Mr. Harrison?¡±

    Steven nodded. ¡°Yes, I did. Would you like something to drink, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    Before she could respond, William, still seated beside Steven, cut in with a low voice, ¡°Go grab three coffees. We¡¯ll both take ours ck.¡± Though she saw him as someone used to giving orders, he was still technically her superior. So she stood up and headed out to get them.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 195

    ?Chapter 195:

    Steven had hoped to use this time to build some rapport with Ste, but William had clearly disrupted that.

    Turning to him, Steven muttered in frustration, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to help me out, not ruin things.¡±

    Momentster, Ste returned with the drinks. Steven¡¯s expression brightened once more. ¡°There¡¯s a concert at the music hall this week. A friend gave me two tickets. If you¡¯re free, we could go together.¡±

    William¡¯s voice cut through the air again. ¡°There¡¯s a seminar scheduled at the institute this week. Everyone on the project team has to attend.¡±

    Steven was beginning to regret inviting William at all.

    Was he here to lend support or simply sabotage the moment?

    Though Ste was genuinely interested in going, work still came first. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Harrison. Maybe another time,¡± she said politely. She picked up the document and signed it, coffee in hand. ¡°I should get going. I have some data I need to update.¡±

    Steven watched her leave, trying to maintain his smile, but his posture slumped as she walked away.

    He turned toward William, who sat motionless, entirely unbothered.

    ¡°Seriously, why are you even here today?¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who invited me?¡± William¡¯s tone remained even. The moreposed William sounded, the more Steven felt something was off.

    William had imed he wasn¡¯t interested in Sylvia, so why did he keep interrupting Steven¡¯s ns with her?

    Steven thought back to their conversation at the club. When he¡¯d brought up William¡¯s childhood crush, William had mentioned following up on some leads.

    From what Steven had gathered, William had been spending time at the institutetely, right where Sylvia worked.

    That couldn¡¯t be a coincidence.

    A suspicion sparked in Steven¡¯s mind.

    ??????????????????.?????? ¨C more stories here

    Could Sylvia actually be the girl William had been trying to find all these years?

    He leaned in closer and whispered into William¡¯s ear, ¡°William¡­ is Sylvia the one you¡¯ve been looking for?¡±

    William cast him a side nce, expression unchanged, and said nothing.

    Knowing William¡¯s nature, Steven¡¯s chest sank.

    If it weren¡¯t true, he would have denied it without pause. His silence was as good as a confession.

    The sky outside, once filled with sunshine, had turned overcast, casting a gloomy shadow across Steven¡¯s face.

    His small hope had shattered.

    He rarely found himself drawn to anyone¡ªonly to discover that the girl he liked was the same one William had spent over ten years trying to find.

    Ste stepped out of the coffee shop, intending to grab lunch and return to the institute to finish her work.

    .

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 Chapter 196

    ?Chapter 196:

    Just as she reached the sidewalk, the sound of footsteps behind her caught her attention. She turned, puzzled.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Shouldn¡¯t he still be at the table with Steven? She had deliberately given them space to talk.

    ¡°What do you n to eat for lunch?¡± William asked,pletely sidestepping her question.

    Ste let out a quiet breath. ¡°There¡¯s a restaurant next door. We could go there.¡±

    She had originally nned to eat at the institute cafeteria, but with him now tagging along, she¡¯d have to settle for something pricier.

    Inside the restaurant, they sat across from each other at a small table. While waiting for their meal, William looked at her.

    ¡°What¡¯s your impression of Steven?¡±

    The question threw her for a second, and she rushed to clear up any misunderstanding. ¡°He seems decent. But there¡¯s nothing between us. We¡¯re just colleagues working on the same project.¡±

    Getting involved with someone linked to her boss was something she¡¯d never even consider.

    William didn¡¯t respond. He simply raised a brow, watching her quietly. Soon the waiter brought over their dishes.

    After the server left, William added, ¡°If you¡¯re interested in the concert, I have tickets. You can go after the seminar wraps up.¡±

    Ste looked up, a little taken aback. He had tickets too?

    If that was the case, why hadn¡¯t he nned to attend with Steven? And why did Steven ask her instead of William? Had something gone wrong between them?

    The questions piled up in her mind, but she kept them to herself. She gave a small nod and turned her attention to the food in front of her.

    There was one dish on the table that Ste especially enjoyed.

    Fresh content avable now g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    Noticing how quickly she was eating, William slid his own te toward her. ¡°If you like it that much, take mine too. If it¡¯s not enough, we can order more.¡±

    His unexpectedly gentle tone unsettled her. It wasn¡¯t how he usually spoke to her.

    Was this his way of getting back at her, being overly kind just to throw her off?

    As he nudged the te closer, she stopped it with her hand before it reached her.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright, Mr. Briggs,¡± she said, her voice calm but firm. ¡°About earlier at the caf¨¦, I wasn¡¯t trying to get toofortable with Mr. Harrison. If that bothered you, I¡¯ll be more mindful going forward.¡±

    He¡¯d made his feelings so clear¡ªyet she still thought he liked men? William¡¯s brows drew together, his gaze locked on her, dark and unreadable. ¡°Ste, do you even hear yourself?¡±

    His voice was low,ced with warning. That look in his eyes¡­ it sent a chill through her.

    Ste quickly waved her hands, trying to ease the tension. ¡°I mean, I get it. I¡¯m not judging you or anything¡ªyour orientation¡¯s your business. And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯d never tell anyone. I swear, I¡¯ll keep it to myself¡­¡±

    .

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 Chapter 197

    ?Chapter 197:

    Before she could finish, William leaned in.

    His lips brushed against hers¡ªcool, firm, and fleeting. It wasn¡¯t deep. It wasn¡¯t demanding. But it was definitely a kiss. Her eyes widened, breath caught in her throat.

    When he pulled back, his gaze was calm and direct. ¡°Does that prove it?¡±

    Ste¡¯s brain short-circuited. Did he just kiss her? He actually kissed her. But¡­ wasn¡¯t he supposed to like men?

    Her thoughts turned into static.

    She dropped her utensils with a tter and bolted upright, grabbing her bag without another word. She rushed out of the restaurant, heart thudding,pletely unable to face him.

    Out on the street, her chest heaved with every step. She clutched her bag tightly against her chest, but it didn¡¯t help.

    That kiss¡ªhis face¡ªthose eyes¡ªthey kept shing through her mind like a film reel stuck on repeat.

    By the time she stumbled into her dorm at the research institute, she was a mess. As she opened the door, Rita was just stepping out of William¡¯s apartment across the hall.

    Seeing Ste, Rita smiled kindly. ¡°Ms. Russell, did you eat out today?¡± Normally, Ste would smile and make small talk, but today she barely looked up. She brushed past, closed the door behind her, and disappeared inside.

    Rita stood there, stunned. What happened to her? She seemedpletely out of it.

    In the bathroom, Ste stared at her reflection.

    She lifted a hand and touched her lips. The memory of that kiss sent another wave of confusion through her. Why had William kissed her? It wasn¡¯t until dawn that she sat bolt upright in bed, eyes puffy, hair wild, her thoughts finally clicking into ce.

    He was a proud man. She had dragged his personal life into their conversation at a public setting, bringing up his orientation, no less. He must¡¯ve been furious¡ªand humiliated. That kiss? It wasn¡¯t real. It was just a way to prove a point. A way to shut her up.

    The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. Her body trembled slightly. It must be revenge.

    Her stomach twisted with regret. She never should¡¯ve brought it up. She¡¯d crossed a line.

    Ste let out a long sigh, trying to convince herself to just move on and forget the whole thing. Whatever that kiss was¡ªwhatever it meant¡ªshe¡¯d chalk it up to William¡¯s pride and leave it at that.

    It was his personal business, and she¡¯d crossed a line by bringing it up. Either way, she wasn¡¯t going to poke at it anymore. She¡¯d act like it never happened.

    Pushing the thoughts away, she got out of bed and headed to wash up. She had a full day ahead and couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted. Yesterday was over. Whatever happened, it stayed in the past. She opened the door¡ªonly to find herself face to face with William, who was stepping out across the hall. Their eyes met.

    Ste¡¯s body tensed instinctively. He looked at her but didn¡¯t say a word.

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 Chapter 198

    ?Chapter 198:

    She forced a smile. ¡°Mr. Briggs, about yesterday¡ªit was a mistake. Let¡¯s not take it too seriously. Just pretend it never happened, okay?¡±

    William¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but something flickered in his eyes. Pretend it never happened?

    She had run away like he was some kind of disease, and now she wanted to erase the momentpletely?

    His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

    Meanwhile, Ste spun around and left for work without another word. She wasn¡¯t going to dwell on this.

    At theb, her team was moving into phase two of the experiment. The first phase had been sessful¡ªspirits were high.

    But then the morning fell apart. The tests failed. Again. And again. They couldn¡¯t pinpoint the issue. Every critical point triggered a new error.

    By lunchtime, theb felt like a pressure cooker.

    ¡°What are we even doing?¡± Sandra slumped in her chair, exasperated. ¡°We crushed phase one, but now we can¡¯t get past the start of phase two?¡±

    Everyone was frustrated.

    The progress should have been easier, given their aplishments with the first phase.

    Why were they not making any progress?

    Ste tried to keep morale up. ¡°Take a breath, all of you. We¡¯ve done it once, we¡¯ll do it again. Let¡¯s eat and reset¡ªwe¡¯lle back with fresh ideas.¡±

    Setbacks were part of science. She knew that. A good leader stayed calm. But not everyone agreed. Standing near the equipment table, Cecelia scoffed. ¡°Easy for you to say, Sylvia. You didn¡¯t even touch the equipment today¡ªyou¡¯ve been on data sorting all morning. No wonder you think it¡¯s ¡®no big deal.''¡±

    The others, hearing Cecelia¡¯s outburst, tried to calm the situation before it got out of hand.

    Sylvia¡¯s non-participation in that day¡¯s hands-on experiment was part of the team¡¯s division ofbor¡ªit had nothing to do with her personal abilities.

    ¡°Cecelia, we¡¯re all team members here. I¡¯m sure Sylvia also hopes we can finish the experiment soon, so there¡¯s no need for suchments,¡± Sandra said, stepping in to mediate.

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    But Cecelia wasn¡¯t done. She set the equipment down and turned, arms crossed, her voiceced with contempt. ¡°Really? Why can¡¯t we talk about herck of ability? Isn¡¯t she always hanging around with William? She used her connections to unfairly get in our team, and even if our group gets eliminated, it won¡¯t affect her joining the project team.¡±

    Elbert¡¯s voice cut through the tension, firm and disapproving. ¡°Cecelia, that¡¯s enough. You can¡¯t just throw around usations like that.¡± He knew better than anyone¡ªif it weren¡¯t for Sylvia, their group wouldn¡¯t have even made it this far. Theb ess during the Allen debacle, the incubator incident¡ªthey owed her, not the other way around.

    While he didn¡¯t know the exact nature of her rtionship with William, Elbert knew one thing for certain¡ªSylvia never coasted, and she never dragged the team down.

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 Chapter 199

    ?Chapter 199:

    But Cecelia wasn¡¯t done. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she sneered, ¡°Then why does she act like it¡¯s no big deal? We¡¯ve been stuck here all morning, and she just sits there sorting data like it doesn¡¯t matter. If she¡¯s that confident, let her try it herself. If she pulls it off, I¡¯ll apologize. Fair?¡±

    They had all given up a lot for this experiment.

    Ste finally looked up, calm and steady. ¡°Alright,¡± she said tly. ¡°But if I do, I expect an apology.¡±

    Cecelia snorted, unimpressed. ¡°Sure. Knock yourself out.¡± She was convinced Sylvia wouldn¡¯t seed. Everyone else had spent hours failing.

    Ste walked up to the bench, checked the microscope, then reviewed the numbers on the tablet beside it.

    After a few subtle adjustments to the sample alignment and recalibration of the instrument, she activated the test.

    Almost instantly, the numbers on the screen began to stabilize.

    Sandra leaned in, blinking in disbelief. ¡°Wait¡­ is it working? Did you just fix it?¡± She turned to the screen again, gasping. ¡°Sylvia! You really fixed it! That¡¯s amazing!¡±

    Even Jamir and Elbert moved closer, both visibly impressed.

    ¡°It was just a subtle misread in the sample profile,¡± Ste exined.

    Elbert¡¯s face lit up with realization as Ste exined that the error came from a subtle data point easily overlooked. Once corrected, the system adjusted itself.

    He let out a long sigh. ¡°So that¡¯s why. I should have thought of it sooner.¡±

    The self-me was immediate. As team leader, he believed he should¡¯ve spotted the issue before Sylvia had to step in.

    Ste shook her head. ¡°It happens. It¡¯s a group effort. What matters is we¡¯re back on track.¡±

    But Elbert still looked troubled. ¡°You really are sharp, Sylvia. Honestly, I think you¡¯re more suited to lead this team than I am.¡±

    Compared to Sylvia¡¯s attention to detail, he felt inadequate.

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    Ste immediately waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You¡¯ve kept this team together. You¡¯re a great leader, Elbert.¡±

    Sandra, still buzzing with excitement, grabbed Ste¡¯s arm. ¡°You¡¯re amazing! Like, seriously amazing!¡±

    Then she turned, eyes narrowing at Cecelia. ¡°Well? What do you have to say now?¡±

    Cecelia¡¯s face had turned beet red. Her jaw clenched, lips thin. She stared at the working machine like it had personally betrayed her. Ste raised a brow. ¡°What? Need help saying ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Cecelia finally muttered before storming off without another word.

    Why did she always effortlessly get the spotlight?

    Even now¡ªdifferent identity, different role¡ªSte still had everyone wrapped around her finger. Cecelia refused to ept it.

    Meanwhile, Marc wasn¡¯t having a good day either. Between the mounting pressure at thepany and his forced cooperation with Haley, his patience was wearing thin.

    And now, Beatrice¡ªHaley¡¯s mother¡ªhadid down an ultimatum: If he wanted her family¡¯s continued support, he had to marry Haley.

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 Chapter 200

    ?Chapter 200:

    The Smith family only looked out for their own.

    There was no more dodging it. Marc finally agreed to get engaged. After finishing a long meeting, he returned to his office only to see his phone lighting up.

    He rubbed his temples, already knowing who it was¡ªHaley.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you pick up sooner?¡± she snapped the moment he answered. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re off meeting some woman behind my back! If you¡¯re cheating on me, I swear I¡¯m done helping you!¡±

    Haley¡¯s temper had grown worse by the day. Lately, even the slightest dy in answering her calls was enough to trigger a scolding.

    Marc, already nursing a headache, pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered with forced patience, ¡°I was just in a meeting. Can¡¯t you see my location? I¡¯ve been at the office this whole time, Princess.¡±

    To keep her calm, he had no choice but to install a real-time tracking app on his phone, letting Haley monitor his whereabouts nearly around the clock.

    Haley, seemingly appeased by the exnation, didn¡¯t let up entirely. Her tone was still full of arrogance as she snapped, ¡°Hmph, whatever. I want you by my side in thirty minutes. I¡¯m going to try on wedding dresses.¡±

    Marc¡¯s first instinct was to push back. ¡°I can¡¯t go. I¡¯ve got a meeting with a client soon.¡±

    Haley¡¯s face immediately darkened as she replied, ¡°What client? No one in Choria is willing to work with you now. Every deal you¡¯vended is because of my family. You¡¯d be nowhere without us.¡± Her scorn made Marc¡¯s jaw tighten.

    The contempt in her voice was unmistakable¡ªa cutting reminder that, ever since he agreed to their engagement, she¡¯d stopped bothering to hide how little she thought of him.

    She acted as if, because she¡¯d opened a few doors for him, he was expected to be grateful and obedient for life.

    His patience frayed. He¡¯d only nned to use her connections as a temporary stepping stone, but Haley couldn¡¯t wait to lord it over him. There was no way he¡¯d marry a woman who treated him like an essory.

    ¡°Haley, can we be reasonable for once? I really do have to see this client. I¡¯lle by after, alright? That¡¯s final¡ªI¡¯m hanging up.¡±

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    Before she could spit out another word, he ended the call.

    Haley stared at her phone in disbelief, then, consumed by fury, hurled it hard across the room.

    The maid fumbled with the zipper, and in Haley¡¯s agitated state, a lock of her hair got yanked into the teeth.

    Haley shrieked, spun around, and pped the startled maid hard across the cheek. ¡°Are youpletely useless? That hurt! Get out¡ªnow!¡±

    Once the maid had fled, Haley red at her own reflection, rage smoldering in her eyes. The sight only fueled her temper.

    Everything Marc owned, he owed to her generosity¡ªyet he¡¯d had the nerve to hang up on her?

    The thought made her blood boil.

    Meanwhile, over at the research institute, Ste¡¯s afternoon experiment unfolded without a hitch. The steady progress finallypensated for the setbacks of the morning.

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 Chapter 201

    ?Chapter 201:

    As the clock edged toward the end of the workday, Sandra arched her back with a groan. ¡°Atst¡ªwe¡¯re free! Sylvia, we seriously owe you one today. If you hadn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°Stepped in, we¡¯d still be spinning our wheels.¡± She shot Ste a yful wink and added, ¡°With you around, there¡¯s no way we won¡¯te out on top!¡±

    Elbert and Jamir both voiced their agreement, but Cecelia lingered in the background, her face clouded with resentment.

    Ste and Sandra strolled out of theb together, lost in conversation, when William suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.

    He strode over and stopped in front of them, his gaze fixed on Ste. ¡°Sylvia,e with me. There¡¯s something I want to talk about.¡±

    Ste hesitated, caught off guard by the directness in his tone.

    Sandra immediately let go of Ste¡¯s arm. ¡°Go on, Sylvia. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow!¡±

    With a smirk ying on her lips, she tossed Ste a breezy wave goodbye.

    Before Ste could protest or exin, Sandra had already slipped away to join the others, leaving her stranded.

    Ste stood there, a little flustered, watching Sandra¡¯s retreating back. It was pointless to argue¡ªno one would believe her if she tried to clear up the misunderstanding anyway.

    William waited for her, his posture rxed but unmistakably cool. He wore a deep blue button-down and loose ck jeans, the effortless pairing giving him a retro, almost rebellious air.

    No wonder everyone found him so maic.

    She banished the distracting thought and gave William her full attention. ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Neb¡¯s vying for a new project. The site¡¯s in Choria. If you¡¯re avable,e with me to take a look,¡± William remarked, his tone casual.

    Even though Ste was the acting CEO at Neb now, William still called the shots behind the scenes. It made sense he¡¯d be the one to bring her in on the new project.

    With the day¡¯s work at the institute wrapped up, Ste nced at the clock¡ª5:48 p.m. There was still plenty of daylight left. ¡°I¡¯m free. Let¡¯s go.¡±

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    William didn¡¯t bother calling for a driver. Instead, he took the wheel of the ck Bentley himself, and together they headed out to the site. As they drove, he filled her in on the situation.

    ¡°Thend¡¯s up for grabs. If we win the bid, the whole project¡­¡±

    ¡°Is ours, and we can turn it into a high-end resort. But there¡¯spetition¡ªwe¡¯re not the onlypany eyeing it. We¡¯re meeting the client today.¡±

    Given how tourism had taken offtely, it made perfect sense that Neb was eager to carve out a foothold.

    Their route led them out to the edge of Choria, where the countryside stretched wide and green. Even with the city¡¯s usual congestion, the roads were clear, and they pulled in just under thirty minutes.

    Rising from thendscape, a sleek modern building gleamed beside a man-made waterfall tumbling over artfully arranged stone. Ste kept pace beside William, but as they stepped inside, her gaze snagged on a familiar silhouette waiting just past the lobby doors.

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 Chapter 202

    ?Chapter 202:

    ¡°Marc?¡±

    Ste flicked her eyes up, catching his gaze for a split second before she looked away, her expression guarded.

    Given what William had told her about the fiercepetition for this project, she wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised to see Marc show up. This was Neb¡¯s opportunity¡ªand Ste had no intention of letting anyone, least of all Marc, get in her way.

    They stepped into the ss-walled conference room, where the client¡¯s representatives were already waiting. The tension in the air was palpable as Ste and Marc crossed the threshold. A round of polite handshakes followed.

    ¡°Ladies first. We¡¯d like to hear from Neb¡¯s side,¡± the client announced, gesturing for Ste to begin.

    She had already studied everything about thend and absorbed the background material on the ride over. Her n was sharp, cohesive, and ready tounch.

    Standing tall and calm, Ste introduced herself, then dove straight into her proposal. Her voice carried through the room, every word confident and precise, weaving apelling vision for the project¡¯s future.

    Gradually, everyone at the table leaned in, drawn into her orbit by the force of her conviction.

    From his seat, Marc couldn¡¯t help but watch her, a strange flutter sparking in his chest.

    Sunlight nted through the windows, bathing Ste in a warm, golden glow that made her seem almost untouchable.

    Only then did Marc realize just how captivating she truly was. All those years of marriage, she¡¯d hidden her light behind the role of his dutiful wife, quietly tucking away her brilliance. He¡¯d been blind to it¡ªuntil now.

    As Ste wrapped up her presentation, the conference room burst into spontaneous apuse.

    The client¡¯s eyes shone with genuine enthusiasm. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, your vision is innovative and perfectly in line with what we¡¯re seeking. Neb has a bright future. Mr. Walsh, could you share yourpany¡¯s thoughts next?¡±

    Marc snapped back to reality. He tore his gaze from Ste and forced himself to focus, steeling his nerves as all eyes turned to him.

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    He nced down, his brows knitted in deep thought, then lifted his head¡ªresolve clear in his eyes. ¡°Neb¡¯s proposal is outstanding. For this project, the Walsh Group will step aside.¡±

    A stunned silence swept through the room. Even Ste looked at him in disbelief.

    What exactly was Marc doing?

    Truthfully, Marc was more than willing to hand this project to Ste. Watching her excel in her element filled him with a surprising sense of pride. Compared to seeing her shine, one project hardly mattered.

    The client shot him a look, trying to gauge his sincerity. ¡°Mr. Walsh, are you saying you¡¯re actually withdrawing from thepetition?¡±

    Marc replied with a nod. ¡°I genuinely respect Neb¡¯s CEO and her ideas. I believe this project would be in the best hands with Neb.¡±

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 Chapter 203

    ?Chapter 203:

    Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed at that. Her expression cooled instantly.

    ¡°Neb doesn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s handouts,¡± she stated, her voice crisp. ¡°We¡¯re all here topete¡ªlet¡¯s do it on equal footing. If we lose, we¡¯ll ept it gracefully. Mr. Walsh, are you underestimating ourpany?¡±

    Marc faltered, caught off guard by her reaction, and quickly tried to rify, his voice tight with unease. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant at all.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s not what you meant, then go ahead and present your proposal, Mr. Walsh,¡± Ste cut him off, determined to keep him from twisting thingster to make it seem like he¡¯d handed her the project.

    A storm of conflicted feelings flickered across Marc¡¯s face as he met her wary gaze, uncertain how things had turned so tense between them. Left with no choice, heunched into his own analysis of the project, doing his best to stayposed.

    Once Marc finished, the client rose from his seat with a polite nod. ¡°I¡¯ve heard both of your proposals and understand your perspectives. I¡¯ll let you know the oue within three days. Thank you both foring.¡±

    It was standard practice¡ªno winner would be named on the spot, sparing everyone any public embarrassment.

    As Ste and William prepared to leave, the client suddenly addressed William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, could you stay a moment? There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss privately.¡±

    Catching the hint, Ste gave William a brief nod and stepped out into the hall.

    While she waited, Marc appeared at her side.

    ¡°Stel, why wouldn¡¯t you ept what I was trying to do in there? I meant it¡ªI really think you¡¯re the best person for this.¡± Marc¡¯s voice softened,ced with wounded confusion as he tried to bridge the gap between them.

    Ste leveled a steady look at him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, whatever your reasons, let¡¯s just do things by the book. That way, there¡¯s no room for future misunderstandings.¡±

    Marc caught the chill in her tone. Disappointment flickered across his face. ¡°So you really think I¡¯d do something underhanded? Do you believe that little of me?¡±

    He wondered if she saw any of his actions as genuine, or if every gesture was doomed to be twisted into something malicious.

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    Ste¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Frankly, it¡¯s none of my concern what kind of person you are.¡±

    Her voice was clipped, her patience thinning by the second. If she hadn¡¯t promised to wait for William, she¡¯d have walked away without another word.

    Marc¡¯s shoulders slumped, but he pressed on. ¡°Stel, I mean it¡ªI finally see where I went wrong. You proved today you don¡¯t need anyone¡¯s help. I was arrogant and selfish before¡­¡±

    She interjected, not bothering to hide her impatience. ¡°Mr. Walsh, if you¡¯re here to spill your heart, I¡¯m not interested. Save your confessions for someone who cares.¡±

    Just then, a ck car glided to the curb. Behind the tinted window, Haley caught sight of Marc and Ste¡¯s tense exchange at the entrance. Her expression darkened, lips pressed into a thin line as a hot surge of fury churned in her chest.

    So this was the so-called business meeting Marc had been talking about?

    No wonder he¡¯d rushed to end their call earlier¡ªhe couldn¡¯t wait to see Ste in person.

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 Chapter 204

    ?Chapter 204:

    Haley hopped out of the car the second it stopped. ¡°Marc, done with your meeting?¡± she asked sweetly, then turned her attention to Ste with a smug smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, we really do keep running into each other, don¡¯t we? If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you were following Marc around on purpose.¡±

    Marc frowned slightly, ready to tell Haley to knock it off, but before he could say anything, Ste beat him to it. ¡°Maybe save those words for yourself and Mr. Walsh.¡±

    Her tone was calm but sharp, and the response shut both of them up for a beat.

    Haley¡¯s smile froze for a second before she forced it wider. ¡°Must be a misunderstanding. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not that type, Ms. Gilbert. Anyway, Marc and I are getting engaged. If you¡¯re free, you¡¯re more than wee toe to the ceremony.¡±

    She clung tighter to Marc¡¯s arm, clearly trying to mark her territory.

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m busy that day.¡±

    ¡°Oh? But I haven¡¯t even told you the date yet. How do you know you¡¯re busy?¡± Haley pressed, fake-innocence all over her face. ¡°Or¡­ could it be you still have feelings for Marc and don¡¯t want to see us together?¡±

    Footsteps sounded behind Ste, and a momentter, William walked up beside her. ¡°There are way too many mosquitoes here. Why not wait in the car?¡± he said casually, ncing at Marc and Haley like they were nothing more than background noise.

    Ste nearly smirked. She gave him a thumbs up mentally.

    Haley¡¯s expression faltered, but she quickly recovered and kept up appearances. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I was just inviting Ms. Gilbert to my engagement party with Marc. You¡¯re wee to join us too.¡±

    William barely gave her a look. ¡°And who exactly do you think you are that I¡¯d attend your engagement?¡±

    Then, without waiting for a response, he turned to Ste. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The two of them walked off, leaving Haley standing there, fuming.

    Why did Ste always have men like that around her?

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    Back in the car, William didn¡¯t drive straight to the institute.

    He said, ¡°Since the project¡¯s locked in, it¡¯s time to discussnd development. With Neb¡¯s new equipment and your biotech n, we can probably increase efficiency.¡±

    Work talk didn¡¯t bother Ste.

    William was a known workaholic¡ªshe¡¯d figured that out back in Briset.

    Once they were seated in a private meeting room, she opened herptop and pulled up the files. ¡°It makes sense to build a resort in that area. The terrain¡¯s elevated, and this nt variety thrives in that kind of climate. It¡¯s rare and could be a big draw.¡±

    She walked him through her ideas, everything she¡¯d drafted in just over an hour.

    When she finally looked up, she noticed William seemed lost in thought.

    She waved a hand in front of his face. ¡°William, are you even listening?¡±

    He snapped out of it. ¡°I heard you. The n¡¯s solid. Let¡¯s go with it.¡±

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 Chapter 205

    ?Chapter 205:

    Her lips curved into a small smile. ¡°Perfect. We¡¯ll start from there and adjust along the way.¡±

    After lunch, they stepped outside.

    But just as they reached the car, another one pulled up nearby¡ªHaley and Marc stepped out.

    Seriously, was Choria this small?

    Ste didn¡¯t even nce their way. William opened the car door, and she got in without hesitation.

    The car drove off.

    But Marc was still standing there, clearly distracted by seeing Ste again.

    Haley, on the other hand, was furious.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see Ste today,¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s doing just fine with William. He probably gave her that project. Who knows what kind of tricks she used? That woman only knows how to please men!¡±

    Marc¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Haley, don¡¯t talk about her like that.¡±

    She blinked. ¡°Marc, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e. What do you mean by that? Did I say something wrong? You saw how she was throwing herself at William.¡±

    His jaw tightened. ¡°This is yourst warning¡ªdon¡¯t badmouth Ste in front of me again. You really think you¡¯re better than her?¡±

    Haley looked stunned. ¡°Wait¡­ are you saying I¡¯m not?¡±

    Marc scoffed. ¡°What right do you have topare yourself to her? In what way could you possiblypare to Ste?¡±

    That shut her up¡ªjust for a second. Then she clenched her fists, fury written all over her face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget who stepped in when Walsh Group was about to copse,¡± she snapped. ¡°And why you agreed to marry me! You think you¡¯re some noble hero?¡±

    They were of the same clique.

    He had no right to put her down like that.

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    She didn¡¯t wait for a reply. She got in the car and mmed the door, leaving Marc standing alone on the sidewalk.

    What a joke. He was even riding in her car these days¡ªwho was he to talk down to her?

    Fuming in the backseat, Haley couldn¡¯t bring herself to regain her calm.

    And the longer she stewed, the clearer her me became¡ªSte.

    That shameless woman was the reason everything between her and Marc had gone sideways. Even divorced, Ste still managed to linger like a shadow between them.

    If it weren¡¯t for her, Haley and Marc would already be married¡ªmaybe even have a child by now.

    She stared at the street shing by outside the window, a cold glint in her eyes.

    If Ste insisted on being in the way, then she couldn¡¯t me her for being ruthless.

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 Chapter 206

    ?Chapter 206:

    That evening, Haley picked up her phone and dialed every major media outlet in Chona. She had an explosive piece of news¡ªand it was time to drop the bomb.

    By the next morning, a hot topic had exploded online, and more followed in quick session. At the center of the storm was a single name¡ªSte.

    Directly beneath her name, a sensational headline screamed: ¡°Ste trades loyalty for ambition¡ªditching her long-time husband in pursuit of sess.¡±

    Another hot topic chased after it, stirring debate. ¡°Are women on the rise, or falling behind? Independent or dependent¡ªwhat¡¯s the truth behind Ste¡¯s story?¡±

    As all this yed out online, Ste finished her morning routine, ready to head out for work at the research institute. Before she could leave, her phone lit up with an iing call¡ªSharon¡¯s name shed across the screen.

    ¡°Stel, have you seen the trending topics? Someone¡¯s out there trashing your reputation!¡±

    Ste, still adjusting her watch, barely frowned. She¡¯d weathered online storms before and didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Let them say what they want. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡±

    Sharon¡¯s anxious voice grew sharper. ¡°How can you act like this doesn¡¯t matter? This is nder, Ste! They¡¯re making things up about you, and rumors move faster than wildfire. If you stay silent, things might spiral out of control.¡±

    Hearing Sharon¡¯s genuine rm, Ste¡¯s fingers stilled. Maybe this storm was bigger than she¡¯d thought.

    She hesitated, set her bag down, and sank into the living room sofa. Opening her phone, she braced herself and started scrolling through the trending headlines.

    Her eyesnded on the smear campaign, and she let out a short, incredulousugh.

    ¡°Former Walsh Group CEO¡¯s wife Ste Russell, suspected of being under a new identity. Not only did she leave Marc Walsh, but she¡¯s now tly denying she was ever Ste. What a master of deception!¡±

    ¡°Ste Russell rebranded herself as Sylvia Gilbert, ruthlessly cutting Marc out of her life. She now refuses to acknowledge her past and is openly clinging to Choria¡¯s rising star, William Briggs. Their staged disys of affection ignore Marc and their marriage as if it never existed.¡±

    ¡°Of course, William is just another stepping stone¡ªSte¡¯s golden ticket into elite society. Before she met him, she was nothing¡ªjust another wealthy housewife¡­¡±

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    Coasting on Marc Walsh¡¯s fortune. But after she crossed paths with William, she started making the rounds at high-profile business events, quickly building a new reputation. Anyone who thinks this wasn¡¯t all part of her n is either naive or blind.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t hold back augh, breathless at the sheer absurdity. The idea that she¡¯d ever clung to William for support¡ªwhat a joke. If these so-called journalists ever found out that William preferred men, their headlines would evaporate overnight.

    The article¡¯s closing lines took on a self-righteous tone, wrapping the whole smear job in a bow of moral outrage.

    ¡°In the end, whether she calls herself Ste Russell or Sylvia Gilbert, she¡¯s just a woman who traded family for fortune. A person like this will inevitably pay the price for her choices. Cities like Choria don¡¯t need selfish, opportunistic frauds poisoning the atmosphere. Such people are nothing but trouble for society!¡±

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 Chapter 207

    ?Chapter 207:

    Ste skimmed down to the bottom of the page, her gaze catching the flood of onlinements.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I see this woman at a nightclub once? She was charging five grand a night. Not exactly cheap.¡±

    ¡°If I were her husband, I¡¯d lock her up and toss the key!¡±

    ¡°William Briggs, interested in her? That¡¯s utterly absurd. She¡¯s delusional. William Briggs is not running a charity, let alone a recycling center.¡±

    The online bacsh came from every direction¡ªmen and women alike, piling on with barely a voice questioning the rumors¡¯ truth.

    In the story the media spun, the men¡¯s roles were scrubbed clean, leaving Ste alone as the viin in the spotlight.

    It didn¡¯t take her long to guess who¡¯d orchestrated the smear campaign. Only one person stood to benefit from twisting the narrative so viciously¡ªHaley. No one else came to mind.

    Her phone buzzed again with another call from Sharon. ¡°Stel, did you see what¡¯s going on? What are you going to do about it? The story¡¯s everywhere now. Even if you don¡¯t care about your own reputation, think about your job¡ªand your boss. I heard Haley¡¯s holding a press conference this afternoon to drag this out even further.¡±

    Ste blinked, momentarily thrown. Haley had the nerve to call a press conference? Was she really so fearless¡ªor just reckless?

    Apparently,st time hadn¡¯t taught her anything.

    ¡°If Haley wants to go onstage and make things up, let her,¡± Ste said, a slow, dangerous smile curving her lips. ¡°I¡¯m actually curious to see what kind of story she¡¯ll spin this time. But you¡¯re right, Sharon. I shouldn¡¯t just sit back and let her drag my name through the mud. Trust me¡ªI know exactly how to deal with her. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    Sharon said, ¡°What do you need? I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    Ste said, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll handle it myself. I have to get to work now¡ªwe¡¯ll talkter, okay?¡±

    After ending the call, Ste made her way to the director¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯d like to request some time off this afternoon,¡± she said as she pushed open the door. ¡°There¡¯s something personal I need to take care of¡ª¡±

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    But the moment she stepped in, she froze. William was already inside, seated across from Paul.

    Realizing she¡¯d interrupted, Ste quickly apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ªI didn¡¯t know you were in a meeting. I¡¯lle backter.¡±

    She backed out of the room, and only a few minutester, William stepped out.

    Ste waited a moment before re-entering and exined her leave request.

    Given the way things had exploded online, Paul clearly already knew what she was dealing with. He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Go ahead and take the time, Sylvia. Just be careful with how you handle it¡ªthis involves your future. If there¡¯s anything you need, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. Your identity is legitimate. Don¡¯t let anyone shake your confidence.¡± His calm support hit Ste harder than she expected. Her throat tightened a little.

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 Chapter 208

    ?Chapter 208:

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. I¡¯ll settle this as soon as possible,¡± she said. She also promised not to let it affect her work.

    As she stepped out of the office, she was surprised to see William still standing nearby.

    She had figured he¡¯d left already¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t. Was he¡­ waiting for her?

    She immediately brushed off the thought. Ridiculous.

    But then William looked at her and asked, ¡°Are you nning to go to the press conference this afternoon?¡± Her heart thudded. So he knew too.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I dragged you into this,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it and won¡¯t cause you trouble. I didn¡¯t expect the rumors online, and I¡¯m sorry they involved you.¡±

    William¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°I¡¯m already involved. You think it hasn¡¯t caused me trouble?¡± That shut her up.

    It was true¡ªthings had already spiraled out of control, and she couldn¡¯t even begin to fix the mess she hadn¡¯t started. Then he added, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you this afternoon.¡±

    Ste blinked at him in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ing with me?¡± William usually avoided anything remotely like a public appearance, let alone a live broadcast.

    He gave her a sideways nce. ¡°Why, is there a problem?¡±

    She shook her head quickly. ¡°No¡ªnot at all.¡±

    With preparations to make, Ste didn¡¯t return to her team that morning.

    She spent her time getting ready.

    By early afternoon, just as she stepped outside, William¡¯s ck Bentley rolled out of the underground garage and stopped right in front of her. This time, she didn¡¯t wait for him to open the door or say anything. She climbed in.

    The venue Haley had chosen for the press conference was downtown, just a short drive away.

    In the car, Ste listened as the live stream yed on her phone. Haley¡¯s voice droned on, every word full of drama and manufactured pity.

    When they arrived, the conference was already halfway through. Without hesitation, Ste pushed open the conference room doors and strode in.

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    Her voice rang clear and steady: ¡°I¡¯ve just been watching your live broadcast, Ms. Smith. About what you said¡ªI think I can provide some rification myself.¡±

    Heads turned all at once.

    Ste stood tall in a crisp white blouse and tailored ck trousers. Her hair was tied neatly at the back, her entire presence calm and poised.

    Right beside her, William stood in a sleek, dark suit, his expression cool and unreadable, his presencemanding without needing to say a word.

    Together, they were impossible to ignore.

    Haley, seated onstage, froze the moment she saw them. She hadn¡¯t expected Ste to show up in person¡ªand definitely not with William walking in beside her.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Haley snapped.

    Ste didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°If I didn¡¯te, how else would I shut down all your nonsense?¡±

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 Chapter 209

    ?Chapter 209:

    Camera shes popped like fireworks around her, but Ste stood steady, her voice cool andposed as she looked straight at the crowd.

    She began, ¡°First of all, everything Ms. Smith just said is aplete fabrication. I¡¯m officially using her of nder and defamation. If anyone questions my identity, feel free to verify it with the proper authorities.¡±

    The room went quiet. The confidence in her voice made people sit up and listen. ¡°Secondly, as a woman, I know how hard it can be to survive in the workce. But just because it¡¯s tough doesn¡¯t mean sess isn¡¯t earned. If we assume every sessful woman slept her way to the top, that says more about our own ignorance than it does about her. That mindset is toxic, outdated, and frankly, pathetic.¡± Her tone sharpened as she continued. ¡°Women have real talent. We don¡¯t need to rely on men to seed. We shine in every industry, and we¡¯re not inferior to anyone. We fight just as hard¡ªif not harder.¡± A few reporters shifted ufortably, suddenly realizing how small-minded their earlier assumptions had been.

    ¡°Lastly, if you still doubt me, then you¡¯re questioning the entire research institute. Do you really think they¡¯d risk their reputation just to protect me?¡± She turned to Haley, whose face had lost all color. ¡°Ms. Smith, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so hellbent on dragging me down. But your words today were broadcast live, and I will be pursuing legal action.¡±

    All eyes turned to Haley. ¡°Ms. Smith,¡± a reporter called out, ¡°do you have anyment?¡±

    Another reporter asked, ¡°Were these ims really made up? Why go after another woman like this?¡±

    The press swarmed her with questions, each one sharper than thest.

    Haley lookedpletely cornered.

    Then, from behind Ste, a coldugh broke the tension.

    Reporters instinctively turned to William, who had been standing silently, his face unreadable. ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± one of them asked nervously, ¡°do you have anything to say about what Ms. Gilbert just said?¡±

    William¡¯s gaze swept across the room, his tone t and unimpressed. ¡°Do they let just anyone hold a microphone these days? Can none of you tell what¡¯s true and what¡¯s not? The level of your questions is getting embarrassing.¡±

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    He had that arrogant edge to him, but no one dared talk back¡ªeveryone just lowered their heads and stepped back a little, with guilty looks.

    ¡°Calling a whole press conference over baseless rumors? Clearly, some people have way too much time on their hands,¡± William said tly.

    ¡°This event¡¯s over. You can all leave now.¡± Everyone hesitated, frozen by his authority.

    ¡°What?¡± he said coldly. ¡°Still here?¡±

    That did it. The reporters scrambled to grab their things, slipping out in twos and threes until the venue was nearly empty.

    Left behind was the mess of a failed press stunt¡ªand Haley, sitting on the stage, stunned and panicked. She blinked, realizing she couldn¡¯t stay.

    If she didn¡¯t disappear now, who knew what Ste and William would do to her?

    Just as she tried to slip out with thest of the crowd, a hand caught her arm. ¡°Where are you rushing off to?¡± Ste asked, her grip firm. Before Haley could answer, the first pnded with a crisp smack.

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 Chapter 210

    ?Chapter 210:

    ¡°This one¡¯s for your shamelessness andck of remorse.¡±

    Smack! ¡°This one¡¯s for your vile lies and twisted mindset.¡±

    Smack! ¡°And this one¡¯s for your arrogance and utter stupidity.¡± Three ps in a row echoed through the now-silent hall.

    Haley staggered back, clutching her face. Her lip was bleeding, and her ears were ringing.

    ¡°You¡ª¡± she hissed, raising her hand to strike back. ¡°Ste, how dare you¡ª¡±

    ¡°I dare because someone has to put you in your ce,¡± Ste snapped, cutting her off. ¡°You think you can just open your mouth and spit lies without consequences? Keep this up, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re sitting in prison for the rest of your life.¡±

    Haley stood there, stunned, her cheek zing red from the p. She stared at Ste in disbelief. ¡°How dare you hit me? I¡¯ll make you pay for this!¡±

    Ste justughed, unbothered. ¡°Oh? Go ahead¡ªshow me what kind of price you think you can make me pay. You stood up there in front of all those reporters, spouting lies, ndering me, and dragging William¡¯s name through the mud. You think the Briggs family will let you off that easy?¡±

    Haley¡¯s face went ghost white as her eyes darted to William, who was standing silently behind Ste. The coldness in his eyes sent a chill through her entire body.

    She wanted to strike back, but she didn¡¯t dare. Not when she knew exactly who William was.

    Even back in Achury, she¡¯d heard her father mention the Briggs family name more than once, always with respect. And now she had the nerve to make a public scene in front of him? If her father found out she¡¯d gone head-to-head with William Briggs, she¡¯d be finished. The fury in her eyes hadn¡¯t faded, but the arrogance sure had. She bit back every word she had wanted to fire at Ste.

    William stared at her like she was something rotten stuck to the bottom of his shoe.

    Haley¡¯s scalp tingled. She was frozen in ce, unsure of what to do¡ªuntil someone suddenly pushed through the dispersing crowd. Marc had seen the press conference stream online. He rushed over in a panic, fighting through the wave of people.

    He arrived just in time to see Haley clutching her face, standing opposite Ste and William.

    His chest tightened. He hurried up and grabbed Haley by the wrist. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    The moment she heard his voice, Haley¡¯s tears came pouring out. ¡°Marc, I¡ª¡±

    Before she could say anything, his face darkened. ¡°Have you not embarrassed yourself enough?¡± he snapped. ¡°You¡¯ve already been to the police station twice. And now you pull this stunt with a bunch of reporters? What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Then he turned toward William and Ste.

    Seeing them standing side by side hit Marc harder than he wanted to admit, but he shoved the feeling down and forced himself to stayposed. ¡°Mr. Briggs, this was a misunderstanding. I apologize on Haley¡¯s behalf.¡±

    William didn¡¯t even flinch. His voice was icy. ¡°Mr. Walsh, if you can¡¯t control your people, don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll do it for you next time.¡± The warning was clear.

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 Chapter 211

    ?Chapter 211:

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Understood.¡±

    He pulled Haley away, practically dragging her out of the venue.

    Down in the parking garage, once they were back in the car, Haley finally exploded. ¡°Are you kidding me, Marc? Did you not see what they did to me?! They hit me!¡± Couldn¡¯t he see her reddened face?

    Marc stared straight ahead, not even ncing at her. ¡°And didn¡¯t you bring it on yourself?¡±

    His tone was cold. Detached. Like he was speaking to a stranger. Everything had been spiralingtely, and Haley¡¯s antics had only made things worse.

    Haley snapped. ¡°Coward!¡± she shouted. ¡°You¡¯re such a coward, Marc! Everything I did¡ªevery bit of it¡ªwas for you! You just stood there, like some pathetic little nobody, while they humiliated me! No wonder Ste dumped you for him!¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression darkened further. But the Walsh Group was still in crisis. He needed her. At least for now.

    He inhaled deeply and forced himself to stay calm. ¡°You were impulsive. You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re dealing with. You can¡¯t go up against someone like William.¡±

    Haley scoffed, arms crossed, still fuming¡ªbut she caught the shift in his tone. And just like that, the anger in her eyes morphed into something smug. She knew he still needed her. ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t defend me earlier. I¡¯m not okay with that. You better make it up to me.¡±

    Marc swallowed down his frustration. ¡°Fine. Whatever it takes.¡± Only then did her mood ease slightly.

    Marc clenched the steering wheel, the weight of regret growing heavier in his chest.

    He never should¡¯ve touched Haley in the first ce. He¡¯d ruined everything with Ste, and now, even if he wanted to walk away, he couldn¡¯t shake Haley off if he tried.

    The venue, once buzzing with life, had faded into a hush. With his hands tucked into his pockets, William broke the silence. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll give you a ride back.¡±

    When they reached the institute¡¯s dormitory, Ste paused at the entrance, ncing at William. ¡°Thanks foring with me today. Sorry for dragging you into all that.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, she slipped inside and disappeared down the hall.

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    Alone in her room, Ste let the hot shower wash away the day¡¯s stress.

    Marc and Haley haunted her thoughts, clinging to her like gum she couldn¡¯t scrape off¡ªsticky, relentless, impossible to ignore.

    Exhaustion set in, but as she toweled her hair dry, restlessness gnawed at her.

    She found herself staring out the window, where the night sky sprawled above, streaked with thin clouds and scattered, faint stars. The moon hovered behind the haze, neither fully hidden nor quite revealed. On impulse, she grabbed a jacket and made her way up to the rooftop.

    Cool night air brushed her face, tangling her damp hair and making her clothes dance around her frame.

    She wandered toward the edge, seeking quiet, only to catch sight of someone standing in the shadowed corner near the wall¡ªa familiar silhouette, waiting in the gloom.

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 Chapter 212

    ?Chapter 212:

    Ste faltered, her voice edged with surprise. ¡°William?¡±

    He turned away from the ledge, his silhouette outlined by the faint city glow. His expression softened as he saw her. She hesitated, awkwardness flickering across her face before she found her voice, ¡°You¡¯re here too? Talk about a coincidence.¡±

    A sleek telescope stood in front of him, angled toward the murky night sky. Ste¡¯s eyesnded on it, a spark of curiosity lighting up her features.

    ¡°With all these clouds, are there any stars worth looking at?¡± she asked, her tone half teasing.

    William¡¯s reply was low and easy, the wind catching his words and carrying them to her. ¡°Give it a minute. Once the clouds break, the sky will open right up.¡±

    There was such quiet certainty in his voice that Ste found herself intrigued, despite herself. ¡°What, are you some kind of astronomy buff now?¡±

    She tried to keep it light, but there was real interest beneath the banter. He offered a modest shrug, a faint smile ghosting across his lips. ¡°Picked up a little bit back in college.¡±

    For a heartbeat, she could only blink, caught off guard by this new side of him.

    So he wasn¡¯t just here to clear his head¡ªhe actually knew what he was doing. She¡¯d clearly underestimated him.

    With a tilt of his head, William nodded toward the telescope. ¡°Wanna check it out?¡±

    Ste wavered for a moment. She¡¯d onlye up here for some fresh air, but the sight of the sleek telescope made it impossible to say no. She found herself nodding despite her hesitation.

    He bent over the instrument, making quick, practiced adjustments. ¡°Try it now.¡±

    His breath, warm against her neck, sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. She instinctively sidestepped before leaning in, peering through the eyepiece.

    A gasp escaped her lips. ¡°Oh¡ªwow! I can see them!¡±

    Delight lit up her face. She¡¯d never looked at the stars through a real telescope before¡ªsuddenly, the sky seemed vaster and more alive, glittering with possibilities she¡¯d never noticed with the naked eye.

    ¡°Astronomy¡¯s incredible,¡± William murmured, his voice drifting on the night air. ¡°I never saw the stars as just balls of gas. It¡¯s like they¡¯re alive¡ªlike they¡¯re whispering secrets across the universe.¡±

    For a moment, Ste just listened, surprised by how much he was saying¡ªso different from his usual quiet reserve.

    She edged away from the telescope, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she snuck a look at him.

    He continued, ¡°To be honest, the cosmos fascinates me far more than people do. All that mystery, the sense of something infinite¡ªthere¡¯s nothing else like it. People areplicated in the worst ways, but the sky¡­ it¡¯s endlesslypelling.¡±

    A yful note crept into Ste¡¯s voice. ¡°So that¡¯s what pulled you into scientific research?¡± Was it all because he found the celestial bodies more interesting than people?

    William let out a quietugh, shoving his hands into his pockets. ¡°In a way, yeah. I had zero interest in running the family business, so I threw myself into science¡ªno hesitation. No one at home really gets why, but I¡¯m happy here. I get to chase the things that truly intrigue me, and that¡¯s enough.¡±

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 Chapter 213

    ?Chapter 213:

    Ste realized, suddenly and with a strange sense of awe, that he wasn¡¯t chasing after awards or fortune. He simply wanted to understand the universe¡ªto unravel mysteries for the sheer sake of knowing.

    Not many people dared to follow their passion so fearlessly, especially when the world measured worth by money and reputation.

    She studied his profile for a moment, curiosity flickering in her eyes. ¡°What if one day you finally figure out what the universe is trying to say?¡±

    William¡¯s gaze never left the sky. ¡°If that dayes, I¡¯d use what I¡¯ve learned to help people. That¡¯s always been the point.¡±

    The answer caught Ste off guard. He had no interest in socializing, yet he wanted to serve humanity. He was an enigma¡ªbrilliant, earnest, and quietly maic.

    Ste turned her attention back to the night sky. For the first time, she felt genuinely curious about the stars¡ªabout the endless, wordless secrets they might be hiding¡ªand she had William to thank for that newfound wonder.

    Beneath the sweeping night sky, the world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of them in their own quiet universe.

    A gentle, elusive fragrance drifted from Ste, soothing the restlessness inside William.

    He¡¯d always preferred solitude when stargazing, bristling at any sign of intrusion.

    Yet tonight, with Ste beside him, the loneliness felt lighter, as if her presence belonged alongside the constetions overhead. For the first time, he was d to share the night with someone else.

    Little by little, the tension inside Ste faded, reced by a tranquil warmth.

    She returned the telescope to William, her eyes reflecting the starlight. ¡°Thanks for letting me see something so extraordinary,¡± she murmured softly.

    Together, they descended from the rooftop, their footsteps falling in sync. At her doorway, Ste nced over her shoulder, her smile bright but unhurried. ¡°I had a wonderful night. Thank you, William. Goodnight.¡±

    Her words lingered between them, and William¡¯s voice turned gentle, touched by her sincerity. ¡°Goodnight, Ste. Sleep well.¡±

    The next day, Ste was back at theb, diving headfirst into work. After three grueling days of experiments, her team finallypleted thest phase of the project.

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    That morning, they submitted their findings to be tested against the other teams.

    Now, the results were just minutes away.

