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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 Chapter 351

    ?Chapter 351:

    She grabbed Ste¡¯s hand in frustration. ¡°That jerk is trying to push me out!¡±

    Ste gently patted her back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This one¡¯s yours.¡±

    Sharon blinked. Huh? How was she so sure? Before she could voice her thought, Ste calmly raised her paddle. ¡°Eight million.¡± Gasps rippled through the auction hall.

    The jade pendant was the size of a thumb. No matter how well carved, it shouldn¡¯t have hit eight million.

    The room buzzed with whispers. Even Sharon was stunned.

    ¡°Ste! That¡¯s way over budget!¡± Her budget was only five million.

    Ste just gave her a calm smile. ¡°Call it an early birthday gift. I know it¡¯s months away.¡±

    Eight million was nothing¡ªshe¡¯d already saved enough for a house, with plenty left over to cover this expense. She needed to put Marc in his ce too.

    Sharon sat there, mouth open. Her birthday was still five months away. Marc, meanwhile, was frozen in ce, paddle clenched tight.

    His expression darkened as he heard the host¡¯s voice on stage. ¡°Number fifty-seven bids eight million. Any other bids?¡±

    Marc looked like he wanted to keep going, but reality hit. No way was he going to drop eight million on jade.

    His hand finally dropped.

    ¡°Eight million once. Twice. Three times¡ªsold!¡± The gavel hit.

    A few minutester, the jade was delivered directly to Ste¡¯s seat.

    She swiped her card with effortless grace and handed the piece to Sharon without hesitation.

    ¡°It¡¯s yours now,¡± she said, loud enough for Marc to hear. ¡°What¡¯s meant for you will always find its way to you. And what isn¡¯t¡­ well, it can¡¯t be forced. I guess Mr. Walsh liked the jade too. Too bad Walsh Group¡¯s been tankingtely. Eight million¡¯s a tough ask these days, huh?¡±

    Marc¡¯s face darkened, his jaw tight as he stared at her. His hand curled into a fist.

    He wasn¡¯t trying to win the jade for himself. He just wanted to do something nice for her. Was that really so unforgivable?

    If it were William giving it to her¡­ would she still be this cold?

    After that, Sharon was too giddy about her jade to care about the rest of the auction.

    Ste, however, nced up at the next item.

    The host began introducing it.

    And then, when the cloth was pulled back and the item revealed, Ste blinked hard. ¡°Wait¡­ why was that here?¡±

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, up next is the rarest piece in today¡¯s auction¡ªabsolutely one of a kind in the entire world,¡± the auctioneer dered.

    Ste froze,pletely stunned by the announcement. That item¡ªit looked exactly like the one she had. But a top-tier auction like this wouldn¡¯t dare sell a fake, so where had this piecee from? Her mind spiraled with questions, and she didn¡¯t know which one to tackle first.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 352

    ?Chapter 352:

    The auctioneer continued, ¡°If the owner weren¡¯t facing financial hardship, this piece would never have seen the light of day. It¡¯s a treasured family heirloom¡ªprecious and irreceable.¡±

    The moment he finished, a paddle shot up in the audience. The bid came from the second floor. All Ste could make out was a paddle with a number on it.

    ¡°Number thirteen¡ªthree hundred million. Do I hear a higher bid?¡± the auctioneer called.

    The crowd buzzed in disbelief¡ªthree hundred million? That wasn¡¯t pocket change. Only a handful of people could even afford to y at that level.

    From her seat at the back, Ste quietly clicked her tongue. Who would drop that much on a fake? Did they have so much money they didn¡¯t care about throwing it away?

    Even though she was almost sure it wasn¡¯t real, she knew these kinds of auctions had serious backers. She wasn¡¯t dumb enough to let it slip that she had the original.

    If the buyer had any brains, they¡¯d verify the piece afterward.

    Either way, it had nothing to do with her.

    Meanwhile, the item was brought up to the VIP room on the second floor.

    William sat with the item in hand, examining it with a careful eye. The color¡­ the patterns¡­ it all looked eerily close to what he remembered.

    Luca stood beside him, dumbfounded. ¡°Three hundred million? That¡¯s not worth it. You could pick up a piece like this at a crafts store for half a million tops.¡±

    William, however, didn¡¯t say a word. He just kept his eyes fixed on the piece, his expression unreadable.

    Years ago, he¡¯d only seen it for a moment. It wasn¡¯t enough to tell if what he saw then, and what he held now, were the same.

    The auctioneer had said the seller needed the money. Was that why she was selling this now¡ªhad she been struggling all this time?

    William¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Track down the seller. Immediately.¡±

    Your story hub g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s

    As the auction wrapped up, Ste and Sharon made their way out. When they reached the stairwell, they crossed paths with Williaming down from the second floor.

    William¡¯s expression shifted the moment he saw her.

    But he looked away just as quickly, avoiding her gaze altogether.

    Ste could tell something wasn¡¯t right. He looked like a child caught red-handed.

    It wasn¡¯t hard for her to guess he¡¯d been up to something upstairs that he didn¡¯t want her to know about. Still, in a way, it was better this way.

    At least he didn¡¯te up with some excuse or try to mislead her. Keeping his distance was probably for the best.

    With Sharon walking beside her, Ste quietly made her way through the crowd and soon slipped out of William¡¯s sight.

    Sharon had driven them that day and dropped her off at her dorm.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 353

    ?Chapter 353:

    Later that evening, Ste received a voice message from Sandra.

    ¡°Sylvia! Thepetition results areing out at eight! I just know we¡¯ve won¡ªthere¡¯s no way we didn¡¯t! But Elbert said we should still watch the result announcement to add a sense of ceremony.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s bubbly tone lifted Ste¡¯s spirits. ¡°Alright,¡± she replied with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡±

    A part of her couldn¡¯t wait to see the expression on Finnegan¡¯s face when he lost. It was something she¡¯d been looking forward to.

    Time slipped by quickly, and before she knew it, it was already 7:59.

    She opened thepetition website, her eyes on the ticking clock. As it turned eight, she hit refresh, waiting for the results to appear.

    But then¡ª

    ¡°What?¡± She blinked at the screen. ¡°How on earth did Finnegan¡¯s team win?¡±

    Sandra¡¯s incredulous voice crackled through the phone as she refreshed the results page again and again¡ªonly to see the same name each time.

    Winner: Finnegan Dixon¡¯s team.

    Just reading those words sent a chill through Ste. She didn¡¯t even need to check social media to know what people were saying. Still on the call with Sandra, she heard her friend¡¯s frustration crackling in her tone.

    ¡°Ugh! Why is the inte always like this? Now they¡¯re iming we were all talk¡ªand this is proof we couldn¡¯t deliver!¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together. Exactly what she had expected. ¡°Sandra, don¡¯t waste your time on thosements. People online always cheer for the winners. They don¡¯t care about the truth. You¡¯ll only drive yourself crazy.¡±

    What Ste really wanted to know was why the results had turned out this way. The mindless online noise? Not worth a second thought.

    ¡°No, seriously¡ªhow the hell did Finnegan¡¯s team win? We were clearly better in every round!¡± Sandra huffed, still fuming. Then her voice dropped low and bitter: ¡°He must¡¯ve cheated again. There¡¯s no other way.¡±

    Given Finnegan¡¯s history, that wasn¡¯t an unreasonable theory.

    Ste paused before answering. A thought had just urred to her. ¡°Sandra,¡± she said finally, ¡°have Elbert and Jamir meet us tomorrow at the institute. Tonight, try to get some rest. Don¡¯t let this get to you.¡±

    She trusted her gut¡ªbut she needed proof.

    The next morning, Ste stepped into the research institute¡¯s lobby and felt every pair of eyesnd on her like a weight.

    People didn¡¯t even try to hide their stares. Some looked at her with pity, others with judgment. A few showed thinly veiled amusement, while others expressed sympathy, me, and mockery. It was all there, in their eyes.

    Ste ignored it all, walking straight to theb.

    Inside, the air felt heavy, tense. No one was talking.

    Ste broke the silence. ¡°You¡¯ve all seen the results. Let me be clear¡ªI don¡¯t ept this. That wasn¡¯t fair.¡±

    Sandra was quick to back her up. ¡°Exactly! That whole thing was rigged. Finnegan¡¯s pulling the same tricks again, I¡¯m sure of it!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 354

    ?Chapter 354:

    Elbert looked over at Ste, his tone calm but firm. ¡°So, what¡¯s our n?¡±

    If Finnegan had the power to sway the organizers, then this wasn¡¯t just a one-time scam. And digging up evidence wasn¡¯t going to be easy.

    Ste¡¯s thoughts drifted back to the auction¡ªthe way William had acted that day. Distant. Like he was hiding something.

    She turned to Elbert and the others and said, ¡°Give me a second. I need to make a call.¡±

    William had been there during thepetition. If he knew something and wasn¡¯t telling her, that could change everything. Why else would he have gone cold at the auction? Pretending not to know her?

    She stepped out of theb and dialed William¡¯s number.

    The phone rang a few times before a robotic voice answered: ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unreachable. Please try againter¡­¡±

    Her brows furrowed. William never had reception issues. Ever.

    She tried again. Same message. A third time. Still nothing.

    Frustrated, she typed out a message: ¡°Thepetition results are out. Did you see them? Do you know what trick Finnegan pulled this time?¡± She hit send.

    She didn¡¯t expect an immediate reply.

    Sliding her phone back into her pocket, she walked back into theb.

    ¡°Elbert, I know this won¡¯t be easy,¡± she said, ¡°but we have to dig into this. It¡¯s not just about us¡ªit¡¯s the integrity of the whole field.¡±

    If Finnegan could keep cheating and still walk away with the trophy, then what was the point ofpeting at all?

    His kind of behavior wasn¡¯t just hical¡ªit was destructive. It would rot the whole industry from the inside out.

    Elbert gave her a solemn nod. ¡°You¡¯re right, Ste. We can¡¯t just sit back. We need to push back.¡±

    He looked around theb at everyone else. ¡°Alright, here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do¡ªeveryone go home today, start pulling any dirt you can find on Finnegan¡¯s team. Anything that doesn¡¯t add up¡ªwe track it down.¡±

    ???????????? §ã?????????????? g??????????????????????

    The sudden twist in events had left everyone reeling.

    If they were going to dig up any solid proof, they needed a game n. And not just any n¡ªa smart, thorough, and airtight one.

    But that wasn¡¯t something they could whip up in an afternoon. Work still needed their attention, so the matter had to be set aside for now.

    By noon, Ste¡¯s shoulders ached from hours of tension. She made her way to the break room, rubbing at her stiff muscles and reaching for a bottle of water. She nced at her phone. Still no reply from William. The message had been sent, sure¡ªbut unread.

    She stared at it for a second longer, then told herself maybe he was just busy. Maybe he hadn¡¯t seen it yet.

    The break room was quiet, spacious, and designed for moments like this¡ªa ce to dpress. Ste found a spot in the corner and sat, her mind still turning.

    Not long after, she heard footsteps and hushed voices drift in.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 355

    ?Chapter 355:

    ¡°Hey, did you hear? William rushed out of the institute this morning. Still hasn¡¯te back.¡±

    ¡°I thought he left Choria already? Must be something urgent.¡±

    ¡°Really? Must be really urgent for him to look anxious. I always thought nothing rattled that man.¡±

    Ste stayed quiet, listening.

    They filled their cups and left¡ªsilence returned.

    She took a long sip of water, eyes lowered. Wherever William had gone, it wasn¡¯t her business. Not anymore. But one thing still gnawed at her¡ªdid he know what Finnegan did?

    By the end of the workday, there was still no reply.

    Fine. If she couldn¡¯t count on William, she¡¯d find answers herself.

    That evening, she hired a private investigator.

    Finnegan was arrogant, careless. The type who thought he was untouchable¡ªand people like that always left cracks.

    By the next day, the results were in. Turns out, Finnegan was a regr at a club called Light Story. Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed. A n was already forming. She shared the details with the team. ¡°I¡¯m going to confront Finnegan,¡± she said calmly. ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, he¡¯ll slip up.¡±

    Sandra didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Sylvia, I¡¯ming with you. I¡¯m all in.¡±

    Jamir, ever the cautious one, frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ risky?¡± Sandra shot him a look. ¡°Got a better n?¡±

    He said nothing. The silence spoke for itself.

    Elbert finally spoke, steady and clear. ¡°We go with Sylvia¡¯s idea. Let¡¯s try it. We¡¯ve got nothing to lose now.¡±

    Ste nced at the clock. 8:30 PM. Not toote. They changed into casual clothes and headed out. They really hoped to find the answers they needed.

    Upon arriving at Light Story, Ste kept her expression casual as she approached the front desk. Under the pretext of applying for membership, she took the liberty to explore the ce.

    ??????????? §ã??¦Á¦Ñ???????? g??????¦Í??????©q§ã??£í

    Ste and the team strolled through the corridors, soaking in the opulent atmosphere. When they reached the second floor, a familiar voice rang out¡ªloud, cocky, and unmistakable. ¡°Come on, guys! Raise your sses!¡±

    Ste exchanged a nce with her team and then pointed to the room next door. ¡°We¡¯ll take this suite. Sign us up.¡± The server didn¡¯t waste time and led them in.

    Once the door shut behind them, the team circled up. ¡°So what now?¡± someone whispered.

    The soundproofing was good¡ªtoo good. They couldn¡¯t hear a thing from next door.

    Ste tapped her phone, lips tight. ¡°We¡¯ll need help.¡±

    She called Sharon. After a quick exnation, help was on the way. Minutester, a woman in a curve-hugging red dress knocked at their door. Her voice was low and smoky.

    ¡°Ms. Mitchell sent me. What do you need?¡±

    Ste leaned in and exined the situation in hushed tones. The woman nodded with a smirk, flipped her hair, and left.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 356

    ?Chapter 356:

    A few momentster, they watched through a barely cracked door as she strutted into Finnegan¡¯s suite with two bottles of premium wine in her arms, her smile sweet and seductive.

    ¡°Hello, gentlemen! You¡¯ve been selected for tonight¡¯s special offer,¡± she announced. ¡°These two bottles are on the housepliments of our boss.¡± The bottles were worth tens of thousands.

    Finnegan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°What kind of good karma is this?¡±

    Then his gaze slid over the woman.

    ¡°You,¡± he said with a smirk, leaning backzily. ¡°Come here and pour the drinks.¡±

    The woman in red yed her part perfectly¡ªpouring drinks,ughing at Finnegan¡¯sme jokes, and shing that sugary smile as she topped off his ss again and again.

    Before long, Finnegan waspletely stered. He mmed his ss down and slurred, ¡°Now this is what I call living! First, we win thepetition, and now we get free booze? Ha! The universe is practically begging me to celebrate!¡± His cronies howled withughter. ¡°Finnegan, you¡¯re untouchable! That Sylvia girl actually thought she could go up against you? What a joke. Everyone knows your uncle was one of the head judges. She never stood a chance.¡±

    ¡°Shhh!¡± Finnegan waved his hand clumsily, but his smugness still oozed out. ¡°You idiots wanna ruin everything? My uncle made me swear not to say anything. Keep your mouths shut, yeah?¡±

    They all nodded like bobbleheads, not noticing the tiny shimmer on the woman¡¯s brooch¡ªa disguised recorder.

    Thirty minutester, she slipped out of the room and found Ste waiting in the hallway. Without a word, the woman unclipped the brooch and handed it to her. Then she turned and left.

    Back in their own private suite, Ste and the others yed the recording. Finnegan¡¯s voice rang out loud and clear. ¡°She thought she couldpete with¡­¡±

    That was all they needed.

    They didn¡¯t waste a second. Within minutes, the audio file was sent to the institute¡¯s official email address.

    ??¦Á???????? ?h¦Á¦Ñ???????? g??l????v??????£®?????

    Now they just had to wait.

    Walking out of the club, the group stood in the glow of the city lights. Elbert looked at Ste, reading the tight line of worry in her expression. He gently patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Sylvia¡­ the truth will catch up with people like him. Let¡¯s just give it time.¡±

    Ste gave a small nod. ¡°Yeah.¡± It was just a matter of time.

    The next morning, an official statement arrived. The authorities were investigating and would handle the matter impartially.

    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

    That evening, Ste decided to visit Sharon. Without her help, none of what had happened the previous night would have gone so smoothly.

    After dinner, Ste began walking back to the institute, taking a shortcut through the quieter end of town. But as she crossed a deserted alley and neared the brighter main road, a creeping sensation climbed her spine. Every step she took was mirrored behind her¡ªquick when she sped up, slow when she hesitated.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 357

    ?Chapter 357:

    Damn it. She was being followed.

    Her instincts red, and she tried to slip into the traffic up ahead¡ªbut just as she turned the corner, someone blocked her path. Her stomach dropped. She spun around, only to lock eyes with the person behind her¡ªit was Finnegan.

    He was wearing a mask, only his eyes exposed.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± His voice was sharp, amused, threatening.

    Ste¡¯s pulse spiked, but her face stayed calm. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing too dramatic,¡± he said, shrugging as more masked men stepped out from the shadows to surround her. ¡°Just thought I¡¯d teach you a little lesson. You know, to remind you of your ce.¡±

    Ste backed up slowly. Thebat skills Rita had taught her reyed in her mind. The first guy lunged. She dodged. The second one reached for her. She twisted away.

    Finnegan cursed and charged, but Ste caught him off guard, grabbing his arm and flipping him t onto the pavement with a clean shoulder throw. He hit the ground with a painful thud.

    She followed up with a flurry of punches and kicks.

    She wasn¡¯t backing down. ¡°You wanted to teach me a lesson?¡± she snapped, striking again. ¡°Let¡¯s see who walks away with the bruises!¡±

    She pulled out her phone and dialed the police without hesitation.

    Then, ncing down at Finnegan¡¯s limp, unconscious form on the pavement, Ste let out a cold snort. ¡°I didn¡¯t evene looking for you,¡± she muttered, her voiceced with disdain. ¡°And still, you had the guts toe after me? Pathetic.¡±

    At that same moment, William stepped out of a high-level meeting, finally switching on his phone. His screen lit up with missed calls.

    One name stood out. Ste. His heart gave a slight flutter.

    Before he could call her back, his phone rang. It was Luca. ¡°Mr. Briggs, something happened. Ms. Russell was taken to the police station.¡± William¡¯s face darkened in an instant. ¡°Where?¡±

    Luca rattled off the address. William was already in motion. He climbed into his car, hit the gas, and dialed Ste¡¯s number as he drove.

    ??????????? §ã???????????? g?????????????[£®]??????

    The phone only rang a few times before she answered.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Briggs?¡± Her voice was calm, even light.

    ¡°Where are you right now?¡± His voice cut straight through the noise, sharp with worry.

    Ste¡¯s tone shifted instantly. ¡°At the police station.¡±

    ¡°Give me ten minutes,¡± he said, already taking a hard turn. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±

    With that, William ended the call, jaw clenched as he mmed the elerator.

    Ste listened to the abrupt dial tone in her ear, momentarily stunned by the sudden end of the call.

    On the way to the police station, William called Luca. He requested a full rundown of everything that had happened while he was away. He¡¯d been locked in back-to-back meetings for days,pletely in the dark.

    As expected, Luca didn¡¯t waste a second. Within minutes, detailed files popped up on William¡¯s screen. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Finnegan Dixon colluded with his uncle¡ªSergio Moore. Sergio was the head judge. They rigged thepetition results.¡± William¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Where is Sergio now?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 358

    ?Chapter 358:

    Luca did a quick check. ¡°He¡¯s headed to the airport. Looks like he¡¯s trying to skip town. Must have gotten wind that the authorities are on to him.¡±

    William let out a low, coldugh. Trying to run, huh? ¡°Stop him. If he boards that flight, you can clean out your desk at Briggs Group.¡±

    He hung up and hit the brakes hard in front of the police station. He unhooked his seatbelt and strode in without hesitation.

    Inside, Finnegan was mid-rant. ¡°Officer, she attacked us! Look at me¡ªmy friends are covered in bruises, and she¡¯s acting like nothing happened! You have to do something!¡±

    Ste crossed her arms and sneered. ¡°I defended myself. Try again.¡±

    Finnegan¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°Officer, you heard her. She¡¯s not even sorry! Lock her up already!¡±

    At that moment, the steady sound of leather shoes against tile echoed through the hallway. A cold voice followed. ¡°Who said she¡¯s getting locked up?¡± said William.

    The whole room seemed to shift with his presence. Even Finnegan¡¯s swagger faltered. He turned and forced a sneer. ¡°Well, well. If it isn¡¯t the almighty Mr. Briggs. No wonder Sylvia thinks she can get away with anything.¡±

    Ste scowled, but before she could reply, William¡¯s phone rang.

    Luca.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, we¡¯ve got him. Bringing him in now.¡± William¡¯s expression didn¡¯t shift.

    He looked straight at the officer. ¡°I¡¯d like to file a report. Sergio Moore¡ªhe¡¯s been manipting the stock market. Millions in investor losses, all funneled back to him through fake trades. Fraud, right? Evidence is on the way.¡±

    Finnegan froze. The color drained from his face. ¡°You¡¯re bluffing,¡± he snapped, rising to his feet.

    William smiled coolly. ¡°Am I?¡±

    Finnegan stepped in close, his voice low and venomous. ¡°Do you really have to take it this far?¡±

    William let out a quiet chuckle, looking down at Finnegan like he was nothing more than a squashed bug under his shoe. ¡°What goes aroundes around.¡± He turned to the officer. ¡°She¡¯s free to go, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    ??????????? ¡é???¦Ñ???????? ?????????????????©q?????

    The officer nodded without hesitation.

    Without missing a beat, William slipped an arm around Ste¡¯s shoulder and led her out. ¡°It¡¯s taken care of. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Behind them, Finnegan opened his mouth, likely to spew more nonsense, but the officers had already cuffed him and shoved him back down.

    William opened the car door for Ste, waited until she slid in, then shut it gently. As he rounded to the driver¡¯s side, she just sat there, unmoving. He nced at her and chuckled. ¡°What, waiting for me to buckle you in?¡± Snapping out of her daze, Ste met his gaze¡ªteasing, warm¡ªand hurriedly clicked her seatbelt into ce. ¡°Just drive.¡±

    The car was quiet. She didn¡¯t thank him. Didn¡¯t say a word.

    At a red light, William nced sideways, his tone soft. ¡°Are you upset?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°Why would I be upset?¡±

    Finnegan was dealt with. Their team would get the championship back. The truth was out. Justice served. There was no reason to be upset. Right?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 359

    ?Chapter 359:

    ¡°I didn¡¯t answer your calls these past few days because I was in a closed-door conference,¡± William said as he drove. ¡°Phones weren¡¯t allowed. I didn¡¯t see your messages or missed calls until today. The second the meeting ended, I came straight here.¡±

    He sounded calm, but his words stirred something in Ste that only made her feel more conflicted.

    Why did it matter where he had gone? She could handle things herself. She always had.

    And yet, if William hadn¡¯t stepped in with that evidence, Finnegan¡¯s uncle might still be walking free. She couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªshe¡¯d relied on him. Again.

    And that was the problem.

    She was leaning on him too much. Depending on him without even realizing it. It hit her like a cold ssh of water¡ªshe had unconsciously started seeing William as her safety. William¡¯s sudden disappearance had jolted her awake. It made her see things for what they really were.

    She needed to remember her ce¡ªwho she was to him, and who he was to her.

    She had to stop crossing lines that shouldn¡¯t be blurred.

    Meeting his gaze, she kept her tone distant. ¡°Mr. Briggs, there¡¯s no need to report your schedule to me. We¡¯re just colleagues. It¡¯s perfectly normal for you to have your own priorities. Still¡­ thank you for today.¡±

    William¡¯s brows drew together at her sudden cold attitude.

    He hadn¡¯t said anything wrong¡ªhad he?

    The car rolled to a stop in the underground parking lot. Before he could even kill the engine, Ste had already unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. ¡°Bye, Mr. Briggs.¡± She didn¡¯t look back as she walked off.

    By the time William parked properly and caught up, she was already in the elevator. The doors closed with a ding just as he reached it.

    He stood there, watching the floor number rise, then let out a wearyugh.

    She really wasn¡¯t going to wait, huh?

    ??????????? ??????????????? ?????????¦Í?????????????

    He¡¯d rushed across the city for her. Again. And still, she kept him at arm¡¯s length.

    The next morning, thepetition results were re-announced. The organizers issued a formal statement, admitting there had been ¡°oversights¡± and suspending the staff involved.

    Sandra and the rest of the team were overjoyed. They knew Ste yed a major part in setting things right.

    Ste only smiled. For once, she didn¡¯t correct them or mention William at all. Some things, she decided, were better left unsaid.

    She figured it was about time she started pulling back. From him. From all of it. Life at the institute returned to normal. Ste buried herself in her projects, pushing thoughts of William out of her mind.

    Friday afternoon, she left theb intending to grab lunch with Sharon¡ªonly to run into Lainey in the corridor.

    ¡°Done with your experiment, Ste?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you too? What a coincidence.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 360

    ?Chapter 360:

    ¡°Not really,¡± Lainey said. ¡°I came looking for you, actually. I wanted to invite you to dinner.¡±

    Ste blinked, pleasantly surprised. ¡°I¡¯d love to, but I already promised a friend I¡¯d eat with her.¡± She paused. ¡°You don¡¯t mind her joining us?¡±

    Lainey smiled. ¡°That sounds perfect. You can pick the restaurant.¡±

    Ste called Sharon, and after getting her confirmation, she and Lainey left the research institute together.

    Just as they stepped outside, Ste spotted William standing not too far off. Without missing a beat, she looked right past him and kept walking.

    Lainey noticed. Her brows lifted slightly, a glimmer of curiosity flickering in her eyes. Were they¡­ fighting?

    At the restaurant, the atmosphere was light and effortless. The three women clicked instantly. Lainey casually mentioned a handbag she¡¯d been eyeing, and Sharon lit up.

    ¡°I actually have that one. I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± she offered breezily.

    Lainey blinked. ¡°It¡¯s really expensive¡­¡±

    Sharon waved a hand like it was nothing. ¡°Please. Just a little pocket change.¡±

    Lainey grinned. ¡°Then I¡¯ll get you those concert tickets you wanted¡ªand arrange a backstage photo op with the artist.¡±

    Sharon gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. ¡°Lainey, you¡¯re an angel.¡±

    Steughed softly as she watched them, the lightheartedness of the moment easing her thoughts. But just then, her phone lit up on the table, buzzing with an iing call.

    As Ste reached for her phone, she noticed that it was a call from Neb. Rising from her seat, she excused herself with a gentle smile. ¡°Work call. I¡¯ll be right back¡ªdon¡¯t wait up.¡±

    Sharon and Lainey barely looked up, too absorbed in their own conversation to notice her leaving. Stepping out into the quiet corridor, Ste leaned against the railing and answered the call.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, we have a problem,¡± her assistant blurted out, voice tight with urgency. ¡°One of our client¡¯s executives got into a car ident and suffered a severe head injury. Hispany says he¡¯s in critical condition¡ªthey don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll even make it through brain surgery.¡±

    ??????????? ??????????????? ¨À??????¦Í??????©q?????

    The news caught Ste off guard. She hadn¡¯t anticipated a crisis like this. ¡°Is he at the hospital already? Which one?¡±

    The assistant hesitated, then added, ¡°There¡¯s more. The client¡¯spany says that if he doesn¡¯t survive the surgery, they¡¯ll call off our coboration.¡± Ste¡¯s brow furrowed in disbelief. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense. The deal was already signed¡ªhow does his ident change our partnership?¡±

    A helpless sigh drifted through the line. ¡°I know. I pushed back, but they¡¯re insistent. If their executive doesn¡¯t pull through, they¡¯ll terminate the deal.¡± Ste pressed her lips into a thin line, pacing a few steps. ¡°Where are we supposed to find a top-tier neurosurgeon at thest minute?¡±

    A heavy silence hung between them¡ªif Ste didn¡¯t have a solution, the assistant certainly didn¡¯t.

    The assistant said, ¡°We¡¯ve already got everyone at the office calling every big-name surgeon we can find. We¡¯re doing our best, but if wee up empty, there¡¯s nothing more we can do.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 361

    ?Chapter 361:

    Once the call ended, Ste slumped against the cold railing, her thoughts racing.

    The whirlwind of bad news left her reeling, struggling to steady her breath.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert! What a coincidence running into you here.¡±

    The sudden voice made her flinch. She turned to see Shaun waiting at the stairwell, as impablyposed as ever.

    She steadied herself, smoothing her hair and forcing a polite smile. ¡°Mr. Smith. This is a surprise.¡±

    He descended thest step, his gaze fixed intently on her, not a flicker of his usual humor in his eyes.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help overhearing,¡± Shaun began, his voice low and measured. ¡°You mentioned needing a top-tier neurosurgeon for an emergency operation. Is that right?¡±

    A flush of embarrassment crept into Ste¡¯s cheeks¡ªhe¡¯d caught more of her conversation than she¡¯d realized. She braced herself to respond, but Shaun cut her off gently. ¡°My apologies for eavesdropping. But as it happens, I know Dr. Wilson Pcios¡ªyes, that Dr. Pcios. If you need help, I might be able to put you in touch, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Wilson Pcios? The neurosurgeon who was practically a legend in his field? For a moment, Ste could only stare at him, barely daring to breathe. Hope red in her chest, sharp and dazzling. ¡°Really?!¡± she blurted out.

    Shaun¡¯s smile broadened, his tone casual but reassuring. ¡°That¡¯s right. And as it happens, he¡¯s actually vacationing here in Choria at this very moment.¡± Ste¡¯s face lit up with desperate anticipation. ¡°That¡¯s incredible! Can you please help me get in touch with him? The surgery is urgent¡ªhe needs to get to the hospital within the hour.¡±

    Catching her anxious expression, Shaun¡¯s gaze sparkled with a hint of amusement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call him right now.¡±

    He stepped aside and quickly dialed a number, slipping into fluent Rhioyodash as he spoke. Within a few minutes, Shaun returned with an easy confidence. ¡°All taken care of. Just send me the hospital¡¯s address¡ªhe¡¯ll go straight there, no detours.¡±

    Relief washed over Ste¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t waste another second, hurrying back to the private room to let Sharon and Lainey know that something urgent hade up and they should enjoy dinner without her.

    ?????????? §ã?????????????? ????????????????[©q]?????

    At the hospital, Ste and Shaun arrived to find Wilson already waiting. During the drive over, Shaun had inquired about the patient¡¯s condition from Ste.

    Inside the room, Shaun sped Wilson¡¯s shoulder and stated, ¡°Wilson, I¡¯m counting on you for this. It means a lot to me¡ªand I promise, you¡¯ll be wellpensated for your time.¡±

    Wilson offered Shaun a reassuring smile before his eyes flicked briefly to Ste, who stood silently at Shaun¡¯s side. After a moment¡¯s polite pause, he turned away and strode toward the doctors clustered near the nurses¡¯ station.

    He began discussing the patient¡¯s status with the team, his voice low and professional. Momentster, the team rolled the patient into surgery; the overhead light above the operating room snapped on in a harsh, unyielding red, marking the start of the operation.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 362

    ?Chapter 362:

    Ste dropped onto a bench in the waiting area, her nerves coiled tight as she stared at the floor.

    For Neb, every single contract was a lifeline. Losing this deal would erase months of hard-won progress¡ªshe might as well be starting from scratch. This project was Neb¡¯s one shot at breaking into the industry¡¯s upper ranks, and she¡¯d poured everything into it.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, may I ask about your connection to the person in surgery?¡± Shaun¡¯s tone was gentle as he spoke.

    While Ste had been on the phone, Shaun had caught only the tail end of her conversation.

    Ste blinked, pulling herself back to the present. She met Shaun¡¯s steady gaze. ¡°He¡¯s on the client¡¯s team. If the surgery doesn¡¯t seed, the deal falls apart, and Neb takes the hit. That would set us back more than I can even exin.¡±

    Realization flickered across Shaun¡¯s face¡ªso it was business, not personal.

    He offered a sympathetic nod. ¡°What¡¯s yourpany called, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    Ste said, ¡°Neb. It¡¯s a newpany¡ªmaybe you haven¡¯t heard of it yet.¡± Shaun raised a brow, his tone warm and effortless. ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯ve heard quite a bit. Neb¡¯s been making waves in Choriately. Everyone¡¯s talking about it. I just didn¡¯t expect it to be yourpany, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Ste offered a polite smile. That kind of ttery always felt a little over the top. Was he just being nice?

    ¡°I¡¯ve been following Neb¡¯s developments in biotech,¡± Shaun continued. ¡°It just so happens mypany is looking for a partner in that field. If you¡¯re open to it, maybe we can set up a meeting soon.¡±

    His proposal caught her off guard. ¡°That would be an honor for Neb,¡± Ste said sincerely. Right now, she couldn¡¯t afford to turn down anyone willing to give them a chance.

    The light above the operating room flicked off, and she sprang to her feet. ¡°Dr. Pcios! How did it go?¡±

    Wilson pulled down his surgical mask, his eyes flicking between her and Shaun. ¡°The surgery went well,¡± he said. ¡°The patient is stable now, no longer critical.¡± A wave of relief washed over Ste. That was the good news she needed¡ªand maybe a new partnership, too.

    ???????????? §ã???¦Ñ???????? ????????????????????????

    Shaun watched her face light up and looked satisfied. ¡°In that case, how about you stop by our offices sometime? We can talk specifics.¡±

    Ste nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±

    Shaun thought for a moment, then added, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s an art exhibition in town tomorrow tied to our project¡¯s theme. Maybe we could check it out together?¡±

    She considered it. Her schedule tomorrow wasn¡¯t packed. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s do it.¡±

    He smiled, then stepped over to Wilson and switched effortlessly to fluent Rhioyodash. ¡°Thanks again, Wilson. Let¡¯s grab a meal next time.¡±

    Wilson patted his shoulder and grinned. ¡°Forget dinner¡ªhave that with the prettydy instead. Just don¡¯t forget to pay my surgical fee.¡±

    Amused, Ste stepped forward and replied in perfect Rhioyodash, ¡°Thank you, Dr. Pcios. I¡¯ll handle the fee myself.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 363

    ?Chapter 363:

    Wilson blinked, stunned. ¡°You speak Rhioyodash?¡±

    Aside from Shaun, it was the first time Wilson had met someone local who could speak Rhioyodash so well.

    ¡°I learned it years ago,¡± Ste said with a small smile. ¡°Bit rusty, though.¡±

    Wilson¡¯s eyes widened in genuine surprise and admiration. After a brief pause, he excused himself with a polite nod, citing othermitments, and disappeared down the corridor with brisk, purposeful steps.

    Ste checked on the patient¡ªstill unconscious but stable¡ªand spoke briefly with his assistant before nning to return to the research institute.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride,¡± Shaun offered casually as they stepped into the elevator.

    Ste nced at him. ¡°No need, really. I can just grab a cab.¡±

    ¡°This area at rush hour? Trust me, I¡¯m heading in your direction anyway. Might as well save you the hassle.¡±

    She hesitated, then nodded. ¡°All right. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shaun drove himself¡ªno driver, no unnecessary fuss. His driving was smooth, the ride quiet andfortable, just enough for her to rx.

    Half an hourter, they pulled up at the institute gates. Ste unbuckled her seatbelt and turned toward him. ¡°Thanks for the ride. I¡¯ll head up.¡±

    Shaun nodded with a calm, practiced smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, don¡¯t forget tomorrow¡¯s exhibition. I¡¯ll send you the time and e-ticket.¡±

    Ste offered a small nod. ¡°All right.¡± She hadn¡¯t cared much about the exhibition before, but she remembered seeing the ads¡ªit was part of a prestigious national tour with strong reviews. Now that she had a reason to go, maybe it was worth checking out.

    As Shaun¡¯s car pulled away, its taillights fading into the evening traffic, a lone figure stepped into view on the roadside.

    William had overheard every word of Shaun and Ste¡¯s conversation. So that was why she¡¯de homete¡ªshe¡¯d been out to dinner with Shaun. A faint crease appeared between his brows. Now Rita¡¯s offhandment about ¡°needing to eat out tonight¡± made perfect sense. Ste was having dinner with another man¡ªpossibly even on a date. His jaw tightened as he dialed Luca¡¯s number.

    ¡°Find out what art exhibitions are on in Choria tomorrow,¡± he ordered.

    ??¦Á???????? §ã????¦Ñ???????? ??¦Á??????¦Í??????©q?????

    Luca was baffled by the abrupt request but didn¡¯t dare question it. A few minutester, his voice came through. ¡°Mr. Briggs, there¡¯s only one exhibition tomorrow. I¡¯ve forwarded the details to your phone.¡±

    William¡¯s phone buzzed. He flicked his eyes to the screen, scanned the message, and said without missing a beat, ¡°Get me a ticket.¡±

    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s already sold out.¡±

    William¡¯s lips pressed into a thin, forbidding line. ¡°You mean I can¡¯t get even one ticket?¡±

    Luca¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the icy tone. He straightened instinctively. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll handle it, Mr. Briggs.¡± William¡¯s chill was enough to make anyone¡¯s blood run cold.

    That evening, William found an invitation from the exhibition organizers waiting for him.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 364

    ?Chapter 364:

    By morning, a fine, steady drizzle had settled over Choria, the gray skies perfectly echoing the heaviness pressing on Ste¡¯s chest. Yesterday¡¯s sunshine felt like a distant memory.

    She slipped into a long dress, added a ck suit jacket for warmth, and gathered her things before heading out. Stepping downstairs, she was caught off guard by the sight of Shaun¡¯s car idling at the institute¡¯s entrance. She hesitated for a beat, then pulled open the door.

    ¡°Mr. Smith?¡±

    Shaun greeted her with his usual calm, inviting energy. ¡°It¡¯s raining, so I figured it might be a hassle for you to get around by yourself. I thought I¡¯d save you the trouble and drive you today.¡±

    He offered her a bottle of coffee, still radiating gentle heat. ¡°Here. This should warm you up a bit. Did you have breakfast?¡±

    She felt the warmth seep into her hand as she took it. ¡°I did, thank you. And you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m all set too. Ready to go straight to the exhibition?¡±

    Throughout the drive, Shaun¡¯s gentle presence put her at ease¡ªnever overbearing, never awkward. When they arrived, he pulled smoothly to the curb, cut the engine, and slipped out, hurrying around to open her door before she could reach for the handle.

    His quiet thoughtfulness left Ste with a soft, grateful ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Inside, the gallery buzzed with excitement, but thanks to Shaun¡¯s VIP tickets, a staff member appeared immediately, ushering them past the crowds and into the heart of the show.

    Within the exhibition hall, Ste wandered among the vibrant canvases and striking architectural models, her gaze lingering appreciatively on each disy. Though paintingndscapes came naturally to her, architecture remained something of a mystery¡ªshe could only marvel at the bold ingenuity on show.

    Shaun took a step closer, his voice low. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, regarding the coboration we discussed yesterday¡­¡±

    ¡°Neb¡¯s proposal won¡¯t let you down, Mr. Smith,¡± Ste replied, meeting his eyes with quiet confidence. ¡°Just let me know exactly what you need from us, and I¡¯ll make sure the n fits your expectations.¡±

    Their conversation carried them deeper into the maze of artwork. As they rounded a corner, a familiar silhouette emerged from the crowd. William lingered several feet away, a ss of champagne glinting in his hand. He raised it in their direction, a faint smile ying at his lips. ¡°What an unexpected pleasure.¡±

    ???????????? §ã?¦Á?????????? ??????????¦Í?????????????

    Shaun greeted him smoothly, not missing a beat. ¡°Mr. Briggs. Quite the coincidence, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    William¡¯s gaze drifted between the two, lingering a touch longer on Ste before he strode over to join them. ¡°Truly a surprise. Ms. Gilbert, I thought Neb¡­

    ¡°I had a meeting scheduled for today. I didn¡¯t expect to see you here at the exhibition.¡±

    Ste lifted her gaze, genuine confusion furrowing her brow. As Neb¡¯s CEO, she hadn¡¯t heard a word about any meeting today. William studied her puzzled expression and offered a gentle exnation. ¡°Neb always holds a mid-month review to discussst month¡¯s results. Didn¡¯t your team keep you in the loop?¡±

    A cold realization swept through Ste. He was pulling the same trick¡ªdropping a so-calledpany emergency just as she was with someone else. He¡¯d done this before, back when Steven was around. Now it was happening again.

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    .

    .

 Chapter 365

    ?Chapter 365:

    Still, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a flicker of surprise. She¡¯d assumed William would be buried in work after returning from Wredo, yet here he was, strolling through an art exhibition with all the time in the world. He was Neb¡¯s true boss, after all. If he wasn¡¯t panicking over that meeting, then it clearly wasn¡¯t the crisis he made it out to be.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll have my assistant forward the meeting minutes to meter,¡± Ste replied, calm andposed.

    William had expected her to rush off at the mention of work, but her nonchnce threw him off guard. Was she indifferent because Shaun stood right beside her? Had she really been enjoying herself that much? The thought unsettled him. Watching Shaun linger close to Ste, their easy intimacy grated on him.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± he called, keeping his tone professional despite the tightness in his chest, ¡°if you have a moment, could you step over here? There are a few work matters I¡¯d like to go over with you.¡±

    William turned on his heel and walked away, calm andposed, without sparing Ste another nce. His message couldn¡¯t have been clearer¡ªhe expected her to follow. Although Ste had no idea what he nned to say, she decided it was better to find out.

    She nced apologetically at Shaun. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Smith, but I need to step away for a moment. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead. Take your time,¡± Shaun said with an easy smile. He let out a soft chuckle as Ste caught up with William¡¯s retreating figure. She couldn¡¯t see it¡ªbut he could. William¡¯s intentions were written all over him. Still, it wasn¡¯t Shaun¡¯s ce to interfere. Ste was an adult; she could see whoever she wanted. And William? Well, he couldn¡¯t stop her even if he tried.

    At the far end of the arched gallery entrance, Ste stopped just short of William. Her tone was t and formal. ¡°What work-rted matter did you need to discuss, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    William frowned, clearly annoyed by her distance. He exhaled sharply and got straight to the point. ¡°Stay away from Shaun.¡±

    Ste raised a brow, surprised. Then she let out a smallugh. ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean, Mr. Briggs? Who I associate with is none of your business.¡± He hadn¡¯t stepped in when it mattered¡ªso why interfere now?

    William¡¯s eyes darkened, fixed on her. ¡°Shaun might be tied to Haley and the influence she holds within the Achury. If you don¡¯t want to get caught in the middle of that mess, keep your distance. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ???????????? §ã???¦Ñ???????? ??¦Á??????¦Í??????©q?????

    Ste paused, taken aback. She hadn¡¯t even considered that angle. The shared link to Shaun and Haley hadn¡¯t seemed important at first. But maybe William had a point. Yet from all her interactions with Shaun so far, he had been nothing but polite and respectful¡ªhardly someone with shady intentions.

    She met William¡¯s eyes again, calm and unbothered. ¡°Thanks for the heads-up, Mr. Briggs. Anything else?¡±

    William hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re still nning to see him?¡± He sounded surprised that she wasn¡¯t taking his warning seriously.

    She tilted her head. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? You might have a point, but from what I¡¯ve seen, Mr. Smith has been nothing but kind. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s a bad person.¡±

    William clenched his jaw. ¡°You really think he¡¯s just being kind? He¡¯s approaching you with a motive, Ste. You¡¯d be a fool to keep entertaining him.¡±

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    .

 Chapter 366

    ?Chapter 366:

    Ste sighed, weary of the back-and-forth. ¡°Maybe he does have a motive. But he also helped me yesterday¡ªwithout him, we might¡¯ve lost that entire project. Whether you believe it or not, I owe him for that.¡±

    William fell silent for a moment. ¡°What happened yesterday?¡± he asked.

    Ste hesitated, then shrugged. ¡°Nothing major. It¡¯s been handled. You¡¯ve got enough on your te, Mr. Briggs. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± She had made it clear before that she didn¡¯t want to depend on him; there was no point dragging him into this now.

    William¡¯s frown deepened, and he looked almost stuck. ¡°Are you still upset about me not answering your calls?¡± he asked suddenly.

    Ste blinked. ¡°What? No. Why would I be?¡± She had no reason to be angry. Sure, she worked for him, but that didn¡¯t mean he owed her his time or attention. She kept her tone light and distant, making it impossible for him to get a read on her.

    ncing at her watch, she realized she¡¯d been away from Shaun for almost ten minutes. ¡°I should get going, Mr. Briggs. Take care.¡±

    With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps steady and confident. William stood frozen for a moment, eyes locked on her retreating figure. He was just about to follow when a soft, sweet voice drifted over from behind him.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs? What a coincidence running into you here!¡±

    Willow Lawson strolled over in a flowing white dress, a soft smile on her face. ¡°If I¡¯d known you wereing to the exhibition, I would have arranged to meet you sooner.¡±

    She was the only daughter of the Lawson Group¡¯s CEO, and the Lawsons and Briggs families had always been close.

    William paused mid-step, nced her way, and said, ¡°Miss Lawson. Feeling better?¡±

    Thest time he¡¯d seen her, she was nursing a cold.

    Willow smiled cheerily. ¡°Oh, so you do remember. I¡¯m fine now. Did youe alone? Mind if I join you for a walk?¡±

    L?????????? §ã????????????? ??¦Á?n??¦Í??????£®?????

    It wasn¡¯t exactly easy to turn her down, so William gave a polite nod.

    Meanwhile, Ste and Shaun had just about wrapped up their tour of the exhibition. As they stepped outside, Shaun turned to her.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I booked a restaurant nearby. It¡¯s dinner time¡ªshall we?¡± The ce Shaun had picked was quiet, tastefully designed.

    During dinner, Ste waspletely immersed in their discussion about the coboration. Shaun answered every question with patience.

    On the drive back to the institute, Ste nced at him, a little embarrassed. ¡°Sorry I asked so many questions.¡±

    ¡°No need to apologize,¡± Shaun said, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s good to be thorough when you¡¯re working with ourpany. And I enjoyed the exhibition.¡± His tone was warm, friendly¡ªnothing more.

    ¡°I did too. Thanks again, Mr. Smith.¡±

    Back at the building, Ste took the elevator up. But just as she stepped out, she caught a sweet voice down the hallway.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 367

    ?Chapter 367:

    ¡°William, do you live here full time? Don¡¯t you ever go anywhere else?¡± A woman stood close to him¡ªalmost too close. They looked like a couple wrapped up in something private. Ste froze. Not the best timing, clearly.

    Then she heard the woman¡¯s voice again, soft but serious, ¡°William, the arranged marriage¡­ it¡¯s my family¡¯s idea, but¡ª¡±

    The door opened, and William ushered the woman inside before Ste could hear the rest.

    She gathered her thoughts and quietly slipped into her dorm, shutting the door a bit quicker than usual. Once inside, she finally let out a slow breath.

    Seriously? Bringing someone home and loitering outside like that? Way to make things awkward for a neighbor. And what was that woman talking about? An arranged marriage?

    Well, it wasn¡¯t unheard of¡ªwealthy families did that kind of thing all the time. The woman was definitely pretty, though Ste hadn¡¯t gotten a proper look. But William¡­ he liked men. Marrying her? That¡¯d be a disaster for both of them.

    Ste shook her head with a quiet sigh. She actually felt kind of bad for her. After a quick shower, she headed straight to bed.

    The next morning, Ste got ready to go view an apartment and sign the purchase contract. She¡¯d originally nned to stay put a bit longer, but after seeing William bring someone home, she figured it was time to move out. No point hanging around for more awkward hallway encounters.

    Besides, it would give him space for¡­ whatever that was.

    The new ce she found was in a freshlypleted building¡ªmodern and spotless. It was ready for immediate move-in. Once the paperwork was signed, Ste headed back to start packing. She didn¡¯t have much. Just two or three boxes.

    She called a moving truck, grabbed the first couple of boxes, and was just about to head downstairs when the elevator doors slid open. William stepped out.

    William¡¯s brows drew together as he caught sight of her moving luggage. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡±

    Ste paused, then straightened and gave a light nod. ¡°I¡¯ve already bought a ce. Everything¡¯s ready, so I thought I¡¯d settle in this week.¡±

    ???????????? §ã???¦Ñ???????? g???????¦Í??????[.]?????

    He hadn¡¯t expected her to move so quickly, and she hadn¡¯t mentioned anything to him beforehand.

    His tone grew heavier. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t stepped out of the elevator just now, were you nning to leave without even saying goodbye?¡±

    His question caught her off guard. Was it really that deep? They were just neighbors¡ªwas she expected to give notice before moving out?

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, this doesn¡¯t affect work,¡± she replied calmly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± She figured he was only concerned about work-rtedmunication and offered the exnation without much thought.

    But William felt a strange tightness in his chest, one he didn¡¯t know how to ease.

    He opened his mouth to say something else, but before he could, the elevator beside them dinged open, and Willow stepped out. The moment she saw him, she smiled with a hint of teasing. ¡°William, why are you out here? Were you waiting for me?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 368

    ?Chapter 368:

    Her flirty tone made Ste feel awkward, and without hesitation, she decided it was time to leave.

    She walked past William, pushed her luggage into the elevator, and hit the close button.

    As the doors slid shut, William stared at them for a long moment before turning away.

    Ste spent the rest of her day moving into her new ce. After unpacking and cleaning every corner, she finally copsed onto the sofa, feeling exhausted.

    The apartment had taken up nearly all her savings, and now that she was officially on her own, one thought kept echoing in her mind¡ªshe had to work harder.

    Living without financial backup was nerve-wracking.

    By Wednesday, after wrapping up things at the research institute in the morning, she headed to Smith Group in the afternoon to meet Shaun.

    He gave her a full tour of thepany and even brought her along to a nearby construction site.

    ¡°Mr. Smith, what are the unit prices for these materials?¡± she asked, curious.

    Shaun gave her a rundown, but she frowned immediately. ¡°They charge that much?¡±

    He blinked. Theirpany had always worked with the same supplier, and he¡¯d never really questioned the cost. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the standard rate?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Ste replied, her eyes serious. ¡°But it¡¯s not cheap. I know a supplier who offers better prices.¡±

    ¡°How much better?¡± he asked.

    She raised five fingers. ¡°Five per square foot.¡±

    Shaun went silent for a second. He had expected a major difference, not just five.

    But Ste had already caught the look on his face and said firmly, ¡°It might not sound like a lot, but over arge site like this, saving five per square foot adds up to a huge amount. That¡¯s not something to overlook.¡±

    ??????????? §ã???¦Ñ???????? ??????????????????©q?????

    Ste had always been careful and detail-oriented in her work. If she could shave a bit off the budget, why wouldn¡¯t she?

    Shaun narrowed his eyes slightly, something clicking in his mind.

    He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so practical with money¡ªcalcting down to thest dor. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I didn¡¯t realize you were so¡­ thrifty.¡±

    Ste gave a rxed, good-natured smile. ¡°Of course I am. It¡¯s not like money falls from the sky.¡±

    Shaun raised a brow, mildly amused, and pushed a little further. ¡°Are you short on cash, Ms. Gilbert?¡± As Neb¡¯s CEO, tens of thousands shouldn¡¯t be a big deal for her, or so he thought.

    ¡°Thepany¡¯s fine. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s broke,¡± she admitted without shame. ¡°I just bought an apartment and wiped out all my savings.¡± If only Neb¡¯s funds were hers to dip into, but that money belonged to William, not her.

    Shaun nodded in understanding. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ve actually got a couple of side projects I could use your help with. They¡¯re a bit demanding, but the pay¡¯s solid.¡±

    At that, Ste¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Seriously? That would be amazing! I definitely owe you a dinner for that.¡±

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 Chapter 369

    ?Chapter 369:

    She wasn¡¯t stingy by nature, and since Shaun was offering her work, it only felt right to thank him properly.

    Shaun let out a softugh. ¡°Well then, I won¡¯t turn down such a thoughtful offer.¡± He didn¡¯t mind spending a little more time with her either.

    As they walked away from the construction site, Ste started browsing restaurant options on her phone. Each ce had good reviews, but she had no clue what Shaun liked. So, she handed him her phone and asked directly, ¡°What kind of food do you like, Mr. Smith?¡±

    Hearing her call him that again, Shaun gave a small sigh and said with a hint of teasing, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that sounds a bit too formal?¡±

    Ste wouldn¡¯t have noticed anything amiss if Shaun hadn¡¯t brought it up. But now that he had, the meaning was clear. ¡°So¡­ I should just call you Shaun from now on?¡±

    He let out an easyugh. ¡°That¡¯s right. And I¡¯ll call you Syl. You¡¯re okay with that, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The question caught her off guard. Ste hesitated, her lips pressing together, unsure how to answer without it sounding awkward.

    Shaun either didn¡¯t notice or didn¡¯t care. With a breezy nce at her phone, he pointed out a nearby restaurant. ¡°How about some cheese fondue, Syl? Sound good?¡±

    It was just a short walk away, and Ste, not in the mood to get behind the wheel, ended up strolling alongside Shaun down the sidewalk.

    As dinnertime neared, the za around the shopping center pulsed with life. Shaun, always attentive, steered Ste with a protective hand through the evening crowd.

    At the mall entrance, Ste brushed aside the curtain and, with one step, spotted William stepping off the elevator¡ªWillow trailing at his side.

    Shaun caught sight of them instantly, a sly smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Mr. Briggs. Fancy meeting you here.¡±

    William¡¯s brow creased, his distaste for that tired phrase obvious.

    ???????????? ¡é???¦Ñ???????? g??????????????£®?????

    He ignored Shaun entirely, fixing his attention on Ste instead.

    Ste felt unsettled by the intensity of William¡¯s stare. Was he upset she¡¯d uncovered his secret?

    Willow lingered at William¡¯s side, her gaze flickering between Shaun and Ste before she broke the silence. ¡°William, are these friends of yours?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± William¡¯s answer was icy.

    Shaun responded with a wounded pout. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you really do live up to your reputation. Still, since fate threw us together, why not join us? Syl and I were just about to grab some cheese fondue.¡±

    At the mention of ¡°Syl,¡± William felt a sharp stab of jealousy. Since when had they gotten so close? He could count the number of times they¡¯d met on one hand¡ªhow had they be so close so quickly?

    Willow, quick to read the tension in William¡¯s face, stepped in before he could say anything. ¡°Thank you, but we already have a reservation.¡±

    Shaun only smiled, unfazed. ¡°Then enjoy your dinner. It¡¯s not every day you get to dine with such charmingpany. We¡¯ll clear out of your way. Take care, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 370

    ?Chapter 370:

    He turned toward Ste, his gaze softening. ¡°Syl, shall we get going?¡±

    Unable to bear William¡¯s burning stare a moment longer, Ste hurried after Shaun, her steps quick and restless as they disappeared from the busy first floor.

    William¡¯s eyes stayed fixed on her retreating figure until the elevator doors slid shut between them.

    ¡°William? Should we go?¡± Willow¡¯s voice broke through his trance, her keen eyes catching the way his mood had shifted the instant they ran into Shaun and Ste.

    Whether he was angry at the man or the woman, Willow couldn¡¯t say¡ªbut she refused to let him long for someone else in her presence, not even for a second. So she broke the silence.

    Throughout dinner, William hardly touched his food. His thoughts kept looping back to Ste¡ªhow she stood beside Shaun, so fragile and sheltered, as if she couldn¡¯t stand on her own without him. Why was it that Ste only ever showed her strength when she was by his side?

    After finishing her meal, Willow dabbed her lips with a napkin and softly called his name a few times before he finally snapped out of his daze. He blinked, as if surfacing from deep thought. ¡°Are you finished?¡±

    She gave a gentle nod. ¡°Do you need to head back to the office?¡±

    He mirrored her calmness. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a contract waiting for me.¡±

    Willow smiled, perfectly unfazed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll have my driver pick me up, so you can go take care of your work.¡±

    ¡°My apologies, Ms. Lawson. This came upst minute,¡± he replied, tone polite but distracted.

    Waving off his concern, Willow grinned. ¡°William, there¡¯s no need to be so formal. Really. You¡¯ve already spent the entire day with me.¡± Within a few minutes, her driver pulled up to the curb.

    Willow leaned out the window, offering William a bright, parting wave. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. See you soon, William¡ªdon¡¯t forget to message me once you¡¯re back at the office.¡±

    He returned her wave, watching her car slip into the stream of traffic before turning away from the curb. Only when Willow had disappeared from sight did William retrace his steps to the mall.

    He scanned the bustling shopping center, knowing there was only one cheese fondue spot in the entireplex. It didn¡¯t take long to spot Ste and Shaun, sitting at a table near the window,ughter and easy conversation radiating between them.

    ???????????? ????¦Ñ???????? ?????n??¦Í????????????

    William lingered for a moment, his gaze shifting, before he finally turned away.

    After dinner, Ste didn¡¯t stick around¡ªshe headed straight home to rest.

    The next morning, she drove to the research institute. Just as she was about to head in, she spotted William standing nearby. He wasn¡¯t doing anything, just standing there like he was waiting for someone. She paused, thought for a second, then decided to be polite. ¡°Mr. Briggs, aren¡¯t you going in?¡±

    William barely looked at her. He scoffed under his breath, then turned and walked straight into the building, not even sparing her a second nce. Ste stood there for a beat, genuinely confused. What had crawled under his skin? She hadn¡¯t done anything to offend him recently¡­ right?

    As she walked in after him, she wondered if maybe he¡¯d had a fight with his girlfriend or was just having a really bad morning. Either way, he was clearly in a mood.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 371

    ?Chapter 371:

    The workload at the institute wasn¡¯t too heavy, so whenever she had downtime, Ste focused on the project she was coborating on with Shaun.

    During her lunch break, she pulled out the contract again to double-check a few figures¡ªand something immediately felt off. There was an extra hundred grand in the budget that hadn¡¯t been there before.

    Her brows furrowed. Running the numbers through the AI system confirmed her suspicion: not only had the total increased, but several listed materials had been swapped out. Same names, butpletely different quality.

    Someone was skimming off the top, and they were doing it under everyone¡¯s nose.

    She grabbed her phone and called Shaun right away. ¡°Mr. Smith, something¡¯s wrong with the project files. Are you avable now? I¡¯d like toe over.¡± Even though they were on friendly terms, she kept it formal when it came to business.

    ¡°I¡¯m in the office. Come by, Syl.¡±

    She didn¡¯t even finish her lunch. Documents in hand, she rushed over to Smith Group.

    The moment she stepped into Shaun¡¯s office, sheid the contract on his desk and pointed at the sections she¡¯d gged. ¡°Here¡ªlook. The project budget¡¯s inted by a hundred thousand, and the material specs don¡¯t match up. These aren¡¯t honest substitutions; someone swapped in cheaper stuff and billed us for premium.¡±

    The procurement process must¡¯ve been tampered with.

    Shaun skimmed the pages, nodding with a grim expression. ¡°You¡¯re right. Come on, I¡¯ll take you to the materials lead.¡±

    Ste appreciated that he didn¡¯t question her findings for even a second.

    The procurement supervisor looked rattled when he saw the highlighted discrepancies. ¡°Mr. Smith, I swear I ordered exactly what was agreed. I don¡¯t know why the supplier would change anything!¡±

    The guy looked genuinely panicked, like someone who couldn¡¯t afford to lose his job. Probably with mouths to feed at home.

    Ste studied his expression for a while, then quietly said to Shaun, ¡°I believe him.¡±

    Shaun nodded once. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s just ask the supplier and find out.¡± He turned to the supervisor. ¡°Call him. Tell him toe in right now.¡±

    ??????????? ????¦Ñ???????? ?????????¦Í????????????

    The call was made, and within minutes, the supplier agreed to show up.

    Back in Shaun¡¯s office, he poured Ste a ss of warm water. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll get to the bottom of it.¡±

    Roughly thirty minutester, the office door creaked open.

    Ste turned to see a stocky man with a greasy smile stered across his face. ¡°Mr. Smith,¡± he said, all charm. ¡°You asked to see me¡ªis something wrong?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even bother with pleasantries. ¡°You¡¯re the supplier for this project?¡±

    The man nodded quickly and stuck out a hand. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Nixon Garrett. And you are¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert,¡± she replied coolly, ignoring his hand.

    Nixon¡¯s smile faltered a little, but he nced at Shaun and quickly recovered.

    Ste didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°Are you free now? We¡¯d like to visit the site with you.¡± Nixon hesitated, clearly caught off guard. ¡°Y-Yeah. Sure. I¡¯m free.¡±

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    .

 Chapter 372

    ?Chapter 372:

    The site wasn¡¯t far¡ªjust a ten-minute drive from the office.

    The second Ste stepped onto the site, she caught a whiff of something sharp and chemical.

    Her stomach twisted. She walked over to one of the wooden panels, crouched down, and peeled back a small section. Powder spilled out. Not sawdust¡ªpowder. Like cheap particleboard held together with glue and hope.

    She stood and stared Nixon dead in the eye. ¡°We ordered solid wood, didn¡¯t we? Real timber doesn¡¯t fall apart like this. This is low-gradeposite. You¡¯re passing this off as high-end material?¡±

    Shaun¡¯s face darkened beside her. ¡°Mr. Garrett, is this how you do business with us?¡±

    Nixon looked like he was about to melt into the ground. ¡°No, no¡ªMr. Smith, please. Let me exin¡­¡±

    Shaun stared Nixon down, waiting for an exnation. But after a full minute of stammering and sweating, all Nixon coulde up with was, ¡°It¡­ it must¡¯ve been one of my employees. Probably mixed up the materials¡ªthose two look real simr. I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ll have my guys tear everything out and rece it with the right stuff immediately!¡±

    Ste folded her arms, visibly unimpressed. ssic¡ªming the staff the moment things went sideways.

    ¡°If it was just one thing, maybe you¡¯d have a shot at convincing me,¡± she said coldly. ¡°But multiple changes, across several materials? And let¡¯s not forget the mysterious extra hundred thousand added to the budget. Care to tell me where that went?¡±

    Nixon had clearly underestimated her when she walked in. But now, seeing the way she kept pushing without backing down, his face went pale. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I swear¡ªthis is all just a big misunderstanding!¡±

    Ste snorted, not buying it for a second. ¡°A misunderstanding doesn¡¯t change what¡¯s already been done. Whether it was you or someone on your team, this came from yourpany. If we hadn¡¯t caught it in time, you would¡¯ve passed off shoddy materials on a multi-million-dor project. And if something went wrong with the buildingter, who do you think would pay for that?¡±

    This was a major project, worth tens of millions. Who could afford to bear such a loss?

    Nixon wiped at his forehead, sweat beading as he dropped his head, speechless.

    ???????????? §ã??¦Á¦Ñ???????? g??????????????©q?????

    Shaun¡¯s expression was grim, his jaw tightly set. When he spoke, his voice was cool and measured. ¡°Mr. Garrett, if you didn¡¯t want to work with us, you should¡¯ve just said so. You didn¡¯t need to turn the project into a mess.¡±

    ¡°NO! NO, Mr. Smith¡ªI would never jeopardize our partnership. Look¡­ it¡¯s on us, I admit that. I¡¯ll fix it right away. We¡¯ll rece all the materials, and to make up for the mistake, I¡¯ll give them to you at half price. Please, give us another chance.¡±

    Then Nixon turned to Ste with an ingratiating look. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, people make mistakes¡ªbut what matters is how they fix them. I promise you, this won¡¯t happen again. Just one more chance.¡±

    Ste was just the overseer here¡ªShaun was the one who got the final say. She couldn¡¯t decide.

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    .

    .

 Chapter 373

    ?Chapter 373:

    She turned to him. ¡°Mr. Smith, what do you think?¡±

    Shaun stared at the panicking Nixon. After a moment, he sighed. ¡°Nixon¡¯s been a supplier of ours for years. Maybe it really was someone on his team cutting corners. I¡¯ll give him one more chance.¡±

    Nixon nearly dropped to his knees from relief. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Smith! Thank you for trusting me!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t push further. Since Shaun had made the call, she¡¯d respect it¡ªfor now. She nodded. ¡°Fine. But everyst piece of faulty material gets reced.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely! I¡¯ll oversee it personally!¡±

    As Ste and Shaun got into the car, Nixon stood by the site gate, grinning and waving like a fool. Shaun didn¡¯t say anything, but he watched the man carefully from the rear window. Nixon¡¯s smile faltered as the car pulled away.

    Once they were out of sight, Ste sighed, still unsettled. Shaun dropped her back at the research institute, and she returned to work¡ªbut her gut kept twisting. Something about all this didn¡¯t sit right. After work, she went digging into Nixon¡¯s background.

    What she found was shocking. The guy was a serial offender. He had a track record of skimming money off projects just like this. Ten years ago, one building that was built with his materials even copsed¡ªsomeone died.

    Ste sat frozen in front of her screen, her heart sinking the more she read. The deeper she dug, the more it became clear¡ªthe Smith Group¡¯s project wasn¡¯t just a simple construction job. It was crawling with hidden agendas.

    Nixon barely made it through primary school. No high-profile background. His parents were simple farmers. On paper, he was a nobody. And yet, somehow, he¡¯d managed to climb his way up, rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the industry.

    And that death from a decade ago? No police investigation. No media outrage, not even a whisper online. It had been buried. Entirely.

    Which could only mean one thing¡ªNixon wasn¡¯t just some greedy middleman. Someone powerful was protecting him. Pulling strings behind the scenes.

    His involvement in this project was no ident¡ªit was part of arger scheme. Ste¡¯s mind shed back to the construction site. That suffocating chemical stench had been worse than anything she¡¯d encountered before. Not just cheap materials; they were toxic ones. The kind that could cause real,sting harm.

    ??¦Ñ??¦Á?????? ?????? ???? ????????¦Í????????????

    With her background inb work, her nose was trained to pick up even the slightest chemical traces. She didn¡¯t need ab report to know something was seriously wrong.

    This wasn¡¯t just about one shady deal anymore. Even if the problem wasn¡¯t limited to the Smith Group¡¯s project, she had to stop it before others got hurt too. That entire batch of materials had to be destroyed¡ªfast.

    And now, thinking back to earlier today¡ªhow she and Shaun had agreed to give Nixon another chance¡ªregret twisted deep in her gut.

    Opening her phone, she sent everything she¡¯d found to Shaun. Every report. Every link. Every detail.

    And then she followed up with one short message. ¡°Mr. Smith, Nixon¡¯s done this before. He¡¯s a repeat offender. Someone like him doesn¡¯t deserve our trust.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 374

    ?Chapter 374:

    Shaun replied to Ste¡¯s message with a voice note almost instantly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. From now on, Smith Group won¡¯t do business with Nixon again.¡±

    It was a clean-cut decision. Ste agreed, but she wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°Mr. Smith, that batch of raw materials has serious issues. I¡¯m pretty sure they contain harmful chemicals. We can¡¯t let them end up in another project.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t stupid. Nixon wasn¡¯t the kind of guy who¡¯d stop just because he got caught once. He¡¯d y along, pretend to behave, and then go right back to cutting corners.

    Shaun sounded mildly surprised. ¡°You want to track them down?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said firmly. ¡°They need to be destroyed. I already found where he stores his inventory, but it¡¯s a bit much for me to handle alone.¡± She wasn¡¯t under any illusion. This was dangerous work.

    Shaun said, ¡°Send me the location. I¡¯ll check it out first.¡±

    She dropped the location¡ªit was some unnamed hill near the docks.

    There was a pause, and then Shaun messaged again, this time more serious. ¡°Syl, this is too risky. Honestly¡­ just let it go. As long as we¡¯re not using those materials, that should be enough.¡± He was concerned about her safety.

    But Ste wasn¡¯t backing down.

    Shaun let out a long sigh. ¡°Alright then. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring security from the Smith Group. We¡¯ll scope the ce out. If it looks shady, we fall back and regroup. No reckless moves.¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    After ending the call, Shaun leaned back in his chair, fiddling with his phone. He stared out the floor-to-ceiling window, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

    Sylvia¡­ definitely not boring.

    He¡¯d known about Nixon¡¯s little scams for a while¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t bothered doing anything.

    But now that Sylvia was digging her heels in, he figured he could y along. Shaun stared at his phone screen, eyes fixed on Ste¡¯s chat thread, a trace of amusement ying on his lips.

    ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? at ????????¦Í????????????

    That batch of materials from Achury¡ªhe¡¯d warned Nixon about it from day one. Nixon could switch the materials if he must, but shouldn¡¯t let it affect Shaun¡¯s own interests.

    Nixon was smart, sneaky even¡ªalways fiddling with contract loopholes to get his way. But Sylvia? She was the first person to catch the scent of something wrong. Sharp eyes. Steady mind. Exactly the kind of woman who didn¡¯t disappoint.

    His phone buzzed again. Shaun¡¯s gaze darkened a touch as he answered the call.

    ¡°Mr. Smith, what should I do about that batch of raw materials?¡± It was Nixon. After today¡¯s confrontation, he clearly couldn¡¯t tell what Shaun was thinking and had started to panic.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Shaun said coolly. ¡°I¡¯ll send a team over tomorrow.¡±

    There was a beat of silence, then Nixon¡¯s voice rushed through the line, thick with desperation. ¡°That wasn¡¯t our deal, Mr. Smith. I spent a lot getting those materials in from Achury. If they¡¯re seized, I¡¯m finished! And you know the Smith family will start asking questions¡ª¡±

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    .

    .

 Chapter 375

    ?Chapter 375:

    Shaun let out a low chuckle, unbothered. ¡°Why the panic? I¡¯ll get someone to take the fall. Nothing will point back to you. So rx.¡±

    His tone was casual¡ªalmost reassuring¡ªbut Nixon wasn¡¯t convinced. Outside, the city lights flickered on one by one, and thest streaks of sunset disappeared behind Choria¡¯s skyline.

    Shaun¡¯s voice turned quieter, smoother. ¡°Rx, Mr. Garrett. We¡¯ve been partners for years. I¡¯m not about to leave you hanging.¡±

    On the other end of the line, Nixon finally let out a shaky breath of relief.

    ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll leave it all to you, Mr. Smith.¡±

    Ste had been on edge the entire day. After returning home from the research institute, she didn¡¯t rest. Instead, she dove back into investigating Nixon.

    What she found was enough to make her skin crawl¡ªan online plea for help from the family of the person he¡¯d indirectly killed, along with countless reports of his shady dealings. She felt a shiver down her spine.

    By the time shepiled all the documents and sorted through the evidence, her chest felt tight. She shut herptop and dragged herself to bed, but her mind refused to settle. Tomorrow¡­ she didn¡¯t know what to expect. Only that something wasing.

    The next morning, just as she was finishing up her routine, her phone rang. It was Shaun.

    ¡°Hey, Syl¡­¡± His voice came through the line with a note of regret. ¡°Something urgent came up at Smith Group. I might not be able to go with you to the warehouse today.¡±

    Ste froze, then listened as he went on. ¡°It¡¯s a major project. A deal that might shape our entire second half of the year. I really can¡¯t miss this. But I¡¯ve already sent a driver to pick you up. He¡¯ll take you there.¡±

    She hesitated for a second before responding, ¡°I get it. Handle yourpany stuff. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    The call ended. Ste lingered by the door for a moment, gripping the handle tightly.

    Going alone was risky. Way riskier. But if she didn¡¯t go today, Nixon might move that entire batch before she had another chance. Her phone buzzed. A text from the driver: [I¡¯m downstairs, Ms. Gilbert.]

    ???????????????? ????????????: g????????¦Í????????????

    She took a deep breath and stepped out, heading for the elevator.

    The driver was polite and professional. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, Mr. Smith asked me to take you there.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly, settling into the backseat.

    The city blurred past the windows as she sat in silence, nerves gnawing at her. Forty minutester, they pulled up to the hilltop. Ahead, she could see the same warehouse she¡¯d found out about online yesterday.

    The driver turned off the ignition. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here, ma¡¯am. Once you¡¯re done, juste back to the car. Mr. Smith¡¯s team will be here soon too. You¡¯re not alone.¡± His reassurance helped, just a little.

    Ste zipped up her windbreaker and stepped out into the chill. The wind was sharper up here, biting through the thin mountain air. She walked alone toward the warehouse, each step feeling heavier than thest.

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    .

    .

 Chapter 376

    ?Chapter 376:

    The door was slightly open, just a sliver. She slowed her breathing and crept forward, pushing the door gently.

    The old iron lock ttered to the ground with a dull ng, making her flinch.

    She peeped inside.

    Stillness. No voices. No movement.

    She pushed further inside. There were no lights, so she switched on her phone shlight.

    Cold air greeted her, along with that same nauseating chemical odor she¡¯d smelled at the construction site. It wed at her throat.

    Covering her nose with her sleeve, she forged ahead.

    Shelves lined the interior, packed with wooden crates and unmarked supplies. She paused beside one and bent down to examine it. Same substandard particleboard.

    She snapped a few photos for evidence.

    As her shlight swept over the crates, something caught her eye¡ªan engraving burned into the particleboard. A symbol.

    The lighting was too dim to make out the details, so she crouched down, squinting under the beam of her phone shlight.

    There, burned into the side of the crate, was a logo¡ªornate and oddly elegant. Two letters stood out in the center, swirled with floral designs¡ªS and M. It had definitely been seared in with fire.

    She snapped a photo, then reached out and ran her fingers across the branding. The surface was rough, the edges uneven.

    She frowned. She¡¯d never seen this mark before. It didn¡¯t match any supplier she knew.

    But those letters¡ªSM¡ªmade her stomach turn. The first thought that shed through her mind was Haley and the Smith family. Could this batch be tied to Haley¡¯s reach in Achury?

    It wouldn¡¯t be impossible. After Ste helped secure her release from prison, Haley had gone radio silent. No revenge. No fights. Not even a whisper of trouble. She hadn¡¯t gone after Marc. She hadn¡¯te for Ste either. She¡¯d just¡­ disappeared.

    Or maybe not disappeared at all¡ªmaybe she¡¯d gone underground, quietly consolidating her influence. Maybe she¡¯d been keeping an eye on the business in Choria all along.

    ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? g??????¦Í?????????????

    Was this it? Was this how Haley had stayed in the game?

    Ste rose to her feet, the corridor ahead stretching into darkness. Her grip tightened on her phone as unease crept into her chest.

    The deeper Ste ventured into the warehouse, the darker it became. Without the shlight from her phone, it felt like walking into a ck hole.

    She paused, took a deep breath, and forced herself to stay calm. No panic. Step by step, she moved forward.