    In exactly three minutes, the names of the teams advancing would appear on the big disy screen in the hall.

    Everyone who had participated was gathered there, the air thick with anticipation.

    Sandra stood beside Ste, practically clinging to her sleeve, palms slick with sweat. ¡°Do you think we have a chance?¡± she whispered nervously.

    Elbert stood nearby, tense.

    Even Jamir, usually unreadable, looked uneasy.

    Ste stayed calm and gave Sandra a reassuring smile. ¡°Our data¡¯s solid. Everyone gave it their best, and we double-checked everything. We¡¯ve got this.¡±

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 Chapter 214

    ?Chapter 214:

    Ste was confident in her team¡¯s work.

    Hearing her confidence eased some of the nerves in the group. They all trusted Ste¡ªher capability, her calm under pressure, and her consistent hard work.

    She rarely relied on William, solving problems herself every step of the way.

    Elbert leaned in and said quietly, ¡°No matter what the oue is, it¡¯s been an honor working with you, Sylvia. I¡¯ve learned a lot from you.¡±

    Ste smiled, a bit shy. ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit. This was a team effort. I couldn¡¯t have done it alone.¡±

    Elbert nodded, then turned his eyes back to the screen as the final countdown began.

    Three¡­ two¡­ one¡­ The screen blinked on.

    Sandra grabbed Ste¡¯s arm tighter, holding her breath.

    Then, there it was¡ªElbert¡¯s name. Their team name. They had advanced. Sandra shrieked, jumping with joy. ¡°We did it! Sylvia, we actually did it! This is amazing!¡±

    Apuse erupted across the hall. Congrattions echoed from every corner.

    ¡°Congrats, you guys totally deserved it. You crushed it!¡± Even fellowpetitors came over to celebrate with them.

    At the research institute, rivalry never got in the way of professional respect.

    Well¡ªalmost never. Allen and his team were noticeably absent.

    Ste hadn¡¯t seen them anywhere.

    But it didn¡¯t matter. Her team had advanced. And they¡¯d done it on their own.

    Lainey came up from behind and gave her a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Stel, I¡¯m so proud of you. You killed it. Honestly, the whole institute should take notes from you.¡±

    Ste blushed. ¡°Stop it, Lainey. You¡¯re just hyping me up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Laineyughed. ¡°You¡¯re just too humble.¡±

    For the first time in a long while, Ste felt a genuine wave of happiness. It was a good day. At least, it was¡ªuntil after dinner.

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    Back in her room, Ste¡¯s phone buzzed with an email notification. It was an engagement invitation. From Marc and Haley.

    A secondter, her phone rang. She answered, only to hear Haley¡¯s voice on the other end. ¡°Did you see the invitation I sent you?¡±

    Ste frowned, her voice t. ¡°Does it matter if I saw it or not?¡±

    Haleyughed. ¡°Of course it matters! That invitation was custom-made just for you. Very special. You have toe¡ªI even reserved a good seat for you.¡±

    Ste scoffed. ¡°Are we even close? Why would I attend your engagement?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t show up, that only proves one thing,¡± Haley replied smugly. ¡°That you still have feelings for Marc and can¡¯t stand to see him with me.¡±

    Ste let out a sharp, coldugh. Really?

    She said, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be there. And I won¡¯t bete.¡±

    ¡°Great! I¡¯ll be looking forward to it.¡± And with that, Haley hung up.

    Ste sat there, her expression dark and unreadable. She had a strong feeling Haley was up to something. That engagement party probably wasn¡¯t just a celebration¡ªit was bait.

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 Chapter 215

    ?Chapter 215:

    But who would end up embarrassed? That remained to be seen. Footsteps approached outside her door. Ste looked up to find William standing there.

    ¡°Is the promotion making you so giddy you can¡¯t even concentrate?¡± William remarked with a teasing smile.

    Ste shot him a look, lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Are you here to congratte me or just poke fun?¡±

    William¡¯s quietugh rumbled in his chest. ¡°Congrattions on the promotion. Looks like we¡¯re going to be coworkers again.¡±

    She arched a brow, unimpressed. ¡°You don¡¯t sound thrilled. Still holding a grudge, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    She let that barb fly on purpose, thinking back to how he¡¯d once questioned her skills and practically called her ipetent at work.

    William caught the edge in her voice and smiled ruefully, ncing at the document glowing on her monitor. He gave her a knowing look. ¡°So your ex is getting engaged?¡±

    With a swift click, Ste closed the file. ¡°Haley called and demanded I be there. She ims that if I skip it, everyone will assume I¡¯m still obsessed with Marc, so I¡¯m going.¡±

    William just shook his head. ¡°You realize you¡¯re the only one buying that story, right?¡±

    William¡¯s skepticism grated on Ste¡¯s nerves. ¡°I don¡¯t care about Marc¡ªnot anymore. Not even a little.¡±

    Had she ever shown any hint that she was still attached to Marc? No. Not for a long time.

    William eyed her, suspicion flickering in his gaze, then leaned in until his face was inches from hers. ¡°Prove it, then. Take me with you. Otherwise, how am I supposed to believe you?¡±

    The demand threw her off bnce, stealing her next words. She hadn¡¯t expected him to get so close or toy down a challenge like that.

    William smirked, reading her silence as reluctance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ste? Afraid to let me see the truth for myself?¡±

    New content live at g?ln¦Òv????s

    She bristled, her pride kicking in. ¡°Scared? Please. If you want to tag along, go right ahead.¡±

    With that, she snapped herptop shut and strode off, chin lifted in defiance, leaving William behind with a small, satisfied grin.

    When the day of Marc and Haley¡¯s engagement arrived, Ste followed her usual morning routine¡ªbreakfast at the dorm, a brisk jog around the institute, then a long shower to clear her mind.

    Even though she¡¯d promised to show up, she refused to waste time or energy getting mmed up for the sake of those two. They simply weren¡¯t worth it.

    Once her hair was dry, Ste slipped into a simple ck dress and settled in front of herptop in the living room. Haley and Marc had always been master maniptors. Haley¡¯s sudden eagerness for her to attend could only mean one thing¡ªtrouble was brewing.

    Ste wasn¡¯t about to walk into their ambush unprepared. She methodically copied files from herputer onto a USB drive¡ªdocuments she¡¯d quietly collected about Marc¡¯s shady dealings at Walsh Group.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 216

    ?Chapter 216:

    Marc had built Walsh Group¡¯s reputation on a foundation of secrets and shady shortcuts, and Ste now possessed the evidence to topple him.

    If she chose to reveal what she knew, he wouldn¡¯tst another day in Choria¡¯s high society.

    Whatever scheme Haley and Marc had nned for her at the engagement party, Ste was ready to strike back without hesitation. They were the ones who would stoop to anything to get what they wanted¡ªshe had nothing left to lose.

    That morning, William sent her a text, checking what time she¡¯d be heading out.

    Haley¡¯s engagement party was set for twelve-thirty, just in time for lunch.

    By eleven-fifty, Ste had everything ready. She tucked the USB drive and a stack of printed documents into her backpack, drew in a steadying breath, and reached for the door.

    The moment she opened the door, she heard footsteps across the corridor. William, sharp in a jet-ck suit, appeared from his dorm. He offered a small, knowing smile. ¡°Well, what a coincidence, huh?¡±

    Was it really a coincidence?

    Ste hesitated for a moment, suspecting William had timed his exit to match hers.

    She intended to drive herself, but they ended up side by side in the elevator. William, a full head taller, studied her with mild amusement, catching the tense set of her jaw.

    Was she feeling anxious?

    He broke the silence with a sly grin. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid Marc¡¯s going to drop Haley¡¯s hand at the engagement party and pour his heart out to you in front of the whole crowd?¡±

    His words blindsided her, the yful mockery lighting a spark of indignation.

    She said, ¡°If Marc actually had the nerve to ditch Haley at their own engagement party, I might even respect him for it.¡±

    Marc, however, was far too calcting¡ªalways reading the room and protecting his own interests.

    With Haley propping up the entire Walsh Group, there was no way he¡¯d let her go, not even for a grand, romantic gesture.

    William¡¯sughter echoed softly as his eyes flicked over her dress. ¡°Is this your n? Show up in that getup, blend in with the catering staff, and spike their champagne?¡±

    Ste shot him an exasperated look, suppressing a smirk. ¡°Mr. Briggs, if you don¡¯t have anything helpful to say, maybe keep it to yourself.¡± She nced down, baffled by his remark¡ªher dress looked perfectly fine to her. Since when did in ck clothes make her look like a waitress?

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to show up, you should look your best,¡± William said inly. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯re just handing them something tough about. Or do you want Marc thinking you¡¯ve fallen apart without him?¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t even thought about that.

    To her, this was just another pointless event¡ªshe had no intention of dressing up for people she didn¡¯t care about.

    .

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 Chapter 217

    ?Chapter 217:

    But now that William had said it, it did start to bug her a little. ¡°Should I go back and change?¡±

    William let out a quietugh. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take you to get something new.¡±

    She blinked in response. ¡°Right now?¡±

    William nced at the time. ¡°Arriving fashionablyte is the way to go for minor events like this.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow.

    That was true. As long as she showed up before the whole thing wrapped up, it¡¯d be fine.

    They pulled up to a boutique, and William walked in with the confidence of someone who owned the ce. He nced around, then reached into a row of dresses and pulled out a deep red gown, handing it to her without hesitation. ¡°This one.¡±

    Ste looked down at the fiery redce and hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s a bit¡­ much. Maybe I should pick something less bold.¡±

    William raised a brow. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose white for you, did I?¡± The message was clear¡ªhe¡¯d already toned it down.

    She had nothing to say to that. With a sigh, she took the dress and went into the fitting room.

    The moment she stepped into the gown, she was stunned. The color didn¡¯t overpower her at all. Instead, it elevated her¡ªsleek, elegant, powerful. Like a red rose in full bloom¡ªstriking and hard to ignore.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, this dress suits you like it was made for you,¡± the assistant said with genuine admiration, helping her fit the dress.

    Ste gave a polite smile. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    She turned to the mirror and had to admit¡ªeven she was surprised at how well it worked.

    She had thought she couldn¡¯t pull off a dress like this one. Thest time she¡¯d bought a red dress, it ended up collecting dust after a single wear.

    New adventures await at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s©q??o??

    Out in the main area, William was lounging on a plush sofa, legs crossed, skimming something on his phone. When he looked up and saw her, something flickered in his eyes¡ªjust for a second.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± he said casually, though his expression betrayed more than his words.

    Ste just gave him a small look, saying nothing, as the assistant guided her over to get her makeup done.

    It was already twenty past noon by the time they were finished.

    ¡°Your skin is incredible,¡± the makeup artist gushed. ¡°No visible pores at all! Are you using some luxury brand skincare?¡±

    In all her years working as a makeup artist, she had rarelye across skin like Ste¡¯s¡ªdelicate, smooth, with not a single visible pore.

    Perfectly bnced, neither too oily nor too dry.

    Ste blinked. ¡°I just¡­ wash my face with water.¡±

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 Chapter 218

    ?Chapter 218:

    The makeup artist paused, clearly stunned. ¡°Oh wow. You¡¯re one of those naturally blessed ones. Meanwhile, the rest of us spend a fortune on skincare and still don¡¯t get half your results.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of jealousy in her tone¡ªjust pure, honest admiration.

    With skin like that, the makeup went on like a dream. It barely took any time at all.

    At the entrance of the engagement hall, Ste stepped out of the car in a stunning red dress, instantly stealing the spotlight.

    Linked arm-in-arm with William, she turned more than a few heads.

    ¡°Who is that woman? She¡¯s gorgeous! And she¡¯s with William?¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ isn¡¯t he supposed to not be into women?¡±

    Whispers and stares followed them, but Ste didn¡¯t flinch.

    She walked gracefully beside William, unfazed, as they entered the hall.

    Once inside, the murmurs only intensified. Every step they took drew more eyes, more spection.

    Ste leaned toward William and sighed quietly. ¡°Mr. Briggs, your charm is really causing a scene.¡±

    William chuckled, his voice low. ¡°How do you know they¡¯re not looking at you? Ms. Russell, is your self-confidence that fragile?¡±

    She shot him a side-eye but didn¡¯t respond.

    To anyone watching, though, the way they interacted looked a lot like flirting.

    ¡°They¡¯re so close¡­ do you think they¡¯re dating?¡±

    ¡°Oh, what a pity. William is such an eligible bachelor, and now she¡¯s gone and snatched him up,¡± someone murmured with a mix of envy and regret.

    Someone nearby chimed in, ¡°Can youpare to that woman? Look at her! They¡¯re a perfect match.¡±

    Haley, standing on the far side of the hall greeting guests, caught the buzz.

    Turning toward themotion, her eyesnded on William and Ste standing side by side. The smile froze on her face.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s takes you on a journey

    Ste and William drew attention the moment they stepped into the room; it was impossible not to notice them.

    Haley¡¯s hands curled into fists. This was supposed to be her engagement celebration. So why had Ste shown up dressed to impress, effortlessly capturing every pair of eyes in the room? Swallowing her bitterness, Haley forced a smile at the guest beside her, then made her way toward Ste.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you¡¯re finally here. That dress is stunning. Truly the most striking one tonight. I¡¯d say half the men here can¡¯t take their eyes off you. Isn¡¯t Mr. Briggs making it harder for them, though, standing so close?¡± Her voice was sweet, but the mockery was impossible to miss. Before Ste could reply, Haley turned to William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, it must be tiring, dealing with all the attention she draws.¡±

    William saw straight through her and didn¡¯t bother hiding his displeasure. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the celebration of your engagement to Marc? You should probably focus on your own partner instead of mine.¡±

    Haley had aimed to paint Ste as someone desperate for male attention, a woman no respectable man would take seriously.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 219

    ?Chapter 219:

    What Haley hadn¡¯t expected was William¡¯spleteck of concern¡ªand worse, his continued support of Ste.

    Haley said, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong idea, Mr. Briggs. I¡¯m only looking out for you. I wouldn¡¯t want you to be misled.¡±

    William let out a short, coldugh. ¡°I think I¡¯m perfectly capable of knowing whether Ms. Gilbert is being honest with me. I agreed to be here with her for a reason, and that reason includes trust.¡±

    Haley was left speechless. No matter what she implied or used Ste of, William remained unmoved.

    The realization frustrated her, leaving her bitter and deted.

    Elsewhere in the hall, Marc was mingling with guests.

    The turnout was impressive, but he hadn¡¯t yet seen Haley.

    As he made his way through the crowd, taking in the sound of clinking sses and animated chatter, a quiet sense of pride rose within him.

    Though marrying Haley hadn¡¯t been his ideal oue, the engagement secured the future of the Walsh Group, and he intended to manage things far more effectively from here on out. With Haley¡¯s family backing him, his prospects were looking brighter than ever.

    Looking brighter than ever. More than anything, he wanted to prove himself, to show Ste what he could be, and make her question every choice she¡¯d made. His gaze swept across the crowd, and just as he was about to call out to Haley, his eyesnded on Ste in a vivid red dress not far away.

    He stopped in his tracks,pletely stunned. How was she here?

    He had gone out of his way to keep the engagement under wraps¡ªno announcements, no posts, nothing that could tip her off. And yet, she showed up anyway.

    Haley noticed him soon after and waved with a bright smile. ¡°Marc,e here!¡±

    His legs felt heavy, almost disconnected from his body, as he slowly made his way toward her.

    Haley leaned in, still smiling. ¡°I invited Ms. Gilbert to the party. I thought she¡¯d be swamped with work and wouldn¡¯t make it, but she was kind enough toe. Don¡¯t you think we should send her off with a thoughtful gift?¡± Her eyes sparkled with quiet satisfaction.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s is where your journey begins

    Marc¡¯s brow twitched. She knew he hadn¡¯t wanted Ste here, and still, she¡¯d gone behind his back to invite her.

    With so many eyes on them, Marc knew he couldn¡¯t risk an outburst. He forced his frustration down and turned his attention to Ste. She looked breathtaking, perhaps even more so than she had on their wedding day.

    The red dress hugged her figure perfectly. Her makeup was wless, adding depth and definition to her already striking features. She looked like something rare and impossible to ignore.

    Marc¡¯s lips parted as if to say something, but the moment he caught sight of William beside her, the words died in his throat. His chest tightened, a trace of envy flickering in his eyes.

    Just then, Haley gave his arm a gentle pull. ¡°Marc, the ceremony¡¯s about to start. We need to go upstairs and prepare.¡±

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 Chapter 220

    ?Chapter 220:

    Her words snapped him back to the moment. He cast one final, lingering nce in Ste¡¯s direction before turning away and heading for the stairs.

    Momentster, the lights in the hall dimmed, signaling the beginning of the engagement ceremony.

    A hush fell over the guests, every head turning toward the stage in anticipation of the couple¡¯s entrance.

    Haley glided down from the second floor, her white gown shimmering under the lights, every inch the storybook princess. A bouquet of fresh roses rested in her arms as soft, enchanting music filled the air. Across the grand staircase, Marc appeared, looking every bit the devoted fianc¨¦. Together, they created a picture-perfect scene. Marc approached her with steady hands, slipping the engagement ring onto her finger¡ªa modest diamond that still sparkled in the spotlight. The moment the ring slid into ce, the room burst into cheerful apuse.

    Haley, always calcting, had made sure Ste sat front and center, forced to watch every second of her triumph. After the exchange, Haley stepped onto the stage, letting her gaze linger on Ste with a sly, victorious smile.

    ¡°Standing here with Marc, I¡¯ve never felt happier in my life,¡± she announced, her voice ringing out clear and proud. ¡°We¡¯ve weathered every storm and, in the end, chose each other above all else. Whatever happened before¡ªit¡¯s all in the past now.¡±

    Haley lifted her ss, urging everyone to celebrate, then slipped gracefully off the stage in search of Ste.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, what¡¯s your impression of the engagement party?¡± she asked, her voice syrupy sweet.

    Ste turned her head, regarding Haley as if thetter were some sort of sideshow act. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Pretty extravagant,¡± she replied, her tone deliberately casual.

    Haley rolled her eyes, unimpressed by Ste¡¯sckluster answer. ¡°Marc loves me now, you know. Did you see his face when he slipped the ring on? He was glowing.¡±

    Ste marveled at Haley¡¯s shameless bravado. Where did she even get the nerve?

    ¡°Sure, he looked happy,¡± Ste remarked, barely disguising her boredom.

    L?t?st ?h¦Ápt?rs in g??lnov??l??.??o??

    Haley¡¯s expression tightened, a flicker of annoyance betraying her poise. ¡°Ste, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just agreeing with you,¡± Ste replied, feigning innocence with a slow blink. ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±

    Haley¡¯s face twisted with fury for a split second, but she recovered fast, tossing her hair back with an icy smile. ¡°Oh, please. I know you¡¯re seething with jealousy. Sure, Marc was married before, but in that rtionship, he was the one who suffered.¡±

    His ex-wife only ever cared about money and climbing the socialdder¡ªand if that wasn¡¯t enough, she even slept with another man during their marriage. That¡¯s the kind of person she was. Absolutely shameless.¡±

    Haley¡¯s voice rang out, loud and clear, making sure every guest within earshot caught every word.

    A murmur of interest rippled through the crowd. ¡°Marc¡¯s ex-wife really did all that? Hard to believe!¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Marc is quite pitiful. But didn¡¯t that woman just vanish one day?¡±

    The mention of Ste¡¯s disappearance left Haley almost giddy with satisfaction. She turned to Ste, her eyes glinting. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you might be the spitting image of Marc¡¯s ex-wife, but you¡¯re definitely not her. It¡¯s no shock a woman with that kind of reputation just vanished¡ªmaybe she¡¯s dead for all we know. People like that always end up getting what they deserve, don¡¯t you think, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

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 Chapter 221

    ?Chapter 221:

    A sharp, stabbing ache tore through Ste¡¯s chest as Haley coldly used her of infidelity.

    Memories of that night came rushing back¡ªSte remembered stumbling through a haze, the party¡¯sughter echoing dimly in her mind. She could still taste the bitterness of the drugged drink, how the world spun out of control until everything went ck. When she came to, dawn had already broken, and she found herself tangled in unfamiliar hotel sheets, her clothes rumpled and her body aching with confusion.

    The room was empty. Whoever had been there had vanished without a trace, leaving only a chilling silence and her own dread.

    With trembling hands, she¡¯d confessed everything to Marc, her voice thick with tears. He¡¯d pulled her into his arms, holding her until her sobs subsided. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Marc had whispered against her hair, his tone steady, almost gentle. ¡°I was with you all night. Nothing happened¡ªyou can trust me. I¡¯d never let anyone hurt you.¡±

    For a time, she clung to his words, convincing herself it was true. But after that night, Marc seemed to withdraw further each day, growing colder and more distant, his tenderness fading into indifference. Whenever Ste pleaded for an exnation, he hid behind excuses¡ªiming exhaustion, meetings, anything to avoid the truth.

    As the weeks wore on, Ste couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that everything circled back to that night.

    Yet, even now, she still had no idea if it truly was Marc who¡¯d been with her¡ªor someone else entirely.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, did you catch what I said just now? Honestly, I¡¯m not picking on you¡ªit¡¯s just uncanny how much you resemble Marc¡¯s ex-wife. But don¡¯t stress. I¡¯ll make sure nobody here mixes you up with her.¡± Haley offered Ste a seemingly gentle smile, but a sh of self-satisfaction glimmered in her eyes.

    Gossip rippled through the crowd, sharp and relentless, seeping into Ste¡¯s awareness.

    ¡°Have you seen her up close? She¡¯s the spitting image of Marc¡¯s ex-wife! That¡¯s wild. Are we sure they¡¯re not the same person?¡±

    ¡°They say Marc¡¯s ex disappeared more than six months ago. Maybe she¡¯s really gone for good.¡±

    Discover where it all happens: g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange how some people look alike? Do you think Ms. Gilbert is just like her? Didn¡¯t she arrive with William earlier? Maybe she¡¯s trying to climb the socialdder, too.¡±

    The whispers in the crowd quickly spiraled into wild spection.

    A shadow crossed Ste¡¯s face; this was the one chapter of her life she had fought hardest to keep hidden¡ªand now, Haley had ripped it open for all to see.

    Marc hovered tensely at Haley¡¯s side, his jaw clenched in silent fury. He had never breathed a word of this to Haley, so how had she uncovered it?

    Only one exnation made sense¡ªHaley clearly dug into every detail of his and Ste¡¯s past, prying into secrets he thought he¡¯d buried for good.

    That thought alone made Marc¡¯s stomach twist with anger. With every word, Haley wasn¡¯t just humiliating Ste¡ªshe was dragging Marc through the mud as well, reminding him of the ugly past involving his wife and another man.

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 Chapter 222

    ?Chapter 222:

    Haley¡¯s lips curled into a triumphant little smirk as she watched Ste keep quiet, unable to defend herself. She wanted to paint Ste as nothing but a slut in front of everyone, to see her ruined.

    Ste¡¯s gaze dropped, her lips parting to speak¡ªbut a sudden interruption sliced through the air. From somewhere in the crowd, a speaker crackled to life, ying a damning recording.

    ¡°A slut like Ste thinks she canpete with me? Marc only likes her because she ys innocent and sweet, right? Fine. I¡¯ll just find someone to ruin her for good and see if Marc still wants her after that! That bitch embarrassed me in front of everyone at the party. I¡¯m not letting it go. Follow her, hire some bodyguards, and make sure she regrets ever crossing me.¡±

    There was no mistaking that voice. Haley¡ªtonight¡¯s darling, now exposed for all to hear.

    The audio kept rolling, one vicious confession after another, every line dripping with malice. Haley schemed to ruin Ste¡¯s name, to destroy herpletely¡ªand by the end, her ns escted to talk of murder.

    A horrified hush swept through the venue. Conversations sputtered, then erupted as the crowd turned their outrage squarely on Haley.

    ¡°Did you hear that? She¡¯s actually unhinged. Is this real? That¡¯s not just jealousy¡ªthat¡¯s criminal! She wrecked Ste¡¯s marriage, and now she wants to finish Ste off?¡±

    ¡°Now it makes sense why Ste disappeared back then. What if she barely made it out alive? People like Haley are dangerous¡ªthey smile in public, but God knows what¡¯s underneath.¡±

    Haley¡¯s eyes widened in panic, her re sharp as daggers. ¡°Ste! This is your fault! You hacked my phone, didn¡¯t you? This is all your doing!¡±

    Ste¡¯s gaze swept the crowd, just as bewildered as everyone else about how those recordings had started ying. Who on earth was backing her from the shadows?

    She pressed her lips into a thin line and pped Haley¡¯s hand away. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Smith, but I¡¯m just as lost as you are. Maybe you¡¯ve stirred up so much trouble that even Marc¡¯s ex-wife decided to crawl out of her grave for payback. That¡¯s karma for you¡ªactions always have consequences. You¡¯re just reaping what you sowed.¡±

    Haley trembled with fury, whipping around to face Marc in desperation. ¡°Marc, you have to believe me! Someone¡¯s ying fake recordings to set me up! Find them for me¡ªright now!¡±

    M?????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    Marc blinked, thrown off bnce by the barrage of damning audio¡ªmost of it as shocking to him as to the crowd.

    He¡¯d always known Haley had a maniptive streak, but with her family¡¯s sway in Achury, he¡¯d learned to look the other way. Now, confronted by her venom in surround sound, there was no way to ignore it.

    Jaw clenched, Marc pried Haley¡¯s hand from his arm. ¡°Haley, what the hell was that? Exin yourself.¡±

    Haley¡¯s hands trembled, her face rigid with panic. ¡°Marc, it¡¯s not real¡ªthose recordings are all fake! I never said any of that. We¡¯re getting married soon. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± Her voice pitched higher, desperate. ¡°It¡¯s that woman¡ªshe¡¯s behind this! She¡¯s trying to set me up!¡±

    Before anyone could respond, the giant screen flickered again, filling the ballroom with a new wave of damning evidence.

    .

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 Chapter 223

    ?Chapter 223:

    Heads swiveled toward the stage, the tension in the air nearly crackling as the next revtion began to y.

    The screen exploded with private chat logs¡ªraw exchanges between Haley and Ste now zing for everyone to see.

    There was no ambiguity. Haley made the first move: a flood of intimate photos with Marc, some so explicit they would have triggered censors anywhere else.

    Below the photos were rows of vicious, taunting messages.

    ¡°Look, Ste. I¡¯ve already won. Marc is mine now¡ªhe loves me, he wants me. If you know what¡¯s best for you, file for divorce while you still can. Drag it out and you¡¯ll only make things uglier. It¡¯s pathetic¡ªyou¡¯ve been married for years and still can¡¯t get pregnant. Worse, you¡¯ve slept with another man. Isn¡¯t that shameful?¡±

    The pattern was relentless. Haley continued to bombard Ste with message after message¡ªeach one unting new photos of herself and Marc tangled together, each one more sickening than thest. Voices in the crowd erupted with outrage.

    ¡°Unbelievable¡ªhow can anyone be this shameless?¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t she just acting like she and Marc were soulmates? Now everyone can see she¡¯s the real homewrecker.¡±

    ¡°And Marc? He¡¯s no better. Just another sleazy yboy. No wonder the Walsh Group is in trouble¡ªleadership like that and thepany¡¯s bound to crash and burn.¡±

    Murmurs of disgust rippled through the crowd, a low, relentless buzz beneath the glittering lights. Hundreds of guests stood frozen, their attention glued to the giant LED screen, where every damning message appeared in stark detail for all to see.

    Haley¡¯s face went pale as the incriminating chat logs scrolled on. She clung desperately to Marc¡¯s arm, voice trembling. ¡°Marc, don¡¯t listen to any of this! It¡¯s all fake¡ªanyone can fake chat logs. You know that! You know me. You trust me, right?¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t answer. Fury burned behind his eyes as he stared at the evidence shing above them.

    He had told Haley that they could have a casual fling, but she absolutely could not drag Ste into their mess¡ªshe¡¯d sworn she wouldn¡¯t expose their affair, wouldn¡¯t push him to leave Ste.

    But obviously, he shouldn¡¯t have trusted Haley.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??????? brings great stories

    Marc¡¯s stony silence only heightened Haley¡¯s panic. Her gaze darted frantically around the room, voice cracking as she pleaded with the crowd, ¡°It¡¯s all lies! None of this is real! Someone¡¯s trying to ruin me¡ªthese are all fake!¡±

    Her bloodshot eyes shed with desperation and rage. ¡°Whoever did this, show yourself! Don¡¯t just hide in the shadows¡ªhave the guts to face me!¡±

    From the edge of the gathering, William let out a quiet, mockingugh. He stepped forward, voice calm and clear. ¡°That would be me. Every message, every recording¡ªyou can thank me for bringing them to light. They¡¯re all genuine. And before you try to destroy the evidence, I¡¯ve already forwarded everything tow enforcement. Attempted harm, conspiracy, threats¡ªthose aren¡¯t just petty games. Not here.¡±

    Haley stared at William in utter disbelief, her world tilting as the truth settled in.

    Out of everyone, it was William who¡¯d exposed everything she tried to keep hidden?

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 Chapter 224

    ?Chapter 224:

    She could barely process it.

    He was notorious for steering clear of drama, always keeping his distance from other people¡¯s messes. So why now? Why drag her secrets into the spotlight, right in front of everyone she wanted to impress?

    Her legs threatened to give way. She clutched at empty air, her eyes brimming with panic and a dawning sense of helplessness.

    ¡°W-Why are you doing this?¡± Her voice trembled, as if searching for a lifeline. ¡°I¡¯ve never hurt you. Why go after me like this?¡±

    William let out a cold, humorlessugh, his gaze sharp enough to cut ss. ¡°If you don¡¯t want the world to see what you¡¯ve done, Ms. Smith, maybe don¡¯t do it in the first ce. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    He stood in front of her with the calm assurance of someone holding all the cards. When William decided to destroy someone¡¯s reputation, they never got back up.

    A shiver ran through Haley; for the first time, she realized she¡¯d gone up against someone way out of her league.

    The guests all kept their gaze fixed on her, tension stretching as they waited for the police to arrive.

    A celebration meant to be brimming withughter had twisted into chaos¡ªlike a scene ripped from a high-stakes courtroom thriller.

    But before the tension could break, a plump figure shouldered her way out of the crowd, cheeks flushed with indignation. ¡°You people have gone too far! I¡¯m not letting this end like this!¡±

    As Ste looked up, she recognized the voice¡ªJazlyn.

    Jazlyn stormed forward, her finger pointed straight at Ste, face twitching with rage. ¡°Drop the act, Ste! You really think changing your name would erase your past? You¡¯re not Sylvia, not even close!¡±

    Her voice rose, trembling with fury. ¡°You faked your identity just to bag a richer man! And you faked your own death to get rid of my son. You¡¯re disgusting. Maniptive to the core. And now you¡¯re dragging your new man into this? What, trying to humiliate my future daughter-inw too? What¡¯s your endgame here?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s voice cracked, venom dripping from every word. ¡°You¡¯ve always been a whore. Cheating even before you married Marc. And now you want to take Haley down with you? Keep dreaming.¡±

    She sneered. ¡°Haley¡¯s been nothing but sweet and respectful since she joined our family. But you? You couldn¡¯t even give Marc a child after all these years. You know why? Because you ruined your body sleeping around when you were younger.¡±

    Your hub for updates: g?lnovels.c??m

    The room fell quiet for a beat¡ªthen a voice popped up from the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I saw Ste at a hotel once. And she wasn¡¯t with Marc.¡± The whisper triggered a wave of murmurs. People turned toward Ste, hands over mouths, whispering like wildfire.

    Marc stood frozen in the middle of it all, stunned. He thought today would be just another engagement party. A formality. Nothing more. But now it had spiraledpletely out of control.

    He looked across at Ste. His expression flickered with uncertainty.

    He knew the truth¡ªhe knew exactly why she couldn¡¯t get pregnant. But right now, with all eyes on them, he couldn¡¯t speak up. He wouldn¡¯t.

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 Chapter 225

    ?Chapter 225:

    Their eyes met. Ste could see it in as day: he was abandoning her. Again. Letting her take the fall to protect his image, his so-called ¡°interests.¡±

    Staring at the three faces opposite her, her stomach turned.

    She had never known people more vile.

    She scanned the crowd, trying to find the person who backed Jazlyn¡¯s im. But whoever it was had already vanished¡ªlike smoke.

    At her side, William stepped closer, quietly offering his presence.

    Before he could say anything, Ste gently tugged his sleeve.

    This was her fight.

    With a calm she didn¡¯t feel, she walked over to the control panel, pulled out the USB drive she¡¯d brought, and plugged it in.

    ¡°Marc, you¡¯ve shown me exactly what kind of people you all are. Since you¡¯re so obsessed with proving I¡¯m Ste, I figured I¡¯d dig a little deeper into this woman who looks like me.¡± She gave a half-smile. ¡°And guess what? I found a few skeletons in the Walsh Group¡¯s closet.¡±

    With that, she opened a folder. One by one, documents filled the big screen behind her¡ªeach more damning than thest. ¡°These files? Theyy out every shady move yourpany¡¯s made. Fraud. Lies. Fake bidding wars. You told clients they were up againstpetitors that didn¡¯t even exist¡ªjust to jack up the prices.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t recent. This was old dirt, back from when the Walsh Group was still new. When Ste¡¯s patent helped themnd partnerships. But profits were slim.

    Marc hade up with a ¡°solution¡±¡ªpitpanies against each other with fake bids, ultimately choosing the one with the highest bid.

    Marc¡¯s face went pale as he stared at the files shing on the screen. He never thought she kept records. Especially not these.

    His chest heaved as he opened his mouth to speak¡ªbut Ste was already onto the next folder.

    More files. More proof of the lengths he went to get ahead.

    And the worst part? Some of the very people he¡¯d tricked were in the room right now. Anger spread fast.

    ¡°You lied to us, Marc. We trusted you,¡± one man said coldly.

    ¡°This is criminal,¡± another snapped. ¡°We lost millions because of your games. Either you pay up, or we¡¯ll see you in court. And if there¡¯s any justice, you¡¯ll end up behind bars.¡±

    Marc stood stiffly, chest heaving, eyes darting toward the partners now closing in on him, their expressions grim. ¡°Everyone, this is just a misunderstanding! We¡¯ve worked together for years¡ªsurely you all know what kind of person I am. These usations arepletely baseless!¡± His voice strained as he tried to salvage the little credibility he had left.

    But no one looked convinced. The partners, who had long since seen through his tricks, weren¡¯t having it.

    ¡°Marc, there¡¯s no need to waste more breath. Just return the money you scammed from us¡ªor prepare to be sued,¡± one of them snapped. The other guests in the hall didn¡¯t bother hiding their curiosity. Whispers swirled around the room.

    What was supposed to be an engagement party had spiraled into a full-blown circus. People were already imagining how juicy the gossip would be at dinner tables for months toe. Marc and Haley¡¯s reputations werepletely wrecked.

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 Chapter 226

    ?Chapter 226:

    The partners pressed their advantage. Among them were even a fewwyers ready to take legal action on the spot. Marc¡¯s fury darkened his expression as he red at them. His tone dropped to a low, threatening rumble. ¡°You want to sue? Go ahead. But don¡¯t forget¡ªwe have binding contracts. If you breach them, you¡¯ll be the ones getting sued. Whichwyer here would dare take that risk?¡±

    The stakeholders faltered. Thewyers exchanged uneasy nces. He wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªgoing up against apany they¡¯d worked with before, especially one as petty and litigious as Marc¡¯s, could jeopardize their entire practice. It wasn¡¯t just about winning a case; it was about survival in the legal field.

    For a moment, the room fell into a cold silence. Then William stepped forward, his voice calm butmanding. ¡°I happen to have a privatewyer who doesn¡¯t hesitate to take on any other clients.¡±

    Whether thiswsuit wins or loses, I won¡¯t fire him. What do you think, Mr. Walsh?¡±

    Marc¡¯s heart sank. He had thought he¡¯d narrowly escaped, only for William to throw a grenade at his feet.

    His face turned pale as he stared at William in disbelief. Why would he go this far? Was he really doing all of this for Ste?

    Marc clenched his fists. ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ must you be so ruthless?¡±

    William¡¯s smile was faint, his tone almost casual. ¡°Isn¡¯t this mess your own doing, Mr. Walsh?¡±

    Ste stepped forward, her voice cool and sharp. ¡°Mr. Walsh, before you plot your next move, try using that brain of yours. Not everyone is like your ex-wife¡ªwilling to forgive you no matter how badly you behave. Here¡¯s some advice: keep your head down, or you might end up in a far worse situation.¡±

    She turned to William with a light smirk. ¡°That was some engagement party. Quite the entertainment. I¡¯m tired now¡ªshall we go?¡±

    William nodded, nced at the guests, and told them to contact him for legal assistance whenever needed. Then they both walked out of the banquet hall, graceful andposed, leaving behind nothing but wreckage in their wake.

    Marc and Haley stood frozen, surrounded by murmurs and judgmental nces from the remaining guests.

    The banner behind them¡ª¡±True Love Forever¡±¡ªand the carefully arranged roses now felt like a cruel joke.

    Exclusive updates live g?ln¦Òv???s

    Outside, William led Ste to his car, parked near the curb. Once inside, nestled in thefort of the Bentley¡¯s plush seats, she turned to him. ¡°How did you get those recordings about Haley?¡± she asked.

    She hadn¡¯t had those chat logs or audio files herself. Where had theye from?

    William answered casually, ¡°I came across them while looking into Marc a while ago. Since Haley was involved with him, her dirt came up too. I didn¡¯t delete them¡ªdidn¡¯t expect they¡¯de in handy today.¡±

    That made sense. Ste remembered the tension between Marc and William. He had investigated Marc long ago, and Haley had just happened to be coteral damage.

    She nodded slightly, then asked, ¡°Could you send them to me too?¡± If Haley or Marc caused trouble again, having that material would save her the trouble of returning to William.

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 Chapter 227

    ?Chapter 227:

    William gave a small nod and nced at his phone.

    Within seconds, Ste¡¯s phone buzzed with iing files.

    She blinked at the quick response and murmured, ¡°Thanks.¡±

    But William only raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me just yet. I have a condition.¡±

    The moment William mentioned he had a condition, Ste immediately regretted thanking him.

    She stared at him warily, especially when she noticed the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Something told her she had just walked straight into a trap.

    William noticed her cautious look and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice with amusement. ¡°Why do you look so nervous? You think I¡¯m going to do something to you?¡± His breath lightly brushed her cheek. Ste instinctively tensed.

    ¡°I¡­ When did I say that?¡± she muttered, flustered.

    It seemed to her that he was clearly twisting her words.

    William leaned backzily. ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying you think I¡¯m a trafficker now? nning to sell you off?¡±

    Ste pursed her lips. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s not impossible.¡±

    Capitalists and traffickers¡ªsame level of ruthlessness in her book. Though she had to admit, William had been generous with her. A lot more generous than most.

    After a bit of yful back-and-forth, his teasing faded. The air shifted as he adopted a more serious tone.

    ¡°Neb¡¯s just starting to get noticed. You¡¯vended a few key projects, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s time to rx.¡± He turned to her, his gaze sharp. ¡°Next quarter, I want Neb to stand out among the newpanies¡ªdominate thepetition. I trust you can make this happen.¡±

    Ste met his gaze head-on. There was no fear, only fire. She had already prepared for this when she agreed to run Neb.

    Comfort zones were boring.

    She craved challenges.

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    ¡°I can do it,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll increase Neb¡¯s profit by fifty percent next quarter.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re certainly brave.¡± That kind of promise¡ªeven Steven wouldn¡¯t dare make.

    Buting from Ste? It didn¡¯t sound like an exaggeration.

    She caught the amused glint in his eyes and shot him a look. ¡°Pennypincher,¡± she mouthed silently.

    He really wanted to have his cake and eat it too.

    William saw it¡ªand instead of being offended, he actually smirked and started the car.

    As the engine hummed and the city lights passed them by, Ste opened her phone and tapped into the files he¡¯d sent.

    Each message, each recording, triggered a memory¡ªpulling her mind back to that night years ago.

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 Chapter 228

    ?Chapter 228:

    Marc had told her it was him. Over and over again. But his actions since then had proven otherwise.

    If it had really been him, he wouldn¡¯t have treated her like that.

    So maybe¡­ maybe it wasn¡¯t Marc at all.

    That thought hit her like a wave.

    But if it wasn¡¯t Marc¡ªthen who?

    Too much time had passed. That night had been a blur, and now it felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. Still, she had to know.

    She needed closure.

    The car came to a slow stop in front of the research institute. William turned to her, clearing his throat. She snapped out of her thoughts, unbuckled her seatbelt, and put her phone away.

    ¡°Thanks for today.¡±

    He nodded, his gaze lingering. ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to handle. You go on in.¡±

    She gave a light nod and stepped out.

    Her red-d figure grew smaller and smaller in his rearview mirror. William didn¡¯t drive off right away. He sat there quietly, watching the path she had taken. Then, he nced down at his phone beside him.

    He had never imagined the truth would be like this.

    Years of quiet investigation, countless dead ends, all led here¡ªunraveled not by a nned strategy, but by Haley¡¯s careless provocation.

    It was ironic how chaos often revealed what careful effort could not. William leaned back in his seat, a low chuckle slipping past his lips.

    His mind drifted back to that night at the hotel. The blurry image in his memory gradually sharpened¡­ and merged with the Ste in red from today.

    So, it was her all along.

    The phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing. Ste groaned, burying her head deeper into the pillow. After tossing and turning for another minute, she finally gave up.

    Your storytelling begins at g ¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,

    She sat up groggily and squinted at her phone. 7:15 a.m. She sighed. The research institute didn¡¯t start work until nine, and she usually got up at eight.

    Whoever was calling had just stolen a precious hour of sleep from her. The number on the screen was unfamiliar. With a heavy sigh, she finally picked up.

    ¡°Hello, who is this?¡±

    ¡°Hello, this is the Skytein Police Station. Are you Ms. Sylvia Gilbert?¡±

    That woke her up instantly. ¡°Yes, I am.¡±

    The Skytein Police Station was responsible for their jurisdiction.

    ¡°You currently have a Ms. Haley Smith in custody. She¡¯s been used of nder and defamation and is requesting to settle the matter privately. We¡¯re calling to ask if you coulde down to the station to discuss terms.¡±

    Ste nearlyughed. Haley? Wanting to settle now? What a joke.

    ¡°I¡¯m busy today,¡± she said coldly. ¡°You should have already received all the evidence. I¡¯m not agreeing to a settlement, and I don¡¯t n on resolving this privately. Please don¡¯t call again.¡±

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 Chapter 229

    ?Chapter 229:

    She ended the call and tossed the phone onto her bed. She headed straight to the bathroom, not allowing herself to dwell on the issue. Haley always had a way of slithering out of trouble. But not this time. Ste wanted to see who Haley thought would rescue her now. And if no one came? Then Haley could enjoy her time behind bars.

    When Ste arrived at the working areater that morning, she greeted her colleagues like usual¡ªbut something felt off. The way they looked at her¡­

    Pity? Curiosity?

    She frowned, unsure of what was going on. It reminded her of the whispers and looks she got at Walsh Group¡ªback when she was still Marc¡¯s wife.

    Pushing the uneasy feeling aside, she headed straight for her team. The second she opened the door, all eyes turned to her. Sandra burst into tears the moment she saw her.

    ¡°Sylvia¡­¡±

    Elbert¡¯s expression was unusually grim. Even Jamir, who rarely showed emotion, looked shaken.

    Ste hurried over. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why do you all look like someone died?¡±

    Elbert let out a long sigh but couldn¡¯t seem to get the words out.

    Jamir stayed quiet.

    It was Sandra, still sniffling, who finally spoke. ¡°Sylvia¡­ we didn¡¯t make the cut. Our team didn¡¯t advance.¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked between the two, disbelief in her eyes.

    ¡°What do you mean? Didn¡¯t they already announce the results? Weren¡¯t we on the advancement list? How could that suddenly change?¡±

    Sandra, still choked up, couldn¡¯t get a word out. Her face was streaked with tears.

    Elbert exined, his tone heavy, ¡°What we saw that day wasn¡¯t the actual advancement list¡ªit was just a ranking of the top three teams. We didn¡¯t realize there was more to it.¡±

    They had been so excited to spot their group¡¯s name that they had overlooked the rest of the announcement.

    §Þ?§Ô? ¦Ô¦Ñ??§ä?? ?§ä g?l????l?.???

    The full list had included other contenders, and the final selection was made today from among those top three.

    Ste could hardly wrap her head around it. How could something so important not be made clear that same day? And yet, everyone had congratted them, genuinely believing they¡¯d made it through.

    ¡°Sylvia, I really thought we were in,¡± Sandra choked out through her tears. ¡°But it was all just a misunderstanding¡­¡±

    Hearing Sandra cry like that made something in Ste¡¯s chest tighten. The whole thing felt off. Too vague. Too convenient. And definitely not right.

    Just then, the door creaked open, and Cecelia walked in, dressed sharply in a fitted long dress.

    Her eyesnded on Ste, and that familiar sneer curled on her lips.

    ¡°So, Sylvia, you heard the news?¡± she said, her arms folding as she leaned against the wall with exaggerated nonchnce. ¡°Everyone thought we¡¯d advance just because you were on the team. How¡¯s that for a reality check?¡±

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 Chapter 230

    ?Chapter 230:

    Her voice dripped with mockery, and the smug expression on her face practically dared someone to argue.

    ¡°Gee, I don¡¯t know what kind of big shot you were pretending to be.¡±

    Elbert, usuallyposed, couldn¡¯t hold back this time. ¡°Cecelia, that¡¯s enough. We¡¯re all on the same team. There¡¯s no reason for this.¡±

    But Cecelia just scoffed, brushing off his words like dust. ¡°Did I say anything wrong? Sylvia always walks around like she¡¯s some genius, and you all enable it. Well? Where did that get us?¡±

    Then her tone sharpened, growing meaner. ¡°Maybe the higher-ups decided not to let us through because of all the noise surrounding hertely. Let¡¯s be honest¡ªshe didn¡¯t get on this project with just talent. Everyone knows she¡¯s got a connection. William Briggs, right? Cozying up to the boss doesn¡¯t get you respect, you know. It just makes you look 100k desperate.¡±

    Sandra shot up from her seat. ¡°That¡¯s going too far, Cecelia! How can you say something so vile? You¡¯re a woman yourself!¡±

    Cecelia folded her arms and sneered. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not like Sylvia, always glued to William. Everyone here¡¯s seen it, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    She sounded so sure of herself, as if she had hard proof that Ste was the reason their team wasn¡¯t moving forward. With that, Cecelia spun on her heel and walked out.

    Ste sat there quietly, watching her go. The usation didn¡¯t anger her¡ªit just left her feeling confused.

    Cecelia had always been fiercelypetitive. Even if she didn¡¯t like Ste, their group not advancing should have bothered her too.

    Yet her attitude was indifferent¡ªalmost amused.

    But why? Something didn¡¯t add up.

    Turning away from the door, Ste looked at Elbert. ¡°If we didn¡¯t make it¡­ then who did?¡±

    Your source of stories: galn¦Òv??ls.??????

    Elbert¡¯s face dropped. ¡°Allen¡¯s group.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Allen?¡±

    That didn¡¯t make sense.

    His group wasn¡¯t strong enough. And now, out of nowhere, they¡¯d advanced, while the announcement had suddenly changed to only the top three?

    The whole thing reeked of maniption.

    ¡°Something¡¯s definitely wrong with this,¡± she murmured. ¡°Too many pieces don¡¯t fit.¡±

    As Ste voiced her doubts, Sandra banged her fist on the table. ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s all messed up! They said the results would be posted on the notice board, and now they¡¯re iming it was only the top three?¡± That kind of sudden change had never happened before.

    ¡°So what now?¡± Elbert asked. The others looked to Ste, clearly counting on her.

    Sandra¡¯s face creased with worry. ¡°If this was nned behind the scenes, they¡¯ll cover their tracks. We¡¯ll need someone smarter or more powerful to step in.¡±

    Hearing that, Elbert¡¯s eyes lit up with sudden realization.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you talk to William?¡± he suggested, looking directly at Ste.

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 Chapter 231

    ?Chapter 231:

    From the beginning, something about this situation felt off. If they brought it to William¡¯s attention, he might step in, just like he didst time when Allen tried to push them around.

    But Ste paused. She didn¡¯t want to keep relying on William every time something went wrong.

    Even though he held a higher position and had helped her before, she felt the need to stand on her own this time.

    That afternoon, after work, Ste busied herself in the kitchen. As she stirred the soup, lost in thought, she reached for the salt again, only for Rita to stop her just in time.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯ve already salted it!¡±

    Startled, Ste blinked, pulled herself out of her daze, and set the salt aside without a word.

    Once the meal was done, Rita picked up the dish meant for William and was about to leave.

    But before she could head out, Ste spoke up.

    ¡°Rita, I¡¯lle along today.¡±

    Rita gave her a warm smile. ¡°Of course!¡±

    Ste followed Rita into William¡¯s dorm. When William turned and saw her, surprise shed briefly across his face.

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d join you for dinner this time. Hope you don¡¯t mind, Mr. Briggs?¡± she asked casually.

    William raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. ¡°Eating alone must¡¯ve started to feel a little too lonely, huh, Ms. Russell?¡±

    The words caught Ste off guard. She opened her mouth but said nothing. Did he really have to put it that way?

    Later, at dinner, William ate at a rxed pace and casually remarked, ¡°It¡¯s cooked perfectly.¡±

    The way he said it¡­ it felt like he was patting her on the head. Ste bit back a sharp reply,posed herself, and reached for some food.

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    ¡°You¡¯re right. Eating alone all the time does get a bit dull.¡±

    William paused and looked at her more carefully this time. Something about her was different today.

    As Ste chewed, her mind kept circling around how to bring up the real reason she¡¯de.

    Her fingers fidgeted slightly. She needed to say it before dinner ended, or she¡¯d miss her chance entirely.

    William calmly lifted his spoon, took a slow sip of soup, and then nced at her with that amused look.

    ¡°Miss Russell, is there something on your mind? Or are you about to confess your feelings? You do seem a bit flustered.¡±

    Rita¡¯s eyes sparkled as she watched Ste. Was Ms. Russell really about to confess? She found herself thinking that confessions usually came from the guy. Mr. Briggs really should have stepped up instead of putting Ms. Russell in this position.

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 Chapter 232

    ?Chapter 232:

    Setting her fork and knife aside, Ste took a steadying breath. ¡°I actually need a favor from you.¡±

    The shift in her tone made William sit up straighter. ¡°Is this about the promotion?¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression brightened. So, he knew!

    She said, ¡°The advancement list was posted already, but now they¡¯re saying it¡¯s for something else. Plus, the team selections got switched at thest minute. That¡¯s not how the institute usually does things.¡±

    William¡¯s slow nod showed he saw her point. ¡°What kind of help do you need from me?¡±

    A hint of hope crept into Ste¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯s not much. We just need you to look for some proof. Anything that shows why everything suddenly changed.¡±

    William paused for a moment, considering her words. ¡°Alright.¡±

    ¡°You mean it?¡±

    ¡°But I do have one condition.¡±

    Ste hesitated, caught off guard. Maybe she should have expected it¡ªWilliam was all business, never one to do favors without expecting something in return.

    She said, ¡°Alright. If you agree to help, I¡¯ll go along with whatever terms you have in mind.¡±

    William found himself caught off guard by her quick eptance. Normally, she would want to know the details before agreeing. This time, she didn¡¯t even pause to question him.

    ¡°You¡¯re not the least bit worried I might use this to my advantage?¡± A smile tugged at his lips, and a subtle dimple appeared at the edge of his mouth, softening his stern features with a yful, almost roguish charm.

    ¡°If it makes you happy, so be it. I don¡¯t think you¡¯d stoop that low, Mr. Briggs.¡± After dabbing his hands with a napkin, William rose from his seat. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it for you. Give me a few days to sort things out.¡±

    Deep down, he felt responsible for the institute¡¯s reputation. Even if Ste hadn¡¯t reached out, he wouldn¡¯t let anyone stir up trouble behind the scenes.

    When the new day arrived, Ste gathered her team at the institute.

    Ga lno vel s . takes you into new worlds

    Sandra¡¯s eyes scanned the group, then turned to Sylvia. ¡°Cecelia isn¡¯t here yet.¡± Despite what happened the previous day, Sandra didn¡¯t hold a grudge. She had already put the disagreement with Cecelia behind her, so it was natural for her to wonder about Cecelia¡¯s absence during the meeting.

    A small, knowing smile crossed Ste¡¯s face at Sandra¡¯s gentle spirit. ¡°She isn¡¯t present right now, but I¡¯ll talk to her privatelyter.¡±

    Sandra gave a simple nod. ¡°Alright, that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already brought this to Mr. Briggs. He¡¯s agreed to look into it for us. Until we get some answers, I don¡¯t want this news getting out. If Allen¡¯s people show up looking for trouble, make sure no one mentions Mr. Briggs is involved.¡±

    Both Elbert and Jamir understood right away and nodded firmly. ¡°You can count on us, Sylvia. We won¡¯t say anything.¡±

    Sandra pressed a hand to her chest, full of confidence. ¡°Same here, Sylvia! I won¡¯t tell a soul!¡±

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 Chapter 233

    ?Chapter 233:

    Ste¡¯s gaze lingered on Sandra. ¡°That goes for Cecelia, too. Please, Sandra¡ªdon¡¯t let it slip, not even to her.¡±

    Sandra hesitated for a moment, then caught the seriousness in Ste¡¯s eyes and nodded. ¡°I understand!¡±

    With that assurance, Ste turned her attention back to the tasks at hand. The promotion matter still hung over them, but their regr work couldn¡¯t be ignored or put on hold.

    Besides, Ste had full confidence in William. If anyone could uncover the truth, it would be him.

    Later that night, Ste had just finished bathing when someone knocked at her door.

    She pulled it open and found William waiting outside, dressed in a set of ck loungewear.

    A file rested in his hands as he took in her cartoon pajamas, eyebrows lifting in mild surprise. So, this was how she dressed when no one else was around?

    thought twice about wearing them, but now that William had seen her in those cartoon pajamas, a quick flush of embarrassment crossed her face.

    ¡°Did you need something?¡± She tried to draw his attention away from her clothes.

    ¡°This is what you asked me to find.¡±

    Ste epted the yellow envelope, her heartbeat picking up.

    She wasted no time tearing it open. As her eyes scanned the pages, her mood shifted. A heavy seriousness settled over her features.

    She¡¯d suspected those people from the start.

    ¡°Now that you know the truth, what¡¯s your next move?¡±

    With the proof in her hands, William leaned back, his hands casually tucked in his pockets.

    Ste said, ¡°Let¡¯s act like we¡¯re still in the dark for now.¡±

    where stories grow

    William hadn¡¯t expected that. He¡¯d assumed she¡¯d confront Allen and the others the moment she had solid proof.

    Ste continued, ¡°If they¡¯re so confident in their perfect little scheme, let them enjoy the spotlight a bit longer. The fall will hurt more that way.¡±

    The sharp glint in her eyes gave her n away. He knew exactly what she was thinking.

    He¡¯d said it once, and he still believed it: Ste could be dangerously decisive when the situation called for it.

    Behind that gentle, almost naive exterior, she carried a cold edge that no one ever sawing.

    And that edge fascinated William.

    ¡°I held up my end. Don¡¯t forget you owe me.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°So, what now? What do you want in return?¡±

    William gave a half-smile and lifted a shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯ll let you know when I figure it out.¡±

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 Chapter 234

    ?Chapter 234:

    He wasn¡¯t in a rush. Favors like this didn¡¯t expire, and he liked having one tucked away.

    At the cafeteria¡­

    Since William was tied up with a partner meeting during lunch, Ste didn¡¯t bother heading back to cook for him.

    She took the rare chance to join her colleagues for a simple meal in the cafeteria.

    As they queued for food, a small group pushed into the line, led by Allen.

    ¡°Well, would you look at that? Sylvia,¡± he sneered. ¡°When you started tossing around all those fancy terms the other day, I almost believed you knew what you were talking about. Guess I was wrong.¡±

    Sandra bristled with anger and looked ready to snap back, but Ste caught her arm, stopping her.

    ¡°Oh, what¡¯s wrong? Feeling bitter because you didn¡¯t make the cut?¡± Allen taunted, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. ¡°It must sting knowing I made the team and you didn¡¯t. You thought being William¡¯s favorite would give you a shortcut around here? Sorry to say, but looks like reality finally pped you in the face.¡±

    Allen¡¯s teammates chuckled behind him, their eyes sharp with scorn as they stared at Ste¡¯s group.

    ¡°Sylvia, maybe try calling in a favor from William again. Or charm a few more influential people¡ªsomeone¡¯s bound to lend a hand. Don¡¯t stress about making the team. If you do manage to sneak in, I¡¯ll wee you with open arms. No judgment. After all, knowing how to hang onto a man is a talent too, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    He burst intoughter and strutted away, his group trailing behind, their loud amusement echoing across the room.

    Elbert shot Ste a nce. ¡°Don¡¯t let that idiot get to you. He¡¯s full of it.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Sandra chimed in. ¡°Some people can¡¯t see past their own bitterness. Let it go.¡±

    With their support, Ste brushed it off without letting it ruin her mood.

    Keep reading on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    Once lunch was over, the group began heading out of the cafeteria but paused when they spotted Cecelia crossing the room, carrying arge box.

    Sandra blinked and called out, confused, ¡°Cecelia? What¡¯s going on? Where are you taking all that?¡±

    Elbert frowned in confusion too. No one had announced anyb transfers.

    Cecelia stiffened. She hadn¡¯t expected to run into them here. Hadn¡¯t they mentioned dining off-site?

    Her grip on the box tightened. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m just clearing out some things I don¡¯t need anymore.¡±

    But her anxious expression betrayed her, and the others picked up on the tension.

    ¡°Things you don¡¯t need?¡± Elbert asked, eyeing the nearly full box. ¡°Like your entire petri dish collection?¡±

    It was obvious she wasn¡¯t just sorting out a drawer¡ªshe had practically packed her whole station.

    His brows drew together. ¡°Cecelia, we¡¯re your team. What¡¯s really going on?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 235

    ?Chapter 235:

    Her breath came fast and uneven. She wasn¡¯t ready for this confrontation. Not yet. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m just organizing! What¡¯s the big deal? Didn¡¯t you all say you were eating out? Why are you even here?¡±

    Jamir stepped up beside Elbert, calm but fixing Cecelia with a level stare. ¡°Did you wait until we were gone so you could move your things without anyone noticing?¡±

    The question made Cecelia snap. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that? I already said I¡¯m tidying up! Seriously, can none of you understand simple words? No wonder none of you made the cut!¡±

    The jab at their failed promotions hit like a p. Elbert¡¯s expression turned cial. ¡°That¡¯s uncalled for, Cecelia.¡±

    He¡¯d always treated their shared team bond with care, never once raising his voice at Cecelia.

    Even when she caused friction, he approached it calmly, trying to ease tensions without confrontation.

    Buttely, Cecelia¡¯s disregard for the team had only worsened.

    Before Cecelia could fire back, another voice came from the side of the room. ¡°Cecelia, over here! Your new station¡¯s ready. You can settle in now¡ª¡±

    The speaker stopped abruptly, realizing Elbert and Jamir were standing right there, tension thick in the air.

    Elbert turned toward Cecelia slowly, disbelief settling over him. ¡°New station? What do they mean by that?¡±

    She was still part of their team¡ªor at least, she had been. So why was she setting up somewhere else?

    Sandra leveled a re at Cecelia, her posture rigid with indignation. Her gaze flicked to the neer¡ªa sharp-eyed woman she vaguely remembered as Nelly Green, one of Allen¡¯s team.

    ¡°So, Cecelia, you¡¯ve switched sides to Allen¡¯s team?¡± Sandra demanded, her voice tight.

    At her words, Elbert and Jamir froze in shock, disbelief flickering across their faces.

    Only Ste seemed unfazed, watching the scene unfold with a faint, knowing smirk, as if she¡¯d expected this all along.

    Updated stories galno¦Íe?s

    Since Sandra had already put everything out in the open, Cecelia dropped the act entirely. With deliberate finality, she set the box she¡¯d been carrying on an empty table and faced the group, her eyes cool and steady.

    ¡°I won¡¯t bother hiding it anymore. Yes, I joined Allen¡¯s team. Why wouldn¡¯t I? His group has actual talent. Sticking around here, following someone who only got in by pulling strings? That¡¯s a dead end. I¡¯m not about to drag myself down to your level.¡±

    The way she spoke was so unwavering that Ste nearly lost it andughed out loud.

    ¡°Oh, really? That¡¯s rich. Tell me, who¡¯s actually getting dragged down here? You were on our team until five minutes ago¡ªnow, suddenly, Allen¡¯s group just happens to im our spot, right after you jump ship. And you want us to believe that¡¯s a coincidence?¡± Sandra snapped, her tone brimming with rage.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 236

    ?Chapter 236:

    ¡°Give me a break! Why would I bother scheming against you? Allen¡¯s team needed a recement because someone got sick. I filled the gap. Simple as that. If you think you¡¯re so qualified, then why don¡¯t you take my spot and see how far you get?¡±

    Cecelia folded her arms tightly, shooting Sandra a withering re, while Nelly¡¯s lips curled into a sneer.

    Nelly said, ¡°Oh, spare us the drama, Cecelia. We don¡¯t need dead weight hanging around¡ªespecially someone who can¡¯t even keep a basic sample alive. Why bother pretending? Do everyone a favor and just quit already.¡±

    That dig only made Cecelia smirk. She arched a brow, her voice dripping with mock concern. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so cruel. She¡¯s got at least one skill¡ªsucking up to people.¡±

    Nelly broke into a loud, mockingugh. ¡°Yeah, except she picked the wrong person to cozy up to! Of all people, she picked someone who onlynded here through pure connections. Honestly, it¡¯s just pathetic.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s hands clenched so hard her knuckles nched, rage trembling through her frame. ¡°What the hell are you talking about? Everyone here knows Allen¡¯s got someone backing him. Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re above it all.¡±

    By now, Cecelia and Nelly were already turning away, dismissing Sandra as if she wasn¡¯t even worth the argument.

    Cecelia¡¯s attention flickered over to Elbert, who had stayed silent through the exchange. ¡°Elbert, I¡¯ll give you this¡ªyou¡¯re talented. But you picked the worst possible teammates. No wonder you didn¡¯t make it through. Anyway, I don¡¯t have time to keep chatting. Some of us have real work to do.¡±

    Nelly straightened, already brushing them off. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Cecelia. There¡¯s no point talking to people beneath us.¡±

    She shot a final cold look at Ste¡¯s group, her disdain obvious.

    For her, it wasn¡¯t even about grudges¡ªshe just never liked them and never bothered to hide it.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©qc??m has it all

    Watching Ste¡¯s group fall into chaos clearly delighted her.

    ¡°You know, Cecelia, I¡¯ve never met anyone as shamelessly selfish as you!¡± Even with Ste trying to pull her back, Sandra¡¯s anger boiled over¡ªshe jabbed a finger at Cecelia, unable to hold herself in check.

    Ste tightened her grip on Sandra¡¯s arm, pulling her back for the second time.

    ¡°Sandra, let it go,¡± she insisted quietly.

    Getting riled up over people like Cecelia and Nelly was a waste of energy.

    ¡°But Sylvia, she¡¯s betraying us¡ªall of us!¡±

    In a single moment, everything they¡¯d worked for unraveled. A sick suspicion gnawed at Sandra¡ªCecelia¡¯s betrayal had to be behind the sudden shake-up in the advancement list.

    Ste stepped forward, shielding Sandra as she locked eyes with Cecelia and Nelly, both oozing smug confidence. ¡°I think you¡¯ve said enough. Cecelia, I know exactly what you did with Allen¡¯s group. You switched out our experimental data, didn¡¯t you? I already turned in the evidence this morning. It¡¯s only a matter of time before the truthes out.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 237

    ?Chapter 237:

    The smirks instantly vanished from Cecelia¡¯s and Nelly¡¯s faces. Cecelia¡¯s voice trembled as she replied, ¡°W-What? What on earth are you even saying? I don¡¯t know anything about¡ª¡±

    A cold wave of dread crashed over her. She¡¯d covered her tracks so carefully¡ªhow could this have happened?

    Ste faced her with a cool, unyielding gaze. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if you deny it. The truth wille out soon enough when the investigators get here.¡±

    Cecelia sucked in a shaky breath, holding tight to her resentment. ¡°Sylvia, stop making up wild stories! What ¡®data¡¯? You lost, and now you¡¯re just throwing out baseless usations because you can¡¯t handle it. That¡¯s pathetic¡ªeven for you.¡±

    Ste let out a short, scornfulugh. Then, without a hint of hesitation, she raised her hand and struck Cecelia across the face.

    The p cracked through the cafeteria, sharp and unmistakable, turning every head in the room.

    Cecelia¡¯s hand shot up to shield her face, her eyes burning with shock and outrage. ¡°Sylvia, did you actually p me?¡± she demanded, her voice shaking.

    Ste didn¡¯t even blink as she countered, ¡°Cecelia, I tried to let you save face. I gave you every chance toe clean in private, but you clearly don¡¯t care about shame. So don¡¯t me me for airing it all out now. I¡¯ve got the video of you and Allen switching the experimental data. Should I y it for the whole room?¡±

    Cecelia¡¯s breath caught. She searched Ste¡¯s eyes, desperate for any sign of a bluff, but Ste¡¯s gaze was steady, ice-cold, and utterly sincere.

    Panic flickered across Cecelia¡¯s face. She was certain¡ªwhen she and Allen made the switch, no one else was in theb.

    Actually, Ste had stumbled onto their scheme entirely by chance.

    Her strict habits meant she always left theb camera rolling right up until she went back to the dorm, just to keep the data aboveboard.

    But that day, she¡¯d hurried out and forgotten to switch off the camera¡ªonly to return the next morning and find the battery dead.

    Discover stories now galnov??s.c?m

    After bringing the camera home, she simply plugged it in to charge, never bothering to check the files inside.

    It wasn¡¯t until William mentioned something was off that she finally popped out the memory card and scrolled through the footage.

    There it was, in as day¡ªCecelia and Allen slipping into theb long after everyone else had left.

    The camera had recorded every word between them, their hushed conversation preserved in full.

    The evidence was irrefutable.

    Cecelia¡¯s breath quickened, panic flickering in her eyes. She recalled every risky move, every secretive gesture she¡¯d made in Allen¡¯s presence that day.

    If Ste really had watched all of it, then she was finished.

    Cecelia said, ¡°That¡¯s aplete lie! I never met Allen alone¡ªever! I never struck any secret deal with him or his people. Someone in their group fell sick, so I filled in for them, that¡¯s all. I don¡¯t know anything about data!¡±

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 Chapter 238

    ?Chapter 238:

    Nelly, snapping out of her shock, quickly supported Cecelia. ¡°That¡¯s right! This is all made up! Even if there is a video, it¡¯s just some setup meant to frame Cecelia. Sylvia, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d stoop this low just to drag her down. I never thought you had it in you.¡±

    Letting out a low, scornfulugh, Ste retorted, ¡°You think you get to judge me? Please. Cecelia, if you still refuse to listen, I¡¯ll just y the video for everyone ¡ª let¡¯s see what the entire institute thinks of you and Allen after this.¡±

    Sandra and Elbert froze, both blindsided by Ste¡¯s sharp edge.

    Up until now, they¡¯d always pictured her as the quiet, steady type¡ªsteady, yes, but never one for confrontation.

    Apparently, when pushed too far, Ste didn¡¯t just defend herself¡ªshe fought back with teeth bared.

    Without missing a beat, Ste pressed on, her eyes glinting with cool usation. ¡°Ever since I joined the institute, your hostility has been impossible to miss, Cecelia. You think I didn¡¯t notice? You¡¯re the one who switched our samples to the wrong incubator, aren¡¯t you? And you¡¯re behind the sudden dys in our experiments, too.¡±

    None of it had been about their supposedck of skill, nor was it Sandra¡¯s rookie mistakes that sabotaged the team.

    All along, Cecelia had orchestrated everything¡ªshe¡¯d nned to jump ship to Allen¡¯s team from the start, willing to sacrifice everyone else for her own gain. Ste couldn¡¯t say when Cecelia and Allen had begun plotting together, but deep down, she was certain Cecelia¡¯s loyalty had never belonged to their team.

    The moment a crowd of senior staff swept into the cafeteria, the onlookers scattered, hurrying back to their seats as if themotion had never happened. Paul strode in at the head of the group, a stern presence among the institute¡¯s leaders, all with clipped steps and unreadable faces.

    Ste caught sight of William among them, still in his whiteb coat¡ªa clear sign he¡¯d rushed over straight from theb.

    Paul¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and unyielding. ¡°Cecelia, Nelly, you¡¯re both suspected of undermining the integrity of this institute. I¡¯ll need you toe with me for questioning. Allen as well.¡±

    Step into fiction with  .

    He swept a hard gaze over the room, then jerked his chin toward the doors. ¡°All of you¡ªmy office, now.¡±

    Paul had only recently learned the truth. If Ste hadn¡¯t delivered the evidence in time, the secret backroom deals would¡¯ve stayed buried beneath the surface.

    Paul realized now that his earlier leniency had only emboldened Allen and his crew, convincing them they could get away with anything.

    Cecelia¡¯s voice quavered with desperation as she pleaded, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Mr. Hoffman. Please, let me exin¡­¡±

    Paul leveled her with a hard stare, his tone unyielding. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I said,e with me. Or would you rather I air everything out in front of the whole institute?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 239

    ?Chapter 239:

    At that, Cecelia mped her mouth shut, her pride stinging.

    Thest thing she wanted was to be a public spectacle.

    Paul¡¯s assistant stepped in, guiding Cecelia and her group toward the exit. As Paul turned to leave, he paused beside Ste, then made his way to Elbert.

    ¡°The matter¡¯s settled. Your team earned that advancement. We¡¯ll post the corrected results soon. Congrattions¡ªconsider this a well-deserved win.¡±

    Elbert¡¯s group let out a collective sigh of relief, joy, and a touch of disbelief. It was like finding something you thought was lost forever. Elbert was still soaking in that feeling, along with everyone else.

    After a quick word with Elbert, Paul walked up to Ste.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, we owe you¡ªbig time. And I want you to know, the management¡¯s taken note of your performance. We¡¯ve decided to award you this year¡¯s Best Achievement Award.¡±

    Ste blinked. She figured Paul and the others were just here to wrap things up. She hadn¡¯t expected anything else. But the Best Achievement Award?

    That caught her off guard. It might just be a yearly award, but to her, it meant something real. Something personal. She stood there, caught between surprise and speechlessness.

    Paulughed gently. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ms. Gilbert? Don¡¯t tell me you think the award¡¯s too small?¡±

    She knew he was teasing and quickly pulled herself together. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m grateful¡ªtruly. Thank you for the recognition and for your trust. I¡¯ll stay focused and keep giving it my best. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    Her voice was calm, but heartfelt. Paul smiled, gave her shoulder a pat, and added, ¡°By the way¡ªthere¡¯s an academic conferenceing up. You¡¯ll be representing our institute.¡±

    Boom. Another surprise. Ste barely had time to process the first one.

    ¡°Wait¡ªyou mean the quinquennial academic conference?¡±

    Feel inspired on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s£®c§à??

    Thest one had been held in Achury, and this time it was local.

    She had actually thought about trying to pull some strings to get in¡ªjust to sit in the back and listen, even if she couldn¡¯t participate.

    But now?

    She wasn¡¯t just going¡ªshe was representing the institute. She had never dreamed of this.

    She felt like she¡¯d just won the lottery.

    Paulughed and walked off with his team, leaving behind a trail of congrattions.

    Elbert and the others gathered around her, all beaming. ¡°Sylvia, congrats! That conference is no joke¡ªand you¡¯re our official rep this year. That¡¯s amazing.¡±

    She hooked her arm around Ste¡¯s. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re seriously incredible!¡±

    Ste smiled and thanked them one by one. ¡°It¡¯s not just me. We got here as a team. I couldn¡¯t have done it alone.¡±

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 Chapter 240

    ?Chapter 240:

    As the group chatted, William strolled up behind her. His voice was soft, but there was a familiar yfulness in it. ¡°Congrattions on achieving your goals, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Ste turned to look at him, still riding the high of everything.

    She couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªwithout William¡¯s help, getting the dirt on Cecelia and the others would¡¯ve been a whole lot harder. Maybe he wasn¡¯t just a slick businessman after all. And maybe all those meals she¡¯d cooked for him weren¡¯t for nothing.

    She raised an eyebrow, teasing just a bit. ¡°Thanks to you, Mr. Briggs. Your skills are impressive¡ªhere in Choria and in Briset. I¡¯ve got to say, I¡¯m impressed.¡± Her words were genuine, but her tone had a yful edge.

    William let out a quietugh. ¡°And here I thought you¡¯d repay me with more than just apliment.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What do you want then?¡±

    ¡°At the very least¡­ dinner. That¡¯s fair, right?¡± He stepped in just a bit closer, not enough to make a scene¡ªbut enough to stir something unspoken between them.

    Sandra, still hanging onto Ste¡¯s arm, giggled and gave her a light shake. ¡°Seriously, you two! The flirting is unreal. It¡¯s almost too sweet.¡±

    William nced her way but didn¡¯t say anything¡ªjust chuckled.

    Ste, on the other hand, shot Sandra a look. ¡°Stop with the nonsense.¡±

    Sandra turned to nce at her friend¡¯s face, expecting a flustered grin¡ªbut Ste was dead serious. No blush. No dodging.

    Still, there was something unspoken hanging in the air between her and William. These two might not be a couple¡­ but somehow, they just fit. Strangely well-matched.

    The day of the academic conference had finally arrived. Ste showed up dressed to the nines¡ªevery bit the professional¡ªpolished, poised, and quietlymanding. She took her seat without fuss, sharp eyes behind rimless sses, her whole demeanor exuding calm confidence.

    When she spoke up, her questions were insightful and precise. No fluff. All substance.

    The best stories are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???????

    The entire event was being streamed live, which meant everyone had to be on their toes. One clumsy moment, one careless slip, and it would be all over the inte within seconds.

    Back at the Walsh family home, Jazlyn sat frozen in front of the TV, eyes wide in disbelief. There was Ste¡ªcalm, sharp, and professional¡ªlooking every bit the intellectual with those frameless sses. Was this really the same Ste?

    Jazlyn didn¡¯t understand most of what the conference was about, but she recognized the faces on screen. These were people she¡¯d seen in headlines and glossy magazine spreads¡ªtop-tier names. The kind of people who ran things behind the scenes.

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 Chapter 241

    ?Chapter 241:

    And now, Ste was sitting among them, speaking like she belonged there. Every time the camera panned to her, Ste looked poised, polished¡ªuntouched by nerves or doubt. She wasn¡¯t just present. She was thriving.

    Just then, Marc came downstairs. Jazlyn waved him over urgently. ¡°Marc! Come here¡ªSte¡¯s on TV!¡±

    At the sound of her name, Marc walked over quickly and sat beside his mother. They both watched in silence for a moment. Jazlyn broke it first.

    ¡°She¡¯s really something now, huh? Honestly, I think she deserves you now¡­ more than Haley. She¡¯s on another level.¡±

    Jazlyn didn¡¯t find her words absurd at all; she genuinely believed that Ste now matched Marc.

    Marc didn¡¯t reply. His eyes stayed on Ste¡ªcaptivated. That was his wife. Soposed. So brilliant. So beautiful.

    ¡°She¡¯s not just holding her own,¡± Jazlyn continued. ¡°She¡¯s standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people who control entire industries. If shees back to you, the resources alone could turn everything around for the Walsh Group.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t look away from the screen. He knew what his mother said was true.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never given up on her,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll win her back.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s brows pinched together. ¡°Then why hasn¡¯t she agreed? Why hasn¡¯t she even considereding back? Do you think¡­ maybe she doesn¡¯t love you anymore?¡± Jazlyn asked, a flicker of worry crossing her face.

    Marc snapped his gaze toward her. ¡°No way. Stel still loves me. There has to be something else going on.¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡± Jazlyn pressed.

    Marc fell silent for a moment, then said, ¡°It¡¯s because of what happened back then.

    That night. The trauma. The shame she carried.¡± In his mind, that had to be the reason she hadn¡¯t returned.

    M?§Ô? ??????? ?? ??l????l?.???

    Maybe getting close to William was her way of giving up¡ªlike she thought she was damaged, so it didn¡¯t matter anymore. Maybe she believed she didn¡¯t deserve better.

    The thought left a bitter taste in Marc¡¯s mouth. His chest tightened.

    But still¡ªhe could forgive all of it. If she came back, he¡¯d let the past die right there. Pretend it never happened.

    He told himself that made him noble. That it made him rare¡ªmerciful, even.

    ¡°Then go for it, Marc,¡± Jazlyn said, her voice softer now.

    She hadn¡¯t dared show her face in public since thest mess.

    Haley? Please. That girl was just a spoiled little princess, no match for someone like Ste.

    If Ste returned, Haley could pack up and leave. Simple as that.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 242

    ?Chapter 242:

    Marc nodded, confidence blooming in his chest. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it, Mom. No one else will treat her the way I do.¡±

    He watched the screen again as the camera zoomed in on Ste¡¯s face. There she was. His wife. He wanted her back.

    When the broadcast ended, Marc stood from the couch, went upstairs, changed quickly, and headed out the door.

    But just as he slid into his car and was about to drive, someone appeared right by the driver¡¯s side window.

    As Marc rolled down the car window, he was surprised to see Beatrice standing there.

    ¡°Beatrice? What brings you here?¡±

    She didn¡¯t waste time.

    Her tone was calm but firm, her eyes sharp with determination. ¡°I need you to make things clear¡ªfor Haley¡¯s sake,¡± she said. ¡°Tell the media, tell everyone online¡ªHaley wasn¡¯t the third party in your marriage. You were the one who stopped loving Ste first. Haley just got caught in the middle.¡±

    Beatrice had been trying to manage the PR nightmare, but her reach only went so far.

    Her influence was strong in Achury, where her name carried real weight¡ªbut Choria was different territory. And so, she came to Marc.

    They¡¯d been engaged. The least he could do was defend Haley, right?

    She had every right to ask.

    Marc¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Sorry, Beatrice. That engagement party didn¡¯t go through, remember? We¡¯re not engaged anymore. And I have no intention of marrying Haley. Her issues aren¡¯t my responsibility.¡±

    Beatrice stared at him, stunned.

    ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± she asked, her voice low. ¡°What about everything you promised us? What about saving yourpany?¡± Her tone sharpened, the warmth draining from her face.

    Marc shrugged. ¡°Haley and I were business associates¡ªnothing more. She¡¯s the one who got things twisted. She interfered with my marriage and wrecked it. I¡¯ve been polite enough not to hold it against you.¡±

    Now, he was tossing all the me onto Haley, like she¡¯d been some lovestruck fool.

    ¡°You ungrateful bastard,¡± Beatrice snapped. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my support, yourpany would¡¯ve folded ages ago!¡±

    Marc let out a bitterugh. ¡°Come on, Beatrice. You and I both know your influence doesn¡¯t go far in Choria. As for Haley? I never loved her. Not once. Compared to Stel, she¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Beatrice¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She never imagined her daughter¡ªthe daughter she adored¡ªwould be belittled like that.

    Her hands trembled as she clutched her chest, her voice cracking. ¡°You¡¯re a jerk, Marc. Haley must¡¯ve been blind to fall for someone like you.¡±

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 Chapter 243

    ?Chapter 243:

    Marc didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Blind? Maybe. But don¡¯t act like I owe you anything,¡± he said tly. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything for me, Beatrice. Not really.¡±

    The truth was, he¡¯d had enough of Haley a long time ago¡ªher attitude, her arrogance.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for thepany¡¯s financial struggles, he never would¡¯ve entertained the idea of marrying her.

    But now? Ste was thriving. Her career was on fire. And he didn¡¯t need Haley anymore.

    Without another word, he rolled up the window, started the engine, and drove off.

    Beatrice stood there frozen, still clutching her chest. That kind of man wasn¡¯t worth her daughter¡¯s love.

    The next day, Ste returned to the research institute like usual.

    Paul had told her to take a few days off after the conference, but she didn¡¯t see the point.

    She wasn¡¯t tired, and this work was what she loved. It grounded her.

    In the break room, a few staff members stood around with coffee, speaking in low voices.

    ¡°Hey¡­ so if Sylvia really is Ste, then does that mean what Haley said at her engagement party is true?¡±

    The rumors had spread like wildfire¡ªno longer confined to upper-ss social circles. Even people at the institute were whispering about it now.

    And while no one said anything to Ste¡¯s face, they were all watching her closely. Trying to read her expressions. Waiting for signs that the gossip had gotten to her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care what anyone says,¡± one of them muttered. ¡°She¡¯s smart, calm, and good at what she does. Whether she¡¯s Sylvia or Ste, I don¡¯t believe for a second she¡¯s unfaithful. It doesn¡¯t add up.¡±

    Just then, Lainey walked in to fill her water bottle. She overheard enough to know exactly what they were talking about. Her face darkened instantly.

    I??€$? ¡é?@t?€§ñ$ I¦Ç g??§Úov¦Å??.c?m

    ¡°What are you all whispering about?¡± she asked.

    The group stiffened.

    ¡°N-Nothing,¡± someone stammered.

    Lainey didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think you know,¡± she said sharply. ¡°Whatever Sylvia¡¯s past is, it¡¯s her business¡ªnot yours. We¡¯re coworkers, not tabloid reporters. Show some respect. Know when to shut up.¡±

    She left without another word, cup in hand. The others nced at each other, awkward and ufortable, before quietly going back to work.

    At lunch, Ste stayed behind in theb to tidy up some equipment. Sandra popped in with a snack, waving it. ¡°Sylvia, this is for you! Oh¡ªand the team leader ordered coffee. It should be here soon!¡±

    .

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 Chapter 244

    ?Chapter 244:

    Ste took the snack with a small smile. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Sandra lingered a bit longer, walking beside her as they stepped out of theb. It was clear she had something to say¡ªbut she kept hesitating, the words hovering on the tip of her tongue.

    Sandra took a deep breath, finally working up the nerve to speak. ¡°Sylvia¡­ whether what Haley said at her engagement party was true or not, I don¡¯t care. I just want you to know¡ªI think you¡¯re an amazing person. That whole mess? It couldn¡¯t have been your fault. You¡¯ve always been someone I admire.¡±

    It made sense now¡ªwhy Sandra had felt a strange sense of familiarity when she first met Sylvia. It was because she was Ste. The same Ste Sandra had always looked up to.

    Ste smiled softly. She understood what Sandra was trying to say.

    But the truth was¡ªSylvia, Ste¡­ the names didn¡¯t matter anymore. She was just herself now. A new version.

    She¡¯d once avoided acknowledging her identity, hoping to escape Marc and the shadows that came with him.

    But she¡¯de to realize it didn¡¯t matter what name she used¡ªMarc always found a way to follow her like a bad habit that wouldn¡¯t die. So why bother hiding anymore?

    She was done running. Her life was moving forward.

    ¡°Thank you, Sandra. I know you¡¯re just looking out for me,¡± she said gently. ¡°But that incident¡­ it¡¯s behind me now. It didn¡¯t break me because I know the truth¡ªI was a victim. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. So, don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m not that fragile.¡±

    Yes, she¡¯d been shaken when Haley brought up the past in front of everyone. Humiliated, even.

    But in the days since, she¡¯de to a decision¡ªthat night wouldn¡¯t define her anymore.

    It wasn¡¯t her shame to carry.

    L?t??¦Ó ch?¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l?ov?l??.??§à??

    If enough time hadn¡¯t passed, she might¡¯ve taken legal action again just to prove a point.

    Back then, she hadn¡¯t known how to fight back. But now? She did. And she was strong enough to stand on her own.

    Sandra beamed, genuinely relieved. ¡°That¡¯s so good to hear, Sylvia. Just know¡ªmost of us at the institute are on your side. We¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    Ste chuckled, holding up the snack bag Sandra had handed her earlier. ¡°Yeah, I know. You guys are good people.¡±

    After lunch and a quick nap, Ste got ready to head back to theb.

    But as she neared the building, she noticed a pair of familiar brown leather shoes standing in her path.

    She squinted into the sunlight¡ªthen her stomach dropped. Marc.

    So much for her good mood.

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 Chapter 245

    ?Chapter 245:

    ¡°Stel!¡± he called out, his voice full of fake warmth.

    Her expression soured immediately. ¡°Move.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t budge. Instead, he stepped toward her.

    Ste instinctively took a step back, putting space between them.

    ¡°Stel, listen¡ª¡± he began, his voice soft, urgent. ¡°I know you¡¯re still hurting from what happened. But I never med you. I know you were drugged. You didn¡¯t ask for any of it. It wasn¡¯t your fault, and I¡¯ve never held it against you.¡± He took another step closer. ¡°You¡¯re still my wife. We can fix this. Be happy again, like we used to. I know I messed up¡ªbut I never loved Haley. That was all for show. Just politics. You have to believe me.¡±

    Marc looked at her with pleading eyes, emotion thick in his voice. ¡°All these years, my feelings for you never changed. Doesn¡¯t that count for something?¡±

    Ste almostughed in his face.

    Be happy again?

    The so-called happiness had been a lie from the beginning.

    If trash belonged anywhere, it was with other trash. Haley and Marc deserved each other.

    She had no intention of getting between them. In fact, she hoped they stayed together. Forever.

    ¡°Cut the crap, Marc,¡± she said coldly. ¡°You looked pretty damn pleased with yourself on the day of your engagement. Save the act.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face tensed. He tried to recover. ¡°That engagement was just a business deal. I had no real feelings for Haley.¡±

    Then, trying another angle, his tone softened. ¡°Stel, if you hadn¡¯t been so ruthless back then¡­ if you hadn¡¯t forced the Walsh Group into a corner, I wouldn¡¯t have gone through with it. You left me no choice.¡±

    And there it was¡ªthe me. Somehow, in Marc¡¯s twisted version of events, he was the victim.

    To him, the fact that he was still willing to take her back¡ªstill willing to ¡°forgive¡±¡ªwas proof of his love. As if that should have been enough.

    ?????????????????.c??m hosts thetest

    ¡°I¡¯ve already ended things with Haley,¡± he added. ¡°She¡¯s out of the picture. I¡¯m serious about this, Stel. I promise I won¡¯t hurt you again.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help it¡ªshe let out a sharp, humorlessugh. ¡°Too ruthless? You mean taking back a patent that was mine to begin with? Or beating you in a fairpetition?¡±

    Everything he med her for had happened because he wasn¡¯t good enough¡ªnot because she ever tried to take him down. She was long past the point of wasting energy on him.

    Marc, as always, acted like none of it was his fault. ¡°Stel,e on,¡± he pleaded. ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that. I know you. You¡¯re only acting tough. You don¡¯t have to stay with another man out of shame. No matter what happened in the past, I still love you. I¡¯ll always love you.¡±

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 Chapter 246

    ?Chapter 246:

    Ste rolled her eyes and tried to step around him, but he blocked her path¡ªagain.

    He just didn¡¯t get it.

    Before she could say something sharp, another voice cut through the tension¡ªcalm, cool, unmistakably in control. ¡°Mr. Walsh. Harassing women again?¡±

    Marc turned and saw William approaching, the sunlight catching the edge of his zer. His face flushed with irritation. ¡°This is between me and Stel. It doesn¡¯t concern you.¡±

    William stopped a few feet away, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. ¡°This is my research institute,¡± he said mildly. ¡°Everything that happens here concerns me.¡±

    Marc had no response to that. He tried again, desperate now. ¡°William, you don¡¯t understand. Stel still cares about me. The only reason she¡¯s with you is because she thinks she doesn¡¯t deserve me.¡±

    William arched an eyebrow and looked down at Ste beside him. His voice was smooth, a little amused. ¡°That true, Ms. Gilbert? You¡¯re only with me because you think you¡¯re not good enough for him?¡±

    His voice rose slightly at the end, teasing but not mocking. It made Ste¡¯s throat tighten for a second.

    ¡°No,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I never said anything like that.¡±

    William nodded, then turned back to Marc with a knowing smile. ¡°Did you hear that, Mr. Walsh? She didn¡¯t choose me because of you. So how much longer are you nning to tter yourself?¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw tensed. ¡°Stel, seriously¡ªare you choosing him over me?¡±

    His voice cracked at the edges, eyes searching her face for some sign¡ªany sign¡ªthat she still wanted him.

    Ste honestly didn¡¯t understand where he got this absurd confidence from. It was like he lived in a world where he was never wrong.

    Stories live now on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s.c¦Ïm

    She opened her mouth to give him the answer he deserved¡ªbut before she could speak, William¡¯s hand came to rest gently on her shoulder.

    ¡°Marc,¡± William said, his voice steady but edged with steel, ¡°do yourself a favor. Walk away with some dignity. The more you push this, the more pathetic you look.¡±

    Marc stared at the two of them standing there¡ªso close, sofortable¡ªand for the first time, he seemed to truly see it. They fit.

    It gnawed at him. ¡°William, I¡¯m still talking to Ste,¡± Marc snapped.

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah? And does it look like she wants to talk to you?¡±

    He didn¡¯t need to raise his voice. The condescension in his tone cut deep enough.

    Marc, shorter and cornered, red up at William, feeling small. Helpless. Foolish.

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 Chapter 247

    ?Chapter 247:

    When he looked at Ste again, her face was unreadable. She didn¡¯t say a word. He turned without another word and stalked out of the institute, each step echoing louder than thest.

    Once he was gone, William quietly lifted his hand from Ste¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, you have terrible taste in men,¡± he said dryly.

    Ste let out a sigh.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d thrown shade at her for her past, and probably wouldn¡¯t be thest. She knew she¡¯d made mistakes. But who hadn¡¯t loved the wrong person once? There was nothing to be ashamed of.

    She didn¡¯t fire back. Not this time. His tone hadn¡¯t been cruel¡ªjust teasing.

    ¡°Everyone has regrets,¡± she said. ¡°Mine just happened toe with a very loud, persistent ego. But I¡¯ve moved on. My standards are a lot higher now. That won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    William gave a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. ¡°d to hear it.¡±

    He¡¯d been watching carefully, making sure Marc¡¯s words didn¡¯t leave a dent. But she¡¯d handled it just fine. In fact, the more he got to know her, the more intrigued he became.

    The elevator came to a quiet stop on the designated floor, and William stepped out, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind. It was better to let things y out on their own.

    His phone buzzed in his pocket.

    William¡¯s screen lit up¡ªSteven¡¯s name shed across the disy. He answered, only to hear Steven¡¯s sharp voice on the line. ¡°Where the hell are you? You¡¯re half an hourte!¡±

    Steven needed him to iron out project details but had deliberately avoided looping Sylvia in. He knew all too well how much William had invested in finding her all these years.

    ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± William replied briskly, cutting the call and finally striding out of the institute.

    Fresh chapters are live at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    Inside a private dining room, Steven nced up as William entered, one brow arching in mild disbelief. ¡°Since when are you everte? This is a first.¡± William had always been the clockwork type¡ªunfailingly precise, never so much as a minute behind. That record shattered tonight.

    William shrugged off his coat and offered an apologetic half-smile. ¡°Got caught up at theb with Sylvia. We had a few things to hash out. Sorry for keeping you waiting.¡±

    A surge of jealousy red in Steven¡¯s chest the moment Sylvia¡¯s name came up, lending a bite to his words. ¡°So you two are working side by side now?¡± he asked, his voice tight with barely concealed resentment.

    Wasn¡¯t William supposed to be the low-profile owner of the institute? Since when did he start showing up every day, hanging around the staff like one of them?

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 Chapter 248

    ?Chapter 248:

    William, unfazed, sounded almost smug. ¡°She¡¯s been promoted. She¡¯ll be joining me on all the big projects now, so we¡¯ll be seeing each other every day, reviewing data, and finalizing results together.¡±

    Steven couldn¡¯t miss the pride radiating from William¡¯s voice¡ªit struck him like a gut punch. He shoved the stack of documents into William¡¯s hands. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you two can take the Neb Project. I won¡¯t get in your way anymore.¡± Saying it out loud hurt far more than he expected, a jagged ache settling deep in his chest.

    But what choice did he have? William had known Sylvia longer, had been looking for her for years.

    How could Steven possiblypete? He had a solid background, sure¡ªbut next to William, with his wealth, family, and effortless charisma, Steven felt hopelessly outmatched.

    He¡¯d never considered himselfcking, not until he found himselfpared to someone like William¡ªsomeone who seemed to have the universe stacked in his favor.

    Now, faced with the bitter truth, Steven couldn¡¯t muster the courage to keep fighting for something he¡¯d already lost.

    If Sylvia really was the girl William had spent years searching for, Steven knew he didn¡¯t stand a chance. There was no point clinging to hope any longer¡ªhe might as well let go now and save himself the heartbreak.

    ¡°So what are you going to do next?¡± William pressed, gathering up the documents from the table, his tone clipped.

    Steven squared his shoulders, determined to sound resolute, but even he could hear the strain in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m heading to Asnain for a break. I need to get my head on straight. Honestly, I¡¯m worn out¡ªphysically and mentally. If you don¡¯t cut me loose, I¡¯ll probably drop dead at my desk.¡±

    He forced augh, but the pain was written all over his face. He desperately needed to run away for a while, to patch up his bruised pride and battered spirit.

    William didn¡¯t hesitate as he replied, ¡°All right. You¡¯re officially on leave. Take as much time as you need.¡±

    Fresh updates now on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Steven watched William¡¯s unfazed expression and couldn¡¯t hold back his frustration¡ªhe thumped his own chest in mock agony. How had he ended up with a friend like this? What rotten luck!

    By five-thirty, Ste rolled her stiff neck, a faint wince tugging at her lips. Hours hunched over her desk had left her feeling like a coiled spring.

    ¡°Ste, does your neck hurt?¡± Sandra¡¯s voice floated over, tinged with concern.

    Ste managed a small smile and rubbed the spot just below her hairline. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just need to stop hunching over like a turtle. A break will fix it.¡±

    Sandra gave her a look that brooked no argument. ¡°No more excuses! With our desk jobs, we¡¯re overdue for massages. Let¡¯s treat ourselves on our break.¡±

    Elbert gave a firm nod, signaling his full agreement with her words.

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 Chapter 249

    ?Chapter 249:

    Ste shrugged, warmth in her eyes. ¡°You two set it up, and I¡¯m in.¡±

    Once she¡¯d changed out of her work clothes, Ste reached for her phone, scrolling to Steven¡¯s name.

    She realized she¡¯d neglected Neb recently¡ªshe needed an update on thetest technical inputs, and it was time to check with Steven about any tweaks or improvements still needed.

    Ste slipped into a quieter hallway and quickly pulled up Steven¡¯s number, pressing the call button with a restless thumb.

    Instead of his voice, an emotionless recording filled her ear. ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed can¡¯t be reached right now. Please try againter¡­¡±

    She pressed her lips together, her frown deepening, and hung up. Two more tries, same robotic message. Anxiety prickled beneath her skin.

    Still clutching her phone, Ste drifted toward the dormitory, her thoughts swirling with worry. Had something happened to Steven? Was she supposed to go find him?

    She was so caught up in her concerns that she barely noticed the person inside the elevator when the doors slid open. Stepping inside, she froze. William was already there.

    Their gazes locked, a silent current passing between them.

    William¡¯s eyes flickered down, catching sight of her screen¡ªSteven¡¯s name still lit up, lingering on the call screen.

    He broke the hush with a crisp announcement. ¡°Steven¡¯s handed over all project matters to me.¡±

    The words took Ste off guard. She hesitated, caught between confusion and curiosity. ¡°So¡­ that means I¡¯ll be coordinating with you directly now?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± William replied.

    Ste nodded, though confusion still flickered behind her eyes.

    Keep reading at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s.c?m

    ¡°So¡­ where did Mr. Harrison go?¡± she asked casually, but her tone held a trace of concern. ¡°I tried calling him a few times earlier, but it kept saying he was in an area with no reception. Is he okay?¡±

    William¡¯s brow twitched slightly, almost too subtle to notice. But it was there.

    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± he said, keeping his voice even. ¡°Just taking a vacation.¡±

    A vacation?

    She hadn¡¯t expected Steven to suddenly take time off¡ªit didn¡¯t seem like him at all.

    ¡°You sound like you really want to see him,¡± William said, ncing sideways at her.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ normal concern for a business partner,¡± Ste replied quickly, worried he might read too much into it.

    William responded with a low, skeptical grunt that gave nothing away. She decided not to press it. No point trying to read him.

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 Chapter 250

    ?Chapter 250:

    Meanwhile, at the police station, Haley sat slumped in the holding room, her voice raw from days of screaming.

    ¡°Mom, how much longer? I can¡¯t stay in here! I¡¯m losing my mind!¡±

    Her face was streaked with tears, eyes puffy and red.

    The days had taken their toll. The bed was hard as concrete, the food inedible, and the humiliation unbearable. She was used to luxury¡ªnot this.

    Beatrice watched from behind the ss, her heart aching.

    The daughter she¡¯d once cradled, protected, and raised to be a picture-perfect heiress now sat broken¡ªdisheveled, exhausted, barely recognizable. How could Beatrice not ache for her?

    ¡°Mom, can I leave today? Please,¡± Haley pleaded, her voice cracking. ¡°I can¡¯t take another minute in here. You have to get me out.¡± Her tears fell freely now, panic ring behind her bloodshot eyes.

    Beatrice¡¯s voice trembled with helplessness. ¡°Just hang in there a little longer, sweetheart. I will get you out¡ªI promise.¡±

    But the moment the words left her mouth, something in Haley snapped.

    ¡°Why? Why do I still have to wait?¡± she cried out. ¡°Haven¡¯t I suffered enough? How can you just stand there and watch me fall apart? I¡¯m your daughter¡ªyour only daughter! Don¡¯t you care?! Can¡¯t you do anything?¡± Her voice echoed through the room, wild and desperate. Her elegantposure had long since crumbled¡ªnow all that was left was raw desperation.

    Beatrice was speechless.

    She had exhausted every option, pulled every string¡ªbut something, someone, was keeping Haley in that cell. A power stronger than her influence. And she couldn¡¯t break through. Still, she held on. ¡°Just give me a little more time,¡± she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. ¡°I swear, I¡¯ll find a way.¡±

    Haley¡¯s re cut through the ss like a de, all trace of daughterly respect gone. Her anger had curdled into open contempt.

    ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± she snapped. ¡°You don¡¯t want to help me!¡± Her voice cracked with rage. ¡°Our family has power¡ªthis isn¡¯t even a serious charge! I didn¡¯t kill anyone! So why am I still in here? You¡¯ve wanted me out of the picture ever since I refused to break up with Marc. This is your revenge, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re punishing me!¡±

    Explore more now on g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls

    Her shrill usations echoed through the police station, hitting Beatrice like a p.

    Beatrice took a step back, stunned. ¡°How can you say that?¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter. Why would I ever want you to suffer?¡±

    Her voice trembled, her eyes filled with disbelief. She couldn¡¯t understand where all this venom wasing from¡ªhow the daughter she had sacrificed so much for could believe she was the enemy.

    Haley wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Drop the act already!¡± she shouted. ¡°You don¡¯t care! You never have. If you¡¯re not going to help me, then leave. Go back to Achury and enjoy your perfect life. Just leave me here to rot¡ªyou don¡¯t deserve to be my mother. I hate you!¡±

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 Chapter 251

    ?Chapter 251:

    She spun away in a rage, expecting the familiar script¡ªher mother calling her back, coaxing, pleading. But nothing came.

    Instead, there was only the scrape of a chair being pushed back. ¡°Fine,¡± Beatrice said, her voice quiet but final. ¡°If that¡¯s how you really feel, then stay here. I¡¯ve done all I can.¡±

    Haley turned in disbelief. ¡°What¡­ What did you just say?¡±

    Beatrice didn¡¯t look back. She was done.

    After all the sleepless nights, the desperate calls, the endless effort¡ªthis was her thanks? usations? Hatred? If Haley truly believed she didn¡¯t deserve to be her mother¡­ then she should find herself another.

    The sound of Beatrice¡¯s footsteps faded down the hall until they vanishedpletely.

    Only then did the weight of it hit Haley. She spun around, panic overtaking her chest like a rush of cold water. Her mother really left?

    ¡°No¡ªMom!¡± Haley cried out, mming her fists against the ss. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it! I was wrong! Pleasee back! Mom!¡±

    Her voice echoed into the empty corridor. There was no answer. Only silence.

    A nearby officer, slightly more patient than the others, spoke up. ¡°No use yelling. She¡¯s gone.¡±

    Haley slowly sank onto the bench, her body slumped, her breath shallow. Her heart felt like it was sinking into something thick and unforgiving¡ªlike quicksand. The more she fought, the deeper she slipped. Was this it? Was there really no one left who could save her?

    No, there had to be someone who could help.

    When the evening meal was brought in, she made her move. She reached out quickly, grabbing the officer by the wrist. ¡°Please,¡± she whispered hoarsely, desperation bleeding through every word. ¡°Can you contact someone for me? Just one person. I won¡¯t cause trouble¡ªI swear. I just need to talk to them for a few minutes. That¡¯s all.¡±

    The officer raised a brow, clearly unimpressed.

    The magic happens on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s??????

    But she wasn¡¯t under criminal sentence. She had rights.

    He sighed. ¡°Who do you want to see?¡±

    Haley¡¯s eyes darted around as she calcted, and though Marc¡¯s name almost slipped out, she forced herself to blurt out someone else¡¯s. ¡°I need to see Jazlyn Walsh. I¡¯ll give you her number¡ªplease, just let her visit me!¡±

    Jazlyn had always been tangled up in the same mess as her, so Haley was certain that when push came to shove, Jazlyn would step in and pull her out. Besides, the Walsh Group was teetering on the edge, and Haley was certain Jazlyn wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch Marc¡¯spany implode.

    At Haley¡¯s request, the police dialed Jazlyn¡¯s number, and she agreed toe without much hesitation.

    By the next morning, Jazlyn swept into the police station, her chic handbag swinging at her side.

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 Chapter 252

    ?Chapter 252:

    ¡°Jazlyn, please¡ªyou have to get me out,¡± Haley pleaded, gripping the edge of the table. ¡°If I¡¯m stuck here, there¡¯s no way I can help the Walsh Group. Are you really going to just let thepany go down with me?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s eyes narrowed in thought. With Marc still unable to win Ste back, Haley was the only one holding things together. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose her¡ªnot now.

    ¡°Haley, I want to help you,¡± Jazlyn replied, her voice steady butced with regret. ¡°But there¡¯s really nothing I can do¡ªnot at this point.¡±

    Haley¡¯s eyes dulled, hope flickering out as she gripped the edge of the table. ¡°Jazlyn, can¡¯t you call Marc? Didn¡¯t you use to mingle with those powerful women? They have connections¡ªthey must know something!¡±

    Jazlyn hesitated, a flicker of difort tightening her lips. ¡°Haley, you know how those women are. They¡¯re all talk at parties, but when you¡¯re really in trouble, they vanish. Where¡¯s your family, anyway? Why have they left you to deal with this alone?¡±

    That jab struck Haley right in the heart. Her voice sharpened with old resentment. ¡°Did you forget how your family came crawling to me? If it weren¡¯t for my help, your son¡¯spany would¡¯ve crashed and burned. He¡¯s never done a day¡¯s real work¡ªso unless you want to see your precious son back in ruins, you¡¯d better get me out of here!¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯sposure slipped; she stared at Haley, stunned, her face souring with disbelief. ¡°Haley, do you even realize what the hell you¡¯re saying? Who¡¯s the¡­¡±

    Desperate one now? You¡¯re the one begging for help¡ªand you still think you can talk to me like that?¡±

    Haley snapped, ¡°Oh, spare me the act. Tell me I¡¯m wrong! Your entire family¡¯s nothing but freeloaders¡ªusing me whenever you please. You threw Ste out as soon as she stopped being useful, didn¡¯t you? Have youtched onto someone new? So I¡¯m just yesterday¡¯s news, huh?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s expression soured; any trace of patience vanished from her face. With Haleyshing out so viciously, there was no point in maintaining any kind of facade.