    At the far end, she spotted an old, battered desk. Papers were scattered across it¡ªclearly not covered in dust. Someone had been here recently.

    She stepped closer and reached out. Just as her fingers touched one of the documents, a loud rm red from the front of the warehouse.

    .

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 Chapter 377

    ?Chapter 377:

    The sudden screech startled her. The paper slipped from her hand. Before she could even turn around, a strong grip wrapped around her wrist and yanked her back hard.

    She was being dragged toward the exit, her feet barely keeping up, the sunlight ahead blinding after the pitch-ck interior. By the time they burst outside, her lungs were heaving. Only then did she get a look at the person who had pulled her out.

    Her eyes widened. ¡°William?! What are you doing here?¡± In a ce like this? This remote? There was no way he¡¯d shown up by chance.

    He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he led her straight into his Bentley as if none of this needed exining. The driver hit the gas the moment the door shut, speeding down the narrow mountain road.

    Ste blinked, still dazed. Her own driver was supposed to be waiting nearby¡ªbut it was toote to turn back now. She made to tell William, but decided against it.

    She pulled out her phone, sent him a message, and told him to take another route.

    When she received his reply, her heart finally began to settle.

    It wasn¡¯t until they hit the wide, open road that her heart stopped racing. She still had no idea what triggered the rm.

    And William? Showing up out of nowhere like that? That made even less sense. She turned to look at him. ¡°Did you get there before me?¡±

    William sat there, calm as ever. You¡¯d think he hadn¡¯t just pulled her out of a ce rigged with rms.

    ¡°I heard you messing with the lock,¡± he said tly.

    Ste blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ that was you? You unlocked the padlock?¡±

    She stared at him. ¡°Okay, but seriously¡ªwhat were you doing there? Does Briggs Group have some shady connection to Nixon too?¡±

    That would be news to her. Back when she worked at Neb¡¯s headquarters, Nixon¡¯s name had never evene up.

    William rubbed his temple. ¡°Not Briggs Group. It¡¯s Lawson Group that has a connection to Nixon.¡±

    ???????? ???????? ?????????????? at ?????????¦Í??????©q?????

    The second she heard ¡°Lawson,¡± Ste shut her mouth. So, he was here for his fianc¨¦e. Of course.

    He nced at her. ¡°You done asking questions now?¡±

    She hesitated, thrown off by the tone. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m done.¡± God. It was just a few questions. Was he always this grumpy when Willow came up?

    William didn¡¯t let it go. ¡°And what about you? Last I checked, Neb doesn¡¯t work with Nixon.¡± He folded his arms, watching her closely.

    ¡°Nixon is Shaun¡¯s supplier,¡± Ste replied calmly. ¡°Neb just started coborating with Smith Group, didn¡¯t it?¡±

    William raised a brow, clearly not buying it. ¡°Funny. I don¡¯t recall that partnership involving any material suppliers. Ms. Russell, are you running little side gigs no one knows about?¡±

    The sarcasm in his tone rubbed her the wrong way. Ste held his gaze, feeling her chest tighten a little. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, had she?

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 Chapter 378

    ?Chapter 378:

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, if you¡¯re trying to use me of something, just say it. I¡¯m frencing, that¡¯s all. A little side hustlepletely separate from Neb. I¡¯d never do anything to hurt thepany. You know that.¡±

    She figured he was just being protective ofpany interests¡ªuntil he took it a step further.

    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re prettyfortable with Shaun. Didn¡¯t you once swear you weren¡¯t in a hurry to date again? Or did meeting him change your mind?¡± The mocking edge in his voice made her throat tighten. She swallowed hard.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you¡¯re engaged. I don¡¯t think I need your permission to see someone, even if I were dating. Which I¡¯m not, by the way. Mr. Smith and I are strictly professional. Not that it¡¯s anything like¡­ whatever you and Ms. Lawson have going on.¡±

    William raised his brows slightly, matching her tone without blinking. ¡°And what exactly do you think is going on between me and Ms. Lawson?¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t anticipated that he¡¯d want her to spell things out so directly. Caught off guard, she looked away and pressed her lips into a tight line. ¡°Just forget I said anything,¡± she muttered.

    What else could it possibly be between them? A business deal dressed up as a marriage, a partnership built on mutual benefit¡ªhow much of it was real, and how much was just driven by personal gain? Everything felt mixed up, like a knot too tight to untangle. Did he even understand what they¡¯d be?

    Unlike their confusing rtionship, her connection with Shaun was clean and simple. They were partners on paper, maybe friendly at best, but there were no blurred lines¡ªno messy emotions.

    A few seconds of silence passed in the car before William finally asked, ¡°If this really is about Shaun¡¯s project, why didn¡¯t hee along himself?¡±

    Without missing a beat, Ste fired back, ¡°And I don¡¯t see Miss Lawson sitting next to you, do I?¡±

    William paused at her reply, then turned slightly to study her profile. ¡°Ms. Russell, should I take your attitude right now as¡­ jealousy?¡±

    Ste¡¯s temper red the instant he said it. ¡°Jealous? Don¡¯t be absurd!¡± she snapped. If someone overheard that nonsense and told Willow, she¡¯d end up being misunderstood¡ªagain¡ªfor no reason!

    ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? at ??????????¦Í??????£®??????

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who keeps bringing her up,¡± she huffed. ¡°If anyone¡¯s obsessed, it sounds more like you are.¡±

    She rolled her eyes in frustration. ¡°Not everyone shares your way of thinking, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    As the car rolled back into the city, passing a hospital on the way, William suddenly asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t get hurt back at the warehouse, did you?¡± Ste shook her head in response.

    William let out a quiet sigh, visibly relieved, as the hospital disappeared from the rearview. ¡°Good. You just managed to trip the rm while snooping around.¡±

    Ste gawked at him, nearly choking on her disbelief. ¡°I beg your pardon? That wasn¡¯t me! If anything, it was probably you! I hardly touched a thing!¡± There was no logic to an rm being set off by a pile of papers. She was sure she hadn¡¯t activated anything.

    ¡°If that idiotic rm hadn¡¯t gone off, I could¡¯ve actually uncovered something useful,¡± she muttered, clearly annoyed.

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 Chapter 379

    ?Chapter 379:

    ¡°That¡¯s not how you shift me, Mr. Briggs,¡± she let out a small snort, clearly done with his nonsense.

    William sounded irritated now. ¡°Let me handle the evidence. You really need to stop charging into danger like this. If someone with bad intentions corners you, I can¡¯t always drop everything to y hero.¡±

    Ste crossed her arms and pouted. As if she needed his protection!

    That evening, her phone buzzed with an iing call from Shaun. The moment she picked up, his anxious voice came through. ¡°Syli, are you okay? My driver told me the rm at the warehouse went off and you never got back in the car. What happened?¡±

    Sitting on the edge of her bed with her phone pressed to her ear, Ste gave a short, tired reply. ¡°I took a different way down the mountain. Nothing happened, really.¡±

    Hearing that, Shaun let out a small breath, the tension in his voice easing just a bit. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s a relief.¡± Then, after a pause, he asked, ¡°Were you able to find anything? Any leads?¡±

    Ste exhaled slowly. ¡°Not much. I managed to snap some photos¡ªjust the documents in the warehouse and a logo stamped on the wooden crates. I didn¡¯t have enough time to dig any deeper.¡±

    She knew that what she had wasn¡¯t nearly enough to take down Nixon, and for some reason, she didn¡¯t mention that William had shown up. That detail stayed tucked away, like something she wasn¡¯t ready to exin.

    Shaun¡¯s voice remained calm and reassuring. ¡°You¡¯ve already done a lot. What matters most is that you¡¯re okay. And just so you know, Smith Group has officially cut ties with Nixon. You don¡¯t have to carry this burden by yourself.¡± He offered a few moreforting words before politely ending the call, not wanting to disrupt her rest any further.

    Later, lying on her bed, Ste stared at the ceiling. Her mind wandered back to the ¡°SM¡± letters printed on the side of the crates. Could it be rted to Haley? Or even¡­ Shaun?

    She hated the thought. Shaun had always been decent to her, and she knew she probably shouldn¡¯t doubt him. But those two letters were just too clear¡ªtoo pointed¡ªto ignore.

    A week passed in the blink of an eye, but there was still no news, no follow-up, no signs that the authorities had gone up to investigate Nixon¡¯s secret warehouse.

    ?????????? ???????????????? ????????????: g????????¦Í??????[?]??????

    Frustration simmered in Ste¡¯s chest, but with no options left, she was forced to set it aside for now.

    Back at the research institute, she recalled how confidently William had promised to find evidence. She couldn¡¯t help but scoff at the memory. Typical. Men were all the same¡ªfull of empty words when it suited them.

    Sandra happened to nce over and noticed the expression on her face. ¡°Sylvia, what¡¯s wrong? You¡¯ve seemed off these past few days.¡±

    Snapping out of her thoughts, Ste quickly put on a neutral face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just thinking about some old nonsense I¡¯d rather forget.¡±

    Just as she finished speaking, her phone on the table began to vibrate.

    Ste pulled off her gloves and reached for her phone, only to find a file sitting in her inbox¡ªsent by William.

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 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380:

    She opened it and blinked. It was a detailed report¡ªhard evidence of Nixon¡¯s collusion with foreign investors, tangled money trails, and enough financial fraud to bring down an entire firm.

    The schemes wereyered and deliberate, pointing to domesticundering on a massive scale.

    Ste stared at the screen in disbelief.

    Moments ago, she¡¯d been calling William a liar. Now here he was, handing her everything she¡¯d been trying to dig up.

    She quickly texted him: ¡°Mr. Briggs, your efficiency is something else. And the evidence? Shockingly thorough.¡±

    His reply came in almost immediately: ¡°You¡¯ve been with me for so long, yet you¡¯ve learned nothing. Don¡¯t go around saying you worked under me once you leave¡ªit¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    Ste paused, her eyes caught on one part of his message. ¡°With me for so long.¡± That part sat differently. Vague, almost suggestive. She couldn¡¯t quite picture the expression and tone he had when he typed it.

    Just then, Sandra gave her a cheeky nudge. ¡°Sylvia, don¡¯t think we¡¯ve forgotten¡ªwe still haven¡¯t celebrated putting Finnegan¡¯s team in the dirt!¡±

    Ste chuckled and put her phone aside. ¡°Right. Shall we go tonight?¡±

    Sandra lit up like a firecracker. ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s do a buffet! I¡¯m gonna eat until they beg me to leave!¡±

    Elbert and Jamir, nearby, burst intoughter at her enthusiasm. They all agreed and headed out after work.

    On the way, Ste thought about everything that had happened. Technically, their big win over Finnegan¡¯s team wouldn¡¯t have happened without William¡¯s help. Whether he¡¯d show up or not, inviting him felt like the polite thing to do. Noticing the name on her screen, Sandra leaned in with a sly grin. ¡°You¡¯re inviting him?¡±

    ¡°He helped with thepetition. It¡¯s only fair,¡± Ste replied as she tapped his number.

    The call rang a few times. No answer¡ªagain.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t pick up,¡± she said casually. ¡°He¡¯s probably busy. Let¡¯s just go.¡± At least she called. If he brought it upter, she had her call log.

    ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????¦Í??????©q??????

    At the buffet restaurant, they raised their sses and toasted to their victory¡ªone they¡¯d bled for, earned, and that brought honor to their institute.

    ¡°Sylvia, did you hear? Finnegan¡¯s team got banned permanently. His institute¡¯s rep is in the gutter. They¡¯re all ming him.¡± Sandra grinned like it was the best news she¡¯d heard all week. And honestly? It kind of was. ¡°And Sergio got his judging credentials revoked. Now he¡¯s getting dragged all over the inte. His reputation¡¯s toast.¡±

    Knowing the cheaters got what they deserved made the drinks taste even better.

    ¡°To us,¡± someone shouted. ¡°To crushing every single schemer!¡±

    Ste was sipping her third ss of wine when the door swung open¡ªand in walked William and Willow.

    She blinked, stunned for a second. Before she could say a word, Sandra¡ªalready tipsy¡ªwaved excitedly. ¡°Hey! William! What a coincidence! Here for dinner too?¡±

    .

    .

    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Have a great weekend dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ????(? ?? ? ¨C ? )

    .

 Chapter 381

    ?Chapter 381:

    William turned toward the voice. The first thing he saw was Ste¡ªflushed cheeks, ss in hand. Was she tipsy?

    Sandra kept going, slurring a little now, ¡°Wanna join us? We¡¯re celebrating beating Finnegan. Sylvia tried calling you earlier, you know. You didn¡¯t answer! We were totally gonna invite you!¡±

    Ste¡¯s face was warm from the beer, but her head was still clear. Seeing William instantly sobered her up.

    She reached over and gently pushed Sandra back into her seat. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said with a polite smile. ¡°She¡¯s had a bit too much. You two go enjoy your dinner¡ªwe won¡¯t disturb you.¡±

    At Ste¡¯s words, a subtle shadow passed through William¡¯s eyes.

    Standing close beside him, Willow leaned in slightly and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Are these your colleagues, William?¡±

    He pulled his gaze away from Ste and responded with a detached, ¡°Mm.¡± Willow beamed as she turned to the group, her tone light and friendly. ¡°Hi everyone, I¡¯m Willow Lawson¡ªWilliam¡¯s fianc¨¦e.¡±

    Her words came effortlessly, without putting too much weight on that final reveal. Smiling, she extended her hand with practiced ease.

    Elbert was quick to respond, standing up politely to shake her hand. ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lawson. I¡¯m Elbert Green¡ªthese are my teammates.¡± He stepped back to give her space.

    Willow gave a gracious nod, then looked at William before turning back to Elbert. ¡°We¡¯ve reserved a private room upstairs, Elbert. Why don¡¯t you alle join us? It¡¯s a bit loud here.¡±

    Elbert responded with a courteous smile. ¡°Thanks, but we¡¯re just wrapping up. You two enjoy your meal¡ªdon¡¯t mind us.¡±

    Willow didn¡¯t press the invitation. After all, it was just a formality.

    Looping her hand around William¡¯s arm, she smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll go on in then. Hope to see you all again soon.¡±

    ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? galn??v??????£®??????

    William gave Ste onest, fleeting nce before turning away and heading upstairs without another word.

    Sandra, still seated, finally snapped out of her daze. She turned to Ste with wide, disbelieving eyes. ¡°Sylvia¡­ that was really William¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Then what about you and him?¡±

    Confusion clouded Sandra¡¯s expression. She had always assumed Sylvia and William were quietly together. Why else would William show up at theb so often and go out of his way to help their team?

    Sandra had always thought there was something between William and Sylvia¡ªsome quiet, mutual feelings that just hadn¡¯t been said out loud at the institute.

    So hearing that William suddenly had a fianc¨¦e caught herpletely off guard. She opened her mouth to say more, but Jamir gently tugged her to the side. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Save the theories for another time, okay? You¡¯ve had a bit to drink.¡±

    Sandra blinked slowly, then giggled. ¡°Yeah, I do talk too much when I¡¯m tipsy, don¡¯t I?¡±

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 Chapter 382

    ?Chapter 382:

    Jamir let out a quiet sigh, steadying Sandra as she leaned heavily into him. He made sure she didn¡¯t slip off her seat.

    Seeing her condition, they all knew dinner was officially over.

    After paying the bill, the group was about to leave when they ran into Doreen near the entrance.

    Marc was dining with Doreen, and the moment his eyes met Ste¡¯s, his fingers unconsciously loosened their hold on Doreen¡¯s hand. Doreen stepped aside and called out sweetly, ¡°Hey, Ste!¡±

    Ste stiffened. She had never liked how Doreen called her name so casually. Their history wasplicated, and they weren¡¯t close¡ªnot enough for Doreen to speak to her that way.

    Ignoring her, Ste turned away and helped Elbert bnce Sandra as they headed out.

    But Doreen, utterlycking in discretion, pressed on. ¡°Is this your new boyfriend, Ste? I thought you were with Mr. Briggs¡­ Oh, and wasn¡¯t there also someone named Smith?¡±

    After tossing out her remark, Doreen peeked at Jamir¡ªhis face was cold and unreadable as he stood protectively beside Ste. Then, pretending to be flustered, she covered her mouth and said, ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m sorry¡ªdid I say something I shouldn¡¯t have?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help butugh a little at Doreen¡¯s act. Her eyes sparkled with mockery¡ªshe could see right through those little games.

    As a woman herself, she knew exactly what Doreen was trying to do.

    When Ste didn¡¯t take the bait, Doreen switched tactics. She gently tugged Marc¡¯s sleeve like a helpless child, her voiceced with worry. ¡°Mr. Walsh, did I say something wrong?¡±

    If Ste had shown the slightest hint of vulnerability¡ªjust a softened word or a pleading look¡ªMarc might¡¯ve instinctively defended her.

    But her cold, indifferent stare made his chest tighten with irritation. That look of contempt was like a p to his pride.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± Marc said, his voice sharp and cutting. ¡°Some people just have no shame. Jumping from man to man¡ªit¡¯s no surprise people talk.¡±

    ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????¦Í??????©q?????

    Doreen¡¯s lips twitched upward, a glimmer of smug satisfaction shing across her face before she quickly masked it again.

    ¡°Oh, Mr. Walsh, maybe this is all just a big misunderstanding,¡± Doreen said with a sweet but pointed tone. ¡°Ste, say something¡ªtell Mr. Walsh it¡¯s not what he thinks. You¡¯re not the type to mess with people¡¯s feelings, right?¡±

    Ste turned to her calmly, her eyes sharp. ¡°Doreen, just cut to the chase. What exactly are you trying to say?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s breath caught, and a sh of panic crossed her face. ¡°I¡ªI didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I just¡­ I don¡¯t really know who you¡¯re with these days¡­¡±

    Ste¡¯s voice dropped an octave, calm but razor-sharp. ¡°And even if you did know, so what? Who are you to me, Doreen? What makes you think I owe you any kind of exnation?¡±

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 Chapter 383

    ?Chapter 383:

    Doreen stood frozen, caught off guard by the sharpness in Ste¡¯s tone. She couldn¡¯te up with a single word to defend herself.

    Tears gathered in her eyes as she clutched Marc¡¯s sleeve like a lifeline, looking pitiful and helpless.

    Marc finally opened his mouth, stepping into the fire. ¡°Stel,e on, that¡¯s enough. Doreen didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed as she gave him a chilling stare. ¡°Control your woman, Marc. Because if she speaks out of turn again, I won¡¯t be so civil next time.¡±

    Marc¡¯s pride took a direct hit. Ste wasn¡¯t backing down, and now all eyes were on them¡ªincluding strangers stepping out of the nearby restaurant. The embarrassment stung.

    ¡°You¡¯re overreacting,¡± Marc said sharply. ¡°Doreen only brought it up because you¡¯re always seen with different guys. You really don¡¯t care what kind of message that sends?¡±

    That did it. Without hesitation, Ste pped him across the face. ¡°Say one more disgusting thing, and I swear I¡¯ll go straight to the police. I¡¯ll record it, post it, and let the whole world see. Think I won¡¯t?¡±

    She gave Elbert a subtle nod to move along. Wasting another second on these two just wasn¡¯t worth it.

    As Jamir passed by, he didn¡¯t bother hiding his contempt. ¡°People see in others what they¡¯re guilty of themselves,¡± he muttered.

    Still shaken, Doreen only managed to nce at Marc once Ste was gone.

    ¡°Are you alright, Mr. Walsh?¡± she asked nervously.

    Marc jerked his arm away, his face unreadable but clearly annoyed.

    Tears spilled down Doreen¡¯s cheeks as she choked out an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said anything. I was just¡­ worried about Ste. I know you still care about her, and I got upset on your behalf. I wasn¡¯t thinking. Please forgive me.¡±

    Her voice trembled with sincerity, and her worried eyes never left Marc¡¯s face. Her pitiful expression chipped away at Marc¡¯s frustration. She¡¯d said all that out of concern for him. In a world full of clever women, one so guileless¡ªeven if a bit silly¡ªwas strangely rare.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go,¡± he said curtly, rubbing his stinging cheek as he guided her back inside.

    ???? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????¦Í??????£®??????

    But Marc wasn¡¯t about to let things slide. First William, then Shaun¡ªand now a new guy? Whoever that man was, he was going to find out. Ste had nock of admirers, and it drove him crazy.

    Leaning against Elbert¡¯s shoulder, Sandra nced over her shoulder. ¡°Ugh, men are the worst. They¡¯ve got someone right next to them and still look around. So gross.¡±

    Elbert sighed under his breath. ¡°Do you have to keep poking at it?¡± He knew Ste had already had enough for one night, and Sandra just couldn¡¯t help making it worse.

    Oddly enough, Ste wasn¡¯t upset anymore. She just found it¡­ predictable. Not all rtionshipssted. People naturally drifted apart. Switched partners. It happened all the time.

    Since they weren¡¯t headed the same way, Ste chose to head out first. Before leaving, she looked at Sandra. ¡°Text me once you get home, alright? Just so I know you¡¯re safe.¡±

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 Chapter 384

    ?Chapter 384:

    Elbert gave a reassuring nod. ¡°Will do. You take care too.¡±

    When she got home, she dove back into the project she¡¯d been working on with Shaun¡¯spany.

    Though she already had solid evidence in her hands, she still hadn¡¯t taken it to the police.

    She understood the moment she did, there would be no turning back. From that point on, she could very well be a target for Nixon¡¯s people. That thought alone had kept her hesitating.

    Still, she hadn¡¯t forgotten what she told Shaun¡ªthat she wasn¡¯t doing this just for herself, but to stop otherpanies from getting their hands on such poor-quality materials. She meant every word.

    After a long stretch of silence and going over everything in her head, Ste finally made her decision. She gathered the file and decided to send it to the police. Whatever happened next¡ªshe was ready.

    Before reaching out to the police, Ste chose to speak with William first. The next day, after finishing work, she made her way to his dormitory, wanting to talk things through with him face-to-face.

    She knocked gently on his door and waited quietly in the hallway. For a moment, there was nothing but silence¡ªthen, after a short while, she heard slow footstepsing from inside.

    The door swung open, and there stood William, with nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist, water still glistening in his hair and trickling down his bare chest. Clearly, he had just stepped out of the shower.

    The sight caught Stepletely off guard. Her eyes widened for a brief second before she quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the floor. ¡°Did Ie at a bad time?¡± she asked, her voice slightly more awkward than she¡¯d meant it to be.

    William let out a softugh, clearly amused. ¡°Well, well. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d show up just to catch me half-naked, Ms. Russell.¡±

    Ste¡¯s cheeks warmed instantly. Of course he had to tease her. She cleared her throat and nced inside, her eyes doing a quick scan of the room as she tried to redirect the conversation. ¡°Your girlfriend¡¯s not here, is she?¡± The moment those words left her mouth, she regretted them. This was supposed to be a serious discussion about work¡ªwhy would it matter if his girlfriend was there? She realized how easily it could be misinterpreted. Before he could respond, she quickly added, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I just¡­ I didn¡¯t want her to get the wrong idea, that¡¯s all.¡±

    As soon as she finished exining, she realized she was only making it worse. Letting out a slow breath, she stopped herself. Maybe it was best to let it go and say nothing more.

    ???????? ???????? ???????????? at galn??v??????£®?????

    He nced back into the room casually and stepped aside, opening the door wider. ¡°nning to inspect the premises, Officer Russell?¡± he asked with a smirk. ¡°By all meanse in. I assure you, the ce is clear. No hidden girlfriends.¡±

    His teasing made Ste feel even more self-conscious, but hearing he was alone did offer a tiny bit of relief.

    As she stepped in, she asked casually, ¡°Where¡¯s Rita?¡± Wasn¡¯t she the one who usually looked after him? Had she left? Maybe even she couldn¡¯t deal with him and gave up.

    Ste took a slow look around, and sure enough, there was no trace of anyone else living there.

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 Chapter 385

    ?Chapter 385:

    Standing in the living room, she felt slightly uneasy¡ªshe hadn¡¯t taken off her shoes.

    His ce was so clean, not a thing out of ce, and she couldn¡¯t help but worry she was tracking in dirt.

    Sensing her hesitation, William spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, juste in. No need to take your shoes off.¡±

    She nodded and walked over to the sofa. Then, reaching into her bag, she pulled out the documents andid them neatly on the table. ¡°These are the files you gave me on Nixon¡¯s fraud. I¡¯ve sorted through them all. I was going to take them to the police today¡­ but I figured I should check in with you first. See what you think.¡±

    William¡¯s brows lifted slightly, surprised. Ste never used to check in with anyone before taking action.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking for my approval now?¡± he asked, amused.

    Ste blinked, a little surprised by how he phrased it. ¡°No, not approval,¡± she replied honestly. ¡°I just want to know what you think. Do you believe this is the right time to involve the police?¡±

    William walked over and took a seat on the single-seater sofa beside her, towel still in ce but his demeanor now far moreposed.

    ¡°If it were me¡­¡± he said thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯d hold on to those documents for now. Keep them secure. And in the meantime, I¡¯d track down the family that Nixon destroyed back then¡ªthe ones whose lives werepletely derailed. See how they¡¯re doing now.¡±

    The moment William spoke, Ste got it. Back then, Nixon had caused someone¡¯s death. The whole thing stirred up a huge mess in Choria, but then¡ªjust like that¡ªit vanished overnight. Not a word about it again.

    Even the victim¡¯s family had gone radio silent. Not a singleint. It was obvious something fishy was going on.

    If she could track the family down and get them to testify, Nixon¡¯s chances of walking free would drop fast.

    Ste nced at William, genuinely thankful. The problem she¡¯d been racking her brain over was cleared up with just one casual line from him. As much as she didn¡¯t want to admit it, he really was sharp sometimes. ¡°I know what to do now. Thanks for the tip. If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±

    ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????¦Í??????©q??????

    William watched her stand, then let out a softugh from the couch. Ste turned, confused by the sudden sound. He wasn¡¯t even trying to hide the teasing in his voice.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, is there something else?¡± she asked, with an edge.

    William raised a brow. ¡°Funny how that works. You need something, you show up. The second it¡¯s done¡ª¡¯Mr. Briggs, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡¯ Gotta say, Ms. Russell, you¡¯re good at keeping your boundaries.¡±

    The sarcasm wasn¡¯t subtle, and Ste frowned. ¡°It really was rude of me to drop by unannounced today.¡±

    William stood, his tall frame casting a light shadow as he shifted from lounging to towering over her. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d at least offer a meal in return.¡±

    So that was what he was getting at.

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 Chapter 386

    ?Chapter 386:

    Ste turned to face him. ¡°Alright. What would you like to eat, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    He thought for a beat. ¡°Just something simple. Homemade.¡±

    She blinked. ¡°You want me to cook?¡±

    William gave her a look of mock innocence. ¡°Why not? You used to cook all the time. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s hard for you, right? Or¡­ are you not that grateful, Ms. Russell?¡±

    She let out a quiet huff, halfway between augh and a sigh.

    ¡°I moved everything out of the kitchen across the hall,¡± she said coolly. ¡°And I¡¯m guessing yours is just as empty. By now, whatever¡¯s left in the grocery stores is probably stale. Let¡¯s just eat out. If you¡¯re worried about quality, I¡¯ll take you to a five-star ce.¡±

    He looked slightly let down but didn¡¯t argue.

    They left the research institute dorm and headed into town. Ste picked a decent-looking restaurant along the way.

    Once they were seated, William poured her a ss of red wine and slid it across the table. Then, as if casually, he added, ¡°I have the victim¡¯s family¡¯s contact info. Want it? I can send it over.¡±

    Ste gave a polite smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°That¡¯d be a big help, Mr. Briggs. Thanks.¡±

    He shrugged and sent the file from his phone.

    Before she could even open it, he asked, ¡°When are you nning to meet them?¡± She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead.

    ¡°Depends on their situation. If you know more, I¡¯d appreciate it.¡±

    William cut into his steak with practiced ease, the soft background violin music giving the whole scene an oddly elegant feel¡ªlike something out of an old painting.

    ¡°They¡¯ve had a rough few years,¡± he said casually. ¡°Tried to leave Choria a few times but never went through with it. Still, they¡¯ve never made a move to reopen the case or say anything about Nixon.¡±

    So they were just¡­ pretending nothing happened? Ste frowned, her mind racing. Something about this didn¡¯t sit right. What exactly was going on?

    William¡¯s expression turned a little serious. ¡°Nixon couldn¡¯t have done all this alone¡ªthere must be people backing him. The families who stayed quiet back then were probably threatened or paid off. Everyone in Choria knew what had happened, but even if there were more victims, no one dared to stand up to him.¡±

    ???????????????? ?????????? ???? g???????????????????????

    Ste had a hard time epting that. In a world where justice supposedly prevailed, one person might be weak, but what about when people stood together? Surely, there was strength in numbers.

    The more she thought about it, the more determined she became. ¡°Since you know where they are, I¡¯ll go find them sometime this week.¡±

    Seeing the fire in her eyes, William didn¡¯t have the heart to discourage her. ¡°Wednesday¡¯s the only day I¡¯m free.¡±

    Ste was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s your schedule got to do with me?¡±

    William paused mid-meal, looking at her. ¡°You¡¯re not seriously nning to go on your own, are you?¡±

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 Chapter 387

    ?Chapter 387:

    ¡°Why not?¡± She didn¡¯t think of herself as someone who needed protection. She was perfectly capable of handling this with or without William tagging along.

    William could only sigh inwardly, feeling slightly helpless.

    She hadn¡¯t said a word to him before heading to the mountaintop warehouse, and now, even with something they had decided on together, she still didn¡¯t want to involve him. Did she really dislike having him around that much?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think Nixon¡¯s men might be watching you? They probably know about your trip to that warehouse. For all you know, they¡¯re waiting for you to reach out to the victims, nning something in the shadows.¡± A small chill ran down Ste¡¯s spine.

    She realized she hadn¡¯t thought that part through. After a moment¡¯s pause, she muttered, ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask Shaun toe with me.¡±

    The mention of Shaun made William¡¯s face harden. She¡¯d rather go with Shaun than him? ¡°You¡¯ve got someone willing to help right in front of you, and yet you¡¯d rather go find someone else? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit unnecessary?¡±

    Ste¡¯sshes fluttered slightly. He had a girlfriend now, and she knew they were likely to marry someday. It wasn¡¯t her ce to interfere. She understood where the boundariesy.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I really do appreciate your offer,¡± she said sincerely. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to trouble you. I¡¯ve got ab session on Wednesday, and Saturday¡¯s the only day I¡¯m free¡ªbut you¡¯ve already said you can¡¯t make it.¡±

    By attributing it to a scheduling issue, she made it difficult for William to say anything more.

    Still, William couldn¡¯t shake the difort settling in his chest.

    After dinner, as Ste settled the bill, she caught sight of William walking out of the restaurant. He didn¡¯t even nce back.

    She paused mid-motion, momentarily stunned. What on earth had upset him this time? Quickly catching up to him outside, she asked in confusion, ¡°Mr. Briggs, was the food not to your liking?¡± She had spent a decent sum on that meal, and personally, she thought it had tasted pretty good.

    Just hearing her speak made William¡¯s expression tighten. He gave her a brief nce and muttered, ¡°Delightful.¡±

    ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? gal????¦Í??????©q?????

    That was all. Then, without another word, he stepped off the curb, opened the door to his ck Bentley, slid in, and shut it behind him with finality.

    Ste stood there, confused and a little stunned. She had no idea what she had said that upset him. After a moment, she gged down a taxi and headed home in silence.

    Once she got home, Ste sat down at her desk and carefully mapped out her n to visit the victim¡¯s family thating Saturday.

    Since she was taking this step, she sincerely hoped they¡¯d be willing to stand with her¡ªto speak out and testify.

    She stayed up workingte into the night, finally finishing the documents around two in the morning. When she looked at her phone and saw the time, she let out a tired sigh, quickly took a shower, and headed to bed.

    She remembered she should call Shaun, but realizing it was toote now, she made a mental note to talk to him tomorrow.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 388

    ?Chapter 388:

    The following day at the research institute, Ste bumped into Lainey in one of the hallways.

    Lainey didn¡¯t waste a second¡ªshe grabbed Ste¡¯s arm and pulled her to the side. ¡°Stel, thank God you¡¯re finally here!¡± she whispered urgently. Noticing the urgency written all over Lainey¡¯s face, Ste immediately asked,

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen with the project again?¡±

    Lainey sighed heavily. ¡°Someone showed up at the institute before you got here this morning.¡±

    ¡°Who was it?¡± Ste asked curiously.

    Lainey gave her a look of disbelief, sighed again, and tapped her on the forehead. ¡°It was Willow¡ªWilliam¡¯s fianc¨¦e!¡±

    Ste frowned slightly but didn¡¯t think much of it. What did Willow visiting William have to do with her, anyway?

    Lainey stared at her, clearly frustrated by her oblivious attitude.

    ¡°Willow came by today and brought fancy gifts for everyone at the institute. It was obvious she was trying to make a statement,¡± Lainey said, pressing her lips together. ¡°She even smiled and told us not to take William¡¯s temper seriously, like she runs the ce or something. And if that wasn¡¯t enough, she ended with a warning disguised as kindness. She told us to keep an eye out for anyone who might be secretly interested in William and said today¡¯s gift was her way of thanking us in advance.¡±

    In simple terms, Willow¡¯s visit was nothing short of a public announcement that she was William¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and at the same time, it was a subtle jab aimed straight at Ste.

    After all, everyone at the institute knew that before Willow entered the picture, William and Ste had always been close. Some even assumed they were a couple.

    So, it didn¡¯t take much to figure out who Willow was aiming at.

    Only now did Ste realize the weight of those words. She had been staying away from William, yet somehow, she was still caught in the crossfire.

    ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????¦Í??????[.]??????

    Ste looked at Lainey with a helpless expression. ¡°There¡¯s never been anything between William and me. We¡¯ve always been just coworkers¡ªI¡¯d never cross that line.¡±

    Lainey gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°I know that. But Willow clearly doesn¡¯t.¡±

    Ste felt cornered, like no matter what she said, people would still assume the worst. And one thing hit her hard¡ªWilliam never told Willow he wasn¡¯t into women. If he had, Willow wouldn¡¯t be so defensive.

    That realization annoyed her. Turning to Lainey, she asked, ¡°Has William shown up today?¡±

    Lainey seemed puzzled by the sudden question. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s arrived yet,¡± she replied.

    Ste inhaled deeply to steady herself. ¡°If he shows up, let me know. I really need to speak with him.¡±

    Lainey leaned in slightly and spoke in a low tone. ¡°People here are watching you and William closely. If you approach him directly now, it¡¯ll only confirm what Willow suspects. If it¡¯s that important, maybe call him instead.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 389

    ?Chapter 389:

    Ste paused, thinking it over, then gave a small nod.

    On her way to theb, she could practically feel everyone¡¯s gaze following her. When the drama with Marc happened, people had supported her openly. But now that it involved William, everyone chose silence. No one wanted to pick a side. They just stood back and watched as she walked into theb. Inside theb, Sandra was there, along with two other team members. As soon as Sandra saw Ste, she walked over carefully. ¡°Sylvia, did you catch anything being said outside?¡±

    Ste smiled faintly. ¡°You mean Miss Lawson¡¯s little speech?¡±

    Sandra gave her forehead a light smack. ¡°So, you did hear. Well, just so you know, we¡¯re behind you. I didn¡¯t take Miss Lawson¡¯s gift either.¡±

    Ste was touched but confused. ¡°Why not? Weren¡¯t the gifts expensive? Are you crazy?¡±

    Sandra waved it off. ¡°Gifts like that? She¡¯s clearly trying to buy people. I¡¯m not that easy to win over. Sylvia, don¡¯t worry about what people are saying out there. We¡¯re with you. Honestly, you¡¯ve known William way longer than Willow has. If anyone¡¯s the outsider here, it¡¯s her, not you.¡±

    That made Steugh a little. ¡°Thanks for supporting me, but really¡ªthere¡¯s nothing going on between me and William.¡±

    Sandra blinked in surprise, but before she could reply, a knock sounded at theb door.

    Paul stood by the doorway, looking into the room until his eyes found Ste. ¡°Sylvia, mind stepping out with me for a minute?¡± he asked.

    Sandra shot Ste a worried nce, but Ste responded with a quiet, reassuring nod before calmly following Paul out.

    Inside the office, Paul gestured for her to take a seat, then walked over and poured a ss of water for her himself.

    Ste took the ss, mildly surprised by his politeness. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, there¡¯s no need for formality¡ªplease, just tell me what this is about.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he was going through all the effort.

    Picking up on her cue, Paul took his seat and went straight to business. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯ve been with the institute long enough to know¡ªresearch alwayses first. Everything else is secondary.¡±

    ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???? gal????¦Í??????£®??????

    Ste nodded silently. That much she already knew.

    He went on, ¡°Miss Lawson visited today, and she didn¡¯t exactly hide her motives. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard something about it.¡±

    Ste instantly pieced it together. So that was what this meeting was about.

    After a short pause, Paul added, ¡°We supported you when your ex-husband caused trouble¡ªhe was clearly in the wrong, and you were one of our own. But this time¡­ things are different. William and Miss Lawson aren¡¯t people you want to antagonize.¡±

    Ste gently set the ss down. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I believe there¡¯s a misunderstanding here. Mr. Briggs and I have only ever maintained a professional rtionship. There¡¯s absolutely nothing improper going on.¡± Honestly, she wasn¡¯t even sure they counted as friends. They always seemed to argue the moment they were in the same room.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 390

    ?Chapter 390:

    Paul looked slightly startled by her answer.

    To him, it didn¡¯t quite add up. William had stepped in for Ste more than once¡ªwhether it was the Allen issue or the recentpetition. It was rare for William to get involved in anything personal, and yet here he was.

    From what Paul had observed, William clearly treated Ste differently than others.

    Ste let out a quiet sigh in her heart. If only she could tell them the truth¡ªthat William simply wasn¡¯t into women, and there was no chance of anything between them.

    But she didn¡¯t feel it was her ce to expose his personal life. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I promise I¡¯m not trying to interfere in his rtionship with Miss Lawson. I have no such feelings for him. I know this is awkward for you, and I¡¯ll be more mindful moving forward,¡± Ste said, sounding as sincere and determined as someone pledging herself to a mission.

    Paul opened his mouth, but nothing came out. This wasn¡¯t the response he¡¯d expected at all.

    Ste waited a beat. When it was clear he had nothing more to add, she rose from her seat. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll get back to work if that¡¯s all.¡± After all, she still hadb work waiting.

    Paul finally snapped out of his thoughts and muttered a faint ¡°Oh¡± while watching her walk out briskly.

    As Ste stepped out, she almost ran straight into William, who wasing from the opposite end of the hallway.

    Remembering what Paul had just told her, she quickly looked away and walked past him without saying a word. Before William could react, she had already gone.

    Meanwhile, William remained where he was, hands in his pockets, silently watching her go. He had heard every word she¡¯d said in Paul¡¯s office, and now, her silence said even more. No feelings for him? Not even a hint?

    He frowned, her words looping in his head like a stubborn curse. Damn it. Why was he letting a single sentence mess with him like this?

    After work, William didn¡¯t head home. He went straight to Steven¡¯s.

    ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????¦Í?????????????

    Steven had been buried in a work projecttely and hadn¡¯t followed whatever drama was going on between William and Ste.

    So when William showed up unannounced, it definitely threw him.

    ¡°William? What brings you here?¡± Steven asked, surprised.

    William didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. He shot Steven a strange look and said bluntly, ¡°We¡¯re drinking. I¡¯ve already reserved a private room.¡±

    He grabbed Steven¡¯s wrist and tugged him forward before Steven could even react.

    ¡°Hey¡ªwait! I¡¯ve got work to finish today. I can¡¯t just go drinking right now.¡± Today was a tight deadline. If Steven didn¡¯t submit everything on time, the deal he was working on would copse.

    William clicked his tongue in frustration, shooting him a look full of silent protest.

    Realizing he wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook today, Steven sighed and threw his hands up. ¡°Fine, I¡¯lle, but I¡¯m bringing myptop with me.¡± He wasn¡¯t giving up the nightpletely. That was his condition.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 391

    ?Chapter 391:

    Inside the fancy club, a row of imported wine bottles was lined up in front of William, their ss catching the colorful lights and shining brightly¡ªenough to make Steven¡¯s heart skip a beat.

    ¡°What is this, a personal mission to get wasted?¡± Steven asked, half-rmed, half-impressed.

    William shot him a frosty re and said nothing.

    Steven took a sip of wine himself, then opened his tablet, casually flipping through files. ¡°What happened this time? Let me guess¡ªSylvia again?¡± As far as Steven was concerned, when men drank like this, it was always because of one of two things¡ªwork or women.

    And since William¡¯s career was running smoothly, that only left one exnation: a woman.

    Besides, this definitely wasn¡¯t the first time William had shown up like this.

    William tossed back another few gulps before finally speaking in a low voice. ¡°She said¡­ she doesn¡¯t feel that way about me.¡±

    That made Steven freeze mid-keystroke. His head snapped toward William, eyes practically lighting up. ¡°Wait¡ªseriously? Sylvia said that?¡±

    William narrowed his eyes, instantly irritated by the amusement in Steven¡¯s expression. ¡°You look thrilled. Is that supposed to make me feel better?¡±

    Steven quickly wiped the grin off his face, raising his hands defensively. ¡°No, no¡ªI¡¯m on your side, man. I¡¯m just¡­ surprised. What made her say that?¡±

    William scoffed bitterly. ¡°How the hell should I know? Women are a puzzle, but Ste? She¡¯s like the ocean¡ªstill on the surface, but ruthless beneath. He could never guess what was going on in her head.¡±

    After hearing that, something clicked in Steven¡¯s mind. ¡°Hold on¡ªaren¡¯t you with Willow? Everyone around Choria seems convinced she¡¯s going to be your wife someday.¡±

    If that was the case, then Sylvia¡¯s response made sense. No decent woman would want to y the other woman role knowingly.

    William nced his way but said nothing.

    ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? g????????¦Í??????£®??????

    That only made Steven more curious. ¡°Be honest¡ªwhat do you really think about Willow?¡±

    He nudged William¡¯s arm teasingly. From what little he¡¯d heard, Willow was more socialite than soulmate¡ªwas that really William¡¯s kind of woman? But despite all the questions, William said nothing. He kept drinking, as if the alcohol could answer in his ce.

    In the end, Steven couldn¡¯t tell who had driven William to the bottom of the bottle¡ªSylvia or Willow.

    Over the next few days, William was noticeably absent from the research institute.

    Ste vaguely remembered him saying he had somemitments lined up after Wednesday, so she figured he was probably tied up with work elsewhere, likely focused on a new project.

    Before she knew it, Saturday hade around.

    In the end, Ste chose not to tell Shaun anything about her n to visit the victim¡¯s family.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 392

    ?Chapter 392:

    The cryptic markings on the crate still left her unsure about who exactly they were pointing to, and a part of her feared Shaun might be entangled in it somehow. That fear alone was reason enough for her to go alone.

    The victim¡¯s rtives lived in a remote vige nestled deep in the mountains.

    The taxi could only go so far up the winding path before Ste had to switch to an old, creaky three-wheeler. It jolted and bounced over rocks and tangled roots until, dazed and slightly dizzy, she finally reached the yard of the victim¡¯s house.

    As she stood on the worn stone steps, she noticed a faint trail of smoke curling from the roof. Taking a steadying breath, she moved toward the entrance.

    ¡°Hello? Is this Finley Hammond¡¯s home?¡± she called out.

    A young woman who had been cooking outside turned sharply at the sound of her voice.

    Ste opened her mouth to say more, but the woman bolted into the house before she could get another word out.

    Ste quickly followed the woman and tried to exin, ¡°Please, I¡¯m not here to cause any trouble. I just want to know what really happened to Finley back then. I¡¯m on your side. I¡¯ve found proof of what Nixon Garrett did, and we can finally get him locked up!¡±

    But there was only silence in response.

    ¡°I know you¡¯ve kept quiet all these years because you were threatened. But I have real evidence now. If you¡¯re willing to speak up, we can make sure Nixon pays for what he did!¡± She called out again, louder this time¡ªbut there was no reply.

    The silence inside was heavy and still, making her wonder if the woman she saw had even been real at all.

    When Ste turned her head, she noticed the pot on the stove still bubbling quietly.

    She let out a quiet sigh. Not wanting to be the reason someone¡¯s meal was ruined, she walked over and picked up the spat to keep it from burning. Once she had scooped the stir-fried food onto a te, she turned back, ready to resume the conversation inside.

    But just as she turned, her breath caught¡ªan elderly woman stood quietly behind her, hunched and still, like she had appeared out of thin air.

    ?????????????? ????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????¦Í??????£®??????

    The sudden sight made Ste jump, and the te in her hands almost slipped from her grasp.

    The woman¡¯s hair waspletely gray, and she stood still like a statue, her back slightly hunched.

    Ste took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay calm, then slowly stepped forward. ¡°Hi, I promise I¡¯m not here to bother you,¡± she said gently, holding out the te toward the woman.

    The woman stared at her in silence for several moments before finally taking the te and walking slowly to set it down on an old wooden table in the living room.

    The elderly woman finally spoke, her voice firm but weary. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time. We¡¯re not saying a word.¡±

    Still, the fact that she¡¯d said anything at all gave Ste a sliver of hope.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, please just hear me out,¡± Ste urged. ¡°I understand you¡¯ve been through a lot, but Nixon is still walking free. Don¡¯t you want to see him pay for what he did?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 393

    ?Chapter 393:

    The older woman didn¡¯t respond. And before Ste could try again, someone stormed out from inside the house and shoved her hard.

    ¡°Why are you pretending this doesn¡¯t affect us?¡± the younger woman shouted. ¡°Do you know my grandmother nearly died because of this? Nixon is rich and powerful¡ªwe¡¯re just poor vigers. We can¡¯t fight someone like him. If we stir up trouble again, he¡¯ll destroy all of us!¡±

    The sudden shove made Ste stumble back, but she caught herself just in time to hear the woman¡¯s angry outburst.

    A bitter feeling welled up inside her, but she still spoke calmly, ¡°I¡¯m not giving up. I want to help you.¡±

    ¡°Enough already!¡± the woman snapped. ¡°Everyone who¡¯s promised to help us only wanted money. What do you want? Just say it¡ªwe¡¯re not giving you a single cent. Stop using my father¡¯s death to upset my grandma!¡±

    That¡¯s when Ste realized¡ªthis must be Finley¡¯s daughter. She immediately replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know what others did to trick you before. But you¡¯re right¡ªNixon is powerful. That¡¯s why we need to rely on thew. I¡¯ve collected enough evidence to finally make a case. Please, just take a look.¡±

    As she spoke, she reached into her bag, pulled out a folder, and handed it to her with quiet determination.

    But the woman smacked it straight to the ground. ¡°Are you deaf or just bold? I told you to get out! You have some nerve showing up here to swindle us out of money!¡±

    Shouting angrily, the woman snatched up a thick, worn-out broom that had been propped against the wall. Without a second thought, she raised it over her shoulder and swung it hard at Ste.

    The heavy thud rang out, and both the elderly woman and Finley¡¯s daughter stood frozen.

    Ste took the full hit to her back, stumbling forward with a sharp gasp as pain shot through her. It took her a while to steady herself and breathe again. She understood they didn¡¯t trust her, but aftering all this way, she wasn¡¯t going to walk away with nothing.

    Bending down, Ste picked up the folder that had fallen to the floor. Her voice was soft but honest. ¡°This is real evidence. Please, at least take a look.¡±

    Finley¡¯s daughter was caught off guard. Normally, con artists ran the moment she even looked like she¡¯d swing the broom. But this woman? She didn¡¯t even flinch. She stood there like a fool¡ªor maybe like someone who actually meant what she said.

    ?????????????? ?????? ?????????¦Í????????????

    Her gaze dropped to the folder Ste held, catching the carefully marked photos and the long list of footnotes. Her brows furrowed in surprise. ¡°You actually looked into this?¡± she asked, her voice lined with disbelief. She¡¯d assumed, like all the others, that this was just another trick¡ªa sham to squeeze money from herte father¡¯s name. Over the years, countless strangers had taken advantage of their grief. That was why she¡¯d given up on ever digging up the past again.

    The living came first¡ªher grandmother, their quiet life. She wasn¡¯t willing to risk that again. But now, in front of her stood a woman not asking for money, not making excuses. Just offering a thick stack of truth and a desperate kind of hope.

    The old woman, who hadn¡¯t said a word through themotion, turned atst. Her gazended on Ste, who was still slightly hunched from the hit but holding her ground.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 394

    ?Chapter 394:

    After a long pause, the silence stretched thin¡­ then finally, the old woman spoke in a gravelly voice. ¡°Come inside.¡±

    A soft smile spread across Ste¡¯s face as she quickly gathered the documents and trailed behind Finley¡¯s mother and daughter into the modest room.

    ¡°Fetch the ointment¡ªwe need to rub it on her back before it swells,¡± the older woman told her granddaughter without a second thought.

    Ste opened her mouth to protest, but the woman cut her off firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t argue. If we don¡¯t treat it now, your back will be ck and blue by morning.¡± Ste gave in quietly, watching as the young woman returned with the ointment and spoke gently. ¡°You¡¯ll need to take off your top so I can apply this properly.¡±

    Ste removed it without a word. The woman¡¯s hands were steady and practiced, gently working the ointment into her back with smooth, circr motions. Almost immediately, the sharp ache in her muscles began to fade, and Ste let out a breath of relief.

    Once she set the ointment aside, the woman settled beside her grandmother and looked at Ste seriously. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s talk.¡±

    Ste ced the folder on the table between them. ¡°Please take your time and look through everything,¡± she said softly.

    The woman skimmed through the first few pages, her voice tense. ¡°You do understand what you¡¯re asking of us, right? Testifying could ruin us.¡±

    Ste nodded without hesitation. ¡°I know it¡¯s dangerous, and I¡¯ll do everything I can to keep you safe. That¡¯s a promise.¡±

    The young woman¡¯s brows lifted in disbelief. ¡°And who are you to make that kind of promise? Are you more powerful than Nixon himself?¡±

    The question caught Ste off guard. She had no grand title, no political pull, but she still believed in the system, in justice, and in thew.

    ¡°I get that you¡¯re scared,¡± Ste said honestly. ¡°And while I can¡¯t promise there won¡¯t be risks, I swear I¡¯ll do everything I can. Nixon¡¯s still out there, still putting lives in danger¡ªpeople like your father shouldn¡¯t have to suffer in vain.¡± The older woman and her granddaughter clutched the folder tightly. Life had already taken so much from them, and the thought of others going through the same pain only added to the weight in their hearts.

    Finley¡¯s daughter lowered her eyes, tears gathering at the corners. ¡°Dad would never want anyone else to go through what he did. I¡¯ll testify¡­ but you have to swear¡ªreally swear¡ªyou¡¯ll protect my grandma no matter what.¡±

    ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????¦Í?????????????

    Ste¡¯s expression turned solemn as she nodded. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t said a word, I still would¡¯ve done everything to protect her. That¡¯s a promise from me to you.¡±

    The woman stood quietly and walked over to a drawer. After opening it, she reached into a hiddenpartment. ¡°There¡¯s something you should take a look at,¡± she said.

    Ste took what the woman handed her, eyes narrowing as she studied it. It was a lead¡ªa document pointing toward Nixon¡¯s old associates, the people who had helped him build his corrupt empire.

    Her eyes lit up with disbelief. ¡°Where did you even manage to find this?¡±

    The woman¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been quietly collecting evidence against Nixon for years,¡± she said. ¡°I just never had the courage to act. Not while Grandma was still alive.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 395

    ?Chapter 395:

    Her n had always been to expose Nixon once her grandmother was gone, even if it meant dragging herself down in the process. If she had nothing left to lose, why not take him with her?

    ¡°This particr partner used to work closely with Nixon. Their business dealings stopped three years ago, but they¡¯ve keptundering money¡ªfaking shipments, doctoring records. The scale of it is huge.¡±

    Ste had thought the files William provided were thorough, but what was she holding now? It dug even deeper. She hadn¡¯t imagined the victim¡¯s family had uncovered this much.

    ¡°This is gold. Thank you¡ªreally,¡± Ste said, her voice full of gratitude. Gently sliding the documents closer, the woman added, ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯ve been able to gather. You¡¯ll have to dig into the rest¡ªespecially around the port and that partner of his.¡±

    For someone with no ess or influence, the fact she¡¯d collected this much over the years was nothing short of remarkable.

    For Ste, this was a breakthrough. She tucked the documents carefully into her bag and exchanged numbers with the woman, sealing a silent pact between them.

    ¡°Won¡¯t you stay for dinner?¡± the woman asked with a touch of warmth in her voice.

    Ste offered a small smile and shook her head. ¡°I should head back now¡ªit¡¯s a long trip down.¡±

    The woman didn¡¯t try to stop her. She simply lifted a hand and said bluntly, ¡°If something happens to you while digging into this¡­ we won¡¯t be able to save you.¡±

    The words were harsh, but Ste understood them for what they were¡ªa warning, not a dismissal.

    She gave a reassuring smile. ¡°I know the risks. But trust me¡ªI won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    Ste got back on the old tricycle and began making her way down the mountain path once more. Behind her, the woman stood quietly, her gaze distant and full of thought.

    She slowly turned to look at her grandmother, who was seated silently inside the room. ¡°Let¡¯s hope this Sylvia Gilbert woman really can bring Nixon down,¡± she murmured.

    ???????? ???????? ????????????????????????

    The old woman, her hair fully gray, stared out at the path Ste had taken. With a faint, sorrowful smile, she said, ¡°We¡¯ve run out of options. She¡¯s ourst chance now.¡±

    Ste got home around two in the morning.

    She felt sticky and worn out from the day, so she jumped straight into the shower. By the time she stepped out, it was almost three.

    She¡¯d managed to visit the victim¡¯s family on her own, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to face Nixon¡¯s old partner alone.

    Lying on her side in bed, she scrolled through her contacts.

    Her thumb hovered over William¡¯s number¡­ but she hesitated.

    She knew she couldn¡¯t keep relying on him.

    So, she kept scrolling¡ªuntil she saw Shaun¡¯s name.

    She sent a quick text. ¡°Mr. Smith, are you free tomorrow?¡±

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    .

    .

 Chapter 396

    ?Chapter 396:

    Ste figured he¡¯d reply in the morning. But he responded almost instantly. ¡°Yes.¡± She hesitated before typing out the next message. ¡°I need to visit the port tomorrow. I¡¯ve found some new clues about Nixon. Could youe with me?¡± She kept her wording as neutral as possible.

    It was three in the morning¡ªtexting a man at this hour could easily be taken the wrong way.

    But Shaun didn¡¯t seem fazed. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s the weekend anyway¡ªthe office is closed.¡±

    Seeing his quick and easy reply, Ste sat up in bed, relieved¡ªand maybe even a little giddy. ¡°See you tomorrow, Mr. Smith!¡± She typed back.

    That night, she actually slept well.

    The next morning, before she even made it downstairs, her phone buzzed with a message from Shaun. ¡°Good morning. I¡¯m already here.¡± Ste blinked, surprised. She peeked outside but didn¡¯t see his car. She quickly replied to his text. ¡°I don¡¯t see your car¡­ did you take a taxi?¡± Her phone rang.

    ¡°Hey, Syl¡ªsorry,¡± Shaun said, sounding sheepish. ¡°I forgot you just moved. I went straight to the institute out of habit. Work¡¯s been a lottely.¡±

    Ste checked the time. ¡°No big deal. I¡¯m close by anyway. I¡¯ll head over and meet you.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± Shaun said,ughing lightly.

    But Ste insisted, ¡°I¡¯lle over. We¡¯ll be driving past the institute anyway. No point in you backtracking.¡±

    A few minutester, Ste hopped in a taxi and headed to the institute entrance.

    As she got out and paid the fare, Shaun was already waiting by his car, holding out a warm breakfast bag. ¡°I got this for you¡ªstill warm. I kept it in my clothes to ensure it.¡±

    Ste blinked, touched. She hadn¡¯t expected that.

    Shaun saw her stunned expression and grinned. ¡°Rx, I was kidding. I just got here myself¡ªit¡¯s still fresh.¡±

    She let out a small breath and smiled. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????????????

    ¡°Shall we?¡± he asked, gesturing toward the car.

    Just as she nodded and moved to get in, her eyes caught movement across the courtyard. William was stepping out of the dorms¡ªwith Willow right beside him.

    They saw Ste and Shaun, too. Willow nced at William, then smiled at the pair across from them.

    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Smith. Picking up your¡­ date?¡± she teased.

    Shaun had always had a bit of a reputation, so seeing him here, early in the morning¡­ Was he after a new catch?

    She took a longer look at Ste. Wasn¡¯t she the woman who lived opposite William¡¯s cest time? Sylvia Gilbert, right? Was Shaun pursuing her?

    Shaun was just about to rify, but Ste cut in quickly, ¡°Shaun, we¡¯re in a hurry. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Shaun just smiled and waved at William and Willow. ¡°We¡¯ll head out then. See you around, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    William didn¡¯t say a word¡ªjust stood there, face tightening as he watched Ste slip into Shaun¡¯s car.

    Willow noticed the shift in his mood and nced again in Ste¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Mr. Smith, where are you headed? Maybe we¡¯re going the same way. We could keep each otherpany!¡± she chirped, clinging to William¡¯s arm with a syrupy smile.

    Shaun paused mid-step, giving her a polite smile. ¡°We¡¯re headed to the port. Why? You and Mr. Briggs nning a romantic stroll by the water too, Miss Lawson?¡±

    Willow blinked, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re going to the port too?¡±

    And just like that, they all ended up heading in the same direction. But of course, William and Willow shared one car, while Ste and Shaun took the other.

    As Ste sat in the passenger seat, her gaze drifted to the sleek Bentley cruising alongside them. Her eyes found William in the driver¡¯s seat, and¡ªjust for a moment¡ªhis eyes found hers.

    Their gazes locked. And for one breathless second, Ste felt her heart skip.

    .

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 Chapter 397

    ?Chapter 397:

    ¡°William, could you close the window? It¡¯s a bit chilly.¡± Willow¡¯s voice, soft and a little too sweet, drifted through the wind and reached Ste¡¯s ears¡ªdistant, yet unmistakable.

    A secondter, the window on William¡¯s side slid shut, cutting off thest thread of connection between them.

    Ste looked away, turning back to the view outside her own window, trees and buildings blurring past. Her mind drifted back to the conversation she¡¯d had with William when they left the warehouse.

    So, he was investigating on Willow¡¯s behalf. Which meant¡­ today, they were both here for the same reason¡ªtracking down Nixon¡¯s old partner. When they reached the port, both cars came to a stop at the same time.

    The wind by the water was sharp, and Ste instantly regretted wearing something so light. She rubbed her arms against the chill. Before she could even shiver properly, Shaun had already draped his coat over her shoulders.

    ¡°Keep it on. I¡¯m fine,¡± he said casually.

    The warmth from his coat wrapped around her like a nket.

    Willow watched the small exchange, her lips curving into a thoughtful smile. ¡°William, don¡¯t you think Ms. Gilbert and Mr. Smith make a great couple?¡± she said lightly.

    William¡¯s face shifted ever so slightly. A strange tightness settled in his chest.

    Great couple? How long had they even known each other?

    He let out a quiet ¡°mm¡± in response.

    Willow caught the subtle change in his expression but didn¡¯t push.

    Ste wasn¡¯t there to admire the waterfront. She tugged on Shaun¡¯s sleeve.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go find that partner first.¡±

    Shaun nodded and followed her down a path.

    Not far behind, Willow turned to William. ¡°Should we take a different route?¡± She figured he¡¯d rather avoid trailing behind those two.

    Discover updates g?l¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    William nodded, adjusting course with her¡ªbut his eyes lingered on Ste for a moment longer before looking away.

    Ste had no photo of the man they were looking for¡ªjust a vague description from Finley¡¯s daughter.

    ¡°She said he¡¯s in his thirties, blue eyes, tanned skin,¡± she told Shaun as they walked.

    Shaun listened quietly, nodding asionally.

    He already knew who the guy was¡ªbut he let Ste take the lead, acting as if he didn¡¯t.

    ¡°There are some office buildings up ahead. Let¡¯s check them first,¡± Ste suggested.

    The buildings by the water had a sleek, modern look. She expected some sort of keycard system, but the front door was wide open. The first floor was empty.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t apany this big have at least a security guard?¡± Ste muttered. Even her research institute had multiple security checkpoints.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s the weekend,¡± Shaun said, taking her hand and gently leading her inside.

    Ste didn¡¯t resist, letting him guide her.

    She looked around cautiously but didn¡¯t spot anything unusual.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 398

    ?Chapter 398:

    When they reached the elevator, Shaun went to press the button, but Ste held back. ¡°Let¡¯s take the stairs instead,¡± she suggested.

    Something about the ce made her uneasy.

    Shaun ced a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ¡°Syl, rx. I¡¯m here.¡± She hesitated, wanting to argue¡­ but under his calm, steady gaze, the words never made it out.

    They headed up to the second floor. The hallway was lined with offices. As they passed by, something caught Ste¡¯s eye¡ªtwo familiar figures standing in one of the rooms up ahead. Willow and William. Her steps froze. ¡°Wait¡­ what are you two doing here?¡±

    Earlier, when Ste and Shaun went upstairs, they hadn¡¯t seen any sign of William or Willow.

    Willow offered a gentle exnation. ¡°This building has two entrances. We must¡¯vee in through different doors.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t think much of it¡ªjust nodded and got back tobing through the room with Shaun.

    Meanwhile, William looked like he was preparing to deliver a verdict in court¡ªhis expression stone-cold as he searched for clues.

    Ste, not wanting Willow to get the wrong idea about her and William, made sure to keep a wide berth. If he was on the left, she went right¡ªalways keeping space between them.

    Still, sometimes they¡¯d unknowingly drift closer. And just when William was about to say something to her, she¡¯d suddenly pivot away and call out, ¡°Shaun,e check this out!¡±

    He was left hanging¡ªmore than once¡ªwith an unreadable look on his face and a growing sense of irritation.

    From William¡¯s line of sight, it didn¡¯t help that every time Ste leaned slightly toward Shaun, especially when she stood on tiptoe to show him something, it looked like she was practically in his arms.

    Willow noticed too. With a soft voice and a faint smile, she murmured, ¡°William, don¡¯t they look good together? Mr. Smith and Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    Find what you love at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???????

    William¡¯s jaw tightened, his face growing darker.

    Willow ignored his reaction, her eyes gleaming. She kept making littlements about howpatible the two of them looked.

    Then, as Ste handed Shaun a folder, her foot caught on the edge of the carpet. She stumbled.

    Before she could fall, Shaun caught her by the wrist and pulled her into his arms.

    Ste froze, then quickly pulled back, flustered.

    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Smith,¡± she murmured hastily. That kind of clumsy move felt totally uneptable¡ªespecially in front of everyone.

    But Shaun didn¡¯t look annoyed at all. In fact, he looked almost amused, his eyes scanning her briefly, like he was making sure she wasn¡¯t hurt. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay, Syl.¡±

    The soft ¡°Syl¡± drifted over to William¡¯s ears like a trigger. Between that and watching her fall right into Shaun¡¯s arms, his mood officially tanked. His grip on the documents in his hand visibly tightened.

    ¡°I¡¯m going out to make a call,¡± he said abruptly, heading for the door.

    Willow gave Shaun and Ste a polite smile before following after him. Once the two of them were gone, Ste let out a quiet breath and instinctively stepped a little farther away from Shaun.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 399

    ?Chapter 399:

    He noticed. Raising an eyebrow, he leaned in with a teasing smirk. ¡°Syl, do you really hate being near me that much?¡±

    Ste paused, then gave him a sidelong look. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah? Then why do you keep running off every time I get close?¡± Shaun wasn¡¯t letting it go that easily.

    Ste sighed, eyes flicking away from his. The way he looked at people always held this strange softness, like they all meant something to him¡ªand she didn¡¯t want to read too much into it. Gently, she pushed him back a bit. ¡°Alright, enough. Let¡¯s focus. We¡¯re here to find clues.¡±

    Seeing her serious look, Shaun dropped the yful tone and went back to searching with her.

    Outside, Willow didn¡¯t say anything at first¡ªshe just followed quietly as William made his call.

    William was on the phone with Luca.

    ¡°Send a few people to the port,¡± he instructed Luca. ¡°Keep it discreet. Stay hidden, but if anything happens, step in right away.¡±

    Luca immediately got the message. ¡°Understood, Mr. Briggs. I¡¯ll send a team over.¡±

    Willow¡¯s expression shifted as she watched from a distance. She wasn¡¯t stupid¡ªshe could see the difference in the way William looked at Sylvia. There was something deeper there. Complicated. Quiet. And definitely not the way he looked at her. Was there really something going on between them?

    Willow pressed her lips together, smoothed out her expression, and stepped forward.

    ¡°William, are you okay?¡± she asked softly.

    Hearing her voice, William quickly ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

    He turned to face her, still polite¡ªbut distant. ¡°Miss Lawson, did you find anything?¡±

    Discover more content at ?¦Áln¦Ò¦Íe?s

    That formal tone again. Willow¡¯s chest tightened. She was supposed to be his future wife, yet he acted like she was just another business associate. She forced a smile. ¡°Looks like Ms. Gilbert and Mr. Smith found something. We should go check it out.¡±

    The second she mentioned Ste, William¡¯s expression shifted. His eyes sharpened with interest, and without a word, he headed back inside.

    Inside, Ste had just finished snapping photos of some useful documents. She and Shaun were about to move on to another room when William and Willow walked in.

    Shaun looked up with a knowing smile. ¡°Mr. Briggs, did you flirt with Miss Lawson outside? She looks quite pleased.¡±

    William almost said something to exin himself, but the sight of Ste standing so close to Shaun made him stop. Instead, his voice turned cold as he said, ¡°Willow is my fianc¨¦e. Do I need permission to be with her?¡±

    Willow hadn¡¯t expected such a bold deration in front of others. A blush crept up her face as she smiled softly. ¡°William, we¡¯re just here to investigate. Don¡¯t say things like that out of the blue.¡±

    William¡¯s tone remained even. ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth. Is there an issue?¡± He wasn¡¯t emotional, just stating things inly, as if he were listing facts on a page.

    Shaun let out a shortugh. ¡°No problem at all. In that case, Syl and I will check the other rooms.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 400

    ?Chapter 400:

    He turned toward Ste, reaching out to take her hand with quiet warmth.

    ¡°Come on, Syl. Let¡¯s head out.¡±

    Ste gave a small nod and quietly followed Shaun¡¯s lead.

    But as she walked past William, her eyes caught the side of his face¡ªsoft, patient, attentive¡ªas he listened to Willow. That wasn¡¯t the version of him she had known.

    She had always believed he was cold, distant, the type who kept his emotions buried. Yet with Willow, he seemed warm¡­ gentle.

    Something inside her ached, and though she didn¡¯t understand why, she couldn¡¯t shake the heaviness that settled in her chest.

    The thoughts kept piling up in her head, one heavier than the next. She stared nkly at the documents in her hands, her mind miles away. She was so deep in thought, she didn¡¯t even notice Shaun calling her name again and again.

    ¡°Syl, are you okay? You look pale,¡± Shaun said gently, cing aforting hand on her shoulder. ¡°Why don¡¯t you wait in the car? I can finish up here.¡±

    His hand on her shoulder snapped her out of it. She shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll stay.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to be a burden¡ªnot now, not ever.

    Shaun said, ¡°I know you can manage, but it¡¯s safer if I am here alone. If anything goes wrong, I can slip away. If you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll have to cover for you, and that¡¯s risky.¡±

    His logic made sense, and after a short pause, she gave a small nod in agreement.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she said softly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait in the car. If anything changes, call me right away.¡±

    She had already gathered a few files; maybe she could finally go through them properly while she waited.

    Back in the room, she¡¯d been too tense to even nce at them.

    Ste had assumed she wouldn¡¯t run into William or Willow again after leaving. But she hadn¡¯t ounted for the fact that their cars were parked side by side, and to reach hers, she had to walk right past theirs.

    Just as she was making her way toward the car, she noticed William leaning casually against the door.

    L?t??t ch¦Ápt?rs ¦Én g??lnov?l??.???m

    She paused, a little caught off guard. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be in the office with Miss Lawson right now?¡± she asked.

    William didn¡¯t answer her directly. Instead, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he eyed her. ¡°Why are you all alone? Don¡¯t tell me Shaun ditched you.¡± His teasing tone rubbed Ste the wrong way, and she fired back without hesitation, ¡°He was just concerned I might run into trouble, so he offered to help me find the documents. But you¡ªleaving your fianc¨¦e behind like that? Doesn¡¯t seem like something a proper gentleman would do.¡±

    She didn¡¯t even know why she was getting worked up. Something about talking to him today made her lose her usual calm.

    William gave a rxed shrug. ¡°She just went to the restroom. And I¡¯ve told you before, Shaun¡¯s not exactly trustworthy¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, Ste cut in, her voice sharper than before. ¡°I think Mr. Smith¡¯s been perfectly kind. But you know what¡¯s not? Talking behind someone¡¯s back.¡±

    That onended. William¡¯s smile faded slightly, and something flickered in his eyes. Why was she so quick to defend Shaun? Was she genuinely falling for him? The thought unsettled William more than he liked to admit.

    ¡°Seriously, Ste? Are you really falling for that guy?¡± he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. ¡°Your taste in men wasn¡¯t exactly ster thest time either. And it doesn¡¯t look like much has changed.¡±

    .

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    .

 Chapter 401

    ?Chapter 401:

    There were so many decent men out there¡ªhe just couldn¡¯t understand why she always seemed to pick the worst ones.

    Ste¡¯s temper red. ¡°Who I choose to be with is none of your concern. Maybe you should spend less time judging and more time focusing on your soon-to-be wife.¡±

    Her words hit harder than she intended. But so did his! What gave him the right to criticize her when he was marrying someone he barely even knew? Was that supposed to be some kind of virtue now?

    William stared at Ste¡¯s indignant re¡ªand instead of getting annoyed, something about her fiery little outburstpletely disarmed him. Whatever irritation he¡¯d been holding onto vanished just like that.

    He narrowed his eyes slightly, hands stuffed in his pockets, leaningzily against the car door as he watched her. ¡°So¡­ are you jealous?¡±

    Ste blinked. She looked at him like he¡¯d just grown two heads. ¡°How do Ie off as being jealous?¡±

    ¡°I see it clearly,¡± he replied without batting an eye.

    She almost lost it. Without another word, she pulled out the keys Shaun had given her, unlocked the car, slid inside, and mmed the door shut in one smooth motion.

    ¡°I¡¯m not even going to waste my breath on you.¡±

    William didn¡¯t push it. Seeing she had no intention of continuing the conversation, he backed off.

    A few minutester, Willow and Shaun returned¡ªconveniently from the same direction.

    They all headed back to their respective cars. Once Shaun got in, he handed a few documents to Ste.

    ¡°Syl, I found these. Not much, but it¡¯s all I could dig up from the office building.¡± There weren¡¯t many pages¡ªjust a slim bundle.

    ¡°This is already a big help,¡± Ste said, flipping through them.

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    ording to the docs, Nixon¡¯s old partner hadpletely cut ties with him. Someone else had stepped in, signed a deal, and the ce ended up abandoned.

    Ste frowned. ¡°So we came here for nothing?¡±

    Shaun noticed the drop in her mood and lightly patted her shoulder. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s still early. There¡¯s another location listed here. We can check it out after lunch.¡±

    She thought for a moment. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s eat first.¡±

    Shaun nodded and was just about to start the car when Willow tapped at the window.

    Shaun rolled it down.

    ¡°Mr. Smith,¡± Willow said sweetly, ¡°where are you two headed next? Since we¡¯ve all found something, why not team up? It¡¯s safer in numbers.¡± Her gaze was steady, sincere, and aimed straight at Shaun.

    Shaun replied tly, ¡°Syl and I are going for lunch now.¡±

    Willow beamed. ¡°Perfect! William and I are nning to have lunch too. Let¡¯s go together then. We¡¯ll follow right behind you.¡±

    Just like that, she decided¡ªshe didn¡¯t check if it was okay with Shaun and Ste.

    Shaun didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he looked over at Ste.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 402

    ?Chapter 402:

    ¡°Syl, what do you think? If you¡¯d rather have lunch alone with me, I¡¯m good with that too.¡±

    That word ¡°alone¡± made Ste¡¯s scalp tingle.

    She nced over at Willow, who was still waiting outside with hopeful eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go together,¡± Ste said quickly.

    Refusing the offer would seem awkward¡ªlike she was really into William, as Willow imed, and couldn¡¯t stand seeing him with her.

    Shaun caught her tone and didn¡¯t press further. He rolled up the window and started the engine.

    At the restaurant, just as everyone sat down, Willow¡ªwho had been sticking close to William the entire time¡ªsuddenly turned to Ste with a smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, could youe to the restroom with me?¡±

    Ste raised a brow. Were they even close like that?

    Willow seemed to expect the hesitation. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°Please¡­ I¡¯m kind of in a jam. You know how it is¡ªwoman to woman?¡±

    Ste wanted to say no. Badly. But seeing Willow sping her hands like she was begging, refusing would¡¯ve looked cold.

    Once inside, Willow slipped into a stall like she didn¡¯t need anything at all.

    But less than a minuteter, a soft, embarrassed voice came through the door.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert¡­ my period just started. Do you happen to have a pad?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Ste¡¯s cycle was always regr¡ªshe didn¡¯t carry pads around daily.

    ¡°Oh no¡­ what should I do? Could you maybe¡­ buy me a pack? I really can¡¯t go out like this¡­¡±

    Ste sighed. ¡°Any particr kind?¡±

    Willow¡¯s voice brightened a little. ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. Whatever you get is perfect. Thank you, Ms. Gilbert!¡±

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    The restaurant was in a mall, so Ste figured she could grab a pack from the convenience store downstairs in under ten minutes.

    ¡°Alright. Wait here. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    She quickly asked a waiter for directions and took the esctor down.

    She grabbed a pack of her usual brand and came back with the bag in hand. Standing outside the stall, she knocked lightly. ¡°Miss Lawson, here¡¯s what you asked for.¡±

    No response from inside.

    Ste waited a beat, then called out again, ¡°Miss Lawson, I got the pads you asked for. Can you open the door?¡±

    Right as she finished speaking, the stall door creaked open¡ªbut the person who stepped out wasn¡¯t Willow. It was aplete stranger.