    She rose from her seat with a sigh, hands falling to her sides. ¡°Wow, Haley. That¡¯s honestly cruel. I wish I could help you, but this is out of my hands. Maybe you should call your mom instead.¡±

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    Honestly, Ste was thriving now¡ªshe¡¯d even been on television, and everyone in the family wore that fact like a badge of honor.

    On top of that, Ste had treated her to a beauty salon membership, something Haley had never bothered with.

    No question about it¡ªSte hadpletely outshined Haley.

    Jazlyn turned on her heel and strode away, not ncing back even as Haley¡¯s re burned into her retreating figure, seething with resentment.

    Just a short while ago, the world had revolved around Haley. Marc and Jazlyn had fawned over her, treating her like she was untouchable royalty.

    But now, the instant she faltered, both of them rushed to sever all connection and act like she was nothing to them.

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 Chapter 253

    ?Chapter 253:

    Only now did Haley realize how hollow their loyalty had been.

    She slumped into her seat, mind swirling with frustration and indignation. Every contact she¡¯d tried had proven worthless¡ªone by one, they all let her down.

    Then, out of nowhere, a face shed across her thoughts¡ªa person she¡¯dpletely overlooked until now.

    Snapping upright, Haley called out, her voice sharp with urgency, ¡°Officer! I need to make another call!¡±

    The officer nearby shot her a look of impatience. ¡°Who are you trying to reach now? I already told you¡ªyou¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±

    ¡°Just onest call!¡± Haley pleaded. Since she didn¡¯t have Ste¡¯s direct number, she ended up calling the research institute instead.

    Meanwhile, Ste was focused on her samples in theb when a knock broke her concentration. Elbert stepped in and said, ¡°Sylvia, Mr. Hoffman¡¯s asking for you.¡±

    Ste looked briefly puzzled but didn¡¯t question it. She wiped her hands clean and made her way to Paul¡¯s office.

    Paul sat calmly in his chair and got straight to the point. ¡°We just received a call. The person specifically asked for you¡ªit was Haley Smith. Probably calling from the station. It looks like she couldn¡¯t recall your number, so she rang here instead. Said she had something secret to share with you.¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise. Haley was thest person she¡¯d expected to reach out.

    If she was still in custody, shouldn¡¯t she be calling her mother or Marc?

    Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed as she suddenly realized something.

    Haley must have been truly desperate, so much so that she saw Ste as her only option left.

    Noticing the flicker of change in her eyes, Paul exhaled deeply. ¡°Sylvia, I know there¡¯s history between you and Haley Smith. If you¡¯d rather not see her, we can act like the call never came. Whether you go by Sylvia or Ste, you¡¯re one of ours, and it¡¯s my job to look out for you.¡±

    ???€$? ???t??§ñ? ?n ??ln?¦Í¦Ål?.c??

    Ste pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I¡¯ll go.¡±

    Paul was a bit taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

    Ste gave him a soft smile. ¡°If she wants to see me, she must have a reason. I want to hear what she has to say. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got this.¡±

    Since she had already made up her mind, Paul knew there was no use arguing. He gave a small nod and said, ¡°Take the rest of the day. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hoffman,¡± she replied gratefully.

    At the police station, Ste stood at the entrance in a white shirt and jeans. Her ck hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and her calm, neat look gave off a sharp, confident vibe.

    As she was brought into the room, Haley¡¯s eyes burned with frustration. Ste looked just as put-together as ever, while Haley was a mess¡ªunwashed, tired, and bitter.

    .

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 Chapter 254

    ?Chapter 254:

    It stung more than she cared to admit.

    ¡°What, proud of yourself?¡± she snapped.

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°If that¡¯s all you requested me toe here for, I won¡¯t stick around.¡±

    The cold reply hit like a p, and for a second, Haley didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    ¡°Tell me what you want¡ªjust drop the charges and let me go,¡± Haley said, lifting her chin slightly, trying to act like this was some deal and not a desperate appeal.

    But the more she tried to actposed, the more entertained Ste became. With a faint smile, she replied, ¡°And what exactly can you offer me right now? What do I gain from letting you walk free?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything I know about Marc,¡± Haley offered, her tone low. ¡°All of his secrets.¡±

    Ste¡¯s gaze shifted ever so slightly as she quietly tapped her phone under the table, turning on the recording feature without drawing attention. Keeping her tone casual, she leaned in just a bit and asked, ¡°What kind of secrets are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°He killed someone. A woman.¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath caught briefly. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re willing to turn on him like that? What happened to loving him? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll use this to destroy him?¡±

    Haley gave a bitterugh. ¡°Love? Look at me¡ªdoes it look like he ever cared? It¡¯s every man for himself. I¡¯m doing what I have to. I¡¯ve been with him long enough to know things he wouldn¡¯t dare tell anyone else.¡±

    Ste gave a small shrug. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t care about Marc¡¯s secrets. If that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got, then you¡¯ve got nothing.¡±

    Haley blinked, stunned into silence.

    She couldn¡¯t believe it. Did Ste really not care at all? Weren¡¯t they married for years? Shouldn¡¯t there still be something left?

    L¨»t??¦Ó c§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?ls.??????

    Ste raised an eyebrow, her tone calm but pointed. ¡°If you¡¯re done talking, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±

    Watching her stand to leave, panic crept into Haley¡¯s voice.

    This was herst shot. If Ste walked away now, there was no one left to turn to.

    ¡°Wait¡ªplease wait! Just tell me¡­ what would it take for you to let me go?¡±

    Haley had run out of choices, and Ste held all the cards now.

    Ste had waited a long time for this exact scenario. ¡°I want a public apology,¡± she said calmly. ¡°You¡¯ll post it using your own ount. Own up to everything you¡¯ve done to me. Make it loud, make it clear.¡±

    Haley¡¯s hand mmed against the table. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± She couldn¡¯t even imagine apologizing, much less writing a statement for the world to see. Even her circle in Achury could catch wind of it.

    .

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 Chapter 255

    ?Chapter 255:

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch at her reaction. ¡°No one¡¯s forcing you. But if you say no, you can enjoy your stay here a little longer. Two more weeks in that cell. You¡¯ll survive.¡±

    Haley¡¯s chest tightened. She couldn¡¯tst another night, let alone days. Jaw clenched, she snapped, ¡°Is this really necessary? You just want to humiliate me! You¡¯re cruel!¡±

    ¡°Cruel?¡± Ste¡¯s tone stayed even. ¡°You should be thest person throwing that word around. You don¡¯t get to negotiate anymore. Do it, or don¡¯t. Simple as that.¡±

    The faint curve of Ste¡¯s lips felt more like a p than a smile. It burned Haley up inside.

    She hated the idea of apologizing. But if she refused, she¡¯d go to jail. Beatrice¡¯s warning echoed in her mind: someone powerful was intentionally holding up her release. And who else could it be but Ste?

    Cornered and furious, Haley finally muttered, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    True to her word, Ste didn¡¯t drag it out. As soon as Haley¡¯s apology went live, Ste retracted thewsuit.

    That same day, Haley walked out of the holding cell.

    The moment she stepped outside the police station, it felt like ages had passed since shest breathed fresh air without restrictions.

    She shuffled along the street, head down, feeling grimy and out of ce.

    Her hair stuck in clumps, and her clothes clung to her like shame. People stared¡ªjudging, sneering¡ªand every nce sent another stab of humiliation straight through her.

    Ste. Everything pointed back to Ste.

    Haley stood at the intersection, staring at the shifting traffic lights, her eyes zing with fury.

    She wouldn¡¯t let Ste walk away from this. Not after today. The humiliation she¡¯d endured woulde back to haunt Ste, ten times over, if not more.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s brings you fresh updates

    When the signal finally turned green, Haley stormed off, rummaging through her bag until she found a portable charger. Her phone had been dead for days. She plugged it in and waited just long enough before pulling up her contacts, scrolling until she reached Marc¡¯s name.

    Her finger lingered over the screen, hesitating for a beat. Then she pulled back, choosing not to make the call.

    He hadn¡¯t visited. Not once. Maybe he had more important things to do. Reaching out now wouldn¡¯t help her case. But showing up in person might help.

    Resolved, she shoved the phone into her bag, hailed the first taxi she saw, and gave the driver one destination: the Walsh Group.

    Later that evening, William found out Ste had visited Haley at the station. He and Rita made their way to Ste¡¯s ce soon after.

    Inside, Ste had alreadyid out three simple dishes and a pot of soup. She sat across from William, eating quietly.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 256

    ?Chapter 256:

    ¡°You went to see Haley today?¡± William asked, his voice low but firm.

    Ste stopped mid-bite, the spoon suspended in the air. ¡°I did.¡±

    ¡°You let her walk free?¡± William had seen Haley¡¯s apology statement online. He didn¡¯t need the details to understand the deal Ste had made.

    But he didn¡¯t agree with it.

    Keeping thewsuit active meant Haley would¡¯ve stayed locked up. And as long as Ste didn¡¯t back down, William could¡¯ve made sure of that.

    He couldn¡¯t understand her logic. A public apology didn¡¯t carry much weight, especiallying from someone like Haley. Was it that important to Ste?

    His appetite vanished in an instant.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think she¡¯ll retaliate?¡± he asked, looking directly at her. ¡°You should be extra careful now.¡±

    Someone like Haley didn¡¯t turn over a new leaf. If she could change, Ste wouldn¡¯t be caught in this endless loop of chaos.

    But Ste only smiled, the calm in her eyes sharp enough to cut ss. ¡°Of course she¡¯lle for me again. That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m counting on.¡±

    William hadn¡¯t expected Ste¡¯s answer to catch him so off guard.

    He¡¯d always assumed he had her figured out¡ªyet here she was, making a move he¡¯d never seening.

    With an air of calm authority, Ste pressed on. ¡°She¡¯s a stranger in this city. We have no real evidence against her, just a handful of nder usations and ims about starting a fight. At most, she¡¯d spend two weeks in detention¡ªnothing more. We¡¯d be better off letting her go. That¡¯s the only way we can catch her in the act.¡±

    William couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ste was far more calcting than he¡¯d imagined.

    He sat quietly for a beat, then reached for another slice of spicy beef. The moment he took a bite, his mouth exploded with searing heat.

    He shot her a look, color rushing to his cheeks. ¡°Seriously, how many chili peppers did you throw in here?¡±

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s is your gateway to fiction

    Ste shook off her distraction and offered a casual smile. ¡°Oh¡ªmy bad, I forgot to mention. I picked up some extra-spicy chilies this time.¡±

    William tossed back an entire ss of water, but the fiery heat clung stubbornly to his tongue.

    Narrowing his eyes at her, he asked, ¡°Ste, are you telling me you did this on purpose?¡±

    With a look of pure innocence, Ste replied, ¡°Not at all. I just wanted to try a new recipe I found online. They said these chilies were amazing. Is it too much for you? Maybe our spice tolerance just isn¡¯t the same. Mr. Briggs, maybe you should be in charge of your own meals from now on.¡±

    In Ste¡¯s mind, she genuinely hadn¡¯t meant any harm¡ªshe simply assumed William could handle it and dialed up the heat without holding back.

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 Chapter 257

    ?Chapter 257:

    Sweat started to trickle down William¡¯s forehead. He couldn¡¯t remember ever eating anything so explosively spicy. ¡°So what, you¡¯re just trying to set my mouth on fire for fun?¡±

    Ste considered his question with deliberate seriousness. ¡°Honestly? There are upsides. If I scorch your taste buds, I won¡¯t have to cook for you every day¡ªand no one at work will have any rumors to spread about us, right?¡±

    William slumped back in his chair, defeated, and waved for Rita to bring him another ss of water.

    He drained it in one go, desperate for relief. As he caught his breath, Ste¡¯s gaze drifted to his mouth¡ªhis lips had grown a vivid shade of red, puffed up and almost glossy with moisture. Were those chilies really that powerful?

    She hadn¡¯t meant for things to get this out of hand.

    Still, there was something oddly captivating about William just then¡ªflushed cheeks, damp hair at his temples, lips glistening and a little swollen.

    It was annoyingly unfair how he managed to look good in any circumstance, even half-suffering at the kitchen table. Some people just had it easy.

    Ste tried to shake off her distraction and moved to fetch him a ss of ice water. Before she could take a step, Rita¡¯s voice rang out, brimming with excitement. ¡°Oh my goodness, Mr. Briggs, your lips¡­¡±

    Ste nced over. The swelling had gotten worse, his lips practically zing crimson.

    That definitely didn¡¯t look normal. Was this an allergic reaction?

    Ste wasted no time getting William to the hospital, anxiety prickling beneath her calm facade.

    The emergency room teemed with patients even on a weekday, but she stayed by his side, silently urging the line to move faster.

    After a brief examination, the doctor barely nced at William¡¯s swollen lips before scribbling a prescription. ¡°It¡¯s abination of inmmation and a mild allergic reaction. Use this ointment three times a day, and be generous with it. For now, stick to nd foods¡ªnothing spicy.¡±

    Back outside, the tension between them had shifted. Ste¡¯s earlier yfulness dissolved, leaving behind a faint embarrassment.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I had no idea those chilies would be that intense,¡± she murmured, her voice softer than before.

    William lowered his gaze, a small, sly smile ying at the corners of his lips. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re that sorry, you could start by putting the ointment on for me.¡±

    It was a reasonable request. There was no mirror to guide him.

    They got into the car. Ste uncapped the ointment. The thick, white cream felt cool against her skin as she dabbed a bit onto her fingertip and leaned in.

    She murmured, her breath brushing lightly against his cheek, ¡°Lower your head a little ande closer¡­¡±

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 Chapter 258

    ?Chapter 258:

    William¡¯s breath grazed her cheek, making her hand tremble as she tried to keep steady.

    His eyes swept over her face, lingering on the sweep of hershes, while the pad of her finger¡ªsoft and warm¡ªsmoothed ointment over his lips. Inside the car, the tension crackled, thickening the air between them.

    Ste¡¯s heart drummed wildly in her chest.

    Once she¡¯d finished, she quickly turned away, pressing back into the passenger seat as she wiped her finger clean with a tissue.

    ¡°All done. We can go now,¡± she murmured, her voice barely steady.

    William sent her a long, unreadable look before finally starting the car and pulling away from the hospital.

    Ste tried to calm herself, mentally chastising her nerves.

    It was just ointment, she told herself. Why did it feel so intimate?

    When they returned to the dorm, Rita greeted them in the entryway. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you¡¯re back! How did it go? Did the doctor say it¡¯s anything serious?¡±

    Since speaking was still ufortable for William, Ste stepped in. ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s just a bit of inmmation and a mild allergy. Some ointment and he¡¯ll be fine¡ªit¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±

    Rita visibly rxed, relief softening her features. ¡°Thank goodness. Ms. Russell, I¡¯ve tidied your room.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Rita,¡± Ste replied with a grateful smile.

    When they departed, Ste couldn¡¯t help ncing at William again. Her eyesnded on his lips¡ªstill faintly swollen¡ªand guilt pinched at her. She tore her gaze away, cheeks burning.

    That night, her thoughts reyed the afternoon on a continuous loop, until her dreams tangled into something even more reckless. In the dream, she found herself pressing her lips to William¡¯s, and she was jolted awake, heart pounding. Ste rolled out of bed and sshed her face with icy water, ring at her reflection in the mirror. Obviously, it was the ointment episode that had nted such ridiculous ideas in her head.

    Once she¡¯d regained herposure, Ste changed into a fresh set of clothes and made her way to theb.

    As she walked through the familiar halls, she offered her usual greetings, but her colleagues¡¯ nces felt more pointed than usual¡ªcuriosity and unease simmered just beneath the surface.

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    An uneasy prickle crawled up Ste¡¯s spine. Something was clearly off. Before she could reach her desk, Lainey hurried over and blocked her path, eyes wide with rm.

    ¡°Stel, thank goodness you¡¯re here. We¡¯ve got a mess on our hands! Everyone¡¯s talking¡ªthey say you and Marc have been married for years but never had kids because you were out partying too hard, and supposedly made yourself unable to have children.¡±

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 Chapter 259

    ?Chapter 259:

    Ste blinked at her, caught between disbelief and irritation. ¡°Whoes up with this bullshit?¡±

    Lainey leaned in, her voice low but urgent. ¡°Obviously, I know it¡¯s all crap. But not everyone here does. After all that drama with you, Marc, and Haley, the gossip mill went wild. And don¡¯t forget, Allen¡¯s team is just waiting for an excuse to drag you down. That¡¯s why these stories are catching fire right now.¡± She gave Ste a sympathetic look, her tone earnest. ¡°I know none of it¡¯s true, but when these rumors keep swirling, sooner orter, management starts to question things.¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression darkened, her jaw set. She hadn¡¯te here to get tangled up in office gossip. But if her personal mess was poisoning the institute¡¯s atmosphere, she knew even the director might lose patience¡ªno matter how meless she actually was.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Ste said, forcing a calm smile as she pressed her lips together.

    Lainey lingered, concern etched across her face, but after a few hesitant words, she finally drifted away.

    Once the office fell silent, Ste pulled out her phone and opened her favorite social media app. Predictably, her notifications had exploded.

    Headlines screamed across the screen: ¡°Female Researcher Leads Chaotic Private Life!¡±

    ¡°Years of Marriage, No Children¡ªWild Behavior to me?¡±

    As she scrolled through the headlines, a hollowugh burst out.

    Whoever had orchestrated this smear campaign hadn¡¯t even bothered to hide their tracks.

    She tapped into the top post, her name stered front and center in bold, usatory text.

    Among the flood ofments, oneizen fanned the mes. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Ste sneak into the OB-GYN alone to end pregnancies¡ªat least eight or ten times. Who knows the real number? No wonder she can¡¯t have kids. She wrecked her own womb.¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s delivers what you seek

    The usation exploded online, zing out of control in an instant. A few people questioned whether any of it was true, but most treated it as damning evidence of Ste¡¯s supposed unfaithfulness.

    Amid the trending chaos, a video surfaced¡ªa public statement from Marc himself.

    Facing the camera, Marc insisted he and Haley had always kept their rtionship clean. He said he¡¯d chosen to be with Ste, not in spite of her past, but because he genuinely loved her. Even though they never had children, he imed, he¡¯d never once med her.

    But as Ste watched his public statement, her gaze sharpened with suspicion. The entire performance felt overly rehearsed, almost as if Marc was deliberately putting on a show.

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 Chapter 260

    ?Chapter 260:

    Was he doing this to manipte public opinion? Was this another calcted move?

    Clearly, he hadn¡¯t learned his lessonst time.

    Meanwhile, Marc lounged behind his desk at the Walsh Group, eyes fixed on the screen as thetest wave of rumors caught fire online. He spun a pen slowly between his fingers, his expression unreadable.

    At this stage, posting a so-called rification was supposed to reaffirm his loyalty to Ste¡ªat least, that was the message he wanted everyone to see.

    Ste couldn¡¯t bring herself to scroll through another word of thements. The sheer absurdity of the lies had her convinced the inte was crawling with lunatics.

    Dragging herself to her desk, she powered up herputer and transferred the audio file of her earlier confrontation with Haley.

    Her fingers flew over the keys¡ªshe uploaded the raw, unedited recording to her ount, tagging it with a simple caption: ¡°Truth will prevail.¡± Every word of that exchange was clear as day.

    Within moments, the post exploded, drawing a flood of shares andments from all corners of the inte.

    Ste was using the alternate ount under her new identity, Sylvia. She typed a measuredment, in which she imed she wanted no part in the mess, since the evidence spoke for itself.

    But there was no stopping what she¡¯d set in motion. The recording captured everyst thing Haley had told her at the police station¡ªincluding the bombshell that Marc was tangled up in a suspicious death.

    The recording spread like wildfire, dominating every corner of the inte.

    Moments ago, theizens had ripped Ste apart in thements, but the moment the truth surfaced, they jumped to the other side without a second thought.

    ¡°See? I always knew Marc was shady as hell. Can¡¯t believe you people bought his act.¡±

    L??€$? ???t??§ñ? I¦Ç ?a?n?¦Í¦Ål?.c?m

    ¡°Marc and Haley are both snakes. Not a word out of their mouths is true.¡±

    ¡°All they did was talk big with no proof, but Sylvia came in with the receipts. That¡¯s what I like¡ªjusty it out. No time wasted.¡±

    Spection ran wild, and now the crowd was fixated on uncovering who Marc had truly harmed.

    Netizens wasted no time unearthing past scandals, desperate to uncover the truth.

    The wave of public opinion crashed hard, and even hospital staff started releasing official statements, confirming Ste had never once had an abortion. Within thirty minutes, the smear campaign crumbled, and Ste¡¯s name was spotless again.

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 Chapter 261

    ?Chapter 261:

    Haley and Marc, though, were about to get hit with a reckoning of their own. Ste was almost amused¡ªby now, it was only a matter of time before the police knocked on their door.

    Shutting down herputer, Ste left her office and headed for theb, having no patience left for online drama.

    On her way to theb, she nearly collided with William in the corridor. He regarded her with a subtle, approving smile. ¡°You handled things much better this time,¡± he noted, his tone low and slightly amused.

    Instead of going after Haley and Marc head-on, she¡¯d taken the smarter route¡ªcapturing the entire exchange as evidence.

    William looked genuinely impressed.

    Ste held his gaze, a small spark of defiance in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson. I¡¯m not nearly as foolish as they are.¡±

    William gave a thoughtful nod, a trace of admiration flickering across his face. ¡°With the evidence you have¡ªand half the inte rallying to your side¡ªMarc¡¯s going to have a hard time wriggling out of this mess.¡±

    With a smirk, Ste remarked, ¡°About time he got what¡¯sing to him.¡±

    William¡¯s expression turned serious for a moment. ¡°Just don¡¯t let any of this get under your skin,¡± he said, his voice gentle but firm. ¡°And if it does, promise me it won¡¯t distract you from your work.¡±

    She shot him a confident smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me, Mr. Briggs. Nothing¡¯s going to get in my way. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be heading back to theb. Have a good day.¡±

    William lingered for a moment, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully as he watched her disappear down the hallway.

    As her experiments wrapped up and she started gathering her things, Ste¡¯s phone buzzed on the countertop. The screen lit up with ¡°Sharon¡± calling.

    She swiped to answer, and Sharon¡¯s voice burst out, bubbling with excitement. ¡°Stel! The inte is exploding today! That recording you posted¡ªgenius move. I bet Haley and that scumbag Marc are losing their minds right now!¡±

    Every journey starts at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??§à??

    A subtle, satisfied smile yed at the corners of Ste¡¯s mouth. ¡°Well, they finally reaped what they sowed.¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more! Honestly, watching you turn the tables on that jerk is the best thing that¡¯s happened all week. We have to celebrate. Drinks tonight¡ªmy treat!¡±

    Ste nced at the clock, weighing her schedule. There was nothing urgent on her calendar. ¡°You¡¯re on. See you tonight.¡±

    That night, the bar shimmered with neon, its energy pulsing all around. Sharon leaned against the counter beside Ste, her tailored ck suit sharp against the shifting lights. ¡°Stel, are you seriously showing up dressed like you¡¯re still on the clock?¡± she quipped, an amused tilt to her lips.

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 Chapter 262

    ?Chapter 262:

    Ste, still in her crisp work shirt, looked oddly formal among the crowd of women shimmering in slinky dresses and bold colors.

    Ste let out a warmugh, shaking her head at Sharon. ¡°You think sexy is all about bare skin? Please. Real appeal¡¯s in the confidence. It¡¯s an attitude.¡± With a quick flick, she loosened her hair and popped open two shirt buttons, her smooth corbone catching the dance floor¡¯s shifting lights.

    In an instant, the air around her seemed to spark¡ªsophistication melting into something daring.

    As the DJ dropped the beat, Ste caught Sharon¡¯s hand and led her straight onto the stage.

    With every beat vibrating through the floor, Ste¡¯s smile bloomed¡ªradiant and full of life, like a rose opening under sunlight.

    She moved with effortless grace, her every stepced with maic charm. In that electric moment, she felt weightless¡ªwild, unburdened, andpletely free.

    Almost every guy in the room couldn¡¯t stop staring at Ste, as if their eyes were stuck on her.

    Even with the dim lights, it was easy to see just how stunning she looked¡ªher face soft and striking, her eyes glowing with emotion.

    As the music came to an end, Ste took Sharon¡¯s hand and led her off the stage.

    Right away, a few men stepped forward, eager to talk. ¡°Hey,¡± one of them said with a smile, ¡°your dance was amazing. Think we could hang out sometime?¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Ste replied, keeping her voice polite but firm, ¡°I¡¯m already here with someone.¡±

    They were just turning back toward their table when a loud, teasing voice called out across the room. ¡°Well, look who it is¡ªSte!¡±

    Johnny¡¯s grin was wide as he nudged the man beside him. ¡°Marc, check it out¡ªit¡¯s your ex-wife!¡±

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    Marc had already heard the recording Ste posted earlier that day, and it had put him in a terrible mood. He¡¯de out drinking with some friends to blow off steam. Running into Ste here wasn¡¯t something he had nned on.

    ¡°I told you the one dancing like that was Ste, but you didn¡¯t believe me!¡± Johnny said, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

    Tommy, who was sitting next to him, gave his arm a small tug, trying to get him to stop.

    Marc let out a slow breath and stood up, locking eyes with Ste.

    ¡°Stel,¡± he said, his voice low, ¡°What are you doing in a ce like this? This ce is shady. Come on¡ªI¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    Ste raised her eyebrows and gave a short, dryugh. ¡°Really? But you¡¯re here too, Mr. Walsh. Does that make you a shady person too?¡±

    Marc hesitated, caught off guard. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not like the others.¡±

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 Chapter 263

    ?Chapter 263:

    That made Sharonugh out loud. ¡°Of course not,¡± she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re special. You¡¯re the guy being investigated for murder. You might end up in prison. We should totally steer clear of you.¡±

    Her words hit hard, and Marc¡¯s jaw tightened.

    His face darkened, but he held back whatever he really wanted to say.

    ¡°Stel, please,¡± he said quietly, more serious now, ¡°just give me a few minutes. Let¡¯s talk¡ªjust the two of us.¡±

    He reached out, trying to grab Ste¡¯s hand. ¡°Please¡­¡±

    She pped him¡ªhard. ¡°Back off! Next time, it won¡¯t just be a p.¡±

    Marc stood there, stunned. He didn¡¯t expect her to hit him. Not like that. Not so fast.

    Before he could even gather his thoughts, someone let out a loud, sarcasticugh that cut straight through the buzz of the bar.

    Marc turned toward the sound¡ªand his face darkened. It was thest person he wanted to see.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± he muttered. ¡°Shaun? What the hell are you doing here?¡±

    Marc¡¯s hatred for Shaun ran deep. The guy had screwed over the Walsh Group more than once, wrecking deals they¡¯d worked hard to lock down. And now, here he was¡ªsmirking like he owned the ce.

    Shaun Smith stood up from a nearby booth, tall and sharp-looking, dressed way too well for a casual night out.

    With that smug grin of his, Shaun said, ¡°Marc, are you drunk already? You should know better than to manhandle someone in public. That kind of thing¡¯s not just rude¡ªit¡¯s illegal.¡±

    Marc red. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡±

    Shaun raised his hands like he was backing off, but his tone was anything but calm. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not trying to start anything. I just hate seeing a woman being treated like that. Guess I¡¯m too soft-hearted for my own good.¡±

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    Marc clenched his jaw. ¡°She¡¯s my wife. We had a small fight. That¡¯s it.¡±

    Shaun chuckled, and his voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Wife? That¡¯s rich. She doesn¡¯t even want to go with you. You¡¯re out here acting drunk and desperate¡ªand you haven¡¯t even touched a drink yet.¡±

    Marc¡¯s hands curled into fists. All Ste had done was dance¡ªand now Shaun was stepping in like some kind of hero. Was he seriously falling for her already?

    Still holding his wine ss, Shaun looked at Ste, a slow smile spreading across his face. ¡°Well, since you clearly don¡¯t want to leave with him,¡± he said, ¡°why note with me instead?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression flickered with surprise at Shaun¡¯s unexpectedment. He¡¯d never once suspected Shaun might have his sights set on Ste, too. Across from them, Ste pressed her lips into a faint line, watching the spectacle with cool detachment.

    She didn¡¯t buy for a second that Shaun was genuinely interested in her. Men like him¡ªwealthy, impulsive, used to stirring up trouble for their own amusement¡ªrarely meant what they said.

    .

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 Chapter 264

    ?Chapter 264:

    No one in their right mind would take a fickle yboy at face value, and Ste certainly wouldn¡¯t.

    She saw exactly what Shaun was doing: provoking Marc just to watch him squirm.

    Yet the more Marc bristled at Shaun, the more Ste found herself siding with Shaun, if only out of mischief.

    ncing at Marc with a sly glint in her eye, Ste smiled sweetly and remarked, ¡°Well, if you and I click, Mr. Smith, why shouldn¡¯t we give it a try?¡±

    Marc¡¯s hands shook with barely contained rage. If not for the crowd, he might¡¯ve caused a scene right then and there.

    First William, now Shaun¡ªhow many men was Ste nning to cozy up to?

    Did she think he was some kind of joke?

    His voice cracked through the noise. ¡°Ste, you¡¯re not going anywhere with him!¡±

    Shaun arched a brow, rubbing his ear in feigned annoyance. ¡°Mr. Walsh, maybe try an indoor voice next time.¡±

    He tossed Ste and Sharon a sly grin. ¡°Let¡¯s head upstairs. It¡¯s a lot quieter up there¡ªand we won¡¯t have to worry about anyone listening in.¡±

    The three of them slipped away, theirughter echoing down the hall, while Marc was left simmering, fists clenched and jaw tight.

    Ste paused just inside the private room, ncing over her shoulder at Shaun. ¡°Thanks for stepping in earlier,¡± she said, her voice even.

    A slow grin spread across Shaun¡¯s face as he studied her, his amber eyes glinting with mischief. ¡°I wasn¡¯t just trying to rile him up, you know. Honestly, you¡¯ve caught my interest.¡±

    Ste stared at him, caught off guard by his candid admission.

    Was he actually being serious, or just spouting nonsense?

    Narrowing her eyes, she stated, ¡°I don¡¯t find those kinds of jokes amusing.¡±

    Shaun onlyughed, a low, careless sound. ¡°Come on, Ste. Lighten up. You really couldn¡¯t tell I was joking?¡±

    His rxed tone finally put her at ease, and she exhaled, the tension in her shoulders fading.

    Shaun shed a half-smile. ¡°If you really want to show your gratitude, why not keep mepany for a few drinks? I¡¯m drinking alone over here¡ªkind of tragic, right?¡±

    Ste almost turned him down, but the memory of Shaun stepping in on her behalf softened her stance. Having a drink together felt harmless enough.

    Sharon gave Shaun a yful nce, her eyes glinting with mischief. ¡°Fine, drinks are on me tonight. Consider it payback for having Ste¡¯s back earlier!¡±

    Downstairs, Marc slouched in his chair, his gaze flickering toward the upstairs private room. Frustration etched deep lines across his face.

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 Chapter 265

    ?Chapter 265:

    Johnny reappeared from the restroom, barely able to contain his agitation. ¡°Tommy, aren¡¯t you dying to know the truth about what¡¯s blowing up online right now?¡±

    A death in the mix was no trivial matter.

    Tommy frowned. ¡°Obviously I want to know, but have you seen how much Marc¡¯s had to drink? There¡¯s no way he¡¯s giving us straight answers tonight.¡±

    Johnny let out an exasperated sigh, raking his fingers through his hair. ¡°And Ste¡ªwhat¡¯s her deal? Is she really with Shaun now? Last I checked, she was with William. Is she just bouncing between the two of them?¡±

    Tommy could only shrug, resigned. ¡°Who knows, man. But when you go back to the table, don¡¯t even mention Ste. Trust me, the two of them are really not a good match for each other.¡±

    Inside the VIP room,ughter and yful banter filled the air as Ste, Sharon, and Shaun passed the time with casual games.

    After a few rounds and more than a few drinks, a light buzz settled in Ste¡¯s head. She blinked, slightly unsteady, and nced around¡ªonly to realize Sharon was nowhere to be seen.

    Noticing Ste¡¯s unsettled nce, Shaun got up from the couch and approached her with a crooked smile. ¡°You look a little out of it. Want me to take you home?¡±

    Ste gave a distracted nod. ¡°Let me use the bathroom first,¡± she muttered.

    Inside, Ste cupped her hands under the icy tap and let the chill water sting her cheeks, forcing herself to breathe.

    A minute alone steadied her nerves, and when she finally stepped back out, the haze in her mind had lifted.

    Only then did she spot Sharon¡¯s earlier text, letting her know she¡¯d already taken off.

    Ste¡¯s brow furrowed. Sharon never vanished without saying goodbye, especially not after a night like this. Something felt off. She tried calling, but Sharon¡¯s phone went straight to voicemail.

    Your update hub: g?l¦Ç¦Òv?ls?c?m

    As Ste emerged from the hallway, her expression clouded with concern. Shaun caught the change in her mood and offered a calm reassurance. ¡°She had a few sips at most. No way she was drunk.¡±

    A wave of relief washed over Ste as she slid into the car Shaun had arranged. The night air drifted in through the half-open window, cool against her cheeks, quietly sobering her up.

    Shaun settled into the back seat beside her, a faint smile ying at his lips. ¡°Honestly, I never expected we¡¯d cross paths again after I moved back,¡± he mused. ¡°That encounter overseas was unforgettable. I thought it would be thest time I¡¯d ever see you.¡±

    His words gave Ste pause. Overseas?

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 Chapter 266

    ?Chapter 266:

    She sifted through her memories, brow furrowing. Had she ever met Shaun overseas?

    As far as she remembered, their first encounter had been at one of the parties she and Marc attended in Choria¡ªnot abroad.

    Was he confusing her with someone else?

    She turned to him, her tone gently puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t remember meeting you abroad.¡±

    Shaun let out a low, easyugh. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m mixing things up,¡± he admitted, ncing out the window as the city lights blurred past.

    He exhaled quietly, the truth sinking in¡ªshe really didn¡¯t remember.

    But the moment still lingered in his mind.

    Shaun could recall that first glimpse of Ste as if it had happened yesterday, the memory refusing to fade even after all these years.

    He never imagined that by the time their paths crossed again, she¡¯d be married to Marc¡ªMarc, of all people.

    Over the years, he¡¯d quietly kept tabs on their marriage, watching from the sidelines as Ste slipped further from his reach.

    But everything had changed now.

    Marc, undeserving as ever, was finally out of the picture. Ste was no longer tied down, free atst to chase her own desires.

    Yet the way she looked through him now, cool and indifferent, made it painfully clear she¡¯d forgotten whatever connection they once shared.

    The realization stung, but Shaun masked his disappointment with an easy smile. It didn¡¯t matter. As long as he could stay close, there¡¯d be plenty of chances to bridge the distance between them.

    The car rolled to a gentle stop outside the research institute. As Ste stepped out, she offered Shaun a quiet word of thanks, but her heel caught on the curb, and she wobbled, nearly losing her bnce.

    A steady hand caught her just in time.

    Discover stories now g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í??s

    Shaun¡¯s hand hovered awkwardly, fingers curled mid-reach, as a new figure intercepted Ste.

    A shadow fell over Shaun¡¯s face when he realized who it was.

    William¡¯s grip caught Ste before she could stumble, his touch firm yet careful. The sharp tang of alcohol clung to her, and his gaze hardened. His brow knitted with disapproval as he pressed, ¡°Have you been drinking?¡±

    Blinking through her daze, Ste met his eyes and stammered, ¡°Mr. Briggs? Why are you here?¡±

    William¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m here?¡±

    She stared at him, utterly baffled. Did he expect her to read his mind?

    How on earth would she know?

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 Chapter 267

    ?Chapter 267:

    Before she could untangle his meaning, William spoke again, his tone leaving no room for debate. ¡°We¡¯re going home.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say your home¡ªjust the single word sent a jolt of suspicion through Shaun. What exactly was going on between Ste and William?

    Just before walking away, William cast a pointed look at Shaun and stated, ¡°Thanks for making sure she got home safe.¡±

    Each measured word seemed to stake a im, drawing an invisible line around Ste that made Shaun bristle with unease. Still, Shaun stayed silent¡ªhe had no ce to speak, no right to interfere.

    Left alone in the car, Shaun watched through the window as William guided Ste toward the entrance, his expression unreadable.

    While waiting for the elevator, William nced down at Ste, who still looked dazed from the night¡¯s events. ¡°Who was that?¡± he asked, his voice low.

    Ste blinked, as if shaking off a dream. ¡°What? Oh, you mean the guy who brought me home? He¡¯s just a friend. I¡¯m honestly grateful¡ªhe really helped me out tonight. I should find a way to thank him properly¡­¡±

    William¡¯s gaze sharpened as he interjected, ¡°A friend, huh? What kind of friend are we talking about?¡±

    Ste shot William a re, her patience wearing thin. ¡°Why are you even asking? He¡¯s just a friend, all right?¡±

    The relentless questions grated on her nerves¡ªshe wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and shut out the spinning world. Her head swam, vision blurring at the edges.

    With a sulky little pout, her lips¡ªsoft and slightly parted, as if freshly kissed¡ªtrembled in the dim light.

    William¡¯s jaw tightened, frustration darkening his gaze.

    ¡°Ste, stop looking away and meet my eyes.¡±

    L?t?st c§ß¦Ápt?rs ¦Én g??lnov?ls.??????

    She blinked up at him, disoriented. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡±

    His words cut through the fog, harsh and direct. ¡°Is he your boyfriend?¡±

    A sharp crease formed between her brows. Why was he pressing her like this?

    And when did he get so close?

    A sharp wave of queasiness rolled through her.

    Helpless to push William away, she lost the battle against her stomach.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    She bent over, retching messily onto his shirt.

    William¡¯s expression clouded over, irritation flickering in his eyes as a vein pulsed at his temple. Without a word, he peeled off his jacket and tossed it straight into the trash bin outside, then quietly gathered Ste and took her back to her dorm.

    After tucking her in, he paused by her bedside, watching her slip in and out of consciousness.

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 Chapter 268

    ?Chapter 268:

    After brushing a stray hair from her cheek, William lingered for a beat, then backed out of the room, shutting the door with a soft click.

    At his own apartment, frustration still simmering beneath his calm exterior, William dialed Steven¡¯s number. ¡°Where are you? Let¡¯s get a drink.¡±

    Steven instantly picked up on the tension in William¡¯s voice and couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°What¡¯s this, heartbroken? Trouble in paradise? Sorry, I can¡¯t help. I¡¯m in Asnain for work.¡±

    Annoyed, William tightened his grip on the phone. He¡¯dpletely forgotten Steven was out of town.

    For a moment, he said nothing. On the other end, Steven¡¯s enthusiasm only grew. ¡°So I¡¯m right, huh? You¡¯re actually struggling with love? I never thought I¡¯d see the day, William! You¡¯re just as hopeless as the rest of us.¡±

    Steven¡¯s relentless banter grated on William¡¯s nerves, his expression darkening with every word.

    ¡°I¡¯m hanging up,¡± William stated tly.

    With Steven unavable, he saw no point in dragging out the conversation. He ended the call, the silence in his dorm pressing in around him.

    The next morning, sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains as Ste dragged herself upright in bed, her head throbbing from the lingering effects ofst night.

    She pressed her palm to her temple, sifting through the hazy jumble of memories. Fragments came back¡ªleaving the bar, climbing into Shaun¡¯s car. Had Shaun been the one who brought her home?

    As she nced down, Ste realized she was still dressed in yesterday¡¯s rumpled clothes.

    Disgust curling in her stomach, she stripped them off and headed for the shower. A stray memory shed¡ªhad she seen Williamst night?

    Had he really gotten that close? For a split second, she almost remembered the brush of his breath, the possibility of a kiss hanging in the air.

    Discover more on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    A shiver crept over her skin as she dumped her clothes into the washing machine.

    Maybe it was all just a haze from too much alcohol. William would never cross that line¡­ would he?

    Maybe she¡¯d only imagined it, drunk and desperate forfort.

    She shook her head to banish the thought, hands still damp as she twisted off the faucet.

    Just then, her phone buzzed on the counter¡ªSharon¡¯s name lit up the screen with a cheerful message. ¡°Stel, let¡¯s have dinner tonight!¡±

    Remembering how Sharon had ghosted her the night before, Ste¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. Tonight, she¡¯d get her answers.

    That evening, Ste stepped into the softly lit restaurant and spotted Sharon already settled by the window, absently paging through the menu.

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 Chapter 269

    ?Chapter 269:

    As Ste made her way over, Sharon¡¯s face broke into a bright, slightly apologetic smile. ¡°Stel, you made it!¡±

    Sliding into the seat across from her, Ste fixed Sharon with a level look. ¡°Where did you disappear tost night?¡±

    Memories of the bar flickered in Ste¡¯s mind¡ªSharon vanishing without a word, leaving her tipsy and alone. If she hadn¡¯t been drunk, she never would¡¯ve gotten into Shaun¡¯s car.

    Sharon let out a nervous littleugh, twisting a napkin between her fingers. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t really go anywhere¡­¡±

    But Ste cut her off, her tone sharper. ¡°Are you actually going to tell me what happened?¡±

    Sharon¡¯s joking demeanor crumbled under Ste¡¯s stare. She let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping. ¡°Honestly? It wasn¡¯t a big deal. I just ended up talking to some guy for a while.¡±

    That caught Ste off guard. Sharon had always avoided guys ever since¡ªwell, after what happened back then.

    Sensing Ste¡¯s surprise, Sharon quickly changed the subject. ¡°Enough about me. How about you? Shaun took you home, right? He didn¡¯t pull anything, did he?¡±

    Sharon¡¯s eyes were full of worry, and Ste rolled hers in response. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re only just now asking? If something had actually happened, asking now would be useless.¡±

    Sharon rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°Come on, Stel. You¡¯re single now¡ªdivorced and free. Don¡¯t you want to start dating again?¡±

    A few months ago, Ste would¡¯ve shut that down without a second thought. Buttely, with all those dreams about William haunting her sleep, she hesitated.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m actually missing a man in my life?¡± she asked, her voice low. She and Sharon told each other everything. There weren¡¯t many secrets between them.

    As soon as Sharon heard that, she smacked her thigh and grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve been single for over six months now! Girl, your hormones are probably screaming. I¡¯m telling you¡ª¡±

    ?@?€?? ¡é??????? ?? g?lnove?s.c???

    She leaned over and whispered something sneaky into Ste¡¯s ear.

    Ste¡¯s face changed immediately. Her expression froze, and then her cheeks slowly turned red.

    ¡°You think that trick would really work?¡± she asked, clearly unsure.

    Sharon pulled back with a smirk. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it? Sometimes it¡¯s nice just having someone around to take the edge off. You don¡¯t need a full-on rtionship. Just find someone to¡­ you know, reset the system a little.¡±

    In Sharon¡¯s mind, it wasn¡¯t just guys who got to have no-strings-attached fun. Women could do it too. If both people knew what they were getting into, what was there to be embarrassed about?

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 Chapter 270

    ?Chapter 270:

    Still, it felt like a lot to take in. A bit much, even for Ste. She stayed quiet, trying to make sense of everything Sharon had just said.

    Sharon gently patted her shoulder. ¡°No pressure. Take your time. Just find someone who¡¯s decent, someone you wouldn¡¯t mind being around. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Ste nced down at the menu again and ended up ordering a few more things.

    After dinner, Sharon brought her to a quiet lounge bar. The lights were soft, and someone was singing on stage¡ªjust enough music to fill the space without being too loud.

    The door opened, letting in a few more people. Ste looked up, and her heart gave a small jump. Marc and Tommy had just walked in.

    Her eyes lingered on Marc for barely a second before she quickly looked away. Sharon caught the direction of her nce, saw Marc, and instantly frowned. ¡°Why do we keep running into these guys?¡± she muttered, clearly irritated. Was Choria really this tiny?

    ¡°Sharon, it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s just chill and enjoy our drinks.¡±

    Marc hadn¡¯te out to cause trouble. All he wanted was to listen to a few songs and sip a cocktail or two. Bumping into Ste again wasn¡¯t part of the n.

    He noticed she didn¡¯t even nce his way. Lips pressed tight, he picked a table close enough to see her but not too close to seem obvious.

    A few minutester, a woman walked over to his table.

    ¡°Hey, handsome, think we could swap numbers? Maybe grab a meal sometime?¡± She had on a tiny skirt and soft, wavy brown hair that framed her face just right. She looked confident¡ªand she was definitely pretty.

    She handed Marc her phone with a yful smile. Johnny, watching from the side, let out a teasing whistle.

    But Marc didn¡¯t smile back. His expression stayed t.

    He looked over at Ste again, still pretending he didn¡¯t exist. His voice dropped as he said, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m already in love with someone.¡±

    The woman paused, caught off guard, then slowly pulled her hand back. ¡°That¡¯s alright. We can still be friends,¡± she said with a shrug.

    He nced towards Ste¡¯s direction again, and seeing she still hadn¡¯t looked his way, he lost hisposure. Marc didn¡¯t answer. He¡¯d had enough. He stepped past the woman without another word and walked straight toward Ste.

    ¡°Stel, you left this ring at home,¡± he said, holding it out in his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve been carrying it with me, hoping one day I¡¯d get to put it back on your finger. Please, just give me another chance. Let me take care of you.¡±

    ¡°Marc, can you stop being such a pest? You¡¯re really messing up the mood,¡± Sharon snapped, fed up with his timing.

    She was losing it. All she wanted was to have a chill night with Ste and enjoy the music¡ªbut of course, Marc had to make it about him.

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 Chapter 271

    ?Chapter 271:

    Marc¡¯s eyes stayed locked on Ste. He looked like he meant every word. Then, slowly, he dropped to one knee right in front of her. ¡°Stel, can you just give me an answer?¡±

    Tommy and the rest stood behind,pletely stunned. At that point, everyone in the bar had turned to watch.

    Ste let out a coldugh, clearly annoyed.

    Without hesitation, she picked up a ss of water and flung it right at him. ¡°Marc, are you still stuck in your fantasy? Just the sight of you turns my stomach. Do everyone a favor and disappear, will you?¡±

    Marc¡¯s fingers, which had been holding up the ring with trembling anticipation, stiffened. His entire body seemed to flinch at her words.

    ¡°This ring¡­ we picked it out together, remember?¡± His voice cracked as he looked at her. ¡°Are you saying none of it meant anything to you?¡±

    ¡°Not even a little,¡± Ste replied tly, sipping from her drink as if he were no more than background noise. ¡°You can swallow it, pawn it, toss it in the trash, or better yet, give it to the next fool you manage to trick. Makes no difference to me.¡±

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Marc muttered bitterly. ¡°If it means nothing, there¡¯s no reason for it to exist.¡±

    With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the ring through the air.

    It flew in a delicate arc, thennded with a clear, ringing clink on the ceramic floor. The little diamond rolled across the smooth tiles and came to a stop right at the feet of a woman in sleek ck heels.

    The woman bent down, picked it up delicately, and smiled. ¡°Um¡­ sir, if you really don¡¯t want this, may I have it?¡±

    Her voice was soft, almost shy, and when she smiled, it had that same youthful innocence Ste once had when they first met.

    Marc looked at her nkly for a moment before giving a hollow nod. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡±

    ???¨¦?? ???t??§ñ? ¨ªn Gal¦Ðo¦Í¦Ål?.c??

    Her face lit up like a child given candy. ¡°Thank you so much, sir!¡±

    She carefully tucked the ring into her pocket, then nced up at him again with genuine enthusiasm. ¡°You¡¯re really generous. I¡¯m just a college student, and I don¡¯t have much¡­ but I really appreciate this!¡±

    Marc¡¯s eyes wavered slightly at her words, not because they meant something, but because they reminded him¡ªpainfully¡ªof the past.

    The young woman took a small step closer. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m Doreen Greville. You¡¯re really kind. Um¡­ if you don¡¯t mind, would you be willing to buy a few more drinks for me? They¡¯re not expensive at all, and I get a smallmission from each one.¡±

    In this lounge, waitresses earnedmission from each drink they sold, so Doreen¡¯s request made perfect sense.

    She figured, if he could casually toss away a diamond ring, buying a few bottles of wine would be nothing to him.

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 Chapter 272

    ?Chapter 272:

    Marc nodded without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll take everything you¡¯ve got. No need to serve anyone else tonight¡ªjust stay here and serve us.¡±

    Doreen beamed with delight, nodding gratefully as she carefully arranged each bottle on Marc¡¯s table, one after the other.

    After watching Marc toss the ring and instantly cozy up to the waitress, Ste lost interest. She turned away and began chatting with Sharon instead.

    ¡°Stel, that guy¡¯s unbelievable,¡± Sharon muttered. ¡°Is he following you or what? It¡¯s like he pops up wherever you go.¡±

    Ste gave a faint smile and said lightly, ¡°Just pretend he doesn¡¯t exist.¡±

    Over the years, she had seen enough to know Marc was a performer at heart¡ªalways acting like the devoted lover when there was an audience.

    ¡°Honestly, is he dramatic or what? He missed his calling as an actor,¡± Sharon scoffed. ¡°Anyway, this vibe is so off tonight. Come on, let me take you somewhere more fun¡ªmeet new people, maybe find someone cute. You¡¯re gorgeous, Stel. Getting a fun fling should be a breeze!¡±

    Ste chuckled and shook her head. ¡°Thanks, but that¡¯s not really for me.¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on! You just need a little practice,¡± Sharon insisted. ¡°There are tons of guys out there dying to meet someone like you!¡±

    Without waiting for permission, Sharon grabbed her by the hand and yanked her up from the chair. ¡°Let¡¯s go! You need a change of pace.¡±

    Ste sighed, a dull headache forming. But Sharon was too strong to resist, so she let herself be dragged along across the bar.

    ¡°Look over there¡­ he looks hot! Go talk to him!¡± Sharon whispered excitedly.

    Ste looked in the direction Sharon pointed. She could only see the guy¡¯s back, but even that was enough to guess he wasn¡¯t bad-looking.

    But she still felt uneasy. ¡°No thanks, Sharon. I¡¯m not in the mood for men, really,¡± Ste murmured.

    Read all updates on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls

    Sharon didn¡¯t care one bit. She gave Ste a nudge, practically pushing her forward.

    Without missing a beat, she called out, ¡°Hey there, handsome! My friend¡¯s dying to get your number!¡±

    The man turned slowly, responding to Sharon¡¯s voice.

    ¡°William?¡± Ste froze, eyes wide in disbelief. Of all people, why him?

    William¡¯s mouth curved slightly, amusement flickering in his expression as he studied her. The words from earlier echoed in his head.

    He said, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, are you really that eager for a man? Ah, it¡¯s no wonder you stumbled back to the dorm drunkst night. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten everything already?¡±

    The moment she heard that, Ste tensed up. She looked at him, unsure of how to respond.

    Her thoughts were scrambled. What exactly was he referring to?

    Did something actually happen between them?

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 Chapter 273

    ?Chapter 273:

    A kiss, maybe?