    The woman shot Ste a confused re. ¡°Are you outta your mind? Myst name¡¯s not Lawson.¡±

    She mumbled something under her breath, washed her hands, and walked out. Ste stood there with a bag of sanitary pads in her hand.

    There were only a few stalls in the restroom, and the others were clearly empty. She knew which one Willow had gone into.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 403

    ?Chapter 403:

    Still holding the bag, Ste left the restroom and made her way back to the private room¡ªready to ask William where Willow had run off to.

    But the second she opened the door, she froze. Willow was already seated beside William, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, her voice soft and shaky. ¡°William, I know Ms. Gilbert didn¡¯t mean to be so harsh. I guess I¡¯ve been around you a little too muchtely, and maybe that¡¯s why she got upset.¡±

    Ste stood at the entrance, eyebrows raised.

    Willow sniffled again. ¡°It¡¯s not her fault. We barely know each other. It¡¯s normal for her not to like me. I just thought¡­ maybe we could be friends.¡±

    Ste let out a shortugh. Loud enough for everyone to hear.

    Willow flinched and turned toward the door. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you¡¯re back!¡±

    Ste crossed her arms. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t gonna miss lunch¡ªunless you were hoping I¡¯d stay out buying you things.¡±

    Shaun, seated on the other side of the table, looked at her curiously. ¡°Syl, Miss Lawson said you two had an argument in the restroom and then you stormed off. Where did you go?¡±

    Ste blinked. So that was the story Willow was selling?

    Instead of blowing up, she just smiled and asked calmly, ¡°Really? And did she happen to exin why I supposedly argued with her?¡±

    Shaun leaned back slightly, amused. ¡°She said you called her a ¡®vixen who only knows how to seduce men.''¡±

    Ste¡¯s face went nk. Wow. That was the best she coulde up with? How original.

    ¡°She also said she was feeling faint and asked for your help, but you just walked away.¡±

    Willow kept her eyes down, ying the victim perfectly even as Shaun recounted her story.

    Ste turned toward her with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Miss Lawson, you said I insulted you. Got any proof?¡±

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    Willow shrank back like she was scared. ¡°There are no cameras in the restroom. How could I have proof? But I am not holding anything against you. I know you didn¡¯t mean to say those things.¡±

    Ste ignored the fake pity act and asked, ¡°And you said I left you in the restroom without helping?¡±

    Willow nodded with her usual understanding tone. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your responsibility. I know that. I shouldn¡¯t have asked you toe with me in the first ce.¡±

    Ste was done ying.

    ¡°You say I ignored you, then what do you think this is?¡± Ste tossed the bag of pads she was holding onto the table. ¡°You said you needed help because your period started. I went downstairs and bought these for you. But by the time I got back, you were gone¡ªand now you¡¯re flipping the whole story?¡±

    Willow froze. Then, with zero shame, she leaned toward William and whispered, ¡°But it¡¯s not even my time of the month. I don¡¯t know who Ms. Gilbert bought those for.¡±

    Ste almostughed. So this was the game. Willow had nned the whole thing just to paint her in a bad light.

    Willow gave William a pitiful look. ¡°William¡­ maybe Ms. Gilbert has feelings for you? That would exin why she¡¯s always so cold to me. But you¡¯re engaged to me. If anyone¡¯s interfering, it¡¯s not me.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 404

    ?Chapter 404:

    That finally got a reaction out of William. His expression changed slightly¡ªbut he still didn¡¯t speak.

    Ste, though, had had enough.

    She calmly took out her phone and hit y. A voice recording filled the room¡ªWillow¡¯s voice, loud and clear, asking for help in the restroom.

    Willow stiffened. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn¡¯t expected Ste to record anything.

    While Willow¡¯s face turned every shade of red, Ste coolly took her seat. ¡°Miss Lawson, I think that cleared things up. But if your memory¡¯s still spotty, I can y it again.¡±

    Her voice was calm. No yelling. No drama. Just facts. Because as much as Ste hated public scenes, she hated being dragged through the mud even more. She wasn¡¯t about to roll over and y the fool.

    ¡°So, now that the truth¡¯s out, don¡¯t you think you owe me an apology?¡± She leaned back in her chair. ¡°I get that you¡¯re engaged to Mr. Briggs. It¡¯s natural to feel a little territorial. But not every woman¡¯s here topete with you. And if you¡¯re gonna start drama¡ªmaybe pick someone who won¡¯t call your bluff.¡±

    Willow Lawson¡ªpampered heiress of the Lawson family¡ªhad never been spoken to like that in public before. Especially not with that level of sarcasm. She stared daggers at Ste, her lips trembling, but still couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the words, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Before the silence could stretch further, William stood up. His voice was calm, almost cold. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be finishing this meal. I¡¯ll take you home, Willow. I have other things to handle this afternoon.¡±

    Ste, who had been expecting an apology, looked up, stunned. Was he¡­ trying to cover for Willow? Was this him helping her save face?

    Willow¡¯s eyes immediately welled up. She stood quickly, pretending to be flustered by the awkwardness.

    ¡°We made a mess of things today. I¡¯ll find another time to make it up to you both.¡± William didn¡¯t say another word. He just turned and walked off without a second nce.

    Read it all on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Ste sat there, her expression unreadable. So, he knew Willow had caused that drama¡ªand still chose to walk her out? Still took her side? She hadn¡¯t realized until now just how protective William could be.

    The ck Bentley rolled smoothly down the road toward the Lawson estate. When the car finally pulled to a stop, Willow looked over at William with a hint of vulnerability. ¡°William¡­ about earlier¡­¡±

    She wanted to ask if he was mad at her¡ªbut he cut her off.

    ¡°Miss Lawson,¡± he said evenly, ¡°I trust today¡¯s incident wasn¡¯t intentional. Sylvia can be blunt. She¡¯s my employee, and she means no harm. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against her. Let¡¯s just forget it happened.¡±

    Willow blinked. Was that¡­ siding with her? Or with Sylvia? He said he believed her¡ªbut then asked her not to me Sylvia.

    The whole thing felt off, vague, hard to pin down. She couldn¡¯t read him at all. ¡°You¡¯ve had a long morning,¡± he added, his tone firm. ¡°You should go rest.¡± That left no room for discussion.

    Willow bit her tongue. The earlier embarrassment still clung to her, so she didn¡¯t dare argue. Quietly, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.

    She turned back a few times, hoping he might say something more.

    .

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 Chapter 405

    ?Chapter 405:

    The second the car door shut, the Bentley peeled out of the driveway and sped off without hesitation.

    That afternoon, with William and Willow out of the picture, Ste and Shaun headed to a new location¡ªan old abandoned factory.

    The moment they arrived, Ste got a strange feeling. The ce was too quiet, too clean.

    Shaun sat behind the wheel, watching the factory entrance warily. ¡°Syl, maybe we should turn back. This ce feels off. If someone¡¯s lying in wait¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish, Ste had already swung the car door open and stepped out.

    Shaun had no choice but to follow her in.

    This time, Ste didn¡¯t ask him to search with her. Shebed through the ce herself, checking every room and corridor with quiet determination. But after a long, thorough search, she came up empty.

    ¡°Looks like they cleaned the ce out again,¡± she muttered, brows furrowed. But something still bugged her¡ªlike she¡¯d missed a piece of the puzzle.

    Shaun walked over, prompting her to leave.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Ste said, eyes narrowing. ¡°There was a wall upstairs that looked strange. I want to check it again.¡±

    Shaun hesitated, then nodded, following her to the second floor.

    As they moved along the hallway, Ste tapped on the walls¡ªslow and methodical¡ªuntil she suddenly stopped. A hollow sound echoed back. Her eyes lit up. She turned to Shaun. ¡°This section¡¯s hollow.¡± There was definitely something hidden behind it.

    She moved closer, trying to find a switch or seam¡ªanything to pry it open. But before she could act, the sharp roar of engines echoed outside.

    Shaun grabbed her wrist. ¡°Someone¡¯sing!¡±

    Ste froze, then cursed under her breath. There was no time. Shaun pulled her with him as they rushed down the stairs and slipped out through a side door. Their car screeched out of the lot. Shaun took a sharp detour, blending into traffic before they could be spotted.

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    Inside the car, Ste clenched her fists. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave like this,¡± she said, jaw tight. ¡°We were so close.¡±

    Ste turned to Shaun. ¡°Stop the car.¡±

    Shaun¡¯s brows furrowed as he nced at Ste. They¡¯d already driven nearly a kilometer from the factory. ¡°Syl, we can¡¯t turn back now.¡±

    Ste¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°But I have to.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t just let it go. Those people were clearly there to wipe everything clean¡ªby the time they returned again, any shred of evidence would be long gone.

    Everything they¡¯d worked so hard to find would vanish, just like before.

    No matter what it takes, she had to go back.

    She took a breath. ¡°If you¡¯re not up for it, drop me off here. I¡¯ll go alone.¡±

    Shaun¡¯s eyes darkened. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be this dead set on it.

    Without a word, he turned the steering wheel and made a sharp U-turn. ¡°I¡¯m going back with you.¡±

    Ste opened her mouth, wanting to tell him not to get involved. It wasn¡¯t his fight, and she didn¡¯t want him getting hurt.

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 Chapter 406

    ?Chapter 406:

    But before she could say a word, Shaun cut in, his voice firm, ¡°I¡¯m not the kind of guy who leaves a woman behind. Especially not in a ce like that.¡±

    Ste blinked, a little caught off guard. Still, she nodded.

    The car sped back toward the factory.

    As they approached the entrance, Shaun reached out and gently took her hand.

    Ste flinched, startled.

    She turned to look at him, but he just said softly, ¡°It¡¯s safer if we stick close.¡± His voice was low, calm¡ªlike he meant every word.

    Still, she slipped her hand out of his. ¡°Standing close works too.¡±

    Shaun didn¡¯t push. A faint, unreadable smile curved his lips, but there was no trace of disappointment in his eyes.

    Upstairs, Ste crept quietly down the hall. The wall she¡¯d tapped earlier now had a narrow door cracked open.

    Her heart skipped. Jackpot.

    She took a step forward¡ªbut Shaun grabbed her arm and pulled her back. ¡°There¡¯s someone in there.¡±

    Of course she knew someone was inside. But if she waited until everything was cleared out, she¡¯d miss her chance to get any useful information.

    Without another word, Ste reached into her bag and pulled out a tiny bugging device.

    If they wanted to y dirty, she was game.

    She¡¯d picked it up months ago for emergencies¡ªnever thought it woulde in handy now.

    She crouched low and crept toward the door, inching along the wall, keeping quiet.

    Her heart pounded as she peeked inside.

    She had to know what it was like inside. There were at least five men, all busy moving boxes and stuffing files into duffel bags. No one had noticed her yet.

    Her eyesnded on a coat tossed carelessly over a metal table. Perfect. She moved quickly, slipping the device into the coat¡¯s pocket, then ducked back into the hallway.

    She straightened and turned back.

    Shaun raised an eyebrow. ¡°What did you do?¡±

    ¡°nted a bug in their clothes.¡± She shot onest nce at the room. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    There were about five men in there.

    With just the two of them, going up against five armed men would be suicide. And Shaun¡ªwell, he looked like he¡¯d be morefortable at a boardroom table than in a fight.

    They had to get out before anyone noticed them.

    The men were already packing up. They would probably be out in less than ten minutes.

    They made it back to the car without being noticed.

    Back on the road, Ste sat in the passenger seat, earbuds in, the receiver from the bug gripped tightly in her hand.

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 Chapter 407

    ?Chapter 407:

    Silence. Not even a whisper.

    She didn¡¯t know if the coat hadn¡¯t been picked up yet or if they¡¯d already found the bug.

    Either way, her nerves were on edge.

    Even after Shaun drove her home, the line stayed quiet.

    Maybe she¡¯d blown it. Maybe she hadn¡¯t gotten it done right. The thought gnawed at her.

    Shaun turned off the engine and gave Ste¡¯s shoulder a light pat. ¡°The guy probably just hasn¡¯t grabbed his coat yet. Give it a little time¡ªsomething might stille through. You¡¯ve been running on fumes all day. Go up, rest. You need it.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Smith,¡± she said, mustering a tired smile. ¡°If anything new turns up, I¡¯ll ping you.¡±

    This whole thing wasn¡¯t even her responsibility to begin with. It was Shaun¡¯spany that had been pulled into the mess.

    But after meeting Finley¡¯s family¡­ after seeing the grief in their eyes¡­ Ste couldn¡¯t walk away anymore. She had to see it through. Nixon had to go down.

    Back in her apartment, she dropped onto the couch like dead weight. The moment she caught her breath, she plugged the bug into a speaker, hoping for a miracle.

    She set it on the table and headed into the kitchen to fix herself something for dinner. Dishes. A hot shower. Still no sound.

    By the time she came back to the living room, the silence was screaming louder than anything. Her chest was heavy with that sick, hollow feeling¡ªdisappointment settling in like a stone.

    She remembered her promise to the victim¡¯s family to ensure Nixon would face justice. But now, she wasn¡¯t sure she could keep that promise. She kept wondering if the evidence they had was enough to nail Nixon.

    Even if they did manage to charge Nixon, what if he only served a year? That wouldn¡¯t be justice. Not for Finley. Not for his family. Not even close.

    She wanted Nixon to rot in prison.

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    But the evidence she had seemed insufficient.

    She sighed, ncing at the time¡ª3 a.m. Shoulders slumped, she moved to shut theptop and kill the lights.

    But just as her hand reached for the switch¡ªrustling. She froze.

    Startled, she immediately turned the lights back on.

    The sound wasn¡¯t from the room¡ªit wasing from the speaker.

    Heart racing, Ste dropped to the floor and pressed her ear close. A secondter, the static crackled again¡­ followed by voices.

    ¡°Why did the boss suddenly ask us to clean this ce out? It¡¯s been abandoned for years. Feels like asking for trouble.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it. There¡¯s stuff in here from way back. I heard that dead guy¡¯s daughter is poking around again. Boss doesn¡¯t want anything leaking.¡±

    Ste held her breath. Even though she knew they couldn¡¯t hear her, she didn¡¯t dare to make a sound.

    ¡°You mean¡­ that case? It¡¯s been what¡ªfive, six years? They¡¯re still not over it? Tell me about it. Honestly, they should¡¯ve been handled a long time ago. You know where they live¡ªmiddle of nowhere. Even if they dropped dead, who¡¯d know?¡±

    The voices continued flowing from the speaker.

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 Chapter 408

    ?Chapter 408:

    ¡°Smart thinking, huh? That¡¯s exactly what the boss has nned. We¡¯re here cleaning up evidence. The other team? Off to pay the family a visit. Quietly. No mess.¡±

    ¡°Boss covers all angles. Gotta hand it to him.¡±

    Thest thing she heard was a car door mming, then silence.

    She sat frozen on the floor. She knew Nixon was scum, but this? He was ready to wipe out a whole family to protect himself?

    In a society with courts and police, he still acted like thew didn¡¯t apply to him? Her chest was pounding now, adrenaline surging. She shot to her feet, grabbing her phone and her keys, ready to run out the door and warn Finley¡¯s family herself.

    But the second she touched the doorknob, she stopped.

    It would take her hours to get there. By the time she arrived, it could be toote. Instead, she yanked her phone back out and dialed the number Finley¡¯s daughter had given her.

    Each ring that went unanswered sent another wave of panic crashing over her. Her hand was shaking now. She had never felt this desperate for someone¡ªanyone¡ªto answer a phone call.

    Ste paced the floor like her nerves were on fire until¡ª

    Ste let out a breath she didn¡¯t know she was holding. ¡°Listen to me carefully¡ªNixon¡¯s men areing for you. I can¡¯t get there fast enough. You and your grandmother need to leave the house. Now. Hide somewhere safe!¡± she said in a rushed tone.

    There was a short pause on the other end before the woman replied, her voice firm, ¡°I¡¯ll take Grandma and go right now.¡±

    ¡°Good. Move fast. I¡¯ll find you by dawn.¡±

    The call ended, short and urgent¡ªjust like it needed to be. Ste could only hope they were already packing and slipping out into the dark.

    She grabbed her keys and flew toward the door¡ªbut the second she stepped outside, she froze.

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    A familiar figure stood a few paces away, almost like a ghost in the streetlight. Her brows pinched. ¡°Mr. Briggs? What are you doing here?¡± She didn¡¯t recall ever giving him her new address.

    Unbothered, he simply said, ¡°My people tracked movement to the factory. I figured Nixon was trying to erase evidence.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t stop walking. ¡°Yeah, and now he¡¯s sending people after the victim¡¯s family to shut them up for good.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford to waste a second. Her hand was already on the car door when he moved toward the passenger side and opened it without asking.

    She nced over, puzzled. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming with you,¡± he said tly.

    Ste was taken aback. ¡°This doesn¡¯t concern you. I¡¯m going to meet the victim¡¯s family.¡±

    He leaned back in the seat, expression unreadable. ¡°Who said it doesn¡¯t concern me? I¡¯m investigating Nixon too.¡±

    Ste suddenly remembered¡ªhe was doing all this for Willow.

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 Chapter 409

    ?Chapter 409:

    She shot back, ¡°Then maybe you should bring Miss Lawson along instead.¡±

    William barely missed a beat. ¡°She¡¯s safer at home.¡±

    Ste nearlyughed. Did he think every woman but her was delicate and breakable? Willow didn¡¯t look very ¡°fragile¡± when she was parading around as his fianc¨¦e.

    The car took them through rough, winding mountain roads.

    When they could drive no further, Ste hopped out and gged down a beat-up tricycle, not missing a step.

    They pulled up to the victim¡¯s house¡ªand her stomach dropped. The front door was wide open. The ce looked ransacked.

    She didn¡¯t even hesitate. She sprinted inside, checking every corner of the wrecked house. No one was inside.

    She let out a shaky breath. Maybe they had made it out in time.

    Still, a gnawing panic stayed with her. She immediately dialed the daughter¡¯s number again.

    The line rang¡­ then cut off.

    Her worry spiked.

    William, watching her closely, stepped in. ¡°Try sending a message.¡±

    Right. Text. She quickly typed out a message. ¡°I¡¯m here in the vige. Where are you?¡±

    A few momentster, the reply came. ¡°We¡¯re hiding in town. Nixon¡¯s men are still looking for us.¡±

    Town? Her brows furrowed.

    William had already seen the message over her shoulder.

    He turned to walk ahead, then looked back at her. ¡°Come on.¡±

    ¡°You know where to go?¡± she asked, surprised.

    Wasn¡¯t this his first time here?

    He kept walking. ¡°No.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know, but he could ask.

    William asked around at a nearby house and got rough directions from an olddy.

    He turned back to Ste. ¡°We¡¯ll need a tricycle. She said it¡¯s about ten minutes from here.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even wait for the rest of the exnation. She took off ahead of him. ¡°Then what are we standing around for? Let¡¯s move!¡±

    William watched her storm ahead and sighed, shaking his head with a trace of helpless amusement.

    The town they arrived in wasn¡¯t much better than the remote vige they¡¯d just left¡ªdusty roads, patched-up storefronts¡ªbut at least it had real pavement and signs of life.

    Since Finley¡¯s daughter said Nixon¡¯s men were still snooping around nearby, Ste didn¡¯t waste time. She dragged William into a tiny clothing shop without warning.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take two sets,¡± she told the owner, already scanning the racks.

    She yanked a loud, tropical-print shirt off the hanger and shoved it into William¡¯s hands.

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 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410:

    William looked down at the shirt like it personally offended him. ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°A disguise, of course. Don¡¯t you think our clothes stand out too much?¡± Especially his suit¡ªwho wore a suit in the countryside?

    William eyed his expensive suit and finally sighed in reluctant agreement. He followed her into the changing area, without further questions.

    The store owner looked thrilled as Ste handed over a crisp hundred-dor bill and waved off the change. Fifty bucks for both outfits? Day made. That was double the usual price.

    Just as Ste turned toward the dressing room, nning to get changed herself, a loud scuffle erupted just outside the store.

    Ste froze. She turned to the shopkeeper. ¡°What¡¯s going on out there?¡±

    The shopkeeper, pleased with the extra cash in her pocket, answered right away. ¡°Oh, no clue,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯ve been pacing up and down this street since morning, popping into every store like three times. I can¡¯t tell what they¡¯re even looking for.¡±

    Ste and William exchanged a nce¡ªno words needed. They both knew. Nixon¡¯s men.

    ¡°Ugh, here theye again,¡± the shopkeeper muttered, spotting them from a distance. ¡°Forget them. You two go change your clothes. Just ignore those weirdos.¡±

    Ste looked at William¡ªhis sharp, tailored suit practically screamed ¡°look at me.¡± He¡¯d stand out like a sore thumb in a ce like this, and Nixon¡¯s men wouldn¡¯t miss him.

    As she hesitated, thinking about what to do, William suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her into the fitting room.

    It was small and kind of rundown, but at least it was clean.

    Inside, William turned to her and said in a low voice, ¡°Quick, take your clothes off.¡±

    Ste froze. But he was already undoing his jacket, peeling it off without hesitation.

    In a sh, he was half undressed, his toned chest and defined muscles fully on disy. The sight made her cheeks heat up.

    Seeing her flustered, he smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve seen me like this before, haven¡¯t you? Why so shy now?¡±

    Ste shot him a re. It wasn¡¯t the same. That had been from a distance, but right now, he was in front of her. She could brush against him with the slightest movement.

    Before either of them could say more, footsteps approached from outside. The shopkeeper¡¯s voice rang out, irritated. ¡°What are you doing back here again? I told you there¡¯s nothing in my shop. You already looked! You¡¯ll scare away my customers!¡±

    She still didn¡¯t know who Ste and William really were¡ªprobably assumed they were out-of-towners visiting rtives or something. Didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Out of the way.¡±

    We¡¯ll find out for ourselves,¡± a man snapped, pushing her aside. She yelped, rubbing her arm, and didn¡¯t dare argue further.

    He swept through the shop, eyes scanning everything, until his gazended on the drawn curtain of the fitting room.

    ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡±

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    .<hr>

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 Chapter 411

    ?Chapter 411:

    ¡°That¡¯s just the fitting room,¡± the shopkeeper said quickly. ¡°There are customers inside.¡±

    The man headed straight for it.

    ¡°Hey! You can¡¯t just barge in! They¡¯re just buying clothes.¡± But he ignored her.

    Inside the cramped fitting room, Ste and William stood frozen, facing each other, anxiety rising with the sound of those heavy footsteps.

    William¡¯s eyes locked onto hers. Then he suddenly pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against his chest.

    Ste gasped, startled by the sudden closeness, her face flush against his bare skin. She frowned, whispering through gritted teeth, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t move. Just go with it,¡± he murmured low.

    Before she could argue, the curtain was yanked open.

    At that exact moment, William reached down and gave her waist a firm pinch, and she yelped.

    The man outside froze, stunned by what he saw¡ªWilliam¡¯s back to him, arms wrapped around a woman, her face hidden. ¡°Get lost!¡± William barked without turning around.

    The shopkeeper stepped up beside the man, a bit stunned herself.

    ¡°See? I told you. Nothing suspicious. They¡¯re just¡­ caught up in their own thing.¡± The man squinted, then snorted and let go of the curtain. ¡°Young folks really do have a lot of energy, huh?¡± With a chuckle, he walked off.

    The curtain fell back into ce, but Ste didn¡¯t dare move.

    Only when the room outside wentpletely silent did she start to pull away.

    But just as she shifted, William tightened his grip again.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± he whispered close to her ear. ¡°No one walks off that fast. Give it a minute.¡±

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    Ste found herself speechless, instinctively leaning back against William¡¯s steady chest. Even after knowing each other for nearly two years, the closeness made her nerves jangle.

    Heat red across her cheeks, and she kept her eyes fixed on the floor, too shy to nce up.

    The silence stretched on, broken only by the steady thrum of his heartbeat against her ear.

    She finally whispered, ¡°Can we move yet?¡±

    Her voice was barely above a breath, wishing she could wriggle free from the awkwardness.

    But William only held her tighter, repeating softly, ¡°Just a little longer.¡±

    Surprisingly, his arms felt safe¡ªhis embrace, both strong and gentle, made her feel oddly protected. Though she appeared delicate, there was a warmth to her that he hadn¡¯t expected.

    Ste clenched her lips, forcing herself to breathe slowly and endure the strangefort a bit longer. William dipped his head, eyes meeting hers, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. ¡°You¡¯re burning up.¡±

    A surge of unease froze her in ce, her cheeks burning anew. ¡°What are you even implying?¡± she hissed, shooting him a sharp, embarrassed look.

    He just shrugged, not the least bit bothered. ¡°Just telling it like it is.¡±

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 Chapter 412

    ?Chapter 412:

    His casual indifference made her feel exposed, like she was the one hiding something.

    Humiliation prickled under her skin until she finally snapped, shoving him away with more force than she intended.

    Just then, the shopkeeper¡¯s voice cut through the tension from outside the door. ¡°Are you two finished in there?¡±

    William stumbled into the open, caught off guard by the sudden push, nearly colliding with the startled shopkeeper hovering just outside the fitting room.

    ¡°Oh my goodness, you scared me!¡± the shopkeeper gasped. ¡°If you¡¯re all set, please head out. I¡¯ll let it slide since you were generous with your tip. Just tell me you didn¡¯t leave a disaster in there?¡±

    With trembling hands, Ste straightened her clothes and slipped out, her cheeks still glowing with mortification.

    Her bashful demeanor only fueled the shopkeeper¡¯s suspicions that something scandalous had happened.

    ¡°Here, Miss, take a bag for your old clothes. No wonder you needed new ones¡ªthat¡¯s forward-thinking!¡±

    Ste murmured a quiet thanks, eyes fixed on the floor, unable to summon the nerve to look at the shopkeeper.

    With a little help, she and William changed into clothes that blended in with the locals before slipping back out onto the street.

    She even picked up matching hats for the both of them, hoping the brims would help them disappear into the crowd.

    They continued to exchange hurried messages with Finley¡¯s daughter as they walked.

    Ste kept her gaze locked straight ahead, refusing to so much as nce at William, pretending not to hear him when he asked if she wanted water.

    William finally reached out and caught her by the wrist, forcing her to stop.

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    ¡°Why are you ignoring my question?¡± he demanded, frustration bubbling over. Ste blinked, her confusion obvious. ¡°What question?¡±

    She honestly had no clue what he¡¯d said just now.

    William gave her a weary look and held up the bottle. ¡°I was asking if you wanted some water.¡±

    She shook her head, distracted. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡±

    Her thoughts were still tangled up in everything that had just happened, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to look at him.

    The tension between them hung heavy.

    William tried to ease her nerves. ¡°I already called the police¡ªthey¡¯ll be here soon to take care of the victim¡¯s family. I got in touch with Luca, too. So really, you don¡¯t need to stress about any of it.¡±

    Ste nced at him, startled by just how on top of things he was.

    Right then, the two of them stood beneath the shelter of a shop canopy while Ste fired off another message, confirming the whereabouts of Finley¡¯s mother and daughter.

    ¡°How much longer until your assistant gets here?¡± she inquired in a soft tone.

    William pulled out his phone, dialed Luca, and, after a brief exchange, put it away. ¡°About thirty minutes,¡± he replied.

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 Chapter 413

    ?Chapter 413:

    Half an hour wasn¡¯t so bad.

    Ste gave a quick nod and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go find the victim¡¯s family and stay with them until Luca arrives. There¡¯s safety in numbers¡ªand it¡¯ll be easier to keep everyone calm.¡±

    William just nodded, clearly content to let her take charge. ¡°Whatever you say. I¡¯m following your lead.¡±

    That caught her off guard. The words hung in the air, unexpectedly gentle, strangely familiar¡ªalmost like a memory of another moment, when he¡¯d quietly pointed out how long ¡°they¡¯d been together.¡±

    Both lines stuck with her, leaving Ste feeling adrift. Who would have imagined the famously stoic William would so easily hand over control¡ªor would¡¯ve even made a remark like that?

    William and Ste found the shop where Finley¡¯s family had been hiding. It turned out they¡¯d tucked themselves away in cer cabs, which was why no one had found them until now.

    Finley¡¯s daughter, Brenna Hammond, who looked to be around Ste¡¯s age, breathed a visible sigh of relief when she saw her.

    ¡°Grandma is over there!¡± Brenna said quickly, hurrying over to a tall cab and helping her grandmother out.

    ¡°Let¡¯s wait here for a while¡ªthe police should be here in about twenty minutes,¡± Ste assured them. Then, turning to Brenna, she added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this gentleman. He¡¯s a friend. We came here together, and he¡¯s the one who called the police today.¡±

    Brenna gave a quick nod. ¡°Those men outside¡ªthey must be working for Nixon. They¡¯ve been looking for us since morning. I left after your call and never went back home.¡±

    ¡°Good thing you didn¡¯t,¡± Ste told her. ¡°Your ce waspletely ransacked.¡±

    Brenna¡¯s face paled for a second, but she quickly gathered herself.

    The twenty-minute wait felt painfully long.

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    Atst, William heard police sirens outside and signaled for everyone to head out.

    Street vendors nearby looked confused by the sight of police cars on their quiet street. Curious, some peeked out of their shops to watch.

    The men who had been hunting for Brenna and her grandmother heard the sirens too and rushed over. But when they saw armed officers, they froze.

    They weren¡¯t about to risk their lives just to grab two women.

    All they could do was watch in frustration as Brenna and her grandmother were safely escorted away.

    Once the police had gone, one of the men quickly made a call to Nixon.

    ¡°Did you get it done?¡± Nixon¡¯s voice came sharp and cold on the other end. The man hesitated before answering, ¡°No, the police showed up. They took them.¡±

    Hearing that, Nixon exploded. ¡°What do you mean the police got involved?¡±

    ¡°There was nothing we could do,¡± the man exined. ¡°They were armed. We couldn¡¯t stop them.¡±

    The line went quiet for a split second before Nixon¡¯s rage returned, louder than before. ¡°Useless! Every one of you! You can¡¯t even track down two defenseless women! What¡¯s the point of paying you?¡±

    Standing there in the middle of the street, the man clenched his jaw and took the abuse without saying a word.

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 Chapter 414

    ?Chapter 414:

    William and Ste brought Brenna and her grandmother out of the small town and into the heart of Choria.

    Brenna felt uneasy. They had left in such a rush, with nothing on them¡ªnot even money. Standing in the busy city of Choria, she lookedpletely lost and overwhelmed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about where you¡¯ll stay. We¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Ste reassured her, then nudged William¡¯s arm and gave him a look. ¡°Right?¡±

    William caught the hint and knew she expected him to take care of things. He smiled, nodded, and told Luca, ¡°Book a suite for them. Make sure they can rest properly.¡±

    William didn¡¯t hold back. He had reserved a suite at the top five-star hotel in Choria and even covered all their expenses.

    The price was steep¡ªaround two to three thousand a night. It wasn¡¯t as pricey as Briset, the coastal tourist hub, but still high by normal standards.

    Brenna¡¯s eyes nearly popped out when she saw the bill. To her, even spending a hundred on a hotel felt extravagant, and this was way beyond that.

    ¡°This is too much,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°A simple motel would¡¯ve been enough.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to owe them anything, especially not something so expensive.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Ste said with a smile. ¡°This hotel is safe. Nixon¡¯s people won¡¯t find you here. And don¡¯t worry¡ªWilliam¡¯s loaded.¡±

    She raised a brow at him, and he nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got money.¡± Luca, watching from the side, couldn¡¯t help but snicker a little.

    William looked over at him. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± he asked.

    Luca quickly cleared his throat and replied, ¡°Nothing at all, sir.¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together, trying not tough at how serious William was being.

    Find your next read at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    ¡°Brenna, go get some rest. We¡¯ll head to the police stationter to give our statements,¡± Ste told her gently.

    Since the police had helped them escape, it was only fair to tell them what really happened.

    Brenna nodded gratefully, and Luca led them upstairs.

    Ste, meanwhile, nned to freshen up and take a short break. It had been a long morning.

    As they turned to go, William asked curiously, ¡°How did you even know Nixon was going after Finley¡¯s family?¡±

    He had people keeping an eye on the factory, but this wasn¡¯t something she¡¯d picked up. He genuinely didn¡¯t know how she found out.

    Ste didn¡¯t try to hide anything from William. ¡°I nted a bug inside one of their coat pockets,¡± she said calmly.

    William raised his brows, clearly surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected her to go that far.

    Thinking about yesterday, Ste let out a sigh. ¡°Still, they managed to take off with the evidence against Nixon. I don¡¯t know if they moved it or got rid of it entirely.¡±

    As they walked down the street, feeling the cool breeze brush past them, William turned to her and asked casually, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that little bug of yours have a tracker built in?¡±

    His words snapped her out of it, and her eyes lit up. ¡°It does!¡± she eximed, turning to him excitedly.

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 Chapter 415

    ?Chapter 415:

    Honestly, if he hadn¡¯t brought it up, she probably would¡¯ve forgotten all about it. She pulled out her phone and checked the signal. The tracker showed it was still somewhere in the city.

    She and William exchanged a look. No words were needed¡ªthey both knew what had to be done.

    Ste quickly texted Brenna, telling her she¡¯d go home first and catch upter. Then she and William set off to the location.

    As she drove, her phone started ringing. ¡°Can you get that for me?¡± she asked William, keeping her eyes on the road. William nodded and pressed the answer button.

    Almost immediately, Shaun¡¯s voice came through the speaker. ¡°Syl, are you not at home?¡±

    Ste was a bit caught off guard to hear his voice. After a second, she replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m not home. I¡¯m out looking for some clues.¡±

    Shaun¡¯s response came fast. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me? Are you by yourself?¡± Ste nced at William sitting beside her, but for some reason, she said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m alone.¡±

    William¡¯s face darkened instantly.

    ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you to be out alone. Where are you? I¡¯lle to you,¡± Shaun said, his voice filled with concern and not even a trace of anger.

    ¡°I¡¯m just tracking something. I¡¯m nearly there, it¡¯ll be fine,¡± she replied. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now.¡±

    When they reached a red light, Ste ended the call. She nced over and saw William¡¯s face still clouded with annoyance.

    ¡°So, I don¡¯t count as a person now?¡± William said coldly. ¡°Ms. Russell, thanks for showing me exactly where I stand.¡±

    His voice was dripping with sarcasm, and Ste felt a little guilty.

    ¡°I just thought it was better if he didn¡¯t know,¡± she murmured.

    More updates uploaded to g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??ls

    ¡°Why not?¡± William shot back instantly.

    Caught off guard, Ste tried to exin, ¡°Because¡­ you¡¯re with Miss Lawson, and Shaun¡¯s technically my partner. It¡¯s just simpler if I keep things vague.¡±

    William wasn¡¯t convinced. He leaned in slightly. ¡°You¡¯re worried he¡¯ll find out you¡¯re with another guy, huh? Tell me, Ms. Russell¡­ have you fallen for him?¡±

    Ste felt a headache forming. ¡°I won¡¯t deny he¡¯s got charm,¡± she admitted.

    ¡°But I¡¯m not into him like that.¡±

    William¡¯s lips curved into a small smile at her firm answer.

    As the traffic light turned green, Ste stepped on the gas and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried Miss Lawson will misunderstand? What if she calls youter?¡± Truthfully, she was pretty curious to hear his take.

    William gave a casual shrug. ¡°I¡¯ll just be honest with her.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t hiding anything. He was simply helping track down evidence.

    But Ste quickly cut in, ¡°No, no. You have to say you¡¯re alone too.¡±

    William gave her a confused look, so she exined, ¡°Miss Lawson already has the wrong idea about me. If she hears you were alone with me, she¡¯ll just think I¡¯m trying to steal you from her.¡±

    Ste nced over while driving and noticed his surprised expression. ¡°Wait¡­ you do know Miss Lawson went to the research institute, right?¡±

    William blinked. ¡°She did? When?¡±

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 Chapter 416

    ?Chapter 416:

    Realizing he had no idea, Ste filled him in. ¡°She showed up that day, iming you two were engaged. Told our colleagues to keep an eye out for any woman who had ¡®intentions¡¯ toward you.¡±

    It had been a few days, but recalling it still made Ste feel wrongly used.

    William¡¯s face darkened as he listened.

    He didn¡¯t like people speaking for him, especially not about things he¡¯d never confirmed.

    He had never once called Willow his fianc¨¦e.

    Neither of them said a word the entire ride. Ste followed the tracker¡¯s signal to a run-down, no-frills hair salon¡ªone of those cheap, privately-owned ces stuck in the ¡¯90s, with flickering neon signs and faded wallpaper.

    She checked her navigation again. Still pointed here.

    Well, she was already at the door. No point turning back just because it looked sketchy. She took a breath and walked in.

    William followed behind, his eyes scanning the ce.

    A middle-aged woman behind the counter looked up and smiled. ¡°You two here for a haircut?¡±

    Ste smiled politely. ¡°Do you have a lounge upstairs? I¡¯m feeling a little tired. Can I lie down while you wash my hair?¡±

    The woman blinked, caught off guard, then shook her head. ¡°Upstairs is just a massage room, dear. We don¡¯t wash hair up there.¡±

    As she spoke, her eyes flicked to William. She stared. She had clearly never seen a man like him up close.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll go up for a massage,¡± Ste said casually, already heading toward the stairs. ¡°Anyone up there?¡±

    Still eyeing William, the woman answered absently, ¡°No one.¡±

    No one? Ste frowned. Then how did the bug end up here?

    Your source for updates g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls

    No time to dwell on it¡ªshe needed to check upstairs. William caught on and stayed behind to distract the woman.

    ¡°How much for a hair wash?¡± he asked casually.

    The woman perked up immediately. ¡°Not expensive! Just thirty bucks.¡± Thirty? In the middle of Choria?

    William couldn¡¯t believe prices like that still existed.

    The woman went on excitedly, ¡°Comes with a free head massage! I learned the technique abroad, very professional. Handsome, let me wash your hair. I¡¯m really good at it!¡±

    Meanwhile upstairs, Ste searched every corner.

    There were only two rooms.

    She checked them both thoroughly, but nothing stood out. She was about to give up when she opened a wardrobe and spotted a familiar coat.

    It belonged to one of Nixon¡¯s men¡ªhe must¡¯vee back here after taking the coat yesterday.

    She checked the pockets and, sure enough, found the bug still inside.

    She left it untouched, then turned to leave¡ªbut paused. Something under the bed caught her eye.

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 Chapter 417

    ?Chapter 417:

    She crouched down, reached underneath, and pulled out a hidden storage box.

    Her heart skipped. She recognized the script printed on the surface.

    This was what she hade looking for.

    She snapped a few photos with her phone, put the box back exactly how she found it, and quietly headed downstairs.

    As she reached the bottom step, she called out casually, ¡°No one came up for the massage? I¡¯ll just leave, then.¡±

    Not that she was here for a real massage anyway.

    But the second she turned the corner, she stopped in her tracks. There was William, reclined with his eyes closed, getting his hair washed.

    Ste was momentarily at a loss for words. What the hell is he doing?

    ¡°Handsome, is the water temperature okay?¡± the woman asked, oblivious to Ste¡¯s return. She was way too focused on William¡ªher low-cut blouse didn¡¯t even try to stay subtle.

    William kept his eyes shut, clearly ufortable, and grunted in reply.

    After the first rinse, he tried to sit up. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯ve got things to do.¡±

    But the woman pressed a firm hand to his shoulder. ¡°You can¡¯t just wash half of it! I was paid for the full service¡ªI gotta finish.¡± Her tone wasced with clear suggestion.

    William clenched his jaw, took a deep breath, and forced himself to stay still.

    One more round.

    Just endure another round.

    Then she smiled again. ¡°I haven¡¯t done the massage yet. I told you, I learned this technique abroad¡ªit¡¯s amazing, you¡¯ll love it!¡±

    She reached for his shoulder again. This time, William grabbed a towel, brushed her hand away, and sat up.

    ¡°No need. I¡¯m in a rush.¡± His voice was cold now, his patience clearly gone.

    For updates, visit ?¦Ál?ov??s.co?

    The woman swallowed, reading the mood shift. ¡°I could blow-dry your hair?¡± she tried again.

    ¡°I like it air-dried.¡± He tossed the towel aside, stood up, and turned to Ste. ¡°Youing or what?¡±

    Ste hurried over and paid the thirty bucks before the woman could say anything else.

    As they walked out, the staff leaned against the doorframe and called after him, ¡°Handsome! Come again next time! Our upstairs massages are really something!¡±

    That was it¡ªSte lost it.

    She burst intoughter, doubling over, tears threatening to fall.

    ¡°You should¡¯ve seen the ridiculous outfits they¡¯ve got upstairs,¡± she wheezed betweenughs. ¡°No wonder she said it was ¡®something special.''¡±

    She had stumbled on them earlier while digging through the ce¡ªnever thought it would circle back like this.

    William, hair still damp and sticking up in all directions, red at her. But even with that appearance, he still turned heads on the sidewalk. When she finally stoppedughing, he shot her a look. ¡°You done?¡±

    Ste nodded slightly. ¡°Pretty much,¡± she said.

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 Chapter 418

    ?Chapter 418:

    William was stunned for a moment, not expecting her to be so honest.

    ¡°So, did you find anything useful?¡± he asked.

    Seeing the light blush on her cheeks, he decided not to me her.

    Besides, he¡¯d seen his own reflection earlier, and yeah, he did look ridiculous. If anyone found out that he got cornered by a middle-aged woman in a shabby, low-end hair salon, he¡¯d never hear the end of it.

    ¡°I found them. There were some papers hidden under the bed. I took quick photos of everything.¡±

    Once they were back in the car, Ste sent William the photos, and the two began looking through them together.

    After flipping through the pictures, Ste turned to William, shocked. ¡°Wait¡ªdoes this mean Nixon wasn¡¯t really behind all of this? Like someone else is pulling the strings and setting him up?¡±

    William¡¯s brow furrowed as he scanned through the documents.

    The files hinted that Nixon had been forced into selling those poor-quality materials from the beginning.

    Ste went over the pictures again, still unable to believe what she was seeing. ¡°But didn¡¯t your clues already prove Nixon was guilty of murder? How does this suddenly flip everything?¡± she asked in confusion.

    William answered calmly, ¡°I asked Luca to look into it.¡±

    He trusted Luca¡ªthere was no way he¡¯d lie about the facts.

    ¡°Do you think the documents could be fake?¡± Ste asked, now doubting everything she¡¯d found.

    Everything so far had pointed to Nixon as the viin, but these files told a different story.

    Could Brenna and her grandmother have gotten it wrong? Was Nixon really the one behind Finley¡¯s death?

    Ste stared at the images on her screen, more confused than ever.

    Find your adventure at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§àm (uso de ¡°?¡± y ¡°§à¡± cir¨ªlica)

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, what¡¯s your take on this?¡± she asked.

    William lowered his phone and rubbed his temples. ¡°These documents don¡¯t seem very credible.¡±

    That was what she¡¯d been thinking too.

    If the documents were fake, did that mean all her effort had been for nothing? Ste couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something¡ªor someone¡ªwas quietly steering her every move, nudging her along whether she realized it or not. First, she found Brenna, then that office building, next, the hidden factory, and now, this sudden twist¡ªmaybe Nixon wasn¡¯t the real viin after all.

    It was starting to feel like someone had been leading her in the wrong direction the whole time.

    Leaning back in her seat, she let out a slow, frustrated sigh. Where had she gone wrong?

    She put her phone down and stared out the window, deciding not to think about it anymore¡ªfor now.

    The afternoon passed, and they still had to return and take Brenna to the station to give her official statement.

    When they arrived at the police station, Brenna helped her grandmother walk up the steps. As an officer stepped forward to assist, Brenna immediately swatted his hand away. ¡°We can manage on our own!¡± she snapped, her tone sharp.

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 Chapter 419

    ?Chapter 419:

    Ste, who had been following behind, blinked in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected that kind of reaction. Did Brenna have a problem with the police? But why? The officer, clearly not expecting to be brushed off like that, pulled his hand back awkwardly and rubbed his nose. Trying to stay calm, he asked, ¡°So, what exactly happened? Why were you being chased?¡±

    Brenna shot him a cold re. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your job to find out?¡± she replied, her voiceced with sarcasm.

    The officer¡¯s patience was wearing thin. His brows drew together as he warned, ¡°Watch your tone. I¡¯m asking nicely. If you don¡¯t cooperate, don¡¯t me me for detaining you to help jog your memory.¡±

    That only made Brenna angrier. Her voice rose, heated and unfiltered. ¡°Of course! That¡¯s exactly what people like you do. Bully those of us who don¡¯t have money or power!¡±

    Her eyes turned red with emotion, fury and frustration swirling together.

    Ste and William stood quietly behind her, puzzled by Brenna¡¯s hostility. Neither could quite understand why she was so resentful toward the officer.

    The officer frowned, trying to defend himself. ¡°When have I ever bullied you? I tried to help when you first walked in, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Help?¡± Brenna scoffed, her voice practically echoing in the room. ¡°All you people do is waste time on useless procedures. When someone really needs protection, you disappear!¡± Her voice cracked at the end, a mix of anger and long-buried hurt.

    Her grandmother quickly reached for her hand, squeezing it as she turned to the officer apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, sir. She doesn¡¯t mean to be rude. She just says whatever¡¯s on her mind. She¡¯s still young, I¡¯ll talk to her about it.¡± But Brenna pulled her hand away gently and looked at her grandmother with fierce, burning eyes. ¡°Why should we apologize? Am I lying? Think about what happened back then. How did they treat us?¡±

    Brenna¡¯s grandmother gently patted her hand, her voice soft and weary. ¡°There¡¯s no use digging up the past, sweetheart. Let it rest.¡±

    Brenna remained seated beside her grandmother, though her eyes were still burning with anger as she stared daggers at the officer.

    ¡°I need some air,¡± she muttered abruptly, standing and brushing past Ste as she made her way outside.

    L?t??¦Ó ch¨»¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?????.??????

    Her grandmother offered a faint, apologetic smile and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. If you have anything to ask, I¡¯ll answer whatever I can.¡±

    Ste looked from Brenna¡ªnow standing stiffly outside¡ªto William, then silently pushed the station door open and stepped out into the cool air. Brenna was standing under a big tree, clearly still fuming, so lost in thought she didn¡¯t even notice Ste walking up.

    ¡°Brenna, what¡¯s got you so worked up?¡± Ste asked gently.

    Brenna let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°When my dad died, I gave them everything I had¡ªevery piece of evidence. And still, they told me it wasn¡¯t enough to open a case. What more was I supposed to do?¡±

    She angrily kicked a small rock across the sidewalk. ¡°And just now? I spoke my mind and they threatened to throw me in jail. Of course, it¡¯s easy for them to bully people like us.¡±

    Ste felt a pang of sympathy, but she also understood that police procedures were rigid for a reason¡ªit wasn¡¯t always about injustice.

    ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s just how the system works,¡± she said softly. ¡°They need real evidence so no one ends up being med for something they didn¡¯t do.¡±

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 Chapter 420

    ?Chapter 420:

    Brenna stared nkly at the rough bark of the tree, her voice low and bitter. ¡°If they mess this up again¡­ I¡¯m done believing in them.¡±

    Ste understood¡ªthis bitterness wasn¡¯t new. It had been growing in Brenna for years. Knowing there was nothing more to say right now, she simply gave Brenna¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat and quietly made her way back toward the police station.

    By the time she returned, Brenna¡¯s grandmother had already walked the officers through everything that had happened earlier.

    Surprisingly, the officers were treating the case with genuine seriousness. Years ago, Finley¡¯s death had been dismissed as a mere ident, but in hindsight, too many things about it didn¡¯t add up.

    Now that Brenna¡¯s grandmother had resurfaced with new concerns, and with William hinting at deeper foul y, the police had no choice but to pull the old case files from storage.

    And sure enough, once they started digging, troubling inconsistencies began to emerge.

    ¡°We¡¯ll investigate this thoroughly. Thank you for bringing it to our attention,¡± one of the officers said with a nod.

    Watching the officers now taking things seriously, Ste nced outside at Brenna. Maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªthis time, the truth would finallye out.

    After leaving the station, Ste made sure Brenna and her grandmother were safely settled back at the hotel before finally preparing to head home for some much-needed rest.

    As she slid into the passenger seat beside William, she turned to him. ¡°Are you heading back to the research institute?¡±

    William checked the time on his watch, then tilted his head toward her. ¡°It¡¯s already six. Want to grab a bite first?¡±

    Only then did Ste notice the hunger gnawing at her. She hadn¡¯t eaten all day¡ªnot that she¡¯d had the appetite earlier. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s eat. I¡¯m starving.¡± They ended up at a quiet little restaurant tucked into a mall, away from the usual evening crowd.

    After cing their order, Ste instinctively reached for her phone, pulling up the photos she¡¯d taken earlier to study them again.

    I@te$t ¡é#@pter$ In g@!novel$.c0m

    But William¡¯s calm voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Stop staring at those. It¡¯s obvious someone¡¯s trying to steer us away from this.¡± As he spoke, he poured her a ss of water with slow precision, like none of this rattled him in the slightest.

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully calm about all this. Don¡¯t you want to figure it out quickly? For your fianc¨¦e¡¯s sake?¡±

    She genuinely didn¡¯t understand how he could be soposed, especially when Willow¡¯s name was tied to the chaos.

    William didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°I do want answers. But rushing won¡¯t get us anywhere. It¡¯ll just make us predictable. We need to stay patient.¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together, reluctantly agreeing. He had a point. ¡°So, what now?¡±

    ¡°We wait,¡± William said simply, lifting his ss to take a sip. ¡°Wait and see who they¡¯re trying to push us toward. What direction they want us to chase.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t that just wasting time?¡± Ste frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be led around in circles.¡±

    William leaned back in his seat, a trace of amusement in his eyes. ¡°Who said we¡¯re going to follow their lead? Let them think we are. We y along and make them believe we¡¯ve taken the bait.¡±

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 Chapter 421

    ?Chapter 421:

    Realization dawned on her, and she gave a small nod, understanding his angle. As they started eating, Ste¡¯s thoughts kept drifting back to William and Willow. After a long pause and a bit of hesitation, she finally looked up and asked,

    ¡°When are you going to tell your fianc¨¦e the truth?¡±

    William paused, fork mid-air. ¡°What truth?¡±

    Ste narrowed her eyes slightly. He was still ying dumb? ¡°It¡¯s a business marriage, right? So what¡¯s the big deal about telling her the truth? Pretending you have feelings when you don¡¯t¡ªisn¡¯t that kind of cruel?¡±

    She had a feeling Willow wasn¡¯t treating this like just a business deal. The way she looked at William¡ªthere was real affection there.

    If it were purely transactional for both sides, great. But if Willow was actually falling for him and he kept letting her believe there was something more, while in reality, there wasn¡¯t? That wasn¡¯t just careless¡ªit was heartless.

    William squinted at her. ¡°You think she believes I love her?¡±

    That caught Ste off guard. So¡­ he knew Willow was into him, and just assumed she didn¡¯t care whether or not he returned it?

    The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Willow really did seem like she lived in her own little world. Maybe she was too sheltered to see things for what they were.

    ¡°She definitely has feelings for you,¡± Ste said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for both of you if you just cleared things up now? At least she won¡¯t keep hoping for something that¡¯ll never happen.¡±

    William thought her logic was odd. Willow knew better than anyone where he stood¡ªdid he really need to spell it out? Some things didn¡¯t need to be said out loud. They were adults. Surely Willow understood that much.

    ¡°So what¡ªwhen you don¡¯t like someone, you just tell them straight to their face?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Ste said, without skipping a beat. ¡°If I had an unusual preference, I¡¯d say it. I wouldn¡¯t string anyone along.¡±

    If she were into women, she¡¯d be honest. Basic decency.

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    William didn¡¯t respond right away. Instead, a strange sense of relief crept over him. If she was that straightforward¡ªand she¡¯d never once said she didn¡¯t like him¡ªdid that mean she might actually feel something?

    While he mulled that over, Ste kept eating like nothing had happened. The food here really was good.

    Halfway through, as she wiped her mouth and nced toward the entrance, her brows lifted in surprise.

    Haley had just walked in.

    And judging by the fire in her eyes, she wasn¡¯t here to catch up. She looked ready to throw hands.

    ¡°Well, well, Ste,¡± Haley said, striding over. ¡°Is this how you¡¯re getting by these days? Clinging to a man for survival?¡± Her gaze flicked to William, then lingered, clearly trying to stir something up.

    Ste didn¡¯t respond. She had no energy for petty drama. But Haley wasn¡¯t about to back off. She pulled out a chair and sat down beside her like she owned the ce.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been sniffing around for Nixontely?¡± she said.

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 Chapter 422

    ?Chapter 422:

    That made Ste pause. How the hell did Haley know that? She hadn¡¯t told anyone.

    Ste lowered her eyes and stayed quiet.

    Haley leaned in, tone low and loaded. ¡°Dig all you want¡ªit¡¯s useless. By the time you find anything, they¡¯ll have erased every trace.¡±

    Ste¡¯s fingers froze over her napkin. Haley even knew about her search today? ¡°I¡¯m just here for a meal,¡± Ste said calmly. ¡°If you¡¯re not eating, feel free to leave. We don¡¯t needpany.¡±

    Haley scoffed, ¡°I came here to give you a lead. But clearly, you don¡¯t want help. So forget it.¡±

    Ste blinked. A lead? So that was why Haley was here? She sat up straighter. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything. Why are you ying mind games?¡±

    Haley gave her a long look, then leaned back and settled in. ¡°Nixon¡¯s just a puppet. The real yer behind the scenes isn¡¯t even in the country. The whole operation¡¯s supply chain and market are overseas.¡±

    She sounded so confident, so sure of herself. But Ste wasn¡¯t the type to take someone¡¯s word at face value. Especially not Haley¡¯s.

    ¡°You seem to know a lot,¡± she said coolly. ¡°So tell me¡ªdoes the ¡®SM¡¯ stamped on all those garbage materials represent you? I remember Nixon used to work with someone from Achury.¡±

    The second Ste brought up the letters, Haley¡¯s face twitched. ¡°We¡¯re working with him, yes,¡± she snapped. ¡°But Nixon and I both got yed. We were used. That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying. Take it or leave it.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t press. She just lowered her head and kept eating, treating Haley like background noise. William didn¡¯t even nce her way.

    Haley¡¯s expression soured fast. She¡¯d clearly expected them to react, but their indifference pushed her over the edge. ¡°Did you not hear what I just said?¡± she snapped.

    Ste finally looked up, calm as ever. ¡°I heard. Got anything else?¡±

    Haley¡¯s patience snapped. She stood up so fast her chair screeched. ¡°Fine! Don¡¯t believe me. But when you arrest the wrong person and let the real viin walk free, don¡¯te crying to me!¡±

    Let your mind wander with g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??????

    Ste tilted her head, eyes cool, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. ¡°If you know who the real culprit is, go catch them yourself. I won¡¯t fight you for the credit.¡±

    That did it. Haley looked like she¡¯d just taken a swing and hit air.

    Furious, she grabbed her purse and stormed out without another word.

    At first, Ste had her doubts. But the second Haley blurted out ¡°Nixon isn¡¯t the real culprit,¡± it confirmed everything. Whoever was behind this was using Nixon as a fall guy¡ªto keep attention off the real operation.

    And Haley? She¡¯d definitelye here with an agenda. There was no way she would¡¯ve sought Ste out otherwise. Haley didn¡¯t even like her. If she¡¯d been burned by Nixon, she¡¯d eat ss before asking for Ste¡¯s help.

    And now, that agenda was clear.

    Ste put her utensils down. ¡°Looks like we were right. Those documents were fake. Someone¡¯s trying to shield Nixon.¡±

    William raised a brow. ¡°If the ones we found were fake, where are the real ones?¡±

    Ste frowned, thinking. ¡°The safest ce¡­ is usually the one nobody expects. I think they¡¯re still at the factory.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 423

    ?Chapter 423:

    At first, she thought Nixon¡¯s people had noticed something and moved everything.

    She assumed they¡¯d moved everything after catching wind of her surveince. But thinking it through¡ªthere was no way they¡¯d had enough time to fabricate that many fake documents.

    Not just files, but sealed contracts, official stamps¡ªthe works.

    Those weren¡¯t made yesterday.

    Whoever it was had nned ahead. They expected her to snoop around. They knew she¡¯d nt bugs. Everything was calcted.

    Which meant¡ªthey also assumed she wouldn¡¯t bother checking the factory again. No one wastes time returning to a ce they¡¯ve already searched.

    That was the trick.

    The factory was packed with equipment and boxes¡ªit wasn¡¯t easy to haul all that somewhere else without getting caught.

    The simplest move? Put it all back after she was gone. William seemed to be having the same thought.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go now.¡±

    They didn¡¯t waste another second.

    After settling the bill, Ste didn¡¯t take her own car. She rented one instead¡ªjust in case her license te was being tracked.

    No need to hand Nixon a heads-up.

    As William got in, he gave her a quick look of approval. ¡°You¡¯re being cautious.¡±

    Ste shrugged. ¡°Better safe than sorry.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t risking it. Not when she¡¯d promised Brenna she¡¯d get to the bottom of this.

    William didn¡¯t argue.

    They parked behind the factory, the same spot as before. Once the engine cut off, Ste opened the door, and William stepped out ahead of her.

    At the base of the stairwell, William turned back. ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll check if it¡¯s clear. I¡¯ll call you up if it¡¯s safe.¡±

    Ste nodded, watching as he disappeared into the shadows.

    A few minutester, his voice called down.

    She climbed the steps and followed him into the hidden room¡ªthe same one fromst time. Piles of files were stacked inside.

    They split up and beganbing through everything.

    It didn¡¯t take long. ¡°William, over here!¡± Ste called, her eyes fixed on a stack of documents she had just uncovered.

    But the moment the words left her mouth, someone grabbed her from behind.

    A hand mped around her neck, yanking her backward. ¡°Hand it over¡ªnow!¡± the voice growled in her ear.

    Around twenty minutes earlier, Nixon had sensed someone nearing the factory. At first, he didn¡¯t think much of it¡ªthe vehicle wasn¡¯t one he recognized as belonging to Ste or William.

    But the longer he watched, the more uneasy he became. Something didn¡¯t feel right, and that gut feeling sent him rushing toward the scene.

    Unfortunately, he was a moment toote¡ªSte had already gotten her hands on the documents he had gone to great lengths to hide.

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 Chapter 424

    ?Chapter 424:

    Nixon held a knife, using it to keep Ste frozen in ce. But despite the danger, she stood firm¡ªshe wasn¡¯t going to give up those documents.

    ¡°I said hand over the documents!¡± he barked, his voice sharp and filled with menace.

    Gritting her teeth, Ste turned to William and urged, ¡°Take the documents and leave! Don¡¯t worry about me!¡±

    Her face was set with quiet resolve¡ªshe was ready to face whatever came next. ¡°Go on. He wouldn¡¯t darey a hand on you,¡± she said steadily.

    She wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªWilliam¡¯s special position made him a powerful figure in Choria, with influence that extended far beyond the country. Someone like Nixon wouldn¡¯t dare try anything against him.

    Seeing William holding the evidence, Nixon grew desperate. He pressed the knife harder against Ste¡¯s neck. A thin line of blood surfaced almost instantly.

    ¡°Give it back, Mr. Briggs,¡± Nixon snapped. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want her blood on your hands, would you?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t sure how close Ste and William were, but showing up together suggested some level of familiarity.

    But what Nixon didn¡¯t expect was William¡¯s sudden move¡ªhe simply turned and began striding straight for the exit with the documents in hand.

    Caught off guard, Nixon yanked Ste closer, pressing the de more firmly to her skin. ¡°Hey! What are you doing? Take another step and she dies! Do you hear me? Stay right there!¡±

    But William didn¡¯t so much as flinch. Without turning back, he kept walking, making a direct line for the door.

    Nixon was in aplete panic¡ªthis was nothing like what he¡¯d anticipated. ¡°Why¡¯d he just leave you like that? Aren¡¯t you two close?¡± Nixon asked, visibly confused.

    Understanding William¡¯s silent message, Ste let out a low chuckle. ¡°Who said we are close? We only just met downstairs. He¡¯s helping the Lawson family¡ªnot me.¡±

    Nixon stared at her, baffled. ¡°That can¡¯t be. You¡¯re one of his employees, right? You both work at the institute!¡±

    L¨»¦Ó??¦Ó c§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ??n g??l??ov?l??.??o??

    He¡¯d gathered that information himself¡ªhad it all been wrong?

    Ste shrugged. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m just one employee in a massivepany. You think someone like him cares about every one of us?¡±

    Nixon stood frozen,pletely thrown off. He had taken Ste hostage, yet it changed nothing¡ªhis leverage meant absolutely zero. Watching William walk away without so much as a backward nce shattered whatever confidence he had left.

    Ste, seeing the panic rise in his eyes, decided to push harder. ¡°He¡¯s already out of the factory, Nixon. Even if you kill me now, it won¡¯t change a thing. You¡¯re finished¡ªprison is all that¡¯s waiting for you now!¡±

    Nixon turned his head and saw William walking steadily away, his back firm and unyielding.

    Desperation took over. With a crazed re, Nixon yanked Ste toward a shadowy corner of the factory, his grip tightening. His voice was unhinged. ¡°Fine! If I¡¯m going down anyway, I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t make it out either!¡±

    Ste locked eyes with him and snapped, ¡°Nixon, you should pay for every life you¡¯ve put at risk. You knew those materials were dangerous, yet you still pushed them through¡ªwithout a hint of remorse. You brought this on yourself!¡±

    ¡°You bitch! What did you just say?¡± Nixon snarled, lifting the knife in a fit of rage.

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 Chapter 425

    ?Chapter 425:

    But before he could lunge, a wooden chair came crashing down on the back of his head. He staggered forward and hit the ground hard.

    William stood behind him, breathing hard, the broken chair leg still in his hand. Without missing a beat, he dropped to his knee and pulled Ste up.

    Ste looked at him, stunned. ¡°Why¡¯d youe back? I thought you already left with the evidence.¡±

    ¡°You really think I¡¯d walk away and leave you behind?¡± William shot back. ¡°What kind of man would that make me?¡±

    Her gaze dropped to his hands¡ªempty. A cold wave of dread hit her. ¡°Wait¡­ Where¡¯s the evidence?¡±

    ¡°Focus on staying alive!¡± he snapped, gripping her hand tighter as they bolted down the stairwell.

    Behind them, Nixon was already back on his feet with blood dripping from his head as he picked up the knife and ran after them in fury.

    Ste and William had almost reached their car and were about to get in when Nixon came charging at them, yelling.

    His men quickly surrounded them, closing in fast.

    There was no way out now. A fight was inevitable.

    Ste could hold her own in a scuffle, but against this many? Her strength was quickly fading.

    Just then, a voice shouted from the side, ¡°Watch out!¡±

    Ste spun around just in time to see Nixon lunging at her, his face twisted with rage.

    Panic shot through her chest, her breath catching¡ªhis eyes were wild, his expression murderous. But before she could even scream, William stepped in, shielding her with his body. The sickening thud of metal hitting flesh rang out, and her stomach dropped.

    The sharp tang of blood hit her nose instantly.

    Her heart skipped a beat as she watched William, eyes zing,nd a heavy punch straight to Nixon¡¯s face.

    Uncover new tales on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s??om

    Nixon staggered but didn¡¯t give up. He tried to fight back¡ªonly to freeze at the sound of approaching sirens. Police. Loud and closing in fast.

    He scrambled to his feet, trying to bolt, but the factory was already surrounded.

    ¡°Police! Freeze!¡±

    Dozens of voices yelled at once, guns drawn and aimed right at him. Cornered, Nixon¡¯s whole body trembled. He had no choice¡ªhe raised his hands and surrendered.

    Once the cops had him cuffed and under control, William leaned heavily against the car door, letting out a low groan of pain.

    Ste rushed to his side, eyes wide with panic as she saw the blood soaking through his shirt. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital. Just hold on¡ªwe¡¯re almost there!¡±

    At the hospital, after a round of checks, the doctor confirmed his wound wasn¡¯t life-threatening. A few stitches and some rest, and he¡¯d be okay. Luca showed up soon after, handing all the evidence Ste had collected straight to the police.

    Between that and the earlier case tied to Finley¡¯s death, Nixon was pped with charges for illegal trading and intentional harm. He was sentenced to life in prison.

    The factory was seized. All his under-the-table operations were shut down.

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 Chapter 426

    ?Chapter 426:

    When Ste called to update Shaun, he waspletely stunned.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡­ He did all that for money?¡± Shaun said, his voice tight with disbelief. ¡°Back when we started working together, he seemed so decent. I never thought he¡¯d go that far.¡±

    He sighed over the phone, clearly regretting how wrong he¡¯d been.

    Ste stood by the window, her phone in hand. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known. It wasn¡¯t your fault. He let greed blind him. You were just another person he used.¡±

    Shaun paused for a second. ¡°Syl¡­ I¡¯m really sorry I couldn¡¯t protect you. I was seriously worried something would happen to you. If it had¡­ I¡¯d never forgive myself.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t used to hearing him talk like that. So direct. So¡­ personal.

    ¡°Mr. Smith,¡± she said, steadying her voice, ¡°now that Nixon¡¯s out of the picture, you¡¯ll probably need a new materials supplier. I¡¯m not cut out for handling this project anymore. Better if someone else on your team takes over. I won¡¯t be following up.¡±

    She¡¯d once thought it was a great opportunity. A good side gig. But after nearly losing her life? No amount of profit was worth it.

    Shaun was quiet for a moment, clearly not expecting that. ¡°Syl¡­ are you still upset with me because of all this?¡±

    She blinked, a little surprised by the question. ¡°No. Not at all.¡±

    There was nothing to be upset about. It wasn¡¯t on him.

    Shaun sighed. ¡°Finding a new supplier will take time, but once that¡¯s settled, I still hope we can work together again. I know you wanted to earn more¡ªand this project¡¯s returns are high.¡±

    But Ste just shook her head. ¡°There are others better suited for it,¡± she said. ¡°And the institute¡¯s been piling work on metely. I really don¡¯t have time.¡±

    She was exhausted mentally and physically. All she wanted now was a break. Some peace. She just wanted to go back to herb work and focus on Neb. Shaun seemed to pick up on the finality in her voice and gave up trying to convince her. ¡°Alright. Just take care of yourself. When the time¡¯s right, maybe we¡¯ll work together again.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    L§Ñt??t ch¨»pt?rs ?n g??ln¦Ïv?ls.??¦Ï??

    A brief pause. ¡°Then¡­ can I still take you out to dinner sometime?¡± Shaun asked.

    Ste hesitated. ¡°If I have the time.¡±

    It was a polite answer¡ªbut distant. Shaun could hear the brush-off in her tone.

    He let out a low chuckle.

    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t push. See you around, Syl.¡±

    Ste hung up, a strange chill crawling up her spine.

    Every time Shaun called her ¡°Syl,¡± it made her skin crawl a little¡ªbut she didn¡¯t know how to bring it up without making it awkward. Now that their project was over, though, she figured she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with him much anymore.

    She turned around and jumped slightly. William was staring at her from the hospital bed, eyes half-open, his gaze steady.

    ¡°You feeling okay?¡± she asked, her heart skipping a beat.

    He¡¯d been out cold just a second ago. Could the call have woken him?

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 Chapter 427

    ?Chapter 427:

    William narrowed his eyes. ¡°Was that Shaun on the phone?¡±

    Ste nodded. ¡°Yeah. Nixon¡¯s been taken in, so Shaun¡¯s scrambling to find a new supplier. Bit of a mess.¡±

    William let out a quiet scoff. Of course, she was still worrying about Shaun¡¯s business, like it was her responsibility. ssic Ste.

    ¡°Stay away from that guy,¡± William muttered. ¡°Don¡¯t even text him if you don¡¯t have to. Shaun¡¯s bad news.¡±

    Ste blinked, thrown off. He¡¯d said this before, but it still didn¡¯t sit right with her.

    From her experience, Shaun had always been decent¡ªhelped her out when she first moved, gave her a few good gigs. She never got any bad vibes.

    ¡°He¡¯s been good to me, though. After I spent all my savings purchasing an apartment, he gave me a few side jobs. I made some decent money. Doesn¡¯t really seem like a creep.¡±

    While she spoke, she poured a cup of water and walked over to him.

    His lips were dry¡ªhe probably needed it.

    But when she handed him the cup, their fingers brushed. Ste flinched, like she¡¯d touched fire, and William¡ªalready weak¡ªfumbled and dropped it. Water sshed all over the nket.

    ¡°Crap¡ªsorry! I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± she blurted, grabbing tissues and rushing to mop it up.

    William gave a long sigh, somewhere between exasperated and amused. ¡°So I warn you about Shaun, and your way of disagreeing is to drench me? That your revenge?¡±

    William couldn¡¯t believe how quickly Ste was to stick up for Shaun.

    ¡°I said it was an ident!¡± she snapped, flustered.

    The nket was soaked, so Ste called a nurse toe change it.

    L?t?st ch¦Ápt?rs ¦Én g??l??ov§Ö???.????

    She crouched beside the bed, careful of his stitches, and slid her arm around his back to help him up. She helped him to the couch.

    But William wasn¡¯t exactly light. Dead weight, really. Trying to haul him up was like moving a fridge with noodle arms.

    By the time they reached the couch, her legs gave out¡ªand she copsed with him onto it.

    Shended on him. Limbs tangled. Awkward pressure. Her hand hit somewhere it really shouldn¡¯t have. One wrong move, and things could go from bad to scandalous real fast.

    Mortified, Ste tried to scramble off him¡ªonly to slip on the damp floor and crash right back down, this time practically in hisp.

    The nurse walked in just in time to witness the entire scene.

    William winced with a low grunt. Ste freaked out. ¡°Oh my god, I swear that was an ident! Are your stitches okay?¡±

    The nurse nced at the scene, barely containing herughter as she started pulling off the wet sheets. ¡°Miss, your boyfriend¡¯s still recovering,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°Keep this up, and you¡¯ll tear his stitches wide open.¡±

    Ste flushed. Thankfully, William¡¯s bandages showed no blood, so no real damage was done.

    She gave an awkward smile. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Briggs!¡±

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 Chapter 428

    ?Chapter 428:

    Then she turned to the nurse, flustered. ¡°And just to rify¡ªhe¡¯s not my boyfriend. He¡¯s my boss.¡±

    The nurse blinked, clearly not expecting that.

    But then something shifted in her expression¡ªlike it all suddenly made sense. She gave Ste and William a knowing smirk, picked up the soggy sheets, and headed for the door.

    As she walked out, she muttered just loud enough to hear, ¡°Boss and his office girl¡ªssic.¡±

    William, sharp-eared as ever, caught what the nurse said on her way out.

    He nced over at Ste, who was crouched on the floor wiping up the spilled water, looking totally unfazed¡ªlike she hadn¡¯t even realized what she¡¯d said to the nurse a moment ago.

    Once the floor was clean, she got up and walked toward him. ¡°Mr. Briggs, let me help you back to bed.¡±

    William raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to fall on me again, are you?¡±

    Ste¡¯s face turned red. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t!¡±

    This time, she managed to help him back into bed without incident.

    As he leaned back against the pillows, Ste started to step away¡ªbut before she could move, William caught her wrist and tugged her toward him. She gasped, stumbling slightly, and ended up half-leaning against his arm. His other hand steadied her waist, and his breath grazed her cheek¡ªwarm, close, way too intimate.

    Her body tensed, heat rushing up her neck.

    She tried to wriggle free, but he wouldn¡¯t let go.

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t agreed to what I asked earlier,¡± he said.

    Ste paused, struggling to recall what he had asked.

    Exclusive updates avable g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    His expression darkened. ¡°I told you to stay away from Shaun. Don¡¯t meet with him alone anymore.¡±

    Seriously?

    She yanked her hand free and stepped back, face stiffening. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I have the right to choose who I talk to. You¡¯re my boss¡ªnot my parent. And even if you were, you wouldn¡¯t get to dictate my friends.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t understand why he was so hung up on Shaun. Was it just because she worked for him? Did he expect her to only work with people he approved of?

    That made zero sense. As a businessman, William should know the value ofworking. Coborating with others shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Or was it that¡ªafter everything they¡¯d been through¡ªhe just expected her to follow his lead now?

    Sure, she¡¯d listen to him about work¡ªthat was fair. But this? Her personal life? No.

    William stared at her, jaw tight. Her defiance hit him harder than the wound. ¡°You really think he¡¯s that great?¡± he asked bitterly. ¡°You¡¯d choose him over everything?¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes narrowed. That wasn¡¯t a warning¡ªit sounded like jealousy. She kept her voice calm. ¡°This isn¡¯t about Shaun being great or not. It¡¯s about you crossing a line. Who I spend time with is none of your business.¡±

    She looked him straight in the eye. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be heading out. Get some rest, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    With that, she turned and walked out without giving him a chance to speak. William sat there, seething. His chest tightened¡ªnot just from the wound, but from frustration. Why couldn¡¯t she see he was trying to protect her?

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 Chapter 429

    ?Chapter 429:

    He¡¯d been in the business world long enough to sniff out a guy like Shaun from a mile away. There was always a calction behind those smooth words. And yet¡­ she still defended him. Only Ste would fall for a guy like that.

    Meanwhile, Nixon¡¯s downfall was sending shockwaves through more than just Smith Group. Haley got caught in the mess too.

    She¡¯d been in charge of her family¡¯s branchpany in Choria. And with Nixon gone, the entire business chain copsed. The losses hit hard, slicing into her family¡¯s influence back in Achury. A family meeting was called¡ªmandatory.

    Haley returned home full of dread, and the cold atmosphere at the estate made her stomach twist tighter.

    No one even looked at her, let alone spoke.

    It wasn¡¯t until dinner that the silence shattered. She politely asked for the pepper shaker. No one moved. No one answered.

    Haley¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone hear me? I said I want ck pepper!¡± Her mother, Beatrice, looked at her with a flicker of sympathy¡ªbut the man at the head of the table remained silent, eyes frosty.

    ¡°You¡¯ve aplished nothing,¡± Haley¡¯s father, Alistair Smith, said slowly, ¡°and you think you can sit here making demands?¡± he spat.

    Then her aunt, Vivian Smith, chimed in from across the table, voice sharp. ¡°We¡¯re not trying to be harsh, Haley¡ªbut do you even realize how much revenue that business chain pulled in every month?¡±

    Alistair gave his daughter a hard look. The scrape of his knife against the te echoed sharply in the quiet room.

    ¡°I gave you one task¡ªrun the branch in Choria. And now? You¡¯ve managed to wreck an entire business chain.¡± His voice was like steel. ¡°You¡¯ve made a mess of everything.¡±

    Haley¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she stared at Alistair, biting her lip hard to hold back her frustration. ¡°It¡¯s not what it looks like, Dad. There¡¯s a whole story behind this, and it all started because of that woman, Ste Russell!¡±

    Alistair gave a cold, dismissive snort. ¡°Still ming others, are you?¡±

    Haley opened her mouth to defend herself, but Alistair cut her off sharply. ¡°You couldn¡¯t even take down a woman like her. Tell me, what good are you to this family?¡±

    Your escape is on g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s

    She fell silent. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, Ste had outmaneuvered her at every turn.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who had your mother begging on your behalf, just to help some worthless man? Where is he now? Is he even still around?¡± Alistair¡¯s words cut straight through her pride.

    After Ste nearly got her thrown in jail, Marc had vanished¡ªno visits, no calls. He¡¯d even blocked her everywhere. And yet, there he was, sshed across Choria¡¯s gossip pages, smiling beside another woman like nothing had happened.

    She now saw Marc for who he truly was¡ªdead weight. But Ste? That woman had humiliated her, and Haley wasn¡¯t about to let that go.

    ¡°Please, Dad. Just give me one more chance. I swear I won¡¯t let you down again.¡± She looked at him, her eyes pleading for another opportunity.

    Before Alistair could respond, Vivian sighed heavily and spoke up. ¡°Haley, do you even understand what you¡¯ve done? That entire business chain was crucial to our family¡¯s future. And you wrecked it. We¡¯re losing money by the minute, and now you want another chance? Are you trying to ruin uspletely?¡±

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 Chapter 430

    ?Chapter 430:

    Haley had never been fond of her aunt. Vivian and the rest of them were all waiting for her to fall, circling like vultures for a chance at her father¡¯s fortune. Vivian¡¯s son, Sylvester, was a walking disappointment. He couldn¡¯t even make waves in Achury, much lesspete in Choria.

    Haley shot her aunt a sharp look. ¡°That¡¯s still better than Sylvester. I¡¯ve built real contacts in Choria, and once I¡¯m back, they¡¯ll back me up for sure.¡±

    Vivian¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Why drag Sylvester into this? You think you¡¯re better than him? You just tanked one of our biggest business arms!¡±

    As their voices rose, Alistair mmed his fist on the table, silencing the room. ¡°Enough! We¡¯re supposed to be having dinner, not tearing each other apart. Haley, I¡¯ll let the Choria incident slide this once, but don¡¯t expect me to hand over the business to you again.¡±

    Haley sat frozen in disbelief. She was Alistair¡¯s daughter¡ªby blood! If she wasn¡¯t even granted her rightful inheritance, what did that make her? A disgrace? Aplete failure?

    ¡°Dad!¡± she cried out, refusing to ept what he had just said.

    Alistair¡¯s eyes were cold as ice. ¡°That¡¯s enough. My decision is final.¡±

    Without another word, he set down his cutlery, wiped his mouth calmly, and walked out of the room.

    Vivian didn¡¯t hide the smug look on her face. ¡°So this is how you treat your elders now? Seems like your time in Choria wiped out whatever manners you had left.¡±

    Beatrice, though clearly upset, still spoke up. ¡°Vivian, that¡¯s enough. Haley didn¡¯t mean it.¡±

    Vivian let out a harshugh. ¡°You? You¡¯re not even one of us by blood. If you hadn¡¯t married into this family, who would even listen to you? And let me remind you¡ªyou once imed your daughter was better than my son. How¡¯s that working out now?¡±

    Beatrice¡¯s face stiffened with shame, but she didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Haley is Alistair¡¯s daughter. You have no right to lecture her.¡±

    Without another word, she took Haley¡¯s hand and led her out of the room.

    Vivian scoffed, threw her napkin down in irritation, and stood up with a huff. In her room, Haley jerked her hand away in frustration. ¡°Mom, why¡¯d you drag me out? Vivian¡¯s the one who should¡¯ve left! This is my house, not hers!¡±

    M??? ?¦Ñ????? ?? ?????¦Í???.???

    Beatrice stared at Haley¡¯s indignant face, her heart full of bitterness. ¡°And whose fault do you think this is?¡±

    Beatrice chose to step back and give Haley some time to cool down. She could see clearly that Haley still wasn¡¯t ready to admit she was wrong, and trying to reason with her now would only be a waste of time.

    Seeing her mother walk away, Haley panicked. Her eyes filled with desperation as she reached out and grabbed Beatrice¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t go. Talk to Dad for me¡­ make him take back what he said. I¡¯ll stay in Achury, I won¡¯t go to Choria anymore. But he can¡¯t take everything from me like this!¡±

    Beatrice gently but firmly pulled her hand back. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. You know how your father is. Once he decides, it¡¯s done.¡±

    Ever since Haley used her in Choria of being an unfit mother, something inside Beatrice had broken. The warmth she once felt for her daughter had long turned cold.

    Left alone, Haley sank onto her bed,pletely crushed. She had nothing now. If she stayed in Achury, she¡¯d be mocked endlessly. News of her downfall would spread like wildfire.

    Ste had stripped her of everything, and there was no way she¡¯d just sit back and let the woman walk free.

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 Chapter 431

    ?Chapter 431:

    Even if she couldn¡¯t bring Ste downpletely, she¡¯d make sure to ruin her peace. If it came to that, she was ready to drag Ste down with her. After all, she had nothing left to lose.

    After turning down Shaun¡¯s projects, Ste threw herselfpletely into her research at the institute. She kept her head down, didn¡¯t ask about William, and only heard in passing from colleagues that he¡¯d been spending a lot of time with Willowtely.

    At first, the shift in mood had made Sandra nervous¡ªexpecting Ste to be bothered¡ªbut after seeing her stay calm and collected, Sandra finally rxed. ¡°Sylvia, there¡¯s a ging up,¡± Sandra said one afternoon. ¡°The institute¡¯s hosting it. All the big names in Choria will be there. Are you going?¡±

    It was her first year at the institute, and she was really looking forward to meeting the big shots in the industry. ¡°What day is it?¡±

    ¡°This Saturday!¡± Sandra huffed, then pouted. ¡°I mean, really? A fancy banquet on a weekend? That¡¯s basically overtime in disguise. So¡­ are you going?¡±

    Ste nodded. ¡°Of course. Why not?¡±

    All of Choria¡¯s power yers in one ce? She¡¯d be stupid to skip it. It was the perfect chance towork, expand Neb¡¯s reach, and maybe lock in some high-end deals.

    Sandra beamed. ¡°Awesome! Wanna go shopping for dresses? I¡¯ve got nothing fancy to wear. Can¡¯t exactly show up inb gear.¡±

    Ste thought about it. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I have a few brand-new ones at home. Tags still on.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Seriously? Sylvia, you¡¯re a lifesaver!¡±

    Ste had never been fond of shopping. To spare herself a trip to the stores, she suggested lending Sandra her own clothes. Thankfully, Sandra had no qualms about borrowing them.

    On Saturday, Sandra showed up two hours early, buzzing with excitement and ready to try on her dress.

    The moment she stepped into Ste¡¯s apartment, her jaw dropped. ¡°Whoa. Your ce is so sleek. Minimalist. Feels like a guy decorated it.¡±

    Discover more

    Ste¡¯s ce was ck, white, and gray. Sharp edges. Clean lines. Not a single fluffy throw pillow in sight.

    Sandra, a lover of all things cozy and cute, blinked around.

    It actually did remind her of someone¡ªWilliam. But Ste brushed past thement and waved her inside.

    Once they¡¯d picked out dresses and changed, Sandra suddenly remembered, ¡°Oh no¡ªI forgot my makeup bag. Should we just get our makeup done somewhere?¡± Ste didn¡¯t mind.

    They headed to a high-end salon in Choria¡ªspacious, chic, with an open garden and a pool that shimmered untouched under the sun.

    A stylist led them to the makeup room, and just as they sat down in front of the mirror, a familiar figure floated in from the other side. Haley.

    She was in a long gown, her expression sour as soon as she spotted Ste.

    ¡°Well, well,¡± she drawled with a smug smile. ¡°What a small world, Ste.¡±

    Ste noticed she¡¯d lost weight¡ªher cheeks sharper, her corbones more prominent. She probably hadn¡¯t been having a good timetely.

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 Chapter 432

    ?Chapter 432:

    Still, Ste didn¡¯t say a word. She just sat back as the makeup artist got to work. Haley, clearly not ready to be ignored, turned to the stylist. ¡°I thought this was a members-only salon. Since when does just anyone walk in here?¡±

    The stylist, caught off guard, quickly smiled. ¡°Ma¡¯am, yes, we are members-only. Non-members typically can¡¯t ess the service areas.¡±

    Haley raised an eyebrow, ncing pointedly at Ste and Sandra. ¡°Then what about them? Did you check their membership cards?¡±

    That question made the stylist pause. They hadn¡¯t checked.

    Ste¡¯s dress and calm demeanor had made them assume she was a member. Haley saw the hesitation and pounced. ¡°Well? If you¡¯re exclusive, then check. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of membership?¡±

    The stylist turned to Ste and Sandra, flustered but polite. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,dies, would you mind showing your cards?¡±

    Sandra looked stunned, clearly lost about what was going on with the whole membership issue. The nervous nce she threw Ste¡¯s way made it obvious to Haley¡ªSandra definitely didn¡¯t have a membership card.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sitting next to just anyone during my styling session!¡± Haley snapped. Just then, Ste reached into her bag and pulled out the ck card William had given her in Briset. He¡¯d handed it over to help with business meetings, and she hadpletely forgotten it was still with her.

    The makeup artist visibly paused. That ck card wasn¡¯t just any card¡ªit was a globally limited edition. Anyone who had one had to be someone of serious status.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a member yet,¡± Ste said with an easy smile. ¡°But it¡¯s not toote to be one, is it?¡±

    The ce never imed it only catered to long-time members.

    ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am,¡± the makeup artist replied, suddenly bing more polite. ¡°Pleasee this way.¡± She then guided Ste toward the membership counter.

    As Ste filled out the form, she asked casually, ¡°If I bring friends, will they be able to enjoy the services too?¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s©q??o?? is where stories live

    The makeup artist responded with extra care, ¡°Absolutely. As long as they¡¯re with you, they¡¯re wee to enjoy everything here.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. A month¡¯s membership wasn¡¯t overpriced, and she could easily afford it.

    After finishing up, she walked back to Sandra and gave her shoulder a gentle pat. ¡°All good now. Go ahead and sit; we¡¯re officially members.¡±

    Sandra finally rxed a little. As she sat down, she nced toward Haley and murmured, ¡°Do people seriously still judge others over some membership card?¡± Steughed lightly. ¡°It takes all kinds to make the world go round,¡± she replied.

    Honestly, the whole thing wasughable. Since when did a membership make someone superior?

    Haley¡¯s expression soured at Ste¡¯s taunt, but with so many eyes on her, she couldn¡¯t afford tosh out. Swallowing her anger, she sank into her seat, forced to keep up appearances while frustration quietly burned inside her.

    Meanwhile, William was getting ready for the evening banquet. As the low-profile owner of the research institute, events like these required his presence. Even though he was still recovering from an abdominal injury, he insisted on attending.

    As he settled into the car, a notification popped up on his phone¡ªa recent transaction, followed immediately by a refund for the exact amount. Someone had used his card and then swiftly reversed the charge.

    That¡¯s when he instantly recalled¡ªhe¡¯d given that card to Ste.

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 Chapter 433

    ?Chapter 433:

    Noticing that the charge was from a styling studio, he gave the driver new directions. ¡°Take me there.¡±

    The driver blinked in confusion. William was already dressed for the banquet, but he was determined to check this out.

    Ste had gone for a soft, natural look, so her makeup was finished in no time. Sandra, with her cheerful vibe, got a light makeover too.

    She¡¯d never been dolled up like this before¡ªit was the most stunning she¡¯d ever looked. Spotting the pool just outside the studio, she turned to Ste with bright eyes. ¡°Sylvia, can you take a few pictures of me over there? I¡¯ve never worn something this nice before.¡±

    Since there was still some time before the banquet, Ste agreed without hesitation¡ªshe knew girls loved taking pictures. The two of them walked over to the pool.

    Sandra started off by posing near the water, then shifted a little to get a better angle.

    ¡°Sylvia, just take a few. I know you¡¯ll make me look great,¡± she said excitedly.

    As Ste counted down¡ªthree, two, one¡ªSandra struck her poses, keeping her eyes on the phone¡¯s rear camera the whole time.

    While both of them were caught up in the photos, they didn¡¯t notice someone rushing toward Ste from behind.

    ¡°Ste! You ruined everything! Why don¡¯t you just die already?¡± Haley¡¯s furious scream pierced the air as she charged forward, a utility knife held high. Ste stood frozen for a split second,pletely caught off guard by the violent outburst.

    Nearby, Sandra was just as stunned, rooted to the spot in shock. Inside the studio, the makeup artists gasped, but none dared to move. They stood frozen in fear, their faces pale, unsure of what to do.

    ¡°Call the police! Why is everyone just standing there?¡± Sandra finally snapped out of it, yelling as she rushed toward Ste.

    ¡°Haley, have you lost your mind?¡± Ste gritted out, grabbing Haley¡¯s wrist to stop the knife. If it weren¡¯t for the long dress getting in the way, she would¡¯ve kicked Haley aside already. The outfit only made it harder for her to move.

    Find thetest stories g?ln¦Òv??ls

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m crazy!¡± Haley screamed, her voice cracking. ¡°You¡¯re driving me insane! I don¡¯t care anymore¡ªI just want you dead!¡±

    She lunged, the utility knife aimed straight at Ste¡¯s neck.

    Startled, Ste ducked instinctively, the de barely grazing past her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind!¡± Sandra yelled, grabbing Haley¡¯s arm with both hands. ¡°This is attempted murder!¡±

    Haley, restrained by both women, thrashed wildly, her eyes gleaming with venom. Then¡ªwithout warning¡ªshe kicked Ste hard in the stomach.

    Ste stumbled back, her heel slipping on the wet tiles. With a ssh, she fell straight into the pool behind them.

    The water swallowed her whole. She couldn¡¯t swim. Cold panic wed at her throat as she sank, her arms iling uselessly. She tried to kick, to float, to breathe¡ªbut her body wouldn¡¯t listen. Everything was too deep, too fast, too loud. The water muffled the world, filled her lungs, and drowned her screams.

    ¡°Ste!¡± Sandra shouted, frozen in horror. ¡°Help her! She¡¯s drowning!¡±

    Haley just stood there, smirking. ¡°Ha!¡± sheughed, unhinged. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just stay down there, Ste? Just die already!¡±

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 Chapter 434

    ?Chapter 434:

    Then¡ªssh. Another figure hit the water.

    Through the blur of chlorine and panic, Ste saw someone diving toward her. A strong arm wrapped around her waist. Another pulled her up. Her head broke the surface¡ªair mmed into her lungs like fire. It was William. He dragged her to the edge and hoisted her up first, then copsed beside her, panting hard.

    The bandage on his stomach was soaked with red. His wound wasn¡¯t properly healed yet.

    Ste coughed violently, water spewing from her mouth. She blinked through the haze. ¡°Thank¡­you,¡± she rasped between coughs.

    But before she could say more, Haley rushed toward them again¡ªknife still clutched tight.

    The shrill wail of police cars cut through the chaos. Blue and red lights sshed across the ss walls. Officers burst in, guns drawn. Haley froze, eyes wide in disbelief.

    ¡°Officer! That woman tried to kill my friend!¡± Sandra pointed at Haley, her voice trembling. ¡°Please arrest her!¡±

    The makeup artists all nodded behind her, pale and stunned. If they had known Haley was a lunatic, they would never have allowed her in.

    The police didn¡¯t waste any time. Two officers pinned Haley¡¯s arms and cuffed her, leading her away.

    With the crisis averted, Ste knelt beside William. ¡°William, are you alright?¡±

    William¡¯s face had gone deathly pale, his brows tightly drawn in pain. Ste¡¯s eyes fell to his shirt¡ªonce crisp white, now soaked and blooming red around the wound. Her heart stopped. ¡°Your wound!¡± she gasped, then spun to Sandra. ¡°Help me get him to the car!¡±

    They struggled together, half-lifting, half-supporting him as his weight sagged between them.

    ¡°Hang in there,¡± Ste muttered, breathless with urgency. ¡°We¡¯re almost there. I¡¯ll get you to the hospital.¡±

    He had been injured while protecting her previously, and now his wound had been aggravated by saving her again.

    Stay connected at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Her throat tightened. Guilt wrapped itself around her lungs and refused to let go. By the time they reached the hospital, William had gone limp in his seat. Nurses rushed over, wheeling him away before she could even say a word.

    Ste stood rooted in ce, dripping wet, her mind a blur. She checked her phone¡ªonly thirty minutes left until the institute g.

    ¡°Sandra,¡± she said, turning to her. ¡°You should go to the event.¡±

    Sandra looked at her like she¡¯d lost her mind. ¡°What? You¡¯re staying here alone?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ste said with a small, tired smile. ¡°You¡¯re barely wet. You¡¯ll dry off fast. You were excited about this¡ªdon¡¯t miss it because of me.¡± She knew how much Sandra had anticipated the event.

    Sandra looked torn, ncing between Ste and the treatment room.

    Sandra hesitated for another beat, then nodded. ¡°Alright. But you¡¯d better call me the second anything changes.¡±

    ¡°Go,¡± Ste urged, giving her a light push. ¡°And knock ¡¯em dead.¡±

    Sandra lifted her dress and hurried off, heels clicking down the corridor. Ste turned back to the closed treatment room, pacing the floor as anxiety gnawed at her chest.

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 Chapter 435

    ?Chapter 435:

    Finally, the door opened, and the doctor stepped out.

    Ste rushed forward. ¡°Doctor¡ªhow is he?¡±

    The doctor nced at Ste and spoke in a calm tone, ¡°His abdominal wound reopened. We¡¯ve restitched it, but his clothes arepletely soaked. I¡¯ll bring a dry hospital gown¡ªhe shouldn¡¯t stay in wet clothes any longer. It¡¯ll only make things worse.¡±

    Ste thanked him and then pushed open the door to the room. Williamy on the hospital bed, his face pale, lips bloodless, and breath shallow.

    ¡°You¡­¡± she began, but the words caught in her throat.

    She had entered, ready to scold him for being reckless again¡ªripping his stitches just to save her. But now, seeing him like this¡ªweak and worn out¡ªeverything she¡¯d nned to say felt hollow.

    She thought about asking if he was okay, but the answer was painfully obvious¡ªhe looked like hell.

    For a moment, she just stood there, unsure of what to say.

    As if reading her mind, William let out a faint chuckle¡ªbut theugh tugged at his wound, making him grimace.

    ¡°Lie down and stop moving!¡± she snapped, flustered.

    William¡¯s eyes gleamed with amusement. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡±

    Ste stood by the bed, thrown off by his question. ¡°You jumped into a pool with a fresh wound to save me. Shouldn¡¯t I be?¡±

    ¡°You care, huh?¡± His gaze flickered to hers. ¡°So¡­ do you think I¡¯m better than Shaun now?¡±

    Ste blinked. Why was he bringing up Shaun again?

    She didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she asked, ¡°Why would you risk your life like that for me?¡±

    She didn¡¯t think they were close enough for him to put himself in such danger for her.

    Your favorite tales are on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§ànn

    He looked her straight in the eye. ¡°You¡¯re my employee. If something happened to you, I¡¯d be responsible.¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Who says you have to be responsible?¡± She wasn¡¯t letting this slide.

    He had hundreds of employees¡ªwhat made her so different?

    William looked away, clearly avoiding the subject. ¡°Are you interrogating the guy who just saved your life? Maybe you should start with a ¡®thank you¡¯ first.¡±

    Ste exhaled, annoyed, but decided to let it go. He was clearly deflecting.

    Still, something felt off.

    If it was just a boss-employee dynamic, why had he never asked for his ck card back? Why was he always there, always showing up?

    Lost in thought, she was jolted back by William¡¯s voice. ¡°I need to use the bathroom.¡±

    He was clearly too weak to move on his own, and it was obvious he needed help.

    But seeing him still soaked, Ste hesitated. ¡°Wait for the doctor to bring dry clothes. Just hang on a bit longer, okay?¡±

    William didn¡¯t respond. A few momentster, the doctor walked in, handing Ste a fresh set of hospital clothes. ¡°Help him change.¡±

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 Chapter 436

    ?Chapter 436:

    Ste blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat?¡±

    She wanted to protest¡ªshe was a woman, and he was a man.

    His entire outfit, underwear included, was drenched. How was she supposed to handle that?

    The doctor, misreading her hesitation, said casually, ¡°Aren¡¯t you his girlfriend? What¡¯s there to be shy about?¡±

    Ste opened her mouth to exin, but before she could get a word out, the doctor added, ¡°I¡¯ve got a surgerying up. I have to go.¡±

    Panicked, she called after him, ¡°What about a nurse?¡±

    But the doctor was already halfway out the door. ¡°The nurse is a woman too. It¡¯s just changing clothes¡ªno big deal.¡±

    William, naturally, chimed in without missing a beat. ¡°I get it. Come on then, my dear girlfriend.¡±

    Ste froze. Her ears burned.

    ¡°What nonsense are you saying now?¡± she snapped, her face flushed.

    It was bad enough that the doctor had mistaken her for his girlfriend¡ªbut why on earth was William ying along? Wasn¡¯t he worried his actual fianc¨¦e would blow a gasket?

    Now that it was just Ste and William in the treatment room, a brief silence hung in the air.

    Unsure of what to say, Ste gently moved closer and supported William as he sat up from the hospital bed. His head leaned against her shoulder, the closeness making her heart skip a beat.

    ¡°Are you seriously saying you can¡¯t sit up by yourself?¡± she asked, trying to mask her flustered tone.

    William nodded slightly, his voice casual. ¡°Yeah, my back¡¯s still sore. Can¡¯t move much on my own.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t respond right away, silently questioning whether he was exaggerating.

    Updates loaded at g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Taking a deep breath, she unfastened his shirt. The moment his toned chest and defined abs came into view, hershes fluttered nervously.

    Before she couldpose herself, his teasing voice cut in. ¡°You¡¯re not using this as an excuse to admire me, are you?¡±

    Ste froze, clenched her jaw, and snapped back, ¡°Keep dreaming.¡±

    As if she was that desperate. Just because he had muscles didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d melt on the spot.

    He arched a brow smugly. ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯m in good shape?¡±

    His string of questions started getting on her nerves. ¡°Why does your body even matter here? Keep talking, and I¡¯ll leave you to get dressed on your own,¡± she warned.

    Taking care of someone like him, with that smirk and nonstop teasing, wasn¡¯t just exhausting. It was infuriating.

    He let out a low chuckle, clearly enjoying her difort.

    It only made her feel more awkward.

    She wasn¡¯t dumb. She knew he was doing this intentionally, using every word to rattle her.

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 Chapter 437

    ?Chapter 437:

    Atst, she helped him over to the sofa, only for him to add casually, ¡°You¡¯ll need to take off my pants too.¡±

    There was no way around it¡ªSte had to help. She crouched down and began trying to unbuckle his belt, but no matter how many times she tried, it wouldn¡¯te undone.

    She tugged at the left side, then switched to the right, even tried sliding it up and down a little, but nothing worked. It was like the buckle was mocking her, and she couldn¡¯t figure out where it was supposed to open.

    The thing was practically a puzzle. Each failed attempt made her cheeks burn hotter.

    Then, with a smug calmness, William pressed his hand lightly against the belt, and it popped open with ease.

    Ste¡¯s face flushed. He¡¯d totally yed her.

    ¡°William Briggs, you¡¯re doing this on purpose!¡± she snapped, using his full name out of sheer irritation.

    William grinned, clearly amused. He liked how she said his name¡ªfirm, annoyed, and personal.

    ¡°You never asked. I figured you were just fascinated by the design,¡± he said smoothly, feigning innocence.

    Ste rolled her eyes, realizing there was no use arguing. Instead, she focused on pulling his trousers down to the floor.

    ¡°Handle the rest yourself,¡± she muttered, refusing to meet his gaze.

    ¡°I did mention I can¡¯t move my hands, didn¡¯t I?¡± William replied casually, as ifmenting on the weather. Ste felt her patience wearing thin.

    With a deep breath and a hint of reluctance, she shut her eyes and reached forward to take off his underwear.

    Her fingers trembled slightly as they brushed against the soft fabric.

    In her head, she repeated over and over, ¡°He¡¯s gay. Just think of him as one of your girlfriends. This means nothing.¡±

    But William¡¯s gaze never left her. His eyes followed the delicate lines of her face, watching as her cheeks flushed pink despite her tightly shut eyes. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed once¡­ then again.

    After finally sliding on the hospital pants, Ste opened her eyes, only for them tond on the noticeable bulge below his waistband. Startled, she instinctively stepped back.

    ¡°William, you¡­¡±

    The words caught in her throat as her face red red. It was happening again, just likest time.

    William remained unbothered. His voice was calm, as if he¡¯d said it a hundred times. ¡°I told you before¡ªit¡¯s not exactly something I can control.¡±

    Ste was so flustered, she didn¡¯t know where to look. Her ears burned with embarrassment.

    At that exact moment, the door swung open, and in came Willow, holding a meal box. Her eyes widened instantly. ¡°What¡­ are you two doing?¡±

    Ste turned rigid, whipping her head toward the door as her heart nearly stopped.

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 Chapter 438

    ?Chapter 438:

    An awkward silence hung in the air until another voice chimed in behind Willow. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Miss Lawson was asking where you were, so I brought her here, and I¡ª¡±

    It was Luca. But the moment he stepped in and saw the scene in front of him, his expression froze in horror. He looked like he¡¯d just walked into a disaster. ¡°Oh no. This looks so bad,¡± he screamed inwardly.

    Ste wanted to disappear. She cleared her throat, trying topose herself. ¡°Since there was no one else around, I stayed to help him get changed. But now that you¡¯re here¡­¡± She looked at Willow, then Luca. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

    Before Ste could finish her sentence, William cut in. ¡°Don¡¯t head out just yet. Luca, swing by the mall and get a change of clothes¡ªfor a woman.¡±

    Willow immediately jumped in, her voice sweet and polished. ¡°No need for that. I¡¯ll take Ms. Russell. I drove, and I¡¯ve got a clean outfit in my car¡ªtop to bottom.¡± As someone who bounced between banquets and luncheons, keeping a full backup in her trunk was just standard protocol for Willow.

    But Ste didn¡¯t feelfortable epting, especially not from someone she¡¯d had friction with before.

    So she said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. I¡¯ll just head home¡ªit won¡¯t take long.¡±

    Willow sped Ste¡¯s hand and said sweetly, ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a rush. I brought tons of food, and William¡¯s appetite isn¡¯t what it used to be. Join us. After you change, you can go when the rain stops.¡± Her cheeriness made Ste uneasy.

    She opened her mouth to decline again, but William¡¯s voicended first. ¡°That would be very kind of you, Miss Lawson.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brow twitched. Great. Apparently, no one needed her opinion. Willow took that cue and tugged her along. ¡°We¡¯re about the same size. My clothes will fit perfectly.¡±

    Left with no out, Ste followed her.

    When she came out changed, Willow gave her an appraising look. ¡°You look gorgeous in this. The color tters your skin tone.¡±

    The words sounded nice enough, but Ste caught the bite hidden beneath thepliment. The kind that carried more territorial warning than warmth. It was like the past tension between them had never happened.

    ???§ÁE ??P?¦«T¦®? I§ª G¦«?§ª?V¦®??.???

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back upstairs,¡± Willow chirped, leading the way again. ¡°You must be freezing. I¡¯ll get you something warm to drink. I always carry a bottle with me.¡±

    True to her word, she returned a momentter with a sleek ss bottle. ¡°Here, take this.¡±

    Ste reached out to grab it, but the bottle slipped through her fingers and shattered on the floor with a loud crack.

    Hot liquid sshed across her ankle¡ªscalding, not lukewarm. Her skin stung instantly.

    Willow had been holding the bottle by its insted silicone lid.

    She didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t step back¡ªshe just stood there, arms crossed, watching.

    A smile curved at the corner of her lips. ¡°Oh no¡­ my bad. I must¡¯ve forgotten to add cold water. Are you alright?¡± Her tone was all sugary concern, but her expression gave her away.

    Ste clenched her jaw, looked down. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s just go back.¡±

    Ste turned to head back, but Willow wasn¡¯t done. ¡°This is just a little warning.¡± Her voice dropped, sharper now. ¡°You really like hovering around William, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e. Maybe learn some boundaries. You changed his clothes, didn¡¯t you? What else did you do while you were at it? I know you, Ste!¡±

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 Chapter 439

    ?Chapter 439:

    From the very first time she met Ste, Willow had looked into her background. The only reason she hadn¡¯t brought it up before was to keep things civil. But clearly, that courtesy was no longer necessary.

    Ste exhaled quietly, trying not to roll her eyes. ¡°Miss Lawson, he was injured and couldn¡¯t move. I only helped because I had no choice. Nothing inappropriate happened.¡±

    Willow let out a sharp snort. ¡°I¡¯m running out of patience. I¡¯m warning you¡ªstay away from William.¡± She stepped closer, her voiceced with smugness. ¡°Do you know why he¡¯s stayed single all these years? Because he¡¯s been waiting for me. I saved his life. He owes me everything. So if you¡¯re still holding out hope, let me save you the embarrassment. You¡¯re wasting your time.¡±

    Ste was taken aback by this revtion. She¡¯d honestly believed William just wasn¡¯t interested in women at all. But now Willow was saying he¡¯d been waiting for her this entire time?

    Before Ste could even process it, Willow went on, practically shaking with conviction. ¡°We¡¯ve been looking for each other for years, and now that we¡¯re finally back together, I won¡¯t let you ruin it. He¡¯s mine¡ªhe¡¯s always been mine. Don¡¯t even try.¡±

    Willow¡¯s possessiveness over William was clear.

    Ste¡¯s brows drew together.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to take him from you,¡± she said calmly. ¡°I don¡¯t care who he¡¯s looking for. And as for me? I don¡¯t have feelings for him. At all.¡± Then she leaned in, her voice low and steady. ¡°But¡­ I did hear that William¡¯s not into women. Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right guy?¡±

    That stopped Willow cold. For a moment, she just stared at Ste, mouth parted, speechless.

    Because there was no sarcasm in Ste¡¯s eyes. No malice. Just honesty.

    Willow opened her mouth to say something¡ªbut nothing came out. For the first time, her sharp confidence wavered. The fight she¡¯de in with suddenly felt petty and ridiculous. Could Ste really have no interest in William at all?

    Willow pressed her lips into a tight line, gave Ste onest icy re, and turned without a word, her heels clicking as she headed straight for the treatment room.

    Don¡¯t miss out g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??ls?c?m

    Ste gave a small shake of her head.

    Forget it, she told herself. It wasn¡¯t her ce to be discussing William¡¯s personal life with Willow in the first ce. She realized she¡¯d already crossed a line and had no intention of getting further involved in whatever was going on between the two of them.

    With that, she turned to head toward the treatment room, only to find it empty. William and Luca were both gone.

    For a second, she was puzzled but then just shrugged it off. Not her problem, after all.

    She reached for her phone and headed to the door, but as luck would have it, she ran right into William as he came in.

    Her eyes met his, and for a split second, she felt that all-too-familiar guilt creeping in.

    She¡¯d told him she wouldn¡¯t say a word about it, and yet, she had. The guilt weighed on her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got something to do, so I¡¯ll just head out,¡± she mumbled, keeping her eyes low as she tried to get around him.

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 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440:

    But before she could slip past, William caught her wrist and pulled her into a hug.

    ¡°The doctor said my heartbeat¡¯s a bit off,¡± he whispered near her ear. ¡°Think you could take a listen for me?¡±

    Earlier, Luca had helped him to the restroom. But on his way back, he overheard just enough of the conversation between Ste and Willow to piece things together.

    He was stunned. Ste had really gone and told Willow he wasn¡¯t into women? Suddenly, everything made sense¡ªwhy she¡¯d kept dodging his flirtations, acting as if he didn¡¯t exist. All this time, she genuinely believed he wasn¡¯t interested in women at all.

    If she truly thought that, he was going to make sure she saw otherwise¡ªwith actions, not just words.

    Ste¡¯s eyes shot wide open in disbelief.

    Flustered, she shoved him off and stammered, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going back now.¡±

    She turned swiftly, ready to leave, but before she could take a single step, William grabbed her arm once again.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± he said inly, then told Luca in a firm tone, ¡°Get Miss Lawson home safely.¡±

    Willow stood by, watching them walk out with a mixed look on her face. She wasn¡¯t quite sure what had just happened.

    Once outside, Ste tugged her arm away. ¡°I don¡¯t need you toe. I can manage,¡± she muttered.

    William looked at her, his gaze calm but serious. ¡°You really want to keep ignoring me like this?¡± he asked.

    She didn¡¯t know what was up with him today, but since he had helped her earlier, she held back whatever she wanted to say and silently got into the car.

    As they settled into the car, William gave her a sideways nce and casually asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you wear stuff like this more often?¡±

    L??t??st ch??pt??rs in g¦Ál??ovels.c?m

    She looked down at the pale pink dress Willow had given her earlier.

    ¡°It¡¯s too much of a hassle to wear,¡± she replied in a t tone.

    The outfit was way too snug. She could barely raise her arms while standing straight.

    Tight clothes just weren¡¯t her thing¡ªthey felt suffocating.

    William thought about it for a second and found her reasoning fair. ¡°In that case, mind helping me with the seatbelt?¡±

    Ste was just about to start the engine when she noticed he hadn¡¯t fastened his seatbelt.

    Letting out a soft sigh, she recalled he was still recovering and probably couldn¡¯t do it himself.

    Without saying anything, she unbuckled her own seatbelt and leaned over to help him.

    As her neck came close to his face, any normal person might¡¯ve instinctively turned away, but not William.

    Instead, his slightly cool lips gently grazed her jaw.

    Ste¡¯s heart gave a sudden jolt, but she kept her expression steady, calmly pulling the seatbelt across his chest and snapping it into ce. Then, without looking at him, she quietly returned to her seat.

    .

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Have an excellent weekend, dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ©d( ??? )? ? *?

    .

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 441

    ?Chapter 441:

    William couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit annoyed. After everything, did she still believe he liked men? They soon reached the dorm entrance. It was obvious Ste would need to help him get upstairs.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your key?¡± she asked, bracing herself.

    As she helped him out of the elevator, she silently cursed herself for not requesting a wheelchair earlier.

    ¡°Left pocket,¡± he answered simply.

    With a tight-lipped expression, Ste fished the key out, unlocked the door, and pretended it was allpletely normal.

    William walked in and said calmly, ¡°I need the bathroom.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Rita, by the way?¡± she asked.

    ¡°She went home for a bit,¡± he told her.

    As she waited by the bathroom door, his voice came out casually. ¡°Having a woman around would actually make things easier.¡±

    Ste raised a brow and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already settle that with Willow?¡± The message was clear¡ªhe¡¯d have someone to y house with soon anyway. At the mention of Willow, William¡¯s expression shifted slightly.

    Then, out of nowhere, he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you needed a guy? Why don¡¯t we just team up instead?¡±

    Ste shot him a quick nce but looked away just as fast, realizing he was still using the bathroom. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not the type to share a man, especially not with Willow.¡±

    She kept throwing Willow¡¯s name into the mix, leaving William momentarily speechless. Whatever he¡¯d intended to say just wouldn¡¯te out.

    Why did she keep mentioning Willow like that? Did she seriously not care if he ended up marrying someone else? William was starting to question whether Ste had even the slightest hint of interest in him. If she did, she was doing an awfully good job of pretending otherwise.

    She offered her arm and helped him back into the living room.

    ¡°You should get Rita back here,¡± she said inly. ¡°You¡¯re clearly not cut out to live alone like this.¡±

    gal¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s.c?m is your update source

    William nodded, leaning into her support. ¡°She¡¯s helping her son study for exams. I could use a hand here, though. How about you pitch in?¡±

    Ste immediately shook her head. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±

    ¡°Ten thousand an hour?¡± he offered.

    Still a hard no. She shook her head.

    ¡°What about a hundred thousand?¡± he said with a smirk.

    That one made her pause and think.

    It wasn¡¯tpletely off the table anymore.

    ¡°You know I got injured because of you,¡± he added pitifully. ¡°And I haven¡¯t even had a bite to eat.¡±

    That sudden change to a pitiful tone almost made her cave.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make you something to eat,¡± she said, finally giving in.

    A few minutester, Ste was standing in front of the fridge, scanning its nearly empty shelves. All she could find was some spinach, a few eggs, and a box of pasta.

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 Chapter 442

    ?Chapter 442:

    With not much to work with, she decided to keep it simple and go with egg pasta.

    She moved with quiet efficiency. In under twenty minutes, she had two tes of pasta ready and ced them on the table.

    When she set one in front of William, he fixed her with a pointed look. ¡°I can¡¯t eat on my own.¡±

    Ste blinked. Oh¡ªright. She had totally forgotten about that. ¡°You want me to feed you?¡± she asked, already calcting.

    That had gotta cost extra.

    As if reading her mind, William said, ¡°I¡¯ll add another hundred grand.¡± Maybe money couldn¡¯t buy happiness, but it could definitely buy her time, patience, and, apparently, a pasta-feeding service.

    Without missing a beat, Ste pulled out her phone. ¡°Send the payment.¡±

    William let out a long sigh butplied.

    A few secondster, her phone pinged with the notification.

    Grinning, Ste grabbed a fork, scooted in beside him, and held out a bite. ¡°Alright, open wide.¡±

    Halfway through the meal, as she twirled another forkful, William looked at her with a rare seriousness. ¡°Ste¡­ have you honestly never thought about settling down?¡±

    She blinked, thrown off by the unexpected question. Was he seriously asking that?

    ¡°I just escaped a bad marriage. You think I¡¯m in a rush to jump into another one? Or are you just allergic to seeing me happy and stress-free?¡±

    William raised an eyebrow, undeterred. ¡°Fine. What about dating then?¡±

    That question didn¡¯t get the same sharp reply. Ste hesitated for a moment. Dating? She hadn¡¯t exactly ruled it out. Sharon¡¯s words still echoed in the back of her mind, nudging her toward trying again.

    Then William pressed on. ¡°So, what kind of guy are you into? Someone like Shaun, that smooth-talking golden boy?¡±

    Fresh updates loaded g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    Ste paused mid-motion, cooling the pasta on her fork. ¡°Wow, you really don¡¯t like Shaun, huh? What did he do¡ªtrick you in some deal?¡±

    William looked like he swallowed something bitter. ¡°You seriously think I¡¯d let someone like Shaun take advantage of me?¡±

    Ste gave it a second¡¯s thought. Knowing how stingy William could be, he probably wouldn¡¯t lose a cent. If anything, Shaun would be the one regretting the deal.

    But William wasn¡¯t letting this slide. ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±

    She looked up, distracted. ¡°What question?¡±

    Seeing that she wasn¡¯t taking him seriously at all, William felt a twinge of irritation prickling under his calm surface.

    ¡°If I were to marry Willow, what would you think?¡±

    Without missing a beat, Ste offered him another bite of pasta. ¡°I¡¯d wish you both well. Just don¡¯t expect me to splurge on a fancy wedding gift, alright?¡± She figured someone like William would probably expect guests to bring diamonds instead of toasters.

    The answer hit harder than William expected. He stared at her. She was keeping her tone light, her walls high. And suddenly, the pasta didn¡¯t taste like much anymore.

    He turned his head and wiped his mouth with a napkin in silence.

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 Chapter 443

    ?Chapter 443:

    ¡°Done already?¡± she asked, ncing at the te.

    There was still nearly half left.

    She¡¯d made extra, assuming he¡¯d eat more.

    But William wasn¡¯t in the mood. Her indifference was like ice water down his back.

    ¡°Ste,¡± he said again, his voice low and serious. ¡°Just be straight with me this once. You really wouldn¡¯t care if I married someone else?¡±

    Ste ced the bowl on the table, her tone light. ¡°Why would I care about your marriage¡ª¡±

    Before she could finish, William grabbed her wrist and yanked her into his arms.

    Startled, she instinctively leaned against the uninjured side of his chest, afraid of hurting him again. ¡°William, what are you doing?¡±

    His brows furrowed¡ªand then, without warning, he kissed her.

    Ste froze. Her mind went nk. What the hell? He kissed her?!

    Once her thoughts snapped back into ce, she shoved at his chest with everything she had and scrambled away, putting distance between them. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?!¡±

    William sat up slowly, his gaze locked on her, eyes sharp and unreadable. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through. I want you to be mine.¡±

    She stared at him like he¡¯d lost his mind. ¡°Aren¡¯t you marrying Willow? Isn¡¯t she the one you¡¯ve been looking for since forever? How can you do this to her?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t forget what Willow had said to her in the hospital. She¡¯d figured William, of all people, would be loyal to the girl he¡¯d searched for all those years. And now he was saying this?

    William¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°How do you know about that?¡±

    ¡°Willow told me. Today. She said you¡¯ve been in love with her since you were young. She¡¯s your fianc¨¦e now, right? How could you¡ª¡±

    She stopped herself, jaw clenched. She never thought he¡¯d be this kind of person.

    She used to think he kept his distance from people because he was emotionally guarded. Whether he liked men or just wasn¡¯t interested in romance, she never judged. But now? Now it just felt like he was ying games with people¡¯s hearts.

    William almost blurted out that things with Willow weren¡¯t what she thought.

    But he held back. Now wasn¡¯t the time.

    Ste waited¡ªfor an exnation, for something¡ªbut he stayed silent. So that was confirmation?

    ¡°If you¡¯re already engaged, don¡¯t do this kind of thing again. I¡¯ll act like today never happened, but don¡¯t cross the line again.¡± Her voice was calm, but distant. ¡°Don¡¯t make me think less of you, William.¡±

    She¡¯d always seen him as someone with drive, charisma, and a moralpass. But if this was who he really was¡ªblurring lines for the sake of feelings¡ªthen she was done.

    She wouldn¡¯t even be able to stay friends with him.

    William¡¯s voice came low. ¡°Why won¡¯t you believe I¡¯m serious about you?¡± It wasn¡¯t like him toy his emotions bare. But after kissing her, he didn¡¯t want to hide anymore.

    Ste almostughed. ¡°Then call off your engagement.¡±

    His jaw tightened. ¡°I can¡¯t. Not yet.¡±

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 Chapter 444

    ?Chapter 444:

    Ste let out a coldugh, as if he¡¯d just cracked a bad joke. ¡°So you im to have feelings for me, but you¡¯re still marrying someone else. You want me to just stay on the side and be okay with that? That¡¯s your definition of sincerity?¡± This was no different from what Marc did. The same brand of selfish, maniptive crap.

    ¡°Let me guess¡ªyou don¡¯t even have feelings for Willow, and it¡¯s just some arranged marriage, right?¡± she said, her voice full of scorn.

    William didn¡¯t say a word. Indeed, he had no feelings for Willow.

    His silence said it all.

    Ste stared at him, disbelief and disappointment written all over her face. This¡­ this wasn¡¯t any different from Marc. She had really misjudged him.

    Without another word, Ste turned and stormed out of his dorm.

    On the way home, she was so furious her fingertips trembled.

    She had looked up to him. He¡¯d alwayse across as reserved, rational, someone with principles.

    Back when Marc kept harassing her, William was the one who stepped in and had her back.

    And now?

    Now he was acting just like Marc.

    Had he always been like this? Or had she never really known him?

    She got home still fuming and dropped onto the couch, trying to steady her breathing.

    Just as she was starting to process everything, her phone buzzed.

    It was a message from William.

    ¡°Are you home? There are things I can¡¯t exin right now, but everything I said today is true. Not a single lie.¡±

    Ste had just started to feel a little better when the ridiculous text popped up¡ªand bam, her blood boiled all over again. She didn¡¯t even bother finishing it before deleting it straight away.

    L¦Á¦Ó??¦Ó ?§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??om

    Clearly, William had zero ns of changing.

    Did he seriously think she¡¯d be cool with being his side chick?

    The thought alone made her sick. Just sick. She must¡¯ve beenpletely blind to ever think he was any different from Marc.

    It was a regr workday. Ste threw on her usual T-shirt and jeans, tied her hair up, and made her way to theb.

    Sandra and the team were already there, giving Ste a quick wave when she walked in.

    ¡°Hey, Sylvia! Our group just wrapped up the time data. Should we run it by William?¡±

    Just hearing his name put Ste in a mood. Her tone dropped. ¡°Why would we show it to him?¡±

    William wasn¡¯t in charge of every single piece ofb data.

    Sandra blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ well, William¡¯s sharp. If we let him check, he¡¯ll give us solid feedback.¡±

    Ste said, ¡°Can¡¯t we just ask someone else?¡±

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 Chapter 445

    ?Chapter 445:

    Was William the only person in the entire institute who knew anything?

    Sandra scratched at her neck, unsure. ¡°I mean, yeah, technically we could. But I don¡¯t know if they¡¯d even have time to look at something this basic.¡± Even though William owned the ce, he always acted like one of them. No power trips. Always willing to help. That was why everyone went to him with questions.

    He actually took the time to assist.

    ¡°You can hand me the data,¡± Ste said. ¡°I¡¯ll take it to Lainey. She can check.¡± Lainey had been working here way longer and was more than qualified. No need to drag William into it.

    Sandra shrugged. Fine by her.

    Ste grabbed the report and headed to Lainey¡¯s office¡ªonly to freeze when she saw who was already inside. William.

    She blinked, her heart skipping. What was he doing here? For a second, her mind spiraled¡ªwas he feeding Lainey the same lines? Was he ying her too? Did he tell her he liked her and wanted her to be his mistress?

    Was that his thing? Just stringing women along?

    She leaned against the wall and tried to eavesdrop.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle this for you, no problem,¡± Lainey was saying.

    William nodded. ¡°Thank you very much.¡±

    Lainey smiled. ¡°No need to thank me. We¡¯re all colleagues here.¡± Then her eyes flicked up¡ªstraight at the door.

    ¡°Sylvia! You scared me half to death standing there like that. Come in already!¡± Lainey waved her in.

    Ste hesitated but eventually walked in and took a seat.

    She half-expected William to take the hint and leave¡ªbut nope. He just sat there, calm as ever, like he had all the time in the world.

    Whatever. Ste ced the papers on Lainey¡¯s desk. ¡°Here¡¯s our group¡¯s time data. Can you check it over?¡±

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s is your story source

    Lainey, ever helpful, turned to William. ¡°William¡¯s right here. Why not let him take a look?¡±

    She picked up the papers to hand to him.

    Before he could even reach, Ste reached over and snatched them back. ¡°No thanks. I¡¯d prefer if you looked at it. I trust you more.¡±

    Lainey raised an eyebrow.

    What was that tone? Why was she acting so stiff with William?

    She gave William a quick nce but didn¡¯t argue. She started flipping through the pages herself.

    William didn¡¯t react¡ªjust stared at Ste for a few seconds, then said, ¡°Come with meter.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Can¡¯t. I¡¯ve got experiments to run,¡± she shot back.

    Lainey¡¯s ears perked up at that. Her eyes darted between the two of them.

    Wait a second¡­ were they arguing?

    The tension was loud and clear.

    William kept his voice calm. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you can separate work from personal stuff, right?¡±

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 Chapter 446

    ?Chapter 446:

    Ste scoffed and threw him a sharp side nce. ¡°Maybe you should try following your own advice for once, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    He had the nerve to lecture her about boundaries, yet here he was¡ªnning a marriage strictly for business gains.

    The audacity of it left her wondering if he even heard himself.

    William¡¯s expression hardened; her words had clearly caught him off guard.

    Lainey quickly stepped in, sensing the tension. ¡°Sylvia, the data looks solid. Why don¡¯t you take it back and keep things rolling with your team?¡±

    Ste turned her eyes away from William, rose from her seat, and began to walk off when Lainey called out, ¡°Hey, Sylvia! There¡¯s a team dinner tonight at the steakhouse nearby¡ªjust a casual get-together for everyone at theb. William¡¯sing too. You¡¯re free to join, right?¡±

    It was theb¡¯s annual dinner¡ªa kind of big deal. Everyone who could make it was nning to go.

    The moment word got out that William was attending, it turned into a must-show-up kind of thing.

    But Ste didn¡¯t miss a beat before shutting it down.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got an all-nighter nned at theb. Might have to skip it.¡±

    Lainey nudged gently. ¡°Come on, Sylvia. The experiments can wait. It¡¯s the annual dinner. Most of your team¡¯s showing up.¡±

    Ste hesitated. She didn¡¯t want to make it obvious that she was trying to avoid William, even if part of her was. So instead, she settled on something safe. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. If I wrap up early, I might stop by,¡± she said casually. It was vague enough to leave the door open but also gave her an easy out.

    Lainey understood the tone and didn¡¯t push her further.

    Just as Ste reached the door, she turned back suddenly, her expression turning sharp and serious.

    ¡°Lainey, listen¡­ just be careful, okay? Not everyone¡¯s as friendly as they act. Some people might look all put together, but underneath, they¡¯re nothing but snakes.¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is your escape to fiction

    And with that, she walked out without ncing back. Meanwhile, William, who was now clearly frustrated, stood up and went after her.

    Lainey watched him go and offered a quick goodbye. ¡°Take care, William.¡±

    William caught up to Ste just outside and reached out, gently taking hold of her arm.

    His grip wasn¡¯t harsh, but just firm enough to turn her toward him. ¡°You¡¯ve been avoiding me, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Ste gave a shortugh. ¡°Can you me me? Who knows what kind of stunt you¡¯ll pull next?¡± That day, when she returned home, she¡¯d practically rinsed her mouth a million times.

    Her words hit him like a p, and his expression shifted.

    ¡°I literally saved your life,¡± he reminded her.

    ¡°Oh, please. That doesn¡¯t give you the right to mess with me,¡± she fired back.

    But before she could keep going, William mped a hand over her mouth and pulled her into a nearby dark room, pressing her back against the wall. Her heart was racing, and she struggled against him. ¡°Let me go!¡± she snapped.

    ¡°Keep your voice down,¡± he whispered close to her ear. ¡°People are nearby.¡±

    That made her hesitate, and she stopped squirming.

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 Chapter 447

    ?Chapter 447:

    She looked over at the door and noticed a shadow moving past.

    Once things went quiet again, she turned her eyes back to William, tense but alert.

    ¡°Are you done? Can I move now?¡± she asked dryly.

    He towered over her by at least a head.

    With her back against the wall, Ste¡¯s gaze lined up with his corbone, and she could clearly see his chest rising and falling.

    If she shifted even a little, she¡¯d end up brushing against him, so she stayedpletely still.

    Just then, William bent forward slightly, meeting her gaze head-on.

    His voice was soft and teasing, his face just inches away.

    ¡°You know, Ste¡­ your heart¡¯s making quite a bit of noise right now,¡± he murmured.

    Ste froze for a second. But then, she frowned and red at William before pushing him away as hard as she could.

    ¡°Everyone outside is already gone. What are you still holding onto me for?¡± she snapped.

    She didn¡¯t even know why she¡¯d hidden earlier.

    There was no reason to act guilty¡ªit was just a work setting. Nothing out of line had happened. So why had she reacted that way?

    William, however, didn¡¯t let go. ¡°Just give me a second to exin,¡± he said.

    Ste gave him a frosty stare. ¡°Save your exnations for Miss Lawson. I¡¯m not the one who needs to hear them.¡±

    He could tell she still had the wrong idea, but before he could clear things up, she turned on her heel and walked off.

    Letting out a heavy sigh, he figured he¡¯d have to wait for a better moment to talk.

    Back in theb, Ste returned with the time data in hand, her face stiff with annoyance. Sandra noticed right away.

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    ¡°Sylvia, what¡¯s wrong? Did someone get on your nerves?¡± Sandra asked, sensing something off.

    Ste lowered her head and busied herself with straightening the papers on her desk, masking her mood behind the rustle of folders. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she replied, her tone light but clearly forced.

    Sandra didn¡¯t buy it but let it slide for now. ¡°Oh, by the way¡ªare you going to the institute dinner tonight? Everyone¡¯s nning to be there.¡±

    ¡°You guys go ahead,¡± Ste said, barely looking up. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of after work. Won¡¯t be able to make it.¡±

    Sandra wasn¡¯t surprised. She¡¯d worked with Ste long enough to know she wasn¡¯t big on group events or crowded dinners.

    ¡°Alright then,¡± Sandra said with a light chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re always so busy, Sylvia. Even after work, there¡¯s no rest for you.¡±

    Ste gave a small smile, one that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. It was all she could manage.

    The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur, but Ste didn¡¯t quite seem like herself. She stayed quiet and distant.

    When the day finally ended, she gathered her things and got ready to leave. Outside the institute, the sky was overcast. Choria¡¯s rainy season was in full swing, and like most evenings, a steady drizzle was falling.

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 Chapter 448

    ?Chapter 448:

    Standing at the institute¡¯s entrance, Ste nced up at the fine, misty rain. It wasn¡¯t pouring, but the drizzle was steady, just enough to soak her through if she stepped out without cover. And with the cold creeping in, the thought of waiting around wasn¡¯t exactlyforting.

    Since she hadn¡¯t brought her car that morning, she needed to get a cab. But without an umbre, she wasn¡¯t sure if she should wait or take her chances in the rain.

    Just as she was still stuck in indecision, a sleek ck Bentley glided to a smooth stop in front of her.

    The window rolled down halfway, and she saw William¡¯s familiar, calm face.

    ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll take you home,¡± he said in his usualposed tone.

    Ste¡¯s expression immediately frosted over. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll wait. I wouldn¡¯t want to inconvenience you, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    William let out a quiet sigh. ¡°Are you nning to wait here all night then?¡± he asked, almost exasperated.

    She didn¡¯t respond. In her mind, she figured waiting until the rain stopped wasn¡¯t the worst idea, especially if it meant avoiding his car.

    ¡°Ste, don¡¯t be stubborn. Just get in. I¡¯ll take you,¡± he said more firmly. Hearing her name roll off his tongue like that only irritated her more.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I already say no? What¡¯s with this persistence? If you like driving people around so much, maybe you should be a cab driver.¡±

    William¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Do you always have to be this difficult?¡±

    He was simply offering her a ride, not forcing her into anything. At this point, her guarded attitude was beginning to feel a little unnecessary.

    ¡°I¡¯m not being difficult¡ªI¡¯m just thinking clearly. You should be picking up your fianc¨¦e, not me. We wouldn¡¯t want to spark any misunderstandings, would we?¡± she retorted.

    Truthfully, Ste didn¡¯t want any drama. She just wanted peace¡ªher research, her work.

    Thest thing she needed was to get tangled up in some tabloid-worthy mess involving William and Willow.

    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .

    William opened his mouth to exin, but before he could speak, another car door mmed. Willow stepped out, her high heels clicking crisply against the wet pavement.

    ¡°William! What a coincidence! I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d get here on time.¡±

    Ste instinctively stepped away from William, putting space between them like a reflex¡ªanything to avoid a scene.

    Willow¡¯s face tightened for a moment when she saw Ste, but she quickly covered it up with a polite smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, would you like toe along with us?¡± she asked, keeping her tone civil.

    Ste¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°No thanks, Miss Lawson, Mr. Briggs. See ya.¡±

    Willow, clearly pleased to see Ste leave so fast, strutted off like she owned the ce and climbed into William¡¯s car.

    William shot Ste a quick nce as he got in, then looked away. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said.

    As William¡¯s car rolled past her, Ste felt a tight knot form in her chest.

    It was still pouring. She held her bag over her head and dashed out into the rain. Just as she hit the sidewalk, a taxi pulled up like the universe finally decided to cut her a break.

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 Chapter 449

    ?Chapter 449:

    When she got back to her apartment, Ste let out a long sigh and headed straight for a hot shower.

    That night, she lit a scented candle, hoping to wind down with a good book.

    But her phone wouldn¡¯t stop buzzing.

    Ste frowned. Who¡¯d be calling thiste?

    She set the book aside and saw a voice message from Sandra.

    ¡°Hey Sylvia! Dinner was awesome! Such a shame you missed it. The food was sooo good. You have toe next time! The drinks were amazing too¡­¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t need to listen further¡ªSandra was clearly drunk.

    She immediately thought back to thest time Sandra got wasted. She felt a headacheing on.

    ¡°Where are you? Are Elbert and Jamir still with you?¡±

    Sandra replied quickly, sounding super cheerful, ¡°Nope, they bailed. Elbert had to go check on his cat, and Jamir¡­ I haven¡¯t seen him in forever.¡±

    Ste rubbed her temples. Of course they ditched her.

    ¡°Has your party wrapped up? Is anyone taking you home?¡±

    It waste, raining hard, and the thought of Sandra out there alone made Ste uneasy.

    ¡°Nope, most people already left. I¡¯m kinda tipsy and my legs feel like jelly. I¡¯ll just chill here for a bit. Don¡¯t worry about me¡­¡±

    Yeah, right. Ste sighed, threw off her nket, and grabbed a jacket.

    ¡°Stay put. I¡¯ming to get you.¡±

    By 11:30, she was out in the storm, pushing open the steakhouse door.

    ¡°Good evening, ma¡¯am. Are you dining alone?¡± the waiter asked politely.

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    ¡°I¡¯m here to pick someone up,¡± Ste said, scanning the ce.

    There¡ªSandra was slumped over at a corner table, totally out of it. Ste let out a breath of relief. At least she was safe.

    Thank God no creep dragged her off.

    ¡°Sandra, get up. I¡¯m taking you home.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s head shot up at the sound of Ste¡¯s voice. She grinned like a happy kid.

    ¡°Sylvia, you came! Look, I was good! You said don¡¯t move, and I didn¡¯t move!¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help butugh. She bent down, slung Sandra¡¯s arm over her shoulder, and hauled her up.

    ¡°Seriously, how could they just ditch you like this? Ugh, some friends they are,¡± she muttered as she helped Sandra out.

    Sandra tried to answer but suddenly gagged. She shoved Ste aside and ran for the restroom, her hand mped over her mouth.

    Ste followed but stopped short when a couple turned the corner, arm in arm.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert? You again?¡± Willow said sweetly, a hint of venom in her eyes.

    Wasn¡¯t Ste supposed to be home? What the hell was she doing here?

    Ste froze. She hadn¡¯t expected to bump into Willow and William again. She quickly pointed toward the restroom. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my friend. She¡¯s had too much to drink. Excuse me.¡±

    Willow nced up at William and spoke sweetly. ¡°Well, now that Ms. Gilbert¡¯s here, we can go, right? You said you wanted to take that employee home, but I guess you don¡¯t need to anymore.¡±

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 Chapter 450

    ?Chapter 450:

    Willow had never understood why William was so set on giving that drunk employee a ride. Now it all made sense¡ªhe just wanted to see Ste.

    Honestly, Willow had only shown up tonight because she heard William would be at thepany dinner. When she didn¡¯t see Ste there, she¡¯d felt a little relieved¡ªespecially since everyone kept saying how perfect she and William looked together. But in the end, Ste still showed up and ruined her good mood.

    William didn¡¯t say a word. He just nodded and slowly walked toward the exit.

    Ste helped Sandra out of the restroom. Sandra had just finished throwing up, and as Ste supported her, she noticed William¡¯s and Willow¡¯s backs as they walked away.

    She sighed in relief¡ªfinally, no more awkward encounters tonight. But just then, another familiar voice called out, ¡°Stel!¡±

    Ste turned her head and saw Marc standing at the door of one of the private rooms. Great¡ªjust what she needed.

    She pretended she didn¡¯t hear him and kept moving, half-dragging Sandra along. But Sandra was too drunk to walk fast, so Marc caught up in no time and tried to support Sandra¡¯s other arm.

    Ste snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡±

    Marc flinched and quickly let go. ¡°Stel, don¡¯t get me wrong¡ªI just want to help you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Ste¡¯s cold stare made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.

    Marc looked a little hurt. ¡°Stel, let me help. It¡¯s pouring outside¡ªit¡¯s not safe for you to handle this alone.¡±

    ¡°I said no.¡±

    Without another word, Ste hurried off with Sandra.

    Just as Marc was about to follow, someone else stepped out of the private room, calling sweetly after him, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡ª¡±

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    It was Doreen. She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Ste. Her hand instinctively rested on her belly as she walked over.

    ¡°Ste, don¡¯t get the wrong idea,¡± Doreen said softly. ¡°Even though I¡¯m pregnant with Mr. Walsh¡¯s baby, his heart is still with you. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t get in your way.¡±

    Ste almostughed. She didn¡¯t care. Not in the least.

    Before she could say anything, Sandra suddenly straightened up and looked Doreen over like she¡¯d just spotted something weird.

    ¡°You¡¯re human, right?¡± Sandra asked seriously. ¡°Then why are you talking like you have no self-respect? You went to college, yeah? Did they teach you to humiliate yourself like this?¡±

    Everyone was stunned. No one expected Sandra, who was barely standing, to suddenly drop something like that.

    Doreen¡¯s face went pale, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

    ¡°In this day and age, women should stand on their own,¡± Sandra continued, her words sharp. ¡°But here you are, clinging to a man¡ªand not just any man¡ªa loser. Do you think everyone¡¯s desperate to be a side chick like you? You can keep him. Sylvia¡¯s not interested.¡±

    With that, Sandra linked her arm with Ste¡¯s and smiled like nothing happened.

    ¡°Sylvia, let¡¯s go.¡±

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 Chapter 451

    ?Chapter 451:

    Doreen never imagined she would be reprimanded by a stranger like this.

    Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Marc and whispered, ¡°Mr. Walsh, she¡¯s right. It¡¯s all my fault. I know it¡¯s my fault¡­ but the baby is innocent. Don¡¯t worry, once I have the baby, I¡¯ll leave.¡±

    Marc nced at Doreen, her eyes all red from crying, and felt a strange irritation in his chest.

    ¡°Go back inside,¡± he said, waving her off. ¡°Stop making a scene.¡±

    Doreen froze,pletely blindsided.

    Marc had never treated her like this before. Why wasn¡¯t he defending her now? Every time he met Ste, he would be a different man.

    No matter how bitter Doreen felt, she could only drag herself toward the private room, ncing back at every step like she was waiting for him to call her back.

    Marc blocked Ste¡¯s path again.

    ¡°Stel, it¡¯s not what you think. The baby¡­ it was a mistake. I never nned to be with her. It¡¯s always been you.¡±

    Ste¡¯s face twisted with disgust. ¡°Oh, please. Can you stop pretending you¡¯re some saint? A mistake? You ¡®identally¡¯ got naked together, huh?¡± She wasn¡¯t buying that garbage.

    Marc¡¯s face drained of color. A few people nearby overheard, and he felt their stares sink into him.

    ¡°Why are you trying to drag me down like this?¡± Marc snapped. ¡°Aren¡¯t you chasing status too? Didn¡¯t William dump you already?¡±

    He¡¯d seen William earlier¡ªwith another woman. Definitely not Ste.

    Marc had always said a guy like William would never stick around. Just a fling, that was all.

    And now? Looks like he was right.

    She had no right to talk down on him.

    The tales you love are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Marc stepped closer. ¡°You¡¯re no different from me, Stel. You were climbing just like I was. Why act all high and mighty now? Didn¡¯t we have good times? Why pretend none of that mattered? I can forgive you. Why can¡¯t you forgive me?¡±

    Ste rolled her eyes, so done.

    She used to love this guy. She used to give him everything. Thinking about it now made her feel like a total idiot.

    Marc kept talking, but before he could finish, Sandra¡ªwho¡¯d been swaying nearby¡ªsnatched a pair of tongs from the table.

    She gripped them like a weapon, the sharp end pointed right at him. ¡°Take one more step, creep, and I¡¯ll stab you.¡±

    Marc froze. ¡°I¡¯m talking to Stel¡ª¡±

    Sandra didn¡¯t back down. ¡°And I said get lost. Or I¡¯m sticking these tongs into you.¡±

    She jabbed them toward him for emphasis.

    Marc¡¯s face went ghost-pale. ¡°Stel, just think about what I said.¡±

    Sandra red until he turned and disappeared into the private room. Then she casually set the tongs down and looped her arm through Ste¡¯s. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Ste blinked, still processing Sandra¡¯s sudden switch from drunk to dangerous.

    They stepped out into the freezing wind, and Sandra groaned, clutching her pounding head.

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 Chapter 452

    ?Chapter 452:

    Ste helped her into the car, grabbed her some yogurt and bottled water from a nearby shop, and after a few sips, Sandra felt better.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I scared that jerk off with just tongs!¡± Sandra cracked up, clearly proud of herself.

    Honestly? Ste found it pretty funny too.

    Sandra¡¯s grin softened as she looked at her. ¡°Sylvia, as long as you¡¯re good, I¡¯m good. But seeing William with Willow today¡ªit pissed me off. It¡¯s just so unfair to you.¡±

    Ste deserved better.

    Watching William hang around Willow all day left a sour taste in Sandra¡¯s mouth.

    She remembered how everyone in the institute thought William and Sylvia were a thing back then. And now, all of a sudden, he had a fianc¨¦e?

    Sandra was done with him. As far as she was concerned, William wasn¡¯t loyal. But Ste, hands on the wheel, just frowned. ¡°Unfair to me? Why would you think that?¡±

    She didn¡¯t feel that way at all.

    ¡°Duh, everyone at theb thought you and William were a thing¡­ until Willow showed up and wrecked the party!¡±

    Ste blinked, not expecting Sandra to be so wildly off-base. She immediately set the record straight. ¡°William and I aren¡¯t like that, Sandra. We¡¯ve always just been coworkers. Willow¡¯s not some kind of homewrecker.¡±

    She exined it as calmly as she could, but when she turned to look at Sandra, the girl was already slumped against the car windowpletely passed out, mouth wide open.

    Ste sighed, a wave of exasperation washing over her. She started the engine and drove Sandra home.

    The next day at theb, Sandra was a mess, holding her head and groaning like she¡¯d just crawled out of a war zone. ¡°I swear I¡¯m never drinking that much again,¡± she moaned.

    Ste grinned. ¡°Honestly? You were kind of awesome when you were drunk. You even had my back.¡±

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    Sandra blinked, confused.

    She looked totally nk¡ªlike the night before had been wiped from her memory.

    ¡°Sylvia, what are you talking about? Did I do something yesterday?¡±

    Ste chuckled lightly. She decided not to bring up the incident.

    ¡°Nothing. I was just talking nonsense.¡±

    But Sandra wasn¡¯t buying it. She kept pressing Ste for details. Before Ste could answer, a knock came at theb door.

    Paul poked his head in, scanning the room until he spotted her. ¡°Sylvia, got a second? Need to talk.¡±

    Ste set down her notes and followed him out.

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, what¡¯s this about?¡± Ste asked once they were outside.

    Paul didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he gave her a long look. ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my office.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows drew together. Why so serious?

    .

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 Chapter 453

    ?Chapter 453:

    She racked her brain trying to figure out what this was about, but nothing came to mind¡ªuntil Paul pushed the office door open and she saw William sitting inside.

    Her stomach dropped. So this was a setup.

    She gave Paul a look. ¡°Paul¡­¡±

    He gestured inside. ¡°Go on in. William¡¯s the one who wants to talk.¡±

    Ste hesitated, caught between staying or bolting.

    William looked up at the sound of the door. Their eyes met, and her heart gave a small, stupid skip.

    She pressed her lips together and stepped inside.

    Paul, reading the room like a pro, shut the door behind her and left without another word.

    Ste sat down on the couch beside William, eyeing him warily. ¡°So? What do you want to talk about?¡±

    Truth was, being alone with him made her nervous now.

    William could see she was guarded¡ªtense. And that annoyed him, though he tried not to show it. ¡°If I crossed a line at the apartment that day, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, his voice low but firm. ¡°But we still have to work together. If you¡¯re avoiding me, that¡¯s gonna be a problem.¡±

    Hearing him actually apologize made her stiff posture ease a bit.

    She hadn¡¯t been obsessing over that day or holding a grudge¡ªit just bothered her how shady his behavior had been.

    If he really didn¡¯t like Willow, he should¡¯ve made that clear sooner.

    ¡°You dragged me here for work stuff?¡± she asked, already bracing herself in case this turned into some awkward love confession. If he said he liked her or wanted to sneak around behind Willow¡¯s back, she¡¯d p him on the spot.

    But William¡¯s tone stayed all business. ¡°One of Neb¡¯s projects has wrapped up. Steven wants you to join us for dinner to talk about next steps for thepany.¡±

    His expression was serious, no trace of anything else.

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    Seeing that, Ste shifted into professional mode too. ¡°Sure. I¡¯m free afterb hours. Just have Mr. Harrison schedule it.¡±

    William gave a small nod. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll have him arrange it.¡±

    Then he paused for a beat. ¡°There¡¯s something else. Nixon¡¯s been arrested. His trial¡¯sing up soon. He¡¯s already got a defensewyer, but he doesn¡¯t stand a chance. If you want to attend, you can.¡±

    That caught her off guard.

    William had always made it clear he didn¡¯t want her anywhere near Shaun. Going to Nixon¡¯s trial would almost guarantee a run-in with Shaun. And yet¡­ he was giving her the option?

    Maybe noticing her confusion, William added quietly, ¡°You¡¯re an adult. You can make your own decisions. I stuck my nose in too much before. I¡¯m done doing that.¡±

    William had warned Ste to stay away from Shaun for her own safety.

    But in doing that, he¡¯dpletely ignored her feelings.

    He¡¯d been thinking about it a lottely. Trying to protect her by controlling her choices wasn¡¯t helping anyone. If Ste ever saw Shaun for who he really was, it needed to happen on her terms¡ªnot because William forced it.

    So now, he was choosing to step back and just be there in case she needed him.

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 Chapter 454

    ?Chapter 454:

    Ste gave a quick nod. ¡°It¡¯s totally fine.¡±

    Later that evening, in a cozy private room by the window at Sunset Restaurant, Steven got up with a grin as soon as he spotted William and Ste walking in. ¡°Took you two long enough.¡±

    Ste looked a little embarrassed and gave him a polite nod. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Harrison. Something came up at theb at thest second. Thanks for being patient.¡±

    She¡¯d found a data error after work that took her a good half hour to fix and then got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for another thirty minutes.

    Steven brushed it off with augh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve just been enjoying the air conditioning and taking it easy.¡±

    William gave him a pointed nce, silently clocking how easily he worked the room.

    Steven handed her a menu with a friendly smile. ¡°Take a look, Ms. Gilbert. You can¡¯t go wrong with most of the stuff here¡ªjust skip the grilled fish. Trust me.¡± It was a pretty high-end ce, and Ste didn¡¯t recognize half the things on the menu.

    She had been eyeing the grilled fish and was just about to say it out loud when Steven shut it down before she could.

    ¡°Is it really that terrible?¡± She raised a brow at him.

    ¡°William, do you want to tell her how you managed to choke that thing downst time?¡± Steven asked with a smirk. Just thinking about that dish made him cringest time, he¡¯d barely swallowed a bite without gagging. That fish had been a disaster for him.

    But William leaned back in his chair, lookingpletely unbothered. ¡°It¡¯s just a normal dish. You don¡¯t like it, sure, but lots of people do.¡±

    Steven, used to William¡¯s usualments, just went with it. ¡°Yeah, yeah, fair enough. I¡¯ll get it for you then¡ªlet¡¯s see if Ms. Gilbert sides with me or you.¡± Steven was convinced she¡¯d hate it as much as he had.

    But once the fish arrived and Ste gave it a try, she didn¡¯t think it was bad at all.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the best I¡¯ve had, but it¡¯s not bad either,¡± shemented casually. Steven looked genuinely shocked, while William rxed into his chair with a smug grin.

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    Steven thought to himself, ¡°Yep, when two people vibe, even their taste buds are in sync.¡±

    That was when Steven realized¡ªmaybe he¡¯d been trying to squeeze into a space that wasn¡¯t meant for him in the first ce.

    William and Ste just¡­ got each other. Meanwhile, Steven felt like the odd one out.

    Ste noticed the vibe shift and felt a little uneasy. It was just dinner, but it felt like she¡¯d identally taken William¡¯s side.

    She shook it off and decided, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just eat.¡±

    During the meal, she and Steven discussed future ns for Neb Group, and surprisingly, their thoughts matched up well.

    Just as they were finishing up, William¡¯s phone started vibrating.

    ¡°Is that Willow on the line?¡± Steven gave a teasing smile. William shot him a look, picked up his phone, and walked out. ¡°It¡¯s a call from the Briggs Group,¡± he said offhandedly over his shoulder.

    Left alone with Ste, Steven let out a soft sigh and shook his head. ¡°Managing the Briggs Group all on his own, it¡¯s a heavy load on his shoulders.¡±

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 Chapter 455

    ?Chapter 455:

    ¡°Is it the staff that¡¯s hard to manage?¡± Ste asked gently.

    Steven let out a shortugh. ¡°If it were only the employees, he¡¯d be coasting.¡±

    Ste looked confused. ¡°Then what¡¯s the issue?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just his dad in the picture,¡± Steven exined. ¡°He¡¯s also got an uncle and an aunt¡ªhis dad¡¯s siblings.¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise. ¡°Wait, I thought William was the only grandchild Dexter Briggs had?¡±

    Steven let out a sigh. ¡°Those reporters outside? They¡¯re just making stuff up. You can¡¯t trust a word they report.¡±

    He sounded so certain that, for a moment, Ste felt like she¡¯d stumbled onto something big¡ªsomething hidden about William¡¯s family.

    She hesitated. If she kept asking, this would cross into the Briggs family¡¯s private affairs.

    But once Steven started talking, he didn¡¯t know how to stop. ¡°William¡¯s grandfather really does want to back him. That¡¯s why he handed over thepany. But the rest of the family? They¡¯re not making it easy. They¡¯ve got their own ns.¡±

    Steven leaned in a little, lowering his voice. ¡°William¡¯s uncle¡ªyou know, Mr. Dexter Briggs¡¯s second son¡ªhe¡¯s got an illegitimate kid. A son. About the same age as William. The guy¡¯s been circling Briggs Group for years, trying to get in. Keeps pushing Dexter to bring him onboard.¡±

    Steven paused, then continued, ¡°And William¡¯s aunt? She¡¯s got a daughter too. That one¡¯s something else. She livesrge overseas, but every time she burns through her money, guess who shees running to? William. He¡¯s her walking ATM.¡±

    Ste frowned. ¡°So, is William close to that cousin of his?¡± If they weren¡¯t close, he wouldn¡¯t give cash to her every time she asked, right?