    The possibility made her blink rapidly, and she gave her head a small shake. No. That couldn¡¯t be it. William was probably messing with her.

    She looked away and muttered, ¡°My friend probably mistook you for someone.¡±

    When she turned around, she realized Sharon had vanished.

    Frustration bubbled in her chest. Just what kind of friend disappears right when she needed backup?

    ¡°Your friend, huh? Where is she?¡±

    William let out a quietugh. His breath brushed her skin, warm and far too close, making her flinch slightly.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, this is clearly a misunderstanding. I won¡¯t waste more of your time. Goodbye!¡± She spun around and tried to make a quick exit, like Sharon had, but William was faster. His hand caught her wrist before she could get away.

    ¡°Why are you backing off? Did I strike a nerve? You look rattled, like you¡¯re scared I might be right.¡±

    Ste spun around and snapped, ¡°Who says I¡¯m rattled? You¡¯re just making things up. Why on earth would I feel scared?¡±

    William leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he studied her up close.

    In a blink, the gap between them vanished. The subtle scent of sandalwood clung to him, familiar and all too simr to what she remembered from the night before. Her eyes shifted restlessly, avoiding his.

    She said, ¡°There should be some space between us. Being this close doesn¡¯t seem appropriate.¡±

    She lifted a hand to push him away, but he caught her wrist before she could. ¡°Now you¡¯re concerned about being too close? That wasn¡¯t how it lookedst night.¡±

    Her thoughts spiraled again. Why did he keep bringing upst night?

    Suddenly, hazy shes crossed her mind¡ªfragments of the elevator, of him standing near her, far too near¡­

    Fresh stories here g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    Her expression shifted. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you can¡¯t throw out ims like that. If you¡¯re going to bring upst night, then show me proof.¡±

    Even if the drinks had clouded her head, she still understood her limits. She would never take the lead¡ªnot even then.

    William took in her defiant look and let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°What kind of proof do you want? Who keeps receipts for moments like that?¡±

    There was mischief in his voice, a quiet urge to see how far he could push her before she¡¯d snap.

    ¡°Since there¡¯s no evidence, then it¡¯s just baseless talk, Mr. Briggs. I don¡¯t have time for this. I have things to do.¡±

    She turned, ready to leave again, but his fingers curled tighter around her hand. ¡°And where exactly are you off to? Have you even read through the Neb project n yet?¡±

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 Chapter 274

    ?Chapter 274:

    Ste¡¯s thoughts were all over the ce.

    Weren¡¯t they just arguing about what happenedst night? How did the topic suddenly jump to work?

    Before she could say another word, William took her by the arm and led her out of the bar. ¡°Since we ran into each other, why not head back to the research institute and go over the Neb project?¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Ste screamed silently.

    Completely thrown off, she found herself being pulled out without a valid exnation.

    The workday was clearly over¡ªand yet here he was, dragging her back to the office. Was he some kind of obsessive taskmaster? The nerve of this man! She had just warned Sharon not to go around choosing random men¡­ and now this?

    Back at the institute, William brought her into his dorm. The lights came on all at once, flooding the room with brightness.

    Ste raised her arm to block the sudden re, wincing slightly from the shift. By the time her eyes adjusted, William was already at his desk, seated in front of theputer.

    ¡°Well? Are youing or not?¡±

    She paused for a moment, then stepped over to where he sat.

    William opened a folder on the screen, noticing her hovering beside him. His voice was low, casual. ¡°You nning to stand all night?¡±

    Ste had no desire to waste time. The sooner they got through this, the sooner she could leave.

    With a straight face, she answered, ¡°That¡¯s alright, Mr. Briggs. I¡¯m good where I am.¡±

    He didn¡¯t push further. Instead, he turned his focus to the project and began exining.

    Latest chapters g@ln¦Òv??ls?c©–m

    She leaned in, eyes focused on the screen. William sat at her chest level, and even without turning his head, the fullness of her chest was clearly visible. That¡¯s when he questioned his judgment¡ªwas bringing her here sote really a wise move?

    He cleared his throat, and Ste turned to him, puzzled. ¡°Mr. Briggs, is your throat bothering you?¡±

    Her shift in position only made things worse for him, and he immediately looked away. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Ste frowned. She had just shown concern, and he brushed it off like it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Fine then. Why bother anyway?¡± she thought bitterly.

    The first rays of morning sunlight crept through the windows, apanied by the faint chirping of birds outside.

    Marc stirred, propping himself up in bed, still groggy from the night before. A soft sound¡ªa sweet, sleepy groan¡ªmade him freeze.

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 Chapter 275

    ?Chapter 275:

    He turned his head. Lying next to him was Doreen¡ªthe woman from the lounge bar.

    His heart dropped. ¡°What the hell¡­ what are you doing in my bed?¡±

    Rubbing his temples, he tried to remember how the night had ended, but everything after his fourth drink was a blur.

    Doreen, now awake from his voice, sat up quickly and clutched the nket to her chest. She looked just as shocked¡ªfor a second. Then, sheposed herself.

    ¡°You drank too much,¡± she said, brushing her hair off her shoulder. ¡°I escorted you home. You kept holding my hand and wouldn¡¯t let go, so¡­¡± She trailed off, ncing away, clearly embarrassed¡ªbut keeping it together. ¡°Look, we¡¯re both adults. These things happen. Last night was consensual. You don¡¯t have to worry¡ªI won¡¯t make thisplicated.¡±

    Her voice was quiet but honest. No drama, no expectations. She got up, gathered her clothes from the floor, and began dressing without any sign of lingering attachment.

    Marc looked into her clear, unflinching eyes. His headache pulsed harder.

    But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything harsh.

    There was something about her honesty¡ªquiet, matter-of-fact¡ªthat caught him off guard.

    He lowered his gaze, pressing his fingers to his temples.

    No matter how it happened, he¡¯d been the one in the wrong. Lifting his head, he muttered, ¡°Last night was a mistake. I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡±

    He stood, grabbed his wallet from the nightstand, and pulled out a card. ¡°There¡¯s a decent sum on here. Password¡¯s six zeros.¡±

    Doreen, now fully dressed and with her hair pulled into a neat ponytail, epted the card with a small nod. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Walsh. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± And just like that¡­

    That, she was gone¡ªno drama, no hesitation. As if the whole thing really had meant nothing at all.

    Find what you love at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Marc stared at the empty doorway for a moment, then let out a slow breath. His thoughts drifted¡ªagain¡ªto Ste.

    She had always been like that too. Genuine. Simple. No pretenses. She carried herself with quiet ease, no matter what chaos surrounded her.

    Thinking of her now twisted something deep in his chest.

    Marc¡¯s expression darkened. He never would¡¯ve believed that one day, loving her would feel like punishment.

    Meanwhile, across town, Ste looked up from the desk, blinking against the early morning light. Her phone lit up¡ª6:02 a.m.

    She¡¯d spent the entire night at William¡¯s dorm, finally wrapping up revisions on the nning department¡¯s proposal. Somehow, she¡¯d managed to power through without copsing.

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 Chapter 276

    ?Chapter 276:

    William had walked away about thirty minutes ago but hadn¡¯t said where he was going.

    Stretching stiffly, she stood up and figured she should let him know she was heading back to her dorm.

    Thankfully, the research institute was closed today¡ªotherwise, she¡¯d be facing a full day of work with under-eye bags and caffeine shakes.

    ¡°William?¡± she called softly, ncing around. ¡°Are you still home?¡±

    Getting no response, she wandered toward the master bedroom.

    She knocked on the door, but then the door creaked open by itself.

    ¡°William?¡± she started to call again, stepping inside. And then froze. In the bathroom, with the door wide open, stood William¡ªshirtless, halfway through changing.

    Her breath caught.

    She took a quick step back, heart racing, but stumbled straight into the cab behind her. A bottle ttered, threatening to fall.

    She spun around to catch it in time, hands trembling slightly. When she looked back up, William was already dressed and walking toward her, cool as ever.

    He hadn¡¯t expected to see her, but he remained unfazed.

    ¡°You needed something?¡± he asked, his tone calm, almost amused.

    She tried to speak, but her face was already burning.

    ¡°N-no. I just¡­ you were gone for a while, and I thought I should tell you I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    He stepped closer. ¡°Ste,¡± he said, his eyes flicking down to her flushed cheeks. ¡°Why are you blushing?¡±

    William¡¯s teasing made her cheeks burn hotter, especially after she¡¯d just barged in on him changing¡ªagain. She wished the floor would swallow her whole.

    Why was she always so lucky when it came to these awkward run-ins?

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    ¡°I¡¯m not blushing. It¡¯s just stuffy in here,¡± she protested, grasping at dignity but only drawing out William¡¯s amusement.

    His deep, velvetyugh curled through the room, wrapping around her nerves and making her pulse stutter.

    Every breath seemed infused with his subtle, woodsy scent, the warmth of his presence stirring a flustered heat beneath her skin. If she didn¡¯t escape, she might actuallybust.

    Gritting her teeth, she gave him a light shove. ¡°The proposal¡¯s done. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving. Goodbye!¡±

    She darted out of his dorm without so much as a backward nce.

    But even sprawled across her own bedter, she couldn¡¯t banish the vivid, stubborn memory of William¡ªbare-chested.

    Without warning, her heart started thundering in her chest¡ªand before she could make sense of it, a thin trickle ran from her nose.

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 Chapter 277

    ?Chapter 277:

    She snatched a tissue, half-expecting the worst, and sure enough, her fingers came away stained crimson.

    Maybe Sharon had a point, Ste thought with a sigh. Was she really so desperate for a man that her body had started rebelling?

    She drifted into a heavy, disjointed sleep at home and woke feeling only slightly less foggy. By the next morning, she dragged herself out of bed and forced her mind into work mode.

    Inside theb, Ste dove headlong into her experiments, letting her focus sharpen to a razor¡¯s edge, driving herself harder than ever.

    Sandra shot her a sidelong look, amusement in her eyes. ¡°Sylvia, what¡¯s gotten into you? You¡¯re acting like you¡¯re trying to win a trophy for working hard.¡±

    Ste lifted one shoulder in a loose shrug. ¡°You know how it is. If I don¡¯t pay attention, one slip-up could ruin everything.¡±

    But deep down, her real motivation was simpler: she was determined to work herself into a new life, one where she could finally afford a ce of her own in Choria.

    Real estate in Choria was no joke¡ªa decent apartment could easily run a million dors. Ste knew that if she didn¡¯t push herself harder, her dream of owning her own ce would stay forever out of reach.

    If she was going to spend that much, it had to be somewhere spacious, somewhere she could actually see herself living for years. The thought of that hefty price tag sent a jolt through her chest.

    Around noon, she returned to the dorm, prepping lunch for William out of habit. She was about to hand it off to Rita, but Rita intercepted her. ¡°Ms. Russell, Mr. Briggs said he wants to speak with you personally, so he asked you to bring his lunch yourself.¡±

    Ste¡¯s nerves prickled with embarrassment¡ªyesterday¡¯s awkwardness still lingered. But since William had specifically asked for her, she had no choice but to swallow her difort and head over.

    During the meal, an ufortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint tter of silverware.

    Every minute dragged. Ste wanted to say something to ease the tension, but the words wouldn¡¯te.

    L?t??¦Ó c§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l?.??????

    Atst, William set his utensils aside, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and finally spoke. ¡°Neb¡¯snded a major deal. It¡¯s bigger than anything we¡¯ve handled before. If we pull this off, your bonus will be more than triple what you¡¯ve earned in the past.¡±

    Ste shot upright, meeting his gaze with determined eyes. ¡°Really?¡±

    William¡¯s expression stayed serious. ¡°This coboration won¡¯t be easy. It¡¯s far moreplicated than the time you negotiated with Winston. You need to be ready for anything.¡±

    Memories of thest deal shed through Ste¡¯s mind¡ªshe¡¯d sealed it effortlessly with a few well-ced remarks, barely breaking a sweat.

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 Chapter 278

    ?Chapter 278:

    But this time, she didn¡¯t dare underestimate the challenge. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give it everything I¡¯ve got and make sure this partnership works out.¡±

    She¡¯d barely finished making that vow to herself¡ªpromising she¡¯d work her way to a home of her own¡ªwhen, like fate intervening, William¡¯s offernded in herp by lunchtime.

    There was no way she¡¯d let such a golden chance pass her by.

    This project was hers for the taking!

    She squared her shoulders, ready to get down to business. ¡°Does the client have any particr quirks or preferences I should know about?¡±

    William¡¯s slender fingers drummed rhythmically on the tabletop. ¡°I¡¯ll forward the details to your email.¡±

    That afternoon, with a rare lull in her schedule, Ste dove into researching the partner¡¯s interests.

    It didn¡¯t take long before she uncovered a crucial detail¡ªthe client had a particr fondness for jewelry. Sensing an opportunity, she decided to find a tasteful gift that would serve as the perfect icebreaker.

    After clocking out at five, Ste steered her car toward the bustling shopping street just a short drive from the institute.

    The entire avenue was alive with the gleam of antiques and glittering jewelry¡ªauthentic treasures mingled with clever imitations, requiring a sharp eye and steady judgment.

    Ste, armed with a bit of expertise, moved from stall to stall, scrutinizing the items with practiced care.

    She hadn¡¯t wandered far before a particr disy caught her eye: a collection of coral bracelets, their vibrant hues glowing softly in the evening light. If the quality was genuine, one of these pieces would be a perfect fit for her purpose.

    She was just about to question the shopkeeper about a delicate, rose-pink bracelet when a familiar voice called her name from behind.

    ¡°Ste! What are the odds? I never thought I¡¯d run into you here!¡±

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    Jazlyn¡¯s slightly shrill voice drifted over, making Ste nce back and spot Marc and Jazlyn approaching arm in arm.

    A resigned sigh threatened to escape¡ªnext time, she really ought to consult her horoscope before heading out, just to avoid bumping into these two at every turn.

    ¡°Oh, Ste! You¡¯re out shopping too?¡± Jazlyn called, all sugary enthusiasm, a far cry from her usual aloofness. ¡°It¡¯s been forever since west saw you. You look even more gorgeous these days!¡±

    Without missing a beat, Jazlyn clung to Ste¡¯s arm, desperate to bridge the gap she herself had once created. ¡°Honestly, Marc and I still talk about you all the time. Why don¡¯t youe home for a visit? Your room¡¯s just like you left it¡ªnothing¡¯s been touched.¡±

    As Jazlyn reached out to grab Ste¡¯s hand, Ste smoothly sidestepped, keeping her distance.

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 Chapter 279

    ?Chapter 279:

    Jazlyn¡¯s smile faltered for a split second before she regained herposure. ¡°Ste, since fate brought us together, why don¡¯t we grab dinner tonight?¡±

    Ste rose to her full height and fixed them with a frosty stare. ¡°Do you really think we¡¯re that close?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s fingers curled into a tight fist at her side. ¡°What are you talking about? You were my daughter-inw¡ªof course we¡¯re close.¡±

    A cold, mockingugh slipped from Ste. ¡°Funny. You and your son sure love pretending strangers are family. Didn¡¯t you used to rant online about your daughter-inw being barren and unworthy, painting her as some kind of loose woman?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s face turned ashen, caught off guard that Ste still remembered. ¡°Ste, I only said those things in a fit of anger! How could you take them so seriously? I actually enjoyed having you in the family,¡± Jazlyn insisted, her voice quickening with desperation.

    Marc, standing loyally by her side, nodded in agreement. ¡°Stel,e home. We both want you back.¡±

    Disdain sharpened Ste¡¯s gaze as she looked them over. ¡°Ma¡¯am, if you¡¯re really suffering from not having a daughter-inw, maybe you should see a doctor instead oftching onto strangers in public. That¡¯s pretty much kidnapping¡ªand I can report you for harassment.¡±

    As Ste turned to go, the stall owner¡¯s face darkened. She had been seconds from closing the deal¡ªbut thanks to Jazlyn and Marc barging in, the sale had slipped through her fingers.

    ¡°Hey! Who the hell are you two?¡± she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. ¡°If you¡¯re not buying, then move along! Don¡¯t just stand there ruining my business like lunatics!¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s face contorted with indignation as she was driven back by the outburst. ¡°How dare that woman speak to us like that? So disrespectful!¡± she hissed, teeth clenched.

    Marc¡¯s features tightened with shame as he realized every encounter with Ste ended in nothing but disgrace.

    G a lno v els  is packed with thrilling adventures

    Jazlyn¡¯s fingers dug into her palms, her voice quivering with resentment. ¡°If she hadn¡¯t made something of herself, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here begging. She¡¯s the ungrateful one!¡±

    Marc stayed silent, but anxiety sharpened every line of Jazlyn¡¯s face.

    She paced restlessly, her words tumbling out in a panic. ¡°Now that Ste refuses toe back, what are we supposed to do? How can we save Walsh Group? Marc, you have to figure something out. Walsh Group can¡¯t go under!¡± True fear crept into her voice.

    Desperation had already destroyed her rtionship with Haley, all in her frantic attempts to win Ste back.

    If Ste truly walked away for good, their entirepany might go down with her.

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 Chapter 280

    ?Chapter 280:

    Marc reached over and gave Jazlyn¡¯s hand a steady squeeze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    After dropping Jazlyn off at the vi, Marc sped straight to the office, his mind heavy with thepany¡¯s looming crisis.

    Most departments had ground to a halt. If he didn¡¯t pull in new partners fast, even making payroll would be a fantasy.

    Debts were already mounting, interest ruing by the day¡ªif things spiraled any further, recovery might be impossible.

    Inside his office, Marc finally settled at his desk and stared down the mountain of technical files with a newfound determination.

    He might have leaned on Ste before, but he wasn¡¯t helpless.

    As streams of data scrolled across the screen, he hunched forward, scrutinizing every detail until a glimmer of inspiration flickered in his eyes.

    Snatching up the phone, he wasted no time giving Kody his next task. ¡°Kody, connect me to the person who reached out about a partnership. I want a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible.¡±

    After hanging up, Marc slumped back in his chair, fingers drumming the armrest as he mulled over his n.

    A cool fire sparked in his gaze. ¡°Just wait, Ste. I¡¯ll prove you wrong. Once Ind this deal, I¡¯ll put Walsh Group back on top.¡±

    Ste had barely shaken off the awkwardness from her run-in with Marc and Jazlyn when something far more dazzling caught her eye¡ªa conch pearl bracelet in the next shop¡¯s window, its luminous hues shimmering in the fading daylight.

    The pearls were perfectly matched, their color and shape leagues beyond the bracelet she¡¯d seen earlier.

    She didn¡¯t hesitate. In a heartbeat, Ste bought the bracelet, feeling a little thrill at securing such a rare, untouched treasure.

    Conch pearls of this quality were almost mythical;ing across a strand like this felt like fate throwing her a lifeline.

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    Carefully, she wrapped the delicate bracelet, tucking it away for her uing business meeting.

    Earlier, she had fired off a formal email to thepany, eager to arrange a meeting.

    But as the hours slipped by with no reply, tension gnawed at her. What if she¡¯d been too slow, and anotherpetitor had already swooped in?

    By the time the sky deepened into twilight, anxiety had twisted her stomach into knots.

    Refusing to leave things to chance, Ste dialed thepany directly as she picked up her pace.

    ¡°Hello, this is Sylvia Gilbert from Neb,¡± she said, steadying her voice. ¡°I emailed earlier about meeting with your general manager, but I haven¡¯t received a reply yet, so I wanted to follow up personally.¡±

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 Chapter 281

    ?Chapter 281:

    The voice on the other end grew immediately more courteous upon hearing her affiliation.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I apologize for the dy. Our general manager is at a banquet this evening and won¡¯t be avable for a meeting.¡±

    A faint crease formed between Ste¡¯s brows as confusion flickered in her eyes.

    Ste pressed on, her voice polite but probing. ¡°Could you tell me what kind of banquet it is tonight?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a charity banquet in Choria,¡± the receptionist replied warmly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you receive an invitation, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    That jogged Ste¡¯s memory¡ªshe had, in fact, noticed an invitation in her email days ago but hadn¡¯t paid it any mind, assuming she¡¯d skip the event.

    Now, with her pulse quickening, she quickly opened her email app and found the digital invitation waiting for her.

    ¡°Thank you for your help. I won¡¯t keep you any longer,¡± Ste said, her tone brisk but grateful.

    ¡°My pleasure, Ms. Gilbert. Have a wonderful evening.¡±

    After hanging up, Ste dashed back to her apartment, mentally ticking through what needed to be done before the evening¡¯s event.

    With no evening gown in her closet, she touched up her makeup, smoothed her hair into a stylish updo, and snatched up her purse before hurrying out.

    The banquet would begin at 7:30 PM, and the clock was already creeping toward 6:30 PM.

    Every second felt like it was slipping through her fingers.

    She stopped short in front of the nearest boutique, then hurried inside, eyes scanning the racks for the perfect dress as the minutes ticked away.

    Choria¡¯srgest boutique boasted an array of elegant gowns, from thetest celebrity designs to rare vintage finds.

    Exclusive stories g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í?ls

    Ste gravitated toward a delicatevender gown and slipped into the fitting room.

    When she stepped out, she gave herself a small twirl in front of the full-length mirror, a hint of satisfaction brightening her features. She¡¯d nearly decided to buy it when a familiar presence caught her eye.

    William stood at the far end of the boutique, striking in a deep green suit, a single red lily pinned neatly to his pocket. For a split second, Ste was too stunned to react¡ªhow many times could fate throw them together in this city?

    William¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, are we really calling this another coincidence?¡± His tone carried a teasing undercurrent.

    Ste almost insisted it was pure chance, but the frequency of their run-ins made her question reality itself.

    She parted her lips to reply, but he jumped in before a single word could escape. ¡°You¡¯re keeping things subtle tonight. I almost didn¡¯t recognize you without that unforgettable red dress.¡±

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 Chapter 282

    ?Chapter 282:

    Adjusting the fabric at her waist, Steposed herself. ¡°And what brings you to this boutique, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    ¡°Charity event,¡± he replied smoothly.

    Ste¡¯s gaze sharpened. She distinctly remembered how William used to avoid social gatherings at all costs.

    Since when did he start mingling at banquets, let alone enjoying them?

    She didn¡¯t bother replying, simply arched a brow and drifted toward the essories, her eyesnding on a diolus ne nestled among the disys.

    The ne, with its luminous, plump pearls and delicate light purple diolus pendant, echoed the hues of her gown and added an elegant flourish to her look.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take this one,¡± she announced, her voice calm but decisive.

    After paying, Ste swept up her purchases and glided past William without a backward nce, her new gown catching the light as she stepped out of the boutique.

    Watching her retreat, William lingered by the disy, selecting a delicate diolus brooch in the samevender hue as Ste¡¯s ne. He fastened it discreetly to his pocket, the subtle essory echoing hers without drawing too much attention.

    Once satisfied, he settled the bill and slipped out after her.

    ¡°We seem to be heading the same direction. Care to ride together?¡± he called out casually.

    Ste was just unlocking her car when his voice drifted over.

    She arched a brow, lips curving in mild amusement. ¡°Mr. Briggs, don¡¯t you have your own ride?¡±

    The words she bit back were obvious¡ªhis Bentley certainly outssed anything she drove.

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    ¡°My driver took it in for maintenance,¡± William remarked with azy smirk.

    A faint sense of unease prickled at Ste¡¯s nerves, but exhaustion left her no room to puzzle it out. She simply opened the car door and gave a wry smile.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you¡¯ll have to make do with my humble ride tonight.¡±

    Their car rolled up to the banquet hall, headlights sweeping across marble steps dusted with gold.

    The moment William and Ste stepped inside, the grand doors parted with a flourish, drawing a cascade of nces from the assembled guests. Conversations faltered.

    All eyes seemed to follow the pair as if the whole evening had been waiting for their arrival.

    Whispers rippled through the crowd. William and Ste, arm-in-arm beneath the glittering chandeliers, seemed tailor-made for the setting¡ªelegant, poised, andpletely in sync.

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 Chapter 283

    ?Chapter 283:

    The soft glow of the lights caught the matching purple flowers on their essories, a detail that didn¡¯t escape notice.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that William? He¡¯s brought that woman along quite a few times now. Who is she, exactly?¡±

    ¡°Beats me. Maybe she¡¯s his girlfriend? They look perfect together.¡±

    ¡°Check out their essories¡ªthey¡¯re both wearing purple flowers. Are they trying to send a message?¡±

    ¡°They have to be together. Didn¡¯t she used to be with Marc? Now she¡¯s with William, and just like that, she¡¯s no longer a housewife. She¡¯s out here at all the big events. Impressive.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, she¡¯s ying her cards right. Walsh Group¡¯s about to go under. If she¡¯d stuck with Marc, she¡¯d be drowning in his debts too.¡±

    At the edge of the room, a man lounged against the balcony wall, swirling his wine. Upon hearing the gossip, however, his grip on the wine ss subtly tightened, the stem creaking under his fingers.

    All around Marc, whispers floated like smoke¡ªeveryone at the banquet seemed to agree he wasn¡¯t in the same league as William.

    In everyone¡¯s eyes, leaving him for William wasn¡¯t just wise¡ªit was the best decision Ste had made in her life.

    The notion was almostughable, yet it gnawed at him, fueling his simmering anger.

    He red at the spot where Ste had vanished into the crowd, his gaze shadowed with suspicion.

    Every instinct screamed that he¡¯d been right all along.

    Ste had set her sights on William; that was the only reason she¡¯d been so eager to end their marriage.

    As Marc brooded over the spectacle unfolding across the hall, he failed to notice a sly pair of eyes tracking his every move.

    Keep reading at .c¡ðm

    A woman, her gaze sharp with amusement, wove confidently through the gathering, making her way toward the heart of the room.

    Meanwhile, Ste had just slipped from William¡¯s hold, intent on finding her elusive business partner amid the sea of faces. Before she could take another step, a stranger¡¯s cheerful voice cut through the murmuring crowd. ¡°Ms. Gilbert! Good evening!¡±

    Startled, Ste turned to see a woman she didn¡¯t recognize, her brows lifting in polite confusion. ¡°Good evening. I¡¯m sorry, do we know each other?¡±

    Doreen offered a bright, practiced smile as she reached out. ¡°I¡¯m Doreen Greville¡ªa volunteer here tonight. Ms. Gilbert, you went to Crossroads University, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯m a student there now, so I guess that makes us alumnae.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brow furrowed, suspicion flickering behind her eyes.

    Very few people knew her university history unless they¡¯d deliberately dug into her background.

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 Chapter 284

    ?Chapter 284:

    And something about Doreen¡¯s face tugged at Ste¡¯s memory¡ªshe was certain they¡¯d crossed paths before.

    ¡°So¡­ can I call you Sylvia? And, are you and Mr. Briggs together?¡± Doreen pressed, her tone breezy but her question hitting a nerve.

    The bluntness made Ste bristle, and she opened her mouth to shoot down the idea, but Doreen cut in before she could speak. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong, Ste¡ªI didn¡¯t mean anything by it. Honestly, you and Mr. Briggs look fantastic together!¡±

    As Doreen gestured with her champagne ss, her excitement got the best of her. The ss tilted, sending a ssh of cold champagne across Ste¡¯s dress. ¡°Oh gosh, Sylvia, I¡¯m really sorry! I didn¡¯t mean for that to happen!¡±

    Gasping, Doreen set her ss down with a tter and snatched a napkin from a passing waiter.

    ¡°That was totally my fault! I didn¡¯t think it would tip over. Here, let me wipe it up!¡± Panic flickered in her eyes as she dabbed frantically at the stain.

    Ste instinctively took a measured step back, lifting a hand to gently ward her off. ¡°Really, it¡¯s nothing. Just a little ssh¡ªdon¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    Their exchange quickly drew William¡¯s notice. He strode over, his gaze flicking from Doreen¡¯s flushed face to Ste¡¯s dress.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± he asked, his tone shaded with concern.

    Turning toward him, Ste let out a resigned sigh. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious¡ªjust a bit of spilled champagne. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Doreen immediately dipped her head in another flurry of apologies. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Sylvia. Please, don¡¯t mention this to my supervisor¡ªif she hears, I might lose part of my paycheck. After the banquet, I¡¯ll make sure your dress is spotless again!¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t been upset with her in the first ce.

    She was more baffled by Doreen¡¯s jittery guilt than anything else.

    Nervously, Doreen shot a pleading look toward William. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I swear I didn¡¯t mean to get your girlfriend¡¯s dress dirty. Please don¡¯t be angry. I noticed you two are wearing matching essories tonight. Just give me a little time, and I¡¯ll make sure Sylvia¡¯s dress looks brand new.¡±

    Latest updates on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Ste¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. Since when had she and William be a matched pair?

    William lingered behind her, his gaze icy as itnded on Doreen.

    A tremor ran through Doreen, her eyes darting away as if she¡¯d been caught red-handed.

    William¡¯s stare held a silent threat, sharp enough to peel away her defenses. It was as though he could see straight through her, exposing every hidden thought.

    ¡°So this is your first meeting, and she managed to douse you in champagne?¡± William queried, his voice smooth but edged with suspicion.

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 Chapter 285

    ?Chapter 285:

    Ste, unwilling to dwell on the tension swirling around them, forced herself to sound calm. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was just an ident. Don¡¯t worry about it¡ªyou¡¯re free to leave now.¡± She waved Doreen away.

    But Doreen, her voice already quivering, couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°But¡­ what about the dress? I really can¡¯t pay for it¡­¡±

    She hadn¡¯t even finished her plea before a scornful voice cut through the tension.

    ¡°Ste, I never expected this from you. Now that you¡¯re hanging onto William, you think you can parade around here, acting like you own the ce and picking on people who can¡¯t fight back?¡±

    Ste¡¯s brow tightened as she turned to see Marc striding toward her in a sharp white suit.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t used to act this way. When did you start thinking so highly of yourself?¡± he asked, his voice clipped.

    Even from afar, Marc had witnessed the whole scene. He¡¯d caught sight of Doreen dabbing at Ste¡¯s dress, while William stood nearby, backing Ste up. Though the words had been out of earshot, Marc felt sure Ste had scolded Doreen.

    The memory of Ste snapping at his mother in the market resurfaced, and irritation stirred in his chest.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve pushed someone around. Can¡¯t you recognize what you¡¯ve be? When did this start?¡± He nearly added that everything had gone wrong the moment she got close to William, that she should¡¯ve never been near him.

    Ste exhaled slowly. ¡°Tell me, when have I ever bullied anyone?¡±

    Right then, Doreen moved forward, flustered as she tried to clear things up. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯ve got it wrong. Sylvia didn¡¯t do anything to me. I was just upset for staining her dress. It was my fault, really!¡±

    Marc paid her little attention. ¡°You don¡¯t have to defend her. I saw what went on. Your eyes were swollen.¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m fuels your imagination

    Doreen parted her lips to respond, but no words came. For a second, she just stood there, unsure of how to go on.

    Across from them, Ste watched the back-and-forth. A flicker of realization crossed her face. She remembered now, where she¡¯d recognized Doreen from. A cold chuckle slipped from her lips. ¡°Marc, who do you think you are, speaking on her behalf? She already said she was the one at fault. Were you even listening?¡±

    Marc couldn¡¯t stand the way she carried herself¡ªcalm,posed, like she always thought she was right. Without warning, he slid an arm around Doreen¡¯s waist and pulled her close.

    Keeping his eyes locked on Ste, he tilted his chin upward and said, ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend. Is that a good enough reason for you? You¡¯ve got someone, don¡¯t you? Why can¡¯t I?¡±

    Doreen hadn¡¯t seen thating. Thrown off bnce, she stumbled into him and looked up, startled.

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 Chapter 286

    ?Chapter 286:

    Ste found his reasoningughable.

    When had she ever said he couldn¡¯t date someone? And who said she¡¯d asked in the first ce? Why was he acting like she needed a justification?

    She gave a small shrug, unmoved. ¡°Alright then. If that¡¯s the case, I just remembered¡ªwasn¡¯t there someone named Haley you were engaged to? But that¡¯s none of my business. If you and she are together now, I hope itsts.¡± Not willing to drag things out, Ste turned to walk away.

    She¡¯d already spent too long here, and the person she came to find was still nowhere in sight.

    Watching her go, William didn¡¯t hesitate.

    He fell into step behind her without saying a word, never once looking Marc¡¯s way. As though Marc didn¡¯t exist.

    Still holding Doreen, Marc watched Ste leave with the same cool expression on her face, and something inside him clenched.

    Was she really that unaffected?

    Once the two of them hadpletely disappeared, Marc finally looked at Doreen still standing quietly at his side.

    He took a small step back, his voice calm as he said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Everyone struggles now and then, especially in school. You¡¯re no less than anyone else, and you don¡¯t need to diminish yourself for anyone¡¯s sake.¡±

    Doreen nced up at him, appreciation softening her features. ¡°Thanks for that, Mr. Walsh. I understand why you hugged me, it was just to stand up for me. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t misread it.¡±

    She gave a polite bow, then added, ¡°I¡¯m assisting with the event today. If you¡¯d like, I could stay with you and help exin the exhibits once the presentations begin.¡±

    Marc responded with a faint nod, signaling his agreement. Doreen beamed and stayed close to him.

    Elsewhere in the venue, Ste kept weaving through the crowd, still trying to locate her business partner, when a gentle voice floated above the low hum of conversation: ¡°What led to this development?¡±

    Ste nced over and spotted a woman asking about WAY MORE.

    After a beat, she strolled over and offered, ¡°Excuse me, I heard your question¡ªI think I can help.¡±

    At the sound of her voice, the woman¡¯s head snapped up instantly. A flicker of admiration lit her eyes the moment she took in Ste¡¯s striking look. ¡°Oh? Please do.¡±

    Ste gave her a reassuring nod. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s simpler than it seems. Just convert the program codes into binary, and you¡¯ll have your answer.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes went wide with delight.

    Clearly, no one had ever suggested that before. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant¡ªI never would¡¯ve thought of it. Thank you so much!¡± She reached out to shake Ste¡¯s hand, her excitement unmistakable.

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 Chapter 287

    ?Chapter 287:

    Ste met her enthusiasm with an easy smile. ¡°Happy to help, really.¡± Admiration shone on the woman¡¯s face as she lingered over the handshake.

    ¡°You know, people like you are hard toe by. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert,¡± Ste replied, her tone warm. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Celine Mendoza,¡± the woman replied with a smile.

    Ste froze for half a heartbeat¡ªthis was the very person she¡¯d spent weeks searching for¡ªa potential partner she¡¯d only hoped to meet tonight by chance. A delighted surprise lit up her features. ¡°Ms. Mendoza, I¡¯m from Neb. I actually came hoping to talk with you about our coboration¡­¡±

    Once her project presentation wrapped up, Doreen lifted her gaze and spotted Ste nearby, luminous and effortlessly drawing attention.

    A faint tension flickered in Doreen¡¯s posture; her hands balled into fists behind her back before she managed to rx them.

    Watching Ste work the room, Doreen could finally understand Marc¡¯s inability to move on.

    Who wouldn¡¯t be reluctant to let go of someone so maic?

    She unclenched her fists and leaned closer to Marc.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, Ms. Gilbert is incredible. She always seems to have the answer for everything. We even share the same major¡ªI¡¯d really love to be friends with her!¡±

    Marc simply pressed his lips together, his silence speaking volumes.

    Doreen let out a lightugh. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s free now. Come on, let¡¯s go clear things up¡ªand apologize properly. She really wasn¡¯t being harsh with me.¡± Without waiting for Marc¡¯s response, she took his arm and steered him toward Ste.

    Ste, meanwhile, had just wrapped up her conversation with Celine.

    Celine, visibly impressed, had agreed to continue their discussions at the office before gliding away to mingle with the rest of the guests.

    Ste¡¯s subtle smile lingered¡ªa hint of satisfaction, knowing the evening had opened on a promising note.

    Your next story starts here g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    She turned, intending to find William and share her sess, only to spot Doreen heading her way, Marc in tow.

    Ste¡¯s brow furrowed ever so slightly, but before she could utter a word, Doreen¡ªutterly unrestrained¡ªreached out and seized her hand.

    ¡°Sylvia, I wanted to apologize again. I already told Mr. Walsh you never bullied me,¡± Doreen gushed, her eyes shining with earnestness. ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re incredible. I always need help in college, but you seem to know everything. Could you tell me more about the patent you mentioned earlier?¡±

    Anticipation gleamed in Doreen¡¯s eyes, but Ste coolly drew her hand back, her expression turning icy.

    A subtle edge crept into her voice. ¡°Are you honestly clueless, or is school just too much trouble for you these days?¡±

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 Chapter 288

    ?Chapter 288:

    From the moment she¡¯d crossed paths with Doreen, Ste¡¯s instincts had prickled with warning.

    Now her suspicions solidified¡ªthis woman¡¯s friendliness masked a deeper animosity.

    Doreen¡¯s lower lip trembled as she looked up, painting herself the picture of innocence. ¡°Sylvia, why would you say that? I truly wanted to learn from you. Did I offend you somehow? If this is about what happened before, I¡¯m really sorry. Please, let¡¯s not let a misunderstanding ruin things between us.¡±

    A murmur rose from the onlookers, most of whom had missed the earlier exchanges. Judging by their sidelong nces, they¡¯d decided Ste was simply picking on Doreen without cause.

    Marc¡¯s frustration bubbled over, and he instinctively stepped in front of Doreen, shielding her with a protective arm.

    ¡°Stel, must you really make things so difficult? I already said I was sorry for jumping to conclusions earlier. She just wanted to ask you a simple question. If you don¡¯t feel like helping, fine¡ªbut did you have to talk to her like that?¡±

    Doreen clung to his sleeve, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ¡°Please, Mr. Walsh, let¡¯s not drag this out. I was out of line with Ste, too. This probably isn¡¯t the right ce or time for me to approach her, and I should¡¯ve known better. I¡¯m truly sorry for overstepping.¡±

    A heavy disappointment settled in Marc¡¯s gaze as he nced at Ste. ¡°Stel, I really expected better from you. You¡¯re not the person I used to know.¡±

    Ste watched their little performance with a growing sense of disbelief. The harmony between them was almostughable.

    She said, ¡°I never took you for a man who needed more than one ¡®sweet little darling¡¯ at his side. But as you rush to defend her, did you even remember that Haley is still sitting in a jail cell because of all this?¡±

    Ste¡¯s wordsnded like a p, catching Marc so off guard that hisposure slipped and a flush crept up his neck.

    He opened his mouth, desperate to justify himself, but Ste cut him off without mercy. ¡°Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re some savior to others when you can¡¯t even manage your own mess. And spare me the lecture about being aggressive. I¡¯ve barely known her a day¡ªwhat possible motive would I have to target her?¡±

    Find exclusive updates g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??ls

    Marc, stung but stubborn, fired back anyway. ¡°That still doesn¡¯t mean you can talk down to her in front of everyone. She¡¯s just a college kid picking up extra shifts because her family¡¯s broke¡ªnot every girl grew up with your advantages.¡±

    Ste stared at him, the absurdity of the argument dawning on her. There was no reaching him.

    He professed love, but when it mattered, he always chose someone else.

    She let out a sharp, humorlessugh. So this was his idea of love? What a joke. A cold, bitingugh slipped past her lips. ¡°If that¡¯s what you call love, then I¡¯d rather have nothing at all.¡±

    Marc¡¯s stunned expression lingered as the weight of his words hit him. For all his derations, he¡¯d never once chosen to side with Ste¡ªnot when it mattered.

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 Chapter 289

    ?Chapter 289:

    He had always stood on the wrong side of every line she¡¯d drawn.

    At that moment, William approached with unhurried confidence, his presencemanding the room.

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath on people like him. You¡¯re only giving him more than he deserves,¡± William remarked firmly.

    Without ncing back at Marc or Doreen, Ste redirected her attention, scanning the crowd for Celine.

    The business deal hadn¡¯t been entirely smooth, but in the end, Celine agreed to coborate with Neb, sealing their partnership with a firm handshake.

    With the contract settled and nothing left to keep them there, William gently ced his hand at the small of Ste¡¯s back. Together, they slipped out of the banquet hall.

    Doreen lingered for a moment, watching William lead Ste away with gentle, attentive care. She inhaled slowly, her shoulders sagging as a trace of self-pity colored her words.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, I really ruined things, didn¡¯t I? Thank you for defending me, but I can¡¯tpare to someone like Ste. She¡¯s brilliant¡ªshe even developed her own patents. I¡¯m just¡­ ordinary. My grades aren¡¯t great, and honestly, she was just telling the truth.¡±

    Marc¡¯s mind reyed Ste¡¯s harsh words, leaving him hollow and unable to muster anyfort for Doreen. He simply turned away, silent, a heaviness settling over him.

    Noticing his dejected expression, Doreen hesitated, then spoke with quiet insight. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ you¡¯re still in love with her, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s why it hurt so much to see her with someone else.¡±

    She stepped a little closer, offering a gentle, supportive smile. ¡°But I think she¡¯s misunderstood you. Don¡¯t give up on yourself, okay? You can win her back. And if you ever need someone in your corner, I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    A sh of genuine surprise crossed Marc¡¯s face; he hadn¡¯t expected Doreen to offer her help so willingly.

    His voice edged with disbelief, Marc asked, ¡°Why would you want to help me?¡± They¡¯d barely known each other three days, and their first meeting had been less than pleasant.

    Your next adventure is at g  al n ovels . con

    Anyone else in her position would have kept their distance.

    But Doreen smiled up at him, her sincerity shining through. ¡°It¡¯s easy. You were good to me. The first time we met, you gave me a diamond ring. I think that says a lot about the kind of person you are.¡±

    Her earnest words churned up a mess of emotions inside Marc. The ring she cherished was nothing more than a castoff¡ªSte had rejected it, and in a fit of anger, he¡¯d tossed it aside.

    Doreen, so guileless and pure, couldn¡¯t have known the truth. She saw kindness where there was only the echo of an old wound.

    He lowered his gaze, lips pressed in a hard line, studying Doreen¡¯s hopeful expression.

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 Chapter 290

    ?Chapter 290:

    She was so much like the Ste he used to know¡ªutterly devoted, innocent to a fault, with a heart too gentle for this world.

    The partnership was officially sealed, and Celine wasted no time making the announcement public.

    News of Neb¡¯s win rippled through industry circles, with congrattions flooding in from professionals all over.

    But not everyone was so supportive.

    Some skeptics took to the inte, grumbling in private threads. ¡°Come on, how could a tiny outfit like Neb score something this huge without pulling strings?¡±

    ¡°I mean, let¡¯s just be real¡ªshe got the deal thanks to William. Not that I¡¯d say that out loud,¡± another remarked, adding fuel to the gossip.

    Of course, Ste came across the chatter.

    She rarely bothered with online noise, but letting baseless rumors fester would only embolden them.

    So, she swiftly uploaded her chat logs with Celine, making every detail public. The exchanges left no doubt¡ªCeline had chosen Neb purely for their ster proposal.

    With the facts out in the open, the critics quickly quieted down. Many quietly scrubbed their previousments, leaving the thread in sudden, embarrassed silence.

    Though the recent trouble had died down, Ste couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she needed a long-term solution to keep these kinds of rumors at bay. Was it really just because she didn¡¯t have a boyfriend that people assumed she owed everything to William?

    If she had someone by her side, the spection would fizzle out without her lifting a finger.

    Marriage wasn¡¯t necessary; she just needed someone to stand beside her.

    Without wasting another moment, Ste dialed Sharon¡¯s number. ¡°Sharon, I need your help. I¡¯ve decided to get myself a boyfriend. You know everyone¡ªcan you set me up with a few options?¡±

    Fresh chapters live g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í????s

    A jubnt shriek burst through the phone, nearly making Steugh.

    ¡°Finally, Stel! I knew you¡¯d see reason eventually! Don¡¯t worry, leave everything to me. I¡¯ll line up the perfect candidates.¡±

    Three dayster, Sharon called just as Ste was finishing lunch.

    ¡°Stel, it¡¯s all set! I¡¯ve arranged a dinner for you at Elysian Dining¡ªprivate room, no prying eyes. All you have to do is show up. Trust me, you¡¯re in good hands.¡±

    A pang of regret twisted through Ste, but before she could speak, Sharon had already hung up.

    With a resigned sigh, Ste decided she might as well see how the evening yed out.

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 Chapter 291

    ?Chapter 291:

    By five o¡¯clock, she¡¯d wrapped up her work and headed straight to the restaurant where she and Sharon had agreed to meet.

    The ce exuded old-world charm¡ªwarmmplight flickered along shadowed hallways, lending the whole space an air of quiet intimacy.

    Ste found herself smiling at the thought of having a date somewhere so inviting.

    She ran her fingers over the ornate, carved door handle before pressing it down and slipping inside.

    The room beyond was filled with the low hum of conversation¡ªand, to her surprise, a crowd of young men.

    From across the room, Sharon shot to her feet and waved enthusiastically. ¡°Stel, over here! Come join us. I gathered these gentlemen just for you¡ªtake your pick, see if anyone piques your interest.¡±

    The table erupted in cheerful greetings as the men vied for Ste¡¯s attention, each eager to make a memorable first impression.

    ¡°Wee, gorgeous! You like tall? I¡¯m practically a basketball yer.¡±

    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m an artist¡ªsome say I¡¯m the best-looking guy in the studio, too.¡±

    ¡°Hi there! I¡¯m everything you could ask for¡ªrich, loyal, generous. Ask anyone.¡±

    Ste¡¯s head spun slightly under the onught of charm.

    Every man at the table brought his own ir: some exuded boyish confidence, a few had the unpolished edge of a bad boy, others looked polished and refined, and one or two wore an easy gentleness that felt oddly soothing.

    Each smile seemed to promise something different.

    As she scanned their faces, her gaze paused on a man at the far end of the table.

    Something about his sharp profile and easy posture tugged at her memory¡ªshe was sure she¡¯d seen him somewhere before.

    L?t??t ?h¦Ápt?rs ??n g??l??ov?l??.????m

    Across the room, Shaun caught Ste¡¯s eye and waved, his smile warm and a little too familiar.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, we meet again,¡± he said, his tone smooth and confident.

    Ste blinked, momentarily thrown. Shaun Smith?

    Memories of theirst encounter flickered through her mind. What was he doing here?

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about you afterst time,¡± he continued. ¡°I even dreamed about you, if you can believe it. So when Ms. Mitchell mentioned she was organizing this mixer, I made sure I was on the list.¡±

    Before Ste coulde up with a polite reply, Sharon chimed in with a grin. ¡°Stel, you two clearly have some chemistry. Why not have a drink together?¡±

    Ste felt the awkwardness creeping in. But with everyone watching and the situation already a little tense, she picked up her ss.

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 Chapter 292

    ?Chapter 292:

    That was apparently a mistake. A couple of the other men at the table immediately jumped in, their voices half-joking but tinged withpetition.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, why not drink with me instead?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, do you think we¡¯re not as good as him?¡±

    Ste paused, ss halfway to her lips. The tension between the men, all directed at her, left her feeling like she¡¯d wandered into the wrong kind of scene.

    And Sharon? She was enjoying every second of it. She slung an arm casually around Ste¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, Stel¡ªsee anyone you like? Might be a good night to pick someone to keep youpany.¡±

    Ste sighed inwardly. This was exactly why she should¡¯ve said no to Sharon¡¯s invite.

    Still, she managed a faint smile and lifted her ss. ¡°Let¡¯s just toast together. One drink for all of you.¡±

    She downed the drink in one go, stood up, and offered a quick excuse to use the restroom.

    As she stepped away, Shaun rose as well, shing another smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I was just about to head that way too. Shall we go together?¡±

    Ste¡¯s smile faltered. Seriously?

    She didn¡¯t actually need the restroom¡ªshe just needed a breather. But there he was, tailing her like a shadow.

    She ducked into the restroom, touched up her makeup, lingered long enough to make it believable, then stepped out¡ªonly to find Shaun already at the sink, washing his hands.

    Ste was at a loss for words.

    ¡°You¡¯re quick,¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°Ready to head back? I¡¯m sure with that many options in there, someone¡¯s bound to catch your eye.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t tell if he was teasing or trying to provoke her.

    L??€$? ¡é??t??§ñ? ?¦Ç ?@ln?¦Í¨ºl?.¡é??

    Before she could respond, a woman in a pink dress appeared at the end of the hall, heels clicking softly on the polished floor. She nced up and spotted Shaun.

    ¡°Shaun, what a surprise! Are you eating here too?!¡± Her eyes lit up like she¡¯d just bumped into her favorite celebrity.

    Shaun¡¯s expression stiffened the second he saw her. ¡°Reba,¡± he muttered with a nod, his tone lukewarm.

    Reba didn¡¯t seem to notice¡ªor didn¡¯t care. She turned to Ste, all smiles and sweetness. ¡°Hi there! I¡¯m Reba Watson, a friend of Shaun¡¯s. And you are?¡±

    ¡°Sylvia Gilbert,¡± Ste replied smoothly.

    Reba beamed. ¡°Nice to meet you, Sylvia. Actually, I had trouble getting a private room earlier¡ªeverything was booked. Would you mind if I join your table for dinner? I promise I won¡¯t get in the way.¡± She held up her palm yfully, like she was making a sacred vow.

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 Chapter 293

    ?Chapter 293:

    Her makeup was subtle but wless, hershes clearly salon-enhanced. Her lips carried a perfectly glossed pout. Her light brown curls were pinned back with a ribbon¡ªevery detail polished, every movement calcted to charm. She radiated youthful charm with just enough effort that it was almost suspicious.

    Shaun¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Tonight¡¯s gathering isn¡¯t really open.¡±

    Reba pouted. ¡°Why not? It¡¯s just dinner, right? And I don¡¯t eat much. We can split the bill if you want. Come on¡ªwhat¡¯s one more person?¡± It was clear she wasn¡¯t leaving unless dragged out.

    Ste, watching from the side, realized something¡ªReba might actually be useful. A convenient distraction. Anything to ease the tension she¡¯d been trapped in since she walked into that room.

    Before Shaun could shut her down again, Ste offered a small, polite smile. ¡°Sure. Join us. There¡¯s plenty of space.¡±

    Reba turned to her, eyes lighting up. ¡°Really? That¡¯s so sweet of you, Sylvia. Thank you! Let¡¯s go!¡±

    She immediately tried to link arms with Shaun, but he subtly stepped aside. Reba either didn¡¯t notice or chose not to care, still grinning as she followed along.

    When the three of them returned to the private room, Sharon raised a brow at the unfamiliar face beside them. ¡°Stel¡­ who¡¯s this?¡±

    Sharon blinked in confusion, uncertain about what was happening.

    Ste offered a calm exnation. ¡°This is Reba¡ªMr. Becker¡¯s friend. We ran into each other outside. She said the ce was packed, so I figured, why not invite her to join us?¡±

    Standing with a bright smile, Reba waved cheerfully. ¡°Hi everyone! I¡¯m Reba. Lovely to meet you. Since we¡¯re sharing a meal, I hope we can all be friends.¡±

    For a moment, Sharon didn¡¯t know what to say. She shot Ste a subtle but annoyed look.

    Still, with Reba already present, there was no polite way to ask her to leave. What had been nned as a quiet matchmaking dinner now felt more like a casual group hangout.

    Your escape begins with ga ln ov els .

    Before the food even arrived, Reba slid into the seat beside Shaun. With yful eyes on Ste, she said, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, sitting around like this is kind of boring. Let¡¯s y a game, what do you say?¡±

    Ste met her gaze with a calm smile. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s y cards. Loser rotates out with the next person!¡± Reba dered, cheerfully buying a deck from the staff.

    The first round featured Reba, Ste, and Sharon as the yers.

    They each drew their cards, and Reba made the first move.

    She had always loved card games¡ªthey were a mix of wit, timing, and reading people. She was good at picking up subtle cues, often guessing her opponents¡¯ hands with ease. Losses were rare for her.