    Steven scoffed. ¡°Not really. But that woman¡¯s sharp. She might party abroad, but she¡¯s holding a key trade route for Briggs Group. If that gets cut off, thepany¡¯s import-export lines take a hit. And now, William¡¯s aunt is plotting to bring her daughter back to snag a bigger slice of the pie.¡±

    The more Ste listened, the clearer it became¡ªWilliam wasn¡¯t just carrying a heavy load. He was practically surrounded.

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    Steven¡¯s voice dropped. ¡°If the uncle¡¯s son and the aunt¡¯s daughter team up, William¡¯s gonna have a real problem.¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together, about to ask more, but William came back from his call, face serious. ¡°My grandfather¡¯s calling me back. You done eating? I¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    Ste remembered what Steven had just told her and softened. ¡°You should go. I can get home on my own.¡±

    But William was firm. ¡°No. I need to make sure you get home safely. If something happens to you on the way, it¡¯s on me.¡±

    Steven raised an eyebrow, eavesdropping shamelessly. ¡°Wait, wait. Am I some kind of danger now?¡±

    William shot him a look. ¡°Did I say I was talking about you?¡±

    Steven was speechless. Probably not worth arguing with William anyway.

    Ste grabbed her bag, and the three of them left the restaurant together. On the ride home, Ste sat in William¡¯s car, watching his calm but focused expression. Something tugged at her.

    ¡°Your grandfather¡­ he called you back because of your uncle and aunt, right?¡± she asked quietly.

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 Chapter 456

    ?Chapter 456:

    As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. She¡¯d probably gone too far.

    She bit her lip and stopped talking.

    William didn¡¯t even look surprised. ¡°How much did Steven tell you?¡±

    Ste hesitated, then admitted, ¡°Pretty much everything.¡± She peeked at him carefully, wondering if he¡¯d be mad.

    ¡°My grandfather just said he needed me for something. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s about them yet.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Ste mumbled, falling silent.

    The quiet between them stretched, and with about twenty minutes left till home, Ste suddenly blurted out, ¡°Is your engagement to Willow also because of your family situation?¡±

    The second she asked, she wanted to kick herself. Why was she still prying? When did she get this nosy?

    William didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he nced at her, amused. ¡°Why do you care so much about my family? Do you have feelings for me?¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart skipped a beat for a moment, but she quicklyposed herself. ¡°I¡¯m just making conversation. What does that have to do with whether I like you or not? If you don¡¯t want to talk, then forget it.¡±

    He certainly didn¡¯t know how to keep a conversation going. He remained silent, offering no exnation.

    There were still too many things about him and Willow that he couldn¡¯t share with her. Besides, keeping her in the dark was probably the only way to protect her. The sleek ck car finally pulled up in front of Ste¡¯s apartment building. She unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped out, and said casually, ¡°Thanks for the ride. See you.¡±

    William¡¯s car disappeared into the distance as Ste turned toward her building. She hadn¡¯t made it far when someone suddenly jumped out from behind the bushes, making her stumble back in shock. It was Marc.

    He was holding a huge bouquet of red roses, walking toward her with a soft, hopeful smile. ¡°Stel, I know you¡¯ve always loved flowers. I bought these just for you. I thought you¡¯d like them.¡±

    Ste stared at the bright red roses, her brows furrowing. ¡°Marc, maybe your ex-wife liked these, but I¡¯ve told you before¡ªthe one flower I hate the most is the red rose.¡±

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    Marc¡¯s face fell. He hadn¡¯t expected that. She used to love these. Back then, every time he brought her roses, she¡¯d light up. But now, she said she hated them?

    ¡°Stel, don¡¯t say that. I always gave you red roses, and you never said you didn¡¯t like them.¡±

    Ste had never met a man so clueless¡ªor so shameless. ¡°Take your flowers and leave. Now. Or I¡¯ll call security.¡±

    She had picked this neighborhood specifically because it was known for being secure. She had no idea how he had even gotten past the gate.

    Marc¡¯s smile faded. His hand holding the bouquet sagged.

    ¡°Stel, what will it take for you to forgive me? I just made a mistake¡ªa mistake any man could make. I see that now. Can¡¯t you give me another chance?¡±

    Ste let out a coldugh. A mistake any man could make? Right. He didn¡¯t actually feel sorry. He¡­

    Ste just thought sweet-talking her would win her back. She had seen through him a long time ago. The moment he opened his mouth, she already knew what garbage wasing.

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 Chapter 457

    ?Chapter 457:

    ¡°Get lost. Or I¡¯ll hit you.¡±

    She spun on her heel and walked away.

    Marc¡¯s voice rang out behind her, frustrated. ¡°If you don¡¯t want the flowers, I¡¯ll just throw them away!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even look back as she headed upstairs.

    Marc stood there for a while, reying her words in his head. Was it because of Doreen? Was that what was stopping her froming back to him?

    Marc narrowed his eyes. If Doreen was the problem, he could easily get rid of her.

    Doreen meant nothing to him. If it weren¡¯t for the baby, he would have kicked her to the curb already. And if she got in his way now, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate.

    Marc nced at the roses in his hand. In the end, he didn¡¯t throw them away. He quietly took them with him.

    Back at home, Ste took a long shower, but her mind kept circling back to what Steven had told her about William¡¯s family. She got out, sat at her desk, and pulled up herptop.

    The Briggs family wasrge and well-known in Choria. There was plenty of information online, but whether it was actually true was another story.

    She clicked on a few articles and found some detailed pieces about William¡¯s uncle, Cesar Briggs, and his aunt, Stephanie Briggs. Each click just made the whole thing sound crazier.

    One of the reports imed that, back in the day, Cesar and his younger sister, Stephanie, had some kind of thing for each other.

    It even went as far as saying that Stephanie had an abortion when they were young. Apparently, that was why Dexter sent Stephanie overseas. She got married to some foreign man and had a baby within a year.

    The odd part? Stephanie¡¯s daughter didn¡¯t look the least bit foreign or mixed. So, of course, people started whispering that maybe the kid wasn¡¯t her husband¡¯s. Maybe the baby was Cesar¡¯s.

    Ste rubbed her temples. Sure, rich families could get messy, but this sounded like pure tabloid nonsense.

    It was all so far-fetched.

    She closed the page and opened another article.

    This one dove into the power ys inside the Briggs family.

    It imed that William¡¯s dad might not even have been Dexter¡¯s biological son. Rumor had it that Dexter¡¯s wife had the baby before she married him, and Dexter, being the kind man he was, raised the boy as his own.

    And William? He wasn¡¯t supposed to inherit the family business at all. But he was too smart to ignore. By age three, he was reciting poetry. By seven, he was sitting in on business meetings. Dexter couldn¡¯t pass that up. He personally mentored William.

    But no matter how much she searched, Ste couldn¡¯t find any mention of the ident that killed William¡¯s parents.

    After a while, her eyes started to ache. She pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing.

    She¡¯d never realized William grew up under this much pressure.

    Dexter had pinned all his hopes on him, but William didn¡¯t even seem to care about the family empire. He was more into his research, which clearly annoyed the old man.

    Meanwhile, Cesar and Stephanie, who never fully epted William as a real Briggs, were busy plotting to push their own kids into the spotlight, waiting for William to screw up.

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 Chapter 458

    ?Chapter 458:

    And those recent project failures? Probably sabotage from the inside¡ªhis own uncle and aunt pulling the strings. Suddenly, everything made sense to Ste.

    No wonder William had started hanging around Willow and rushed into that engagement.

    The Lawson family was a big deal in Choria. With their backing, William could tighten his grip on the Briggs Group.

    In the end, marrying Willow wasn¡¯t really about love. It was a survival move.

    Ste sighed. People thought being born into a rich family was a blessing, but clearly, there were battles one never signed up for. William probably wasn¡¯t trying to hurt anyone. He just didn¡¯t want to get destroyed himself.

    Feeling a little restless, Ste quickly typed another name into the search bar: Davion Briggs.

    Cesar¡¯s illegitimate son.

    The inte was flooded with stories about him. Mountain racing one week, yacht parties with models the next.

    He was a total wild card, but not just some spoiled brat. He actually had a reputation¡ªskydiving champion, pro surfer, world record holder in free diving, race car driver.

    Ste also found out he collected antiques¡ªher specialty.

    But then again, what did all this have to do with her? Why was she even digging this deep?

    Shaking her head, she closed Davion¡¯s profile and moved on to Stephanie¡¯s daughter¡ªIsabe Crawford. She was technically a foreigner and controlled a key business line, but Ste couldn¡¯t find much else about her online. Probably locked up tight for confidentiality. Otherwise, William wouldn¡¯t be so cautious around her, always cleaning up her mess.

    As Ste kept digging, she noticed something. Both Isabe and Davion had posted on their social media¡ªdifferent updates, but from the same IP location. Choria.

    So that was it. Dexter calling William back today wasn¡¯t random. His cousins were back.

    Ste nced at the time¡ªit waste. She shut herptop, washed up, and got ready for bed.

    Find inspiring stories on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???§àm

    Lying under the covers, watching the moonlight spill across her ceiling, she let out a soft sigh. William¡¯s family was more twisted than she had ever imagined. At least her own life wasn¡¯t thisplicated. Or maybe it just wasn¡¯t crowded. Aside from her ex-husband, she didn¡¯t really have anyone.

    Meanwhile, over at the Briggs Mansion, the air was thick with the faint scent of sandalwood. William and Dexter sat across from each other in the old-fashioned living room, the solid wood furniture adding a heavy, almost suffocating vibe. Dexter pushed a folder across the coffee table.

    ¡°Take a look.¡±

    William flipped through the documents¡ªflight records. Isabe and Davion had flown back to Choria on the same day.

    Dexter¡¯s expression was unreadable.

    ¡°Tomorrow, they¡¯ll probably show up here with Cesar and Stephanie. What do you think they¡¯re after this time?¡±

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 Chapter 459

    ?Chapter 459:

    William set the documents down, his voice calm, almost bored. ¡°Same old thing.¡±

    Dexter¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Same old thing? They¡¯re back to fight for the Briggs inheritance. They¡¯re here to grab Briggs Group right out from under you. Do you get that?¡±

    William stayed calm. ¡°If they can run thepany better than I can, let them have it. No big deal.¡±

    Dexter mmed his hand on the table. ¡°You idiot! You think your parents would rest easy hearing you talk like this?¡±

    William pressed his lips into a thin line. His memories of his parents were barely there¡ªfuzzy, distant, almost gone. ¡°Will my managing Briggs Group bring them back?¡±

    Dexter was so furious he nearly choked. ¡°William, are you trying to put me in the grave early?¡±

    William shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s not the n.¡±

    Dexter sat there for a long moment, trying to steady his breath. Finally, he calmed down enough to speak. ¡°Cut Isabe¡¯s line from her. The longer she holds it, the bigger the threat to you. Did you reach out to the folks abroad?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve set up a meeting,¡± William answered.

    That finally settled Dexter¡¯s nerves a bit.

    A servant brought over a tray of fresh fruit. As he picked up a slice, Dexter asked, ¡°How are things with Willow?¡± William¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Not bad.¡±

    Dexter raised a brow. ¡°You mean she¡¯s not bad, or the rtionship is not bad?¡±

    ¡°Both,¡± William said without much thought.

    Dexter didn¡¯t look the least bit surprised. ¡°Feelings can grow. Besides, with the Lawsons backing you, your uncle and aunt won¡¯t dare make a move.¡±

    William didn¡¯t bother replying. From the beginning, marrying Willow was never really on his list.

    Dexter switched topics. ¡°Your cousins areing by tomorrow. Be home for dinner.¡±

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    William frowned and shut it down immediately. ¡°I¡¯ve got an experiment tomorrow. I can¡¯t leave.¡±

    Dexter looked over, about to call it a night, but here William was, defying him¡ªagain.

    ¡°How long does a meal take? You can¡¯t spare that much time?¡± he asked, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.

    ¡°I need to submit my experimental data tomorrow. I really can¡¯t make it. Next time.¡±

    William threw on his coat and left without looking back.

    Dexter watched him walk out of the vi, shaking his head with a long sigh.

    ¡°Let him be,¡± the butler said softly. ¡°Mr. William Briggs has his reasons. Every time those two show up, it¡¯s always a torment for him at every turn. Good reason he avoids them.¡±

    Dexter grunted, turning to head upstairs. ¡°He¡¯s not a kid anymore. He can¡¯t keep dodging them like this. It¡¯s just a meal, for God¡¯s sake.¡±

    The butler chuckled, trying to soften the mood. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on him.

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 Chapter 460

    ?Chapter 460:

    Didn¡¯t he get you that painting you¡¯ve always wanted for your birthday? He¡¯s thoughtful.¡±

    Dexter paused at that. Yeah, that painting had really hit the mark.

    Sterion¡¯s pieces were nearly impossible to find. William must¡¯ve gone through a lot to track one down. He wasn¡¯tpletely thoughtless.

    The next morning, the moment Ste stepped into theb, Sandra called out, ¡°Sylvia, William wants you upstairs. He said only you know where to dig up some old project data.¡±

    Ste blinked. William was already here? That early?

    A little thrown off, she made her way upstairs and gave his office door a soft knock.

    ¡°Come in,¡± came his low, familiar voice.

    She pushed the door open to find him by theb table, gloves on, focused on his work.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here. The data from thepetition project is right over there. Go ahead and grab the sample set for me¡ªmake it quick.¡±

    William didn¡¯t bother with small talk¡ªhe went straight to the point.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Ste replied, walking over. ¡°I¡¯ll take it downstairs, sort through it, and bring it back.¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± William said. ¡°Use theputer here. Saves time.¡±

    He still didn¡¯t nce her way. Ste decided not to argue and sat at his desk, pulling up the files.

    Thatpetition project was no joke¡ªit took her the entire morning to sort through everything.

    By noon, she¡¯d finally finishedpiling the data, printed the documents, and ced them on William¡¯s desk.

    ¡°Here¡¯s everything. Do you need anything else?¡± she asked calmly.

    William finally peeled off his gloves and skimmed through the documents. He gave a satisfied nod. ¡°Nicely done. Let¡¯s grab lunch¡ªI might need your helpter.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t mind helping with work. That was fine.

    But eating together? That was pushing it.

    ¡°I¡¯m good. I¡¯ll eat downstairs,¡± she said quickly.

    With all the people in the cafeteria and those eagle-eyed gossip-mongers, it was risky. All it would take was one photo sent to Willow, and drama woulde knocking.

    William narrowed his eyes a little, lowering his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. It¡¯s not like that with her.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Ste waved him off with a breezy smile. ¡°You¡¯re not into her. It¡¯s just some business deal. You¡¯re stuck ying groom, right?¡±

    William paused, clearly caught off guard. She wasn¡¯t guessing¡ªshe was stating it like a fact.

    ¡°How do you even know that? Who told you?¡±

    Ste gave him a look, then reached over and patted his shoulder like a friend consoling someone in denial. ¡°William, please. I¡¯ve known about your preferences for a long time. There¡¯s no way you¡¯re into women. Don¡¯t worry, your secret¡¯s safe with me.¡±

    William¡¯s expression turned grim. Did Ste seriously still believe he liked men? The thought made his blood boil. He was trying hard to keep his cool, but his voice gave away his frustration. ¡°Ste, who told you I¡¯m into men?¡±

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 Chapter 461

    ?Chapter 461:

    She didn¡¯t seem to grasp the weight of his tone and just brushed it off casually, like it wasn¡¯t a big deal.

    ¡°Rx, you don¡¯t have to put on an act with me. I mean,e on¡ªI¡¯ve seen how weird you get every time I hang out with Steven. If that¡¯s not jealousy, what else could it be? You¡¯re clearly into him.¡±

    William could hardly believe what he was hearing. Steven? Seriously? ¡°This has nothing to do with Steven!¡± he wanted to shout.

    But instead, he stood there in stunned silence as all the misunderstandings started snapping into ce like puzzle pieces.

    Of course Ste had been so worked up when his body responded to her; she thought he wasn¡¯t even into women.

    And those times she awkwardly mentioned keeping her distance from Steven? William had thought she was trying not to provoke him. But now it hit him¡ªSte believed he had feelings for Steven and was jealous of her spending time with him. Unbelievable!

    He let out a slow, sharp breath, then reached out and grabbed her wrist¡ªnot harshly, but with purpose. ¡°Ste,¡± he said, his voice low and intense. ¡°Do you seriously not know who I¡¯m into?¡±

    Before she could respond, he leaned in, his face so close that his breath grazed her skin.

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened as she instinctively took a step back.

    But for every step she took away, William closed the distance just as quickly, refusing to let her slip away.

    Her retreat ended when her back met the cold office wall, and she swallowed nervously, trapped between him and nowhere to go.

    ¡°W¡ªWell¡­¡± she stammered, her voice faltering.

    William interrupted Ste before she could even finish speaking. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and jammed his knee between her thighs,pletely closing the short distance that had remained between them. Ste let out a sharp gasp. In her effort to move away, her hand identally grazed the hard shape pressing against his pants.

    In that brief moment, it finally clicked¡ªthis was what he meant earlier. Noticing the flicker of realization in her eyes, William backed off a little, giving her some space.

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    ¡°Now do you get it?¡± he asked. ¡°If not, I can spell it out for you in another way.¡±

    Flustered, Ste nodded quickly. ¡°Got it! I understand!¡± she said in a rush. Seeing how rattled she was, William finally let go of her wrists and walked out of the office without another word.

    Left standing there with her heart racing, Ste tried to make sense of it. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, William had just hinted that he was into women too. So¡­ was he straight after all? Or maybe bisexual?

    The idea left her a bit shaken. She quickly shook her head¡ªwhy was she even thinking about this? His preferences weren¡¯t her business.

    With that, she headed downstairs to the institute¡¯s cafeteria to grab some lunch.

    The meals were still decent, nothing toin about.

    Sandra slid into the seat next to Ste, handing her a chicken wing. ¡°Sylvia, guess what? Cecelia¡¯s leaving the institute.¡±

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 Chapter 462

    ?Chapter 462:

    Ste raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear that name again. ¡°Where¡¯s she off to?¡± After getting disciplined, Cecelia had been pushed all the way down to janitorial duties. There was no telling if she¡¯d ever get a chance to move up again. So in a way, leaving the institute might be her best move.

    Sandra leaned in like she was sharing some juicy secret. ¡°Word is, she¡¯s getting into acting. A producer spotted her and said she¡¯s perfect for that cold, aloof leadingdy type. But honestly, I heard she met some rich guy at a party, and he¡¯s the one bankrolling the whole film. Probably just throwing money around to impress her.¡±

    Her tone wasn¡¯t bitter¡ªjust in unimpressed. She shrugged and added, ¡°Seriously, in my opinion, she fits the role of the mean side character perfectly. It¡¯s like it was made for her.¡±

    That made Ste chuckle.

    Truthfully, Ste didn¡¯t care what Cecelia did anymore. Whether she stayed or left, it wouldn¡¯t change a thing for her.

    While they were chatting, Sandra nodded toward the entrance. ¡°Ah, speak of the devil¡­¡±

    Ste followed her line of sight and saw Cecelia walking in, wearing a long, flowy dress.

    Since it was likely herst day, Cecelia had ditched theb gear for something eye-catching, standing out in the cafeteria crowd.

    Sandra scoffed as she picked at her food. ¡°Now that she¡¯s turning into an actress, she¡¯s dressing like a full-blown peacock. It¡¯s ridiculous,¡± she muttered.

    Ste, too, didn¡¯t bother looking again.

    But momentster, a pair of heels came to a stop right in front of her.

    ¡°Ste.¡± Cecelia¡¯s voice cut through. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have gone from a promising researcher to a janitor. Now that I¡¯m finally leaving, you must be feeling pretty proud of yourself, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Ste looked up at Cecelia, her brows slightly knitted. ¡°Your mistake has nothing to do with me.¡±

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    Cecelia still didn¡¯t think she¡¯d done anything wrong. ¡°What mistake? I just couldn¡¯t stand watching you use connections to climb thedder. You had William backing you, so you¡¯re doing fine now. I admit I lost, fair and square.¡± In Cecelia¡¯s mind, Ste had only won thestpetition because William supported her. She, on the other hand, had no one on her side.

    ¡°But you know what? Thanks to you, I got punished, and that opened the door for me to act in a movie. Who knows, maybe I¡¯ll blow up and earn in a day what you make in a year.¡±

    Cecelia had heard Ste was desperate to make moneytely and purposely said this to needle her.

    Standing nearby, Sandra wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°Oh, please. You¡¯re just leeching off men. What¡¯s so great about selling yourself? And that movie? It¡¯s low-budget. You¡¯re not exactly rubbing shoulders with A-listers. What¡¯s there to brag about?¡±

    Cecelia snorted at her sharp tongue. ¡°What do you know? Speaking of relying on men, isn¡¯t Sylvia doing the same?¡±

    Sandra rolled her eyes. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with someone so dense. ¡°Stop talking rubbish. You¡¯re the only one who won¡¯t admit Sylvia¡¯s the real deal. Keep living in your bubble.¡±

    ¡°You¡ª!¡± Cecelia was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by theeback.

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 Chapter 463

    ?Chapter 463:

    Sandra sneered. ¡°What? If you don¡¯t know how to talk properly, go back to school. Seriously, acting in a movie? You think you¡¯re some big shot now?¡± Sandra grabbed Ste¡¯s hand with a sweet smile. ¡°Sylvia, let¡¯s switch seats. The air here stinks.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help butugh and followed her to another table.

    Cecelia stomped her foot in frustration. She¡¯d meant to humiliate Ste, but somehow she¡¯d ended up the one getting dragged.

    She red hard at Ste¡¯s back before finally walking off, fuming.

    Fine, she¡¯d let it slide this time. But once her movie blew up, she¡¯d make sure Ste wouldn¡¯t even be able to lift her head.

    Meanwhile, Sandra and Ste settled into their new seats.

    ¡°Sandra, I didn¡¯t know you were such a savage with your words,¡± Ste teased. ¡°When you first joined theb, you were so quiet.¡± Sandra¡¯s cheeks flushed.

    She rubbed her ear shyly. ¡°I¡¯ve always been like this. I just didn¡¯t know anyone back then, and honestly, my skills weren¡¯t great, so I kept to myself. But Sylvia, did Ie off as rude earlier? I¡¯ll dial it down if you don¡¯t like it. Please don¡¯t think I¡¯m annoying.¡±

    Sandra looked at her with big, anxious eyes, worried Ste might mind. Ste chuckled. ¡°Why would I dislike you? I actually like you a lot. And it¡¯s impressive¡ªyou can roast people without even cussing.¡±

    Sandra beamed at that, happily piling another chicken wing onto Ste¡¯s te. ¡°Sylvia, here, eat this too!¡±

    Ste raised a brow. Had she be some kind of pet?

    Halfway through the meal, Sandra nced across the cafeteria and suddenly whispered, ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that William? He¡¯s eating here today?¡± Ste took a quick look, not surprised. ¡°Probably to save time.¡±

    After lunch, Ste went back to the lounge to rest, then headed upstairs when it was time for work.

    William had mentioned earlier that he needed her help, so she showed up on time.

    But she still felt a little awkward after the weird tension before lunch and kept her distance once she stepped inside.

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    William, holding a file, looked up and saw her all the way across the room. His face twitched with a hint of helplessness. ¡°Why are you standing so far away? You think I¡¯m gonna eat you?¡±

    Who knows? She nearly rolled her eyes but caught herself just in time. When she got to him and took the documents from his hand, she suddenly realized¡ªhis wrist was burning hot.

    Her eyes flickered with surprise. ¡°William¡­ are you alright?¡±

    William nodded, brushing it off like he was fine. Then, without saying much, he pointed at a data point on the document and jumped straight into the topic.

    Ste listened carefully, jotting down every crucial detail he mentioned. But just as she was about to walk over to theputer to verify the information, she caught a sudden shift in his posture¡ªhis legs buckled slightly, and he nearly lost his bnce.

    Thankfully, he managed to catch himself by grabbing onto the edge of the table before things got worse.

    Instinctively, Ste reached out and touched his arm to help him and instantly realized he was burning with a fever.

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 Chapter 464

    ?Chapter 464:

    Her heart skipped a beat. ¡°William, you¡¯re burning up. Are you running a fever?¡± she asked anxiously.

    William shook his head stubbornly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just check the data. I still need to finish this experiment,¡± he muttered.

    Despite the worry in her eyes, Ste sat back at theputer, but her eyes kept flicking over to him every few seconds.

    She tried hard to focus on the data, knowing that messing up even a little could ruin the whole experiment.

    However, no matter how much she tried, she kept sneaking nces at him. Compared to how he was in the morning, he looked totally off. His movements were sluggish, and his hands were shaking.

    It was obvious¡ªhe had a fever.

    After a moment of hesitation, Ste abruptly shut the file she¡¯d been reviewing and stood up.

    ¡°William, we¡¯re going to the hospital,¡± she said, walking over to him. ¡°You¡¯re clearly unwell. You shouldn¡¯t be continuing this right now.¡±

    William ignored her and kept working, like she hadn¡¯t said anything.

    But she wasn¡¯t letting it slide¡ªshe grabbed the microscope from his hands and repeated, ¡°I told you, we¡¯re going to the hospital!¡±

    William finally looked up, realizing he was in no condition to keep going. His voice came out weak and raspy. ¡°I don¡¯t need the hospital. Not now.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow at his stubbornness. ¡°Really? You¡¯re sweating, your body¡¯s burning up, and you can¡¯t even stay focused. What are you doing here if not wasting time?¡± William didn¡¯t argue.

    He knew his body had started acting up not long after lunch, but he¡¯d tried to push through.

    Ste didn¡¯t waste time debating. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m not strong enough to carry you. If you don¡¯t want to faint in front of everyone and cause a scene, you¡¯d bettere with me¡ªright now.¡±

    When he heard her, he let out a quiet sigh, then silently trailed behind her as they made their way to the dimly lit parking garage.

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    Neither of them realized someone was watching from a distance¡ªhidden inside a parked car on the far side of the lot.

    A phone camera silently tracked their every move, recording the moment Ste helped the clearly unwell William into her car.

    Once the two drove off, Cecelia finally lowered her phone and smirked to herself. ¡°Ste, you just made my job way too easy.¡±

    She had just been about to head home when she spotted Ste guiding a pale, sluggish William toward the exit.

    That scene was far too juicy to pass up.

    Without wasting a moment, Cecelia gathered all the pictures she¡¯d taken over the past few days and sent them to Willow, attaching a neat little message to stir the pot. Once everything was sent, she switched off her phone with a self-satisfied flick and walked away, humming to herself.

    She had no intention of getting involved¡ªshe knew all too well that Willow would soone down hard on Ste. Watching the chaos unfold from the sidelines was more than enough for her.

    At the hospital, Ste wasted no time getting William checked in.

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 Chapter 465

    ?Chapter 465:

    Thirty minutester, the doctor returned, flipping through the chart before delivering the diagnosis in a no-nonsense tone. ¡°Acute gastroenteritis. He just needs fluids and rest. We¡¯ve started the IV.¡±

    As the medication started working, William¡¯s tense features slowly began to rx.

    ¡°You should really have Rita take better care of your meals. Your stomach¡¯s way too fragile,¡± Ste said with a frown.

    William nced up at her, then offered a faint grin. ¡°Then maybe I should just hire you to cook for me.¡±

    Ste blinked. That backfired. She¡¯d basically walked right into that one. She muttered, ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine eating cafeteria food, thank you. I¡¯m not looking to be anyone¡¯s cook.¡±

    She was just about to ask if he wanted some water when the door swung open. In the next moment, Willow stepped into the room, dressed to impress in a sleek, high-end cocktail dress. But the elegance in her look couldn¡¯t hide the storm in her eyes. The moment she saw William resting in the hospital bed, her expression darkened with visible anger.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, what exactly did you do to William?¡± she asked, her voice sharp and using.

    Ste frowned. ¡°What could I possibly have done to him?¡±

    Willow let out a coldugh. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯ve always seen you as William¡¯s colleague and respected that. But let¡¯s be clear¡ªI¡¯m his fianc¨¦e. Are you seriously trying to be the other woman?¡±

    Thatst part hit like a p. Ste¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but he suddenly fell ill during an experiment today. I brought him to the hospital out of basic human decency. If I hadn¡¯t been there, he would¡¯ve passed out in theb with no one to help him.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t expecting Willow to thank her, but twisting the truth like this? That was low.

    William¡¯s brows creased, his expression darkening.

    ¡°Miss Lawson,¡± he said tly, ¡°I had acute gastroenteritis. She brought me to the hospital. Do you have a problem with that?¡±

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    Willow¡¯s face stiffened. It stung, hearing William side with Ste like that.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were unwell?¡± she asked quietly.

    Ste couldn¡¯t help the amused snort that slipped out. She didn¡¯t want to keep ying the third wheel in their soap opera, so she just pushed the door open and walked out.

    William watched her leave, his gaze stormy. After a beat, he gently shook Willow¡¯s hand off his wrist.

    ¡°You were out of line just now,¡± he said coolly.

    Willow¡¯s expression faltered. The fake concern she¡¯d been wearing slipped for a moment.

    She knew. She always knew¡ªWilliam didn¡¯t have feelings for her.

    He let her act sweet, cling to his arm, but no matter what she did, there was always a wall between them. One she could never get past.

    But with Ste¡­ it was different.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, William. I was just worried. I won¡¯t say things like that again.¡±

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 Chapter 466

    ?Chapter 466:

    William turned his face away. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±

    Willow bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯ll stay and watch your IV then. I won¡¯t bother you.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. He just closed his eyes.

    Ste didn¡¯t look back.

    With the fianc¨¦e there, it was better to leave.

    No point sticking around only to be used of trying to steal someone¡¯s man. But the next day, as soon as she walked into the research institute, someone stopped her.

    William.

    ¡°Why¡¯d you just walk off yesterday?¡± he asked.

    Ste blinked. Was he being serious?

    ¡°Your fianc¨¦e was right there taking care of you. I figured I wasn¡¯t needed, so I left,¡± she said.

    He looked at her like a kicked puppy.

    That faintly wronged expression made her feel weirdly ufortable.

    She rubbed her arms. ¡°You¡¯re already discharged? Shouldn¡¯t you have stayed a few more days for observation?¡±

    Acute gastroenteritis wasn¡¯t exactly light work. Discharged the same day and back to work the next? That was pushing it.

    William turned and headed inside. ¡°My body¡¯s not that weak.¡±

    Ste rolled her eyes but followed him in. As they walked, his phone rang. He picked up, said a few words, then hung up with a darkened look on his face.

    Once inside the elevator, he slipped the phone back into his pocket. She kept her eyes on her shoes, when he suddenly asked, ¡°Do you know how to appraise antique paintings?¡±

    That caught her off guard. As the famous Sterion, she¡¯d done her fair share of research in that field. She could definitely manage a decent evaluation. But she wasn¡¯t ready to let that part of herself be known¡ªnot yet. So she hedged. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°My grandpa got this painting, but some guest at the house said it was a fake. He got so pissed he nearly lost his breath, and now he¡¯s holed up at Briggs Mansion, sulking.¡±

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    Ste hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ve dabbled a bit¡ªnot a pro or anything¡ªbut if it¡¯s a super obvious fake, I can probably tell.¡±

    William gave her a look, then calmly pressed the button for the first floor again. ¡°Thene with me.¡±

    Ste blinked. ¡°Uh, I¡¯ve got work, you know.¡±

    Was he just dragging her off like this? That had to count as skipping work. So much for her perfect attendance bonus.

    ¡°It won¡¯t count as skipping work,¡± William said casually.

    Next thing she knew, he was driving them straight to Briggs Mansion.

    As soon as they stepped through the gate, Ste spotted an older man¡ªprobably in his seventies¡ªslouched on the couch, a damp towel on his forehead, clearly upset.

    Her eyes swept across the room, briefly meeting a few unfamiliar faces. The middle-aged man with the beard had to be Cesar. The woman in the dress next to him¡ªStephanie.

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 Chapter 467

    ?Chapter 467:

    And the other two, about William¡¯s age, were likely Isabe and Davion. Ste had skimmed through some family profiles beforehand, so these names weren¡¯t entirely unfamiliar.

    She pulled her gaze away just as William spoke. ¡°Where¡¯s the painting?¡±

    ¡°Oh, William, you¡¯re back,¡± Stephanie chimed in with a sharp edge to her voice. ¡°It¡¯s really not that serious. It¡¯s just a painting. Whether it¡¯s real or not, your grandpa just got overly worked up.¡±

    William shot her a look. ¡°I have eyes. I can see for myself how Grandpa¡¯s doing.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s face twisted at the jab. He¡¯d never respected her as an elder. Never spared her any dignity in this family. If Dexter didn¡¯t dote on him so much, she wouldn¡¯t put up with this attitude.

    ¡°Is that how you talk to me?¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m still your aunt. That¡¯s not how you treat your elders. If your grandpa wasn¡¯t so worked up, he wouldn¡¯t let you speak to me like this.¡±

    William ignored herpletely and waved Ste over to look at the painting on the table.

    The moment Ste saw it, her eyes lit up. She hadn¡¯t expected this piece. She stepped closer, studied the brushwork, the texture, and the signature. Then she said inly, ¡°Yeah¡­ it¡¯s a fake.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s face fell. ¡°How can that be? Isabe brought that back from abroad. She knew how much her grandpa loved this kind of artwork. She gave it to him as a gift! How could it be fake?¡±

    Then she turned and gave Ste a full once-over. ¡°William, even if you are questioning the painting, you can¡¯t just grab some random woman off the street to evaluate it. That¡¯s reckless.¡±

    Ste was in jeans and a T-shirt today¡ªsimple, no frills. And in Stephanie¡¯s eyes, that automatically made her unqualified. Untrustworthy. No way she knew anything about artwork.

    ¡°People like you aren¡¯t wee in this house,¡± Stephanie sneered. ¡°If you¡¯re looking to scam someone, try somewhere else.¡±

    William finally looked up¡ªand the weight in his eyes shut the whole room up. ¡°I brought her here. It¡¯s not in your ce to ask her to leave.¡±

    Stephanie stiffened, lips pressed tight, eyes full of resentment. But even with all her bitterness, she didn¡¯t dare say another word.

    Just then, Isabe, who had been silent in the corner, finally spoke. ¡°If they say it¡¯s fake, then it¡¯s fake. Whatever. Even if I had bought the real thing, he wouldn¡¯t have believed it anyway. It¡¯s not like Grandpa¡¯s dislike for me is new. He¡¯s never liked me.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes grew misty at Isabe¡¯s words. ¡°Isabe, you can¡¯t just admit it like that. If it¡¯s not a fake, then it¡¯s not. Don¡¯t let them pin anything on you.¡±

    Ste raised a brow. So dramatic.

    Ste lowered her gaze, scrutinizing the painting for a moment. Then she finally spoke up, her voice steady. ¡°This painting¡¯s definitely fake. The artist usually hides small personal details in his work. This one has none. Even the signature¡¯s off.¡±

    Dexter, lying on the sofa with a towel on his forehead, opened his eyes and looked at her. ¡°Are you certain?¡±

    Ste nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re not convinced,pare it with his other pieces.¡± The butler stepped forward. ¡°Dexter has several of his paintings. I¡¯ll bring one over.¡±

    A momentter, another piece was brought from the collection room. Ste ced it beside the fake and pointed out the differences.

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 Chapter 468

    ?Chapter 468:

    ¡°Here, on the mountain¡ªthis stroke hides his initials. And here, on the pine tree, the color wasyered in afterward¡ªhe always paints it that way. Lastly, the signature¡ªhis always ends with a downward hook. This one doesn¡¯t.¡±

    She pointed them out clearly and confidently. The kind of details only someone who knew the artist well would spot.

    William stood to the side, watching her, his expression unreadable.

    Dexter leaned in with a magnifying ss and carefully examined every spot she mentioned. After a beat, he nodded. ¡°This one really doesn¡¯t have any of it. And the signature¡¯s wrong.¡±

    Isabe¡¯s face paled. ¡°Grandpa, maybe he just didn¡¯t include those things this time. You can¡¯t prove anything based on one missing stroke.¡±

    Ste looked at her and shook her head. ¡°I can say with one hundred percent certainty¡ªit¡¯s fake.¡±

    Isabe gave a short snort. ¡°And how exactly can you be so sure? Got anything else to back that up?¡±

    Ste let out a quiet breath. ¡°I know where the real one is.¡± Dexter straightened. Even William turned to look at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re serious? You know where it is?¡± Dexter asked.

    Ste met his eyes. ¡°I mean every word. I know where the real one is. I¡¯d be happy to give it to you as a gift.¡±

    Dexter brightened up instantly. ¡°Really? What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Sylvia Gilbert. This is my first visit to your home, and I didn¡¯t bring anything. Consider the painting my gift.¡±

    Dexter looked at her, clearly impressed. Then he nced at William, as if asking where he found her.

    William raised a brow. ¡°She works at Neb. She¡¯s the CEO.¡± Dexter¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, his tone more thoughtful now.

    He¡¯d heard of Neb. Who hadn¡¯t, in Choria¡¯s business scene? They¡¯d been making wavestely, pulling off tough projects one after the other. And this young woman in front of him¡­ she was the one steering the ship?

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m, your destination for tales

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± he said with a warm smile, ¡°since you¡¯re already here, why not stay for dinner? William can take you home after. It¡¯s the least we can do after everything you¡¯ve done today.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t ignore how warm Dexter was with her. The way he weed her made it pretty much impossible to turn down his dinner invite. After that, Dexter didn¡¯t even spare Stephanie or Isabe a nce.

    Stephanie, clearly pissed, grabbed Isabe and stormed upstairs in a huff. Ste stayed behind, chatting with Dexter. To her surprise, the conversation flowed easily. They both seemed to have a lot inmon.

    ¡°As I¡¯ve gotten older, I¡¯ve taken a real interest in collecting art. Rare paintings, mostly,¡± Dexter said, his tone rxed.

    Ste smiled. ¡°That¡¯s a ssy hobby. Any favorite artists?¡±

    Dexter thought for a moment. ¡°Hard to say. Buttely, I¡¯ve been really into this up-anding artist¡ªgoes by Sterion. Her style¡¯s got something special.¡±

    Ste blinked. Wait¡ªSterion? That was her. She hadn¡¯t seen thating. And for a second, thepliment actually got to her.

    Dexter went on, unaware, ¡°Funny enough, William once gave me andscape painting by Sterion. It¡¯s stunning. But I hear her stuff¡¯s tough to get these days.¡±

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 Chapter 469

    ?Chapter 469:

    Ste forced a smile, not sure how to respond without blowing her cover. As the evening rolled in and dinner was served, Dexter turned to her and said warmly, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I hope the food suits your taste. And if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not into, the kitchen can whip up something else.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s jaw practically hit the floor. Dexter had never gone out of his way for someone like this¡ªespecially not someone he just met. Was it just because Ste came with William? If so, then the favoritism couldn¡¯t be clearer.

    Unlike Stephanie, Cesar and Davion stayed quiet.

    Although Davion kept sneaking nces at Ste, his eyes full of curiosity, making her feel weirdly exposed.

    William noticed too. His face darkened. ¡°Davion, if you can¡¯t keep your eyes to yourself, maybe you should get rid of them,¡± he said coolly.

    Davion shrugged, smug. ¡°What? I think she¡¯s hot. Can¡¯t a guy appreciate some beauty at the dinner table?¡±

    His tone was yful, but it still made Ste ufortable.

    Then he turned to her with a grin. ¡°So, Ms. Gilbert¡ªgot a boyfriend?¡±

    William¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Davion. This is a family dinner. Don¡¯t make me lose it in front of Grandpa.¡±

    Before Davion could fire back, Dexter cut in, his voice low but sharp. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We don¡¯t talk during meals. Or did you all forget how this house works?¡±

    Davion threw William onest look, then dropped his head and kept quiet. William leaned toward Ste and murmured just loud enough for her to hear, ¡°Sorry about that.¡±

    Ste blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected sincerity in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she whispered back.

    It really wasn¡¯t that big of a deal¡ªand she hadn¡¯t expected him to step in like that anyway.

    By the time dinner wrapped up, it was already pushing nine.

    New chapters now on .c?m

    William didn¡¯t n on staying. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Grandpa. I¡¯ll take her home.¡±

    Once they were in the car and a few blocks away from the mansion, he nced over and said, ¡°About the painting¡ªif you can¡¯t find it, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll talk to Grandpa. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡±

    He clearly thought she¡¯d just said that earlier to be polite.

    But Ste let out a softugh. ¡°I wasn¡¯t bluffing. I actually have it¡ªthe real deal.¡±

    William looked at her, surprised. That painting was worth at least ten million. How did she get her hands on it?

    ¡°I used to talk to this guy online,¡± she said. ¡°After a while, I found out he was an artist. Turns out, he¡¯s the one who painted it.¡±

    William looked half-convinced. What were the odds?

    The car pulled up to her building. She unbuckled and opened the door. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know once I dig it out. Shouldn¡¯t take more than a few days.¡±

    William nodded, one hand still on the wheel. ¡°No rush.¡±

    Ste smiled, said goodbye, and watched his car disappear down the road before turning to head inside.

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 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470:

    But just as she reached the building¡¯s entrance, someone called out behind her, ¡°Stel.¡±

    Marc waited outside Ste¡¯s apartment building for a long time. Atst, he saw her step out of William¡¯s car. So, she really had been with him this whole time, and thatte at night?

    ¡°Stel, why are you still hanging around him?¡± Marc¡¯s voice cracked with frustration as he stepped closer.

    Ste shot him a tired nce. He¡¯d be like a persistent shadow she couldn¡¯t shake off, and frankly, she was sick of it.

    ¡°Who I choose to be with has nothing to do with you,¡± she said coolly.

    Marc¡¯s panic deepened. He quickly moved to block her path. ¡°Stel, listen to me! William doesn¡¯t care about you the way you think. He¡¯s about to get engaged to Willow Lawson. Do you really want to be seen as the other woman? You¡¯ve always hated people like that.¡±

    Her eyes remained distant, her tone clipped. ¡°If you¡¯re finished, move.¡± Ste silently wondered if Marc had nothing better to do than show up here every day just to corner her. He seemed to have turned stalking into a hobby.

    As she walked past him, she made a mental note to order pepper spray. Maybe next time, instead of exchanging words, she¡¯d just spray him and keep walking. Watching her walk away again, Marc felt like aplete fool.

    Nothing he said seemed to reach her anymore. She treated him like a stranger¡ªworse, an annoyance. Her indifference was sharper than any insult.

    Hadn¡¯t they once been in love for years? How had thingse to this? Clenching his fists, Marc couldn¡¯t stop his mind from wandering to Doreen¡¯s innocent face. With a sigh, he turned and walked away.

    Over at the riverside vi he¡¯d bought for Doreen, she had just stepped out of the bath when the doorbell rang.

    Doreen opened the door, her face lighting up the moment she saw him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what a surprise!¡±

    With elegant ease, she took his coat and hung it neatly by the door, like it was something she had done a hundred times before.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s, your source for inspiration

    ¡°Is everything okay? You don¡¯t usuallye by at this hour,¡± she asked gently.

    Doreen knew well that winning a man¡¯s heart meant knowing how to shift her charm¡ªsoft when needed, alluring when desired. She yed her roles with intention.

    But before she could slip into her usual charm, Marc looked at her with unwavering seriousness. ¡°Doreen¡­ you can¡¯t keep the baby.¡±

    On the drive over, Marc had gone over everything in his head. The only reason Ste kept brushing off his apologies, ignoring every attempt he made, had to be because Doreen was still pregnant.

    After all, Ste had once told him to give Doreen the respect of being acknowledged properly.

    So in Marc¡¯s mind, Ste must still be jealous¡ªprobably assuming he nned to marry Doreen.

    In other words, if Doreen no longer had the baby, that final wall between him and Ste would disappear. She¡¯d stop holding back¡ªshe¡¯de back to him.

    But Doreen was blindsided. Her emotions spiraled, eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you said I could keep the baby. You promised.¡±

    Marc sighed and rubbed his temples. ¡°I¡¯ve really thought this through. Keeping the baby won¡¯t do you any favors. I¡¯m not going to marry you, and being a single mother¡ªit¡¯s not the life you want.¡±

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Have a great night, loved ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ????(? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?

    .

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 471

    ?Chapter 471:

    He made it sound like he was doing it for her sake, but Doreen knew better. These were just excuses. Ste must¡¯ve gotten to him again, that had to be why he suddenly changed his mind.

    Doreen shook her head in desperation. ¡°I don¡¯t care about marriage. I¡¯ll stay single my whole life if I have to. Mr. Walsh, please¡ªit¡¯s our child. You can¡¯t be this heartless!¡±

    She tried to grab his arm, but Marc pulled away, clearly annoyed.

    Before she could say anything else, he stood up and said coldly, ¡°You¡¯ve got one week to get ready. I¡¯ll take you to get the abortion next week. The baby¡¯s still small¡ªit won¡¯t affect your health too much. I¡¯ll pay for the hospital and anything else you need to recover.¡±

    Doreen wasn¡¯t ready to ept that.

    She wanted to argue, to fight for her future one more time, but Marc didn¡¯t give her the chance. He walked straight to the door, pulled it open, and disappeared into the night without looking back.

    Doreen stood frozen, shocked by how quickly things had changed.

    She had already made up her mind to keep the baby and had even counted on Jazlyn convincing Marc to marry her.

    Everything had been going ording to her n until Ste got in the way. Why did she have to ruin it all now?

    Her jaw clenched as she stared nkly at the floor. Her chest swelled with bitter resentment. This was all Ste¡¯s fault.

    ¡°You want war, Ste?¡± Doreen muttered between clenched teeth. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s see who gets thestugh.¡±

    As soon as Marc walked out of the riverside vi, he slid into the backseat of his car and coolly instructed Kody, ¡°Get me Willow Lawson¡¯s number.¡± Kody didn¡¯t ask questions¡ªhe simply nodded and, within moments, forwarded the contact to Marc¡¯s phone.

    Without even pausing to think, Marc tapped the unfamiliar number and brought the phone to his ear.

    Meanwhile, Willow was lounging in the Lawson estate¡¯s plush living room, a facial mask stered over her face, when her phone buzzed. Barely ncing at the screen, she picked up the call.

    Your adventure awaits at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c©–m

    ¡°Hello?¡± she said, sounding rxed.

    ¡°Miss Lawson, I presume? This is Marc Walsh. I¡¯m sure my name rings a bell.¡± His voice was calm and self-assured.

    Willow sat up straighter, peeled the mask from her face, and narrowed her eyes with curiosity. ¡°And why exactly are you calling me?¡±

    Marc let out a low chuckle. ¡°I hear you¡¯re engaged to William. I imagine you wouldn¡¯t be thrilled if your fianc¨¦ had a little too much chemistry with another woman, would you?¡±

    Willow¡¯s mood shifted in an instant. ¡°You¡¯re referring to Ste, aren¡¯t you?¡± she asked tly.

    ¡°Ste and William¡¯s rtionship isn¡¯t as simple as you might think,¡± Marc said smoothly. ¡°If word gets out, it could stain your engagement and the Lawson name. You¡¯re a clever woman, Miss Lawson, so I¡¯m sure you get what I¡¯m saying. I saw Ste step out of William¡¯s car just today. Who knows what went on between them? I¡¯m just giving you a friendly heads-up. But if you¡¯d rather turn a blind eye, consider this call a glitch in the matrix.¡±

    Willow¡¯s perfectly polished nails dug into her palm¡ªnot enough to break skin, but hard enough to leave a pale imprint.

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 Chapter 472

    ?Chapter 472:

    ¡°Interesting,¡± she murmured. ¡°Rumor has it you still have feelings for Ste. So why call me? Aren¡¯t you afraid I might retaliate against her?¡± Her tone wasced with suspicion.

    ¡°I won¡¯t deny I still care. But if she messes up, she should face the consequences. How else will she learn? I¡¯m doing this for her own good.¡± His words came off so sincere, so deliberate, but Willow couldn¡¯t help letting out a bitterugh.

    In her eyes, Marc Walsh was nothing short of a two-faced, maniptive man. After ending the call, Willow remained seated on the Lawson family sofa, her thoughts churning.

    She wasn¡¯t usually one to stoop to petty tactics, but Ste had overstepped one too many times. This time, she wouldn¡¯t hold back.

    The following day, William was back at the research institute, working on the experiment he¡¯d left iplete. Around noon, Willow arrived, carrying a neatly packed homemade lunch.

    She stepped into theb with a practiced smile. ¡°William, it¡¯s lunchtime. I brought something I made. Why don¡¯t you eat before you go back to work?¡±

    William gave her a brief nce and quietly set aside his tools, acknowledging her presence without fuss.

    Just then, the door opened again, and Ste walked in, her gaze on the folder in her hands. ¡°Mr. Briggs, there¡¯s a document that needs¡ª¡±

    Her voice trailed off as her eyesnded on Willow, who was seatedfortably, calmly watching her with her chin resting in her palm.

    Realizing she had walked in at the wrong moment, Ste quickly said, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt.¡±

    Before William could reply, Willow¡¯s voice rang out, sugary-sweet. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, won¡¯t you join us? I made extra. If you¡¯re here to talk to William, go ahead¡ªdon¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    Willow had a polite smile on her face, but Ste could tell she wasn¡¯t really happy.

    She wanted to decline the invitation, but William spoke up before she could.

    g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s, your storytelling home

    ¡°Bring it here. I¡¯ll take a look.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t asking her to join them¡ªhe just wanted the document.

    Assuming it was urgent, Ste walked over and ced the folder on the table. Willow¡¯s smile stayed perfectly intact, showing no hint of irritation.

    While William scanned and signed the pages, Willow turned to Ste again, her tone light and pleasant. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, as Neb¡¯s CEO, you should really take advantage of everyworking opportunity. There¡¯s a cruise ship event this weekend¡ªgolf, CEOs, and top bankers from Choria. You should join us.¡±

    Ste was ready to dismiss the idea, but William had already signed the documents and closed the folder. ¡°Juste along. It¡¯ll be good for Neb¡¯s uing projects. No need to prepare¡ªjust make time.¡±

    He was the boss, and with him putting it so bluntly, Ste really had no room to say no.

    So she simply nodded and walked out.

    Outside, Sandra was already waiting. ¡°Sylvia, are you alright? If we¡¯d known Willow wasing, we could¡¯ve dodged her.¡±

    Ste let out a smallugh and tapped her own forehead. ¡°Why should I avoid her? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡±

    Sandra tilted her head, thinking it over, and realized Ste had a fair point. ¡°True, we just needed William¡¯s signature. That¡¯s it. Willow wouldn¡¯t be that petty, right?¡±

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 Chapter 473

    ?Chapter 473:

    While eating lunch, Ste kept thinking about how William had taken a hit for her that day. Her voice softened. ¡°Sandra, if someone does something huge for you, how do you normally repay them?¡±

    Sandra thought for a second. ¡°Depends on how big. If it¡¯s minor, just treat them to dinner or something.¡±

    ¡°But what if it¡¯s something major?¡± Worry crept onto Ste¡¯s face. A favor that serious, like saving her life, wasn¡¯t something you repaid with food.

    ¡°If it¡¯s big,¡± Sandra said seriously, ¡°then find out what they need and do whatever it takes to make it right.¡±

    Ste racked her brain but couldn¡¯t think of anything yet. So for now, she figured she¡¯d eat first and figure outter what William might need. Once she paid him back properly, then she and William would be even.

    In theb, Willow watched closely as William finally started eating the lunch she¡¯d prepared. She looked relieved and hopeful. ¡°So, how does it taste?¡±

    William didn¡¯t even nce up. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said tly.

    He said it was okay, but his expression gave away nothing. Willow¡¯s excitement dimmed a little.

    Still, Willow didn¡¯t stay down for long. She leaned in and smiled. ¡°William, my parents keep asking when we¡¯re setting a wedding date.¡±

    William put his fork down and calmly wiped his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot on my te right now.¡±

    He didn¡¯t reject her directly, but his answer said enough, and Willow¡¯s heart sank.

    ¡°We could at least have dinner with my parents,¡± Willow suggested gently. ¡°I¡¯m fine waiting, but they keep asking. Maybe one meal together could ease their minds?¡±

    Around William, Willow couldn¡¯t act like her usual spoiled self.

    She had to walk on eggshells¡ªafraid one wrong move would push him away.

    Since when had she ever behaved like this for a man?

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m brings endless adventures

    With any other man, Willow would¡¯ve lost her temper by now.

    William stood and replied with a calm but firm tone, ¡°I¡¯ll find a time. Thanks for the lunch.¡±

    He still hadn¡¯t answered her directly. And Willow couldn¡¯t help wondering if Ste was the reason.

    Was he dying their wedding because of Ste?

    The thought alone made Willow¡¯s resentment toward Ste re¡ªburning hotter than ever.

    Willow took a deep breath and began tidying up. ¡°If you like it, I can make your meals every day!¡±

    William had already moved on, focused on his microscope. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself. You¡¯ve got other things to handle.¡±

    His words crushed whatever hope she had. She clutched the empty Tupperware and bit her lip, not knowing what to say next.

    ¡°I¡¯ll head out now,¡± Willow said. ¡°But you¡¯re stilling with me to the cruise ship party this weekend, right?¡±

    She was his fianc¨¦e, after all. Shouldn¡¯t he be standing beside her at events like that?

    William remained silent as she slipped the ne from her throat¡ªa luminous aquamarine framed with a constetion of tiny diamonds that caught the light and made her delicate skin glow.

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 Chapter 474

    ?Chapter 474:

    She said, ¡°William, the fact that you sought out and bought back this very ne for me¡­ it¡¯s more than jewelry. It¡¯s proof that we are meant for each other. All these yearster, finding each other again¡ªthat¡¯s not just coincidence. Some bonds are written in the stars. I¡¯ve held onto that truth every single day.¡±

    A flicker of emotion crossed William¡¯s face as he finally turned to her. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up at the Lawsons¡¯ that day,¡± he replied, his voice low.

    Willow¡¯s whole expression brightened, a delighted smile lifting her lips. ¡°Perfect! Although, I don¡¯t have a new dress yet. Could youe with me to shop for one? I promise it¡¯ll be quick. But if you¡¯re too busy, I totally get it.¡± She worried the ne between her fingers, making it clear how much it meant to her. ¡°I just want something that really matches this.¡±

    William held back any protest and just nodded in approval.

    With a bounce in her step, Willow collected her Tupperware and headed out of theb.

    She spotted Ste finishing her lunch in the bustling cafeteria and called out, ¡°Ms. Gilbert! I¡¯m going dress shopping in a couple of days¡ªwant toe with? Maybe we can trade style secrets.¡±

    Ste had never been a fan of shopping sprees, especially with a handful of untouched dresses already tucked away in her closet.

    She shook her head with a polite smile. ¡°Sorry, Miss Lawson. There¡¯s a lot on my te right now¡ªmaybe next time.¡±

    Catching her words, Willow¡¯s smile only widened, her tone syrupy sweet. ¡°Oh, what a shame. I guess it¡¯ll just be me and William, then. You know how guys are with fashion¡ªI wonder if he¡¯ll pick something that actually matches.¡±

    She made sure to linger on William¡¯s name, all but waving their closeness like a g, hoping to stake her im in front of Ste.

    But Ste didn¡¯t give her the satisfaction¡ªshe simply nodded, unfazed. ¡°Sounds fun. Good luck finding the perfect dress.¡±

    Without another nce, Ste fell into step beside Sandra and headed down the hall.

    Willow bristled at Ste¡¯s utterck of reaction.

    The indifference lodged in her chest, prickling with irritation.

    If she hadn¡¯t already decided to put Ste in her ce at the weekend party, she would¡¯ve snapped right then and there.

    As they moved out of earshot, Sandra leaned in, eyes shining with curiosity. ¡°Wait, Sylvia¡ªdid Willow really invite you shopping? That¡¯s so random.¡± Sandra knew the history between them, and she¡¯d always sensed Willow¡¯s simmering hostility toward Ste.

    Ste kept her answer light. ¡°She¡¯s probably just being polite. There¡¯s a cruise ship party this weekend¡ªthat¡¯s why she asked.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s jaw dropped a little. She¡¯d never set foot on a cruise ship. ¡°A cruise ship party? Seriously? Can I tag along? I¡¯ll be your assistant, your sidekick, whatever you need! I promise, you won¡¯t even know I¡¯m there!¡± Sandra¡¯s longing and eager expression nearly made Steugh.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get to decide, Sandra¡ªit¡¯s not my party,¡± Ste replied, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

    Though Sandra looked a little let down, she just shrugged and let it go, sensing Ste¡¯s hands were tied.

    Sunday rolled around. Ste sifted through her closet, finally picking out a dress when her phone buzzed with Sharon¡¯s name.

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 Chapter 475

    ?Chapter 475:

    ¡°Hey, babe! What are you up to? Come out for dinner with me tonight!¡± Sharon chirped through the receiver.

    Ste declined, keeping her tone gentle but firm. ¡°Can¡¯t tonight. I¡¯ve got a party to go to.¡±

    Sharon immediately lit up, her excitement palpable. ¡°Hold up, you¡¯re actually going to a party? You, of all people?¡±

    Ste pressed her palm to her forehead, bracing herself for more of Sharon¡¯s teasing.

    ¡°It¡¯s for Neb¡¯s next project¡ªbank execs from Choria and a bunch of high-profile CEOs will be attending. Strictly business.¡±

    The longer Sharon listened, the more skeptical she sounded. ¡°Wait, are you talking about that cruise ship party?¡±

    A sh of surprise crossed Ste¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about it?¡±

    Sharon let out a huff. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know about it? Fine, since you¡¯re actually going, I¡¯ming too. Wasn¡¯t nning on it, but you just talked me into crashing your night. I¡¯ll swing by your ce!¡±

    Before Ste could even process it, Sharon had already hung up¡ªand within twenty minutes, she came bursting into Ste¡¯s apartment like a whirlwind. It was Sharon¡¯s first time seeing Ste¡¯s ce. She nced around, clicking her tongue. ¡°Why is your apartment so¡­ basic?¡±

    Ste, only half-amused, gave Sharon a gentle shove toward the living room. ¡°Can you not judge? It¡¯s a model unit, not my dream house.¡±

    Sharon arched a brow, eyes darting straight to the dressid out on Ste¡¯s bed.

    ¡°Wait, is that what you¡¯re wearing tonight?¡±

    Ste blinked at her, thrown off by the tone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±

    Sure, it was simple¡ªbut it was designer, and Ste was certain no one would dare look down on her for it.

    Read more chapters at g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls

    But Sharon just shook her head, halfughing, half-exasperated. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t know this party¡¯s nickname, do you?¡±

    Ste hesitated, trying to keep up. ¡°Nickname? Isn¡¯t it just a regr party?¡± Sharon gave her a dramatic look. ¡°It¡¯s a masquerade ball. You¡¯ve got the white dress, but where¡¯s your mask?¡± Ste stiffened, caught off guard.

    Before she could recover, Sharon hooked her arm and whisked her straight out the door. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving¡ªwe¡¯re going shopping.¡±

    Sharon¡¯s energy was unstoppable. Within half an hour, she had whisked Ste to Choria¡¯s most exclusive styling studio. Without missing a beat, Sharon nudged Ste through the doors, rattled off their needs to the staff, and sank into a plush sofa, clearly in her element.

    Five minutester, Ste appeared in a curve-skimming, dazzling gown that glittered as she moved.

    The hem glittered with hand-sewn crystals, scattering light in dazzling patterns across the polished floor.

    Even the color shifted, slipping from ice blue to silver as she turned beneath the studio lights.

    Sharon beamed, practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°That¡¯s the one! Wrap it up¡ªI¡¯m paying, and don¡¯t you dare argue.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 476

    ?Chapter 476:

    Ste could only let herself be swept along, overwhelmed but secretly grateful for Sharon¡¯s enthusiasm.

    As the staff led Ste off for hair and makeup, the studio door banged open.

    Someone strode in, their voice bright with surprise.

    ¡°Stel? I didn¡¯t expect to see you here!¡±

    The second Sharonid eyes on Josie, her grin vanished. ¡°Who said you could call her Stel? Show some respect!¡±

    Josie¡ªSte¡¯s college roommate and longtime ride-or-die¡ªwas tight with her, no doubt.

    But even best friends had their petty moments, and Sharon? She couldn¡¯t stand Josie. She was convinced she was Ste¡¯s real number one, always lowkey battling Josie for the title.

    But Josie wasn¡¯t the type to back down. ¡°Damn, Sharon, dial it down. Stel¡¯s cool with it, so why are you so pressed? If you¡¯re that insecure, I can help cover your therapy bill.¡±

    Josie didn¡¯t yell or throw fits¡ªher weapon of choice was lethal shade. Sharon never won these back-and-forths, yet she still kepting for Josie, leaving Ste sandwiched between the two, beyond exasperated.

    ¡°Alright, enough! You two chill. We¡¯re all friends here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not her friend,¡± Sharon snapped.

    ¡°No way I¡¯m her friend either,¡± Josie shot back, both of them talking over each other.

    They red like two queens fighting over one throne.

    From them, Ste had truly learned that two strong personalities couldn¡¯t coexist.

    Thankfully, Josie shifted gears and beamed at Ste. ¡°Stel, that dress! You look like a total mermaid princess!¡±

    Sharon scoffed. ¡°Yeah, thanks to me¡ªI picked it.¡±

    Your next story starts here: g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Josie rolled her eyes, unfazed. ¡°Anyway,¡± she said, turning back to Ste, ¡°you heading to a party tonight?¡±

    Ste narrowed her eyes. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re going too? The masquerade on the cruise ship?¡±

    The look on Josie¡¯s face said it all¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected Ste to know. They all got dressed, touched up their looks, and were just about to leave the boutique when a few new customers walked in.

    Ste, Sharon, and Josie turned¡ªonly to see Marc stroll in with Doreen. The second Marc spotted Ste, he instantly let go of Doreen¡¯s hand, like he¡¯d been caught cheating in broad daylight.

    Sharon rolled her eyes. ¡°Ugh. What a sleazebag. Let¡¯s go, Stel.¡±

    Ste held back augh and walked out with the girls. Marc didn¡¯t say a word, but his eyes followed Ste all the way out, lingering way too long.

    Meanwhile, Doreen stood fuming beside him.

    She¡¯d practically begged Jazlyn to make Marc bring her along today, only to run straight into Ste the minute they stepped inside the styling studio.

    She swallowed the jealousy and tugged at Marc. ¡°Mr. Walsh, we¡¯re running out of time to find a dress.¡±

    A whileter, Marc had just slipped into a new suit and was admiring himself in the mirror when the door opened again¡ªand William walked in, Willow at his side.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 477

    ?Chapter 477:

    William locked eyes with Marc for half a second, his expression full of scorn, then casually handed his tinum membership card to the staff. ¡°Book the whole ce. I¡¯m not shopping around people who don¡¯t match my vibe.¡± His tone was cool, careless¡ªand made his point loud and clear.

    The staffer, clearly catching on, nodded fast and rushed off.

    Marc, still admiring his reflection, didn¡¯t even notice what was happening until the staff came back with the news that the boutique was closing immediately. Marc blinked, confused. ¡°What? There are still other customers here. I can afford this ce, what¡¯s the problem?¡±

    The staffer looked genuinely sorry. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, sir, but Mr. Briggs has just reserved the store for a private session. We won¡¯t be serving other guests today.¡±

    Marc and Doreen were momentarily speechless.

    Doreen had heard of rich people renting out whole restaurants¡ªbut entire stores just to shop?

    Either way, no matter how bitter they were, they had no choice but to leave¡ªangry and embarrassed.

    They were very aware that Marc¡¯s wallet didn¡¯te close to William¡¯s.

    Ste boarded the cruise ship with Sharon and Josie about an hour before departure.

    The thing was massive. Five whole decks, packed with everything from bars to boutiques. A floating luxury mall on water.

    Sharon and Josie had scored cabins on either side of Ste¡¯s. When she opened her door, it honestly felt like she had two bodyguards posted outside. As the cruise¡­

    The ship pulled away from the harbor, cruising into the open sea. The neon lights from the shore cast a dreamy glow over the water. The whole scene looked straight out of a movie.

    Once the party started, the deck came alive¡ªmusic, lights, and a crowd full of movers and shakers. Ste wasn¡¯t there to mess around¡ªthis was the kind of event where the right conversation could change everything.

    The breeze was chilly as she stepped out onto the deck. Looking down at the dark waves, she shivered.

    Your escape begins at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Sharon grabbed her arm. ¡°Stel, if you can¡¯t swim, maybe stop staring into the ocean like you¡¯re about to jump. You¡¯ll psych yourself out.¡±

    Ste smirked and nodded, walking further onto the deck to shake it off.

    The ce was packed¡ªpeopleughing, drinking, schmoozing.

    Ste sipped her champagne and scanned the crowd¡ªher eyesnding on someone she needed to talk to. Without hesitating, she made her move. ¡°Mr. Warden. Hi,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert, CEO of Neb. Mind if I steal a few minutes?¡±

    The overhead lights hit her just right, casting a soft glow across her face¡ªelegant, radiant, poised.

    No gentleman was saying no to that. ¡°Of course, my beautifuldy,¡± he replied with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve got all the time in the world.¡±

    Marc had been looking for Jon Warden, a potential business partner, on the cruise ship with Doreen for a long time. Just when he finally spotted Jon, he also saw Ste standing there, talking to him.

    He froze. Ste was smiling and acting all friendly with Jon, and that made Marc clench his fists in anger.

    Why did she always show up and get involved with people he needed to talk to?

    .

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 Chapter 478

    ?Chapter 478:

    Was she really trying to mess things up for him on purpose?

    Doreen, hanging on Marc¡¯s arm like a designer purse, followed his gaze and let out a soft gasp. ¡°Marc, who¡¯s that guy with Ste? Is she doing something shady again tond herself another big deal?¡±

    Marc was already seething, but Doreen¡¯sment pushed him over the edge. ¡°That damn woman!¡± he muttered through gritted teeth.

    Without a second thought, Marc stormed across the deck, brushing right past Jon like he wasn¡¯t even there. He leaned close and hissed, ¡°So who are you after now, Ste? William wasn¡¯t enough? Shaun didn¡¯t do it for you? Got another name to add to your list?¡±

    Ste had been having a decent conversation with Jon until Marc barged in uninvited, leaving them both momentarily speechless.

    Jon, while not a local, had done enough business in Choria to pick up on the tone of Marc¡¯s words.

    The moment he heard Marc speak so crudely about Ste, Jon¡¯s friendly expression disappeared.

    ¡°Excuse me, sir,¡± Jon said coldly. ¡°Is that how you usually speak to women? Because that¡¯s wildly inappropriate.¡±

    Marc had braced himself for Ste¡¯s usual sharp tongue, but Jon¡¯s rebuke caught him off guard.

    Spinning around to face Jon, Marc blurted, ¡°Mr. Warden, don¡¯t let her fool you!

    Ste jumps from man to man, telling lies just to move up!¡±

    Ste arched a brow, almost amused at how low Marc had stooped.

    So that was what he really thought of her? Then why was he always trying to win her back? Was hepletely out of his mind?

    Jon didn¡¯t buy a word of Marc¡¯s rant. ¡°Ms. Gilbert¡¯s been nothing but professional with me. We discussed business¡ªclear, sharp, and straight to the point. Nothing like what you¡¯re iming.¡±

    Marc stiffened. That sinking feeling hit him¡ªSte was about to snatch the deal right out from under him again.

    Find your favorite stories at g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s., conn

    ¡°Mr. Warden, I¡¯m the CEO of Walsh Group,¡± Marc quickly said. ¡°I came to pitch a project too. I assure you, our proposal is far stronger than Ste¡¯s.¡±

    Just as he reached into his briefcase, Jon raised a hand to stop him.

    ¡°No need,¡± Jon said coolly. ¡°I¡¯ve already agreed to work with Ms. Gilbert. And frankly, your behavior today? The way you insulted her in front of everyone? That¡¯s not the kind of business partner I want. Not even close.¡±

    With that, he turned away without sparing Marc another nce. He raised his ss toward Ste with a warm smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, let¡¯s pick this upter online. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±

    Jon had mentally checked out. The way Marc was acting had killed the mood. Panic flickered in Marc¡¯s eyes as he rushed after Jon, tossing out more desperate words. But Jon didn¡¯t spare him another nce and headed straight into the cabin without a pause.

    Left in the wake of rejection, Marc stood motionless for a moment. Then he turned back to Ste, his face clouded with frustration. ¡°Why do you always have to go against me, Stel?¡±

    Ste felt her stomach turn. One minute he was tearing her down, and the next he was calling her ¡®Stel¡¯ like nothing had happened. It was nauseating.

    .

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 Chapter 479

    ?Chapter 479:

    ¡°Business isn¡¯t about emotions, Marc. It¡¯s about ability,¡± she replied coolly. ¡°I didn¡¯t cut in while you pitched to Mr. Warden. So if you lost the deal, maybe take a hard look at yourself before pointing fingers.¡±

    Marc was practically fuming. Her words stung more than he let on.

    ¡°You just can¡¯t stand seeing me seed, can you?¡±

    He stepped closer and suddenly reached out to grab her hand, only to be blocked by Sharon, who swiftly stepped between them like a wall.

    ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± she snapped, swatting his hand away. ¡°Getting handsy with her now? That¡¯s what you call being a man?¡±

    Marc lost his temper and shot her a sharp look. ¡°Why do you keep meddling in things that have nothing to do with you? Just back off!¡±

    Sharon, however, didn¡¯t back down. ¡°It¡¯s my business now. Ste¡¯s got me in her corner. Try pulling that move again, and you¡¯ll regret it.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, she took Ste by the arm and began guiding her away. Marc instinctively took a step after them, but Doreen caught his arm and held him back.

    ¡°Let it go, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said tly. ¡°Ste¡¯s surrounded by people who won¡¯t let her fall. You chasing her now will only make you look desperate. This party is full of high-profile names. Focus onnding one of them. You¡¯re talented, and plenty of big names would love to work with you. Let¡¯s focus on making some good connections tonight and forget about her, at least for now.¡±

    Marc looked at her for a long second. What she said wasn¡¯t wrong, but his face showed hesitation. After a short pause, he finally gave her a small nod. ¡°You¡¯re the one thinking straight,¡± he muttered.

    Sharon dragged Ste straight to the dining area, where Ste exhaled a long, weary breath.

    ¡°Thank God you showed up, Sharon. I was two seconds away from getting physical,¡± she admitted, rubbing her temple.

    Sharon gave a dismissive wave. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your night on lunatics. Just rx and enjoy yourself,¡± she murmured softly.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§àm, where stories thrive

    ncing around the crowded room, Ste lowered her voice. ¡°By the way, have you seen Josie?¡±

    Sharon¡¯s lips formed a dramatic pout. ¡°Wow, Stel, I¡¯m standing right here and you¡¯re already thinking about Josie? Are you really putting Josie before me?¡±

    A headache prickled behind Ste¡¯s eyes. ¡°Come on. There¡¯s no ranking. I¡¯m just worried Josie¡¯s out there getting herself into trouble again. You¡¯re both my best friends.¡±

    That coaxed a reluctantugh out of Sharon.

    ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll track her down. You¡ªwait here and eat something before you start spiraling,¡± Sharon said, shing a yful wink.

    With that, Sharon slipped away into the crowd. Ste wandered over to the drinks table, grabbed a ss of champagne, and retreated to a quiet corner, letting the bubbly chill settle her nerves.

    She¡¯d already clinched the business deal that mattered most; the rest of the evening belonged to her.

    Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Willow slipped into her new dress, pausing to admire her reflection. A sly smile tugged at her lips as she nced at herckey. ¡°Gail, did you sort out what I asked you to handle?¡±

    Gail Hardy offered a brisk nod. ¡°Everything¡¯s arranged. The moment we get an opening, we¡¯re good to go.¡±

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 Chapter 480

    ?Chapter 480:

    Willow¡¯s smile turned radiant, a glint of mischief in her eyes. ¡°Crank up the music on the deck. I want it loud¡ªno chance for anyone¡¯s mood to get dragged down tonight.¡±

    Gail, ever efficient, gathered up her flowing gown and disappeared down the hall.

    Willow fluffed her hair, checking herself from every angle to make sure not a single strand was out of ce.

    Once satisfied, she strode from the cabin, determination in her step, intent on finding William outside.

    On the deck, Ste found herself hemmed in as the crowd swelled and the music pulsed louder, making the floorboards thrum beneath her heels. She edged backward, dodging elbows and twirling dancers, clutching her champagne flute.

    She finished her drink, about to abandon the ss on a side table, when a tray materialized beside her¡ªheld out by a pair of elegant hands.

    She turned and nearly gasped. Shaun stood beside her, his tailored white suit catching the lights.

    ¡°Thought a gorgeous woman might need a rescue,¡± he said with a yful glint. ¡°Or at least a tray for that empty ss.¡±

    A quick smile flickered across her face as she set her ss down. ¡°Thanks, Shaun.¡±

    He cocked his head, giving her a yful look. ¡°Care for another drink? I¡¯d consider it an honor to serve the princess of the night.¡±

    Heat crept up Ste¡¯s cheeks. She shot him a mock re. ¡°Cut it out, Mr. Smith. I can¡¯t keep up with your smooth talk.¡±

    His gaze softened, sincerity threading through his words. ¡°No, really¡ªI mean it. You look incredible tonight.¡±

    Ste met Shaun¡¯s sparkling eyes and thanked him again.

    He lifted the tray a little higher and inquired, ¡°How about another ss of champagne?¡±

    She shook her head, a smallugh escaping. ¡°Tempting, but I¡¯m not much of a drinker.¡±

    ?¦Ò???? ¦Ô???????????? ¦É?? ?????????????????.??????