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 Chapter 294

    ?Chapter 294:

    Smirking with confidence, Reba nced at Ste. ¡°Rx, Sylvia. It¡¯s just for fun. No need to overthink it.¡±

    Ste calmly arranged her hand, unfazed by Reba¡¯s words.

    As the game picked up, Reba clearly had the upper hand. For the first three rounds, neither Sharon nor Ste even got to y a card. The fewer cards she had left, the wider Reba¡¯s grin became.

    But Ste remained patient, biding her time until Reba had just a handful of cards left. Then, she made her move.

    From subtle clues earlier in the game, Ste had already figured out most of Reba¡¯s hand. Working smoothly with Sharon, they emptied their hands in just a few rounds.

    ¡°What? How?¡± Reba stared at the finished pile,pletely stunned. She had been certain¡ªabsolutely certain¡ªshe would win!

    Watching her expression, Ste offered softly, ¡°Want to go for another round?¡±

    Reba quickly grabbed the cards and shuffled again, eager to reim her win.

    However, just a few minutes into the second game, Ste once again came out on top.

    Reba waspletely baffled. Even with a great hand, holding the two strongest cards, she still lost to Ste. How was that possible?

    ¡°I seriously can¡¯t wrap my head around this. Sylvia, are you secretly reading my cards or something?¡± Reba asked with wide-eyed innocence, but her tone wasced with usation.

    The others in the room turned their attention to Ste, curious about how she guessed Reba¡¯s cards.

    Sharon, who hadn¡¯t warmed to Reba from the beginning, gave her a cold look. ¡°Sylvia doesn¡¯t need to cheat. She could win a game like this in her sleep. If you¡¯re losing, maybe it¡¯s just because you¡¯re not as good as you thought.¡±

    Reba¡¯s lips tightened, and she quickly looked over at Shaun, trying to save face. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. It¡¯s just¡­ kind of unreal, that¡¯s all.¡±

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    Without a word, Ste calmly flipped her cards face-up and began ying the next round in full view of everyone.

    Now, with everyone watching closely, it became obvious that Ste wasn¡¯t cheating.

    Every move she made seemed to directly block Reba¡¯s, as if she could actually see the cards Reba was holding.

    In the end, the oue was the same¡ªSte won, again.

    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re actually calcting every possibility? That¡¯s insane!¡± a guy nearby said, clearly impressed, his eyes lighting up with admiration.

    Ste gave a modestugh. ¡°It¡¯s not that big a deal. With a little practice, anyone could do it.¡±

    Back in school, she¡¯d been known for her talent with numbers. Probability, logic, and mental calctions had alwayse naturally. Card games like this? Child¡¯s y.

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 Chapter 295

    ?Chapter 295:

    Reba sat stiffly as the group buzzed around Ste, praising her brilliance and clever ys. From where she sat, their words felt sharp¡ªeach one a reminder of the attention she had failed to earn.

    Her hands tightened into fists beneath the table. She¡¯d thought this game would be her moment to shine¡ªan easy win that would leave Ste humbled. Instead, the n had backfired spectacrly.

    Now, all eyes were on Ste, and not with suspicion, but with admiration.

    And worse, the door to their private room had been left slightly open. Every burst ofughter and cheer that followed Ste¡¯s victory drifted right out into the hallway, where someone else was listening.

    Steven paused at the door of the private room, his eyesnding on a familiar figure. Ste?

    There she was¡ªsitting confidently among a table of strangers, most of them men. Laughter buzzed around her, and she handled it all with effortless grace. No nerves, no attitude. Just poise.

    Steven hadn¡¯t expected this. He¡¯d just returned from his recovery trip in Asnain and stopped in for a quiet dinner¡ªnot a surprise reunion with Ste.

    Still, what caught his attention more than anything was how at ease she looked¡ªsurrounded by a crowd of sharp-dressed, sharp-jawed men¡ªand yetpletely unfazed.

    She looked¡­ radiant. But why was she here? Did William even know about this? Steven stepped away from the door and pulled out his phone, dialing a familiar number. ¡°William. You won¡¯t believe what I just saw.¡±

    The voice on the other end was clipped. ¡°Get to the point. I¡¯m busy.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so cold,¡± Steven said, faking a wounded tone. ¡°Come on, today¡¯s the day I got back from Asnain. You didn¡¯t even show up to wee me, and now you won¡¯t even listen?¡± His voice caught theatrically, just enough to be annoying. ¡°I get it¡ªyou love burying yourself in work. But today¡¯s different. I¡¯m sending you the restaurant location. Get over here. Now.¡±

    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m busy,¡± William replied tly.

    Steven rolled his eyes. Typical.

    Seeing William¡¯s indifference, he let out a long sigh. ¡°Fine. Stay glued to your desk. But don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¡ªskip tonight, and someone else might just steal your girl.¡±

    There was a pause. ¡°I just saw Sylvia,¡± Steven continued, now casually twisting the knife. ¡°She¡¯s here. Surrounded by a bunch of young guys¡ªevery one of them over six feet, great hair, strong jawlines¡­ legs for days. Honestly? It¡¯s quite a show. Not really your vibe anymore, old man.¡±

    His tone dripped with amusement.

    On the other end, William frowned.

    He knew Ste had finished work on time and left the institute¡ªbut dining with a group of random men? That part wasn¡¯t in the schedule. He stared at hisptop screen but couldn¡¯t focus on a single word.

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 Chapter 296

    ?Chapter 296:

    His fingers tapped slowly against the desk. ¡°Send me the address.¡± Click. He hung up before Steven could say anything else.

    Steven chuckled, pocketing his phone with a smirk. He knew that would get him moving.

    Sure enough, it took barely ten minutes for William to show up at the restaurant.

    He didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°Where is she?¡± he asked in a low tone.

    Steven casually pointed toward the private room across the hall, his face smug.

    William didn¡¯t reply. He just walked.

    Inside, Ste was halfway through a toast, her smile fixed in ce. She nced at the clock and thought, ¡°When is this going to end?¡± Then the door swung open.

    A familiar voice cut through the buzz. ¡°Well, this is a surprise. I didn¡¯t realize Ms. Gilbert was such a crowd favorite.¡±

    Ste turned, already recognizing the tone before she saw the man behind it. William stood in the doorway, dressed in a crisp ck suit, the very picture of restraint.

    Except his eyes¡ªhis gaze on her was sharp, unreadable.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± Ste said, her smile tight as her brows pulled together slightly. ¡°What a surprise. I didn¡¯t think you had the time to drop by.¡±

    William leaned casually against the doorframe, his gaze steady. ¡°Indeed. Total coincidence. If I hadn¡¯te for dinner tonight, I¡¯d never have guessed you enjoy ying such childish games, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If it bothers you so much, that¡¯s your problem. I don¡¯t recall sending you an invitation.¡± Typical. He never missed a chance to throw shade.

    William walked further in, stopping just beside her. The cool air from outside still clung to his coat, brushing against her skin as he leaned down slightly. ¡°Well then,¡± he said, voice quiet butced with challenge, ¡°since you¡¯re clearly in the mood for games tonight, why don¡¯t you y one with me? Let¡¯s see who wins. And who walks away.¡±

    William settled into his seat across from Ste, exuding effortless confidence as he met her gaze. His lips curled into a faint, expectant smile. ¡°What game were you ying just now?¡±

    Keep reading g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    His deep, maic presence left little room for refusal, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    Seizing her chance to join in, Reba¡ªwho¡¯d been on the sidelines until now¡ªchimed in brightly, ¡°We were ying poker.¡±

    William arched an eyebrow, a yful glint in his eye. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s get started.¡±

    William¡¯s and Ste¡¯s eyes locked, the air crackling with unspoken rivalry. A ripple of anticipation spread through the crowd, everyone silently rooting for their chosen contender.

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 Chapter 297

    ?Chapter 297:

    Sharon, standing at Ste¡¯s side, gave her a gentle nudge. ¡°Stel, are you really up for taking this guy on?¡±

    Her tone was light, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. William certainly didn¡¯t look like an amateur.

    Ste offered a cool smile, giving a slight shrug. ¡°It¡¯s just a game, nothing to stress over.¡±

    But this wasn¡¯t the easy, two-person poker she was used to¡ªying with a crowd raised the stakes.

    As Ste sorted through her cards, a quiet confidence sparked in her eyes.

    Her hand was solid¡ªshe could work with this.

    Still, as the game unfolded, it quickly became clear that William wasn¡¯t ying casually. Move after move, he seemed to read her intentions, countering each card she yed with effortless precision. William¡¯s swift victory caught Ste off guard. For a moment, she just stared at him, catching the glint of quiet satisfaction in his eyes before she pressed her lips together.

    She didn¡¯t need him to spell it out¡ªhis speed with the cards had easily outpaced hers.

    Lounging across from her, William crossed his arms and shot her a sly, self-assured smirk. ¡°Well, Ms. Gilbert, do you believe me now? Or do you want to lose another round?¡±

    Ste, unlike the still-bewildered Reba, understood perfectly well that she had no chance against him.

    With a resigned smile, she gave a light, appreciative p. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you win. I surrender.¡±

    He¡¯d put her on the spot on purpose, wanting everyone to see here up short. Yet, knowing it didn¡¯t change the oue¡ªher skills simply couldn¡¯t match his. Rising from his chair, William took a slow look around the room before fixing his gaze on Sharon.

    ¡°Honestly, this gathering¡¯s lost its spark, hasn¡¯t it?¡± His suggestion hung in the air, unmistakable.

    Eager to back him up¡ªand determined to keep Shaun and Ste apart¡ªReba quickly jumped in. ¡°Mr. Briggs has a point. Why don¡¯t we call it a night? No reason we have to stick around.¡±

    ???? ??????? ?? ?????????.???

    William effortlessly unraveled Sharon¡¯s meticulously nned gathering with a single, offhand remark. From her perspective, William definitely seemed taken with Ste.

    She gave Ste¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°All right, Stel. I¡¯ll head out. Let¡¯s n another get-together soon.¡±

    With that, Sharon made her graceful exit, leaving Ste caught awkwardly in the aftermath.

    William turned toward Ste, his gaze steady. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, things at thepany have been hectic. If you aren¡¯t overwhelmed at the research institute, perhaps you could dedicate more time to the Neb project.¡±

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 Chapter 298

    ?Chapter 298:

    Ste arched a brow, lips tightening. ¡°It¡¯s after hours. If you¡¯re asking for overtime, Mr. Briggs, you¡¯ll have to pay me extra.¡±

    Without missing a beat, William answered coolly, ¡°Triple the usual rate for overtime. Does that meet your expectations?¡±

    For a moment, Ste was at a loss. She couldn¡¯t exactly object to an offer that generous.

    From across the room, Shaun¡¯s voice broke in, tinged with indignation. ¡°Mr. Briggs, it¡¯s dinnertime. Even if you want Ms. Gilbert workingte, you should at least let her eat. Otherwise, people might start thinking you¡¯re some kind of tyrant.¡±

    William¡¯s gaze flicked to Shaun, recognition dawning¡ªhe remembered this man as the one who¡¯d escorted a drunken Ste back to the research institutete at night.

    William narrowed his eyes, a subtle heaviness settling in his chest as he realized this was Ste¡¯s second encounter with Shaun.

    So this was the kind of man she liked? Maybe her taste wasn¡¯t so refined after all.

    ¡°I¡¯m speaking with my employee,¡± he dered, his tone cool and unyielding. ¡°If Ms. Gilbert has a problem, she can speak for herself. It¡¯s hardly your ce to decide on her behalf.¡±

    Turning to Ste, William softened his expression just enough to mask his impatience. ¡°Would you rather eat before we go?¡±

    Ste¡¯s appetite had vanished entirely; the prospect of dinner felt more exhausting than appealing. All she wanted now was a quick escape from this suffocating gathering.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± she replied, steady andposed. ¡°If thepany needs me, I should get back right away.¡±

    A flicker of disappointment crossed Shaun¡¯s face as her words shut down any hope for lingering.

    As William headed for the door, leaving Ste to catch up, Shaun couldn¡¯t resist throwing out a jab. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you do realize treating ady like that isn¡¯t exactly charming, right?¡±

    The newest releases are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    William stopped, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes. ¡°Even so, Ms. Gilbert will be leaving with me tonight, won¡¯t she?¡±

    Ste had no idea why the two of them suddenly began bickering; it all seemed so out of the blue. Still, she gave Shaun a polite nod before turning to leave.

    As soon as she got in the car and shut the door, William shot her a sidelong nce. ¡°Seriously? Are you that desperate for a man now¡ªhaving dinner surrounded by guys like that? If you¡¯re going to look, at least set your standards a little higher. Don¡¯t just throw yourself at every guy with a pulse.¡±

    Ste could tell he was provoking her on purpose. But she had reached her limit.

    ¡°Yes, I am in the mood to date,¡± she shot back. ¡°That¡¯spletely normal. Who I choose to spend time with has nothing to do with you, Mr. Briggs.¡±

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 Chapter 299

    ?Chapter 299:

    He was her boss, not her brother or boyfriend. What right did he have to butt in? And besides, she¡¯d never once made fun of his preferences.

    William¡¯s face froze for a second. She actually admitted it that easily? That realization annoyed him more than he expected.

    The car suddenly fell into a heavy silence, so quiet that Ste could hear the rhythm of her own heartbeat. She nced sideways, wondering if her earlier words had pushed William to the edge of frustration.

    But then again, maybe the silence wasn¡¯t such a bad thing. Whenever he did speak, his words were rarely kind anyway.

    Just as she was about to look away, William¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°If you really need a man, why not pick me? I am one. And we already spend most of our time together, so I¡¯ve got all the time in the world for you.¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath hitched. Had she heard that right? She turned to him, her body stiff. ¡°What¡­ what did you just say?¡±

    The half-open window let in a breeze that yed with her hair. The fading light cast a warm glow over her face. And something about that stunned, confused expression pulled William in. He couldn¡¯t help but lean closer.

    Her mind went nk. All she could do was sit there, frozen, as he inched closer.

    What exactly did he mean? Her mind raced, and before she could make sense of it, panic surged in her chest. Just as William leaned in, the driver braked, bringing the Bentley to a halt at the research institute¡¯s entrance.

    A sharp tap sounded on William¡¯s window. Ste looked up, startled, and saw Luca standing outside, calm as ever. The intimate moment shattered like ss. Flustered, she smoothed her hair back into ce while William straightened in his seat, expression unreadable.

    The air inside the car felt thick with awkward tension. Without a word, Ste opened the door and stepped out, eager to escape. She walked briskly toward the building, and William remained seated, his gaze fixed on her retreating back, eyes clouded.

    He¡¯d almost kissed her¡ªagain. What on earth was going through his head?

    The next day, a message from C¨¦line arrived in Ste¡¯s inbox, inviting her to the office to discuss the cooperation project in detail. Ste¡¯s spirits lifted instantly. She grabbed the gift she had carefully chosen for C¨¦line¡ªa small box wrapped in pale blue paper¡ªand headed off with a smile.

    Stay connected at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    When she reached thepany, she opened the door to C¨¦line¡¯s office and stepped inside. C¨¦line sat gracefully behind her desk, wearing a red silk blouse tucked into tailored ck pants. Her frameless sses lent her an air of sophistication, and her glossy hair was loosely pinned up, effortlessly elegant.

    Hearing the door, C¨¦line looked up and her expression brightened. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, wee. Please, have a seat. I felt a strong connection thest time we spoke, and I¡¯m truly looking forward to working with Neb. I hope everything goes smoothly between us.¡±

    Ste smiled warmly and reached into her bag for the gift. ¡°Ms. Mendoza, the pleasure is ours. We¡¯re excited to coborate and aremitted to making this partnership a sess. I meant to give you this at the banquet but didn¡¯t get the chance. I hope you¡¯ll like it.¡±

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 Chapter 300

    ?Chapter 300:

    C¨¦line opened the box, her eyes lighting up at the sight of a delicate ne crafted from rare conch pearls. ¡°Oh my, I love this ne! Ms. Gilbert, how thoughtful of you.¡±

    ¡°How did you know I¡¯ve always loved this kind of jewelry?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m really happy you like it,¡± Ste said, her tone as gentle as her smile.

    C¨¦line sped the ne around her neck, genuinely touched. While conch pearls weren¡¯t overly expensive, they were umon and distinctive. The gift wasn¡¯t about the price¡ªit showed Ste had taken the time to understand her preferences. Most business partners gave generic presents; few were this intentional. The impression Ste left grew even stronger.

    ¡°One more thing,¡± C¨¦line said, her warmth now unmistakable. ¡°I¡¯ll be assigning a new member to this project. I¡¯d like to introduce her to you soon. It would mean a lot if you could guide her, not just at work but in other areas, too, if you¡¯re willing.¡±

    ¡°Ms. Mendoza, with your confidence in me, I won¡¯t let you down,¡± Ste promised, her tone brisk but steady.

    Just then, a knock broke the office hush. The door opened, drawing Ste¡¯s attention. There, standing in the doorway, was Reba.

    Ste froze for an instant. So this was C¨¦line¡¯s so-called new member? Her lips parted in surprise.

    Reba stiffened at the sight of Ste, herposure slipping for a heartbeat. Unaware of their tangled backstory, C¨¦line assumed they were meeting for the first time and stepped in to break the ice. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, this is Reba Watson. She¡¯ll be overseeing our side of the project. Reba, meet Sylvia Gilbert from Neb, our project lead. I expect you to learn from her professionalism. Understood?¡±

    C¨¦line¡¯s praise made Reba¡¯s eyes flicker with jealousy. She forced a tight smile. ¡°Aunt C¨¦line, are you sure you didn¡¯t mix things up? Ms. Gilbert seems awfully busy these days. Wasn¡¯t she just outst night partying with a bunch of guys?¡±

    The usation hung in the air, causing C¨¦line to hesitate. Though she¡¯d heard bits of gossip, her instincts told her Ste wasn¡¯t that type of woman. ¡°Reba, where exactly are you getting this information?¡± C¨¦line asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

    Reba¡¯s voice held steady. ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth. I saw it with my own eyesst night.¡±

    Stay tuned for more g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í??s.c¡ðm

    C¨¦line faltered, her confidence momentarily shaken.

    From the sidelines, Ste almostughed at the spectacle. ¡°Ms. Watson, as far as I recall, this is only the second time we¡¯ve met. We¡¯re practically strangers, so I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re so eager to drag my name through the mud. If this is about Shaun, you¡¯re wasting your energy. You¡¯ve just made a serious usation¡ªcan you actually back it up? If not, what you¡¯re doing is nder. Don¡¯t me your feelings for Shaun on me. If you¡¯re interested in him, then go for it, but don¡¯t resort to these petty tricks.¡±

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 Chapter 301

    ?Chapter 301:

    Reba¡¯s bravado wavered as the mention of Shaun sent a flush creeping up her neck. She hadn¡¯t expected Ste to be so direct¡ªor for the tables to turn so quickly. Ste¡¯s gaze remained cool as she continued, ¡°Whatever is going on between you and Shaun is your own business. You¡¯re part of Ms. Mendoza¡¯s team, and I¡¯m here to work with you¡ªnothing more. Please keep your personal drama out of my way.¡±

    C¨¦line felt a prick of embarrassment. She hadn¡¯t realized there was old tension simmering between the two women and silently chided herself for not checking beforehand. Forcing a smile, she stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, this seems like a simple misunderstanding. Let¡¯s talk things through and get to the bottom of it.¡± She shot Reba a sharp nce, warning her to rein in her jealousy.

    Reba clenched her jaw and shot Ste a challenging look. Why was Ste suddenly so assertive? She wasn¡¯t the demure woman fromst night¡¯s dinner. No¡ªthis had to be Ste¡¯s true face, and the other version nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion to lure men in. Turning back to C¨¦line, she insisted, ¡°Aunt C¨¦line, there¡¯s no misunderstanding here. I saw her with a bunch of men at the restaurantst night. I saw it myself! How could she possibly exin that away? She¡¯s just too scared to admit it.¡±

    C¨¦line¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Reba. Ms. Gilbert is single¡ªshe has every right to dine with whoever she likes. The real issue is your obsession with dragging others down instead of lifting yourself up. Ms. Gilbert has academic awards and even holds a patent from her university days. What do you have to show?¡±

    Despite her resentment, Reba stayed silent. She¡¯d always found C¨¦line¡¯s decisive nature intimidating. Landing this internship had been tough enough; if she pushed her luck and fell out of favor with her aunt, she¡¯d likely be sent packing¡ªand face another round of parental scolding back home.

    Muttering a few inaudibleints, Reba dropped her gaze, shrinking under C¨¦line¡¯s stern look.

    C¨¦line watched her niece¡¯s stubborn posture and let out a soft, exasperated sigh. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I apologize for Reba¡¯s behavior,¡± she said, her tone apologetic. ¡°She¡¯s still young and has a lot to learn.¡±

    Ste shook her head gently, letting the matter slide. She understood Reba was fresh out of college and saw no reason to make things difficult. ¡°No need to worry. Ms. Watson is energetic¡ªshe reminds me of myself at that age.¡±

    Ste¡¯s yful remark lightened the mood, diffusing the earlier tension. C¨¦line felt her shoulders rx, grateful that Ste hadn¡¯t taken offense.

    ¡°I have a meeting in a few minutes,¡± C¨¦line continued. ¡°Would you mind reviewing the project with Reba first? I¡¯ll join you both as soon as I¡¯m finished.¡±

    Chapter 214:

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 Chapter 302

    ?Chapter 302:

    Ste gave a polite nod as C¨¦line left the office with confident strides. Once she was out of sight, Reba finally looked up and let out a faint snort. ¡°Don¡¯t go thinking you¡¯re special just because my aunt¡¯s taken a liking to you.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. ¡°Alright, you win. Now, would you mind taking me to the project team?¡±

    She hade here to focus on work, not waste time going back and forth with Reba.

    Reba was about to snap back but stopped herself. If she refused, C¨¦line would no doubt hold it against herter. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t go saying I was being petty by not taking you.¡±

    While Ste carefully read through the project team¡¯s proposal, a few employees nearby were engrossed in their own conversation.

    ¡°Ruth, your bracelet is gorgeous! That¡¯s from Yusip Twasto, right? Must¡¯ve cost a fortune!¡± someone gushed.

    Ruthughed softly, toying with the bracelet on her wrist. ¡°Yeah, it was pricey. I saved up and got it as a treat for my 30th birthday.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a pair of earrings from them too,¡± another colleague chimed in. ¡°Their designs are amazing, but it¡¯s tough to get the real deal. There are so many knockoffs out there. I had someone abroad buy mine¡ªI didn¡¯t want to risk ending up with a fake.¡±

    Reba had been listening quietly, her eyes flicking to Ruth¡¯s bracelet. With a smug smile, she added, ¡°I actually know the brand¡¯s founder and designer. If there¡¯s a piece you want, just tell me, and I can help you get it.¡±

    Ruth¡¯s eyes lit up. Everyone knew Reba hadnded her position thanks to her connection with C¨¦line, which had rubbed some people the wrong way¡ªuntil now. They¡¯d initially dismissed her, but now that she could secure them luxury goods, their opinion began to shift.

    ¡°Reba, that¡¯s incredible! You actually know the Yusip Twasto designer? Isn¡¯t she this supersecretive figure who¡¯s always abroad and never shows her face?¡± someone asked.

    Reba lifted her chin slightly, proud as ever. ¡°Of course I know her. I lived abroad for a few years and got to know a lot of people.¡±

    Read exclusive stories .c©–m

    Ruth and the others beamed at her. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so generous of you. Thanks, Reba!¡±

    Ste overheard their conversation and froze. ¡°Yusip Twasto?¡± she thought, momentarily puzzled. Before she could ask, Reba turned to her with a sweet smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, if you¡¯re interested, I can help you pick out a few pieces. Though I¡¯m guessing this is your first time hearing about Yusip Twasto¡ªit¡¯s a niche luxury line abroad, not many people know it.¡±

    As if that weren¡¯t enough, Reba added in an innocent tone, ¡°We were just chatting, that¡¯s all. It¡¯s totally fine if you¡¯re not familiar with the brand or if you find it a bit pricey. No pressure at all.¡± Ste hadn¡¯t managed a word, but Reba pressed on, allowing no pause for response.

    Ruth, standing nearby, sensed the tension immediately. Was Reba trying to humiliate Ste? It was impossible to tell whether she genuinely hadn¡¯t realized or was being deliberately provocative. Either way, the air felt thick with awkwardness.

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 Chapter 303

    ?Chapter 303:

    Ste, however, found the exchange oddly amusing. She genuinely considered revealing that she was, in fact, the designer and founder of Yusip Twasto. Lately, her research responsibilities had left her little time to oversee the brand, which had quietly run almost on autopilot. Only recently had she decided tounch a new collection: she nned to buy an apartment and thought a fresh batch of designs might bring in extra ie.

    What she hadn¡¯t anticipated was how the new collection would explode in poprity¡ªboth abroad and locally. That unexpected sess gave people like Reba the perfect opportunity to drop the brand¡¯s name for status.

    Ste met Reba¡¯s gaze calmly and, with a faint smile, said softly, ¡°Alright. Thank you, Ms. Watson.¡±

    Reba¡¯s confident eptance threw herpletely off bnce. She must have expected Ste to shrink back, to blush or feel embarrassed after being talked down to. But Ste was entirely unbothered and epted the offer with effortless grace. It was the opposite of what Reba had hoped for, and it irritated her. With her workday done, Ste simply gathered her things and headed home.

    Halfway through the drive, her phone rang. She connected the call to her car¡¯s Bluetooth speaker and continued down the road.

    A lively and confident female voice came through the speaker. ¡°Ste, yourtest designs are flying off the shelves! Keep the momentum going¡ªwe need more pieces from you while sales are hot. Let¡¯s try to break Yusip Twasto¡¯s all-time record!¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help butugh at her friend¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Josie, are you secretly plotting to wear me outpletely?¡±

    Josie Patel clicked her tongue yfully. ¡°Excuse me? Weren¡¯t you the one whining about needing more cash to buy an apartment? I¡¯m just being a supportive friend. A little hustle won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    Ste nced at the disy screen in her car, giving in with a smile. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll put together a few new sketches soon. Just don¡¯t rush me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting then!¡± Josie said cheerfully before ending the call. Ste sat there for a moment, a soft smile lingering on her lips.

    Latest releases on g@?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    The sess of her new designs had taken her by surprise, but in a good way. She knew opportunities like this didn¡¯te often, and she wasn¡¯t going to waste it. Sketching out a few more concepts wouldn¡¯t be hard. It just meant sacrificing a little sleep, and she could live with that.

    Back at the research institute, Ste tucked away her Neb project files neatly. Just as she was leaving the room, she bumped into Lainey in the hallway.

    ¡°Sylvia, perfect timing!¡± Lainey said. ¡°Since your group won thest round, you¡¯re now representing us in the big inter-institute championship. You¡¯ll be joining the senior researchers in a new round ofpetition. There¡¯s a meeting scheduled¡ªyou guys should be there.¡±

    Ste nodded, already in the loop. ¡°Has the official date been announced yet?¡± she asked.

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 Chapter 304

    ?Chapter 304:

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s already up on the bulletin board,¡± Lainey replied. ¡°Thispetition¡¯s a big deal. It¡¯s hosted by the country¡¯s top research centers and only happens every three years. The winning team gets full project funding for the next three years. So, yeah¡ªno pressure or anything. We¡¯re really counting on your team, Sylvia. Give it everything you¡¯ve got!¡±

    Lainey had always expected great things from Ste, and that hadn¡¯t changed. Ste gave a confident nod and smiled. ¡°Got it, Lainey. We¡¯ll do our absolute best. I promise we won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±

    Seeing her determination, Lainey felt reassured and genuinely proud.

    Later, once the full team had gathered, Paul addressed them with a serious expression. ¡°As you all know, the triannualpetition is fast approaching. This year, Elbert, your group is representing our institute. That means you¡¯ll be up against top teams from across the country. You need to develop a project that¡¯s not only creative but also feasible, something that can actually work in the real world.¡±

    The room fell quiet as Paul¡¯s words sank in. Coming up with something inventive was one thing, but making sure it could be applied practically? That was an entirely different challenge. It wasn¡¯t enough to dream big¡ª their idea had to be solid, something that could actually be brought to life.

    Everyone looked around at one another, but no one said a word. The air was thick with hesitation.

    Standing beside Ste, Elbert leaned in slightly and asked in a quiet voice, ¡°Sylvia, do you have anything in mind?¡±

    Truthfully, Ste had been mulling over possible ideas for a while now. Their institute had always encouraged open brainstorming, but in reality, very few proposals ever moved beyond theory. Most ns eithercked technical maturity or didn¡¯t have the solid groundwork necessary to move forward. Hearing Elbert¡¯s question, Ste paused for a brief moment before speaking.

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what if we focused on the intersection between renewable energy and artificial intelligence?¡±

    That suggestion immediately sparked interest. In recent years, both fields had be increasingly popr, though they were also topics of heavy debate. But Ste firmly believed they represented the future. In her eyes, the next few years would witness explosive growth in both areas, andbining them could lead to something truly transformative.

    Paul¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Interesting. Go on.¡±

    Your favorite tales live on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Ste continued, her tone calm but confident. ¡°Up until now, our focus has mostly been on biological technology. But I think there¡¯s a way to bring AI into our systems, maybe even use it to optimize how we approach our research process itself. It could improve structure, efficiency, and even how we handle resources.¡±

    Artificial intelligence wasn¡¯t exactly a new idea, but no one had seriously considered applying it to their institute¡¯s internal operations or to enhance biotech workflows. The potential for crossover was huge.

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 Chapter 305

    ?Chapter 305:

    When Ste finished exining, Paul was the first to p. ¡°Excellent suggestion. This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking we need. Let¡¯s start developing this idea into a full proposal. I hope the rest of you can learn from Sylvia¡¯s initiative¡ªthis is the level I expect from all of you moving forward.¡±

    The meeting soon came to a close, and the team began filing out of the room. Sandra was practically beaming. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re such a genius. I swear, my brain would¡¯ve nevere up with something like that. Not even if I had a hundred years to think!¡±

    Ste gave her a modest smile. ¡°Honestly, it just popped into my head while we were talking.¡±

    But before the atmosphere could grow too lighthearted, Jamir suddenly raised a concern. ¡°I heard one of the teams we¡¯ll be up against is led by Mr. Hoffman¡¯s old rival. Word is, they¡¯re our toughestpetition. What if they end up choosing a simr theme?¡±

    Everyone went quiet for a second, the weight of Jamir¡¯s words settling in.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Elbert finally said. ¡°There are countless topics out there, and Sylvia¡¯s idea was pretty unique. Even if there¡¯s a tiny bit of ovep, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re doing the same thing.¡±

    It was umon for different teams tond on the exact same concept, so most of them figured Jamir was just being overly cautious.

    ¡°And honestly, even if there is some ovep, we¡¯ve got Sylvia. No one¡¯s going to break things down or push the limits like she can. If anything, it¡¯s the other teams who should be nervous.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! Last time, they only won because Sylvia wasn¡¯t part of it. This year, things are different. We¡¯re aiming straight for the top.¡±

    Elbert gave Ste a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said warmly, ¡°Sylvia, we believe in you. If there¡¯s anything you need from the team, just say the word, and we¡¯re behind you all the way.¡±

    Touched by their support, Ste smiled gratefully. ¡°Thanks, everyone. I¡¯ll do my best not to let you down.¡±

    M¦Òr? ¦Ôpd¦Át?s ¨ªn G¦Áln¦Òv?ls.c¦Òm

    With that, she fell in step with the rest of the team as they made their way to theb, their voices full ofughter and light conversation.

    None of them noticed Cecelia in the corner, holding a coffee cup and quietly listening, her gaze locked bitterly on Ste¡¯s retreating figure.

    Ever since that disastrous incident with Allen, Cecelia had been stripped of her responsibilities and relegated to low-level tasks, like fetching coffee, running errands, and doing prints. She was no longer allowed near any real projects. Everything she once had ess to was taken away. She couldn¡¯t even step foot in theb she used to work in.

    No matter how hard she tried or how many years she put in, it was clear her former position was out of reach now.

    She clenched her coffee cup, her knuckles nching as she watched Ste and the others walk off,ughing like they didn¡¯t have a care in the world. That sound¡ªso carefree¡ªstung in her ears.

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 Chapter 306

    ?Chapter 306:

    Why did they get tough while she was stuck here, feeling overlooked and forgotten?

    Cecelia couldn¡¯t ept it. She wasn¡¯t going to fade into the background like some nobody.

    If she couldn¡¯t climb back up, then she¡¯d make damn sure someone else fell down with her.

    Ste was deep in conversation with Sandra as they walked down the corridor. But the moment she turned the corner and saw Williaming from the other end, her steps slowed.

    The memory of theirst awkward moment shed through her mind, and she instinctively looked away.

    Sandra and the others greeted him with polite formality. ¡°Good day, William!¡±

    Not wanting to draw attention, Ste mumbled a quiet, ¡°Good day,¡± without looking up.

    She usually avoided calling him by name at all. It felt too personal.

    William picked up on her distant tone and understood she was keeping him at arm¡¯s length.

    Still, with quietposure, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll be working together on this uingpetition. Since we¡¯ve crossed paths, how about we have a meal together and go over the project a bit?¡±

    The unexpected offer caught Elbert and the others off guard.

    ¡°Absolutely! That sounds great,¡± one of them replied eagerly.

    Even though they all worked at the same institute, hardly anyone had exchanged more than a few words with William. He always felt a bit out of reach. So, getting to sit down and eat with him? It felt like a rare opportunity. With everyone so excited, Ste figured it wasn¡¯t the right moment to say no. She reminded herself that it was simply a team discussion over dinner, and with the whole group there, there was no reason to feel uneasy.

    The team left the institute together. William picked a nearby restaurant, only about ten minutes away on foot, so they all opted to walk instead of driving. On the way there, Elbert didn¡¯t waste the chance, and he started firing off one research question after another.

    William took his time responding, exining things thoroughly. ¡°Your first idea was strong. The only thing that held you back was second-guessing yourself. Next time, go with your gut.¡±

    Updates loaded now at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s

    Elbert looked genuinely inspired. ¡°Thanks, William. I think I finally get it now¡ªI can actually see the whole picture clearly.¡±

    Ste was quietly surprised¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected William to speak so gently and encouragingly.

    So he did have a friendly side?

    Up until now, she had always assumed he was just distant by nature.

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 Chapter 307

    ?Chapter 307:

    When they reached the restaurant, the server greeted them with an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡ªall our private rooms are taken. But we do have arge open seating area avable if that¡¯s alright.¡±

    Elbert and the team looked around the open space and quickly nodded. ¡°That¡¯ll work just fine.¡±

    With the whole team together, the meal felt light and easygoing, and Ste didn¡¯t feel awkward at all¡ªshe blended in naturally, enjoying the moment just like everyone else.

    At a quiet table across the restaurant, Doreen epted the neatly cut steak Marc had ced on her te.

    She said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Walsh¡ªyou¡¯re such a gentleman. I asked you to dinner today to properly thank you for your help earlier. I believe in settling debts quickly¡ªI hope that makes sense to you.¡±

    Marc sat across from Doreen, a quiet wave of nostalgia creeping in.

    Ste never liked owing people anything either.

    Looking at Doreen now¡ªher voice soft, her manner thoughtful¡ªit felt like speaking to a version of Ste from another time.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve heard you manage the entire Walsh Group yourself,¡± Doreen said with a gentle smile. ¡°That must be exhausting. Do you even eat properly?¡± She hesitated, then added, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind¡­ I could bring you lunch sometime. I¡¯ll cook it myself. No additives, just something clean. A small thank-you for everything you¡¯ve done for me.¡±

    Marc watched her smile, noticed how her eyes curved when she spoke¡ªand for a brief second, his mind drifted to the way Ste used to look when she brought him meals, always so careful, so attentive.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± he replied after a pause. ¡°Your hands are too delicate for kitchen work.¡±

    Thepliment caught Doreen off guard.

    No one had ever said anything like that to her.

    Your favorite stories g¦Áln¦Òv???s

    The warmth in his words lingered in her chest, but before she could say more, a ripple of movement drew their attention toward the southeast corner of the restaurant.

    They both turned. Ste. She was seated a short distance away.

    Doreen watched as her smile faltered for just a second. She lowered her head briefly, then raised it again, calm andposed.

    She spoke with innocent curiosity. ¡°Mr. Walsh, isn¡¯t that Ste over there? Don¡¯t you want to go say hello?¡±

    Marc frowned slightly. His eyes narrowed as he saw Ste speaking with William, a flicker of difort shing across his face. ¡°No.¡±

    Doreen gently nudged his hand. ¡°Come on. What are the odds you¡¯d run into her here? Why waste the moment?¡±

    She kept her tone light, almost teasing. Her goal wasn¡¯t to push him toward Ste out of kindness¡ªbut to draw closer herself.

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 Chapter 308

    ?Chapter 308:

    If Marc thought she supported his reunion with Ste, he¡¯d never see her as a threat.

    That was how she would stay close.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± she coaxed, ¡°I still think Ste has feelings for you.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t respond. His gaze lingered on Ste for a moment longer, then slowly dropped as he slid his hand into his pocket. His fingers found the familiar fabric. The charm.

    It was back when the Walsh Group was just getting off the ground. Ste had gone out of her way to get the charm for him.

    He was preparing for a work trip to a remote area, and she¡¯d been worried¡ªreminding him over and over to be careful.

    The morning he left, she handed him the charm, saying it would keep him safe. He didn¡¯t believe in those things. But it was from her, so he kept it.

    Later, when he returned, he found out she¡¯d spent three hours waiting to get it.

    At some point, the charm had torn¡ªits edges worn and frayed from being carried so long¡ªbut Ste had carefully stitched it back together by hand. She had always been that kind. And he was the one who failed to appreciate her.

    His grip on the charm tightened. His expression shifted.

    As Doreen nudged him on, Marc finally stood.

    Across the room, Ste was deep in conversation with Sandra. But Sandra suddenly paused mid-sentence, her eyes locked on something behind Ste.

    Ste turned. Marc stood there.

    She felt a headacheing on. Without missing a beat, she dipped her head and pretended not to see him.

    Marc ignored it. He stepped forward, took the charm from his pocket, and held it out. ¡°This is the charm you spent three hours in prayer to get for me,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I think it¡¯s time it returned to its rightful owner.¡±

    The charm stirred memories in her.

    ???? ??????? ?? ?????????.???

    She nced at it, her expression steady. ¡°You can throw it away,¡± she replied coolly.

    If she took it back now, it would mean nothing to her.

    Marc¡¯s lips pressed into a line. He hadn¡¯t expected that.

    ¡°Stel¡­ you once told me this charm would keep me safe. I¡¯ve carried it with me all this time. I know now how much you cared for me. I didn¡¯t see it before. But I do now.¡± He paused, then asked softly, ¡°For the sake of this charm¡­ can you give me onest chance?¡±

    Ste fixed Marc with a cold stare, then snatched the charm from his hand and, without a second thought, flicked it into the trash bin by her chair. Garbage belonged exactly where she put it. If she had her way, Marc would be right in there with it.

    Marc froze, struggling to process what had just happened. He stared, ck-jawed, at the discarded charm, a mess of disbelief and hurt flickering in his eyes. ¡°Stel, how could you do that? I¡¯ve carried that charm for years! It¡¯s always been with me!¡±

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 Chapter 309

    ?Chapter 309:

    Ste shot him a scornful look, her lips curling into a sneer. ¡°What¡¯s with the theatrics? You never cared when you had it¡ªnow you want to act like it matters?¡±

    ¡°Stel¡­¡± Marc tried to reach for her hand, desperation etched across his face.

    Before he could even brush her skin, William¡ªseated coolly beside Ste¡ªreached out and blocked him, his tone clipped and icy. ¡°Mr. Walsh, do yourself a favor and learn some boundaries. How many women do you n on pestering in public before you finally get the message?¡±

    Marc¡¯splexion drained of color, and he jerked his arm free from William¡¯s grip. ¡°William, don¡¯t tter yourself. Do you actually believe Ste¡¯s into you? She was out having dinner with a crowd of guys the other night¡ªyou¡¯re nothing more than a convenient distraction. She¡¯s just ying games. I¡¯m the only one she really cares about. The rest of you? She¡¯s just using you to get under my skin.¡±

    Ste nearlyughed out loud at his delusion. Was he that foolish?

    ¡°Marc, when did I ever try to make you jealous? Stop kidding yourself. You¡¯re not that important.¡±

    Marc drew a shaky breath, refusing to let it go. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, Stel. I saw you. At the bar. Drinking with some guy. Don¡¯t even think about denying it.¡± The memory of Shaun flickered through Ste¡¯s mind just as a dry, teasing voice broke in from behind them.

    ¡°Oh? Is Mr. Walsh referring to me?¡± Shaun appeared, lips curled in a faint smirk. ¡°Well, if Ms. Gilbert¡¯s willing to y games with me, then I must be a lucky man.¡± Everyone at the table turned, the tension thickening with Shaun¡¯s arrival.

    Shaun breezed in, radiating a cocky, unbothered charm in his slouchy sweatshirt and rxed wide-leg pants. ¡°I have nothing but respect for Ms. Gilbert. If you¡¯ve got a problem, bring it to me. Tell me, Mr. Walsh¡ªare you this bitter because you¡¯re jealous? ndering her isn¡¯t love. If you cared, you wouldn¡¯tsh out like this.¡±

    You¡¯re just trying to wreck what you can¡¯t have.¡± Another headache had just walked in, and Ste¡¯s patience snapped like a dry twig. Would it kill the universe to let her finish a meal in peace?

    Marc, already simmering, stiffened when he caught sight of Shaun. His face clouded over, words lodged somewhere behind his clenched jaw. He stared at the discarded charm lying abandoned in the trash, hands balled into fists, and then stormed out without looking back.

    Your next story is at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s

    Doreen, who had quietly watched the drama unfold from the sidelines, sprang up and hurried after him, falling in step just behind his shadow.

    She said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, please don¡¯t take it to heart. You¡¯re always outstanding in my eyes. Maybe Ste just needs time to cool off. Trust me, you¡¯re the best man I know. Sooner orter, she¡¯ll see it too.¡±

    Marc drifted along quietly, the weight in his chest easing just a little at Doreen¡¯s gentle reassurance. ¡°Thank you, Doreen. I mean it¡ªyou always know how to lift my spirits.¡±

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 Chapter 310

    ?Chapter 310:

    Doreen shook her head, a touch of earnestness in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not just trying to cheer you up. I mean every word.¡±

    He nced over at her, catching the open honesty in her eyes.

    Doreen really was unlike anyone else¡ªinnocent and guileless, untouched by the games everyone else seemed to y. Ste had once been that way, too. Why had she changed so much?

    If only she still resembled Doreen¡ªthings might have turned out differently. Marc cleared his throat, pushing the thought aside. ¡°You barely ate anything earlier. Why don¡¯t we find somece else and grab a real meal?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s eyes lit up with genuine delight. She pressed a hand to her stomach, nodding shyly.

    Perfect, she thought. Her ovtion window was approaching. Just a few more days, and her n would finally begin to unfold.

    Inside the restaurant, Shaun left shortly after Marc. He was smart enough not to disturb Ste¡¯s dinner. Before leaving, he gave her a quick wave and motioned as if to suggest they should stay in touch. Ste looked away, not responding, while Shaun threw William a deliberate nce.

    Once the brief exchange passed, Sandra pped her hands lightly and encouraged everyone to continue eating. The atmosphere quickly settled. No one brought up the earlier scene. No gossip, no questions¡ªjust quiet understanding. Ste was relieved.

    After dinner, the group parted ways. Sandra and the others went home, leaving only Ste and William heading back toward the research institute¡¯s dormitory. The walk wasn¡¯t far, and Ste opted to go on foot to work off the heavy meal. William walked beside her at an easy pace.

    ¡°William,¡± she said after a pause, ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious. The Briggs Group is huge¡ªyou don¡¯t need to spend your days running ab or working on experiments. Why are you so invested in this field?¡± She figured there had to be something behind it. A reason he¡¯d given up the corporate path.

    William looked down at her. ¡°Then what about you? Why are you so passionate about research?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I¡¯ve always had a knack for it. Even as a kid, I enjoyed solving problems. After I won that university patent award, I knew this was it for me. It feels like I¡¯m doing something meaningful.¡±

    Stay tuned for more g??lno¦Íe??s.c?m

    Not everyone was cut out for scientific work. But she believed she was, so she had to keep going.

    Then she returned the question. ¡°What about you?¡±

    William was quiet for a moment. ¡°At first, I just didn¡¯t want to follow my grandfather¡¯s orders. I didn¡¯t want to take over thepany.¡± He paused. ¡°Later, I found the work interesting. So I stuck with it.¡± She was right. Why put talent to waste?

    Ste nced at him in surprise. She¡¯d expected something more dramatic. She let out a softugh. ¡°I thought you¡¯d say it was your lifelong dream to save the world.¡±

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 Chapter 311

    ?Chapter 311:

    William nced sideways at her. ¡°So you think my reason¡¯s a little¡­ dull?¡±

    Ste shook her head. ¡°Not dull. Just unexpectedly grounded. Doesn¡¯t really match your image.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ms. Russell, I¡¯m a regr person. What ¡®image¡¯ are you talking about?¡±

    He had never made an effort to be mysterious, not intentionally.

    Ste shrugged. ¡°Fair enough.¡±

    They continued walking toward the research institute. Chatting with him like this, Ste realized he wasn¡¯t as hard to get along with as people imed. Maybe he just didn¡¯t bother with small talk unless it mattered.

    The sunset stretched their shadows along the pavement, stirring mixed feelings in William. ¡°Ms. Russell,¡± he said after a pause, ¡°you¡¯re aplished, driven. I assume you¡¯ve had no shortage of suitors. Ever thought about dating again?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°No.¡±

    Her answer made William frown slightly. ¡°Why not?¡± Was it still about Marc?

    ¡°I just got out of a failed marriage,¡± she said calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not rushing into anything. Love isn¡¯t essential, and I need time. I won¡¯t make the same mistake twice.¡±

    William nodded. He understood¡ªand didn¡¯t push. Whatever feelings he held, he kept them quiet.

    The sun had dipped below the horizon. Streetlights flickered on.

    ¡°About what Haley said¡­ the hotel incident,¡± William asked, his voice careful. ¡°Do you remember anything? The man¡¯s face, any details?¡± He didn¡¯t want to upset her with the question, but he had to know.

    Ste¡¯s tone didn¡¯t waver. ¡°No. And there¡¯s no point. It¡¯s over. Dwelling on it won¡¯t help me.¡±

    William admired herposure. Still, he felt a small, inexplicable sense of loss¡ªlike something between them had quietly pulled away.

    Ste noticed the shift. ¡°What is it? Why bring that up?¡± The incident had nothing to do with him.

    ???? ??????? ?? ?????????.???

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± William said. ¡°Just thought¡ªif you remembered something useful, I¡¯d suggest reporting it.¡± His voice was even again. Whatever had flickered there, he shut it down quickly.

    She didn¡¯t question him further.

    As they reached the dormitory entrance, he changed the subject. ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s your n for Marc? He doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s letting go anytime soon.¡±

    A cold glint flickered in Ste¡¯s eyes. ¡°What I¡¯ve done so far? That was just the beginning.¡± She paused. ¡°Poaching everyst client and seizing his gship projects¡ªthat¡¯s the real aim.¡±

    Ste had spent years immersed in the inner workings of Marc¡¯spany, so she understood the Walsh Group¡¯s every project inside and out. As fate would have it, her own research trajectory kept colliding with their business ventures, intertwining her future with theirs at every turn.

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 Chapter 312

    ?Chapter 312:

    Frankly, if she ever wanted to, Ste could be their fiercest rival¡ªshe knew precisely where to strike. With the Walsh Group teetering on the edge of copse, their roster of partners was thinning fast. So Ste could easily poach the Walsh Group¡¯s clients and seize their projects.

    William watched her coolposure with a faintly amused smile. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ªyou really could make hispany go bankrupt any time you wanted.¡±

    With another high-stakespetition looming, Ste and her team at the research institute embarked on a new round of experiments. This round demanded far more ingenuity and stamina than their previous quest for the top prize.

    Ste threw herself headlong into the work, leaving no detail unchecked. Over the course of more than two relentless weeks, they pushed themselves to the brink. Atst, after endless trials, their research finally took shape.

    ¡°Sylvia, I couldn¡¯t have cracked thispetition without you,¡± Sandra lingered beside Ste, poring over thetest round of experimental results together.

    With today¡¯s data finally tallied, the project was officiallyplete¡ªready atst to be handed off to thepetition judges for review.

    Ste pushed back from the desk, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s been a tough slog for over half a month. You¡¯ve all done an amazing job!¡± she said.

    For more than half a month, they¡¯d practically lived inside theb¡ªdays and nights blurring together as they chased every detail to perfection. Meals and sleep were their only breaks from the grind.

    ¡°We have to celebrate tonight,¡± Elbert chimed in, grinning as he nced around at his equally weary, exhrated teammates.

    Just as Ste was ready to join in the well-earned festivities, her phone buzzed. A message from William shed across the screen.

    ¡°Come to the banquet with me tonight. It¡¯s a great opportunity for Neb¡¯s future.¡±

    Ste let out a resigned sigh before addressing her team. ¡°Something just came up¡ªI might have to skip dinner with you all tonight.¡±

    William had work for her, and in her position, declining simply wasn¡¯t an option. This was for Neb¡¯s benefit, after all, and she couldn¡¯t justify backing out. Sandra¡¯s face briefly registered disappointment, but she quickly masked it with a reassuring smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Sylvia. Take care of your business. We¡¯ll have plenty of chances to eat together.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s easygoing response only deepened Ste¡¯s guilt. ¡°Tomorrow night¡¯s on me, then. I owe you guys a proper meal,¡± she added quickly, eager to keep things from turning sour.

    That promise brightened Sandra¡¯s expression immediately. ¡°You¡¯re on. Looking forward to it!¡±

    Ste gathered her things and returned to her dorm to change clothes, mentally preparing herself for the evening ahead.

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 Chapter 313

    ?Chapter 313:

    As she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted William just as he was unlocking his own door across the hall.

    A flicker of surprise crossed her face as she queried, ¡°Who¡¯s hosting the banquet tonight?¡±

    She needed to know the host¡¯s name¡ªwhether she was expected to show up with a carefully chosen gift or risk looking thoughtless.

    ¡°Marlowe Cortez,¡± William answered. ¡°She¡¯s one of the leading architects at Achury. Have you heard of her?¡±

    Ste¡¯s head bobbed instantly. Marlowe Cortez was a star in the world of architecture; just getting her to consult on a project could cost a fortune.

    Ste had pored over Marlowe¡¯s sleek, iconic buildings in countless glossy magazines¡ªher work was celebrated on the international stage.

    William went on, ¡°It¡¯s Marlowe¡¯s birthday, and she¡¯s back in town to visit her boyfriend. I figured I¡¯d bring you along.¡±

    There was every chance that Neb would partner with Marlowe someday, and William clearly wanted Ste to get a head start, to make a strong impression.

    Curiosity sparked in Ste¡¯s eyes. ¡°So, do you know Marlowe or her boyfriend personally?¡±

    It didn¡¯t make sense for a renowned architect like Marlowe to throw her doors open to just anyone¡ªsurely the guest list was limited to her closest friends and key business contacts. Ste found herself wondering just how William hadnded an invite.

    William didn¡¯t hesitate to reveal his ties to Marlowe. ¡°I know them both. Marlowe, her boyfriend, and I went to the same high school¡ªwe were practically inseparable.¡±

    William, Steven, and Marlowe¡¯s boyfriend, Anson Mitchell, had grown up together. Back then, Anson had spent an entire semester determinedly chasing after Marlowe, the school¡¯s undisputed beauty, before she finally agreed to date him. After that, Marlowe became a constant presence in their little circle, and the four of them quickly grew close.

    Life eventually pulled them in different directions. Anson and Marlowe spent most of their years abroad, while William and Steven forged their own paths at home. Despite the distance, the bonds they¡¯d formed never faded.

    As Ste listened, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a ripple of admiration. It struck her that everyone in William¡¯s world seemed exceptional¡ªno one around him was remotely average.

    New content uploaded g?ln¦Òv??ls?c?m

    William¡¯s gaze flickered over Ste¡¯s attire, the corners of his mouth twitching in faint disapproval. ¡°Let¡¯s stop by a boutique on the way. I¡¯ll help you pick out a dress and some jewelry.¡±

    Arching an eyebrow, she remarked, ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. I¡¯ve already got a new dress that¡¯ll do just fine.¡±

    She¡¯d recently bought the gown for moments exactly like this, and atst, she had a reason to wear it. Jewelry wasn¡¯t a concern either. She still had Yusip Twasto¡¯stest collection tucked away¡ªhot off the showcase, only three days since its debut.

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 Chapter 314

    ?Chapter 314:

    Tonight was the perfect chance to show off Yusip Twasto¡¯s designs and maybe give the brand some buzz in the country.

    William met Ste¡¯s gaze, caught off guard by the lively spark in her eyes, and decided against pressing her any further.

    When they emerged half an hourter, Ste appeared in a champagne mermaid gown that hugged her figure with quiet elegance. Draped around her neck was a delicate ne¡ªits crystalline links shimmering against her skin, with a scattering of luminous pearls resting just at her corbone. Below them, a striking sapphire, haloed by mother-of-pearl, seemed to glow with an oceanic depth that drew the eye.

    The jewel¡¯s cool radiance yed against Ste¡¯s smooth skin, casting her in an ethereal light.

    William stood transfixed, momentarily at a loss for words.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Ste inquired, ncing at him in mild confusion as he lingered in the doorway.

    He cleared his throat and quickly looked away. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s head out.¡±

    As soon as they entered the banquet hall, the low hum of conversation was pierced by someone calling William¡¯s name from across the room.

    Making their way toward the sound, Ste spotted Steven among the guests, standing beside a broad-shouldered man in a navy suit. If her guess was correct, this must be Anson.

    ¡°William! It¡¯s been ages. Still the center of attention, I see,¡± Anson teased, pping William¡¯s shoulder before ncing at Ste with thinly veiled curiosity. He studied her for a moment. ¡°And you are¡­?¡±

    William gave a polished introduction. ¡°Sylvia Gilbert, Neb¡¯s new CEO. She¡¯s one of my team.¡±

    Steven couldn¡¯t help rolling his eyes at William¡¯s overly formal tone.

    Ste offered Anson a firm handshake. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure, Mr. Mitchell.¡±

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    Anson¡¯s gold-rimmed sses caught the light as he returned her handshake, an intrigued smile on his lips. ¡°The pleasure¡¯s mine, Ms. Gilbert. I have to say, it¡¯s rare to see a woman apany William¡ªhe must think highly of you.¡±

    Hisment caught Ste slightly off guard, but before she could reply, William smoothly cut in. ¡°Enough about us. Anson, you and Marlowe have been together for years now¡ªwhen are you finally going to propose?¡±

    Anson¡¯s attention shifted immediately, letting go of Ste¡¯s hand with a quickugh. ¡°Why don¡¯t you worry about your own love life? Last I checked, you and Steven were still single. Marlowe and I are perfectly happy.¡± When it came to marriage, it was bound to happen.

    Steven huffed dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t group me in with him. I¡¯m never short on admirers¡ªI have more than enough women around me.¡±

    Anson justughed, his attention shifting back to Ste. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, please, make yourself at home tonight. Treat this ce like it¡¯s yours¡ªno need to be so formal.¡±

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 Chapter 315

    ?Chapter 315:

    Ste returned his smile with a warm nod. ¡°Thank you, I will.¡±

    Anson¡¯s gaze lingered on the shimmering ne at her throat and the elegant earrings that matched. His eyes brightened with genuine interest. ¡°Your jewelry really stands out tonight, Ms. Gilbert. I¡¯ve never seen a set quite like it.¡±

    Hisment caught the attention of several young women nearby, who quickly turned to get a better look at Ste.

    ¡°Wow, her ne is stunning. That¡¯s a sapphire, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recognize the design¡ªmust be a custom piece.¡±

    A flurry of conversation rippled among the women, their voices lively as they shifted from talk of jewelry to makeup.

    Just then, Marlowe glided down from the second floor, her arm slipping naturally around Anson¡¯s. Catching snippets of the lively chatter, she nced Ste¡¯s way.

    Anson gestured toward Marlowe. ¡°Marlowe, let me introduce Sylvia Gilbert, Neb¡¯s new CEO¡ªand a friend of William¡¯s.¡±

    Marlowe¡¯s expression brightened as she extended her hand. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, wee. I¡¯m so d you could make it to my birthday party.¡±

    Ste smiled, producing the carefully wrapped box she¡¯d brought. ¡°Ms. Cortez, it¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet you. Happy birthday. I hope this suits your taste.¡±

    As Marlowe epted the gift, several curious guests nced over, drawn by Ste¡¯s presence beside William. The gift box itself¡ªelegant in design but refreshingly understated¡ªimmediately set her apart from the crowd of more ostentatious offerings.

    Marlowe undid the ribbon, her eyes widening with delight when she discovered the brooch nestled inside¡ªa butterfly with brilliant blue diamond eyes and an artfully wrought silver body.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, this is absolutely beautiful. I love it¡ªthank you!¡± Marlowe eximed, her face lighting up.

    The blue diamonds alone were worth a fortune, but the brooch¡¯s craftsmanship made it truly irreceable¡ªan heirloom in the making.

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    All around them, the young women exchanged nces, some brimming with admiration, others struggling to mask their envy.

    Finally, one bold guest stepped forward, her voice tinged with curiosity. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, could I ask what brand your ne is? And the brooch you just gifted Ms. Cortez?¡±

    Ste caught the curious glint in the woman¡¯s eyes¡ªthe precise reaction she¡¯d hoped for.

    Smiling softly, she said, ¡°It¡¯s a newunch from Yusip Twasto. It just came out. If you¡¯re interested, you can take a look on their official site.¡±

    The woman gave a grateful nod. ¡°Thanks for the tip. That brooch looks stunning on Miss Cortez. The designer clearly has taste. I¡¯ll make sure to check it outter.¡±

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 Chapter 316

    ?Chapter 316:

    By this time, Marlowe had already fastened the brooch onto her dress¡ªshe truly seemed to love it.

    The onlookers noticed and began praising how well itplemented her overall poise and elegance.

    Of course, only some of the praise was genuine, while others were clearly trying to curry favor.

    Suddenly, a mocking chuckle cut through the atmosphere.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, are you working for Yusip Twasto now?¡± The voice sneered. ¡°Trying to promote their stuff and rake in somemission? That brand¡¯s barely known¡ªdefinitely not good enough for someone like Miss Cortez. If you¡¯re looking to make a few bucks, this isn¡¯t the ce to show off.¡±

    Ste turned calmly to see the speaker¡ªa woman with long ck hair and perfectly straight bangs that framed her face in a princess cut, giving her an oddly sullen look.

    Squinting ever so slightly, she recognized her.

    It was Yvette Harvey¡ªHaley¡¯s close friend.

    Clearly, she was taking the chance to throw shade, likely on Haley¡¯s behalf.

    With a raised brow and steady tone, Ste replied, ¡°You¡¯re calling me a promoter¡ªdo you have any proof? I only mentioned the brand after someone expressed interest in the design. If that¡¯s considered promotion, then all the big brands around the world must owe a fortune inmissions.¡±

    Yvette froze for a second, looking momentarily thrown off.

    At that moment, Reba strolled over in a soft blue gown, poised as ever.

    ¡°Marlowe, do you like Yusip Twasto?¡± Reba chimed in sweetly. ¡°I actually know the designer personally. If anything catches your eye, let me know! Unlike others who only manage to buy a single item, I can easily get you the full collection.¡±

    Yvette quickly added with a smirk, ¡°Exactly! Gifting a brooch and making a show out of it¡ªwho does that? It¡¯s probably the cheapest piece from their line. Miss Cortez, don¡¯t let her fool you. She acts innocent, but I¡¯m sure she just did some online homework to say all the right things.¡±

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    Yvette wore a smug expression, clearly proud of herself for scoring a few verbal points. Ste, on the other hand, found it ridiculous.

    Her voice stayed calm, but her words carried a sharp edge. ¡°Miss Harvey, I get that you and Haley are close, but does that mean you¡¯ve lost all sense of right and wrong? Or do you honestly believe being a homewrecker is something to be proud of?¡±

    Reba had barely interacted with Yvette in the past. She had only stepped in because she didn¡¯t particrly like Sylvia. But hearing the word ¡°homewrecker¡± left her stunned. That was something she absolutely despised. Her expression darkened, and without saying a word, she quietly distanced herself from Yvette.

    Yvette caught sight of Reba stepping away, and panic instantly gripped her. ¡°Ms. Watson, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it like that¡­ I wasn¡¯t thinking clearly¡­¡±

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 Chapter 317

    ?Chapter 317:

    She tried toe up with a defense, but her mind nked¡ªnothing she said would make the situation any better.

    Realizing things were slipping out of her control, Yvette hurriedly changed the subject. ¡°Ms. Watson, you¡¯re the one who actually knows the designer from Yusip Twasto, right? Sylvia¡¯s just acting like she does!¡±

    Hearing that, Reba quickly straightened up and gave another smug look around the room. ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m quite close with the designer. If I want something new, all I have to do is ask, and she¡¯ll send me as many pieces as I want.¡±

    Ste watched Reba unt her im with misced confidence and couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly exasperated.

    She had originally nned to let Reba save face, but now, it seemed her kindness had only encouraged more arrogance.

    Ste arched an eyebrow and asked casually, ¡°Ms. Watson, are you sure you actually know the designer behind Yusip Twasto?¡±

    It was a in question, but to Reba, it hit like a challenge. Her breath caught for a second, and guilt flickered in her eyes. ¡°I¡­ Of course I do,¡± she replied hastily.

    Just then, a clear and familiar voice echoed through the room. ¡°You im to know Yusip Twasto¡¯s designer, but how is it you can¡¯t recognize the person standing right in front of you¡ªthe founder and chief designer herself?¡±

    A smooth, confident voice rang out, turning heads¡ªand catching Ste off guard.

    She looked up just in time to see a woman striding toward her, heels clicking against the floor, dressed in a sleek ck gown that practically screamed confidence.

    Reba blinked,pletely thrown. Who was this woman? And what was she talking about¡ªfounder of Yusip Twasto?

    The woman stopped next to Ste and turned to the crowd. ¡°Let me introduce Sylvia Gilbert,¡± she said with a proud smile. ¡°She¡¯s the founder and designer of Yusip Twasto. All the jewelry you¡¯ve been raving about? It¡¯s her work.¡±

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    Gasps and murmurs rippled through the room. People were stunned¡ªfrozen, even.

    Even William, who¡¯d seen his fair share of surprises, looked genuinely shocked. He had no idea Ste was the one behind Yusip Twasto.

    Reba, on the other hand, looked like she¡¯d just bitten into a lemon. ¡°No way. How could she possibly be the founder of Yusip Twasto?¡±

    The woman¡ªJosie¡ªtilted her head and smirked. ¡°Why not? Sylvia¡¯s a badass. Always has been.¡±

    Josie didn¡¯t sugarcoat things.

    And she definitely wasn¡¯t going to go easy on someone like Reba, especially after how she¡¯d treated Ste.

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 Chapter 318

    ?Chapter 318:

    Reba scowled. ¡°And who are you, exactly?¡±

    Josie just pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, then held up the screen, disying the official registration. Yusip Twasto was under her name¡ªJosie Patel.

    Then, with a raised brow, she asked, ¡°Need to see my ID too?¡± She added, ¡°Sylvia didn¡¯t want the spotlight, so she put thepany in my name. That¡¯s it. Got a problem with that?¡±

    Reba¡¯s mouth opened, then shut. She had nothing.

    The truth hit her like a p.

    All this time, she thought Ste was just some nobody who got lucky with William.

    But the whole time, she was the brains and talent behind a brand Reba herself had bought from¡ªback when she was still overseas.

    ¡°Reba,¡± Josie said casually, ¡°you¡¯ve been so hostile to Sylvia because you¡¯re into Shaun while he¡¯s been showing interest in Sylviately, right?¡±

    Reba¡¯s face turned red. ¡°That¡¯s a lie! Don¡¯t make stuff up!¡±

    Josie shrugged. ¡°Deny it all you want. You know the truth.¡±

    The crowd¡¯s attention turned sharply to Reba, who suddenly looked very small despite her usual bravado.

    Her embarrassment was written all over her face.

    And there was Ste¡ªcalm,posed, impossible to ignore.

    Reba hated to admit it, but she had to¡ªSte wasn¡¯t just impressive. She was the real deal.

    Talent like that couldn¡¯t be denied¡ªeven if you didn¡¯t like her.

    Josie slid an arm around Ste¡¯s shoulders and leaned in. ¡°I¡¯m here, Stel. Got your back. Don¡¯t sweat it.¡±

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    Ste almostughed. She wanted to say she wasn¡¯t scared¡ªjust wasn¡¯t in the mood for drama.

    But now that the truth was out, it didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    The moment people realized Ste was the designer behind Yusip Twasto, the whole vibe shifted. The way they looked at her changed¡ªfrom polite curiosity to real respect.

    Clearly, anyone connected to William wasn¡¯t just another pretty face. And Ste? She shone on her own.

    Nearly everyone in the room was watching her now. But someone else¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t on Ste at all.

    Steven stood at the edge of the room, watching Josie. Amid all the glitter and m, she stood out in a simple dark green silk dress¡ªelegant without trying too hard.

    The image of her standing up for Ste stuck in his head. He¡¯d never met anyone quite like her.

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 Chapter 319

    ?Chapter 319:

    And just like that, Steven knew. He was falling¡ªhard.

    As the earlier tension faded,ughter and chatter slowly filled the room once more. Marlowe, ever the gracious host, urged everyone to rx and enjoy themselves.

    Steven, who had spent most of the evening watching Josie from a distance, seized the moment. With a practiced smile, he strolled over, champagne ss in hand¡ªonly to jostle his arm and send the sparkling liquid sshing all over her dress.

    A sudden hush fell as Josie gasped, staring down in disbelief at the shimmering stain spreading across her gown.

    Steven immediately set his ss aside and fixed her with a look of contrition. ¡°Ms. Patel, I¡¯m so sorry. That was entirely my fault. Please, let me make it right¡ªI¡¯ll cover the cost, no matter what. How about we exchange contact info so I can reimburse you for the dress?¡±

    Josie, regaining herposure, pressed a napkin to the spill and nced up at Steven, her expression unreadable.

    Wordlessly, she pulled out her phone. For a brief second, a sh of triumph flickered in Steven¡¯s eyes¡ªhe fully expected her to hand over her cellphone number. Instead, she pulled up a payment code.

    ¡°Mr. Harrison, just transfer it directly. This dress isn¡¯t sold anymore, and it set me back 178,000 dors. But let¡¯s keep it simple¡ªmake it 180,000.¡±

    For a beat, the group fell silent before Anson and the others dissolved into barely-containedughter, unable to hold it in any longer.

    Steven hardly cared about the money¡ªit was Josie¡¯s number he was after. If she offered it, he would have dly handed over 800,000 dors on the spot. He put on an apologetic smile. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve maxed out my card for today. How about we add each other and I¡¯ll send the payment tomorrow, once the limit resets?¡±

    Josie looked him over, easily seeing through his intentions. ¡°Only one card, Mr. Harrison?¡±

    ¡°All of them are maxed out,¡± Steven answered smoothly, as if that was perfectly reasonable.

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    She let out a quietugh and remarked, ¡°You must have a rather advanced spending habit. In that case, please don¡¯t worry about my dress¡ªI wouldn¡¯t want to add to your financial burden.¡±

    He tried again, a note of insistence in his voice. ¡°No, really, I¡¯d like to make it up to you. How about this, Ms. Patel¡ªtomorrow I¡¯ll call yourpany and deliver thepensation in person?¡±

    Josie arched a brow, amused. ¡°If you¡¯re set on the hassle, I certainly won¡¯t stand in your way.¡±

    With that, she slipped away, making her way over to join Ste¡¯s conversation. When Marlowe discovered that Ste was the creative force behind Yusip Twasto, her excitement was palpable. Sheunched into an enthusiastic conversation about jewelry, her eyes shining with genuine interest. ¡°Sylvia, when¡¯s your next collectioning out? Can I reserve a spot on the pre-order list?¡±

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 Chapter 320

    Chapter 320:

    Steughed lightly, warmth in her voice. ¡°You¡¯ll be the first to know.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the sweetest!¡± Marlowe eximed, pulling Ste into a spontaneous hug. The two were already acting like old friends.

    Josie gave Ste a yful nudge. ¡°With fans like her, you won¡¯t have to stress about your bank ount much longer. Looks like you¡¯re well on your way to hitting that savings goal, huh?¡±

    Ste¡¯s grin slipped into her tone as she responded, ¡°I¡¯ll need to release a few more collections before I get there. You know my current bnce isn¡¯t exactly impressive.¡±

    Josie grinned, giving her an encouraging nod. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll make sure your designs sell out. Just watch me.¡±

    Ste had always trusted Josie implicitly¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t have put the brand in Josie¡¯s hands otherwise.

    As Marlowe finally sliced into her birthday cake, the lively party gradually began to wind down. Josie handed over her birthday gift with a cheerful smile, then turned to Ste. ¡°I¡¯m heading out now. Need a ride?¡±

    Ste hesitated. Since she¡¯d arrived with William, ducking out with Josie felt a little too abrupt. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m good, but thanks for offering. Get home safe.¡±

    Josie gave her a quick wave, her earrings catching the light. ¡°Let¡¯s keep in touch, okay? I¡¯ll be in Choria for a few months¡ªplenty of chances to meet up.¡± With that, she slipped out, disappearing into the evening bustle.

    When most of the guests had trickled away, William and Ste took their turn saying goodbye to Marlowe and left together.

    Inside the Bentley, the city lights slipped past the tinted windows. William cast several sidelong nces at Ste, silent questions flickering in his gaze. He¡¯d caught her conversation with Josie earlier, but the crowded room had kept him from prying.

    Now, with the world outside hushed and only the low hum of the engine between them, he finally broke the silence. ¡°Are you actually short on money?¡± he asked, his voice gentle but direct.

    He found it hard to believe. Ste¡¯s research institute sry was more thanfortable, and as Neb¡¯s CEO, she hardlycked resources. Unless she needed a sizable sum for something bigger¡­

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    Ste gave a small nod and answered bluntly, ¡°I¡¯ve been a little low on cashtely.¡±

    Her honesty caught William slightly off guard. He was used to the corporate world¡¯s cryptic conversations, where every sentence came wrapped in hidden meanings and polite deflection. But with Ste, there was none of that¡ªshe simply said what she meant.

    ¡°Where¡¯d all your money go?¡± he asked, genuinely curious.

    She shot him a quick nce. ¡°I joined Neb and haven¡¯t even gotten my first paycheck. What do you think happened to my money?¡±

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    Message from Noah: Have a great weekend dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?

    .

 Chapter 321

    ?Chapter 321:

    William looked a little startled. Payroll wasn¡¯t something he handled personally; Luca and his team managed that. Maybe payday hadn¡¯t arrived yet?

    He cleared his throat awkwardly, unsure how to respond. However, Ste went on, ¡°These days, I¡¯m basically broke. Housing prices in Choria are insane, and I¡¯m short on funds. If I pay in full now, I¡¯ll be stuck eating in toast for a month.¡±

    As soon as she mentioned real estate, William felt something tighten in his chest. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about buying a house?¡±

    She nodded, eyeing him as though he¡¯d asked the world¡¯s most obvious question. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I can¡¯t stay at the institute forever. I need a ce of my own.¡±

    Obviously, buying a home meant security. If she had her own space, no matter what happened in the future, she wouldn¡¯t be left with nothing.

    William lowered his gaze slightly, using his longshes to hide the flicker of emotion in his eyes. If she bought a house, that would mean she¡¯d move out. And if she moved out, she wouldn¡¯t be around the institute as often. They wouldn¡¯t run into each other, talk after work, or¡ªworse¡ªshare meals.

    He didn¡¯t like that thought.

    ¡°It¡¯s easier to work when you¡¯re here,¡± he said, trying to sound logical. ¡°Whether it¡¯s institute matters or Neb, I can always reach you directly. If you move, how will we keep everything coordinated?¡±

    Ste blinked, a little surprised by the question. ¡°We have phones, you know?¡± It¡¯s not like she was moving to a different. This was the age of instant messaging and video calls. Moreover, they¡¯d still see each other at the institute during the day anyway.

    William, however, wasn¡¯t satisfied with that answer. ¡°You¡¯ve just taken over Neb. It¡¯s a heavy load. Moving right now would be an unnecessary hassle. If you must move, at least wait until things settle.¡±

    He left the timeline vague¡ªbecause, honestly, he didn¡¯t want her moving at all.

    Ste hesitated. She knew her work required regrmunication with William, but buying a home didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d be disappearing. She could still stay in her dorm ormute. And she certainly didn¡¯t n to drop everything just because she had a new address.

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    Sensing that she was still weighing her options, William added another line of reasoning. ¡°The market¡¯s too high right now. If you buy now, you¡¯ll be overpaying. Give it some time¡ªit¡¯ll cool down, and you¡¯ll save tens of thousands.¡±

    As he kept talking, it hit Ste¡ªthis wasn¡¯t about housing markets or logistics. He just didn¡¯t want her to leave because she was his personal cook. Without her, he¡¯d be stuck with Rita¡¯s vorless disasters again.

    That thought made her fold her arms and eye William with a teasing glint. ¡°Mr. Briggs, if you¡¯re so worried about keeping in touch, why not just buy the ce across from mine? That way, we¡¯ll still be neighbors, and your ¡®convenient work setup¡¯ can stay intact.¡±

    Just then, the car pulled up in front of the institute. Without missing a beat, Ste opened the door and stepped out. She didn¡¯t even nce back to see if William was following.

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 Chapter 322

    ?Chapter 322:

    William, meanwhile, was still stuck on her sarcastic suggestion. Actually, yes¡­ if he couldn¡¯t stop her from buying, he could just find out which ce she wanted and buy the one across from hers. Why hadn¡¯t he considered that earlier?

    He immediately took out his phone and dialed Luca. ¡°Look into what property listings Ste¡¯s been checking. If she finalizes one, I want to know the second it happens.¡±

    Luca was caught off guard but pieced things together quickly. ¡°Ms. Russell¡¯s house-hunting?¡±

    William didn¡¯t bother responding to the obvious. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡±

    Over the next few days, Ste was juggling two things¡ªpreparing for the uingpetition and squeezing in time to tour houses. She was rushing back and forth nonstop.

    On Monday, Paul summoned her to his office. ¡°Sylvia, thispetition is in another region. Not everyone can make the trip, so you¡¯ll need to pick two people to go with you.¡±

    Ste had assumed Elbert would handle that, since he was the team lead. But apparently, the director had ced the decision in her hands.

    Back in theb, she pulled Elbert aside. ¡°Paul asked me to choose three people to present our project and take part in the defense. What¡¯s your take on it?¡±

    Elbert thought for a moment and asked, ¡°How about I bring you and Sandra along?¡±

    Their team was already one member down, and Jamir wasn¡¯t great at speaking¡ªhe¡¯d only struggle during the defense. It wasn¡¯t meant to be personal.

    Ste nodded after a short pause. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go with that lineup.¡±

    Word of their uing trip spread through the institute like wildfire, and everyone was cheering them on with enthusiasm. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯ve got this! We¡¯re rooting for you!¡±

    ¡°Exactly! You¡¯re our brightest star!¡±

    ???¨¦?? ???t?€§ñ? ?n Ga?n?¦Í¦Ål?.???

    Standing proudly among her colleagues, Ste dered with confidence, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure we bring home the win and make the institute proud!¡±

    They were set to leave on Wednesday. But on Tuesday night, William showed up at Ste¡¯s ce for dinner¡ªbringing Rita along with him.

    ¡°You¡¯re representing the research institute this time,¡± he reminded her seriously. ¡°Make sure you take care of yourself.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even look up from her te. ¡°What, you think I¡¯m going to get kidnapped or trafficked or something?¡±

    William paused mid-bite, thrown off. He meant well, but somehow she always made it sound like he was being overbearing.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued, brushing past her sarcasm, ¡°Neb might be expanding into that region. Since you¡¯ll already be there, once thepetition ends, try to gather some market data. Meet a fewpany heads if you can¡ªscope out any partnership potential.¡±

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 Chapter 323

    ?Chapter 323:

    Ah. There it was. She¡¯d figured he had an ulterior motive. And clearly, she¡¯d been right.

    Ste swallowed her food, thenzily nced over. ¡°So¡­ this trip¡¯s suddenly a business assignment?¡±

    William nodded like it was no big deal. ¡°You could say that.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. And I assume business tripse with perks, right? ¡®Cause if I¡¯m footing my own bill, I might not be all that motivated to sacrifice myself for the greater good of thepany,¡± she said, eyes locked on his, her expression pure mischief.

    William felt his heart stutter. This woman was impossible. But he lowered his gaze and said quietly, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a card. Use it for anything you need while you¡¯re there.¡±

    That got her attention. ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± she grinned, ¡°you¡¯re so generous.¡±

    William chuckled under his breath.

    She only ever called him generous when money was involved¡ªeither he handed over a card, or made a transfer. Did she think he was stingy the rest of the time?

    He thought about asking, but figured he probably didn¡¯t want to hear the answer. So instead, he just kept eating.

    The next day, Ste packed her bags and caught a high-speed train to Wredo with Elbert and Sandra.

    The trip was short¡ªunder three hours. Way cheaper than flying, too.

    Ste wasn¡¯t fussy. Train, ne, even a bus¡ªwhatever got her there worked fine.

    By the time they reached Wredo, they were all a little worn out.

    They grabbed a cab to the hotel, with Sandra practically melting into the backseat from exhaustion.

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    ¡°Sylvia,¡± she sighed, ¡°let¡¯s crash in the rooms first. We can grab dinnerter.¡±

    Ste nodded in agreement, feeling a bit tired herself.

    At the front desk, they handed over their IDs.

    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± the receptionist greeted with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve booked three rooms. We¡¯ll just need a deposit¡ªhalf the total. It¡¯ll be refunded when you check out.¡±

    Ste pulled out her phone, getting ready to pay.

    Just then, the elevator doors opened, and out stepped Marc and Doreen, hand-in-hand, looking like a couple straight out of a magazine.

    Marc was mid-sentence when he spotted Ste. He froze, then, without thinking, let go of Doreen¡¯s hand. Awkward.

    Doreen¡¯s hand dropped stiffly to her side, her face clearly ticked off.

    Marc nced at the IDs in Ste¡¯s hand, then looked around at the others. It clicked¡ªthey were checking in.

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 Chapter 324

    ?Chapter 324:

    This wasn¡¯t some budget chain either. Rooms here ran close to a hundred grand a night.

    He hesitated, then walked over, ignoring Doreen¡¯s embarrassment. He pulled out his wallet and held out a card to Ste.

    ¡°Stel,¡± he said in that fake-gentle tone she hated, ¡°use mine. I¡¯m guessing your card might not have the limit for this kind of ce. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not expecting you to pay me back.¡±

    Ste had nned to pretend he didn¡¯t exist. But now he just had to put on a show. It grated on her nerves. He clearly enjoyed showing off.

    Sandra looked ready to explode. ¡°Seriously? Why are you always like this? Who asked for your money? We¡¯re not broke, thanks.¡±

    Marc barely looked at her. His eyes stayed on Ste. ¡°Stel, we were together for years. I know you. You never spent too much, always tried to save for me. But you don¡¯t have to do that anymore. Let me do this for you.¡±

    Sure, these rooms were pricey. But to him, a hundred thousand a night was pocket change.

    Ste stared at the card he was waving in her face. Then sheughed¡ªcold and amused.

    ¡°Sounds like your ex-wife had a rough time, Mr. Walsh. Had to pinch pennies just to afford a hotel stay? That¡¯s rough.¡± Her smile sharpened. ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of mooching off anyone. I¡¯ll pay for my own room, thanks.¡±

    Then she turned to the receptionist, her voice crisp. ¡°Please upgrade all three rooms to presidential suites.¡±

    She handed over her ck card. Everyone around her froze for a second¡ªeyes caught on the sleek, gold-trimmed card in her hand.

    That ck, gold-ted card wasn¡¯t something just anyone had¡ªonly a select few in the entire world.

    So when Sandra and Elbert saw Ste swipe it to book them into the presidential suite of a five-star hotel, they were floored. They never even dreamed of staying somewhere that luxurious.

    G  a lno  ve ls . is where the magic begins

    ¡°Ste, this is way too much. We don¡¯t need all this¡ª¡± Sandra started, clearly overwhelmed.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ste cut in. ¡°Stay. It¡¯s on me.¡±

    Well, technically, it wasn¡¯t her money.

    William had handed her the card the night before and told her to use it however she liked. So she did exactly that.

    Besides, she hadn¡¯t seen a paycheck since she took up the job¡ªshe figured this could count as an advance.

    Marc stood a few feet away, watching her swipe the card like it was nothing. Three presidential suites, no hesitation. The total? Hundreds of thousands a night, for five nights straight. His expression soured.

    Meanwhile, the card in his wallet suddenly felt like a joke. A cheap knockoff.

    Quietly, he lowered his hand and said nothing, forced to watch as Ste led her people into the elevator without even a nce his way.

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 Chapter 325

    ?Chapter 325:

    Behind him, Doreen clenched her fists, fingernails digging into her palm. But she stayed silent.

    Back in Choria, William was sitting at his desk when his phone buzzed.

    He nced at the screen and saw the alert: $2,000,000 charged.

    He let out a quiet chuckle. So she really had taken him at his word when he told her to spend as she pleased.

    He shifted his gaze from the phone and hit the inte button.

    ¡°Luca,¡± he said calmly.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    ¡°Find out which hotel Ste¡¯s staying at in Wredo. And give me her room number.¡±

    ¡°Right away, sir.¡±

    Ten minutester, Luca called back. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell is at Verdant Haven Hotel. She booked three presidential suites for five days.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. Verdant Haven was one of his properties¡ªhis hotel group had just expanded in Wredo, and that location had quickly be the top luxury spot in the city.

    So the two million she just spent? It had basicallynded right back into his ount.

    He was about to end the call when Luca added, ¡°Sir, I also checked¡ªMarc is staying at Verdant Haven too.¡±

    The name alone was enough to shift William¡¯s mood. His grip on the phone tightened. Marc. Again.

    Luca noticed the tension. ¡°Should I have someone handle it?¡±

    William¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Text me Ste¡¯s room number. And make sure Marc has left the hotel by the time I get there.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Mr. Briggs. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    Meanwhile, Marc was still shaken up from seeing Ste earlier that day.

    Explore g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s for fresh content

    Even during dinner, he barely touched his food.

    Doreen, trying her best to appear thoughtful, paused halfway through her pasta and smiled gently. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m done. Want to head back?¡±

    Marc nodded. Her gentle, quiet demeanor was a wee change after everything with Haley, who¡¯d always been clingy and demanding.

    Back at the hotel, Marc held onto a sliver of hope. Maybe he¡¯d bump into Ste again. He knew it was unlikely, but the thought still lingered.

    He walked Doreen to her room, ever the gentleman.

    Despite staying in the same hotel, they weren¡¯t sharing a room¡ªhe¡¯d made sure of that.

    In fact, he was somewhat relieved they weren¡¯t sharing a room tonight; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t know how to face Ste.

    ¡°I¡¯ll head in now. Sleep well, Mr. Walsh.¡± Doreen looked up at him, her eyes soft, like she was waiting for something more.

    But Marc only nodded and turned toward his own room without another word.

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 Chapter 326

    ?Chapter 326:

    That night, Marc stood under the shower, the water running cold against his skin.

    At first, he thought it was just a temperature glitch¡ªbut then he looked up. Water was dripping from the ceiling.

    Disgusted, Marc stepped aside, watching the leak for a few seconds before quickly finishing his rinse and getting out.

    Back in bed, he shut his eyes, hoping for sleep toe.

    But just as he started to drift off, a loud drilling sound echoed from somewhere outside his room.

    It was relentless¡ªimpossible to ignore. He tossed and turned, growing more frustrated by the second. After a while, he sighed and reached for the phone, finally giving in and calling the front desk.

    At 1 a.m., Marc had spent what felt like ages trying to reach the front desk, but every call went unanswered.

    The racket outside refused to die down, leaving him with no choice but to yank on a jacket and storm downstairs.

    This was supposed to be Wredo¡¯s most exclusive five-star hotel¡ªcelebrated in every travel guide, praised by everyone who could afford it.

    Marc had hesitated before splurging on a room here, steeling himself for the hit to his wallet. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine his first night would go so sideways.

    As the elevator doors slid open, Marc spotted a receptionist stationed behind the desk, scrolling absently through something on the screen.

    The receptionist¡¯s smile remained intact when Marc approached. ¡°Sir, how may I help you?¡±

    ¡°My bathroom¡¯s leaking, and the noise is unbearable. I¡¯ve called repeatedly¡ªno one answered. What kind of operation are you running here?¡± Marc¡¯s voice cut through the lobby, sharp with exhaustion and frustration.

    The receptionist listened with the enthusiasm of a statue. ¡°Is that so? Our hotel has no leaks. We also prohibit any kind of construction at night, so there shouldn¡¯t be any noise.¡±

    Marc clenched his jaw, barely holding back as the receptionist dodged responsibility. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Are you seriously implying I invented all this just to mess with you? Feel free to check my room yourself¡ªsee if there¡¯s a leak or noise.¡±

    ???¦Å?? ¡é??t?€§ñ? ?¦Ç ?a?§Ú?¦Í¨º??.???

    ¡°If our hotel isn¡¯t meeting your expectations, sir, you¡¯re free to stay somewhere else. I apologize for the inconvenience.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, the receptionist nced away and busied herself with paperwork, refusing to engage further.

    Seething, Marc clenched his fists and strode toward the elevator, determined to drag Doreen out of this disaster of a hotel.

    He headed toward the elevator, only to nearly collide with Ste, who had just strolled in after ate-night snack outing.

    The sight of her, so rxed and cheerful, made something sour twist inside Marc. He stopped her cold.

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 Chapter 327

    ?Chapter 327:

    ¡°Stel, did you have the hotel make my room leak and st noise because you couldn¡¯t stand seeing me with Doreen today?¡±

    Ste shot him a look, her lips twisting into a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. I¡¯m here for work¡ªI don¡¯t have time to y games with your love life.¡±

    Marc¡¯s scowl deepened, eyes shadowed by irritation. ¡°This is a five-star hotel, Ste. If you didn¡¯t set it up, how could all this happen? Come on, admit it. You still care, right? Don¡¯t worry¡ªDoreen and I aren¡¯t even in the same room. You¡¯ve got it all wrong.¡±

    Reaching her limit, she snapped, ¡°If you¡¯re unwell, go see a doctor. Do you seriously think I have time to y tricks outside your door? You give yourself way too much credit.¡±

    Marc looked ready to argue, but Ste cut him off with a dismissive re. ¡°If you want to switch hotels, be my guest. But quit making up excuses to get my attention, or I swear, I¡¯ll p you right here.¡±

    She spun on her heel and marched off, not sparing him another nce. Marc caught a glimpse of her satisfied smirk and felt a surge of humiliation twist in his chest.

    Resentment boiling, he stormed upstairs, barged into Doreen¡¯s room, and shook her awake. ¡°Pack up. We¡¯re leaving. Find your things.¡±

    Half-asleep, Doreen sat up, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Why are we moving in the middle of the night?¡± The plush sheets and chandelier overhead reminded her how rare it was to stay in such a ce. Now she was being chased out with barely a warning.

    ¡°The service here is awful. We¡¯re leaving,¡± Marc answered, his voice clipped with irritation.

    Since Doreen hade along with him, she had no choice but to trail after him into the biting night air.

    A cold gust whipped around them, making Doreen pull her coat tighter as she edged closer to Marc for warmth. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what now? Where are we even going?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.

    Marc scowled, his patience thin. ¡°Anywhere but here. As long as it¡¯s a hotel, I don¡¯t care.¡±

    He stepped into the next hotel, but the receptionist greeted him with an apologetic smile¡ªno rooms left.

    ?@?¨¦$? ???t?¦Å§ñ? ¨ª¦Ð ?al¦Ðo¦Í¦Ål?.c??

    Marc frowned, his patience wearing thin. ¡°Even your most expensive suites?¡± The receptionist gave a gentle nod. ¡°Yes, sir. Thest room was taken earlier this afternoon.¡±

    A shadow passed over Marc¡¯s expression.

    He strode out of the lobby and onto the sidewalk, dragging Doreen along as they moved from one hotel to another, only to be turned away at every door. Each rejection wore on them, and the worry in Doreen¡¯s eyes grew more obvious with every step.

    If every room in the city was taken, where would they possibly spend the night? An hour dragged by as they wandered block after block, Marc¡¯s legs aching from the search. Atst, they stumbled upon a modest budget hotel.

    Marc stepped up to the counter, his voice weary but insistent. ¡°I¡¯ll take two double-bed rooms.¡±

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 Chapter 328

    ?Chapter 328:

    The young man at the front desk took his ID and started to register him but was interrupted by a call.

    Maintaining his practiced customer-service smile, he listened for a moment, then hung up and handed Marc¡¯s ID back.

    ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, sir,¡± he murmured, his tone polite but devoid of sincerity. ¡°It seems I made a mistake¡ªall our rooms are already booked for tonight. I apologize for the inconvenience.¡±

    Marc stared at the young man at the front desk, utterly stunned, his heart sinking like a rock.

    ¡°You just told us there were rooms,¡± Marc said tightly. ¡°We were ready to check in. How could they suddenly be gone?¡±

    The receptionist looked uneasy. ¡°The rooms were actually reserved in advance, sir. The guests haven¡¯t arrived yet¡ªI must¡¯ve misread the list earlier. I sincerely apologize for the confusion.¡±

    ¡°But they haven¡¯t even shown up! Can¡¯t you give us one? I¡¯ll pay twice the rate,¡± Marc pressed, growing impatient.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, sir,¡± the receptionist said with a strained smile. ¡°They¡¯ve prepaid, so we¡¯re obligated to hold the rooms all night.¡±

    Realizing he was getting nowhere, Marc gave up. He and Doreen sank onto the lobby couch, exchanging glum nces.

    Doreen rubbed her arms for warmth, her voiceced with a softint. ¡°Mr. Walsh, why did we leave the other hotel? Was it because we bumped into Ste? Did she say something to upset you?¡±

    Just the mention of Ste made Marc¡¯s jaw tighten. ¡°It has nothing to do with her,¡± he snapped, clearly annoyed.

    Doreen fell silent, but resentment quietly stirred inside her.

    Why was Ste able to afford thevish presidential suite while she and Marc were stuck scrounging for rooms?

    They weren¡¯t that far apart in age, so why did Ste have so much more? If she had even half of Ste¡¯s wealth, she wouldn¡¯t be spending her night like this¡ªin a lobby, with nowhere to go.

    New updates in g??l¦Ç¦Òv???s

    With options dwindling, Marc reluctantly settled for a dingy roadside motel.

    Lying on the creaky bed, Doreen felt too repulsed by the shabby room to sleep. After tossing and turning, she sat up and typed out a message to Marc. ¡°Mr. Walsh, it was an honor learning from you today. Even through the rough patches, I got to see a different side of you. If only someone could protect you from all this¡­ I hope I can be that person someday. Goodnight and sweet dreams.¡±

    Marcy awake too, staring at the ceiling. When his phone buzzed, he nced at the screen and saw her text.

    Doreen, he thought, was always the patient one. Never demanding, never questioning.

    He hadn¡¯t even needed to bring her along this time¡ªshe had asked toe, eager to learn.

    Without his help, she had few chances.

    And with her, he always felt safe, always seen, and always admired.

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 Chapter 329

    ?Chapter 329:

    Meanwhile, Ste was in a great mood. She¡¯d gone out with Sandra and Elbert to explore the local food stalls and savor the bustling night scene.

    Tired but content, she slipped under the covers. Sleep came fast, bringing her soft dreams and a peaceful night.

    The next morning, feeling well-rested, Ste freshened up and decided to head down for a rxed breakfast.

    The presentation wasn¡¯t until three in the afternoon. With it being just past seven, she had all the time in the world to eat and unwind.

    As she pushed open the door to her room, the soft click of a door unlocking echoed from across the hall.

    She turned her head instinctively, and there he was, stepping out in casual loungewear, catching herpletely off guard.

    Blinking in surprise, she stared at him. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing here?¡± She could¡¯ve sworn a different guest had stayed across the hallst night. His sudden appearance didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡°You¡¯re representing the research institute,¡± William replied matter-of-factly. ¡°As one of its leaders, I¡¯m here to oversee the process. And since you¡¯re also working for Neb, it makes sense for the chairman to be present. Dual responsibilities.¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t anticipated such an exnation. Honestly, she¡¯d assumed he¡¯d let her shoulder all the responsibility for Neb herself. His presence threw her off.

    But suspicion crept in. Her brows furrowed. ¡°Wait¡­ you didn¡¯te just because you think I can¡¯t handle it, did you?¡±

    William let out a low sigh and met her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m concerned, not doubtful.

    There¡¯s a big difference between those two things.¡±

    Ste narrowed her eyes and mumbled, ¡°You¡¯re just twisting words.¡±

    William chuckled, amused by her reaction. ¡°It¡¯s not wordy. I just don¡¯t want you jumping to the wrong conclusion and letting it mess with your mood. We¡¯ve got a big presentation, remember?¡±

    He never missed a chance to tack on a teasingment¡ªsomething Ste had long grown used to.

    I?t€$? ¡é§ß?¦Ñ?¦Å?? ?§Ú g??l??ov?l??.??om

    Then, almost without realizing, she nced down and murmured, ¡°So, are you worried about the project or about me?¡±

    The words had slipped out before she could stop them, like a sudden impulse she couldn¡¯t reel back. She didn¡¯t even know why she asked¡­ it just happened.

    William looked her straight in the eyes. ¡°I¡¯m worried about you.¡±

    William made even the most suggestive remarks sound ssy¡ªhe was just that smooth.

    Ste felt a little awkward and decided to dodge the tension by heading downstairs for breakfast.

    Of course, William followed. Once they sat down, he casually said, ¡°Thepetition¡¯s in the afternoon. This morning, you¡¯reing with me.¡± So much for a rxed morning.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked, not thrilled.

    ¡°A project site.¡±

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 Chapter 330

    ?Chapter 330:

    Ste blinked. ¡°Isn¡¯t Neb already juggling too much? Now another one?¡± She¡¯d already visited a few sites.

    William gave a small shake of his head. ¡°Not Neb. This one¡¯s under the Briggs Group.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t argue.

    In her mind, it was all the same¡ªNeb was part of the Briggs Group anyway. Either way, the profits ended up in William¡¯s pockets.

    As she followed him to the site, her thoughts drifted to the uingpetition at the research institute.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± she asked, ¡°do you know anything about the rival research institute? They say it¡¯s Mr. Hoffman¡¯s biggestpetitor.¡±

    She¡¯d always thought of Paul as calm and easygoing. Even when she took leave unexpectedly or caused a stir because of Marc, Paul never med her.

    He was always kind and understanding.

    So it was hard to imagine someone like him having a long-standing rivalry.

    William shrugged lightly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major. Just a disagreement from a pastpetition that left a bad taste in Paul¡¯s mouth.¡±

    Ste narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°That vague, huh? Sounds like you¡¯re leaving something out.¡±

    He chuckled, his expression softening. ¡°Back then, both sides submitted simr projects. The other institute imed theirs was moreplete¡ªand they won. Paul wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled. Brooded about it for over a year.¡±

    She looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Wait¡­ were the judges bribed?¡± Because if not, it should¡¯ve been a fair game.

    William tilted his head. ¡°Not sure. But I do know one of the judges was the uncle of the other institute¡¯s director.¡±

    Ste was briefly at a loss for words.

    She asked, ¡°Do you think we actually stand a chance against them this year?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but feel the odds were unfair. The rival institute had relied on connections before¡ªhow could that ever feel like a level ying field?

    Check exclusive content g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    William replied calmly, ¡°Rx. That uncle of theirs isn¡¯t on the judging panel this year.¡±

    Ste let out a breath. ¡°Good. Then this time, I¡¯m helping Mr. Hoffman bring home that first-ce trophy.¡±

    William shot her a sideways look. ¡°You sound pretty confident.¡±

    Ste smiled, proud and sure. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Keep that confidence, Ms. Russell.¡±

    He turned his head away, but the corner of his mouth lifted¡ªjust slightly.

    That quiet self-assurance of hers¡­ it was something he¡¯d always admired.

    By the time they wrapped up at the project site, it was nearly lunchtime. William nced at the time and said, ¡°Let¡¯s grab something to eat. I¡¯ll drop you off at thepetition venue afterward.¡±

    Ste looked at him with a teasing glint. ¡°When did you get so thoughtful?¡± The words came out naturally¡ªshe wasn¡¯t even trying to flirt. Somewhere along the way, her guard around him had dropped. She hadn¡¯t even realized it.

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 Chapter 331

    ?Chapter 331:

    William chuckled, and she found herself watching him again.

    Who said this man was cold and aloof? He seemed tough quite a bit, actually.

    In just a few hours, she¡¯d seen him smile more times than she could count.

    After lunch, William pulled up to the venue right on time¡ª2:20 sharp.

    Ste needed to find Elbert and Sandra, who were no doubt already inside. She stepped out of the car and waved with a small smile. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Briggs. See you.¡±

    Using her badge, she entered thepetitors¡¯ lounge.

    Sure enough, Elbert and Sandra were there waiting.

    ¡°Sylvia! You¡¯re here!¡± Sandra said brightly. ¡°Elbert and I just got in too.¡±

    Ste gave a reassuring smile. ¡°Everything okay? You¡¯ve got the presentation script down?¡±

    Sandra grinned with confidence. ¡°Locked in. I won¡¯t mess it up this time!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve practiced enough,¡± Elbert added. ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡±

    Ste nodded, extending her hand toward them. ¡°Then let¡¯s go win this.¡± Sandra and Elbert each ced a hand on hers. ¡°Let¡¯s crush it,¡± they chorused, their voices ringing with enthusiasm and determination.

    The long-awaited moment had finally arrived. With steady steps and focused minds, Ste and her team made their way toward the stage.

    From the opposite end, a rival team from another research institute advanced toward the same stage.

    Even though most of them didn¡¯t know each other well, the other team made their attitude clear through the looks they gave¡ªfull of scorn. As they headed up the stairs, one of them purposely bumped into Sandra.

    ¡°Ah!¡± she gasped, stumbling as she nearly lost her bnce.

    Thankfully, Ste reacted fast and grabbed her arm just in time, keeping her from falling.

    Wearing a sharp, no-nonsense expression, Ste stepped forward. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you owe her an apology?¡±

    L¦Ët??¦Ó §éh¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?r? ¦Én g??l?ov?ls.??????

    The person paused, threw a mocking nce over their shoulder, and sneered, ¡°Why would we apologize to losers?¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, the person turned and walked away.

    Sandra, furious, looked ready to follow and give them a piece of her mind, but Elbert quickly held her back. ¡°Let it go, Sandra. Focus on thepetition. That¡¯s what matters now.¡±

    It was only then that the team continued up to the stage, pushing aside the tension.

    Though Ste hade fully prepared, the judges still hadn¡¯t begun the session. They seemed to be taking their time.

    Ste nced their way and noticed the judges buried in quiet discussion, flipping back and forth between their project and the other team¡¯s materials for far longer than expected.

    A strange feeling settled in her chest.

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 Chapter 332

    ?Chapter 332:

    She looked at the opposing team again¡ªthey were calm, almost smug, like they¡¯d known this would happen all along.

    Her brows knitted together. She leaned close to Elbert and murmured, ¡°Something¡¯s off about this.¡±

    Elbert gave a slight nod. ¡°Yeah. I noticed too. You think they¡¯re up to something?¡± The idea didn¡¯t sit right with them. This was a globally respectedpetition, held only once every three years. If shady tactics weremon, wouldn¡¯t its credibility have crumbled long ago?

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Ste said softly. ¡°Let¡¯s just see how things y out.¡± She did her best to stay calm and collected.

    Ten long minutes passed before one of the judges finally picked up the microphone. ¡°After reviewing both submissions, we¡¯ve found a significant ovep between your two topics.¡±

    Ste turned to look at the other team, disbelief written all over her face. The topic had been her idea from the start¡ªoriginal, forward-thinking, even praised within her team as something only she could¡¯vee up with. And now, the judges were saying there was a significant ovep between the two topics?

    Swallowing her disbelief, Ste forced herself to remainposed. ¡°Gentlemen, may I ask¡ªhow much ovep are we talking about?¡±

    ¡°Ny percent,¡± came the blunt reply.

    The number hit her like a p. Ny percent? How could that be possible?

    Before she could gather her thoughts, the rival team spoke up. ¡°Judges, ovep in topics isn¡¯t a big deal¡ªit¡¯s happened before. We¡¯re fine with moving on to the defense as nned.¡±

    The unexpected turn of events rattled Ste¡¯s team just enough to dull their edge. Their responses to the first two questionscked the rity and confidence they¡¯d rehearsed. And with each fumble, their anxiety only grew worse.

    Sensing that things were starting to spiral, Ste felt a surge of urgency. Then, her eyesnded on William in the audience¡ªhis brows slightly furrowed, his expression tense. That one look was enough. Determination welled up inside her, and without hesitation, she raised her hand to ask for a five-minute break. Thankfully, the organizers allowed brief breaks between segments.

    Seizing the moment, Ste headed to the restroom alone.

    Check what¡¯s new on g@lnov??s.c¡ðm

    At the sink, she sshed cold water on her face again and again, silently urging herself to stay calm. She couldn¡¯t let this topic fiasco shake her. She had made a promise¡ªto win the trophy back for Paul, and that mattered more than any distraction. A loss now might bury Paul permanently under the weight of past failures, and she couldn¡¯t let that guilt settle on her shoulders too.

    Just then, Sandra walked in, her face pale and eyes brimming with tears.

    ¡°What do we do, Sylvia?¡± Sandra asked shakily. ¡°We¡¯re not going to lose¡­ are we?¡±

    Ste steadied herself and spoke softly, trying to calm Sandra. ¡°Don¡¯t let them rattle you. They¡¯re trying to throw us off. Do you still remember the answers to the two questions the judges just asked?¡±

    Sandra wiped her nose and nodded. ¡°I remember¡­ I just got nervous. That whole ovep thing kept messing with my head.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t intended to fumble her answers. It was just that the distraction from the other team had thrown her offpletely.

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 Chapter 333

    ?Chapter 333:

    ¡°Forget about them, Sandra. Focus on us. We¡¯ve got the skill ¡ª they¡¯re just trying to shake our confidence. Their tricks won¡¯t work, okay?¡±

    Sandra inhaled deeply and nodded firmly. ¡°I get it, Sylvia. I¡¯ll pull myself together.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s Elbert holding up?¡± Ste asked.

    Sandra gave a quick nod. ¡°He¡¯s alright. He told me toe here and calm myself down.¡±

    As they stepped out of the restroom, they bumped into William standing right outside the door.

    ¡°Why do they always¡­¡± Ste started, her thoughts racing back to the same shady trick from three years ago¡ªtopic ovep. Could it really be a coincidence? Or were the judges once again favoring the other team? It almost felt like deja vu.

    ¡°Ste, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re losing confidence just because their topic is simr to yours,¡± William asked seriously.