    He gave a light-hearted sigh, disappointment flickering in his voice. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. This party¡¯s champagne is the real deal¡ªyou won¡¯t find it anywhere else.¡±

    Ste let a subtle smile slip across her lips. ¡°If you want to keep me from making a spectacle of myself on the dance floor, I¡¯d better call it quits on the drinks.¡±

    Shaun chuckled, his voice a gentle rumble. ¡°That¡¯d be something to see¡ªmaybe you¡¯d steal the spotlight.¡±

    When it became clear Ste really wasn¡¯t in the mood for another round, Shaun didn¡¯t press. Instead, he settled beside her, shoulders squared against the wind, the briny air swirling around them.

    ¡°Be honest¡ªare you actually enjoying yourself at this party?¡± he asked, watching her with a glint of curiosity.

    Ste narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, then nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. The snacks are killer, the champagne¡¯s legit, and this ship is enormous.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t find much to gripe about, though running into Marc definitely wasn¡¯t on her list of party perks.

    Shaun arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. ¡°You know, apliment from you is basically a five-star review.¡±

    They lingered in easy conversation until Shaun straightened, brushing his hand from the railing. ¡°I should go check in with a friend, but I¡¯ll be back. Try not to let the sea sweep you away while I¡¯m gone.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 481

    ?Chapter 481:

    The abruptness caught Ste off guard, but she managed a yful shrug. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m terrified of water. I¡¯ll just stay right here.¡±

    Once Shaun slipped into the crowd, Ste meandered toward the buffet, eyeing a cupcake. Just as she reached for it, she spotted Willow and William strolling past¡ªarms linked.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, have you and Ms. Lawson picked a wedding date yet? You two are Choria¡¯s golden couple¡ªwe¡¯re all dying to see the wedding!¡± The man across from William and Willow grinned, his tone dripping with ttery. ¡°You and Ms. Lawson make a stunning pair. I bet you¡¯ll be just as in love after tying the knot.¡±

    William didn¡¯t say a word. Willow, however, leaned in closer to him with a polished smile. ¡°Thanks, that¡¯s sweet of you. We¡¯re still deciding on the date.¡±

    Not far off, Ste quietly turned her head away, pretending not to hear any of it. Just then, a waiter came up behind her carrying a tray of freshly ted food. ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am, could you step aside?¡±

    Ste started to shift, but as the waiter cleared the used dishes, he identally bumped her¡ªhard¡ªwith his elbow.

    She staggered,pletely off bnce. And the next thing she knew, she was falling¡ªbackward¡ªstraight over the edge.

    A sharp ssh, and then¡ªthe ocean swallowed her whole. Her body bobbed violently with the waves.

    ¡°Help!¡± She iled and yelled, but the music sting from the ship drowned her out.

    Saltwater rushed into her mouth, burning her throat. She choked, panicked, and went under. Her vision blurred, her limbs heavy and useless.

    Meanwhile, Sharon wasbing the deck, finally spotting Josie chatting away with Steven.

    She grabbed Josie¡¯s arm, trying to pull her along. ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± Josie frowned, tugging her hand back. ¡°Stel¡¯s looking for you,¡± Sharon said.

    That got Josie¡¯s attention. Without hesitation, she followed Sharon toward the dining area.

    L¦¡¦Ó??¦Ó ch¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??????

    Steven was seconds away from scoring Josie¡¯s number and wasn¡¯t about to let go.

    He trailed after them.

    At the dining section, Sharon looked around¡ªno sign of Ste.

    Josie folded her arms. ¡°Where is she? You didn¡¯t just make that up, did you?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯ve got time to y games?¡± Sharon shot back. ¡°I told her to wait right here. She should be around.¡±

    A nervous flutter started in Sharon¡¯s stomach. Something didn¡¯t feel right. Josie could see the shift in her expression and got serious. ¡°Maybe she wandered off to chat with someone?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sharon shook her head. ¡°She said she¡¯d wait. And even if she left, she wouldn¡¯t be gone this long.¡±

    Josie turned to scan the ship¡ªplenty of people milling about,ughing, drinking, but no Ste.

    ¡°You stay here. I¡¯ll go ask around,¡± Sharon said.

    She headed straight toward William. ¡°Have you seen Stel?¡±

    .

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    .

 Chapter 482

    ?Chapter 482:

    William blinked. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s missing,¡± Sharon said, her voice dropping, tense and urgent.

    His chest tightened. ¡°When did she disappear?¡± He moved to follow her, ready to search.

    But Willow suddenly stepped forward, clutching his arm. ¡°William! My parents are right over there. Don¡¯t you think we should go say hi?¡± She looked up at him expectantly.

    Before he could even answer, Josie¡¯s scream tore through the air.

    ¡°Stel¡¯s in the water! Somebody get the lifeguard!¡±

    William¡¯s face darkened in an instant. Without hesitation, he ripped off his shirt and dove over the side.

    Ste had no strength left.

    If it weren¡¯t for the few swimming tricks Rita had taught her, she would¡¯ve sunk a long time ago.

    But she was slipping¡ªher arms weak, lungs burning, too much water swallowed. Her body was giving in. She started sinking, helplessly, deeper into the cold sea.

    Then, through the darkness¡ªsomething grabbed her hand.

    A voice broke through the fog. Even as the ckness crept in, she thought she heard him. William.

    ¡°Rescuedder!¡±

    William held Ste tightly with one arm, the other gripping thedder as he hauled them both up with sheer force.

    Once back on deck, he gentlyid her down and immediately started CPR. She hadn¡¯t been out for long, but her lips were pale, and her chest still. William pushed through tenpressions, firm and steady. Then, Ste suddenly jolted, choking hard as seawater spilled from her mouth.

    She rolled onto her side, coughing uncontrobly.

    Sharon rushed over, draping a towel over her. ¡°Stel,e on, let¡¯s get you inside to change!¡±

    Ste tried to stand, but her knees gave out beneath her. Before she could hit the ground, William caught her by the waist¡ªthen, without hesitation, swept her up in his arms.

    She let out a startled gasp, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

    Her thoughts swirled¡ªhad William really saved her? Was she dreaming?

    Then, Willow stepped in their path, blocking the way with a forced smile.

    ¡°William, since Ms. Gilbert¡¯s okay now, maybe her friends can help her change.¡±

    William¡¯s expression turned cial. ¡°This isn¡¯t your call.¡±

    Willow stiffened, stunned. ¡°How can you say that? We¡¯re engaged. You¡¯re my fianc¨¦¡ªeveryone¡¯s watching. This doesn¡¯t look good for Ms. Gilbert¡¯s reputation.¡±

    The cold look in William¡¯s eyes sent a chill through her. For a second, unease shed in her heart, like he might¡¯ve figured something out.

    But she quickly shook it off. He¡¯d been by her side all day. No way he knew anything.

    ¡°William, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e,¡± she said, her voice cracking as tears welled up. ¡°I don¡¯t want you taking another woman to her room.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 483

    ?Chapter 483:

    Ste, now more aware, felt the tension.

    She lightly tapped his arm. ¡°You can put me down. I¡¯m fine now.¡±

    William ignored her and walked right past Willow without a nce.

    Ste looked back. Willow stood frozen, tears in her eyes. The scene felt impossible to fix.

    ¡°William, what are you doing?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t need help.¡±

    ¡°You almost drowned. Let me finish what I started.¡±

    Ste frowned. ¡°This isn¡¯t helping. You¡¯re just making things worse.¡± Willow¡¯s re earlier had been lethal.

    William didn¡¯t reply. In minutes, they were at her room. Ste blinked. ¡°How do you know where I¡¯m staying?¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Go change.¡±

    Ste sighed, went inside, showered, and changed.

    As they walked toward the deck, she hesitated. ¡°You should exin things to Ms. Lawson,¡± she said, ¡°so she doesn¡¯t misunderstand.¡±

    William looked at her. ¡°Misunderstand what?¡±

    Ste stared at him. ¡°You know what.¡±

    William met her eyes. ¡°Do I?¡±

    His gaze was deep, unreadable.

    Ste didn¡¯t answer. She walked ahead.

    The deck was buzzing again. Willow stood in the crowd, crying quietly as her friends tried tofort her.

    Nearby, Sharon and Josie stood at the buffet table, snacking and watching.

    Sharon spoke through a mouthful. ¡°Her tears look fake, right?¡±

    Josie shot Willow a nce. ¡°Totally.¡±

    Step into new worlds at g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s?conn

    ¡°William, what are you doing?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t need help.¡±

    ¡°You almost drowned. Let me finish what I started.¡±

    Ste frowned. ¡°This isn¡¯t helping. You¡¯re just making things worse.¡± Willow¡¯s re earlier had been lethal.

    William didn¡¯t reply. In minutes, they were at her room. Ste blinked. ¡°How do you know where I¡¯m staying?¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Go change.¡±

    Ste sighed, went inside, showered, and changed.

    As they walked toward the deck, she hesitated. ¡°You should exin things to Ms. Lawson,¡± she said, ¡°so she doesn¡¯t misunderstand.¡±

    William looked at her. ¡°Misunderstand what?¡±

    Ste stared at him. ¡°You know what.¡±

    William met her eyes. ¡°Do I?¡±

    His gaze was deep, unreadable.

    Ste didn¡¯t answer. She walked ahead.

    The deck was buzzing again. Willow stood in the crowd, crying quietly as her friends tried tofort her.

    .

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 Chapter 484

    ?Chapter 484:

    Nearby, Sharon and Josie stood at the buffet table, snacking and watching.

    Sharon spoke through a mouthful. ¡°Her tears look fake, right?¡±

    Josie shot Willow a nce. ¡°Totally.¡±

    Ste emerged from the cabin just in time to witness themotion.

    Gail¡¯s eyes zed as she fixed William with a sharp re. ¡°William, are you going to stand there and say nothing? What exactly is going on between you and that woman?¡±

    Willow¡¯s parents hovered close by, their voices heavy with disappointment. ¡°William, you¡¯ve really gone too far this time. Did it even cross your mind how much it would hurt Willow to see you carrying another woman in your arms?¡±

    Fighting back tears, Willow clung to William¡¯s arm, her voice trembling. ¡°William, I know you¡¯re not like that. Just tell me what happened, and I¡¯ll believe you. I trust you¡ªwhatever you say.¡±

    The bystanders could only shake their heads, thinking Willow was far too forgiving for her own good.

    Gail, growing more exasperated by the second, snapped, ¡°Willow, why are you letting him off so easily? He¡¯s the one who hurt you. The least he could do is apologize.¡±

    Willow¡¯s mother, Leona Lawson, ced a protective hand on her daughter¡¯s shoulder, her tone steely. ¡°William, Willow was brought up in a home full of love. I can¡¯t just watch her get hurt. If you won¡¯t apologize today, we¡¯ll have to reconsider this engagement.¡±

    Leona¡¯s ultimatum hung in the air, but William didn¡¯t flinch. He just met her gaze, his voice steady and cold. ¡°That¡¯s fine with me. Let¡¯s end the engagement.¡±

    The entire room seemed to freeze. For a split second, even the music felt distant. Gasps rippled through the guests, shock pinning Willow in ce.

    Leona¡¯s face went ck with disbelief. ¡°Excuse me?¡± she sputtered, her eyes wide. ¡°You¡¯d break off an engagement over this? Are you really that thoughtless about yourmitments?¡±

    Tears streaked down Willow¡¯s cheeks as she rushed to speak, her voice cracking. ¡°Mom, please¡ªdon¡¯t me William. He doesn¡¯t mean it. You¡¯re just upset, right, William?¡±

    M¦Òr¦Å ¦Ôpd¦Á§äes ¦Én G¦Áln¦Ò¦Íels.c¦Òm

    She stepped in close, pleading, her trembling hands reaching for his sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be petty. I¡¯m sorry, okay? I shouldn¡¯t have doubted you. I¡¯ll work on it. Please don¡¯t say things you don¡¯t mean.¡±

    But William gently pulled free, barely ncing at her before stepping toward Ste instead. ¡°You really think this is a small thing?¡± he asked, his words slicing through the tension.

    Willow¡¯s breath hitched audibly. All eyes swung to William as he nced over his shoulder. ¡°Luca,¡± he called, his tone sharp. ¡°Bring him here.¡±

    Earlier, while Ste was still changing, William had quietly told Luca to start digging¡ªand it didn¡¯t take long before they found something off. Security cameras covered every inch of the ship, and the footage left no doubt: the waiter had deliberately shoved Ste.

    Luca yanked the trembling waiter onto the deck, forcing him to his knees in front of everyone. The man was so shaken he could barely hold himself up.

    ¡°Talk,¡± Luca demanded, his voice icy. ¡°Who put you up to this?¡±

    Willow¡¯s breath faltered at the sight, color draining from her cheeks. She couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away from the scene.

    .

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 Chapter 485

    ?Chapter 485:

    The waiter¡¯s gaze flickered to Willow, but he snapped his eyes shut, hands clenching as he shook his head. ¡°Mr. Briggs, please¡ªI don¡¯t know anything! I swear, Ms. Gilbert¡¯s fall was just an ident!¡± His voice cracked as he pleaded for mercy.

    Luca¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°You call that an ident? You were right there¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t see her go overboard. If you noticed, why didn¡¯t you shout for help? Why just stand there? Unless you pushed her on purpose!¡±

    The waiter stared at the deck, chewing on his lower lip, silent and visibly unraveling.

    William advanced, the sharp click of his shoes sending a chill up the waiter¡¯s spine.

    ¡°You have a daughter, don¡¯t you? Eight years old, third grade at Choria First Elementary. Am I right?¡±

    At that, the waiter¡¯sposure cracked. His eyes darted up, wide with fear¡ªWilliam¡¯s message was clear enough.

    He broke, blurting out in a trembling voice, ¡°It was Miss Lawson! She made me do it!¡±

    Gasps rippled through the crowd. The revtion hit like a thunderp¡ªWillow had orchestrated the entire scheme.

    Panic surged through Willow as she raised her voice. ¡°That isn¡¯t true! I never told you to do any of this! I don¡¯t even know who you are!¡±

    No longer willing to shield her, the waiter abandoned his earlier story. ¡°You did this, Miss Lawson! I have every message saved on my phone. Don¡¯t try to escape responsibility! Mr. Briggs, she was the one who ordered it. She wanted Ms. Gilbert out of the picture. She was behind everything!¡±

    Whispers rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to Willow, her cheeks still marked by the tears she had just shed.

    Was it possible that the Lawson family¡¯s own daughter could be capable of something so cruel?

    Realizing she was losing support, Willow tried to sound gentle as she pleaded with William.

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    ¡°William, you know I didn¡¯t do any of that. You¡¯ve always said I was kind. I saved your life when we were little. You gave me this ne. Please, won¡¯t you believe me?¡±

    When she reached for the ne, William stopped her without a hint of warmth.

    ¡°You mean that ne on your neck? It¡¯s always been a fake. You¡¯re not the person I¡¯ve been searching for.¡±

    Everything seemed to drain from Willow¡¯s face, her eyes wide with disbelief.

    How on earth did William find out?

    She said, ¡°That¡¯s not true! I really am the one you¡¯ve been searching for!¡±

    Taking his time, William replied, choosing his words with care. ¡°You¡¯re not the person I¡¯ve been looking for.¡±

    Both Mr. and Mrs. Lawson red at William, their disappointment clear.

    ¡°William, even if Willow never knew you as a child and everything¡¯s been a misunderstanding, we can¡¯t just call off this engagement. Our families agreed to this for the sake of ourpanies. This isn¡¯t something you can decide on a whim.¡±

    Arranged marriages like theirs had nothing to do with romance. The only thing that mattered was the financial gain.

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 Chapter 486

    ?Chapter 486:

    The Lawsons and Briggs families had alreadymitted to several partnerships together.

    Any move to end the engagement now would threaten everything bothpanies had nned.

    ¡°Willow was out of line today, and she¡¯ll face the consequences when we return home. The Lawson family will take full responsibility for everything Ms. Gilbert suffered¡ªmedical bills, emotional pain, you name it.¡±

    Willow¡¯s father, Beckham Lawson¡¯s words rang out with a generosity that almost sounded rehearsed, as if Ste ought to feel grateful for his offer. All they needed was for William to stay quiet about breaking things off, and the Lawsons would agree to whatever terms he wanted.

    Even so, William remained unmoved. ¡°The Briggs Group doesn¡¯t need an arranged marriage to secure its future.¡±

    Anyone could tell which family stood to benefit most from this arrangement. The Lawsons managed to secure their partnership with the Briggs family thanks to a connection abroad.

    William¡¯s grandfather, Dexter, believed that Willow might help William manage that overseas link, hoping it would spare him the trouble of patching up Isabe¡¯s blunders just to keep the shipping route open.

    Dexter was only trying to protect William¡¯s interests.

    Still, William would have preferred to reim the route from Isabe himself than to go through with a marriage to Willow.

    Willow broke downpletely, tears streaming down her face as she nearly crumpled into Gail¡¯s arms after William made his stance clear.

    Not able to bear watching her friend in such distress, Gail pointed straight at William. ¡°How could you do this? Willow¡¯s never cared for anyone the way she cares for you!¡±

    With a mocking grin, William responded. ¡°So I¡¯m supposed to marry Willow just because she ims to love me?¡± He found the whole idea absurd.

    Gail stood speechless, unable to respond.

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    Wiping her swollen eyes, Willow lifted her head from Gail¡¯s shoulder and faced William directly.

    ¡°William, I¡¯ll apologize to Ms. Gilbert. If that¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll even kneel. Everything I¡¯ve done, I did it because I love you. Can¡¯t you forgive me, just this once, after everything we¡¯ve been through?¡±

    Sharon, catching the sound of Willow¡¯s pitiful plea, let out augh. ¡°Saying sorry on your knees isn¡¯t going to fix anything. If you want to show you¡¯re sorry, why don¡¯t you jump into the sea and stay there for five minutes? But even then, you won¡¯t wipe away what you put Stel through. Understand?¡± Josie, for once, found herself siding with Sharon.

    Tears still streaking her face, Willow edged closer to Ste. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, please have mercy. I can¡¯t go on without William. Name your price. Just let me have him back!¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t asked for any of this. She¡¯d simplye here to secure a deal with Jon, not to end up caught in a web of someone else¡¯s problems.

    Yet the way Willow spoke, anyone would think Ste was the viin trying to snatch William away.

    By now, Willow¡¯s desperate pleading only seemed pathetic to Ste.

    ¡°Miss Lawson, whatever is happening between you and Mr. Briggs isn¡¯t my concern. If you want to be with him, talk to him directly. He¡¯s not a trophy anyone can just hand over. Even if I told you to take him, that wouldn¡¯t change a thing.¡±

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 Chapter 487

    ?Chapter 487:

    Willow¡¯s face went ghost-pale. She opened her mouth to say something, but before a word could leave her lips, the sharp wail of police sirens tore through the night.

    She whipped her head toward William, her voice shaking. ¡°William¡­ did you call the cops?¡±

    As the words left her mouth, several speedboats pulled up around the ship, their shing lights cutting through the dark water. Officers stepped out, stern-faced, badges raised.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Willow Lawson?¡± one of them called out.

    They didn¡¯t wait for an answer. Their eyes locked on Willow, and they moved straight toward her.

    ¡°Ms. Lawson, you¡¯re under suspicion for attempted murder. You need toe with us.¡±

    Willow panicked, grabbing her mother¡¯s arm in a death grip, her whole body trembling. ¡°No, no! There¡¯s a mistake! I didn¡¯t try to kill anyone! You¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡±

    But the officers didn¡¯t budge. One of them cut her off coldly. ¡°If it¡¯s a mistake, we¡¯ll sort it out at the station. Don¡¯t interfere with official business.¡±

    Willow¡¯s protests died on her lips. Her face crumbled as the reality sank in¡ªshe had no way out.

    Just as her parents started stepping in to defend her, one of the officers turned toward them. ¡°Which of you are Beckham Lawson and Leona Lawson?¡±

    Leona and Beckham looked stunned. ¡°That¡¯s us. What¡¯s this about?¡±

    The officer¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, you¡¯re suspected of involvement in smuggling. We¡¯ll need you toe with us as well.¡±

    The entire deck erupted in murmurs.

    Smuggling?

    That was serious.

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    Nobody had seen thating. The Lawson family had always looked squeaky clean¡ªat least on the surface.

    Beckham froze, his face going stiff. Then his gaze shifted to William, realization dawning. ¡°You. You tipped them off, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    William smirked, not even trying to hide it. ¡°What, you really thought your little international smuggling gig would stay under wraps forever?¡±

    The Lawsons¡¯ meteoric rise in Choria had always felt too fast to be clean.

    William knew exactly what they¡¯d done. And now, so did everyone else. Willow, already cuffed, stared wide-eyed at her parents. She looked like someone had pulled the floor out from under her.

    The officers led Willow and her parents off the ship and onto the waiting boats, ready to head for shore.

    The masquerade ball had officially gone off the rails.

    It was supposed to be a carefree night on the water, but thanks to Willow¡¯s mess, the ship docked early, and the party was cut short. The mood was wrecked.

    As everyone disembarked, Sharon and Josie nked Ste on either side, concern written all over their faces. ¡°Stel, you okay? Want to hit the hospital just in case?¡± Josie asked gently.

    Ste shook her head. ¡°Nah. Just a bit of a headache. I¡¯ll swing by a pharmacy and grab somethingter.¡±

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 Chapter 488

    ?Chapter 488:

    She hated the antiseptic smell of hospitals. After a hot shower, she¡¯d be fine. But just as she was about to slide into Sharon¡¯s car, she heard footsteps jogging up behind her. ¡°Ride with me. I¡¯ll take you home,¡± William said. Sharon and Josie exchanged a quick nce and stepped aside without a word, letting him through. Ste¡¯s brow creased. ¡°We¡¯re not headed the same way, Mr. Briggs. No need to go out of your way.¡±

    She reached for Sharon¡¯s door handle again, but William caught her wrist gently. ¡°I¡¯ve got an apartment near your ce. I¡¯m going there tonight anyway. It¡¯s really no trouble.¡±

    Sharon and Josie immediately caught on. There was more to this than just convenience.

    ¡°Stel, I just remembered¡ªI¡¯m running on fumes. No way my car¡¯s making it to your ce,¡± Sharon said quickly. ¡°Go with Mr. Briggs. We¡¯ll feel better knowing he¡¯s got you.¡±

    Before Ste could argue, both Sharon and Josie slid into their cars and drove off like they had a dinner reservation they couldn¡¯t miss.

    Ste stood there, speechless.

    Were those two really her friends?

    They had just straight-up abandoned her¡­ to William.

    Once Sharon and Josie sped off, William turned to Ste, his tone suddenly gentler, almost coaxing. ¡°Your friends took off. This is the harbor¡ªyou can¡¯t just catch a taxi out here. Let me give you a ride.¡±

    Ste simmered, feeling thoroughly used by everyone tonight. Still, William had a point. Taxis never came out here. Swallowing her pride, she trailed after him and slid into the back of his Bentley.

    Up front, Luca shed a sly grin, the barest twitch at the corner of his mouth. In his mind, William was a master, weaving the perfect excuse¡ªone no one could reasonably refuse.

    Out in the parking lot, Josie was halfway to the exit when a figure stepped right in front of her car, forcing her to m on the brakes. Her hands clenched the steering wheel as she recognized Steven looming ahead, calm and unmoving.

    He took his time walking to the passenger window and tapped, his knuckles sharp against the ss. With a frustrated sigh, Josie lowered the window, barely containing her irritation. ¡°What is it now, Mr. Harrison?¡±

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    Steven leaned into his usual charm, shing a broad grin. ¡°Ms. Patel, any chance you could give me a ride? My car just gave up on me.¡±

    Josie shot him a skeptical look. She¡¯d seen him park earlier¡ªhis car hadn¡¯t made a single odd noise. Now, all of a sudden, it was broken down?

    ¡°We¡¯re not headed the same direction,¡± she replied aloofly.

    As she started to roll up her window, Steven reached out to stall her. ¡°How would you know, Ms. Patel? You don¡¯t even know my address. Just drop me anywhere past the busy harbor. I¡¯ll be out of your way.¡±

    He blinked those deceptively earnest eyes at her, piling on the innocence. Josie sighed sharply, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got too much on my te. Besides, with your money and all those connections, getting a ride shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you. I¡¯m not your driver.¡±

    She snapped the window shut, shutting him down before he could get another word in, and hit the gas so hard Steven stumbled back from the curb. Still, he watched her taillights vanish into the distance, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

    With a quiet smile, Steven mused, ¡°Josie¡¯s definitely one fascinating woman.¡±

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 Chapter 489

    ?Chapter 489:

    William¡¯s car glided away from the dock, the hum of the engine blending with the distant sounds of the harbor. He threw a pointed look at Luca. ¡°Take us to the hospital.¡±

    Luca obeyed with a practiced flick of the wheel, his eyes steady on the road. In the back seat, Ste frowned, baffled. ¡°Why are we going there?¡±

    William didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°You were soaked in freezing water. We need a doctor to make sure you¡¯re really alright.¡±

    Ste crossed her arms, clearly irritated. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. No need to make a fuss over it.¡±

    He ignored her pushbackpletely, while Luca kept driving without missing a beat.

    Realizing there was no winning this argument, Ste slumped against the leather seat and mped her mouth shut.

    Minutester, they rolled up to the hospital¡¯s entrance. William moved fast, arranging for Ste to see a doctor without dy.

    The doctor stepped into the waiting area, fully prepared for a crisis, only to find three people who looked perfectly robust and unscathed. His gaze lingered, searching for the supposed emergency.

    He raised a brow, a hint of skepticism in his voice. ¡°Alright, who¡¯s the patient? What seems to be the trouble?¡±

    William stepped forward, his tone grave. ¡°She fell into the sea and almost drowned. Please run a full check-up, just to be safe.¡±

    The doctor shot Ste a quick, skeptical look after William¡¯s exnation. ¡°You fell into the sea? Come with me.¡±

    A battery of tests and an hour of sterile fluorescent lightingter, Ste finally had her results in hand.

    The doctor rifled through the stack, his face unreadable, then set the papers down with a reassuring nod.

    ¡°You¡¯re in perfect shape. Maybe a slight chill, but nothing worth worrying about. Go home, stay warm, and you¡¯ll be just fine.¡±

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    His tone was courteous, but it was clear he thought they¡¯d wasted a perfectly good emergency slot.

    ¡°Thanks, doctor,¡± Ste replied, forcing a polite smile.

    Ste strode out of the exam room, clutching her medical report, and barely nced at William before thrusting the stack into his hands.

    William met her re with an uneasy smile, flipping through the pages just to be sure. Once satisfied she was genuinely fine, he hurried after her, Luca right behind.

    ¡°Come on¡ªlet¡¯s get you home,¡± William insisted, gesturing toward the car. But after everything, with midnight pressing in around them, Ste¡¯s patience snapped.

    ¡°If I get in your car, where exactly are you nning to take me this time¡ªwithout even bothering to ask me first?¡±

    Luca began, ¡°Ms. Russell, Mr. Briggs is just thinking about your well-being¡­¡±

    Before he could say more, Ste spoke up, her patience worn thin. ¡°If he truly cared, he would have taken me home instead of dragging me off to the hospital and pretending it was for my own good!¡±

    Luca didn¡¯t expect that. He looked down, let out a quiet sigh, and realized he should leave the two alone to settle things. With that, he slipped away to the car.

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 Chapter 490

    ?Chapter 490:

    William studied Ste, a slight crease forming on his forehead. ¡°What¡¯s so wrong about getting checked out? It¡¯s for your own reassurance.¡±

    William didn¡¯t raise his voice or get defensive. His steady tone made Ste feel like she was talking to a wall, which only fueled her irritation.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, could you quit acting like everyone should listen to you? I have a mind of my own, believe it or not!¡±

    At the start, when Ste worked alongside William, she had figured he was just distant but manageable. Now, after spending more time around him, she realized he had a habit of taking charge and making decisions for her.

    Even if he meant well, Ste had no interest in living ording to his decisions. What she wanted was to be respected and understood. She wasn¡¯t some helpless girl who needed to rely on him.

    William noticed how genuinely upset Ste had be, so he kept quiet, choosing not to argue.

    Meanwhile, Ste couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Everything she¡¯d held inside came pouring out.

    ¡°And another thing¡ªthis whole situation with you and Willow. I¡¯ve said again and again, it¡¯s none of my business. You don¡¯t have feelings for her, but dragging me into it just to cover for yourself? That¡¯s not fair to me.¡±

    William had a habit of hiding behind Ste whenever he wanted to avoid awkward run-ins with admirers. He always had his own reasons for staying quiet about his personal life, but that often meant Ste had to take the brunt of the fallout.

    It was one thing to be a shield against random fans, but Willow was something else entirely. She was his fianc¨¦e.

    Why should Ste have to y decoy for William, just so he could sidestep ufortable questions?

    William listened to her vent, reflecting on whether he had pushed things too far. Then Ste¡¯sst remark made him let out a dry, frustratedugh. ¡°So, you honestly believe I¡¯m just using you as a convenient excuse?¡±

    Ste hesitated before replying. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case? It keeps Willow¡¯s anger off your back and keeps the rumor mill from figuring out your sexual orientation.¡±

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    William heard her bring up his orientation and felt an odd mix of annoyance, disbelief, and humor. ¡°How many times do I need to say this? I am straight. I¡¯ve never been interested in men. I¡¯m just an ordinary guy, alright?¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression grew troubled. ¡°Fine, maybe you are just a normal guy, but that doesn¡¯t mean you get to turn me into your cover story¡­¡±

    William¡¯s patience wore thin. ¡°I have never used you like that. Everything I¡¯ve ever told you has been honest, especially when I said I was in love with you.¡±

    That admission left Ste reeling. She took a step back, her eyes wide, searching William¡¯s face. ¡°You¡­ you love¡ª¡±

    William closed the distance between them, his gaze steady. ¡°You don¡¯t have to return my feelings. You can even say you hate me. Just please, stop twisting or doubting what I¡¯ve said to you.¡±

    Pressuring Ste had never been his goal. This confession wasn¡¯t meant to corner her or demand an answer. What mattered to William was being taken seriously. He could no longer handle having his feelings treated like they didn¡¯t matter.

    For a while, Ste couldn¡¯t move or speak.

    Later, even as she sat in the car, she remained lost in thought. ¡°William¡­ loves me?¡± Ste wondered inwardly.

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 Chapter 491

    ?Chapter 491:

    The ride home was dead silent. Tension hung thick in the air. Luca kept sneaking nces at the rearview mirror, trying to gauge what was going on in the back seat.

    William¡¯s voice came low and cold. ¡°Eyes on the road. If you can¡¯t manage that, you won¡¯t need them.¡±

    Luca shuddered and immediately snapped his gaze forward, not daring another peek.

    When they pulled up to Ste¡¯s ce, she remainedpletely still, zoning out. She didn¡¯t make a move to get out.

    William finally spoke up. ¡°Not nning on going in?¡±

    That snapped her out of it. She jolted upright, scrambling to open the door, moving so fast she nearly tripped getting out. William let out a quiet sigh as she disappeared into the building.

    Once she was gone, he leaned back and told Luca, ¡°Drive.¡±

    As the car pulled away, Luca hesitated before asking, ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ did Ms. Russell seem a little shaken up to you?¡±

    William pinched the bridge of his nose, tired and exasperated. ¡°Did you not see her reaction? Of course, she was freaked out.¡±

    Luca went quiet, then cautiously said, ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe you should apologize. Sometimes we upset people without realizing it. A few kind words might help.¡±

    William shot him a sidelong nce. ¡°Luca, don¡¯t talk about things you don¡¯t understand.¡±

    Luca stiffened, unsure what he¡¯d said wrong this time.

    William leaned his head back, closing his eyes as the night reyed in his mind. He sighed, low and heavy.

    He had always told himself not to push Ste too fast, too soon. He didn¡¯t want to scare her off by being too honest.

    But now that everything hade out, there was no turning back. And he had no idea what came next.

    Back at her ce, Ste barely changed clothes before copsing into bed. Her head was still spinning.

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    The next morning, she was jolted awake by a phone call¡ªfrom the police station. Willow wanted to see her.

    Ste blinked, confused. Still groggy, she debated it for a second, then got dressed and drove over.

    Right as she pulled into the station, another car stopped beside her¡ªand William stepped out. In that moment, she realized Willow had called them both. Their eyes met briefly, but neither said a word. Together, they walked inside. After hearing why they were there, the officers led them to Willow¡¯s holding room.

    Willow¡¯s attempted murder charge was rock-solid. The ship¡¯s surveince footage, plus the waiter¡¯s statement, left no room for doubt.

    And with the smuggling charges against her parents, it looked like the whole Lawson family might be going down together.

    Willow¡¯s eyes were zing as soon as she saw them walk in. She locked onto Ste first, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°Ste, why did you have to steal what¡¯s mine?¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯t shocked that Willow knew her real name and responded coolly, ¡°Steal what? Mr. Briggs? Mr. Briggs, do you consider yourself an object?¡±

    William¡¯s expression didn¡¯t shift. Cold and t, he said, ¡°If you¡¯ve got hate, aim it at me.¡± He looked directly at Willow. ¡°This has nothing to do with Ste. She didn¡¯t know anything.¡±

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 Chapter 492

    ?Chapter 492:

    Both women were caught off guard by that.

    Ste hadn¡¯t expected him to take the me on himself like that. And Willow definitely hadn¡¯t expected him to go this far for Ste.

    ¡°So you knew I was a fake the whole time¡­ and never loved me?¡± Willow¡¯s voice cracked, a mix of disbelief and desperation. She was still clinging to the hope that something between them had been real.

    But William didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Yeah. It was all fake from the beginning.¡±

    Willow¡¯s eyes filled with tears again. ¡°So you used me¡­ to get ess to my family¡¯s shipping routes?¡±

    Now that the Lawsons were caught, those routes were wide open¡ªWilliam could im them without paying a cent.

    ¡°You already know the answer, Willow,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Why ask?¡±

    Willow let out a bitterugh. ¡°Wow, William, you really are something else. Cold. Calcted. You never loved me, yet you pretended to be so devoted. Are you doing the same thing with Ste now?¡±

    William¡¯s gaze flickered at her words, but he stayed firm. ¡°No. Ste¡¯s not like you.¡±

    Willow scoffed. ¡°Ste, the two of you will never be happy together.¡± And with that, she turned away.

    Ste stood there, lips pressed into a thin line. So William had been using Willow all along? That was¡­ unexpected.

    After leaving the police station together, William turned to Ste. ¡°You¡¯re not nning to back out of our partnership just because of what happenedst night, are you?¡±

    Ste met his gaze, her tone firm. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I can separate business from everything else.¡±

    Turning down a paycheck had never been her style.

    William let out a quietugh. That was the Ste he knew¡ªalways keeping her professional life in onene and her personal feelings in another.

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    Of course, sticking to those boundaries was often harder than it sounded. Throughout the next several days, Ste spent plenty of time with William, sorting out details for the Neb Group¡¯s project.

    Each time he caught sight of her concentrating on the work, William found his mind drifting back to other things.

    It seemed like Ste had chosen to erase his confession from memory.

    Since she never mentioned it, William decided not to bring it up either.

    One day, after Ste finished outlining her thoughts on the Neb Group¡¯s newest venture, William nodded in agreement. ¡°Good suggestions, Ste. Steven just texted. We¡¯re meeting for dinner tonight. You¡¯ll have a chance to go over your ideas with him then.¡±

    That evening, Ste rode through Choria¡¯s bustling downtown in William¡¯s Bentley. When they parked, she stepped out from the passenger seat and made her way toward a popr restaurant, lights from the shopping district shining around them.

    William matched her stride, keeping a respectful distance, yet anyone watching would have thought they belonged together.

    ¡°Look at those two. Absolute stunners,¡± someone whispered nearby. ¡°Pretty people just flock together, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re a perfect pair. If those two aren¡¯t dating, then love must be a lie!¡± Marc emerged from the mall entrance just in time to catch the murmurs.

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 Chapter 493

    ?Chapter 493:

    Spotting Ste with William instantly soured his mood.

    Back on the cruise ship, Marc had finally gotten a chance towork with Jon, only to have Ste throw a wrench into everything. After that, Jon ignored every call and message Marc sent.

    With the Walsh Group teetering on the edge, Marc found himself scrambling to find anyone willing to partner up.

    While Marc was buried in stress, Ste looked like she was thriving, walking beside William without a care.

    He watched Ste, a heavy mix of envy and regret welling up inside him. Leaving Marc had changed everything for Ste, and he couldn¡¯t stand how much better off she seemed without him.

    Marc couldn¡¯t help but regret picking Haley and chasing quick rewards instead of holding on to Ste, but seeing how quickly she¡¯d built a new life stung even more.

    Frustration took hold, and Marc found himself trailing after Ste and William as they headed for dinner.

    Marc followed them right up to the restaurant¡¯s doors.

    When William stepped outside to answer a phone call, Marc seized the moment and hurried over to Ste.

    ¡°Stel!¡±

    That seemingly devoted and sorrowful tone made Ste¡¯s patience run thin.

    She couldn¡¯t believe Marc was showing up again.

    ¡°Stel, just give me one more chance. I swear I mean it this time. If Doreen¡¯s the problem, I¡¯ll have her abort the baby and send her out of the country. She won¡¯t get in our way anymore.¡±

    Marc¡¯s disy of phony emotion made Ste want tough out loud. She remembered seeing Marc slip away to meet with Willow in secret on the ship.

    Whatever Marc and Willow did back then, Ste was certain it was nothing good.

    ¡°Back on the cruise ship, you were cursing me in front of Mr. Warden. Now you¡¯re here begging for forgiveness? What, did you develop a split personality or something?¡±

    Your next favorite is on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s£®??o??

    One moment, Marc was badmouthing Ste. Next, he was chasing after her, hoping for another chance. If that wasn¡¯t hypocritical, Ste didn¡¯t know what was.

    Embarrassment colored Marc¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Stel, I¡¯m really sorry. Sometimes I say things I don¡¯t mean, but you¡¯ve always meant something to me!¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°If you cared at all, you wouldn¡¯t have thought you could hide from meeting Willow. Did you forget the security cameras picked up everything?¡±

    Marc froze, eyes wide, clearly stunned that Ste knew about his meeting with Willow. Panic red across his face.

    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Stel,¡± he blurted. ¡°I saw her, yeah¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t to set you up!¡±

    Ste had zero interest in hearing his excuses. She gged down a waiter without even looking at Marc. ¡°I don¡¯t know this guy, and he¡¯s ruining my dinner. Can you get him out of here?¡±

    The waiter hesitated. Marc was dressed sharply and didn¡¯t exactly look like someone causing trouble. Still, he stepped in. ¡°Sir, please leave.¡±

    Marc felt heat rise in his face¡ªanger, humiliation, the whole mix. But with the restaurant packed, making a scene would only make things worse. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep it together. Right then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

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 Chapter 494

    ?Chapter 494:

    Annoyed, he yanked it out to hang up, but when he saw the caller ID, his expression shifted. He turned and stormed out of the restaurant.

    A few secondster, William returned from his call and sat back down. ¡°I just saw Marc leaving. Did he bother you?¡± he asked quietly.

    Ste raised an eyebrow. ¡°He did.¡±

    William¡¯s face darkened. He¡¯d only stepped out for a moment, and Marc had still found a way to swoop in?

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t let it get to me,¡± Ste added coolly.

    Outside, Marc picked up the call. Doreen¡¯s voice came through soft but careful. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ next month¡¯s almost here, and you haven¡¯t sent the support for the baby yet.¡±

    Marc had promised her money every month¡ªnot just for the baby, but to keep her healthy. Even though he still nned on having her get rid of the pregnancy, cutting her off financially hadn¡¯t been the n.

    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll transfer it now,¡± he said, pulling out his banking app.

    Doreen hesitated, then added, ¡°Um¡­ could you send a bit extra this time? I¡¯ve hit a little snag. Nothing serious¡ªI¡¯ll pay you back.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t even blink. He doubled the usual amount and hit send. ¡°It¡¯s done. You¡¯ll see it in your ount in a couple of hours.¡±

    Doreen¡¯s voice lit up. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Walsh! You¡¯re so generous. I swear I¡¯ll pay you back.¡±

    Marc winced. The way she sounded so grateful only made him feel worse. If she actually went through with the termination, it might wreck her¡ªphysically, emotionally, or both.

    ¡°No need to pay me back,¡± he said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Just take care of what you need to.¡±

    Doreen showered him with thanks, her tone chipper and sweet.

    After the call ended, Marc stood in the middle of the busy mall, gave the restaurant onest bitter look, and walked away.

    Meanwhile, Doreen¡¯s phone pinged with the bank alert. She opened her app, saw the amount, and immediately forwarded the entire sum to her mother¡ªra Greville.

    ¡°I¡¯ve sent the money. Can you leave now?¡± Doreen¡¯s voice was t, her tone cold. She didn¡¯t bother hiding her impatience as she looked at the middle-aged woman in front of her.

    ra¡¯s eyes narrowed. She smacked Doreen hard on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s how you talk to your own mother? I raised you! Fed you! It¡¯s your job to take care of me now!¡±

    She pulled out her phone, saw the string of zeroes, and lit up like a Christmas tree.

    ra gave Doreen a long, calcting look. Doreen had made just one call and pulled in that kind of money? That man she was seeing must be loaded.

    ra started doing mental math. Her grin widened.

    She leaned in, sweetening her tone. ¡°Doreen, you know your brother wants to get married. But how¡¯s he supposed to, with no house or car? You¡¯re doing well now¡­ shouldn¡¯t you help him out?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s face instantly soured. Her brother? The golden child who got everything while she got leftovers? She didn¡¯t even like the guy.

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 Chapter 495

    ?Chapter 495:

    And now she was supposed to buy him a car and a house when she didn¡¯t even have those things herself?

    She pushed ra¡¯s hand off her shoulder, irritated. ¡°I just squeezed that money out of him. If I ask for more now, he¡¯ll dump me. Then your son¡¯s car and house are toast.¡±

    ra stiffened. That snapped her right back to reality. Doreen was her golden ticket. She couldn¡¯t risk blowing this.

    ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll do it your way. I won¡¯t show up again. Just¡­ pick up when I call, okay? If I have toe back, it won¡¯t be pretty.¡±

    Doreen rolled her eyes. ¡°Got it. Just go already.¡±

    She¡¯d tried to keep everything under wraps, but ra still sniffed it out. Now that her mother hadtched on, Doreen knew she¡¯d never hear the end of it.

    Ste¡¯s meeting with Steven had gone better than expected ¡ª both of them were pleased with the proposal. Even the client was convinced.

    Later that day, after wrapping up her follow-up with the client, Ste was heading to her car when she heard someone call out behind her.

    She turned and spotted Shaun walking toward her.

    ¡°Syl, long time no see. You here on a project too?¡±

    Ste gave a polite nod. ¡°Small world, Mr. Smith.¡±

    Her tone was cool, and the ¡°Mr. Smith¡± was intentional. It put distance between them. Meanwhile, Shaun¡¯s use of ¡°Syl¡± sounded too familiar, as if they were still close. They weren¡¯t.

    But Shaun either didn¡¯t notice or pretended not to. ¡°I¡¯m still bummed ourst deal tanked. You up for another gig?¡± he asked.

    Ste wasn¡¯t opposed to a solid paycheck, but anything connected to Shaun still made her wary ¡ª especially after that mess with Nixon.

    Now that she had her footing at Neb Group, the projects were bigger, and the paychecks didn¡¯te with strings attached.

    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Smith,¡± she said firmly. ¡°My schedule¡¯s full. Can¡¯t take on your project.¡±

    Your favorite stories are on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s?c?m

    Shaun waved it off casually. ¡°No problem. Another time.¡±

    Then his gaze lingered a little too long. ¡°Still¡­ it¡¯s been forever. At least grab dinner with me?¡±

    It was one of those requests that was hard to decline withouting off as rude or burning bridges.

    Just as she opened her mouth toe up with a gentle excuse, her phone buzzed from inside her bag.

    Saved by the bell. ¡°Sorry,¡± Ste said, giving him a quick smile as she answered the call.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, we¡¯ve got a situation at the art gallery!¡±

    Ste¡¯s posture stiffened. ¡°What kind of situation?¡±

    ¡°One of the paintings¡ªit got sshed with paint. It wasn¡¯t framed yet, and we can¡¯t clean it off. It lookspletely ruined.¡±

    Her heart sank. These weren¡¯t student sketches¡ªthey were high-end pieces, each worth six figures minimum. If even one got destroyed¡­

    ¡°Alright. Stay put. I¡¯m on my way.¡±

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 Chapter 496

    ?Chapter 496:

    She hung up, ready to tell Shaun she had to go, but he beat her to it.

    ¡°Trouble?¡± he asked, already guessing. ¡°Let mee with you. Maybe I can help.¡±

    Ste hesitated. She hadn¡¯t expected that. Still, she nodded and went on first. They arrived at the gallery in no time.

    The staff rushed to meet her and led her straight to the back office. ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± one of them said, looking nervous, ¡°we tried everything. The paint won¡¯te off. We might have to call it a total loss.¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression darkened.

    ¡°A total loss?¡± she echoed, her voice sharp. ¡°Do you have any idea how much it costs to write off a piece like this? The artist trusted us to disy his work. Now it¡¯s ruined¡ªand we still have to paypensation. What are we even supposed to hang in its ce?¡±

    She wasn¡¯t trying tosh out, but this wasn¡¯t some minor hup. It was a full-blown disaster.

    The staff just stood there, stating the problem with no fix in sight. What good did that do?

    Seeing how frustrated she was, none of them dared to say a word. They kept their heads down, quietly owning up to the mess.

    Three days. That was all they had until opening night. Where the hell was she supposed to find a new artist on such short notice? And how was she going to smooth things over with the original one?

    Ste¡¯s mind was spinning. She had never felt this cornered.

    Off to the side, Shaun stepped closer, eyes locked on the ruined canvas. He squinted at the name scrawled in the corner, then turned to her.

    ¡°Syl,¡± he said, low and steady. ¡°I know this painter. I can take you to him.¡±

    Ste spun around to face Shaun, excitement lighting up her eyes. ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    The gallery was packed with art, and Ste couldn¡¯t possibly know every artist who¡¯d contributed.

    Stories live now on galn¦Ò??????????o??

    ¡°Is he actually here in Choria right now?¡± she asked.

    Shaun paused, considering it for a moment. ¡°He should be around. Give me a second¡ªI¡¯ll call and check right now.¡±

    Ste nodded, her anticipation growing as she watched Shaun dial. She already felt some of her stress melt away.

    With only three days left, Ste thought that if she could talk the artist into creating something new, they might just pull off a miracle.

    First, though, she had to find a way to pay for the damaged painting.

    Shaun returned a momentter, a satisfied smile on his lips. ¡°He¡¯s here in Choria, sketching at the moment. If you¡¯re avable, we can go meet him this afternoon.¡±

    Ste admired how fast Shaun got things done and readily agreed to go along. Barely had Ste and Shaun left when a staff member¡¯s phone rang. Steven was on the other end, calling for a project update.

    The staff member gave Steven a rundown of everything that had just happened. When Steven found out Sylvia had headed to the site with some guy, he didn¡¯t waste any time.

    ¡°Do you know who the guy is?¡± Steven asked. He knew William had feelings for Sylvia.

    Steven wasn¡¯t about to y matchmaker, but he didn¡¯t want to see William lose out to another man.

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 Chapter 497

    ?Chapter 497:

    The staffer sounded uncertain. ¡°No idea. But I did hear him call Ms. Gilbert ¡®Syl.¡¯ Could it be her boyfriend?¡±

    Steven hung up right away and called William.

    William was probably buried in hisb, oblivious to the fact that someone else might be moving in on Sylvia.

    When Steven¡¯s call came through, William was still in a meeting and declined it without looking.

    Not backing down, Steven shot him a quick message: ¡°Sylvia¡¯s out with another guy. Are you just going to sit there?¡±

    Less than a minuteter, William called Steven back.

    Steven let out a little snort, amused by how quickly William responded when it involved Sylvia.

    ¡°Wow, William. Ignore my calls all you want, but the minute I mention Sylvia, you¡¯re suddenly free. What a loyal friend you are.¡±

    William wasn¡¯t interested in Steven¡¯s jokes. ¡°Who¡¯s with her?¡±

    Steven couldn¡¯t help butugh at how serious William sounded.

    ¡°The guy called her Syl. Sounded like they¡¯re pretty close. What if Sylvia¡¯s got a secret boyfriend? Looks like your shot at romance ended before it began. Tough break, man!¡±

    As soon as Steven finished talking, William ended the call.

    Only one person ever called Ste ¡°Syl,¡± and that was Shaun.

    William had thought whatever was between Ste and Shaun was over, but it looked like things weren¡¯t as settled as he believed.

    While the meeting was still going, William leaned over to Luca. ¡°Find out where Ste is right now.¡±

    Luca blinked, surprised by the request, but hurried off to get the information without protest.

    The rest of the meeting crawled by for William, his thoughts far from work. As soon as it wrapped up, he rushed to his office to check on Luca¡¯s update.

    Explore captivating tales on g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell¡¯s car is parked on Marigny Avenue,¡± Luca reported. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent you the location.¡±

    William¡¯s tense look softened just a little. He made his way straight to the elevator.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you¡¯re supposed to meet with the partners next!¡±

    William didn¡¯t look back. ¡°Let the nning team handle it.¡±

    Watching him disappear behind the elevator doors, Luca could only shake his head. For William, nothing came before Ste.

    Shaun brought Ste to meet Adolf Cullen, the artist behind the ruined painting at the gallery.

    Ste had been worried he¡¯d be furious about the damage, but to her surprise, Adolf was incrediblyid-back. Not only was he not upset, but he even offered to create a brand-new piece, free of charge, ready by the day after tomorrow. Ste quickly did the math. The gallery wasn¡¯t opening until then anyway, so the timing was perfect. Relieved and genuinely grateful, she thanked Adolf repeatedly, her mood lifting like a weight had been taken off her shoulders.

    ¡°No need to thank me,¡± Adolf said, brushing off her gratitude with a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯m just excited to be part of your exhibit. It¡¯s actually my first time showcasing in a gallery.¡±

    Adolf was quickly making a name for himself in the art world, nearly rivaling Sterion¡¯s fame. Ste had long been curious about him, but she hadn¡¯t expected to cross paths with him today, much less because of Shaun.

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 Chapter 498

    ?Chapter 498:

    ¡°Your art has such a distinct energy, Adolf. I¡¯m sure people will really connect with it. Keep going, and don¡¯t let anything stop you!¡±

    Ste¡¯s kind words lit up Adolf¡¯s face. Feeling pumped, he invited them both to dinner, unable to hide his enthusiasm.

    But before Ste could respond, Shaun chimed in with a grin, ¡°You¡¯ve gotta make a reservation to dine with thisdy, Adolf. I beat you to it today, so next time, act faster.¡±

    Adolf gave Shaun a light punch to the arm, halfughing and half-exasperated at his shamelessness.

    As they walked away from Adolf¡¯s studio, Ste turned to Shaun curiously. ¡°Mr. Smith, are you two old friends?¡±

    Shaun chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Would you believe me if I told you we¡¯ve only known each other a week?¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise. ¡°Seriously? You two act like you go way back.¡±

    Shaun shrugged, his usual easygoing grin still in ce. ¡°You don¡¯t need years to click with someone, Syl. Sometimes, a week¡¯s enough to tell if someone¡¯s good friend material. Anything longer is just dragging things out.¡±

    Ste fell quiet, reflecting on his words.

    Maybe that was why Shaun started calling her ¡°Syl¡± so quickly, without hesitation.

    Maybe he was just naturally warm and open, while she had been too guarded to notice his friendly nature.

    Shaun tilted his head slightly and shot her a cheeky smile. ¡°Feel like grabbing something to eat?¡±

    Considering how much Shaun had done for hertely, Ste figured she owed him a proper thank-you.

    She said, ¡°There¡¯s a mall just up the road. Let¡¯s go see what they¡¯ve got.¡± Shaun, ever agreeable, didn¡¯t argue and simply followed along as she led the way toward the mall.

    But just as they neared the mall, a sudden uproar caught Ste¡¯s attention. She turned toward the source of the noise and spotted a crowd forming, most likely around the scene of a car ident.

    Fresh content live on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls?c?m

    Her first reaction was to avoid it entirely, but something about the parked car with its hazard lights blinking drew her in. As she approached, a chill ran down her spine. She recognized the license te instantly¡ªit was William¡¯s Bentley. Her heart pounded as she rushed forward, eyes locking onto the inted airbags pressed against the driver¡¯s seat. William¡¯s head was slumped behind them, barely visible.

    Panic surged. Her voice trembled as she turned to Shaun. ¡°Call 911. Now.¡± Without hesitation, Ste darted to the driver¡¯s side.

    ¡°William! Wake up!¡± she cried.

    Her chest tightened with dread, her pulse thudding in her ears.

    She had no idea where he might be hurt and didn¡¯t dare move him in case it made things worse.

    William stirred, his eyes fluttering open. When he saw her panicked face, he weakly lifted a hand and ced it over hers. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ don¡¯t worry¡­¡± he murmured.

    Even now, half-conscious, he was trying to reassure her? Ste felt a lump rise in her throat.

    Thankfully, the ambnce arrived quickly and whisked him away to the hospital in under ten minutes.

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 Chapter 499

    ?Chapter 499:

    Outside the emergency room, Ste turned to Shaun with a guilty look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Smith. Looks like dinner¡¯s not happening after all.¡±

    Shaun gave her a calm smile and shrugged. ¡°No worries. We¡¯ll try again tomorrow.¡±

    Ste stood frozen in front of the emergency room doors, her mind whirling with worry about how William was doing inside.

    While she was lost in thought, a nurse stepped out and called, ¡°Who¡¯s here for Mr. Briggs?¡±

    Without hesitation, Ste stepped forward. ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± she blurted.

    The nurse gave her a quick once-over. ¡°Come along¡ªhe needs someone to assist with his medication.¡±

    As she started walking behind the nurse, she looked over her shoulder at Shaun. ¡°You should go, Mr. Smith. No need to wait around. I¡¯ll catch up with youter.¡±

    Ste disappeared into the ER, leaving Shaun behind for a brief moment. A faint, wry smile tugged at his lips as he finally turned and walked away.

    In the emergency room, Ste looked at William¡¯s scratched forehead. The sight made something inside her twist ufortably.

    She turned to the nurse nearby and asked softly, ¡°Is he going to be okay?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± the nurse replied casually. ¡°Just a small scratch. A bit of ointment and he¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Ste frowned. ¡°Then why did you call me in?¡±

    The nurse hesitated, then nced over at William with a helpless look. ¡°He refused treatment unless we got you here.¡±

    Ste blinked,pletely caught off guard. She didn¡¯t know what to say. Just then, William opened his eyes, his gaze immediately locking onto hers.

    ¡°What were you doing with Shaun?¡±

    The question caught Stepletely off guard. ¡°Are you seriously asking me that right now?¡± she said, disbelief written all over her face.

    L?t??¦Ó §éh?¦Ñ¦Ó?r? ¦Én g¨»l??¦Ïv?l?.§ão??

    He had just been in an ident, yet the first thing on his mind wasn¡¯t his injury¡ªit was her and Shaun?

    William¡¯s face remained calm, unfazed by her reaction. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I ask?¡±

    There was a time, back when she had no idea how he felt about her, when Ste would¡¯ve brushed this off as peculiarity, maybe even borderline insane. But now that she knew how he felt¡­ she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to snap at him like before. Notpletely.

    Ste let out a quiet breath, feeling cornered. ¡°Mr. Smith and I are nothing more than business partners. That¡¯s all,¡± she said, keeping her voice even.

    William¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What sort of work are you doing together now?¡±

    Hadn¡¯t the whole Nixon fiasco taught her to be more cautious? That was what he wanted to say.

    ¡°Just the project we¡¯ve been working on,¡± she said. ¡°I happened to run into him today. There was a problem with the gallery, and he happened to know the painter who could help. He introduced us. I was going to buy him dinner as a thank-you, and then we saw your crash before we even made it to the restaurant.¡±

    Sheid out the entire sequence like a checklist, her tone clipped. ¡°So now you know. Satisfied?¡±

    William raised a skeptical eyebrow. ¡°Choria¡¯s a huge city. And yet you and Shaun keep bumping into each other¡­ what are the odds?¡±

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 Chapter 500

    Chapter 500:

    If William recalled correctly, Shaun had a way of conveniently showing up wherever Ste went.

    Ste had had enough. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mr. Briggs!¡± she snapped. ¡°Who I see or spend time with is my business. I answered you out of basic respect, but clearly, you don¡¯t even understand what that means!¡±

    With a huff of frustration, Ste spun on her heel and stormed out of the emergency room.

    William hadn¡¯t seen thating. Her sudden re of temper caught himpletely off guard. Without thinking twice, he swung his legs off the bed and went after her.

    The nurse stood quietly to the side, pretending not to listen in. She just wanted to wrap up the treatment and move on. With them gone, she hesitated¡ªwas there even a point in applying the ointment now?

    In the hallway, Ste fumed. So what if William had feelings for her? That didn¡¯t give him the right to interrogate her like that.

    Did his love mean she wasn¡¯t allowed to have male friends anymore? How was that fair?

    Just as she stepped outside, a firm grip caught her wrist. William had reached her, his voice gentle and sincere. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Ste¡¯s chest rose and fell as she looked at him. His sharp features were tense, but his expression had none of the arrogance he¡¯d shown earlier. Now, there was only a quiet kind of regret in his eyes.

    ¡°Why are you apologizing, Mr. Briggs?¡± Her tone was calm, but there was still a bite to it.

    William didn¡¯t flinch. His eyes stayed locked on hers.

    ¡°I was only worried about you,¡± he said softly. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡±

    He had warned her about Shaun before, insisting he was shady, yet Ste still kept running into him.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??????, the heart of fiction

    He was so desperate to stop it, he even faked a car crash just to get her away from Shaun.

    Ste frowned deeply. ¡°I don¡¯t understand your grudge against Shaun, Mr. Briggs. Maybe you misunderstood something, but he¡¯s actually helped me a lot. If it¡­

    ¡°Weren¡¯t for him, today¡¯s Neb Group project would¡¯vepletely fallen apart. Shouldn¡¯t I be thankful instead?¡±

    She could understand that William, with his business instincts, might not see eye to eye with Shaun. But from what she had seen, Shaun had never given her a reason not to trust him.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m sorry for how I came across,¡± William said, keeping calm. ¡°But I¡¯ve dealt with Shaun far longer than you have. He¡¯s not who he pretends to be. And tell me honestly, have I ever been this forceful about anyone else in your life?¡± His voice was steady, simplyying the facts out before her.

    Looking at his sincere expression, Ste¡¯s frustration slowly melted, reced by a quiet sense of uncertainty.

    William continued, ¡°Haley has the samest name, and both she and Shaun know Nixon. You¡¯re smart¡ªtell me that¡¯s just a coincidence. And if Shaun can¡¯t even see Nixon for who he really is and still chooses to work with him¡­ do you honestly believe someone like that would be trusted to run the Smith Group as its CEO?¡±

    Ste¡¯s confidence had taken a hit after hearing William¡¯s analysis.

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    Message from Noah: New novels in a few hours, hope you like them dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (?? ? ??)?

    .

 Chapter 501

    ?Chapter 501:

    She remembered the moment she¡¯d spotted those SMbeled crates at the warehouse¡ªhow, for a split second, she¡¯d doubted Shaun.

    But since then, the Smith Group had stayed strangely quiet. Not only that, Shaun had helped her a lot.

    Was it possible she¡¯d been wrong about him? So, Shaun and Haley were truly connected?

    Regret crept in as she nced at William, her anger dissolving into something gentler. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have snapped at you earlier. I hear what you¡¯re saying, but I¡¯d appreciate it if you didn¡¯t try to control my choices. Let me handle things my way, okay?¡±

    William stood there awkwardly, realizing he¡¯d overstepped. He wasn¡¯t Ste¡¯s boyfriend, and he certainly wasn¡¯t family, so he had no right to act so controlling.

    Sensing the tension ease, William let go of her wrist, his voice quiet. ¡°Alright. I get it.¡±

    Ste studied him for a moment, making sure he wasn¡¯t badly hurt. Satisfied, she offered a polite nod. ¡°You¡¯re fine, so I¡¯m heading home. See you at theb tomorrow.¡±

    He watched her walk away, regret tightening his chest.

    When she disappeared down the hall, William pressed his fingers to his temples, berating himself for letting his emotions get the better of him. He knew he¡¯dplicated things between them, turning their already shaky connection into something strained and uncertain.

    Ste slumped into the backseat of the cab, her gaze fixed on the blur of city lights sliding past the window. Her thoughts wandered aimlessly¡ªuntil she suddenly caught sight of Shaun, lingering on the sidewalk when he was supposed to be long gone.

    The taxi rolled to a stop at a red light. On instinct, Ste leaned over and cranked the window down, meaning to call out. But Shaun had already turned away, his arm raised in an enthusiastic wave to someone across the street. Curiosity prickled at Ste. She craned her neck, following Shaun¡¯s line of sight. Just as the light flicked green and the taxi lurched forward, a shadow flickered in her vision.

    For a split second, it looked like Haley.

    Ste twisted to peer through the back window, but the view had already dissolved into streaks of color. Still, she couldn¡¯t shake the certainty that it was Haley.

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    William¡¯s warning reyed in her mind, growing louder with each passing block. Was it possible that Shaun was connected to Haley after all? The thought gnawed at her.

    She barely remembered the ride home. The moment Ste set her purse down, her phone buzzed. Sharon¡¯s name shed across the screen.

    ¡°Stel, you home? Mind if I drop by?¡±

    Ste¡¯s chest eased a little. Sharon¡¯s easy warmth always had a way of grounding her.

    After the chaos on the yacht, Sharon had barely slept from worry, but her own workload had kept her tied up until now.

    Ste let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been holding. ¡°Just walked in. Come on over.¡±

    Sharon¡¯sugh rang out. ¡°Lucky you¡ªI¡¯m right outside your building. Give me a moment, I¡¯ming!¡±

    True to her word, Sharon was knocking at Ste¡¯s door before she could even kick off her shoes.

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 Chapter 502

    ?Chapter 502:

    As soon as Sharon slid her feet inside, Ste reached into the hallway cab and handed her a shiny new key.

    ¡°Here¡ªthis is for you.¡±

    The excitement on Sharon¡¯s face was impossible to miss. ¡°Wait, are you serious? Is this¡ª¡±

    Before she could finish, Ste nudged the key into her hand, a wry smile tugging at her lips. ¡°It¡¯s the key to my ce. Now you can drop by whenever you want¡ªeven if I¡¯m not home.¡±

    A while back, Ste had promised that if she ever had a home of her own, she¡¯d always save a room for Sharon and hand her a key.

    Today, she finally made good on that vow.

    Sharon clutched the key like it was a winning lottery ticket, then threw her arms around Ste, practically bouncing with joy.

    ¡°Stel, you¡¯re amazing! I¡¯m seriously going to cry. Tell me I¡¯m the only one¡ªyou didn¡¯t give Josie a key too, did you?¡±

    Ste let out a soft sigh, still smiling. ¡°Nope. Just you.¡±

    Sharon¡¯sughter came bright and easy, echoing through the living room.

    The truth was, Ste and Josie never met at home. Their hangouts happened at the studio or at some event around the city. If Sharon was the ride-or-die best friend who knew every one of Ste¡¯s secrets, Josie was the loyal backup¡ªa friend who¡¯d always show up in a crisis, but never overstep. Josie respected boundaries, never popping over unannounced or fishing for invitations.

    But there was no way Ste was going toy all that out for Sharon.

    Sharon flopped onto the couch, casting a nce at Ste¡¯s coat draped haphazardly over the armrest. ¡°You just got in, huh? Tell me you at least grabbed dinner on the way.¡±

    Ste let out a weary sigh, running a hand through her hair. ¡°Nope. It¡¯s been a day. I was just going to make some noodles in a bit. You want some?¡± The moment she heard it, Sharon shot her a look of mock outrage.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me buying this ce left you so broke you can¡¯t even splurge on dinner. You scraping by already?¡±

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    But her tone softened a beatter. ¡°Not that I¡¯m judging. I haven¡¯t eaten either. Step aside¡ªI¡¯ll order us something that¡¯ll actually taste like food. Your noodles are fine, but tonight we¡¯re getting real takeout.¡±

    Thirty minutester, Sharon swung open the door to collect the feast she¡¯d gone all out for. The air filled with the clean scent of fresh sushi, still cool from the chef¡¯s hand. As Ste bit into a buttery eel roll, she nced over. ¡°Hey, Sharon, ever hear anything about Shauntely?¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t been plugged into business chatter when she was still with Marc¡ªhalf those names barely meant anything to her back then. If she¡¯d never dumped Marc, she probably wouldn¡¯t have crossed paths with Shaun. But Sharon? She always seemed to know who was who. Ste figured she¡¯d give it a shot and see what her best friend had heard.

    Sharon popped a piece of salmon sushi into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. ¡°Shaun Smith, huh?¡± She tilted her head, thinking. ¡°I¡¯ve met him a few times. I think we even worked together once. But honestly? The guy¡¯s hard to read.¡±

    Ste leaned in, curious. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling,¡± Sharon said with a shrug. ¡°He¡¯s all polite and polished on the outside, but I swear¡ªturn your back, and he¡¯d probably stab you without blinking. Stel, why did you bring him up?¡±

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 Chapter 503

    ?Chapter 503:

    Snapping out of her thoughts, Ste brushed it off. ¡°No big reason. I¡¯ve just been working with him a lottely, figured I¡¯d get your take.¡±

    Sharon didn¡¯t press, waving a hand. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a fan. Could be just me, but still¡ªkeep your guard up.¡±

    Sharon had a solid gut for reading people. And now, hearing this from her too, Ste couldn¡¯t help but feel a little more on edge.

    ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Sharon said, suddenly smirking, ¡°what¡¯s the deal with you and William? That man jumped into the ocean to save you like his life depended on it. He looked like he¡¯d rather drown than let you go under.¡±

    Ste had been caught off guard too. William¡¯s reckless dive had left her stunned. She hated owing people anything, buttely, her tab with him kept growing. At this rate, she had no clue how she¡¯d ever settle the score.

    ¡°William¡¯s just my boss,¡± Ste said, keeping it vague.

    Honestly, she didn¡¯t know how to exin it. That answer would have to do.

    Sharon rolled her eyes. ¡°Please. What kind of boss dives into the ocean for you? You¡¯re holding out on me!¡±

    Ste let out a groan. ¡°I swear, Sharon, I don¡¯t even know. He told me he¡¯s into me, but I¡¯m not in the right headspace for all that. I just got out of a marriage with Marc, and right now? I¡¯m all about making money and getting financially stable.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t against romance¡ªbut she wasn¡¯t ready either. And as for William¡­ she¡¯d never really seen him that way. Honestly, she used to think he was gay.

    ¡°He confessed?¡± Sharon said, eyes wide.

    She stared at Ste,pletely shocked.

    ¡°William confessed his feelings to you?¡± she repeated.

    ¡°Shhh!¡± Ste hissed, tugging at Sharon¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Keep it down! It wasn¡¯t some grand speech, he just¡­ told me how he feels. It¡¯s not like he asked me out or anything.¡±

    Now that she¡¯d said it out loud, her brain felt scrambled. Between William and the whole Shaun situation, her head was spinning. So, she stood up, trying to change the subject.

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    ¡°I¡¯m stuffed. I¡¯m going to bed.¡±

    Thankfully, Sharon let it go. If she¡¯d kept digging, Ste might¡¯ve lost sleep over it.

    Three dayster, the gallery reopened with a bang. Crowds poured in, curious eyesnding on the new painting. And it delivered¡ªa total knockout. Even better than the original. Ste felt like she¡¯d hit the jackpot.

    Shaun strolled up beside her, crisp in a silk shirt, hands casually in his pockets.

    He stood there a moment, taking in the artwork.

    ¡°This piece holds up,¡± he said. ¡°Adolf really put in the effort.¡±

    Ste smiled. ¡°All thanks to you, Mr. Smith. And¡­ sorry I bailed on that dinner the other time.¡±

    She didn¡¯t offer to make it up to him with a dinner, and Shaun caught the subtext.

    ¡°It was just dinner, Syl. No big deal,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°But, if you¡¯re serious about making it up to me¡ªI¡¯ve got something you could help with.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow, curious. ¡°What kind of help?¡±

    Shaun leaned against the table, his voice casual. ¡°The Smith Group¡¯s working on a new project. Everything was smooth at first, but we hit a snag. The new tech just stopped functioning properly. You¡¯re the expert¡ªI was hoping you could take a look.¡±

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 Chapter 504

    ?Chapter 504:

    At first, Ste thought he was trying to rope her into another coboration. She was already rehearsing a polite way to turn him down.

    Then it clicked¡ªhe wasn¡¯t talking about a partnership. He meant an actual tech issue.

    ¡°I can take a look,¡± she said. ¡°But no promises I¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

    She didn¡¯t have any major ns that day aside from helping with the gallery¡¯s opening, so a quick consult wouldn¡¯t hurt. She agreed.

    As she headed toward her own car, Shaun had already unlocked his sleek sedan and called out, ¡°Syl, just ride with me.¡± She paused, then nodded and got in.

    The drive to the Smith Group was quiet and smooth.

    Meanwhile, William arrived at the gallery. Since the project belonged to the Neb Group and he was a shareholder, his presence was expected. He walked through the venue, scanning the room¡ªbut Ste was nowhere to be seen.

    He gged down a staff member, his expression darkening. ¡°Have you seen Ms. Sylvia Gilbert?¡±

    The staffer blinked, a little surprised. ¡°She was just here a moment ago.¡±

    ¡°She was?¡± William repeated, frowning. ¡°Who was she with?¡±

    ¡°Probably Mr. Shaun Smith,¡± the staffer replied without hesitation.

    Ste had been spending a lot of time with Shauntely¡ªthat much was obvious.

    William¡¯s expression hardened the moment he heard that name. Another wave of unease rolled through him.

    He didn¡¯t say another word. He turned and left the gallery.

    Since the staff couldn¡¯t tell him where she¡¯d gone, William pulled out his phone and called Luca. ¡°Find out where Ste is.¡±

    Luca didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell¡¯s car is still parked at the gallery. It hasn¡¯t moved.¡±

    William¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Track Shaun¡¯s car.¡±

    I??¨¨$? ¡é??t?€§ñ? 1n ??l¦Ðo¦Í¦Ål?.c??

    The urgency in his tone told Luca this wasn¡¯t just about logistics. Something was wrong¡ªand he needed answers fast.

    At the Smith Group, Shaun led Ste straight to the tech department.

    The setup was different from what she was used to, but something about the code felt familiar. She sat down at a nearbyputer, scanning the screen, fingers flying across the keyboard to test a few things.

    After a quick run-through, she nced at one of the engineers beside her. ¡°So, what exactly¡¯s the issue?¡±

    ¡°The code¡¯s clean,¡± the tech replied. ¡°We ran endless tests beforeunch¡ªeverything was running perfectly. But now, it just won¡¯t function, and we don¡¯t know why.¡±

    Stebed through the lines of code again, this time with the entire team. Just like they said, nothing obvious stood out.

    But if the system wasn¡¯t working, something had to be wrong. Maybe it was subtle. Maybe it was buried deeper. Either way, she wasn¡¯t ready to walk away just yet.

    Shaun didn¡¯t rush her. He simply told the tech team to keep going through it with her, step by step.

    Still¡ªno luck.

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 Chapter 505

    ?Chapter 505:

    ¡°Looks like this one¡¯s a tough nut to crack,¡± Shaun said gently. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t figure it out. Actually¡ª¡± he paused, ¡°I¡¯ve got another idea.¡±

    Ste nced over. ¡°What is it?¡±

    Shaun exined, ¡°This tech setup¡­ it¡¯s really simr to a project you worked on before. The base code¡¯s practically the same. If you¡¯re okay with it, maybe you couldpare yours with ours?¡±

    He looked sincerepletely focused on solving the issue.

    Ste was thrown for a second. She had noticed the simrities, but the deeper sections of the code were different.

    Still, the original framework was hers. Her tech. Protected by copyright. If she handed it over, and anything leaked, it¡¯d be on her.

    Shaun caught the hesitation on her face.

    ¡°Syl, don¡¯t you trust me?¡± he asked, softer now. ¡°I¡¯d never use your work the wrong way. This is just about fixing the system. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time¡ªyou know I¡¯m not that guy.¡±

    There was a flicker of hurt in his expression. ¡°I thought we were past this. That we trusted each other by now. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d still be this guarded.¡± He let out a quiet sigh. ¡°But hey, if you¡¯re notfortable, I get it. We¡¯ll figure something else out.¡±

    Ste stood there, torn, her mind spinning as Shaun¡¯s words sank in.

    But just as he turned to walk away, she called out, ¡°Okay, fine. I¡¯ll upload my tech code.¡±

    Shaun stopped in his tracks, his face lighting up like a kid unwrapping presents on Christmas morning. He shot her a big grin. ¡°Syl, thanks for trusting me!¡±

    Ste gave him a faint smile. ¡°That¡¯s what friends do, right?¡± Helping a friend¡ªthat was all this was. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like handing over her code was some huge deal.

    She kept everything stored on a password-protected USB she carried everywhere.

    She plugged it into the Smith Group¡¯sputer andbed through every file with care. Still nothing. No glitches, no bugs. Nothing stood out.

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    Frustrated, she nced over at Shaun, who lingered nearby. With a sigh, she yanked the USB out.

    ¡°Mr. Smith,¡± she said quietly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t think I can help with this.¡± The disappointment was clear in her eyes. She genuinely thought she¡¯d let him down.

    Then¡ªp. Shaun pped his hands once, loud and sharp. Out of nowhere, two tall men burst into the office.

    Before Ste could react, they seized her arms and mmed her face-first onto the desk.

    Shaun strolled up, calm as ever, a smug smirk spreading across his face. ¡°Syl, you really outdid yourself this time.¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart dropped. With her USB now in his hands, Shaun could ess every system tied to that code.