    His question caught her off guard. It wasn¡¯t what she¡¯d expected to hear, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    ¡°We both worked on your topic. I¡¯ve seen how thorough it is. Even if it oveps, our execution is stronger. Are you really going to crumble like Mr. Hoffman did and let that simrity break your spirit?¡±

    Ste quickly shook her head¡ªno, she didn¡¯t want to repeat that mistake. But she couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion. How else could the topics be ny percent alike unless someone on the inside had leaked it?

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to dwell on suspicions,¡± he added. ¡°Right now, your only job is to finish thispetition. Weren¡¯t you determined to beat them thoroughly? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten that.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten. Trust me.¡± Ste straightened, her tone firm.

    ¡°Good,¡± William said, his gaze steady. ¡°Then use that same fire you just gave me and take it to them. I believe in you.¡±

    Ste opened her mouth to argue¡ªshe hadn¡¯t meant to talk back¡ªbut the second half of his encouragement made her pause. Her eyes softened at the unexpected boost of confidence.

    Latest chapters ?¦Áln¦Ò¦Íe??s

    ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± she said. ¡°Break¡¯s almost over. I¡¯m heading back on stage.¡±

    William watched her go, hands in his pockets, before casually strolling back to his seat in the audience.

    Once thepetition resumed, Ste slipped back into form: calm, sharp, focused. Their team nailed the next few questions, outshining their opponents. Ste noticed the subtle nods and smiles from the judges, a clear sign their performance was being well received.

    Then came the final, deciding question¡ªone posed to both teams. After the judge read it aloud, the host activated the microphones for Sandra and the other team¡¯s representative. Sandra whispered briefly with Ste and Elbert, then rose gracefully and delivered a clean, confident answer. wless. The other team responded too, but their replycked substance and polish. The judges didn¡¯tment, but their expressions said enough.

    ¡°We¡¯ve concluded the Q&A portion,¡± the host announced. ¡°Now, each team will present their technical project live on stage. You have ten minutes.¡±

    That twist caught the rival teampletely off guard. Ste smirked¡ªif they were surprised, they hadn¡¯t prepared. This was her moment.

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 Chapter 334

    ?Chapter 334:

    She stepped forward behind the console and ced her hands on the keyboard. The camera zoomed in as she began her demonstration¡ªconfident and precise. The room fell silent as everyone watched her fingers fly across the keys. She didn¡¯t even use the full ten minutes¡ªjust six¡ªand wrapped the demo with a final keystroke that left the audience stunned.

    ¡°She¡¯s incredible,¡± someone whispered. ¡°That was unreal. Pure skill.¡±

    ¡°Both teams had tough topics,¡± another voice added, ¡°but if the other group can¡¯t match that performance, it¡¯s game over.¡± The opposing team¡¯s representative stepped forward.

    True to form, their presentation was clunky and unprepared. They struggled to exin the details and their democked coherence. When the ten minutes psed, thepetition officially closed. The audience buzzed with opinions, but to anyone paying attention, it was clear that Ste¡¯s team had dominated.

    Despite tackling simr research topics, Ste¡¯s execution stood on a whole different level.

    The host then took the stage. ¡°Thank you all for participating. The results will be posted on our official website within the week. Please check back for updates. That concludes today¡¯spetition. Thank you again for joining us.¡±

    As the judges filed out, Ste, Sandra and Elbert gathered their things, preparing to leave the stage. Before they could go, they came face-to-face with the rival team.

    Finnegan Dixon, one of their members, strode forward, arrogance dripping from his tone. ¡°Get a good look at the real champions. Step aside.¡±

    Steughed, not kindly. ¡°Champions?¡± she said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You mean the team that couldn¡¯t even demonstrate thirty percent of their project?¡±

    Finnegan¡¯s smile vanished. His jaw tightened. ¡°That was a fluke. Everyone saw how solid we were during the defense. Stop pretending and admit you lost.¡±

    Ste crossed her arms, unimpressed. ¡°You and I both know why our topics matched so closely. In research, it¡¯s not just about how well you talk. It¡¯s about execution. If you can¡¯t deliver results, you can¡¯t win.¡±

    The rival team stiffened¡ªher words had clearly struck a nerve.

    ¡°Says who?¡± one of them shot back. ¡°You¡¯re not one of the judges!¡±

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    ¡°No,¡± Ste replied calmly, ¡°but do you think the judges are blind? You really believe they can¡¯t see through your little game? If this gets exposed, it won¡¯t just be you¡­¡±

    ¡°If this gets exposed, it won¡¯t just be you who faces consequences. You could be banned, and it would drag your whole institute down with you.¡± Finnegan¡¯s hands balled into fists. ¡°Quit trying to scare us. There¡¯s no way we¡¯re getting banned.¡±

    His defensiveness made Ste narrow her eyes, her voice cold and clear.

    ¡°Oh?¡± she said slowly. ¡°So you do have someone pulling strings for you?¡±

    Finnegan froze, his breath hitching as Ste¡¯s sharp eyes met his. He realized toote that she had baited him into slipping up.

    ¡°You got me to spill that on purpose?¡± he asked, stunned.

    Ste gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°Well, maybe you should¡¯ve been smarter.¡±

    Finnegan¡¯s jaw clenched, and his teammates looked just as bitter. With only a few people lingering backstage, he dropped the act. ¡°Alright, fine. Let¡¯s say we did twist things a bit, chose the same topic on purpose. So what? We¡¯re still going to win.¡±

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 Chapter 335

    ?Chapter 335:

    Ste tilted her head slightly. ¡°And what makes you so confident? Got a few judges in your pocket too?¡±

    Her words made Finnegan¡¯s arrogance creep right back in. ¡°You think people just show up to these events without understanding how it works? We¡¯re not ying in the same league. Get ready to lose.¡±

    Sandra scowled. ¡°That¡¯s called cheating!¡±

    Finnegan gave azy shrug. ¡°Is it? Got any evidence?¡±

    Sandra fumed. She had already been furious after being bumped into earlier, and now her patience was snapping by the second.

    Right then, Ste lifted her phone. ¡°Oops. I recorded everything you just admitted.¡±

    Finnegan froze, his eyes locked on hers, stunned into silence.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you bragging about how fearless you are? Even if I hand this over to the officials, you¡¯d still be fine, right?¡± Ste added, a sly smile curving her lips.

    His fists tightened at his sides. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck.¡±

    Sandra stepped in, no longer able to hold back. ¡°Push our luck? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s shameless!¡±

    But Ste reached out and lightly held Sandra¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath. Once this gets sent out, they¡¯ll be the ones begging for mercy. Come on.¡±

    Finnegan red after her, his jaw clenched. ¡°Sylvia, this isn¡¯t over. You¡¯ll regret this!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting. Try me.¡±

    Once Finnegan and his group stormed off, Elbert and Sandra came up beside her.

    ¡°Sylvia, that was brilliant! You even had the presence of mind to record them? Were you nning this the whole time?¡±

    If she hadn¡¯t acted, they might have had to swallow their anger yet again.

    ¡°I have a feeling someone from our institute tipped them off. That¡¯s probably how they ended up with the same topic,¡± Ste said, voicing her suspicion. Elbert¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You might be right. It¡¯s too much of a coincidence.¡± Ste¡¯s tone grew serious. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this to ourselves for now. I don¡¯t want to risk dragging the institute¡¯s name through the mud. We¡¯ll talk more once we¡¯re back.¡± Elbert caught her meaning immediately and gave a firm nod. Sandra did the same.

    As they headed toward the exit of thepetition hall, Ste caught sight of someone weaving quickly between bodies before disappearing almost as soon as they appeared. Something about the figure tugged at her memory, but the crowd thickened, and the face was gone before she could be sure. Her gut twisted with certainty: someone inside the institute had betrayed them. Once they returned, she intended to find out who.

    G  al  no vel s . holds tales worth reading

    Outside the venue, the three climbed into an SUV. Since William was staying at the same hotel, he joined them in the car. As the vehicle made its way back, Sandra leaned against the seat, still buzzing from the day¡¯s events. With a long sigh, she said, ¡°Today feels like one big stroke of luck! But honestly, it¡¯s all thanks to Sylvia. If she hadn¡¯t calmed me down back in the restroom, I wouldn¡¯t have nailed that final part.¡± Elbert nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. We really have Sylvia to thank.¡±

    They hadplimented her before, yet Ste still felt a little flustered each time. She brushed a stray lock behind her ear and offered William a quick look before speaking. ¡°To be fair, it wasn¡¯t just me today. Mr. Briggs helped more than you know. Even after we left the restroom, Sandra, I was still unsure of myself. But he talked to me and gave me the push I needed. I don¡¯t think I could¡¯ve held it together without him.¡±

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 Chapter 336

    ?Chapter 336:

    There was no trace of pretense in her tone¡ªjust quiet honesty and genuine gratitude for William¡¯s steady support during the final stretch. She made a mental note to thank him properly soon. William¡¯s lips curved into a smile. It wasn¡¯t often she thanked him without a sharp remark¡ªthis time, her appreciation came through clearly, start to finish.

    Though William and Ste barely spoke on the ride back, Sandra and Elbert were smart enough not to pry. They weren¡¯t buying the whole ¡°nothing going on¡± act either¡ªbut they also knew when to keep quiet.

    As the car neared the hotel, Sandra suddenly perked up. ¡°Hey, Sylvia, William¡ªsince we¡¯re rarely in Wredo and thepetition¡¯s finally over, how about we go out and have some fun?¡±

    Elbert jumped in right away. ¡°I actually saw something earlier¡ªthere¡¯s an exclusive elite dance party tonight. It looked pretty cool. We should go!¡±

    Sandra¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°A dance party? When?¡±

    Elbert checked his phone. ¡°Starts at eight tonight.¡±

    Ste and William exchanged a nce and, without much debate, agreed. After the stress of thest few days, a little celebration sounded nice.

    Sandra pped. ¡°Perfect! We¡¯re going dancing! Sylvia, do you have a dress? I don¡¯t.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t either¡ªthis trip was strictly business, and no one had packed for a party. So instead of heading back to the hotel, they had the driver take a detour to a boutique downtown.

    By the time they picked out dresses and got their hair and makeup done, it was nearly time for the event. They hurried back to the car and headed straight to the venue.

    As they walked into the ballroom, upbeat music filled the space. The atmosphere was vibrant and energetic¡ªnothing like the formal events they were used to back in Choria.

    Sandra dove into the rhythm, blending right in with the locals. She grabbed Ste¡¯s hand, pulling her along. Ste hesitated, feeling awkward.

    Sandra leaned in, encouraging her. ¡°Sylvia, rx and just follow the music. No one will notice you.¡±

    I@?€$? ¡é??t??§ñ? In ?al¦Ð?¦Í¦Ål?.c?m

    Taking a steady breath, Ste rxed and began to sway to the beat, slowly finding the rhythm. Her movements were a bit stiff at first, but they softened as the music carried her.

    From the side, William stood with a ss of champagne in hand, his eyes fixed on her. Her dance wasn¡¯t perfect¡ªit was hesitant, a little offbeat¡ªbut it was endearing. Charming, even. He couldn¡¯t look away.

    When the song ended, Ste and Sandra stepped off the dance floor, both a little flushed. Ste headed toward the long refreshment table and reached for a ss of orange juice. As she lifted it to her lips, she caught movement at the entrance and paused.

    Doreen had just entered, arm hooked through Marc¡¯s, wearing a sky-blue gown that sparkled under the chandeliers. The dress was clearly expensive, a replica from a famous movie, adorned with tiny glittering stones. Ste raised an eyebrow and smirked. So Marc was willing to spend on Doreen now. Interesting.

    Doreen basked in the attention, practically glowing. Before Marc, she¡¯d never imagined herself at events like this¡ªlet alone as the center of admiration. Such asions had once felt out of reach, something she¡¯d only seen in movies or dreamed about from afar.

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 Chapter 337

    ?Chapter 337:

    As Doreen scanned the glittering ballroom, her gaze locked onto a familiar figure near the refreshment table. Ste stood there, casually sipping her orange juice, her Klein-blue dress impossible to miss. The color wrapped around her like it was made just for her¡ªcool, refined, effortlessly elegant. It made her wless skin glow beneath the warm lights.

    Doreen¡¯s chest tightened. They were both wearing blue, but somehow Ste made the hue feel iconic. Once again, she stole the spotlight without even trying. Doreen bit her lip, caught off guard by the surge of insecurity. What was she doing here?

    Forcing a smile, Doreen leaned in and tugged at Marc¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± she said, sweet but sharp-edged, ¡°Ste¡¯s here.¡±

    Before he could reply, Doreen guided him toward Ste, her heels clicking confidently against the marble floor.

    ¡°Ste! What a surprise to see you here again,¡± Doreen said with a sharine smile.

    Marc¡¯s eyes locked onto Ste. For a moment, he forgot where he was. She looked almost unreal¡ªlike a vision straight out of his memories¡ªand his heart skipped.

    Ste returned a thin smile, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Surprise? More like terrible luck.

    Doreen¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief as she leaned closer. ¡°The next song¡¯s about to start. Mr. Walsh, how about you dance with Ste? I heard you two were the most synchronized partners back in school. That chemistry doesn¡¯t just disappear, does it?¡± She gave Marc¡¯s arm a yful push toward Ste.

    Marc froze as a flood of memories hit him: their time in the school dance troupe, winningpetitions, gliding across the floor in perfect sync. Their salsa routines, their tangos¡ªhe could still feel their rhythm together. The instructor had always called them the ¡°dream pair.¡±

    He blinked, the upbeat music in the hall pulling him back to the present. Slowly, he lifted his hand to invite Ste to dance.

    But before he could step forward, a pair of polished ck shoes appeared in his field of vision¡ªWilliam¡¯s. William slipped in smoothly, not sparing Marc a nce. Turning to Ste, he offered his hand with quiet, practiced confidence.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± he said in a low, steady voice, ¡°may I have the honor of this first dance tonight?¡±

    Latest updates only on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??ls

    William had said his first dance¡ªnot Ste¡¯s.

    She nced at the hand he offered, hesitation flickering in her eyes for just a moment.

    Behind William, Marc stood frozen, watching the way Ste¡¯s eyes lit up as they met William¡¯s. A surge of frustration rose in his chest.

    He had approached her first. So why did William have to cut in?

    Still, Marc didn¡¯t dare show his irritation openly¡ªnot in front of William. All he could do was clench his jaw and let out a tight, forced scoff. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect someone of your status, Mr. Briggs, to ignore basic courtesy. Shouldn¡¯t the one who arrived first get priority?¡±

    William slowly turned to face him, a faint, mocking smirk curling his lips. ¡°Priority is for objects, Mr. Walsh. Ms. Gilbert is not an object¡ªshe¡¯s free to choose. Since you¡¯ve extended an invitation, let¡¯s see who she prefers.¡± His tone was calm, but the confidence behind it was unmistakable. He wasn¡¯t worried¡ªnot in the slightest.

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 Chapter 338

    ?Chapter 338:

    Marc felt his confidence waver. Deep down, he knew Ste didn¡¯t even like him anymore. He was already at a disadvantage. For William, this was almost a guaranteed win.

    Still, Marc wasn¡¯t ready to back down. Desperate to tip the scale, he pressed, ¡°Stel, don¡¯t you remember how in sync we used to be? Back in the school dance team, we were unbeatable.¡±

    His words hung in the air for a while. Then William chuckled softly.

    Marc¡¯s face darkened.

    William raised a brow. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Walsh. I just recalled something amusing. Please, continue.¡±

    Marc¡¯s words stalled in his throat,pletely thrown off by the interruption. He could only step aside awkwardly and wait.

    But Ste didn¡¯t even nce in his direction. Without a word, she ced her hand into William¡¯s, letting him lead her gently onto the dance floor.

    Marc made a move to follow¡ªbut Doreen quickly tugged his arm. ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± she whispered, ¡°let it go. There¡¯s no rush.¡±

    Marc paused, his teeth grinding. She would never have the chemistry with anyone like she did with him. Back in school, he and Ste had practiced for hours¡ªday in, day out. Their silent understanding on the dance floor had been unmatched. It wasn¡¯t something anyone could replicate easily.

    Surely, this had to be her first time dancing with William. There was no way they coulde close to the rhythm andfort he had once shared with her. With a dismissive mindset, Marc took a seat beside Doreen, watching with an air of detached confidence.

    But halfway through the song, that confidence crumbled.

    Contrary to everything he expected, Ste and William¡¯s dance was nearly wless. Under William¡¯s steady guidance, every one of her steps flowed with grace and precision. Then she spun. With her arms lifted elegantly, her blue gown fanned out around her like petals in bloom. She looked like a rose mid-blossom¡ªdelicate, poised, utterly captivating.

    The guests around them instinctively stepped back, giving them space. By the time the music faded, thunderous apuse erupted across the ballroom. Cheers echoed¡ªeveryone was pping for them.

    . brings magic to life

    Marc¡¯s face darkened, jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. William matched Ste beat for beat, never missing a single cue. It was seamless¡ªeffortless. His chest tightened as he watched them still holding hands at the center of the floor. His hands balled into fists, knuckles pale.

    And then, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Striding forward, voice strained, he called out, ¡°Stel, don¡¯t you remember? You once told me you¡¯d only ever be my dance partner. So why did you dance with him?¡± His wordsced with the usation, as if she¡¯d betrayed some sacred vow.

    Ste turned, eyebrows lifting with a cold, incredulous smirk.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± she said sharply, ¡°first of all, I¡¯m not your ex-wife. And even if I am, do you really want to talk about broken promises? How many of yours did you keep?¡±

    Marc flinched. The pain in his eyes was obvious. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Ste.¡±

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 Chapter 339

    ?Chapter 339:

    But she wasn¡¯t done. ¡°If you expect others to honor their word, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said, her voice cutting clean through him, ¡°maybe start by looking in the mirror. Reflect.¡±

    ¡°¡­on the promises you shattered before questioning anyone else.¡± With that, she turned and walked away.

    As she passed, a soft breeze followed, carrying a faint but unfamiliar fragrance. Marc froze. It wasn¡¯t the perfume she used to wear; it was different now¡ªnew, distant. Just like her.

    In that quiet, lingering scent, the truth settled with cruel rity: he had truly lost her.

    Marc kept pouring drinks until the world around him began to blur. It didn¡¯t take long before he waspletely drunk, his thoughts foggy and unsteady. Doreen helped him back to the hotel and spoke softly to calm him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, please don¡¯t be upset. You¡¯ll find another dance partner¡ªsomeone even better. You did your best. None of this is your fault.¡±

    At her words, Marc turned slowly, his gaze locking onto Doreen¡¯s gentle, earnest eyes. Without warning, he drew her close and pressed his lips to hers, giving in to the moment.

    Doreen gasped in surprise, but after a heartbeat she let her eyes flutter shut and yielded to the kiss.

    Meanwhile, back in the banquet hall, Ste, Sandra and Elbert were full of energy,ughing and dancing. Even William, usually reserved, was drawn into a spirited traditional folk dance. The group celebrated until the party gradually wound down, then reluctantly returned to the hotel to rest.

    The next morning, Ste packed her suitcase and made her way downstairs. In the lobby, she was surprised to see William already there, standing calmly with his hands in his pockets, as if he¡¯d been waiting. When Sandra spotted her, she waved and called out, ¡°Sylvia, over here!¡±

    Ste joined them and learned that William had business to handle and would not be traveling back to Choria with the rest of them. ncing at his carefree demeanor¡ªand the absence of any luggage¡ªshe nodded politely. ¡°Then we¡¯ll get going first. Goodbye, Mr. Briggs.¡± Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.

    William watched her retreat, a bitter feeling rising in his chest. She hadn¡¯t hesitated. Knowing he wouldn¡¯t return with her, she hadn¡¯t asked a single question; she¡¯d simply left, as if it didn¡¯t matter. To any onlooker, they would have appeared no more than distant colleagues.

    Sandra held her ss of lemonade mid-air, frozen. That voice¡­ it sounded incredibly familiar. Peeking through the delicate screen divider, her eyes widened in disbelief. She leaned toward Ste and mouthed, ¡°That¡¯s Doreen Greville!¡±

    Dive into tales at g¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,

    Ste¡¯s gaze followed, and sure enough¡ªthere she was. But it wasn¡¯t just Doreen that caught her off guard. Sitting across from her, clear as day, was Jazlyn. And then it clicked. Doreen was pregnant?

    Doreen sat with her head lowered, nervously twisting her fingers. Her voice trembled. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t ask to meet you today to force Marc Walsh into anything. I just want to have this baby. That¡¯s all. I know he doesn¡¯t love me¡ªand I don¡¯t expect anything from him. I admire him, I really do, but¡­ I¡¯m not asking him to be with me. This is a life. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to end it.¡±

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 Chapter 340

    ?Chapter 340:

    She paused before adding, ¡°If your family is willing, you can raise the child. I don¡¯t want anything in return.¡±

    Jazlyn stared at her, her expression unreadable.

    At the nearby table, Ste quietly averted her eyes. She had absolutely no interest in whatever drama Marc had gotten himself into now. That chapter of her life was closed¡ªsealed shut.

    Noticing Ste¡¯s clear disinterest, Sandra took the hint and decided it was best they change their table. Their close presence might draw attention.

    They both rose to leave discreetly¡ªonly for a waiter to approach with a tray. ¡°Are you switching tables? Sorry, this is thest avable one right now. Everywhere else is full.¡±

    His voice, unfortunately, carried a little too far.

    Heads turned¡ªincluding Doreen¡¯s and Jazlyn¡¯s.

    Caught in the moment, Ste exhaled sharply and sat back down, helpless. Jazlyn¡¯s eyes narrowed as she recognized Ste. When she noticed Ste¡¯s obvious desire to leave, her irritation bubbled over.

    ¡°Ste,¡± Jazlyn snapped, her voice loud and sharp. ¡°Were you eavesdropping on our conversation? How rude can you be? No manners at all!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. Her tone turned cold, clipped. ¡°Why would I waste time listening to your drama? If you didn¡¯t want to be overheard, maybe you should¡¯ve booked a private room¡ªor kept your voice down. Isn¡¯t that just basicmon sense?¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s re hardened. ¡°Don¡¯t act so clever. You¡¯re always scheming. What, nning to run and gossip about what you heard?¡±

    Ste gave a dryugh. ¡°Wow, so even you know it¡¯s not something worth bragging about. If that¡¯s the case, maybe your son should stop doing things he¡¯s ashamed of. Whether I talk or not? That¡¯s my decision¡ªnot yours.¡±

    Cornered, Jazlyn¡¯s face flushed red. But instead of backing down, her gaze shifted toward Doreen¡­ and a new thought crossed her mind. A cruel smirk formed.

    ¡°You¡¯re just jealous, aren¡¯t you?¡± she sneered. ¡°Watching someone else carry my son¡¯s child¡ªit must sting, especially when you can¡¯t have kids.¡±

    ???€?? ¡é?¦Át?¦Å§ñs 1n ga?n?¦Í¦Ål?.???

    Jazlyn didn¡¯t know much about Doreen¡ªbut that didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that she was carrying her son¡¯s child. That alone was enough to shift the power dynamic in her eyes. After all these years, Ste had never once been pregnant.

    Jazlyn¡¯s voice turned cutting,ced with mockery. ¡°Ste, you used to y the sweet, innocent one, but look where that got you. My son¡¯s about to be a father¡ªand you? Your belly¡¯s been t for years. Who do you have to me for that but yourself?¡±

    She was well aware of the past incident¡ªand in her eyes, that history only made Ste more unworthy. What really happened that night? For all Jazlyn cared, maybe it had leftsting damage¡ªmaybe even made Ste incapable of having children. The thought only deepened her disdain. What right did a woman with such a past have to argue with her?

    Ste let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°Jazlyn, you really never disappoint¡ªblurring out things like this in public, and still hanging on to those ancient ideas like having a child somehow guarantees a legacy. Wow! You never fail to surprise me.¡±

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 Chapter 341

    ?Chapter 341:

    She ended with a slow, sarcastic p, her expression dripping with contempt. ¡°No matter what you say, the truth is, you¡¯re barren.¡±

    Jazlyn snapped, throwing the low blow without a shred of hesitation. ¡°Is giving birth for your son really supposed to be some kind of badge of honor?¡±

    Ste¡¯s tone sharpened as she continued, ¡°Your previous daughter-inw bent over backwards for your family, and all she got in return was betrayal. Honestly, her vanishing act was the best decision she ever made. Any woman who joins your family signs up for misery.¡±

    Jazlyn, shaking with fury, jabbed her finger in Ste¡¯s direction. ¡°You insolent brat! How dare you speak like that?¡±

    Ste calmly stepped back. ¡°This isn¡¯t the wild west, Jazlyn¡ªwe havews. If you so much as touch me, you¡¯ll be detained. And while we¡¯re talking about responsibilities, since she¡¯s pregnant with your son¡¯s child, maybe it¡¯s time you offered her a proper title. You can¡¯t demand loyalty and offer nothing in return.¡±

    Sandra looped her arm through Ste¡¯s and made a face at Jazlyn. ¡°If I ever had a mother-inw like her, I¡¯d vanish overnight with my suitcase and never look back.¡±

    Sandra had never realized just how much Ste had endured. If only they¡¯d met earlier, she could¡¯ve helped put this shameless woman in her ce a long time ago.

    Doreen, who¡¯d been sitting quietly nearby, hadn¡¯t expected Ste to speak up like that. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to Jazlyn, silently hoping this might be the moment Jazlyn weed her into the family.

    But Jazlyn¡¯s face twisted in rage. What nerve! Was Ste implying that any woman could just waltz into the Walsh family now? Doreen was pregnant, sure, but they didn¡¯t even know if the child was Marc¡¯s. What, did Ste think their family was a charity case?

    ¡°After divorcing my kid, do you really think anyone in Choria would want you? You can¡¯t even give a man a son. You should focus on your own pathetic life!¡± Jazlyn hissed.

    Ste¡¯s gaze turned icy. ¡°The one who should be pitied is the man whosepany is about to copse. That¡¯s the real disgrace in Choria.¡±

    With poise and not another word, Ste turned on her heel and walked out of the caf¨¦, leaving Jazlyn to stew in her own fury.

    Stay updated with g?ln¦Òv???s

    Meanwhile, Doreen stood frozen, emotions swirling inside her as she watched Ste walk away. After a moment, she gently turned to Jazlyn, her voice soft and careful. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, please don¡¯t let it upset you. I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t mean everything she said that way. Why don¡¯t you sit down for a moment? Try to calm yourself.¡±

    She stood up and guided Jazlyn back into her chair.

    Jazlyn was trembling with rage, her fists clenched tightly as she stared at the table, silently cursing Ste again and again in her mind. She had only agreed to meet Doreen today to size her up, not to ept her into the family. Letting her marry Marc was never the n. Yet Ste¡¯s words still echoed in her mind, leaving her pride bruised and her temper simmering.

    As Doreen spoke, Jazlyn looked up and met her wide, trusting eyes. She seemed so pure, so unaware of the world¡¯s games. Manipting her might not be difficult at all.

    ¡°You¡¯re kind to want to keep the baby. That night was clearly an ident, and yet you never med Marc. We¡¯re grateful for that. I won¡¯t ask you to get rid of the child.¡±

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 Chapter 342

    ?Chapter 342:

    Jazlyn¡¯s attitude shifted suddenly, her tone softening as if she had turned over a new leaf. She reached out and took Doreen¡¯s hand with an affectionate smile. ¡°If you ever need anything during your pregnancy,e find me. What matters most is that you and the baby stay safe and well.¡±

    Doreen¡¯s eyes lit up with joy, a warm sense of happiness blooming quietly in her chest.

    ¡°Really? You really want me to keep the baby, Mrs. Walsh?¡±

    This was unfolding far more smoothly than Doreen had expected. She recalled Ste¡¯s earlier presence and looked at Jazlyn, quietly guessing that this change of heart had something to do with Ste¡¯s words.

    A small, smug smile tugged at Doreen¡¯s lips. Ste likely had no idea she had unintentionally paved the way for her.

    ¡°A baby is innocent. As a woman, how could I bear to ask you to end a life?¡± Jazlyn softly patted Doreen¡¯s hand.

    In her eyes, Doreen was educated and sensible, and just needed a little direction. With proper guidance, she could be useful. That thought alone made Jazlyn¡¯s tone toward her much kinder.

    ¡°You¡¯re carrying Marc¡¯s child, so it¡¯s only right that you join the family. The Walshes won¡¯t turn their backs on you. Once the baby arrives and your health is stable, I¡¯ll have Marc arrange a proper wedding.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m honored you¡¯d consider me part of the Walsh family, Mrs. Walsh, but I don¡¯t want to make things hard for Marc,¡± Doreen said with concern. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even know I¡¯m pregnant yet. That night was unexpected, and I know I¡¯m not someone who matches his status. I¡¯m just worried he might not take this well if he finds out you¡¯re arranging things behind his back.¡±

    Jazlyn understood her son¡¯s temper all too well.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin anything,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I understand the situation. Just leave everything to me, and I¡¯ll take care of it. When the timees, just follow my lead.¡±

    Doreen nodded without hesitation, her tone sweet and submissive. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Walsh. I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡±

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    Ste and Sandra strolled out of the cafe, drinks in hand. Sandra took a sip and scrunched her nose. ¡°Sylvia, I¡¯m so damn d you finally escaped that toxic hellhole.¡±

    Everyone close to them already knew¡ªSylvia was just Ste¡¯s way of staying low-key.

    Ste didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she gave a faint, knowing smile. Those years with Marc felt like some cruel curse, draining every ounce of her luck. But the moment she broke free, everything in her life started blooming again.

    She took a long sip of her drink, tilted her head toward the blue sky, and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re right. Leaving him was the best decision I¡¯ve ever made.¡±

    Marc had been nothing short of a waking nightmare. She¡¯d dragged herself out of that pit, and she wasn¡¯t going back. Not in this life.

    Sandra beamed. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely meet someone ten times better. Just wait.¡±

    She genuinely believed Ste would find someone more deserving. But Ste shook her head. ¡°Who says I need someone?¡±

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 Chapter 343

    ?Chapter 343:

    Sandra blinked. ¡°Wait, what?¡±

    Steughed at her confused face and gently flicked her on the forehead. ¡°I¡¯m good on my own.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t against love¡ªshe just didn¡¯t depend on it. A man was never going to be the centerpiece of her world again.

    After a pause, Sandra nodded, eyes sparkling. ¡°Yeah! You don¡¯t need anyone to shine. Sylvia, you could have a new admirer every damn day if you wanted.¡±

    Ste chuckled, half amused, half exasperated. She wasn¡¯t chasing anyone. Her life was already wide open with possibilities.

    They had barely gone a few steps when Sandra suddenly elbowed her. ¡°Uh, Sylvia¡­ isn¡¯t that Marc?¡±

    Ste looked up. Of course, it was.

    Sandra rolled her eyes. ¡°City this big, and we keep running into him. What are the odds? That guy¡¯s like a cockroach.¡±

    Ste gave a shrug. ¡°Let¡¯s just walk past.¡±

    But Marc had already noticed them. And seeing Ste so unbothered¡ªso radiant¡ªmust¡¯ve struck a nerve. He stepped forward.

    ¡°Stel, you really shouldn¡¯t have danced with William just to get back at me. I admit, it got under my skin. But you did promise me something once, remember? I never danced with anyone else that night. I only took Doreen out there to make you jealous. But you¡­ you didn¡¯t even care. While you were dancing with William, didn¡¯t a single memory of us cross your mind?¡± Marc was rambling, and he knew it. None of it would change anything, but he couldn¡¯t help it¡ªhe just wanted to talk to her a little longer.

    ¡°Stel,¡± he pressed on, ¡°won¡¯t you even look at me? You¡¯ve always been the one for me. No matter what happened, I never stopped seeing you as my wife.¡±

    Ste was so done. She rubbed her earlobe, clearly irritated, then finally shot him a look. ¡°Mr. Walsh, drop the act. You and Doreen already slept together, didn¡¯t you? Or did that little detail slip your mind?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression cracked. He hadn¡¯t expected her to know.

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    Ste didn¡¯t let up. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant. Time to man up and take responsibility. It¡¯s a whole life you¡¯re dealing with¡ªand your precious family¡¯s big on passing down the name, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Marc blinked,pletely thrown. Pregnant? Passing down the name? He opened his mouth to ask, but Ste had already lost interest. ¡°Keep following me and I¡¯ll report you for harassment.¡±

    She didn¡¯t wait for a reply. Just linked arms with Sandra and headed straight into the mall, leaving Marc standing there like an idiot.

    Marc took a few steps, then stopped cold. Ste¡¯s words kept echoing in his head, leaving himpletely unmoored. He wasn¡¯t even supposed to run into her today¡ªhe was here to meet Jazlyn. He nced toward the mall, jaw clenched, then turned on his heel and hurried off.

    Meanwhile, inside a nearby juice bar, Jazlyn and Doreen sat across from each other, the tension thick. After shing with Ste earlier, Jazlyn had called Marc, saying she needed to talk.

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 Chapter 344

    ?Chapter 344:

    The second Marc pushed through the ss door and saw them together, his face darkened. Why the hell was she here with his mother? He strode over, his voice cold. ¡°Doreen, what are you doing here?¡±

    His tone was sharp, and Doreen shrank back slightly, trying to appear fragile. ¡°Jazlyn, see what I mean?¡± she sniffled. ¡°Mr. Walsh doesn¡¯t care about me at all. Looks like I really don¡¯t have the fate to be your daughter-inw.¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression twisted at thatst part. Daughter-inw? He grabbed her wrist¡ªfirm, with no tenderness. ¡°Come with me.¡±

    Jazlyn hadn¡¯t even said a word before Marc yanked Doreen out into the sweltering afternoon sun. Outside, he dropped her hand but didn¡¯t bother softening his re. ¡°What the hell was that supposed to mean? What daughter-inw?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s eyes welled up. She ced a trembling hand on her stomach. ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said quietly. ¡°You know my family¡¯s not doing well¡­ Even getting an abortion would cost a fortune I don¡¯t have.¡±

    Marc froze. His grip on her wrist loosened as the words sank in.

    ¡°I went to the doctor,¡± she continued. ¡°They said my uterine lining is thin. If I go through with this, I might not ever be able to have kids again.¡±

    Tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t keep it. But it¡¯s already inside me. It¡¯s real. Your child, and I just¡­ I can¡¯t bring myself to end it.¡±

    Marc¡¯s mind was spinning. He¡¯d been thinking only in terms of damage control¡ªhow to contain this, how to clean it up withoutpletely destroying hisst shot with Ste.

    But now, watching her cry, so fragile and helpless, something inside him gave the faintest twinge.

    He finally spoke, his voice low. ¡°Stop crying. I¡¯llpensate you. But honestly¡­ I think it¡¯s better not to have the baby.¡±

    He didn¡¯t want a kid with Doreen. If that happened, any chance with Ste would be gone for good.

    For a second, Doreen thought he might care. The first part of his sentence had given her hope. But the rest of it cut deep. She stepped back, clutching her stomach like she was protecting the child from him.

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    ¡°Why?¡± she demanded, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Even if I die on that table¡­ even if I never have another child¡­ you still want me to get rid of this one?¡± Her voice cracked with grief. ¡°I never wanted to trap you. I just¡­ I just wanted to live. To give this baby a shot at life. Why is that too much to ask?¡±

    She was trembling now, rage and pain flooding out in waves. ¡°You¡¯re heartless, Mr. Walsh. You don¡¯t deserve Ste¡¯s love. Or anyone¡¯s love for that matter.¡±

    She wiped her face with shaking hands and suddenly stepped back.

    ¡°If you¡¯re so set on getting rid of this baby, then take me with it. My life means nothing to you anyway, right?¡± With that, she turned sharply and made a run for the street.

    Marc¡¯s heart dropped at Doreen¡¯s words. Before she could get any closer to the road, he lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.

    ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± he said, breath catching. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you. Just calm down, alright?¡± His voice softened as he loosened his grip. ¡°Look, I was wrong, okay? If you really want to keep the baby, fine. I won¡¯t stop you.¡±

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 Chapter 345

    ?Chapter 345:

    ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to marry you. I need you to understand that.¡±

    Doreen stayed quiet, her expression unreadable. Marc went on, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the baby. I¡¯ll send money every month for support¡ªwhatever you need. But this isn¡¯t going to turn into a rtionship. And one more thing¡ªstay away from my mom. Don¡¯t bring this up with her again.¡±

    Doreen looked up at him, eyes brimming with quiet hurt. After a long pause, she gave a small nod. ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t say anything to your mother,¡± she murmured. ¡°But¡­ could you give me some money? The doctor said I¡¯m malnourished. I need supplements. It¡¯s not for me¡ªit¡¯s for the baby.¡±

    She paused, then continued, ¡°Rest assured, as long as child support is provided, I won¡¯t bother your mother. If you don¡¯t want to see me, I will keep my distance.¡± Her voice was soft, not maniptive¡ªjust tired. Honest.

    Marc actually appreciated that.

    At least she wasn¡¯t pulling a full-blown emotional stunt, the kind Haley used to pull¡ªdemanding love,mitment, and God knows what else. That stuff made his skin crawl.

    He pulled out his wallet and handed over all the cash he had. ¡°It¡¯s about ten grand. Take it for now. I¡¯ll transfer moreter.¡±

    Doreen took the money, nodded without another word, and gged down a taxi. True to her promise, she left without lingering, not even ncing back once.

    Marc stood there, staring at the back of the cab until it disappeared into traffic. His mind was a storm.

    A baby. He was going to be a father, and it still didn¡¯t feel real. It felt like a bad dream that hadn¡¯t finished unraveling yet.

    His thoughts shifted back to Ste. She knew. Somehow, she¡¯d already found out. And from the way she¡¯d looked at him, she probably thought he was garbage. He wanted to exin. To tell her the truth.

    But even if he tried, she¡¯d never believe him.

    He sighed deeply, rubbing his temple, already weighed down by the mess. Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. He turned to see Johnny and Tommy walking up.

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    ¡°Marc?¡± Johnny blinked, surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you here!¡± He gave Marc a friendly p on the shoulder, but the gloom on Marc¡¯s face didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Tommy stepped in, concerned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen at thepany?¡±

    Marc shook his head, rubbing his nose. ¡°It¡¯s not work. It¡¯s¡­ Doreen.¡± They both looked confused. ¡°Who¡¯s Doreen?¡±

    Marc let out a heavy sigh. ¡°That college girl. From the lounge bar. She¡¯s pregnant.¡±

    It took a second for the words to register.

    Johnny¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Wait¡ªyour baby?¡±

    Marc clenched his jaw. ¡°I was pissed at Ste that night. Wanted to make her jealous. I didn¡¯t think this would happen.¡± Johnny¡¯s mouth hung open, stunned.

    Tommy frowned. ¡°Marc¡­ if you¡¯re still trying to win Ste back, how could you let something like this happen? If she finds out, won¡¯t you lose your chance forever?¡±

    Even Johnny¡ªnormally the loyal wingman¡ªcouldn¡¯t defend him this time. Marc, already in his lowest mood, snapped. ¡°It¡¯s just one rtionship. What, you two never had one-night stands before?¡±

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 Chapter 346

    ?Chapter 346:

    The two friends exchanged a long, silent nce and said nothing.

    They weren¡¯t going to argue. Not with Marc being this far gone.

    Seeing the look on their faces only made him angrier.

    Without another word, he turned and stormed off toward the nearest club. Everything was spiraling, and he knew he couldn¡¯t fix any of it right now. But he could drown it out¡ªfor a few hours at least.

    While Marc was off brooding somewhere, Ste and Sandra were having the time of their lives.

    They spent the entire day hopping from store to store, arms full of new clothes. Ste practically floated back to the research institute dorm, her hands weighed down with shopping bags but her mood light as air.

    The elevator dinged. As she stepped out, she was surprised to see William unlocking his door just across the hallway.

    She blinked. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to still be in Wredo?

    They made brief eye contact. Ste gave him a small nod and turned to unlock her own door, not thinking much of it.

    But William had noticed everything¡ªespecially how happy she looked. She was carrying shopping bags, smiling like nothing in the world could bother her. And clearly, she¡¯d been out with someone else.

    His chest tightened a little. She really didn¡¯t miss him at all, huh?

    Before he could stop himself, he blurted, ¡°This is for you.¡±

    Ste turned around. He was holding out a sleek ck gift bag.

    She raised a brow, silently asking what it was.

    ¡°It¡¯s from Wredo. A friend gave it to me,¡± he said casually. ¡°I don¡¯t need it, thought you might like it.¡±

    Ste paused, trying to remember what Wredo was known for. Ah¡ªpearls.

    She took the bag and murmured a polite, ¡°Thanks.¡±

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    A momentter, she added, ¡°Want toe over for dinner tonight?¡± It felt weird just epting a gift without doing something in return.

    Cooking him a meal felt fair¡ªand not too personal.

    Later that evening, Ste whipped up three dishes and a soup, all things she knew William liked.

    As they ate, she asked lightly, ¡°So, what was the project in Wredo about? Was it rough?¡±

    William gave her a side-eye, smirking. ¡°Asking so eagerly¡­ Are you nning your next move at work already?¡±

    Ste clicked her tongue, ying annoyed. ¡°Seriously? Can¡¯t I just be concerned for a colleague? If that¡¯s how you see it, forget I asked.¡± She stabbed her food like a sulking kid.

    William chuckled, clearly entertained. ¡°Alright, alright. I was being petty.¡± He could see right through her, but he let it slide¡ªand told her about the progress in Wredo anyway.

    Ste listened carefully, her brain ticking the whole time.

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 Chapter 347

    ?Chapter 347:

    After dinner, Rita popped by to help with the dishes.

    As they rinsed and stacked tes, Rita asked, ¡°Ms. Russell, have you been practicing those techniques I taught you?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Ste nodded. ¡°I¡¯m already seeing results!¡±

    Rita looked pleased. ¡°Your condition really is above average. I have no doubt you¡¯ll do great.¡±

    Ste grinned. ¡°Honestly, I think I¡¯m in better shape than Mr. Briggs. Maybe you should take him along next time for some training.¡± She nced toward the living room where William sat, sipping tea.

    Her eyes narrowed yfully. Given William¡¯s physique, could he be the bottom in his rtionship?

    William couldn¡¯t hear them, but he caught her looking at him¡ªwith this ridiculous mix of sympathy, mockery, and curiosity.

    It irritated him. What kind of thoughts was she having about him?

    After everything was cleaned up, Rita left with William, and Ste finally got to rx.

    She showered and slipped into bed.

    She threw on a movie she¡¯d been meaning to watch for weeks.

    By the time the credits rolled, it was already 1:30 a.m.

    She groaned, tossed her phone aside, and pulled the nket up to her chin¡ªonly for the screen to light up again.

    It was a message from William.

    She assumed it was something work-rted.

    But when she unlocked the phone, the message simply read¡ª¡±How about a gym session together tomorrow?¡±

    Ste paused, mildly surprised. Had William overheard her conversation with Rita yesterday and actually taken it to heart? Was he really feeling insecure about his fitness? She tapped her keyboard and typed back a simple, ¡°OK.¡±

    It was the weekend anyway¡ªno institute, no meetings¡ªso hitting the gym with William didn¡¯t sound like a bad n.

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    As she stepped out of the elevator and made her way into the fitness center, Ste instinctively reached for her phone to let him know she¡¯d arrived. But before she could even open their chat, her eyesnded on a familiar figure already on the treadmill, soaked in sweat and fully in the zone. Wait¡ªwas that William?

    She walked over, and right then, he slowed the machine and stepped off, his gaze meeting hers without missing a beat. ¡°Good morning, Ms. Gilbert,¡± he said, calm andposed.

    She gaped at him, totally caught off guard.

    William was dressed in full-on athletic wear¡ªtight, form-hugging, utterly unforgiving. The kind of gear that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. The fabric hugged his chest and arms, clearly outlining sculpted pecs and solid biceps. His legs¡ªlong, lean, and muscr¡ªlooked built for power and bnce. Every inch of him looked strong and very much in shape.

    So much for yesterday¡¯sment about him being out of form. Yeah, that had definitely been nonsense.

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 Chapter 348

    ?Chapter 348:

    She was still trying to process that realization when William stepped closer, his voice teasing. ¡°What are you daydreaming about, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    Caught off guard by his sudden proximity, Ste instinctively backed up a step¡ªor two.

    Her gaze flicked down to his chest, and just like that, a memory shed¡ªthat moment she¡¯d seen him shirtless, fresh out of the shower.

    Her mind wentpletely nk. And worse, her cheeks red a telltale pink.

    William¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°Feeling warm? You¡¯re turning red.¡±

    Flustered, Ste turned away, putting space between them.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, are you here to work out or to distract people?¡±

    He found her embarrassment amusing, like it was some sort of morning entertainment.

    Still smirking, he climbed back on the treadmill and ran alongside her for forty minutes, not missing a beat.

    Once their cardio was done, Ste moved on to weights. Ever since she started learningbat skills from Rita, she¡¯d been working on building up her core strength. She focused on her form, blocking out everything¡ªincluding William. Well, trying to, anyway. Because his presence was hard to ignore. Especially when the gym started to fill up.

    More and more heads began to turn in his direction. A few women in skimpy workout gear started circling William like moths to a me, whispering and nudging each other.

    One of them¡ªpretty, with a high ponytail and a pink sports bra¡ªfinally worked up the nerve. She strutted over with her phone in hand, all confidence and charm.

    ¡°Hey,¡± she smiled, ¡°you train here often? Maybe we could work out together sometime?¡± She held out her phone, clearly expecting him to add his contact.

    William gave her a brief nce,pletely unfazed. His tone stayed t, almost bored. ¡°Sorry. My girlfriend¡¯s watching. She gets jealous.¡±

    Ste, a few feet away, mid-set with the dumbbells, nearly dropped one. Girlfriend?

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    She nced over, eyebrows raised, just in time to see the girl awkwardly retreat to her giggling friends.

    Before Ste could say a word, William turned to her, cing a finger lightly to his lips. ¡°Help me ward off the attention, will you? We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    Ste opened her mouth, then shut it. She had aeback ready¡ªbut what was the point? He wasn¡¯t into women anyway. Helping him keep the gym bunnies off his back wasn¡¯t a big deal.

    From that moment on, every time a woman so much as nced William¡¯s way at the gym, Ste would sh a sweet¡ªbut deadly¡ªsmile and say, ¡°Sorry, he¡¯s taken. He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡±

    Just like that, what started as a normal workout quickly turned into Ste¡¯s personal mission to fend off William¡¯s growing fan club.

    Two hourster, both of them were dripping with sweat as they left the gym together. Ste wiped her brow and sighed. She needed a shower.

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 Chapter 349

    ?Chapter 349:

    They rode the elevator back up to their floor in silence. When it dinged, they each headed to their separate rooms.

    William had barely closed his door when his phone buzzed. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, we¡¯ve got a lead on the case you asked us to dig into. Also¡ªremember that item you mentioned? It¡¯s resurfaced. It¡¯ll be up for auction this afternoon in Choria. Competition¡¯s already heating up.¡±

    William froze. What? That item was supposed to be with the person he was searching for, not on a public auction block. How did it end up there? If it was really at the auction, then it must have been sent there by the seller. But he hadn¡¯t heard anything about Ste auctioning something like that recently.

    Could it be¡­ she¡¯s not the one after all?

    He asked into the phone, ¡°When¡¯s the auction?¡±

    ¡°Two o¡¯clock sharp.¡±

    William nced at the time: 1:13 PM.

    He didn¡¯t say another word. He hung up, jumped into the shower, changed into fresh clothes, grabbed his phone, and bolted.

    Back in her dorm, Ste had no clue about any of this. She took her time in the bath, finally stepping out with steam curling around her. By the time she dried off and reached for her phone, it was already 1:40 PM.

    A message from Sharon lit up her screen. ¡°Stel,e with me to an auction today. There¡¯s something amazing up for grabs!¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow. What could possibly get Sharon this excited? Curious, she quickly got dressed.

    At the auction house, Sharon led Ste to their seats¡ªmiddle of the room, low profile, but not tucked away.

    The venue was buzzing with people in tailored suits and designer gowns. Ste wore a simple yet elegant designer dress she¡¯d snagged online, minimal but eye-catching.

    ¡°Alright, spill. What¡¯s this item that got you all worked up?¡± Ste asked. Sharon definitely wasn¡¯t hurting for money. Normally, if she wanted something, she just bought it¡ªno bidding wars required.

    Her ce was practically a mini museum, packed with rare collectibles. Thest time she got this worked up was over a pair of boots worn by some war general from thest century.

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    Sharon leaned in, whispering like it was some national secret. ¡°It¡¯s a jade carving. Supposedly a traditional symbol of strength and prosperity. The master I consulted said it¡¯d boost my business luck.¡±

    Ste gave her a skeptical look. ¡°You actually believe that stuff?¡±

    Sharon shrugged. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure, but the master said it was, so she figured she¡¯d buy it and see. Even if it wasn¡¯t, it could serve as a decoration.

    They settled in and waited for the auction to start.

    A few seats down, someone slid into a chair. Ste turned slightly to nce¡ªand her smile froze. Marc.

    He looked rough, unshaven. Eyes dull. Like he hadn¡¯t slept properly in days.

    Marc¡¯s eyesnded on her, and something twisted in his chest.

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 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350:

    The past few days had drained Marc¡ªmentally and physically. Doreen¡¯s pregnancy had thrown himpletely off bnce, and he still hadn¡¯t figured out how to deal with it.

    He hadn¡¯t figured out how to handle the situation, and now unexpectedly ran into Ste.

    She looked¡­ breathtaking. Poised. Effortless. The delicate line of her corbone visible under her dress. And yet, she sat therepletely at peace¡ªas if he¡¯d never existed.

    He hesitated. Then, seeing the empty seat beside her, he made a split-second decision and slid into it.

    Before Ste and Sharon could notice, Marc had already settled in beside Ste.

    ¡°Stel,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°The pregnancy¡ªit¡¯s not what you think. I can exin. You know it¡¯s always been you. In my heart¡­ it¡¯s only ever been you.¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression faltered the moment Marc opened his mouth.

    She¡¯d been in a great mood, but now he was here, ruining it with his nonsense. ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on in your personal life isn¡¯t my concern, Mr. Walsh. Now kindly return to your seat.¡±

    Marc pressed his lips together. ¡°Ste, I know you¡¯re jealous. No need to hide it. We¡¯ve been together for years¡ªI know how you think. There¡¯s nothing going on with Doreen. I just helped her with school because she couldn¡¯t afford the tuition.¡±

    Ste let out a short, sharpugh. ¡°Leave now, or I¡¯ll call security.¡±

    She turned away and resumed chatting with Sharon, scrolling through the auction catalog on her phone as if nothing else existed.

    Marc was about to say something else when a man approached. ¡°Excuse me, sir. That¡¯s my seat.¡±

    Marc awkwardly stood up, shot onest nce at Ste, and shuffled back to his row.

    The auction began shortly after. Sharon practically bounced in her seat and grabbed Ste¡¯s arm. ¡°Ste, help me bid, will you? As long as it¡¯s under five million, I¡¯m good.¡±

    Ste nodded.

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    The first item up for bid was the jade piece Sharon had been obsessing over. Once the emcee introduced it, bidding started.

    At first, only a few paddles went up¡ªclearly, not everyone was impressed. Sharon, however, looked confident. She was sure it was hers. Until someone else jumped in.

    ¡°Number fifty-three, two and a half million! Do I hear more?¡±

    Ste and Sharon both turned to see Marc.

    He wore a smug look, as though he thought he was doing them a favor.

    He¡¯d obviously overheard them earlier and decided to ¡°help.¡±

    He kept bidding, slowly inching the price up. Three million. Three and a half.

    Sharon was fuming. ¡°Ste, how are there men this shameless in the world?¡± Marc¡¯s smug little game was driving her insane¡ªand the price was creeping dangerously close to her five million limit.

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