    The realization hit her hard. Her voice shook. ¡°What are you talking about? Why are you doing this?¡±

    Shaun spun theputer screen toward her. Code flickered on the monitor like some twisted sci-fi scene.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got all your tech now, Syl. This? This is mine.¡±

    Ste froze, the weight of his betrayal mming into her. ¡°You used me¡­ You nned this from the start¡ªall just to steal my core tech?¡±

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 Chapter 506

    ?Chapter 506:

    ¡°Bingo.¡± Shaun looked her dead in the eyes. ¡°I¡¯m a businessman. I¡¯ve helped you out plenty¡ªfigured it¡¯s time I got a little something back.¡±

    Ste¡¯s re could¡¯ve cut steel. Her teeth clenched as rage surged through her. ¡°You asshole. I trusted you.¡±

    Shaun just shrugged like it was no big deal. ¡°You trusted too easily. And you ignored William¡¯s warning to stay away from me. Honestly, I¡¯m kinda impressed with my own performance.¡±

    He turned to the two goons gripping Ste. ¡°Take her to that ce I mentioned. No one lets her out without my say-so.¡±

    ¡°You got it, Mr. Smith.¡±

    The men dragged Ste toward the elevator as she kicked and thrashed, but it was no use¡ªthey were too strong.

    Out in the parking lot, they threw her toward a car, getting ready to toss her into the trunk.

    Just when Ste thought she waspletely screwed, a ck Mercedes came flying into the lot and crashed straight into their car.

    The impact sent a jolt through the air. The goons stumbled back, stunned. Before they could recover, the Mercedes screeched to a stop¡ªWilliam jumped out, fist flying, and decked both men with clean, brutal punches.

    As the chaos unfolded, William grabbed Ste¡¯s hand. She didn¡¯t hesitate. They ran full speed for his car.

    The two thugs snapped out of it and took off after them.

    William¡¯s door was still wide open. Ste flung herself into the passenger seat without looking back.

    He dove in right behind her, mmed the doors shut, hit the lock, and floored it.

    The goons pounded on the windows, shouting, but William didn¡¯t so much as nce at them. He spun the wheel hard and peeled out of the parking lot.

    Ste copsed in the back seat, heart racing, still shaken from how close that was. William didn¡¯t say a word¡ªhis jaw was clenched, his eyes dark.

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    A few blockster, as they hit open road, Ste sat up, slowly pulling herself together.

    She looked over at him. ¡°How¡¯d you know to show up right then?¡±

    William nced at Ste through the rearview mirror. When he didn¡¯t see any visible injuries, a wave of relief swept over him.

    ¡°The staff at the gallery said you left with Shaun,¡± he said. ¡°And you didn¡¯t take your car. I figured I should check, then I pulled in and heard you screaming across the lot.¡±

    Ste¡¯s scream had echoed across the entire parking lot, and William had heard it before he even pulled in.

    Ste froze, cheeks flushing as she mped her lips shut.

    ¡°I warned you Shaun was bad news,¡± William said tly.

    Ste stiffened, ready to defend herself. ¡°I know. But this time¡ªI did it on purpose.¡±

    William mmed on the brakes and pulled the car to the side of the road. Shaun wouldn¡¯t daree after them now¡ªnot unless he wanted to go straight to jail.

    William figured he had time to deal with the madnessing out of Ste¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Do you even hear yourself right now?¡±

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 Chapter 507

    ?Chapter 507:

    If he¡¯d been even a few minuteste, she would¡¯ve been tossed into a trunk and vanished. God knows where they¡¯d have taken her. And here she was, saying she meant for it to happen?

    Seeing the fire in William¡¯s eyes, Ste raised a hand. ¡°Wait, just listen. After you warned me, I caught Shaun meeting with Haley on the street. That¡¯s when I started keeping my guard up.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°Today, I went with Shaun to see what he was really up to,¡± Ste said. ¡°He thought he got his hands on my core tech, but I nned everything in advance. What I actually did was steal the Smith Group¡¯s confidential files¡ªthey¡¯re all on my USB.¡±

    The second she plugged her drive into their system, it auto-copied everything¡ªcore files, encrypted data, the whole setup. What Shaun got was a dummy version. Stripped-down. Useless. Nothing but an empty shell.

    He was so sure of her, so smug about her trust, it never even crossed his mind that she might be ying him.

    William looked at the USB in her hand and gave her a hard stare. ¡°So you walked into the lion¡¯s den just to steal the Smith Group¡¯s secrets?¡±

    ¡°Kind of,¡± Ste said. ¡°But not exactly. If Shaun hadn¡¯t yed his hand today, I wouldn¡¯t have gone through with it. I was just¡­ keeping my options open.¡± She wasn¡¯t trying to burn anyone¡ªjust protect herself in case things went south.

    William leaned back in his seat, eyeing her in disbelief. ¡°And you weren¡¯t worried they¡¯d kidnap you? Kill you?¡±

    He hadn¡¯t realized how daring she could be until now. She faced down an entirepany without blinking.

    Ste paused. Then, with a sheepish smile, admitted, ¡°I honestly didn¡¯t think that far.¡±

    That was the hole in her n. She figured once Shaun had her tech, she¡¯d be useless to him and he¡¯d let her go. She hadn¡¯t expected he¡¯d try to lock her up.

    William stared at her, eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a tight line. He didn¡¯t say anything, just looked.

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    Feeling the weight of his silence, Ste squirmed and muttered, ¡°I know I didn¡¯t n it all the way through. But I wasn¡¯t ignoring your warning.¡±

    William exhaled quietly, then pulled the car back onto the road.

    ¡°You should stay in the dorms for a few days. Shaun knows where you live. If he tries to pull something again, you won¡¯t have time to call for help.¡±

    Ste blinked. He was right. She¡¯d be a sitting duck at her apartment.

    Only problem was, when she moved out, she¡¯d cleared the dormpletely. With no nkets and sheets in the dorm, how was she supposed to stay there?

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any bedding or sheets left in there,¡± she said.

    William shot her a quick nce. ¡°Yeah, you cleared it out real good.¡±

    He parked and stepped out first. Ste followed him into the building.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got some extra stuff at my ce,¡± he said as they got into the elevator. ¡°You can use it.¡±

    In the mirrored walls of the elevator, Ste caught William¡¯s reflection and suddenly spoke up. ¡°You know¡­ you gave me the idea for this. You approached Willow with an agenda too, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Back when she still lived at the institute, she¡¯d seen theming and going more than once. That hadn¡¯t been nothing.

    William¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°The Lawson family is tied to smuggling. There was no way I¡¯d ever marry into that.¡±

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 Chapter 508

    ?Chapter 508:

    They had always been blinded by money. William couldn¡¯t imagine ending up with someone who couldn¡¯t see beyond a price tag.

    Ste pressed her lips together, but her voice was cool. ¡°Still¡­ you lived with her. Even shared a bed.¡±

    William looked down at Ste, dead serious. ¡°Who told you I slept with her?¡±

    The question caught Ste off guard. ¡°I mean¡­ didn¡¯t she stay at your ce back then?¡±

    They were all adults. If Willow had been staying over, it wasn¡¯t a stretch to assume they weren¡¯t exactly sleeping in separate rooms. Even if William kept things professional, Ste was sure Willow wasn¡¯t.

    ¡°She never spent the night,¡± William said tly. ¡°If you saw her leaving in the mornings, it¡¯s because she showed up at the crack of dawn.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened.

    The crack of dawn?

    She left for work at eight, and Willow had been arriving even earlier than that¡ªjust to chase after William?

    William noticed the look of disbelief on her face. She had really thought he was involved with Willow. Did she actually see him as that kind of guy?

    ¡°Ste, I¡¯m not a yer. I don¡¯t just sleep around.¡±

    She blinked. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you were. I was just curious, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Right then, the elevator dinged open. Ste stepped out like she was trying to make a clean escape.

    William followed close behind, unlocked his apartment door, and motioned her in. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll go grab the stuff from the bedroom.¡±

    Ste flopped down onto his familiar sofa, instantly sinking into itsfort. But her eyes swept over the cluttered coffee table and leftover dishes. She frowned slightly.

    She wandered into the open kitchen and spotted a pot of water still sitting on the stove¡ªlooked like pasta water.

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    Since Ste had moved out and the maid hadn¡¯t beening around, was William really living off pasta?

    Talk about scraping by.

    Just then, William walked out with an armful of bedding and caught her standing in the kitchen, seemingly lost in thought.

    ¡°You¡¯re just eating pasta these days?¡± she asked.

    William¡¯s expression soured. ¡°It was ate-night snack. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Nobody said a CEO had to eat steak every night.

    Fair point. Ste just thought it was kind of surprising. She didn¡¯t say anything. She just took the stack of sheets, duvet cover, and a new silk quilt from his hands. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m gonna go set up my room.¡±

    About an hourter, there was a knock at her door. Ste had just finished mopping and still had the handle in her hand when she opened it.

    William stood there,ptop in one hand. ¡°So, what¡¯s the n with the evidence against Shaun?¡±

    She had a whole drive full of the Smith Group¡¯s internal files¡ªthere had to be something useful in there.

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 Chapter 509

    ?Chapter 509:

    ¡°I haven¡¯t looked yet,¡± Ste said, wiping her forehead. ¡°I was cleaning.¡±

    William gave a small nod. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. Let¡¯s go through it together.¡±

    She paused, then stepped aside to let him in.

    Ste pulled the USB from her bag and handed it over. ¡°You start looking. I¡¯m going to finish cleaning the bedroom.¡±

    William plugged it into theptop and got to work while she went back to cleaning the bedroom.

    She wanted the ce spotless since she¡¯d be staying there for a while. Half an hourter, she walked back in and found William still glued to the screen.

    ¡°Found anything good?¡± she asked.

    William didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Yeah. A ton.¡±

    He turned the screen toward her, showing a long list of gged files.

    Ste leaned in, reading line by line¡ªand with every document, her eyes grew wider.

    Ste eximed, ¡°Shaun¡¯s really tied to Haley!¡±

    Haley was born and raised in Achury. Even though she was mixed, she¡¯d been raised strictly Achury-style. Basically, the only real link she had in Choria was Shaun¡¯s family¡ªand she¡¯d known Shaun since forever.

    ¡°Beatrice¡¯s rted to the Smiths, right? So does that mean Haley and Shaun are family too?¡±

    William nodded. ¡°Yeah. Looks like Haley¡¯s actually Shaun¡¯s cousin.¡±

    No wonder Ste had seen the two of them meeting on the street that day¡ªit wasn¡¯t some random run-in.

    Afterbing through the files, William crossed his arms and looked at Ste. ¡°So¡­ got a n for what to do next?¡±

    The evidence was all there¡ªevery shady move Shaun had made, clear as day. Even Nixon was one of his people from the very start.

    It finally clicked for Ste; Nixon had been putting on a show since day one, pretending to be his own man when he¡¯d been Shaun¡¯s pawn all along. And now she knew why Haley had insisted Nixon wasn¡¯t the real mastermind¡ªShaun was protecting his cash cow. Nixon brought in huge profits for the Smith Group. Shaun needed him alive.

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    Looking at the full picture now, Ste realized Shaun had been eyeing her tech from the very beginning. From the moment they met, he¡¯d been ying her.

    The way he used to call her Syl suddenly made her skin crawl.

    ¡°Shaun¡¯s always yed the charming, polished guy in public. He¡¯s worked hard to build that image. If people find out who he really is, it¡¯ll destroy him.¡± And that was exactly how Ste nned to hit back.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s do it,¡± William said. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, I¡¯ll help you get the word out. The evidence speaks for itself.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Ste said. ¡°But will it be enough to actually lock up Shaun and Nixon?¡±

    William¡¯s expression tightened. ¡°The Smith family¡¯s got serious pull. It might not¡­¡±

    ¡°Land them in prison¡­ but it¡¯ll definitely wreck their reputation.¡±

    Ste exhaled slowly. The fight wasn¡¯t over¡ªnot even close.

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 Chapter 510

    ?Chapter 510:

    The Smiths weren¡¯t just powerful in Choria. They had ties in Achury too. Haley was proof of that. Ste had no idea how deep their reach went, which meant one thing¡ªshe had to move carefully.

    ¡°Alright then,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s get it all out there and see where it leads.¡± One step at a time.

    Meanwhile, Shaun was sitting smug in his office, assuming everything had gone ording to n¡ªthat Sylvia was taken care of, and her tech was now his.

    But suddenly, his two bodyguards stormed upstairs, faces pale. ¡°Mr. Smith¡ªshe¡­ she got away.¡±

    Shaun shot to his feet, voice ice-cold. ¡°What do you mean, she got away? How could two grown men not handle one woman?¡±

    ¡°We were about to shove her in the trunk¡ªbut William showed up outta nowhere and snatched her.¡±

    Shaun¡¯s face twisted with rage. He kicked both men hard. ¡°Useless idiots!¡± Why had William shown up right then?

    He must¡¯ve been keeping tabs on Sylvia the whole time. If Shaun hadn¡¯t acted when he did, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten ess to her tech at all.

    But at least he had it now¡ªor so he thought. He¡¯d deal with Sylviater. He barked at the goons, ordering them out. Right now, her technology was the priority.

    Shaun sat down and pulled up the files his system had copied from Sylvia¡¯s drive.

    He opened the folder, ready to im his prize¡ªOnly to find it¡­ empty.

    He frowned, clicked around, refreshed¡ªnothing.

    Just junk code holding up an empty shell.

    He checked again. And again. But the core code? Gone. It wasn¡¯t there. His hands trembled as the truth sank in¡ªhe¡¯d been set up. Sylvia had yed him.

    Shaun shoved the keyboard away in frustration, furious.

    He thought he¡¯d outsmarted her. Thought he had her cornered.

    But Sylvia had been one step ahead. What he stole wasn¡¯t even real.

    Gritting his teeth, Shaun narrowed his eyes. He wasn¡¯t giving up. If this way didn¡¯t work, he¡¯d find another.

    Just then, an anxious employee burst through the door. ¡°Mr. Smith, we¡¯ve got a problem!¡±

    ¡°The inte¡¯s blowing up with bad press about you. Our server¡¯s about to crash,¡± the employee reported, wide-eyed.

    Shaun froze, his first thought flying straight to Sylvia.

    He opened a browser¡ªand sure enough, headlines were everywhere.

    She¡¯d really done it. She¡¯d gone and posted everything online.

    Netizens were swarming thement sections.

    ¡°Wait, seriously? The CEO of Smith Group was working with Nixon, the guy who just got arrested?¡±

    ¡°Knew it. No one¡¯s squeaky clean in business. Shaun and Nixon were thick as thieves for years. There¡¯s no way he didn¡¯t know what Nixon was up to.¡±

    ¡°Looks like someone powerful finally had enough of him. Otherwise, no way he¡¯d be left out to dry like this.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t our drama¡ªlet¡¯s just grab popcorn and see how it ends.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 511

    ?Chapter 511:

    Shaun¡¯s fingers curled into a tight fist on the desk. Sylvia was clearly out to bury him.

    Once one¡¯s name was trashed online, partners start pulling back. Investors get cold feet.

    ¡°Mr. Smith, our PR team¡¯s on it. The posts will be taken down in ten minutes, tops,¡± the employee added quickly.

    The incident had happened so suddenly that even Shaun¡¯s assistant couldn¡¯t handle it promptly.

    But Shaun just rubbed his temples and muttered, ¡°Forget it.¡±

    The employee blinked. ¡°Sir?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Everyone who needed to see it already has. Taking it down now¡¯ll just draw more attention.¡±

    He narrowed his eyes. Sylvia wasn¡¯t just mad¡ªshe¡¯d been nning this. He sat in silence for a while before finally picking up his phone and dialing Sylvia.

    Ste nced at the caller ID, lips twitching. She picked up.

    ¡°Looks like you checked the files I ¡®sent¡¯ over?¡±

    Shaun gave a hollow chuckle. ¡°Syl¡­ when did you start being so suspicious of me?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± she snapped. ¡°It makes my skin crawl. You lost the right to call me Syl the moment you started scheming behind my back. Surprised?¡±

    Shaun fell silent.

    After a moment, his voice came back lower. ¡°Ste, I admit it¡ªI wanted your tech. I don¡¯t deny that. But I never meant to hurt you.¡±

    He paused, then added, ¡°I really do admire you. You¡¯re not like other women. Calling you Syl wasn¡¯t part of the con. I meant it. I was always sincere.¡±

    Hearing that now made Ste want tough. ¡°Sincere?¡± she echoed. ¡°Do you actually think I¡¯d fall for that crap now? Look, I know I can¡¯t destroy you overnight¡ªbut that¡¯s fine. We¡¯ve got time.¡±

    She hung up without another word and blocked his number on the spot.

    Your imagination takes flight on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Turning to William beside her, Ste let out a breath. ¡°See? I can tell who¡¯s fake and who¡¯s not. Aside from the kidnapping, I saw most of thising.¡±

    Hearing that eased something heavy in William¡¯s chest. All day, he¡¯d worried she¡¯d been tricked again¡ªtoo soft, too trusting. But clearly, she was sharper than he gave her credit for.

    Then Ste checked the time and said gently, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should head home and get some rest.¡±

    Just like that, William¡¯s mood crashed again.

    He¡¯d risked everything for her today. Taken punches. Thrown some. He thought maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªshe¡¯d be a little warmer toward him.

    But nope. Nothing had changed.

    It wasn¡¯t even dark out yet, and she was already showing him the door. He stared at her, silent, his face darkening.

    Ste caught the shift and blinked. Did she say something wrong?

    They locked eyes for a long beat before William finally sighed and stood.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 512

    ?Chapter 512:

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±

    And with that, he strode out and mmed the door behind him.

    Ste knitted her brows, baffled by William¡¯s unpredictable behavior.

    She let out a silent sigh and decided she just needed some rest.

    Meanwhile, William stormed around his home, frustration boiling over. Had his confession meant nothing to her?

    For once, William found himself doubting his appeal.

    Speaking to Ste felt as if he was talking to someone who simply could not grasp his intentions.

    The following afternoon, after wrapping up work at the research institute, Ste headed to Briggs Group to deliver Neb¡¯stest report to William in person. Upon arrival, Luca greeted her with a respectful nod.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, Mr. Briggs is at the resort for an event. He won¡¯t be back anytime soon.¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression grew pensive. The resort?

    That jogged her memory. A new resort was opening its doors today, and as a major figure in Choria, William would have received an invitation as a shareholder.

    Still, she found it odd. Normally, he disliked mingling at such events, so what drew him out there today?

    ¡°Ms. Russell, if you¡¯d like to see Mr. Briggs, you¡¯re wee toe along to the resort. I¡¯m heading that way myself,¡± Luca offered.

    Initially, Ste considered just dropping the report off on his desk, but with Luca¡¯s suggestion, meeting William face-to-face sounded more reasonable. Turning to Luca, she replied, ¡°Thank you for offering to bring me.¡±

    Luca¡¯s friendly grin widened. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, Ms. Russell. Let¡¯s get going.¡±

    A crowd gathered at the resort¡¯s entrance, guests bustling about with anticipation.

    Walking alongside Luca, Ste stepped inside and caught sight of William deep in discussion with another guest.

    1@?€$? ¡é#4??€?$ 1? g??novels.c?m

    ¡°Let him finish up. I¡¯ll just wait over there,¡± she said.

    While Luca headed off to get William¡¯s attention, Ste moved toward the refreshment table for a ss of champagne and looked for somewhere to sit. No sooner had she turned than she ran straight into a waitress bncing a tray of appetizers.

    A sandwich toppled right onto her, leaving a smear of creamy sauce streaked across her outfit.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t see you there!¡± With panic written all over her face, the waitress blurted out, ¡°It¡¯s my very first day, and if you say anything, I¡¯ll be fired for sure!¡±

    The waitress, nearly in tears, pressed her palms together in a desperate plea. Watching her, Ste couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward, convinced luck just wasn¡¯t on her side today.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You can get back to work. I¡¯ll take care of cleaning this up myself.¡± Ste offered a reassuring smile, knowing it had only been a mishap.

    Just then, William made his way over, his eyesnding on the stter across Ste¡¯s clothes. ¡°What happened here?¡± he asked.

    A faint crease appeared between Ste¡¯s brows. ¡°I identally ran into someone.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 513

    ?Chapter 513:

    After giving the stained spot a brief look, William pressed his lips into a thin line. ¡°There¡¯s a restroom on the second floor. First door on the left. Head up there and get changed.¡±

    Ste met his gaze. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any spare clothes with me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got some new shirts upstairs. Just use one for now.¡±

    Dressed casually in jeans and a basic shirt, she figured wearing one of his button-ups wouldn¡¯t look out of ce.

    Letting out a long sigh, she made her way to the upper floor. Nearby, the waitress continued to apologize to William, but he quickly dismissed her concerns.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault. You can get back to your duties.¡±

    Since Ste hadn¡¯t told anyone she would be here, and barely anyone knew her at the event, it seemed unlikely anyone had set her up. It really just looked like an ident.

    The waitress let out a grateful breath, bowed politely to William, and hurried off.

    Upstairs, Ste noticed every door was locked except for William¡¯s room. Apparently, he was the only one with a private restroom at the venue. That thought crossed her mind as she let herself inside, locking the door behind her before rummaging through his wardrobe for a clean shirt.

    William¡¯s height meant his shirt draped loosely on Ste. Even though it was only a simple white button-up, the fit was oversized.

    She fumbled with the buttons, realizing men¡¯s shirts fastened differently from women¡¯s, and the top two felt snug. If she left one open, though, it felt too revealing. With a quiet sigh, she kept adjusting the fit until it felt right. Once she was satisfied, Ste stepped out of the room.

    Meanwhile, Marc was among the guests at the resort¡¯s grand opening. After freshening up in the second-floor restroom, he nced down the hallway just in time to see a door swing open and Ste step out.

    Earlier, Marc had spoken with the owner, who mentioned that the room belonged to William alone.

    Now, seeing Ste emerge from that very room, tugging at an oversized white shirt, he couldn¡¯t help but jump to conclusions.

    Check updates now on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    Irritation red inside Marc. ¡°Ste, do you really need status and money so badly? Can you seriously behave this shamelessly, no matter where you are?¡±

    Ste shot Marc a disgusted look as he suddenly appeared and grabbed her arm. She yanked herself free and snapped, ¡°Watch your mouth.¡±

    Marc let out a coldugh. ¡°Oh, you can do whatever shady stuff you want, but I can¡¯t talk about it? Go on then¡ªexin what you were doing in that room, and why you¡¯re wearing a man¡¯s shirt.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t project your filth onto everyone else!¡± Ste shot back. He had clearly lost it.

    That only made Marc angrier. ¡°When did you turn into this kind of person? Today¡¯s the big opening of the resort, and here you are doing something so indecent¡ªand you¡¯ve got the nerve to act like it¡¯s nothing?¡±

    But before Marc could finish spewing nonsense, a fist cracked hard against his face.

    The blow sent him crashing to the floor.

    Ste froze, stunned to see William standing behind her, eyes icy cold. She nced at him, confused. ¡°When did you get here?¡± She hadn¡¯t heard a thing.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 514

    ?Chapter 514:

    Marc staggered back to his feet, seething, and swung at William. ¡°You think you can just hit me? If it weren¡¯t for you, Ste never would¡¯ve turned cold on me!¡±

    Ste thought William would dodge easily¡ªhe¡¯d been trained, after all. But to her surprise, Marc¡¯s punchnded right in William¡¯s abdomen. William let out a grunt, his face turning pale.

    Marc froze for a second, shocked his punch had actuallynded, then broke into a smug grin. ¡°Hah! So much for being impressive. Can¡¯t even take a hit.¡± Then he turned to Ste like he was proud of himself. ¡°See? He¡¯s not all that impressive, right? I¡¯m still the better man.¡±

    Ste stared at him like he¡¯d grown a second head. ¡°Do you even know what ¡®better¡¯ means? You¡¯re delusional. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    She moved to support William, all concern now. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you inside. I¡¯m calling the police in a minute.¡±

    She didn¡¯t even look at Marc again¡ªjust warned him tly, ¡°If you don¡¯t back off, I¡¯ll call security too.¡±

    Truth be told, Marc¡¯s punch had barelynded. William had almost dodged it.

    Marc stood there, seething, clearly realizing Ste didn¡¯t care at all. That frustration bubbled over, and he lunged, grabbing her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving!¡± he shouted.

    Wrong move. Ste grabbed his arm, stepped back with her left foot, and flipped him clean over her shoulder.

    Marc¡¯s body arced through the air and mmed into the floor with a loud thud. Hey there groaning, every bone in his body screaming in protest.

    Ste dusted off her hands casually. ¡°I warned you. This one¡¯s on you. Don¡¯t me me for fighting back.¡±

    Marc curled up on the floor, clutching his lower back like it might fall off.

    ¡°Ste,¡± he whined, ¡°you¡¯ve really let me down. How could you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± Ste cut in, already done with the drama. ¡°Please, go ahead and be disappointed. Be so disappointed you nevere near me again. Because next time you show up, I will hit you. I¡¯m serious. I¡¯ve got this bad habit where my fist just flies sometimes.¡±

    L§Ñt?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??l??ov??ls.£ã¦Ïm

    She raised a fist as if to prove it, and Marc actually flinched.

    Satisfied, Ste turned and helped William back into the room. Once she shut the door, she helped him onto the sofa, checking for any signs of difort.

    Leaning back against the cushions, William let out a low breath. ¡°Think I might¡¯ve aggravated the old injury.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows drew together as she heard him speak. The old injury?

    She nced over with concern. ¡°The one you got at the factoryst time?¡± Nearly a month had passed since that day, yet worry lingered in her mind over how well he¡¯d recovered.

    ¡°Should I get help? What if it¡¯s something serious?¡±

    Her body tensed as she started to rise, but William reached out and gently stopped her. ¡°Stay put¡­ There¡¯s a crowd outside. With the opening ceremony going on, bringing in an ambnce would cause too muchmotion for the resort.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t expected William to keep thinking about the resort¡¯s reputation, even now.

    ¡°But you¡¯re not okay.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 515

    ?Chapter 515:

    His hand pressed over his abdomen. William¡¯s tone dropped low. ¡°Can you see if the old wound reopened?¡±

    Ste knelt in front of him, nerves making her bite her lip as she carefully lifted his shirt.

    His abdomen showed where the injury had mostly closed up. New, pinkish skin covered the spot, a clear contrast to the rest of his body.

    Ste brushed her fingers gently across the raised scar. ¡°Is it sore here?¡± A slight grimace crossed William¡¯s face as she touched it.

    Worried she¡¯d caused pain, Ste yanked her hand back and stammered, ¡°Did that hurt? I¡¯m really sorry. I wasn¡¯t trying to hurt you.¡±

    William caught the worry shing in her eyes, something he almost never saw from her.

    He offered a calm reply, ¡°It¡¯s not pain. Your hand just feels cold, that¡¯s all.¡±

    Relief eased some of the tension in Ste¡¯s chest. ¡°So, are you ufortable here, or is it somewhere else?¡±

    With a thoughtful look, William shook his head. ¡°Hard to say exactly where it hurts. Maybe you can try to find out?¡±

    The suggestion left her momentarily thrown. Had the man who once guarded his personal space like a fortress now dropped all defenses?

    Ste¡¯s slender fingers, tipped with a gentle blush of pink, hovered over his skin. She made sure not to press too hard, tapping lightly and pulling away after each spot she checked.

    ¡°Does it hurt when I touch here? Or maybe here?¡±

    She worked her way over nearly every inch of William¡¯s abdomen, but he only seemed more unsure, never settling on an answer. Suspicion crept in, so she tried poking him elsewhere.

    This time, Ste didn¡¯t hold back as much, focusing on his face instead of where her handsnded. ¡°What about this spot?¡±

    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a bit of pain¡­¡±

    Explore magic at g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s,

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened as she realized he¡¯d been joking the whole time. She froze, pulling her hand back and eyeing him with suspicion.

    Noticing the sudden change in Ste¡¯s demeanor, William cracked open his eyes just in time to catch a sofa cushion flying straight at him.

    ¡°William, do you really think tricking me like that is amusing?¡±

    The moment he saw her genuinely upset, William¡¯s attitude shifted. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to fool you.¡±

    Ste was almost amused by his unapologetic look. She folded her arms, locking her gaze on him. ¡°Oh, please. You expect me to believe that? I was already confused about how Marc could hurt you. You kept acting like you were in pain, even when I barely touched you!¡±

    Frustration simmered inside her. Ste always took his health seriously, but William liked to act helpless whenever he was around her.

    She remembered the car ident¡ªhe looked like he was on death¡¯s door, but in reality, it was a minor scrape.

    The more she dwelled on it, the more her irritation grew. Without another word, she spun around to leave.

    A wave of panic washed over William. He shot his hand out and caught her arm. ¡°Ste, please, don¡¯t go!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 516

    ?Chapter 516:

    ¡°What could you possibly have left to say?¡±

    Her patience was wearing thin, convinced he still wasn¡¯t telling her the full truth.

    ¡°Alright, the wound¡¯s fine. It never split open, but it did hurt earlier. Marc didn¡¯t hold back. I do have an old injury, but it¡¯s not so bad right now.¡±

    Listening to his exnation, the doubt in her eyes began to fade. ¡°So, you¡¯re really alright?¡±

    Hearing her concern brought a surge of happiness to William¡¯s chest. Even in anger, her first instinct was to worry about him.

    He moved behind her and gently lowered his chin to her shoulder, careful not to brush her neck, but close enough that it felt personal.

    His voice came softly, right by her ear. ¡°Moving around makes it ache. Could you help me sit down? I don¡¯t have much strength left.¡±

    Seeing him so vulnerable was a rare sight for her.

    With a resigned sigh, Ste turned and ced a steady hand at his waist.

    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you settled down safely.¡±

    Once Ste helped William settle down, she said, ¡°Let me grab a bottle of herbal ointment for you. That should help the bruises fade.¡±

    Without waiting, she reached for her phone and ced the order right away.

    It didn¡¯t take long before the delivery showed up at the door.

    Grabbing the package, she held up the ointment and reassured, ¡°Go ahead and take your shirt off.¡±

    William let his thoughts wander for a moment. The woman currently in his shirt nowmanded him to shed garments¡­

    He smirked, then lifted his arms, slipping out of his shirt. Muscles stood out across his chest.

    A blush crept across Ste¡¯s face, and she quickly looked away, her nerves suddenly on edge.

    For a moment, she avoided making eye contact, too flustered to nce his way.

    Your next tale lives on g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s,

    William moved a bit closer, the mischief clear in his tone. ¡°Ste, if you keep turning away, how do you n on using that ointment?¡±

    Ste¡¯s hands nearly fumbled with the bottle, but she held on tight and responded, ¡°If you want this done, then sit still. Otherwise, I can¡¯t do it properly.¡± She found herself feeling both irritated and embarrassed, half-certain he was doing this on purpose.

    That teasing grin on William¡¯s lips made him look both dangerous and captivating.

    Deciding not to acknowledge his antics, she concentrated on his midsection and dabbed the ointment with careful, light strokes.

    Watching her move so cautiously, William couldn¡¯t help but let out a gentleugh. ¡°You act like this is your first time giving someone a massage.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyebrow shot up. ¡°Are you trying to say I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing?¡±

    William let out a quiet sigh and reached for her hand.

    A jolt of surprise ran through Ste as his palm, warm and just a little rough, guided hers straight to his abdomen.

    He began to move her hand in slow circles across his stomach, showing her exactly what he meant.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 517

    ?Chapter 517:

    ¡°You do it like this,¡± William instructed, holding Ste¡¯s gaze without flinching.

    The air caught in Ste¡¯s throat. ¡°Mr. Briggs, how about you just lie there and stay put? I¡¯m perfectly capable of giving a massage. But if you think you know better, then handle it on your own.¡±

    She ced the ointment into his hand and strode out of the room with zero hesitation.

    Outside, she paused by the doorway, inhaling and exhaling in short bursts to steady herself.

    Her fingers pressed against her cheeks, which radiated heat. No mirror was needed; her face must have been bright red.

    A light p to Ste¡¯s cheeks and she muttered under her breath, ¡°Honestly, Ste, what is wrong with you? You¡¯re really letting William get under your skin!¡± She wondered if theck of male attentiontely was making her so sensitive.

    Still, did he actually care about her?

    Why did she find that hard to believe?

    It seemed impossible that someone like him would have feelings for her. Pushing away the doubts, Ste gathered herposure and headed outside the resort, refusing to nce back.

    Marc, nursing his bruised ego after her earlier outburst, watched her slip away and quickly set his ss down before trailing after her.

    Slipping into a taxi, Ste had barely settled in when the passenger door swung open from the outside.

    Marc slid in before Ste could even react.

    ¡°Stel, you don¡¯t mind if I tag along, right?¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression darkened as she replied in a cool tone, ¡°You need to get out.¡±

    Marc wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Come on, Stel. You really want to let this car idle here and waste time?¡±

    Feel the magic on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s

    As much as she hated to agree, he made a valid point.

    With a weary sigh, Ste pressed her fingers to her temples. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just get going.¡±

    Marc, now content with her answer, settled into the seat and looked satisfied. The taxi rolled along while Ste focused on the scenery, making a point not to look Marc¡¯s way.

    When they arrived at the research institute, she pulled out some bills, paid the driver, and stepped out. Marc was quick to follow.

    ¡°So, did you move back into the institute¡¯s dorms?¡±

    Ste shot him a re. ¡°Where I stay doesn¡¯t concern you.¡±

    Marc sped up to walk ahead, then turned around. ¡°Did you onlye back because of William?¡±

    A crease formed between his brows. Was she really so invested in William these days?

    Ignoring himpletely, Ste walked toward the entrance as if she hadn¡¯t heard a word.

    Marc bristled but seemed to remember his own mistakes. He blocked her path and tried again. ¡°Stel, I know you always dreamed of a perfect wedding and a great honeymoon. I can make all that happen. Please just give me another chance. Let¡¯s try again. I¡¯ll make sure you have everything you ever wanted.¡±

    Ste never expected Marc to say something so absurd.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 518

    ?Chapter 518:

    She used to love rings. Loved the idea of honeymoons too. She¡¯d told him more than once, even pointed out her favorite styles. But back then, he never cared.

    In the end, it was Haley who ended up with boxes of rings in every design imaginable, while Ste¡ªMarc¡¯s own wife¡ªgot nothing.

    Nothing except a leftover ring, a meaningless freebie he tossed her way while shopping for Haley.

    And the worst part? She¡¯d actually celebrated it at the time, all wide-eyed and hopeful, despite the fact it didn¡¯t even have a sparkle.

    Now he stood here, pulling out old memories like they meant something, like he wasn¡¯t the one who¡¯d crushed her. Was he trying to remind her how naive she used to be?

    ¡°Marc, enough.¡± Her voice was firm. ¡°I don¡¯t want any rings or honeymoons anymore. And just so we¡¯re clear, I¡¯m not your poor ex-wife clinging to scraps.¡±

    ¡°Stel, don¡¯t be like this. I know deep down you still want those things,¡± he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a red velvet box.

    ¡°I even bought you a ring.¡±

    When Ste saw the box, she almostughed. He had to be joking.

    ¡°Marc, get that thing away from me.¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s the one you liked! I remember! My heart¡¯s always belonged to you. I¡¯ve never stopped loving you. If you really want a divorce, I¡¯ll propose to you all over again¡ªright now!¡±

    Ste let out a sharp, bitterugh. ¡°You think you¡¯re that special? That I¡¯d line up for a shot at being miserable?¡±

    ¡°Stel¡ª¡±

    She cut him off with a raised hand. ¡°Don¡¯t. Just don¡¯t. Unless you want to see me angry again, leave.¡±

    But when she turned to go, Marc panicked. ¡°This ring¡¯s one of a kind¡ªcustom made! Don¡¯t you even want to see it?¡±

    Stay connected g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    Ste paused, amused by the desperation in his voice. Slowly, she turned back, snatched the ring from his hand, and held it up like it was nothing more than a trinket. ¡°This is that valuable, huh?¡± Her voice was cool, deliberate.

    Marc nodded, his eyes lighting up with hope. ¡°Yes, Stel. And if you¡¯ll just be with me again, I¡¯ll give you the world.¡±

    Ste gave a quiet snort¡ªand flung the ring away.

    Marc¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Stel! Do you have any idea how much that cost?! Are you insane?!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± she said tly. ¡°This is just a warning, Marc. Keep clinging to me, and next time it¡¯ll be you I throw out.¡±

    With that, she turned and walked away without so much as a nce back. Marc hesitated, then scrambled around looking for the ring¡ªhe¡¯d poured nearly all his money into that thing. He couldn¡¯t just leave it behind.

    Back home, Ste took a long, hot shower and was stretched out on her bed, letting her hair air-dry when her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

    Sharon.

    She picked up. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Are you busy?¡± Sharon¡¯s voice sounded off.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 519

    ?Chapter 519:

    ¡°I just got out of the shower. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Can youe over?¡± Sharon hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m feeling kinda low.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows pulled together. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±

    When she stepped into the private room Sharon mentioned, the first thing she noticed was the pile of empty bottles stacked on the table.

    Ste sat down beside her and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Drinking away your sorrows? What happened this time? Last time you got like this, you¡¯d just failed your school paper.¡±

    Sharon let out a tiredugh, shaking her head. She took a deep breath and blurted, ¡°They want me to go on a blind date. A blind date, Stel. Can you believe that?!¡±

    Ste blinked. Sharon kept going, almost talking over herself. ¡°Seriously¡ªwhat am I supposed to do? I don¡¯t even want to get married! Don¡¯t they get that?!¡±

    ¡°You could¡¯ve just said no, right?¡± Ste replied inly.

    Sharon let out a humorlessugh, propped her head on one hand, and took another big sip of wine. ¡°Like they actually care what I think. If I don¡¯t y along, they¡¯ll cut me off without a second thought. I¡¯m hanging on by a thread here, Stel. Where exactly am I supposed to pull a perfect son-inw from?¡±

    Sharon wasn¡¯t being dramatic¡ªshe had truly hit a dead end. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be sitting here, drinking her frustration away thiste at night. If it were that easy, she¡¯d have just hired someone to fake a marriage certificate and called it a day.

    After a moment of quiet, maybe sobering up just a little, Sharon turned her head and looked at Ste, who was still sitting neatly beside her. ¡°Enough about my drama. Let¡¯s hear about yours.¡±

    Ste blinked in confusion. ¡°Mine? What drama?¡±

    Sharon narrowed her eyes and gave her a knowing look. ¡°You and William. Didn¡¯t he confess to you already? So? Spill. How¡¯s that going?¡±

    She waggled her eyebrows yfully. She¡¯d been so caught up with her own matchmaking crisis that she hadn¡¯t even had the time to check in on Ste¡¯s romantic mess.

    Get the newest chapters g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls

    Hearing that, Ste sighed and began recounting what had happenedtely, from William¡¯s surprise confession to everything that followed.

    Sharon listened with growing interest. ¡°Hold on¡ªsoter, at the resort, he intentionally picked a fight with Marc, got himself injured, and you ended up patching him up?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ste said with an annoyed look. ¡°I was just there to drop off some documents. Instead, I got stuck dealing with him and his stupid wound. I mean, who does that? Why would anyone purposely pick a fight just to get hurt? Has hepletely lost it?¡±

    She was clearly still annoyed over the whole ordeal.

    Sharon leaned in, peering at Ste¡¯s face from different angles. She made soft clicking sounds with her tongue like she was diagnosing a patient.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ste asked, puzzled, as she nudged Sharon away.

    Sharon sighed dramatically and shook her head. ¡°Stel, honestly, sometimes I wonder how your brain works. You really don¡¯t see it, do you? You¡¯re always thinking a few beats off from the rest of us.¡±

    Ste frowned, not quite following.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 520

    ?Chapter 520:

    Sharon gave up trying to hint and just locked arms with her. ¡°Okay, think. Why do you think William is doing all this?¡±

    Without missing a beat, Ste rolled her eyes and huffed, ¡°Because he¡¯s bored out of his mind. What else could it be?¡±

    Honestly, she¡¯d never met a businessman who had more free time than William. It was almost suspicious.

    Sharon stared at her in disbelief,pletely speechless at how dense her friend could be. ¡°Ste, every time he pulls some reckless stunt, who¡¯s there? What are you doing? Who¡¯s around you?¡±

    She thought the answer was so clear that even someone half-asleep could figure it out.

    But then Ste¡¯s eyes lit up like a lightbulb had finally switched on. ¡°Wait¡ªI get it! He¡¯s trying to stir up tension between the Briggs family, the Smiths, and the Walshes, right? If things get chaotic enough, he can swoop in, manipte the situation a little, andnd their projects for cheap!¡±

    In her mind, William was just a master strategist with profit always on his mind. He probably saw those petty conflicts as business opportunities. Why else would a guy like him stir the pot?

    Sharon pped her forehead in frustration. That was it¡ªshe was done trying to drop hints.

    ¡°No, Ste. He¡¯s jealous. That man is jealous and wants your attention. Seriously, how is that not obvious to you?¡±

    Ste furrowed her brows, eyeing Sharon with concern before reaching out to touch her forehead.

    ¡°Sharon, are you feeling alright? Did you drink too much or something? You¡¯re not making any sense right now.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. William? Jealous because she¡¯d been around Shaun or Marc? No way. She¡¯d thought this through already. That so-called ¡°confession¡± of his was probably a spur-of-the-moment tactic to get her to y along with his ns. She wasn¡¯t buying it.

    Besides, hadn¡¯t Willow once said William still had feelings for a childhood sweetheart?

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    If that was true, then there was no chance he liked her.

    Men like him made empty promises all the time¡ªit didn¡¯t mean anything.

    Sharon swatted her hand away. ¡°Stel, I¡¯m not joking. Here¡¯s an idea¡ªwhy don¡¯t you call him right now? Or better yet, text him that you¡¯re drunk and see what happens. See if he doesn¡¯t show up in five seconds t.¡±

    Sharon was determined to make Ste clearly see William¡¯s feelings for her. For someone as sharp and quick-witted as Ste was in theb, how could she be so clueless when it came to love?

    Watching her, Ste couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°He¡¯s my boss, not my driver,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re seriously drunk. Come on, get up. I¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    Sharon could only throw up her hands in frustration. There was no winning this argument.

    In the end, they just dropped the topic. Ste drove Sharon back to her ce. Still worried Sharon might throw up in the middle of the night and choke without help, Ste made the decision to stay the night, just to be safe.

    Meanwhile, back at the research institute, William was in his dorm. He hadn¡¯t heard Ste return and found himself growing a little restless.

    Eventually, he even went to knock on her door, but there was no answer.

    .

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 Chapter 521

    ?Chapter 521:

    Time ticked by, and as it gotter, he became increasingly uneasy. He picked up his phone, then put it down, over and over again, before finally giving in and sending her a message. ¡°You¡¯re not in the dorm?¡±

    At that moment, Ste was helping Sharon get ready for bed¡ªremoving her makeup and making sure she wasfortable. Her phone buzzed, and she nced at the screen.

    ¡°My friend¡¯s drunk. I¡¯m staying over at her ce to take care of her.¡±

    She paused for a second, then added a follow-up message, just to be polite.

    ¡°Did you need something, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    William stared at the screen, unsure what to say for once.

    He typed out a response, deleted it, and retyped something else¡ªthen deleted that too. Finally, after several failed attempts, he sent, ¡°I wanted to go over the research data with you. But if you¡¯re busy tonight, we can talk tomorrow. Good night.¡±

    Reading his reply, Ste only felt more convinced that he didn¡¯t feel anything for her.

    If he had even the slightest interest in her, would he really bring up work in the middle of the night?

    In her eyes, Sharon had just been talking nonsense, the kind that came from one too many drinks.

    She stayed the night at Sharon¡¯s ce and dozed off shortly after.

    The next morning, Sharon was still fast asleep when Ste got up. Quietly, she slipped into the living room and started preparing breakfast¡ªbeef sandwiches with a side of yogurt.

    The smell wafted through the apartment and slowly roused Sharon from her sleep. Barely awake, she stumbled out of bed, her eyes still half-closed. ¡°Stel, did you make breakfast?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but smile, both fond and exasperated. ¡°Yeah. Your favorite beef sandwich. It¡¯s still warm on the table.¡±

    The moment Sharon heard that, she perked up like a kid on Christmas morning and rushed to the dining table, devouring her breakfast in no time.

    Find your next adventure at g¦Á ?¦Ç ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s

    Resting her chin in her hand, she watched Ste sit across the table, eating slowly and calmly. It broughtst night¡¯s conversation back to the front of her mind.

    ¡°Stel, I¡¯m serious¡ªthink about what I told you yesterday.¡±

    Ste blinked, chewing thoughtfully. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°William, of course¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop right there.¡±

    Clearly not in the mood to hear more, Ste cut her off. But Sharon just sighed, sipping her yogurt as if resigned to her role as the persistent matchmaker. She still believed in this pairing wholeheartedly. She believed that William wasn¡¯t just Choria¡¯s most eligible bachelor; he clearly had feelings for Ste. From where Sharon stood, the two of them getting together was the perfect ending waiting to happen.

    After breakfast, Ste headed back to the research institute. She wanted to check in with William about the research data he mentionedst night, so she went straight to his office. But after knocking and waiting, it was clear he wasn¡¯t there. With no other leads, she returned to theb and continued working on her experiments.

    That afternoon, a message popped up on her phone¡ªit was Sharon again. ¡°Stel,e with me to a wine tasting event tomorrow. It¡¯s kind of a big deal.¡±

    Ste raised a brow. Wine tasting? That wasn¡¯t really her thing. She didn¡¯t even drink that much, let alone attend fancy wine events.

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    .

    .

 Chapter 522

    ?Chapter 522:

    ¡°Why are you suddenly into this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about investing in a vineyard,¡± Sharon replied quickly. ¡°This is just to test the waters. Come with me, and if I make a profit, I¡¯ll share it with you.¡±

    Ste thought about it. Her project would likely wrap up by tomorrow, and she didn¡¯t have anything urgent lined up after that. With a shrug, she figured, why not?

    Back at the Briggs Group headquarters, William sat at his desk when an email came in.

    He clicked it open. It was an invitation to the same wine tasting event. Attached was a personal note from Sharon: ¡°Mr. Briggs, this is a prestigious gathering. I hope you can make time to attend. There¡¯ll be a mystery guest you might find interesting.¡±

    At first, he didn¡¯t think much of it. These kinds of elite social functions didn¡¯t really appeal to him, even if others in his circle found them entertaining.

    But thatst line gave him pause.

    A mystery guest?

    His gaze narrowed slightly. Could it be the chairman of thepany the Briggs Group was eyeing for next quarter¡¯s partnership?

    That chairman was a well-known wine enthusiast. It would make sense.

    William twirled his pen between his fingers, thinking it over. A few momentster, he replied to the email. ¡°Thank you for the invitation. I¡¯ll attend as scheduled.¡±

    Sharon received the email at home and smiled to herself.

    A wine tasting, a little alcohol, the right mood¡ªemotions would definitely run hot.

    Everything was lined up perfectly. Tomorrow, with just the right push from her, she was sure Ste and William¡¯s rtionship would finally cross that line.

    At the Wine Tasting Event¡­

    Ste showed up in a deep red velvet gown¡ªsomething Sharon had insisted she wear.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is where magic happens

    She tugged awkwardly at the neckline and whispered, ¡°Sharon, isn¡¯t this dress a little too formal?¡±

    She felt like she was about to walk the red carpet, not sip Merlot with strangers.

    Sharon held her hand, patting it gently like a proud mom. ¡°Are you kidding me? You look incredible¡ªeasily the best-dressed woman in the room. Just own it, sweetheart. You¡¯re already in the dress, might as well wear it with confidence.¡± She handed Ste a ss of wine. ¡°And don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s someone special here tonight. I have a feeling you¡¯ll like him.¡±

    Ste raised a brow. ¡°Who?¡±

    Sharon just smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±

    And as if on cue, William walked in through the entrance.

    He was dressed in a dark green suit¡ªsubtle, elegant. But next to Ste¡¯s crimson gown, it somehow felt like a perfect match.

    The color contrast was striking, but still soft. Under the lighting, they looked like they¡¯d coordinated without even trying.

    Sharon nearly burst outughing with glee. ¡°Stel, isn¡¯t that William? What a coincidence! Go say hi!¡±

    Before Ste could even react, Sharon had already grabbed her arm and pulled her along.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± Sharon greeted him with a grin, ¡°what a surprise¡ªhere for the tasting too?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 523

    ?Chapter 523:

    William¡¯s gazended on Ste, and for a beat, he was silent.

    The soft curve of her shoulders, her corbone dusted with light from the chandelier, the red gemstone ne sitting perfectly at her throat¡ªit was as if the dress had been made just for her.

    Elegant, graceful¡­ but with just enough allure to stop time.

    Sharon noticed it right away¡ªthat look in his eyes.

    She leaned forward with a knowing smile. ¡°Stel, your outfits match perfectly. You two look like you came here as a couple!¡±

    Ste blinked, then nced down at William¡¯s suit. The dark green was subtle, almost hidden in the light¡ªbut still.

    She frowned. Red and green totally shed. How was this matching?

    ¡°His fabric isn¡¯t even close to mine. There¡¯s no way this is a matching set.¡±

    William¡¯s jaw tightened ever so slightly. Her eagerness to distance herself from him hit harder than he¡¯d expected. Still, his face gave nothing away.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said coolly, ying along.

    Sharon wanted to scream. She¡¯d spent days lining this up, and they were acting like kids at opposite ends of the yground.

    William looked around the venue, scanning the crowd. ¡°Ms. Mitchell, didn¡¯t you mention a mystery guest tonight? I don¡¯t see anyone particrly mysterious.¡±

    Sharon gave him a look, then tilted her head toward Ste. Ste was standing there, looking so stunning. Didn¡¯t he think she was mysterious?

    William followed her gaze but still looked confused.

    Ste was just as puzzled. ¡°What mystery guest?¡± she asked, turning to him. She was here to apany Sharon for inspection, not having heard anything about a mysterious guest.

    Sharon watched the two of them finally talking¡ªeven if they were confused¡ªand jumped on the chance. ¡°Why don¡¯t you two sit down?¡± she said brightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s exhausting to stand around in heels.¡±

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    And maybe, if they sat next to each other, some sparks would actually fly.

    William wouldn¡¯t remain unaffected with such beauty sitting beside him. Before they could say no, she ushered them onto the velvet sofa and practically bolted. ¡°I¡¯ll get you both something to drink¡ªjust talk, okay?¡± She didn¡¯t even ask what they wanted.

    Ste stared after her, bewildered. ¡°I didn¡¯t even tell her what I wanted.¡± She shook her head, then turned back to William. ¡°So, this mysterious guest¡­ is it someone tied to Briggs Group or the research institute?¡±

    When Ste posed her question, William narrowed his eyes, his expression turning grave.

    ¡°The Briggs Group is eyeing a partnership with a firm from Osnuria. They specialize in cutting-edge tech and have ties to the research institute. If we can impress them with our results, there¡¯s a real chance they¡¯ll partner up with both the institute and the Briggs Group for a venture that could be extremely lucrative.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Until now, the research institute and Briggs Group had always operated independently. But this? This could fuse their strengths for the first time. And from the look in William¡¯s eyes, it was clear that he wanted this alliance badly.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, can I be part of this project?¡± she asked, her voice firm with resolve. ¡°If it¡¯s about results, I¡¯ll deliver perfection.¡± In theb, she never flinched from a challenge.

    William looked her in the eye. ¡°This isn¡¯t a walk in the park. Thepetition is cutthroat, with internationalpanies already circling. We¡¯re up against some of the biggest names in the field. Are you sure you¡¯re up to it?¡±

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 Chapter 524

    ?Chapter 524:

    Ste lifted her chin with quiet confidence. ¡°Getting things done takes grit,¡± she said firmly. ¡°No matter if it¡¯s local or global, I know what I¡¯m capable of, and I trust my skills to deliver.¡±

    Her fearless answer drew a rare flicker of approval from William.

    ¡°Fine. You¡¯ll handle the experiments,¡± he agreed. ¡°But know this¡ªthe institute¡¯s not taking any chances. They¡¯re bringing in a new recruit from abroad. She¡¯ll be working on the same project, and most likely, you¡¯ll bepeting for the final spot.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow. ¡°Someone from abroad?¡± That alone told her just how serious the institute was about this project.

    ¡°What¡¯s her background?¡±

    She was already guessing the neer would be impressive, and she wasn¡¯t wrong.

    William gave a brief rundown. ¡°Master¡¯s degree in biotechnology from a top university in Osnuria. Full schrships every year. Graduated with honors. Even before finishing school, she had offers from several globalpanies.¡±

    Ste blinked. That was quite the resume.

    Noting her silence, he asked, ¡°Getting nervous?¡±

    Ste thought of the stiffpetition, the kind of person who likely walked into rooms expecting to be the smartest, and replied with a calm smile, ¡°Nervous? Why would I be? She¡¯s good, sure, but that just means I have to be better. I¡¯ll stay focused on what I do best, and I¡¯m not here to hold the institute back.¡±

    For Ste, going up against someone strong wasn¡¯t something to fear¡ªit was exciting.

    Being around skilled people didn¡¯t scare her.

    Instead, it made her want to do better. She used that pressure to improve and work on what she wasn¡¯t good at.

    And in that moment, a flicker of excitement lit up inside her. It had been a long time since she¡¯d felt so alive, so ready topete.

    Don¡¯t miss it: g?l§Úov???.c§àm

    Watching her gear up with that focused look in her eyes, William let out a quietugh. She really was different.

    Most people would get nervous under this kind of pressure¡ªshe, on the other hand, looked excited.

    Even he couldn¡¯t match that kind of fearless energy.

    Nearby, Sharon peeked out from behind the curtain, smiling warmly as she watched them talking.

    When she felt it was the right moment, she stepped out, holding two sses of red wine.

    She had thought they¡¯d be talking about wedding ns or something romantic, but when she got closer, she realized it was just serious work talk.

    Sharon stared at Ste in disbelief. ¡°Stel, what were you guys even talking about?¡±

    Ste took the ss of wine from her with a nod of thanks, then replied calmly, ¡°Just a new project at the institute.¡±

    Sharon stared at her. ¡°That¡¯s all? You were talking about work this whole time?¡±

    Ste nodded casually. ¡°Yeah.¡±

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 Chapter 525

    ?Chapter 525:

    ¡°You didn¡¯t talk about anything else?¡± Sharon pressed.

    ¡°Was there something else we should¡¯ve talked about?¡± Ste looked genuinely confused.

    Sharon waspletely stumped. She opened her mouth but had noeback. What could she say? These two were so hopeless when it came to romance, it was almost impressive. All she could do was sigh quietly to herself.

    Ste took a small sip of her red wine, the taste rich but mellow.

    Next to her, William suddenly stood up and said casually, ¡°I just saw an old business partner. I¡¯ll go say hello.¡±

    With that, he turned and walked off at a calm, unhurried pace.

    Sharon watched his back as he disappeared into the crowd¡ªand realized her brilliant matchmaking n had just gone up in mes.

    She quickly grabbed Ste¡¯s wrist. ¡°Wait, Stel¡ªwas William really just talking about work with you the whole time?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t believe it. Seriously? That man was so dense.

    Meanwhile, Ste was actually in a great mood.

    ¡°Sharon, I should thank you. If you hadn¡¯t dragged me here today, I wouldn¡¯t have heard about the institute¡¯s new project. I already signed up to join! You¡¯re my lucky charm!¡±

    She pulled Sharon in for a hug, grinning wide.

    But Sharon just stood there, stiff as a board. She wanted to matchmake¡ªnot hand out project applications!

    Sharon downed the rest of her wine in one gulp and gave William another re from across the room. Nope. She wasn¡¯t giving up. Not tonight. If she didn¡¯t pull this off, she wasn¡¯t worthy of being Ste¡¯s best friend.

    ¡°Hey Stel,¡± Sharon said, switching tactics, ¡°this event¡¯s not bad, right? There¡¯s going to be a dance soon. I bet someone¡¯s going to ask you for the first dance.¡± Sharon¡¯s n was simple: get William and Ste on the dance floor, close enough to catch feelings. The music might even help them open up.

    Ste raised a brow. ¡°Dancing? I don¡¯t know¡­ I¡¯m not really in the mood.¡±

    Every journey starts at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c????

    ¡°Oh,e on. It¡¯s not every day you get invited to something like this. Just try it. If you¡¯re nervous, you can dance with me first!¡±

    Sharon¡¯s enthusiasm was contagious. Ste hesitated, then gave in with a soft nod.

    As the music started ying and couples began to pair off, Sharon suddenly clutched her stomach. She hurried off with the excuse of going to the restroom.

    In truth, she was going to find William.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± she called, catching up to him. ¡°Got a minute?¡±

    William gave her a curious look. ¡°What is it, Ms. Mitchell?¡±

    Sharon looked unusually serious. ¡°Ste wants to dance, but I¡¯m not feeling well, and she¡¯s notfortable dancing with strangers. Can you do me a favor and be her partner for the first dance?¡±

    William blinked. ¡°She wants to dance?¡± That caught him off guard. Ste never seemed like the dancing type.

    Sharon nodded with extra emphasis. ¡°Yup. She suddenly felt like it today. So, are you going or not?¡±

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 Chapter 526

    ?Chapter 526:

    She was ready to drag him over there herself. William just stared at her, long enough to make her sweat.

    Finally, he raised his ss with a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a dance. Why wouldn¡¯t I help?¡±

    Sharon exhaled hard in relief. ¡°Good. I¡¯m counting on you. Take care of her, okay? I really do need the restroom now.¡±

    And off she went again, disappearing into the crowd.

    Meanwhile, Ste was still waiting, wine in hand, ncing around in confusion. Where was Sharon?

    Then she saw him. William, walking toward her, calm andposed, stopped right in front of her and extended his hand.

    ¡°May I have the honor of this first dance, Ms. Russell?¡±

    Ste blinked, stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected him to show up.

    Almost instinctively, she shook her head. ¡°Sorry, I already promised my friend.¡±

    William didn¡¯t withdraw his hand. Instead, he replied smoothly, ¡°Your friend asked me to take her ce.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Sharon sent you?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°She said she wasn¡¯t feeling well and had to go to the restroom. She asked me to stand in.¡±

    Then, after a beat, he stepped in a little closer, his voice low and steady. ¡°So¡­ are you going to turn me down, Ms. Russell?¡±

    Ste froze for a moment, her breath catching. After a brief pause, she gently ced her hand into his dry palm. ¡°Alright then.¡±

    William gave a small smile and rested his hand on her waist with quiet confidence.

    Ste took in a quick breath, her body tensing and her shoulders tightening, but her eyes stayed on him.

    ¡°Rx,¡± William said, his voice calm and steady.

    L?t£åst ch?pt?rs in g??lnovels.??¦Ï??

    Not far off, Sharon had been watching the whole thing, unnoticed. She let out a long breath, finally able to rx as she saw them dancing in sync. ¡°Yes!¡± she cheered silently. ¡°I knew I had this under control!¡±

    On the dance floor, Ste asked him a few more questions about the project. William answered each one patiently, not rushing.

    As they continued discussing work, Ste slowly began to unwind. The stiffness faded, and before long, she was moving more freely, spinning lightly as William guided her.

    The song ended, and Sharon came running over with quick steps.

    ¡°Sorry, Stel. My stomach was acting up, so I couldn¡¯t join you. Thanks, Mr. Briggs. You two looked like you were really enjoying that dance, huh?¡±

    Ste stepped back, putting a bit of space between herself and William. ¡°Mr. Briggs and I just talked about the project. It helped me loosen up a bit.¡± Sharon¡¯s smile faltered.

    ¡°Wait¡­ you were talking about work? While dancing?¡± she asked, stunned.

    Ste nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°There were some parts I didn¡¯t get, and Mr. Briggs exined them to me.¡±

    Sharon lookedpletely defeated. ¡°Stel, I¡¯vee to a conclusion¡ªyou¡¯re just not built for romance.¡±

    After all the chances she¡¯d tried to create, Ste hadn¡¯t caught on to any of them. Not even one.

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 Chapter 527

    ?Chapter 527:

    Ste frowned slightly, confused by Sharon¡¯sment. They had only talked about work¡ªwhat did that have to do with romance? ¡°Sharon, you¡¯re being dramatic again,¡± she said, halfughing.

    Sharon raised both hands as if surrendering. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯m done. Let¡¯s just go.¡±

    Ste had no ns to stay longer anyway. She and William had already gone over everything they needed to. They were set to begin at the institute tomorrow, so there was nothing left to discuss.

    When Sharon tugged at her hand, Ste didn¡¯t argue. She just nced back to say goodbye. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I¡¯m heading out now. Goodnight!¡±

    William stood there, watching her walk through the tasting event. His eyes followed her until she was out of sight.

    She had danced so gracefully. That waist of hers¡ªsoft, flexible¡ªlike if you held it too gently, it might slip right through your fingers¡­

    William caught himself. He blinked, cleared his throat, and looked away with a small shake of his head. A faint guilt crept up, and he set his wine ss down before leaving the room.

    He¡¯d confirmed what he needed¡ª the person he¡¯d been expecting hadn¡¯t shown up at all.

    On the drive home, Sharon¡¯s face said it all. She looked grumpy and far from pleased.

    Ste, sitting beside her, nced over and asked softly, ¡°Sharon¡­ is this winery project not as solid as it seems?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t know much about wine¡ªshe couldn¡¯t tell a fancy bottle from a cheap one¡ªbut something told her that if the deal had gone well, Sharon wouldn¡¯t be sitting here looking so down.

    Sharon looked up, her lips pushed into a dramatic pout. ¡°Stel, this whole winery idea is driving me crazy!¡±

    At that moment, Sharon honestly felt like she was at her limit. She had never failed at business before. But why did her efforts at matchmaking all fall apart? Where did it go wrong?

    Ste had no clue what was running through Sharon¡¯s head. She just figured Sharon was stressed about the project flopping. Gently, she gave her back a soft pat and said, ¡°Come on, Sharon. Don¡¯t stress too much. You haven¡¯t even spent any money yet. Figuring out something doesn¡¯t work early on? That¡¯s actually a good thing.¡±

    New updates in g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Sharon tried to smile, but it ended up looking more like she was about to cry. ¡°Thanks, Stel¡­ that¡¯s sweet of you.¡±

    But deep down, being forted¡± only made her feel worse.

    ¡°Hey, Stel,¡± Sharon said suddenly, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°What if I became a matchmaker? You know, help people fall in love¡ªand maybe get a thank-you gift when it works?¡± She said it like a joke but was watching Ste closely, eager to see how she¡¯d react.

    Ste blinked in surprise but didn¡¯t brush it off. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to do, I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    Sharon took her hand, suddenly serious. ¡°Then help me kick it off¡ªbe my first client. Let me set you up with William. If you two end up together, you¡¯ll be my golden couple!¡±

    That was when Ste realized Sharon was just teasing. ¡°Sharon, how many times do I have to say it? That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±

    Sharon groaned. ¡°Why not? What¡¯s wrong with him? He¡¯s good-looking, he¡¯s rich, and he actually knows how to treat a woman.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 528

    ?Chapter 528:

    Ste opened her mouth to argue¡ªbut couldn¡¯t find anything to say. William really didn¡¯t seem to have any major ws. But that still wasn¡¯t enough of a reason for her to marry him.

    ¡°Sharon, please. I know what I¡¯m doing, okay? You should focus on yourself instead. If you really want to be a matchmaker, maybe you should try getting married first. You¡¯d be the perfect walking advertisement.¡±

    That left Sharonpletely defeated. She gave up on the idea of pairing Ste with William.

    Honestly, those two were probably better off staying the way they were¡ªtwo lovable opposites who never ran out of things to argue about.

    After the wine-tasting event, Ste headed back to her dorm and got straight to work, prepping materials for the next day¡¯s project. She kept at itte into the night.

    She was in the middle of a neck massage, trying to shake off some of the tension, when the doorbell suddenly rang. She frowned. Who on earth was calling at four in the morning?

    Cautiously, she walked to the door and called out, ¡°Who is it?¡±

    William¡¯s voice came from the other side. ¡°It¡¯s me. I saw your light was still on and thought you might want ate-night snack.¡±

    Ste blinked. Ate-night snack? Since when did he do that?

    She opened the door and saw him standing there, holding several stic bags. ¡°What did you bring?¡±

    ¡°A bunch of savory breakfast dishes.¡±

    She was caught off guard. Breakfast? It was only four a.m.

    Before she could say anything else, William had already walked in and started unpacking the bags. A mouthwatering aroma immediately filled the room. Ste had barely touched anything at the wine-tasting earlier, just a few small bites. And now, with all this delicious food in front of her, she suddenly realized¡ªyeah, she was starving.

    The dishes were from a popr spot with ster reviews. Ste ended up eating more than she expected. By the time they finished, it was nearly six. The sky outside had started to lighten.

    ¡°Should we still try to get some sleep?¡± Ste nced out the window.

    L??t??¦Ó ?h??¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??§àm

    William went quiet for a second, then said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to go to the institute today. Take a day to rest. Recharge a bit. Be at your best.¡±

    He started tidying up and was just about to leave when Ste said, ¡°I don¡¯t need a day off. I can still go in.¡±

    She¡¯d pulled all-nighters for experiments before. One sleepless night wasn¡¯t going to kill her.

    William turned and looked at her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing urgent at theb today. If you push through without sleep, your focus will be shot, and your efficiency will take a hit. Rest today¡ªwork better tomorrow.¡±

    Ste opened her mouth to argue, but he had a point. So she stayed home and rested for the day.

    The next morning, as soon as Ste walked into the research institute, she felt the shift. People were whispering. The moment they noticed her, they fell silent¡ªeyes filled with a weird mix of guilt and curiosity.

    She figured it was probably because of the newpetitor. She didn¡¯t bother with them and just headed to her station.

    She was still changing into herb coat when Elbert walked up. ¡°Sylvia, Mr. Hoffman wants to see you.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 529

    ?Chapter 529:

    Ste blinked. Paul?

    She headed to his office. He was just setting down his coffee cup when she walked in.

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re here. Have a seat.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, is something wrong?¡±

    Paulced his fingers together and studied her. ¡°You¡¯ve probably heard¡ªour institute is now coborating with the Briggs Group. This afternoon, a new member will be joining the team¡ªNina Carter. Mr. Briggs mentioned it to you, right?¡±

    Ste nodded. ¡°Yes, he did. I¡¯ll give my best on the project, Mr. Hoffman.¡±

    Paul waved it off. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Don¡¯t feel pressured. Just do your part. Nina¡¯s not your average neer¡ªshe¡¯s got quite the reputation in international research circles.¡±

    Ste had proven herself with outstanding work on both isted tests and follow-up experiments, but Paul wasn¡¯t sure if she could match someone like Nina.

    ¡°If this project is too challenging for you, you may just let it go,¡± he added.

    The message was clear. He wasn¡¯t doubting her¡ªjust concerned. Ste understood, but she wasn¡¯t about to back down without a fight.

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I know Nina¡¯s strong. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯m weak either. It¡¯s not over until it¡¯s over.¡±

    Giving up before the race even started? That just wasn¡¯t her.

    Paul noticed the resolve in Ste¡¯s eyes. He lifted his coffee mug and took a sip before speaking. ¡°Since you¡¯re brimming with confidence, we¡¯ll ce our trust in you. This afternoon, when Nina Carter arrives, you¡¯reing along with me to greet her at the front.¡±

    Excitement surged through Ste. She shed him a broad grin and replied, ¡°Understood!¡±

    Right on time, Nina made her entrance at the research instituteter that day.

    Ste was well-acquainted with the institute¡¯s weing rituals. Having been received with the same warmth when she returned from her own intensive, closed-door experiment, she knew the drill. Every time neers arrived, the staff would gather to greet them.

    New updates uploaded to g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Unbothered by the ceremonial formalities, she took her ce beside Paul, quietly watching as Nina strode in through the main doors.

    A step ahead, Paul greeted Nina with a friendly smile. ¡°You must be Nina Carter. We¡¯re thrilled you¡¯re joining us. Allow me to introduce our lead researcher, Sylvia Gilbert.¡±

    With a nce that barely lingered on Ste, Nina remained distant.

    She kept her tone even, almost too calm, as she responded, ¡°There¡¯s no need for any grand wee. I came here to work on the project. Please, continue as you normally would.¡±

    Though polite, her words carried an undercurrent of superiority.

    Paul had wanted Ste to guide Nina around, showing her they of thend. Before he could finish, Nina cut in, saying, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯ll get familiar with everything on my own. Don¡¯t bother giving me a tour.¡± She¡¯d find the cafeteria herself when it was time to grab a bite.

    After being brushed off twice, Paul decided not to insist further.

    Curiosity rippled through the room as people caught sight of Nina¡¯s frosty demeanor. Most decided she was not one for friendly chitchat and hurried back to their desks.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530:

    Left without anything to do for Nina, Ste returned to her experiments.

    Sizing up her newest rival was all that mattered to her that day.

    Inside theb, Sandra gave Ste a mischievous look and said, ¡°Sylvia, did you see Nina earlier? I heard she¡¯s got that ice-queen vibe¡ªtotally unapproachable.¡±

    Ste¡¯s mind drifted to Nina¡¯s sharp, tailored look. Dressed in a fitted ck turtleneck and dark jeans, with her hair cut just at her jawline, Nina gave off a chill that was hard to ignore.

    That coolness brought back memories of the first time she had met William. Still, Nina¡¯s words today hadn¡¯t bothered her one bit.

    Everyone might be gossiping about how distant Nina seemed, but Ste believed there was something admirable about a person who put work above everything else. Chit-chat couldeter.

    ¡°My impression is that Nina¡¯s actually impressive,¡± Ste said. ¡°She looks like she knows what she¡¯s doing.¡±

    Facing someone like Nina made the idea ofpetition appealing to Ste.

    Sandra hadn¡¯t expected Ste to feel that way about the new arrival. For once, Sandra had heard someone say something positive about Nina.

    ¡°Sylvia, you want to hear thetest buzz about Nina? It¡¯s juicy,¡± Sandra said. ¡°Word around the institute is that Nina might have some connection to William. Rumor has it their history stretches back years, and some even im¡ª¡± Sandra hesitated, unsure whether to spill the rest.

    Ste let out a smallugh and said, ¡°You can tell me. I¡¯m not bothered.¡±

    Clearly, Sandra¡¯s reluctance meant the gossip had something to do with her. ¡°They¡¯re saying you might not stand a chance against Nina this time. She¡¯s not just sharp¡ªsupposedly, there¡¯s a heavy hitter in her corner.¡± After blurting it out, Sandra shot a worried look at Ste.

    Quickly, she added, ¡°But Sylvia, I¡¯m cheering for you all the way!¡±

    With a solemn face, Sandra held up three fingers, pretending to take an oath, which made Ste burst outughing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stress, Sandra. We haven¡¯t even startedpeting yet. There¡¯s no reason to get worked up over rumors.¡±

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    Sandra nodded with conviction, secretly admiring Ste¡¯s calm. Gossip never managed to rattle Ste.

    When lunchtime rolled around, Sandra stayed glued to Ste¡¯s side, just like always.

    While the two of them stood in line for lunch, someone from behind crashed into Ste¡¯s shoulder with enough force to make her stumble. Sandra quickly reached out and steadied her before she could fall.

    ¡°You¡¯re alright, Sylvia?¡± Sandra asked, concern in her voice as she shot a re at the person responsible. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Everyone¡¯s waiting like normal people¡ªno need to push.¡±

    The woman smirked at Sandra¡¯s reaction and said, ¡°What¡¯s your problem? I barely touched her. Are you really that sensitive? Or maybe you¡¯re both scared you can¡¯t keep up with Nina Carter?¡±

    Ste¡¯s brow knitted in annoyance, but she stayed silent.

    The woman, growing more brazen, pressed on. ¡°Let¡¯s face it, Sylvia¡ªyou can¡¯t hold a candle to Nina. She¡¯s got an overseas degree, she¡¯s close to William, and you¡¯ve got nothing thatpares.¡± Her voice grew louder with each word.

    .

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Have a nice week dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?

    .

 Chapter 531

    ?Chapter 531:

    Pulling her hand from Sandra¡¯s, Ste faced the woman and answered, ¡°So what if Nina studied abroad? That doesn¡¯t make her some kind of legend. And as for her friendship with William, that¡¯s her business, not mine.¡±

    Unimpressed, the woman scoffed, ready to shoot back, but Ste cut her off before she could get another word out.

    ¡°Whatever is¡ªor isn¡¯t¡ªgoing on between Nina and William has nothing to do with me. I came here to focus on my research, not get tangled in someone else¡¯s drama. If you¡¯re so determined topare people, why not see how you measure up against a billionaire? If youe up short, are you going to start crying in public?¡±

    The woman was left speechless by Ste¡¯s retort, her finger trembling as she pointed at her. ¡°Say that again, Sylvia!¡±

    Meanwhile, the lunch line was finally moving, and Ste realized she had no time for pointless squabbles.

    ¡°Stop stirring up trouble and just get on with your work. If you keep acting like this, you might get thrown out of the institute before you even realize it. Then you¡¯ll have no one to me but yourself.¡±

    With that, Ste took Sandra by the arm and walked off to grab their lunch, paying no mind to the woman¡¯s loud protests behind them. That afternoon, the whole research institute seemed to divide.

    Some put their faith in Nina¡¯s abilities, while others rallied behind Ste. The heated debates between the two camps didn¡¯t let up, and the whole institute buzzed with rumors for the rest of the day.

    Not long before everyone was supposed to clock out, William made his way toward Paul¡¯s office.

    While moving through the corridor, a pair of coworkers spotted him and greeted him politely, ¡°Hey, William!¡±

    William returned the greeting with a small nod.

    As they continued, William caught a snippet of their hushed conversation. ¡°Did you catch what Sylvia said to Hester in the cafeteria earlier?¡±

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    William paused mid-step, ncing back at the two as they walked ahead, then started following at a distance.

    ¡°I heard all about it. Sylvia sounded so sure of herself, saying neither William nor Nina mattered to her. She¡¯s just here to work on her research, nothing else.¡±

    He stopped once more, disappointment settling in his chest like a heavy stone. So, that was how Ste saw things¡ªhe didn¡¯t even register on her list of priorities.

    Her research clearly meant more to her than he ever had.

    For a few seconds, William just stood there before letting out a soft, bitterugh.

    He¡¯d always known Ste could be distant, never one to show much gratitude or warmth.

    Despite opening up to her, it was obvious she hadn¡¯t cared about his feelings at all.

    With that, William finally pushed the thought aside and walked into Paul¡¯s office, determined to leave Ste out of his mind.

    That night, Ste returned to her dorm room. Since lunch had been filling, dinner could wait. Instead, she settled in to review her project documents. A little curiosity got the better of her, so she started searching online for anything she could find about Nina.

    ¡°You can¡¯t beat your rival unless you understand what you¡¯re up against,¡± Ste reminded herself.

    She had barely made it halfway through her research when the doorbell rang.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 532

    ?Chapter 532:

    When Ste opened the door, William was standing right there, looking calm as ever.

    ¡°Do you need something?¡± she asked, eyeing the box in his hands.

    ¡°I brought you some fruit,¡± he said, holding it out as if that exined everything.

    Ste blinked. Fruit? That was¡­ random. Why would he suddenly bring her fruit? Did he want something?

    ¡°You need a favor from me?¡± she asked bluntly.

    William had only meant to drop by and strengthen their connection a little, but her straight-up question caught him off guard. It made it sound like he had ulterior motives.

    His expression darkened just a bit. ¡°I brought you something. Aren¡¯t you going to let me in?¡±

    Ste stepped aside. ¡°Come in.¡±

    Once inside, William ced the gift box on her coffee table. ¡°They¡¯re all fruits you like,¡± he said casually.

    She raised an eyebrow. ¡°How do you know what I like?¡± She couldn¡¯t recall ever telling him.

    William let out a soft sigh. ¡°What if I told you¡­ I¡¯ve been paying attention?¡±

    Ste paused, thrown for a second. Now that she thought about it, the research institute did serve fruit at lunch. Maybe he¡¯d been watching. Maybe he had noticed. Still, she wasn¡¯t totally buying it.

    Snapping back to the moment, she gave him a yful look. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you sure know how to charm thedies. No wonder you¡¯ve got such a fan club.¡± Smiling, she opened the box¡ªand sure enough, it was packed with her favorite fruit.

    Her eyes lit up as sheughed,pletely forgetting William was still standing there.

    William watched silently as she smiled and fussed over the fruit like it was the best thing that had ever happened to her. He had brought it¡­ but she was acting as if the fruit alone had shown up at her door.

    He sighed inwardly. Somehow, this woman always made him feel second-best. ¡°You enjoy your fruit. I¡¯m leaving,¡± he muttered, half-defeated, and turned to leave.

    Discover fresh tales on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??§à??

    Ste looked up, about to say something¡ªbut he was already out the door before she could open her mouth. The words stayed stuck in her throat.

    She blinked, then mumbled, ¡°He probably had something urgent to take care of.¡± Shrugging it off, she brought the fruit to the sink and happily washed them. They were sweet, fresh, and hit the spot just right.

    After finishing, she felt a little too full, so she figured a walk would help her digest.

    There was a new shopping mall near the research institute she hadn¡¯t checked out yet, so she strolled in that direction.

    It was dinner time, and the shopping district was buzzing. Lights were bright, people were everywhere¡ªit was lively.

    She wandered around a bit, and just as she was about to head upstairs, a familiar face walked toward her.

    It took her a second to ce the woman¡ªyoung, freshly graduated, always clinging to Marc like a shadow.

    Doreen Greville. Right. That was her name.

    Doreen was shopping alone today, clearly upset and frustrated.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 533

    ?Chapter 533:

    Ever since Marc told her to terminate the pregnancy, she¡¯d been keeping her distance, afraid he¡¯d drag her to the hospital himself.

    Marc hadn¡¯t even bothered to check in.

    It¡¯d been nearly a week of silence.

    That realization only made Doreen angrier.

    She¡¯d thought getting pregnant with Marc¡¯s child would give her leverage, but all it had brought her was rejection and stress.

    She was full of rage with nowhere to put it¡ªuntil she spotted Ste. Strolling toward her, all carefree and unbothered.

    Just the sight of Ste¡¯s calm face triggered something in Doreen. It was all her fault!

    As they got closer, Doreen suddenly clutched her belly and called out sweetly, ¡°Ste! What a coincidence!¡±

    Ste¡¯s smile faded. She looked at Doreen and asked tly, ¡°Are we even close enough to call that a coincidence?¡±

    But Doreen widened her eyes in feigned innocence andunched into a deliberately loud speech. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset that I¡¯m having Marc¡¯s baby. I never meant topete with you. I just¡­ I don¡¯t want the baby to grow up without a father. I know you and Marc were married, but he doesn¡¯t love you anymore.¡±

    She sped her belly and continued, louder this time, making sure everyone nearby could hear, ¡°Could you stop contacting Marc, please? The baby¡¯s innocent. It needs a father.¡±

    A few passersby had already slowed down to stare. Some nced at Ste with awkward, knowing looks.

    Ste¡¯s patience snapped, her brow furrowing as she finally spoke up. ¡°Doreen, there has never been anything between Marc and me. I am not interested in his rtionships, and your pregnancy does not matter to me. If you want to be with him, go find him. Why are you bothering me? Does that make sense now?¡± She could hardly believe Doreen had managed to graduate with a brain like that.

    The whole situation made Ste feel strangely offended.

    Doreen clenched her jaw, her eyes threatening to spill over with tears.

    ¡°If you truly have no feelings for Marc, then why do you keep reaching out to him? Is this some sort of game? I have always respected you, Ste, and I know you and Marc had history, but I am the one who is pregnant!¡± Doreen¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke. ¡°You are just keeping him on a string, aren¡¯t you? I never imagined you could be so heartless.¡±

    Every word Doreen said sounded like a sob, her face the very picture of heartbreak. Ste could only sigh, tired of the drama. ¡°Take your nonsense elsewhere. If you can¡¯t understand English, maybe you should work on it.¡±

    She was beginning to think talking to Doreen was as useful as speaking to a wall.

    Just as she turned to leave, Doreen¡¯s gaze flicked behind her, and then she grabbed Ste¡¯s hand without warning.

    Suddenly, Doreen let out a wail and flung herself sideways,pletely catching Ste off guard.

    Doreen hit the polished tile with a thud, tears springing to her eyes as she stared up at Ste and cried, ¡°Ste, why did you push me? Oh no, my stomach, my baby¡­ the baby!¡±

    Before Ste could get a word out, Marc¡¯s voice broke in from right beside her. ¡°Stel, what¡¯s happening here?¡±

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 Chapter 534

    ?Chapter 534:

    That was all Ste needed to hear to realize Doreen¡¯s little show had been perfectly timed for Marc¡¯s arrival.

    She gave a weary sigh and a shrug. ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong with me. It looks like your girlfriend is having a hard time, though.¡±

    Doreen stayed crumpled on the floor, turning watery eyes up at Marc. ¡°Marc, I can¡¯t move. Please help me. My stomach hurts so much.¡±

    With a crowd starting to gather, Marc wasted no time helping Doreen back onto her feet.

    No sooner was she upright than she flung herself into Marc¡¯s arms, sobbing and letting the tears flow. ¡°Marc, I just told Ste that I¡¯m expecting, and she shoved me! If something happened to the baby, I would have lost everything!¡± Doreen hoped her words would make Marc see Ste as heartless, someone who could even hurt a pregnant woman.

    But Marc stepped back, pushing her gently away, his voice frosty. ¡°Stop. Stel would never do anything like that.¡±

    Both women stared at him, caught off guard by his reaction.

    Doreen¡¯s mouth fell open in disbelief. ¡°Marc, you really don¡¯t trust me? I¡¯m telling the truth. People saw it happen!¡±

    Marc¡¯s patience wore thin, his frown deepening. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I know what kind of person Stel is. You saw meing and staged the whole thing. I never imagined you could be this maniptive. You¡¯ve let me down, Doreen.¡± Marc spoke with conviction, a trace of disgust flickering in his eyes as he looked at her.

    The shock hit Doreen hard, freezing her where she stood. She had nothing left to say.

    Marc looked away, unwilling to give Doreen another nce.

    He had once believed Doreen was genuine, unlike all those other women who hid behind lies and games, so different from Haley. Now, it was painfully clear¡ªshe was no exception.

    Everything had been an act. They always tried to win his sympathy and point the me at Ste.

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    Only now did he truly see that Ste was the one with real honesty and straightforwardness.

    Ste stood by, watching the drama y out with a hint of amusement. The whole scene felt ridiculous. She never imagined Marc would side with her against Doreen.

    After everything that had happened before, she half expected him to call her cruel or use her of being heartless.

    When had he suddenly learned to see through women like Doreen?

    Marc didn¡¯t get many chances to bump into Ste these days¡ªso now that he had, he wasn¡¯t about to let her walk away.

    He stared at her with what he clearly thought was deep affection and said, ¡°Stel, I believe in you. Everything before¡ªthat was on me. I didn¡¯t give you enough trust or love. But I¡¯m changing, I swear. Look at me today¡ªI¡¯m already doing better. From now on, I¡¯ll trust you and no one else.¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Marc,¡± she said coolly, ¡°instead of standing here making speeches, maybe take Doreen to the hospital for a proper check-up? If something really happens, you and your mom are the ones who¡¯ll be sad.¡±

    And with that, she brushed right past them. The mall no longer appealed to her. A hot bath and sleep sounded a lot better than sticking around.

    The second Ste walked off, Doreentched onto Marc¡¯s arm like a leech. ¡°Marc, she doesn¡¯t even love you anymore!¡± she said anxiously. ¡°She doesn¡¯t appreciate you at all! None of this is your fault¡ªit¡¯s all hers!¡±

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 Chapter 535

    ?Chapter 535:

    Doreen thought her usual tricks would work, but Marc shoved her away without a second thought. ¡°Who the hell told you it was okay to talk to Stel like that today?¡± he snapped.

    Doreen froze,pletely thrown. ¡°I¡ªI didn¡¯t say anything wrong!¡± she stammered. ¡°I just mentioned that I¡¯m pregnant. She already knew!¡±

    She blinked quickly, trying to summon tears, and reached for his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Please don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡±

    But Marc yanked his arm away, ring. ¡°Don¡¯t cling to me. Know your ce. And let me warn you, Doreen¡ªif I catch you ying games again, you¡¯ll get nothing. And don¡¯t even think about keeping the baby.¡± With that, he turned and stormed off.

    Doreen stood there, fists clenched at her sides, her chest rising and falling with rage.

    She stared at Marc¡¯s retreating back, teeth grinding furiously. How dare he! She sprinted after him, heels clicking like gunshots. ¡°Marc, wait!¡±

    He stopped, barely turning. Just as he was about to tell her to scram, Doreen folded her arms and spoke up, voice sharp and cold. ¡°You really think I actually like you?¡± Marc froze. ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯re stingy as hell,¡± she continued. ¡°You barely give me anything each month. If you were even a little more generous, I wouldn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have to bother chasing Ste around!¡± Marc stared at her, stunned. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    Doreen gave him a sarcastic smile. ¡°You heard me. All I¡¯ve ever wanted was money. Even carrying your baby? That¡¯s all it is. I told you before¡ªif you just paid up, I¡¯d leave you and Ste alone. You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t take me seriously.¡±

    Marc stood there in silence for a moment, and, oddly enough, he felt relieved. If she was only in this for the money, then fine. That was way easier to deal with than emotional drama. Throwing money at the problem was manageable.

    He took a deep breath, pulled out a ck card, and handed it to her. ¡°There¡¯s no limit on this card. Spend however much you want. Just don¡¯t pull that kind of stunt again.¡±

    Doreen snatched the card like she¡¯d won the lottery, a smug little grin tugging at her lips. ¡°Of course. If you¡¯re this generous every time, I won¡¯t bother you again. Even after the baby¡¯s born, I¡¯ll raise him myself. He won¡¯t be your problem.¡± Waving the card in front of him like a trophy, Doreen spun on her heel and strutted off. Marc wasn¡¯t willing to marry her. He wasn¡¯t even willing to give her public recognition. So how far would that one little card go?

    She wanted more¡ªmuch more. She wasn¡¯t stupid. A credit card was nice, but it wasn¡¯t security. And she needed long-term guarantees.

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    But for now? She¡¯d pretend to be satisfied. She still needed time to figure out her next move.

    And when her mind shed back to that humiliating encounter with Ste earlier, her rage boiled up all over again.

    It was Ste¡¯s fault. All of it.

    If Ste would just disappear from Marc¡¯s life, then maybe, just maybe, Marc woulde around.

    That was her new goal¡ªget Ste out of the way. No matter what it took.

    Ste had been pullingte nights at the research institute for an entire week, working side by side with Sandra, Elbert, and Jamir on the new project. At first, everything was smooth sailing. But once they entered the second phase, they hit a major roadblock.

    ¡°Sylvia, we don¡¯t have this equipment at our institute,¡± Sandra said, clearly stressed. ¡°Without it, we can¡¯t move forward with the next step.¡±

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 Chapter 536

    ?Chapter 536:

    Ste frowned. That hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind before. No equipment meant the whole experiment had to stall.

    She and Sandra asked around, hoping maybe another team had what they needed. But after checking with every single department, the answer was the same¡ªnobody had it.

    It turned out the reason was simple¡ªthe equipment had never been ordered in the first ce. It hadn¡¯t been needed for any previous research, so the institute just never bought it.

    Ste felt a headacheing on. This particr machine wasn¡¯t just rare¡ªit had to be custom-made. And even if they ced the order now, it would take two weeks to arrive. Toote. Way toote.

    Everyone knew how crucial this project was¡ªfor both the research institute and Briggs Group. Any dy could tank everything.

    ¡°Sylvia, what now?¡± Sandra¡¯s voice wavered with anxiety. ¡°If we wait for a pre-order, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll make the deadline.¡±

    Just as the team started spiraling, a voice cut through the tension. Nina strolled in from the corridor, her heels clicking confidently on the tile.

    She pped her hands lightly, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°No need to panic,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°I¡¯ve got a way to fix this.¡±

    The room buzzed with murmurs. All eyes turned to her.

    ¡°Nina, really? You¡¯ve got a solution? That equipment¡¯s not something you just pick up at a store.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s rare as hell. We¡¯re talking custom-made, special order, and on a tight clock.¡±

    Nina stayed calm, as if everything were under control. Once the chatter died down, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll have my family arrange for the institute to get one.¡± Everyone went wide-eyed.

    ¡°Are you serious? Can your family really secure that equipment in such a short time?¡±

    ¡°Oh my God, Nina, you¡¯re incredible! You just saved the whole project!¡± Praise flew from all directions. The team swarmed around Nina like she was the hero of the hour.

    Updates loaded at g@lno¦Íe??s

    Up on the second floor, Sandra crossed her arms, unimpressed. She huffed under her breath, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of equipment. Are people really that easy to impress?¡±

    Her voice was only loud enough for Ste to hear.

    Ste didn¡¯t say a word, and she wasn¡¯t looking at Nina with admiration, either.

    Her gut said something was off.

    She knew how rare that equipment was. In fact, there was only one authorized distributor in the entire country. And Nina? She¡¯d just returned from overseas. How could she be so sure her family could get it without a pre-order? Unless they had serious inside connections, this didn¡¯t add up. Something felt off.

    Really off.

    Without another word, Ste turned and headed back to her workstation.

    Sandra blinked, then rushed after her. ¡°Sylvia, wait up!¡±

    Her voice wasn¡¯t exactly quiet. Nina, still basking in everyone¡¯s praise downstairs, nced up just in time to see the two of them walking away.

    Watching them leave, she curled her lips into a knowing smirk.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 537

    ?Chapter 537:

    ¡°Sylvia, don¡¯t let it get to you,¡± Sandra said once they were back at the desk. ¡°Even if Nina gets the equipment, it doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s going to outshine us.¡± She assumed Ste was leaving because she was ticked off by Nina¡¯s dramatic entrance.

    But Ste didn¡¯t say anything. She sat down, powered on herptop, and started searching for the distributor¡¯s address.

    Sandra leaned over, puzzled. ¡°Why are you looking up the distributor¡¯s location?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t take her eyes off the screen as she answered Sandra, ¡°I¡¯ll find out where they are and go there myself.¡±

    Sandra nodded at first and said, ¡°Oh,¡± but then it hit her. ¡°Wait, did you just say you¡¯re going there in person?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t believe her ears. The distributor probably wasn¡¯t even in Choria. Was Ste really nning to travel to another city for this?

    Ste stayed calm and nodded. ¡°Yeah, the distributor¡¯s in nce. It¡¯s about two hours by train. I¡¯m going tomorrow.¡±

    Since it wasn¡¯t that far, Ste figured she could go and return the same day. The only thing she wasn¡¯t sure about was whether they¡¯d actually hand over the equipment she needed.

    Still, she felt it was worth taking a chance. Sitting around wondering wouldn¡¯t get her anywhere.

    Sandra thought for a moment and said, ¡°Then let mee with you.¡±

    Ste looked at her and shook her head. ¡°No need. You stay and help Elbert and the team sort out the research data. I won¡¯t be gone long.¡±

    Sandra saw she couldn¡¯t change Ste¡¯s mind, so she nodded. She¡¯d stay behind to manage the experiments with the others while waiting for Ste to return.

    The next morning, Ste took the day off and boarded the earliest train to nce.

    The weather in nce was totally different. The moment Ste stepped off the train, a wave of thick, humid heat hit her, making her break into a sweat¡ªsomething that hardly ever happened.

    L?t??st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.c??m

    She didn¡¯t waste any time. After checking into her hotel and dropping off her bags, she headed straight out and gged down a cab to the distributor¡¯s office, not even pausing for a sip of water.

    The staff at thepany understood why she was there and showed her to a lounge while they went to get their boss.

    Sitting on the soft sofa, Ste looked around. The ce was super fancy; even the cab handles looked like they were covered in gold.

    As she was trying to guess if the gold was real or fake, the lounge door opened. A man stepped in, wearing a crisp shirt and fitted ck pants that showed off his tall, lean build.

    His wavy hair was a bit long and fell loosely at the nape of his neck, soft and fluffy¡ªreminding Ste, oddly enough, of a gentle sheepdog.

    She figured it must feel nice to run her hand through it¡­

    Realizing she¡¯d drifted off, she quickly snapped back to reality, stood up, and reached out her hand. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Sylvia Gilbert, a researcher from the Choria Research Institute.¡±

    Rutherford Schoenberg nced at the woman in front of him and politely shook her hand. ¡°Hello. Did you travel all the way from Choria today for something important?¡±

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    .

 Chapter 538

    ?Chapter 538:

    As he sat down, Ste followed and took a seat too. ¡°Yes. Our team is working on a project right now, and we really need one of the machines yourpany distributes. I was hoping we could purchase one.¡±

    Rutherford hadn¡¯t expected her to get straight to the point.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, here¡¯s the thing. Our machines are under limited national authorization. Not every institute is eligible to buy them.¡±

    Ste understood right away. It was like how only certain cities had ess to high-end luxury boutiques.

    ¡°I understand, but our institute has solid capabilities. We¡¯ve made consistent progress and earned a good reputation in the field.¡±

    Rutherford nodded, though he seemed distracted. ¡°That¡¯s what every institute says, Ms. Gilbert. I¡¯m sorry, but these machines are in short supply, and I really can¡¯t help with that.¡±

    Sure, Rutherford found Ste appealing, but he was a professional. He wouldn¡¯t let someone¡¯s looks sway his business decisions.

    Just as he was about to leave, Ste quickly spoke up. ¡°Please, wait. Could you tell me what it would take for our institute to even have a shot at this?¡±

    Rutherford turned back to assess Ste again, his tone calm and unhurried. ¡°It¡¯s not about how I give you a chance¡ªit¡¯s about how you n to prove yourselves to me.¡±

    After all, she was the one asking for help.

    Ste pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment before speaking. ¡°How about this¡ªyou lend me the equipment first. Our research institute is currently coborating on a project with the International Research Association and Briggs Group. If we manage to secure the deal, you provide us with a machine for free.¡±

    Rutherford raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. ¡°And if you don¡¯t secure it?¡±

    Without a second¡¯s hesitation, Ste answered, ¡°Then I¡¯ll return the equipment andpensate you with ten million.¡±

    A flicker of admiration sparked in Rutherford¡¯s eyes. The equipment in question? Worth no more than eight million, tops. Yet here she was, offering ten million as coteral if she lost the bid. A woman throwing out that kind of offer without blinking made him genuinely curious about where her confidence came from. Ste met his gaze without flinching¡ªno nerves, no second-guessing. Just quiet determination, steady and sincere.

    Your source of stories: g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í??s.c??m

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve got nothing to lose by letting this y out. If our institute wins the coboration, that proves we¡¯re good enough to deserve your authorization, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    She had a point. For Rutherford, there really wasn¡¯t any downside¡ªthough, truth be told, the benefit wasn¡¯t all that big either. Ten million wasn¡¯t even worth his time. But what was interesting was her.

    ¡°I can give you the equipment,¡± he said. ¡°But if you lose the deal, I want the ten million¡ªand one additional condition.¡±

    ¡°What condition?¡± Ste asked cautiously.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± Rutherford replied with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I do. But since you¡¯re so confident, I assume you won¡¯t have to worry about that, right?¡±

    Ste stared at the man in front of her. That smile of his was all charm on the surface, but something told her there was a fox lurking beneath. He definitely wasn¡¯t the simple type.

    Still, she didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Deal,¡± she said.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 539

    ?Chapter 539:

    As she turned to leave the lounge, something urred to her, and she nced back. ¡°I haven¡¯t caught your name yet.¡±

    Business was business¡ªand exchanging names was a gesture of good faith.

    ¡°Rutherford Schoenberg,¡± he replied, still smiling. ¡°Pleasure to meet you, Sylvia.¡±

    Ste gave a small nod. ¡°I look forward to working with you, Mr. Schoenberg. Goodbye.¡±

    That same afternoon, Ste sealed the deal and signed the contract. Rutherford promised that the equipment would be shipped out that day and should arrive at the institute by the next.

    Back in the office, his assistant looked stunned after hearing what had just happened. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg¡­ you really gave her that equipment?¡±

    Hadn¡¯t all domestic authorizations already been finalized?

    Rutherford thought of Sylvia¡¯s bright eyes and quietly chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s equipment. It¡¯s meant to be used. She made a bet with me. Whether she wins or loses, I¡¯m not losing anything. It¡¯s rare toe across someone that interesting¡ªit¡¯s worth ying along.¡±

    The assistant looked like something had just clicked in his mind. ¡°Are you¡­ interested in that woman?¡±

    Rutherford didn¡¯t deny it. Lately, his family had been hounding him to get married¡ªsaid he wasn¡¯t getting any younger and should start settling down and taking more control of thepany.

    But the well-breddies they¡¯d introduced him to? All nd and predictable. Sylvia, though, had caught his eye in a way no one else had. For the first time in a long while, someone had actually sparked his interest.

    The next morning, Ste arrived at the institute early and saw a group of people crowding around Nina in the lobby. Nina stood there in a white dress, catching everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Nina, did you really get the equipment?¡± someone asked in surprise.

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing! You got it in just one day? So fast,¡± another added.

    Your escape begins with g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?????m

    Just like the day before, Nina answered softly, ¡°The distributor agreed to provide it.¡±

    The crowd broke into excited cheers. ¡°Nina, you¡¯re awesome!¡±

    ¡°You always get things done, Nina. Not like certain people around here who act all important just because they¡¯ve got some connections. Honestly, the way they carry themselves is just in annoying.¡±

    A few othersughed and nodded in agreement.

    Ste ignored the chatter, pulled out her phone, and called Rutherford. They¡¯d exchanged numbers yesterday, but she hadn¡¯t thought she would be using it so soon.

    Rutherford didn¡¯t pick up, but right after the call ended, he texted her. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Gilbert. I¡¯m in a meeting at the moment. Is it something urgent?¡±

    Ste replied right away, ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, has the equipment you mentioned yesterday been delivered yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I sent someone over with itst night. It should be getting there any moment now.¡±

    Ste found it strange and asked again, ¡°Only one unit was sent to our institute?¡±

    Her brows furrowed, clearly puzzled. If Rutherford had arranged the delivery, then who had sent the equipment Nina received? Something didn¡¯t add up.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 540

    ?Chapter 540:

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, this equipment is only sold through ourpany. Like I said before, it¡¯s very limited. The one you¡¯re getting is the only one we¡¯ve sent out,¡± Rutherford replied.

    Ste fell into contemtion once again. If only one unit was sent out, then where did Nina get hers? Or maybe Nina hadn¡¯t contacted anyone at all, and there was never a second machine.

    As she walked back from the balcony, things started making sense to Ste.

    ¡°How can you talk about Sylvia like that?¡± Sandra snapped. ¡°If not for her, we wouldn¡¯t have even won thestpetition. Don¡¯t be so unfair!¡±

    Sandra stood up for Sylvia,

    But instead of support, she got nasty remarks. ¡°Oh,e on, Sandra. You¡¯re just sticking to Sylvia like glue because you want to move up, right? Everyone knows you knew nothing when you started here. You¡¯re just hoping to get close to rich people by sticking to her.¡±

    Sandra froze, shocked by thement. She didn¡¯t know what to say.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± she protested.

    ¡°Oh, really? Then why are you always doing whatever she says? I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s using you, and here you are blindly defending her.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true at all! Sylvia¡¯s not that kind of person!¡± Sandra said firmly.

    Ste had wanted to let Nina y her game for a bit longer, but she didn¡¯t want Sandra to be dragged into it and hurt because of her.

    After thinking for a moment, she looked at Nina and asked in a calm tone, ¡°So, Nina, you said your people were the ones who sent the equipment?¡±

    Nina looked startled. She turned to face Ste. ¡°Why? Is something wrong?¡±

    Ste let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°Of course there¡¯s a problem,¡± Ste said sharply. ¡°There¡¯s only one distributor for this machine across the country, and it takes at least a day for them to ship it. If you¡¯re saying you got it yourself, can you tell us the distributor¡¯s name?¡±

    Nina flinched. Her eyes darted around, trying to avoid Ste¡¯s.

    Discover more at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s

    ¡°Sylvia, why are you saying all this?¡± Before Nina could respond, one of her die-hard supporters jumped in.

    But Ste turned to her calmly and asked in a quiet voice, ¡°Did I ask you a question? Are you Nina?¡±

    The girl was caught off guard. She blinked, flustered, then turned her head away in silence.

    Ste looked back at Nina. ¡°If you don¡¯t even know the distributor¡¯s name, then how did this equipment end up delivered here under your name?¡± She paused. ¡°I was just on the phone with the distributor¡¯s general manager. Want me to ask if he knows you?¡±

    Nina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She hadn¡¯t expected Ste to actually know someone from the distributor.

    ¡°Sylvia, what are you even talking about?¡± Nina scoffed, her voice louder now. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re the one who arranged this? Come on, don¡¯t kid yourself. You don¡¯t even have that kind of connection. You¡¯re really stretching it this time!¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± another colleague chimed in. ¡°Nina¡¯s a top grad who just got back from abroad. Why would anyone listen to you? If this was a donation, it¡¯s obviously because of her, not you!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t flinch. She didn¡¯t argue either. She just stood there, calm as ever, her eyes fixed on Nina.

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 Chapter 541

    ?Chapter 541:

    Nina hesitated under that steady gaze, but then she lifted her chin and tried to recover. ¡°I never said it was my doing,¡± she countered. ¡°All I said was the distributor donated the equipment. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±

    Ste almostughed. That was her game? Twisting words? She really thought Nina was a toughpetitor. But now the woman just seemed sloppy. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t you,¡± Ste asked inly, ¡°then who was it?¡±

    The crowd froze. Nina had just admitted it wasn¡¯t her.

    But in the very next breath, she tossed out, ¡°It wasn¡¯t my effort. But I saw William escort the equipment into the institute this morning. It must have been him. Sylvia, how could you take credit for someone else¡¯s work?¡±

    The second William¡¯s name came up, everyone suddenly found that exnation way more believable. It was William, the guy who could basically move mountains at the institute.

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯ve really walked yourself into a trap this time! Thought you could grab someone else¡¯s credit, but it turns out there was a witness.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just because you¡¯re close to William doesn¡¯t mean you can im his aplishments like they¡¯re yours.¡±

    Ste looked around at all the faces pointing fingers, refusing to believe her. Honestly, it was almost funny.

    She was about to respond when the sound of steady footsteps echoed behind the crowd.

    ¡°I had no hand in securing the equipment.¡±

    The room went quiet. Everyone turned around.

    William walked in through the crowd, each step slow and steady until he reached Ste¡¯s side. His gaze swept over Nina¡ªsharp and cold.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t arrange for the delivery,¡± he said. ¡°The equipment was brought back by Sylvia yesterday. She went to nce, negotiated directly with the distributor, and finalized the deal. I only escorted it in this morning. If anyone¡¯s taking credit unfairly, it¡¯s me¡ªI should be giving her the credit.¡±

    His words left everyone stunned. Wait¡­ Sylvia arranged it? That couldn¡¯t be real¡­ could it?

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    Ste nced sideways at William. She hadn¡¯t expected him to step in and clear things up for her.

    ¡°William, how can that be?¡± someone tried to argue weakly. ¡°Sylvia¡¯s just¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me,¡± William cut in, his voice colder than usual, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the distributor¡¯s contact. You can call and confirm it yourself.¡±

    The researcher shut up instantly, looking like he¡¯d rather crawl into a hole.

    William swept his gaze over the rest of them. ¡°This institute¡¯s project needs everyone¡¯s effort. You all have experiments to run. So why are you standing around gossiping?¡±

    William rarely raised his voice, especially not in the institute¡ªbut this time, the heat in his tone was impossible to ignore.

    No one dared to talk back. Everyone scattered in seconds.

    Most of the staff had gone when William finally turned to Nina and said, ¡°I have no patience for people who don¡¯t take research seriously. If that¡¯s not why you¡¯re here, Miss Carter, then maybe you shouldn¡¯t be here at all.¡±

    Nina¡¯s fingernails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists. The sting of humiliation ran deep.

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 Chapter 542

    ?Chapter 542:

    Back when she was abroad, she had been admired, even celebrated. But now, standing in the very ce she once called home, she had been thoroughly humiliated¡ªfirst by Ste, now by William. She wouldn¡¯t forget this¡ªnot today, not ever.

    William left the hall with Ste, and as they walked toward theb, she asked curiously, ¡°How did you know I had made a deal with Mr. Schoenberg?¡±

    William nced at her calmly and replied, ¡°Rutherford and I have worked together before¡ªwe¡¯re sort of friends. He asked me to make sure the equipment made it safely to the institute today.¡±

    Ste was a little surprised, but it made sense. William had a lot of connections. If she¡¯d known he knew Rutherford, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have needed to rush all the way to nce yesterday.

    But then again, Ste reminded herself that she still needed to count on her own abilities.

    Later at lunch, Sandra nearly bounced with excitement the moment she learned it was Ste who had managed to settle the equipment issue.

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re incredible! I honestly mean it¡ªyou¡¯re my idol!¡± she gushed.

    Sandra¡¯s admiration felt different¡ªit wasn¡¯t the shallow kind that people showed Nina. It felt genuine, and Ste could tell it came straight from the heart.

    ¡°I really just went there to give it a shot,¡± Ste said modestly. ¡°The distributor¡¯s team was surprisingly understanding. I just got lucky.¡±

    As they were eating, someone walked up to their table with a tray, looking at Ste with hopeful eyes. ¡°Sylvia, is this seat taken? Can I sit here?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t say anything and just kept eating.

    The woman tried again, a little nervously. ¡°Thanks for bringing the equipment today. It means a lot¡ªwe can keep our experiments going. I really admire what you did.¡±

    Still silent, Ste scooped some beef from her te into Sandra¡¯s without looking up.

    Feeling awkward, the woman quietly walked away.

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    Over in the corner, Nina watched the whole thing. The people who used to tter her, chasing after her approval, now flocked around Ste like she was the star of the institute.

    A wave of contempt rose inside Nina as she poked at her food with her fork. It was just a piece of equipment¡ªnothing more. Yet somehow, that alone was enough to make everyone turn their backs on her and treat Ste like she was better than Nina. Why?

    Meanwhile, Ste calmly finished her lunch with Sandra, then went straight back to theb to continue her work.

    With the new equipment finally in ce, the pace of the project picked up rapidly. Issues that had once held them back were now being resolved with ease. Everything was finally moving forward.

    A week went by, and the research made great progress.

    But just as things were picking up, a new problem cropped up.

    ¡°These samples can¡¯t be preserved,¡± Elbert said with a frown, staring at the lifeless cells under the microscope. ¡°Whether we keep them cold or warm, they don¡¯tst more than two days. That¡¯s not going to work for our research. We¡¯re running out of usable samples.¡±

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 Chapter 543

    ?Chapter 543:

    They had thought everything would go smoothly after getting the new equipment, but now this unexpected problem was holding them back. No one on the team had worked with this kind of sample before, so they werepletely in the dark about how it behaved or how to fix the issue.

    Ste was just as frustrated.

    That night, alone in her dorm room, shey in bed, tossing and turning.

    Sleep wouldn¡¯te¡ªher mind kept circling back to the data, searching for anything she might¡¯ve missed, anything that could move their research forward. However, the longer she thought about it, the more her anxiety grew. Eventually, her head started to ache.

    She finally got up to grab a painkiller, only to find that the bottle in her drawer had expired.

    Just as she was about to toss it in the trash, something clicked. Her eyes widened. The pieces suddenly made sense.

    Without wasting another second, she snatched up her phone and called Elbert, not caring howte it was.

    ¡°Elbert, I think I just figured something out,¡± she said, her voice filled with excitement.

    Early the next morning, Ste and her team arrived at the research institute ahead of schedule. In theb, they began carefully cing the remaining samples into sealed, insted boxes.

    She recalled how the pills from yesterday had to be stored in a dry, low-light environment to preserve their active ingredients.

    Until now, all their insted boxes had been transparent¡ªexposing the samples to light and likely shortening their lifespan.

    It urred to her that maybe that was the problem.

    Even though Elbert wasn¡¯t sure if her solution would work, he was willing to give it a shot.

    Originally, the samples would have lost their viability by this morning, but thanks to Ste¡¯s method, they maintained excellent viability well into the afternoon.

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    ¡°Sylvia, it really worked! The remaining samples are saved!¡± Elbert called out excitedly.

    Seeing the joy on his face, Ste¡¯s lips curved into a small smile. ¡°If they can stay active, we¡¯ll finally be able toplete the experimental data.¡±

    Once she confirmed the samples were stable, Ste refined the form they¡¯d been using, developing a brand-new algorithm¡ªprecise down to two decimal ces.

    Elbert and the others hadn¡¯t seen an approach like this before. When she showed them the form, they were stunned.

    ¡°Sylvia, did youe up with this algorithm yourself?¡± Elbert asked, eyebrows raised.

    Ste nodded. ¡°The traditional form takes too long and leaves room for error. This one reduces the margin of error and saves time.¡±

    Elbert reviewed it line by line, double-checking each step. Everything held up. The forms were urate¡ªand much more efficient than what they¡¯d been using.

    He couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her. Once again, Ste proved herself to be a genius¡ªmaybe even on William¡¯s level.

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 Chapter 544

    ?Chapter 544:

    ¡°Sylvia, I never thought this algorithm could be applied this way. You¡¯re incredible!¡±

    Ste just smiled and replied modestly, ¡°It¡¯s just a few simple changes. If you had the time, you¡¯d figure it out too.¡±

    That humility was one of the things Elbert admired about her most. She was undeniably brilliant, but she never lorded it over anyone.

    She always treated people with respect¡ªand that made her an ideal teammate. Since the form would be key to the entire project, it needed to be shared with the rest of the research team.

    But the moment Ste presented it, a few researchers looked skeptical. ¡°Sylvia, you say this is your own creation. But how do you prove it¡¯s urate?¡± one of them questioned, arms crossed.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± another chimed in. ¡°We¡¯re dealing with experimental data here. One wrong decimal could mean starting from scratch. How do we know we can trust it?¡±

    The voices came from Nina¡¯s crowd¡ªthe same ones who had never liked Ste from the start.

    Even after Ste had won that internationalpetition, they¡¯d dismissed it as dumb luck¡ªor worse, said it was thanks to inside help. Some even whispered that William might¡¯ve helped her.

    But this time, Elbert didn¡¯t stay quiet. ¡°I¡¯ve verified the form myself,¡± he said, cutting in firmly. ¡°The logic checks outpletely. It¡¯s consistent with the methods we¡¯ve always used¡ªit just runs faster.¡±

    Sandra nodded from nearby. ¡°Exactly. If we switch to this form, we¡¯ll save time and effort across the board. That only helps the research.¡±

    Why were they so eager to do extra work just to avoid giving Sylvia credit? Was it really about the form? Or just about the fact that Ste made them feel inadequate?

    Sandra continued, her voice cool and direct. ¡°Sylvia didn¡¯t have to share this. She could¡¯ve kept it to herself. But she chose to let everyone benefit from it. The way some of you are acting¡ªit¡¯s honestly kind of disrespectful, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not saying we don¡¯t trust Sylvia,¡± someone said, ¡°but this is a new form. No one wants to take that kind of risk. Honestly, the only one in this institute with skillsparable to hers is Nina. Let¡¯s have Nina look it over.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. If Nina thinks it checks out, then we¡¯ll be on board.¡±

    Get thetest g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    Sandra couldn¡¯t help butugh. Was this for real? These people sounded like textbook brown-nosers¡ªblindly assuming Nina was better than Sylvia at everything. She hadn¡¯t even been around that long, and somehow she was already the standard?

    Ste nced calmly at Sandra and Elbert, who both looked a bit uneasy. She gave a slight shake of her head, signaling them to let it go.

    If they wanted Nina to verify the form, fine. Ste had nothing to hide. Her work would speak for itself.

    Nina was busy running an experiment in herb when a flurry of footsteps and voices echoed outside. A group of researchers rushed in, calling for her to head to the main hall to review a new form Sylvia had just created. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. ¡°What form are you talking about?¡± she asked, brows slightly raised.

    ¡°It¡¯s for statistical data analysis. Supposedly it makes data verification a lot faster.¡±

    Hearing that, Nina scoffed. ¡°She made it? All right, let¡¯s go have a look.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 545

    ?Chapter 545:

    A few minutester, Nina entered the hall, heels clicking on the floor.

    Hester Mills quickly handed her a printed copy. ¡°Here.¡±

    Nina took the page, gave it a cursory nce, then tossed it onto the table like it was junk. ¡°You¡¯re really calling this impressive?¡± she said mockingly, turning to Ste. ¡°How do you n to prove it?¡±

    Ste met her gaze, unfazed. ¡°Isn¡¯t the value of a form proven by results? If you¡¯ve got doubts, then let¡¯s test it.¡±

    That got Nina¡¯s attention. The fire in her eyes sparked immediately.

    ¡°Oh? And how do you want topete?¡± she asked with a sneer, clearly thinking Ste was way out of her league.

    Before she¡¯d evene back to the country, Nina had heard about Sylvia¡ªhow she won some international award and got famous for it. But in her eyes, Sylvia was just a pretty face with inted hype.

    From day one at the research institute, Nina had thought Sylvia was all looks and no depth¡ªdefinitely not worthy of being called a rival.

    But a few days ago, Sylvia had publicly embarrassed her.

    That humiliation was something she would never forget.

    Ste said coolly, ¡°It¡¯s simple. We both calcte the same data set at the same time. Whoever finishes faster and more urately wins. That should settle whether my form actually works.¡±

    For the first time, Nina actually looked at the page she¡¯d brushed off earlier. The form wasn¡¯t just decent¡ªit was well structured, clean, and surprisingly refined. Some of the code blocks were things she didn¡¯t even recognize.

    Still, she chalked it up to coincidence.

    Just because it worked for one data set didn¡¯t mean it could be trusted across the board.

    Their current system had gone through countless iterations by dozens of researchers.

    Your next chapter awaits g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls?c?m

    It was battle-tested.

    There was no way Sylvia had managed to outperform that by herself.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Nina finally said, raising her chin. ¡°Let¡¯s do it. But there has to be a penalty for the loser.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that,¡± Ste replied without hesitation.

    It wouldn¡¯t be a realpetition without a winner and a loser.

    Nina smirked and dered, ¡°If you lose, I want you to stand in front of everyone here and admit you got this job through connections. That you have no skills, that you¡¯re just here for show. And then I want you to voluntarily leave the research institute.¡±

    Hester and the others behind her lit up instantly, whispering and grinning in anticipation. They¡¯d been waiting for something like this.

    Sandra and Elbert, on the other hand, were stunned. This wasn¡¯t just a bet¡ªthis was a setup. One misstep in a form, and they would drive Sylvia outpletely?

    Elbert was about to speak up for Ste when she beat him to it. ¡°All right. I agree.¡± The moment Ste epted, a smug smile tugged at Nina¡¯s lips, full of confidence, as if the oue had already been written in her favor.

    Ste added, ¡°If I lose, I¡¯ll do what you asked. But if you lose¡ªI want you to kneel and apologize.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 546

    ?Chapter 546:

    Nina¡¯s expression wavered. ¡°Kneel and apologize?¡±

    Ste nodded, calm as ever. ¡°What? You scared?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that Nina was scared¡ªmore like caught off guard. She didn¡¯t think much of the condition.

    In this institute, aside from William, even Paul treated her with courtesy.

    Who did Sylvia think she was to make such a demand?

    Still, she was sure she wouldn¡¯t lose. No way she¡¯d ever have to kneel and say sorry.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she replied coolly. ¡°An apology it is.¡±

    Sandra immediately jumped in, ¡°Let¡¯s make it official then. Sign an agreement.¡± This way, nobody could back out if things didn¡¯t go their way.

    Jamir looked a little startled by Sandra¡¯s boldness and gave her sleeve a gentle tug.

    In his mind, she was pushing Sylvia into a corner. Without a written agreement, there¡¯d still be room to walk things back if she lost¡ªbut once they signed, there¡¯d be no getting out of it.

    Sandra shot him a re. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust Sylvia?¡±

    Jamir sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not that¡ªI¡¯m just being careful!¡±

    ¡°You just don¡¯t believe in her, that¡¯s all. Anyway, Sylvia¡¯s not losing. Period,¡± Sandra said, full of conviction.

    Ste didn¡¯t mind signing. She wasn¡¯t the type to back out of anything, and she had no intention of losing either.

    After both names were down on the agreement, they sat at theirputers, ready.

    Sandra stood behind Ste, Hester behind Nina. ¡°Thepetitionsts one hour,¡± Hester announced. ¡°The task is from one of the institute¡¯s top-tier projects. Whoever calctes theplete set of data first wins.¡±

    Sandra added, ¡°If neither finishes in forty minutes, it¡¯s a draw. If one finishes first but makes more mistakes than the other, it¡¯s a draw too.¡± Time and uracy¡ªthat was all that mattered.

    To win, one had to surpass the other in both aspects; otherwise, it was a tie.

    Fresh updates avable at galno¦Íe?s?c?m

    Jamir nced at them both. ¡°When you¡¯re ready, press the timer.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t hesitate. Her fingers hit the timer, and she was off. Her hands flew across the keyboard, her screen quickly filling with data and calctions. Nina wasn¡¯t far behind, typing fast and sharp, using the method she was most familiar with.

    Within seconds, both screens were scrolling too fast to follow.

    Sandra stared in awe behind Ste. ¡°Wow¡­ how many years of practice would it take to type like that?¡±

    She¡¯d always thought Ste was amazing, but watching her in action now¡ªthis was next-level.

    No wonder Ste was her idol.

    Hester, who stood behind Nina, clenched her jaw. She wanted toe back with something snarky¡ªbut after seeing Ste¡¯s pace, she couldn¡¯t even find the words.

    Nina¡¯s hands moved just as fast, matching Ste¡¯s tempo perfectly. Ten minutes in, and neither had gained the upper hand.

    More and more researchers gathered around, drawn by the showdown. Curiosity buzzed through the room. This wasn¡¯t just apetition¡ªit was a battle of brains, speed, and reputation. And everyone wanted to see who woulde out on top.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 547

    ?Chapter 547:

    William stepped out, looking for Paul, but paused when he spotted a crowd gathered downstairs. Right in the middle sat Ste and Nina, side by side, both locked in front of theirputers.

    He narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.

    A nearby researcher quickly exined, ¡°Sylvia and Nina are having apetition. They¡¯re testing whose calction method is faster and more urate.¡±

    William raised his brows in surprise. Apetition? Ste never liked the spotlight, especially not in a ce like the institute. If she agreed to a public face-off like this, then Nina must¡¯ve provoked her again.

    Frankly, William had never had a good impression of Nina. She¡¯d only been here a few days and was already ying dirty.

    Once this project wrapped up, he nned to pull a few strings to send her right back overseas.

    Still, as he thought about it, his eyes were already drifting back to Ste.

    People always said a man was most attractive when he was focused on his work¡ªbut to William, no one looked more captivating than Ste did when she was immersed in hers.

    That quiet,ser-sharp focus of hers¡ªit was a rare kind of brilliance. The kind that never needed an audience.

    At twenty-five minutes and twelve seconds, Ste clicked the timer and pulled her hands away from the keyboard. A string of clean, final data lit up her screen. Sandra¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re so fast!¡± she burst out, practically bouncing on her feet. The shout startled Nina, who was still typing furiously. Her brows twitched into a scowl.

    Hester snapped, ¡°Can you not? So rude!¡±

    Sandra flushed, feeling a little awkward, but didn¡¯t say anything back. She could let it go¡ªSte had already won. No need to stoop to the loser¡¯s level.

    Hester, ring at Ste, who was now calmly sipping her water, couldn¡¯t help sneering, ¡°Speed doesn¡¯t mean uracy. Might wanna wait for the final results before you start celebrating.¡±

    Uncover new worlds at g   alnov els

    Sandra, who¡¯d been keeping it together, finally lost patience. ¡°What are you even talking about? Even if the uracy¡¯s a bit off, it¡¯ll still be a tie. What¡¯s there to be smug about?¡±

    And she wasn¡¯t wrong. If Nina finished under forty minutes¡ªeven if her results were more urate¡ªit would just be a draw.

    But Nina¡¯s brain was in chaos. She¡¯d pushed herself as hard as she could, yet Sylvia¡¯s screen had shed pleted¡± first. She knew she couldn¡¯t win. The only chance she had left was forcing a draw.

    So she slowed down a bit, went back to double-check her work¡ªanything to make her results airtight. Finally, after a careful review, she hit the stop button. Twenty-nine minutes, fifty seconds.

    With both contestants finished, Hester stepped forward to check Nina¡¯s uracy.

    There was no way to manipte the numbers¡ªthis was data from a previous high-level project. All results were archived and traceable.

    Any attempt to cheat would blow up on the spot.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the results toe out. Ste¡¯s uracy was 0.08% higher than Nina¡¯s.

    .

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 Chapter 548

    ?Chapter 548:

    Sandra practicallyunched herself into Ste¡¯s arms. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re amazing! I knew you¡¯d win! You¡¯re my idol¡ªI swear I¡¯m going to learn from you and work harder!¡±

    Ste chuckled, caught off guard by Sandra¡¯s enthusiasm, but she smiled warmly.

    Meanwhile, chaos was brewing over on Nina¡¯s side.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t Nina supposed to be some top-tier returnee from abroad?¡± someone muttered. ¡°I mean, I get losing on speed, but even uracy too?¡±

    ¡°I used to think Nina was more brilliant¡­ and she kept acting like Sylvia¡¯s work was all fluff. But now? Yeah, we were wrong. Sylvia¡¯s the greater mind.¡±

    Nina sat frozen in her chair, fists clenched tight against the table, her face pale with humiliation.

    She couldn¡¯t believe it. She¡¯d lost to Sylvia.

    She¡¯d run that kind of data countless times¡ªher margin of error had never gone beyond 0.02%. But today? She was off by 0.08%. That couldn¡¯t be right.

    There had to be something wrong. Something was off. It couldn¡¯t be her.

    Frustration burned through her. She suddenly pushed back her chair and stood up, ready to storm out without another word.

    But Elbert stepped in front of her, arms spread casually, blocking the way. His voice was calm, almost amused. ¡°Miss Carter, aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡±

    Nina red at him, eyes cold and sharp with resentment.

    But Elbert didn¡¯t flinch. He wasn¡¯t about to let her walk off that easy.

    From behind, Jamir added, ¡°You both signed an agreement before thepetition. The terms were pretty clear, Miss Carter. You haven¡¯t fulfilled yours yet.¡±

    Nina¡¯s face turned stormy, but she froze on the spot.

    Just then, William came down the stairs and walked over to Ste.

    Nina spotted him immediately and quickly forced on a smile.

    ¡°Sylvia,¡± she said, sweetly now, ¡°I guess I was too arrogant before. You¡¯re really good¡ªthis method of yours will definitely save everyone a lot of time.¡±

    Sandra blinked, surprised by how fast Nina switched tones. But before she could say anything, William had reached Ste¡¯s side. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked calmly.

    Before Ste could answer, Nina jumped in again. ¡°Nothing serious! Just a little friendly challenge between colleagues. Sylvia won, and I totally admit she¡¯s amazing!¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±

    Nina suddenly felt a little uneasy under William¡¯s gaze, but she forced a bright smile anyway. ¡°Yeah, ask Sylvia!¡±

    She was counting on Sylvia¡¯s usual calm, non-confrontational nature. Surely she wouldn¡¯t call her out here, not in front of William.

    But Ste didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a friendly challenge,¡± she said tly. ¡°It was a properpetition¡ªwith a wager.¡± Nina¡¯s smile faltered.

    Sandra crossed her arms, clearly enjoying this. ¡°Right. There was even a signed agreement. What was the punishment again, Nina? You haven¡¯t forgotten, have you?¡±

    Nina looked like she wanted to vanish on the spot.

    .

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 Chapter 549

    ?Chapter 549:

    Hester stepped in quickly, trying to smooth things over. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. We¡¯re all colleagues here. No need to go that far. Nina already admitted Sylvia¡¯s better¡ªwhy push it?¡±

    Watching Hester y the victim, Sandra let out a scornfulugh. Seriously? Who was really being aggressive here?

    If Sylvia had lost, Sandra was sure they¡¯d already be dragging her to the door, urging her to pack up and leave the research institute.

    Nina stood awkwardly in front of Ste and William, cleared her throat twice, and forced out, ¡°Sylvia, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have allowed them to doubt you publicly. How about this? I apologize, and we let this go, okay?¡±

    The words sounded hollow. Empty. Not a hint of sincerity in her voice. And Ste knew¡ªif William hadn¡¯t walked over just now, Nina wouldn¡¯t be wearing that contrite expression. She wouldn¡¯t even be trying to save face.

    William turned to Ste, his voice quiet and steady. ¡°What were the terms of the penalty?¡±

    Ste met his eyes and answered calmly, ¡°The bet was simple. If she lost, she¡¯d kneel and apologize to me in public. If I lost, I¡¯d admit to being just a decorative figure and voluntarily resign from the institute.¡±

    William¡¯s brow lifted slightly in surprise. He¡¯d always known Ste was bold, but he hadn¡¯t expected this level of nerve¡ªwilling to stake everything on a single round. If she ever lost because of bad luck, who would be there to back her up? Who would catch her when she fell?

    William turned to Nina, his tone steady but unmistakably firm. ¡°Since there was a bet, you need to ept the oue gracefully. Whoever loses should honor the deal. Besides, Miss Carter¡ªthe bet was your idea, right?¡±

    Thest part came out like a question, but the weight behind it left no room for denial.

    And with so many people watching, Nina knew she couldn¡¯t talk her way out of this one. One wrong move and her reputation at the institute would be shredded.

    But to kneel and apologize to Ste? That was a humiliation she wasn¡¯t ready for.

    Your imagination starts at g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s?conn

    Her hand curled into a tight fist inside her sleeve as she red at Ste, then forced out a stiff, almost grudging, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She didn¡¯t kneel.

    Ste didn¡¯t respond.

    She just looked at Nina, gaze steady¡ªthen slowly dropped her eyes to Nina¡¯s legs. The message was clear.

    Nina¡¯s jaw tightened. She hoped someone would speak up for her, push back against Ste¡¯s cold stance.

    But this wasn¡¯t abroad where she had sway. This was the institute¡ªand William was clearly on Ste¡¯s side. Nina was on her own.

    Under the pressure of every watching eye, Nina¡¯s knees began to bend. Just as she was about to go down, Ste reached out and grabbed her arm.

    ¡°No need to kneel. I ept your apology,¡± she said inly. ¡°Let¡¯s not do this kind of bet again. Not everyone¡¯s cut out for it.¡±

    Once Nina was standing upright again, Ste let go and walked away without another nce, Sandra and the others trailing behind her.

    William didn¡¯t say a word either. He followed right after Ste, not sparing Nina even a look as he headed upstairs.

    The rest of the researchers, who¡¯d kept quiet while William was there, finally dared to gather around Nina. ¡°Nina, are you okay?¡±

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 Chapter 550

    ?Chapter 550:

    ¡°Man, I didn¡¯t expect William to show up like that. That scared me half to death.¡± Trying to lighten the mood, someone added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Nina. That was just a fluke. We still think you¡¯re way better than Sylvia.¡±

    But Nina¡¯s face turned sour. She shoved their hands off and stormed away without a word.

    The group stood frozen for a second, confused.

    ¡°What¡¯s with her? We were just trying tofort her. Seriously. She lost fair and square. Sylvia¡¯s new form is actually pretty useful.¡±

    Just like that, opinions began to shift.

    Meanwhile, Ste didn¡¯t dwell on the incident. To her, it was just a minor blip in the day. That afternoon, as she was finishing up at the institute, her phone rang. It was Sharon, inviting her to go shopping.

    Ste didn¡¯t even try to hide herck of enthusiasm. She¡¯d never been big on shopping¡ªusually walked into a store, grabbed whatever looked good, and was out in ten minutes t.

    But Sharon was being persistent.

    ¡°Stel,e on. We haven¡¯t gone shopping together in forever. And it¡¯s seasonal shift season! New season, new wardrobe. Autumn¡¯sing¡ªyou¡¯re gonna need some long sleeves!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s roasting outside, Sharon. Can¡¯t we do this another day?¡±

    Ste nced at the sun zing through the institute windows and sighed.

    ¡°There¡¯s air conditioning in the mall,¡± Sharon said, chipper. ¡°It won¡¯t be hot at all. And besides, there¡¯s this new boutique exhibition¡ªthey¡¯ve got great stuff. I need to pick up a birthday gift for a friend. Come help me choose!¡±

    Ste hesitated for another second, then gave in.

    Ten minutester, she was standing at the mall entrance when Sharon pulled up.

    She spotted her immediately¡ªSharon was dressed in her usual androgynous-chic vibe: a ck camisoleyered under a tailored ck suit coat, oozing effortless cool.

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    They walked into the mall, and the refreshing st of air conditioning washed over them. Ste finally rxed a little.

    ¡°So,¡± she asked, ¡°who¡¯s the gift for this time?¡±

    Sharon waved her hand like it wasn¡¯t a big deal. ¡°She¡¯s one of those fancy salon clients. Shees in a lot, so I¡¯ve gotten to know her. She¡¯s spent a good amount here, so I figured, why not give her a birthday gift?¡± Ste didn¡¯t see anything wrong with that.

    On the mall¡¯s third floor, Ste¡¯s eyes widened when she spotted something unexpected. ¡°Wait, when did this antique exhibit open?¡±

    ¡°I thinkst week,¡± Sharon answered. ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy toe check it out. It¡¯s all antique jewelry, and they im some of it¡¯s from medieval times. But honestly, who knows if that¡¯s even true?¡±

    Ste figured either way, they¡¯d see for themselves soon enough.

    The ce was filled with small booths, each run by different sellers.

    Some had rare finds brought in from overseas, while others were offering vintage secondhand pieces. Ste followed Sharon from one booth to the next, and she had to admit, the pieces looked really good.

    ¡°Hey, what kind of jewelry does your client even like?¡± she asked.

    Sharon thought for a second. ¡°The kind rich women go for. The more expensive-looking, the better.¡±

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 Chapter 551

    ?Chapter 551:

    That was all Ste needed to picture the type.

    They strolled deeper into the exhibit, arms linked, stopping here and there to check price tags or ask about a piece.

    But just as they turned a corner, they suddenly bumped into Jazlyn and Doreen,ing from the opposite direction.

    Doreen hadn¡¯t been able to catch Marc¡¯s attentiontely and was constantly stressing about losing the baby. So whenever she could, she¡¯d hang around Jazlyn.

    Knowing how badly Jazlyn wanted a grandson, Doreen had made up some story about a fortune teller who guaranteed her child would be a great businessman.

    Jazlyn had been over the moon ever since, and now she was taking Doreen out shopping to celebrate. But running into Ste wasn¡¯t part of the n.

    When Jazlyn saw Ste standing there, she paused for a moment. Then her gaze shifted to Doreen¡ªyoung, pretty, glowing¡ªand she straightened with a smug smile.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Ste. So, after your divorce from Marc, you¡¯ve dropped so low you can¡¯t even find a guy to shop with?¡± she said.

    Ste had seen them earlier. She¡¯d hoped to avoid any drama¡ªshe was with Sharon and just wanted a chill day¡ªbut clearly, Jazlyn had other ideas.

    In a calm voiceced with sarcasm, Ste replied, ¡°True. I¡¯m not like some people who cling to men like it¡¯s the only good thing that¡¯s ever happened to them.¡±

    The jab hit its mark. Jazlyn and Doreen both looked stunned.

    Doreen quickly reached for Jazlyn¡¯s arm, speaking up. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t talk to her like that. Jazlyn¡¯s older than you. That¡¯s really disrespectful.¡±

    Ste looked her over. The dress she was wearing didn¡¯t quite fit¡ªand something about it looked familiar. Then it hit her. She¡¯d left a lot of her clothes behind when she left Marc. This dress? Definitely one of them.

    So Marc gave her stuff to Doreen?

    Seriously? He didn¡¯t even have the decency to draw the line.

    Your next chapter is here g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    Frustrated, Ste decided it wasn¡¯t worth the energy. She turned away and focused on the next stall, where Sharon was already browsing.

    The booth specialized in pearls. The vendor was proudly showing off what she called the best white pearls in the entire exhibit.

    Ste picked up a few of the nes and examined them closely. The quality really was top-notch. She turned to Sharon. ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick one of these?¡±

    Sharon nodded. ¡°They¡¯re really pretty. I like them.¡±

    But while Ste was ignoring her, Jazlyn was fuming. She yanked Doreen closer and made sure they were standing right beside them. ¡°Doreen, take a look. Pick out the best one¡ªwe¡¯ll buy it,¡± she said.

    Truth be told, Jazlyn wasn¡¯t even into pearls anymore. At her age, she preferred gold.

    But if Ste was buying pearls, then Jazlyn was going to make sure Doreen bought something better¡ªjust to show off. Just to rub it in Ste¡¯s face that she had been reced, and reced with someone younger, better dressed, and better suited to Marc¡¯s new life.

    Ste couldn¡¯t have cared less about the two women standing nearby¡ªshe was fully focused on helping Sharon find the perfect ne.

    Just as Ste spotted a gorgeous one and reached for it, Doreen swooped in like a hawk, snatching it up with a smug little smirk, pretending she just happened to be interested.

    .

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 Chapter 552

    ?Chapter 552:

    Ste bit back her irritation and picked out a different one, only for Doreen to do it again.

    It was like Doreen had made it her personal goal to grab whatever Ste showed interest in. Every time, she was just a second faster, snatching it right before Ste¡¯s fingers could touch them.

    After a few rounds of this nonsense, Sharon had had enough. ¡°Seriously? Do you have to copy everything we do? You can¡¯t pick something on your own?¡±

    Doreen flinched a little, her voice dropping to a weak mumble. ¡°I just thought those looked nice too. You haven¡¯t bought them yet, so what¡¯s the harm in me taking a look?¡±

    Ste, who usually avoided drama, was honestly shocked at how far Doreen was willing to go just to be annoying.

    She took a step back, crossed her arms, and said in a calm but cutting tone, ¡°If you love them so much, go ahead and pick first.¡±

    Doreen froze, standing there awkwardly for nearly five minutes, and still couldn¡¯t make up her mind.

    Next to her, Jazlyn was clearly losing patience. She practically wore a groove in the ground with her tapping foot. ¡°Doreen, can you just choose already? Or is everything here trash to you?¡±

    Unfortunately, the stall owner heard that and didn¡¯t take it well. ¡°Ma¡¯am, every single pearl here is certified. You¡¯re wee to have them checked if you want. But calling my items trash without even knowing what you¡¯re looking at? That¡¯s just rude.¡±

    Jazlyn hadn¡¯t meant anything by it; she was just annoyed. But the owner¡¯seback caught her off guard. She awkwardly shrugged and nudged Doreen to get on with it.

    Feeling the pressure, Doreen panicked and pointed to a ne hanging nearby.

    ¡°That one¡¯s super sparkly!¡± she said, trying to sound confident.

    Ste and Sharon stepped back, waiting to see what kind of masterpiece Doreen hadnded on.

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    And sure enough, that was the one she ended up buying.

    Jazlyn, acting like she owned the ce, jabbed a finger at it and said to the vendor, ¡°We¡¯ll take this one.¡±

    But the owner¡¯s face twisted like he had just sucked on a lemon. ¡°Sorry, ma¡¯am. You¡¯ll need to choose another. That one¡¯s not for sale.¡±

    Jazlyn instantly assumed it must be some exclusive, high-end piece.

    She lifted her chin and strutted like she was walking a red carpet. ¡°What¡¯s the issue? You think we can¡¯t afford it? Go ahead, name your price; we¡¯re not short on cash.¡±

    The owner let out a long sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. That ne just isn¡¯t for sale.¡±

    That really set Jazlyn off.

    ¡°What kind of shop are you even running? If it¡¯s not for sale, then why put it out here in the first ce? You think we don¡¯t deserve it just because we¡¯re not wearing designer brands?¡±

    Jazlyn, who was raised in the countryside, had a voice loud enough to shake the walls. Her shouting turned every head at the exhibit.

    The owner lookedpletely fed up. ¡°Ma¡¯am, no one¡¯s saying you can¡¯t buy anything. Just choose another ne.¡±

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 Chapter 553

    ?Chapter 553:

    Jazlyn wasn¡¯t letting it go. ¡°Why should I? My daughter-inw likes this one. It suits her! We¡¯re buying it!¡±

    Ste and Sharon, watching this mess unfold, couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    Doreen whipped around and snapped, ¡°What¡¯s so funny? We¡¯re the customers here! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re in on some scam with this guy to cheat people!¡±

    Ste honestly wanted to crack open Doreen¡¯s head and figure out what kind of nonsense was spinning in there. Where did she even get this stuff?

    Meanwhile, the growing crowd had started whispering. A few clueless bystanders were getting riled up, murmuring that Ste and the vendor might be rigging prices or running some kind of shady deal.

    Ste had officially had enough.

    She calmly stepped forward, pointed at the ne Doreen was obsessed with, and said, ¡°This is the one you¡¯re set on, right?¡±

    Doreen gave a small, uneasy nod.

    Ste reached over and took the ne off the mannequin. ¡°This isn¡¯t even made of pearls,¡± she said, holding it up. ¡°It¡¯s just a stic sample.¡±

    There was a beat of silence as everyone around them leaned in, surprised. A few people moved closer, suddenly curious.

    The shop owner looked like he was about to cry from relief. ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s why I was trying to get you to pick something else. I didn¡¯t mean to offend anyone.¡±

    The crowd, who¡¯d clearly been hoping for some drama, looked disappointed. Realizing there wasn¡¯t going to be a scandal after all, they started to wander off, mumbling that it had just been a misunderstanding.

    Ste ced the sample back where it belonged and turned to Doreen with a raised brow. ¡°You seriously couldn¡¯t tell stic from pearls?¡±

    She could understand someone not knowing the finer types of pearls, but stic? That one was hard to miss.

    Doreen¡¯s cheeks went bright red. She didn¡¯t meet Ste¡¯s gaze as she mumbled, ¡°The lights in here were kind of blinding, and¡­ well, we don¡¯t exactly study pearls at school.¡±

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    Sharon, standing a few steps away, let out a teasingugh. ¡°What do you study then? Boys?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but smile, knowing full well Sharon was being cheeky on purpose.

    Doreen looked down at her fingers, twisting them nervously. She seemed small all of a sudden, visibly embarrassed, her voicepletely gone. Jazlyn, on the other hand, looked like she¡¯d just swallowed something bitter. She had walked in feeling smug, thinking Doreen could finally outshine Ste, but now she just felt humiliated. Doreen had totally flopped.

    She shot Doreen a sharp re before turning on her heel, not bothering to hide her irritation.

    Realizing she¡¯d messed up, Doreen rushed after her. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, I¡¯m really sorry¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to embarrass you.¡±

    Her voice trembled as she wiped her eyes, then she turned back to Ste. ¡°You¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t grow up around luxury. I know you probably look down on me for that. I just¡­ I haven¡¯t had much experience.¡±

    But Ste wasn¡¯t moved by Doreen¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t about money or background. She had only spoken up because the vendor had been unfairly med. The man was just trying to stop someone from unknowingly buying a fake item, yet Jazlyn had twisted it to make him seem rude to customers without money.

    .

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 Chapter 554

    ?Chapter 554:

    Without another word, Ste took Sharon¡¯s arm and walked back toward the stall, nning to pick out a few more essories.

    Seeing her so unaffected made Jazlyn even angrier. She clenched her jaw and stormed off.

    Doreen caught up a momentter, still apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Walsh. I get it now¡ªwe¡¯re frompletely different worlds. Maybe it¡¯s better if I stop thinking someone like Marc could ever be with someone like me.¡±

    Jazlyn looked frustrated, but when she noticed how Doreen protectively held her stomach, her heart softened a little. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave her behind¡ªafter all, this was her grandchild¡¯s mother. With a sigh, she said, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    She tried to convince herself that Doreen wasn¡¯t totally hopeless. She just needed some polishing. She didn¡¯t have money or experience, but those could be fixed over time.

    Guiding her a little now would help both Doreen and her future grandchild.

    And truthfully, Doreen was more well-behaved than Ste. Even when she made mistakes, she¡¯de back and apologize properly, with respect¡ªand Jazlyn liked that.

    Just thinking about Ste irritated her. In Jazlyn¡¯s eyes, Ste had once been a clueless young woman too. If she hadn¡¯t married Marc, and if thepany hadn¡¯t done so well over the years, would Ste even know how to carry a luxury handbag or manage a business?

    All of that was only possible because of Marc. And wasn¡¯t Marc the man Jazlyn had raised?

    Looking at Doreen again, Jazlyn silently made a decision¡ªshe would turn this girl into someone even more polished and impressive than Ste. One way or another.

    Doreen noticed Jazlyn had finally calmed down a little, so she put on her sweetest smile and coaxed gently, ¡°Mrs. Walsh, let¡¯s go look at the other stalls. I saw some beautiful jewelry over there¡ªI think something from that collection would look stunning on you. Let me get one for you.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s expression softened. Pleased, she followed Doreen toward the jewelry vendor selling gold essories.

    L?t§Öst ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.??m

    While Jazlyn was busy admiring bracelets and earrings, Doreen quickly silenced her phone, ignoring the flood of unread notifications still piling up.

    Last time, she had already transferred all the money Marc sent her to her mother. Unexpectedly, within just a week or two, the entire sum had been depleted, and her mother kept calling and texting incessantly, demanding more money.

    That was why she¡¯d been clinging to Jazlyn so muchtely. It wasn¡¯t out of affection¡ªit was desperation.

    She needed money. Fast.

    If her mother had one of her outbursts and decided to barge into her ce or, worse, show up at Marc¡¯s house throwing usations, all of Doreen¡¯s hard work would go up in mes.

    Letting out a pitiful sigh, Doreen pretended to browse the jewelry with Jazlyn while keeping her expression tired and worn.

    Jazlyn noticed right away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re not even smiling with all this gold in front of you.¡±

    Doreen quickly shook her head, brushing her hair behind her ear. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mrs. Walsh¡­ It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯ve been feeling overwhelmedtely. Being pregnant and handling everything alone¡ªit¡¯s a lot. The baby¡¯s getting bigger, and I¡¯ve nearly slipped in the bathroom twice this week.¡± She paused, then added in a trembling voice, ¡°And¡­ I think someone¡¯s following me. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m imagining it, but it feels like someone wants to hurt me or the baby. I¡¯m scared.¡±

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 Chapter 555

    ?Chapter 555:

    The moment Jazlyn heard ¡°someone wants to hurt the baby,¡± her face paled with rm.

    ¡°You can¡¯t stay alone like this, especially not while pregnant!¡± she said firmly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay with Marc for a while? At least in his house, the staff can take care of you. You¡¯ll be safer there.¡±

    Doreen¡¯s eyes lit up, but she forced a bit of hesitation. ¡°But¡­ if I just show up without asking, wouldn¡¯t that upset Marc?¡±

    Jazlyn patted her hand. ¡°Why would he be upset? You¡¯re pregnant with his child¡ªhe should be looking after you! He has enough staff at the vi, and you¡¯re not asking for much.¡±

    To Jazlyn, this wasn¡¯t a big deal. As long as Doreen was carrying a grandchild, she deserved to be well taken care of. Her safety was important. And if, in the end, Marc still didn¡¯t want to be with her, fine¡ªthey¡¯d go their separate ways after the baby was born.

    Encouraged by Jazlyn¡¯s reassurance, Doreen finally let herself rx. She gave her a grateful smile and followed Jazlyn back to Marc¡¯s vi.

    Later that evening, Marc returned home and found Jazlyn and Doreen sitting on the sofa, chatting like old friends. There was a fresh fruit tter on the coffee table. A strange tension twisted in his chest as he walked toward them. ¡°Mom? What are you doing here?¡±

    Jazlyn frowned at his tone. ¡°What do you mean, what am I doing here? Am I not allowed to visit my own son? And just look at you¡ªhave you even been checking in on Doreen and the babytely?¡±

    Irritation shed in Marc¡¯s eyes at her words. His gaze flicked to Doreen. She was sitting quietly next to Jazlyn, hands folded in herp, pretending to look ufortable. Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. He could already tell Doreen had spun something.

    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve been tied up with thepany,¡± he said, keeping his voice level. ¡°You know how bad things are right now. If I don¡¯t step up, the Walsh family¡¯s going to crumble.¡±

    There was no time for distractions¡ªnot even this one.

    But Jazlyn wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°Yes, work matters. But Doreen is carrying your child. You have a responsibility there too, Marc.¡±

    hosts great stories

    ¡°Mom, I know what I¡¯m doing. Don¡¯t make this moreplicated than it already is.¡± Marc rubbed his temple and dropped his briefcase beside the sofa, clearly trying to rein in his frustration.

    ¡°I¡¯m not making thingsplicated,¡± Jazlyn replied, her tone deceptively light. ¡°I brought Doreen here today to tell you she¡¯ll be moving in. The staff can look after her properly here.¡±

    Marc froze. He thought they were just dropping by. But now?

    ¡°She¡¯s what?¡± he shot back. ¡°No. That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±

    Jazlyn gave him a pointed look. ¡°Why not? Is it because you don¡¯t have enough rooms in this big house, or because you¡¯re too stingy to support the mother of your child?¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged a ce for her. She¡¯s fine where she is. There¡¯s no reason she has to live here.¡±

    Seeing the tension rising, Doreen quickly stepped in, all sweetness and fake humility. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, maybe I should just stay where I am. It¡¯s really fine¡ªI can manage. The baby¡¯s still small, and I¡¯m careful. It¡¯s just a bit tiring sometimes, that¡¯s all.¡±

    But Jazlyn wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± she snapped. ¡°Marc, this is a critical time. What if something happens to her while she¡¯s alone? I won¡¯t allow it.¡±

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 Chapter 556

    ?Chapter 556:

    Marc clenched his teeth, clearly wanting to argue but knowing it was pointless. So he said nothing.

    Jazlyn took the silence as victory and turned to the staff. She beckoned to a servant, instructing her to prepare a room for Doreen.

    The servant nced nervously at Marc, unsure whether to move without his permission.

    ¡°What are you all staring at? Get going!¡± Jazlyn barked.

    No one dared disobey. They scurried upstairs to prepare a room.

    Marc remained silent, offering neither approval nor objection.

    Satisfied, Jazlyn beamed. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. You two are going to be parents¡ªit¡¯s time you started acting like it. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± With that, she grabbed her purse and strutted out.

    The moment the front door closed, Doreen took in the full scale of the vi, eyes gleaming. Compared to the tiny apartment Marc had arranged before, this ce was heaven¡ªspacious, luxurious, and quietly elegant.

    She turned to Marc, who was now seated with a look of simmering irritation, and asked softly, ¡°Mr. Walsh, would it be all right if I chose my room?¡± She spoke gently, but her eyes were already drifting toward the staircase. ¡°There are so many beautiful rooms here¡­ I just want to find one with good lighting. Sunlight is really important for the baby¡¯s health.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t even look at her. He waved a hand dismissively.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said with a slight bow, then turned and practically floated up the stairs.

    One by one, she opened the doors to the rooms, her eyes scanning each space carefully. When she got to the master bedroom, she paused, eyes narrowing just a little. This¡ªthis¡ªwas the room she wanted in the long run. But now wasn¡¯t the time to push for it.

    She shut the door and opened another. The next room had tall windows that let in plenty of light, plus a cozy little balcony overlooking the backyard garden. Instantly satisfied, she turned to the staff following behind her and said brightly, ¡°This one. I¡¯ll take this room.¡±

    But the staff hesitated. ¡°Miss Greville, maybe you¡¯d like to look at another room instead?¡±

    Discover your escape on g  aln ov el s

    Doreen¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Why?¡± she asked, her tone sharpening. ¡°Is there something wrong with this one? Because I like it, and I insist on staying here.¡±

    The servant didn¡¯t know how to respond, standing awkwardly at the door.

    Thankfully¡ªor not¡ªMarc appeared at the end of the hall just then, heading toward the study. The staff immediately turned to him like he was their saving grace. ¡°Mr. Walsh, thisdy says she wants this room¡­¡±

    Marc looked up and saw Doreen standing in the doorway of the room where Ste used to stay.

    His expression darkened for a second, and he walked over quickly, pulling her away from the threshold. ¡°Not this room. Pick another.¡± Doreen blinked, bewildered.

    Why this room, specifically? What was so off-limits about it?

    Sure, it was a bit bigger than the others, but that was it. What made this one so special?

    ¡°Why not this one? It¡¯s a nice room. It¡¯s bigger too.¡± She kept her tone light and innocent, but deep down, she already had her suspicions.

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 Chapter 557

    ?Chapter 557:

    Marc remembered what Doreen had blurted out at the mall¡ªthat she was only with him for the money. He figured there was no point hiding anything from her. ¡°Someone else used to live in that room,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been touched since. It wouldn¡¯t be convenient for you. Pick another.¡±

    Doreen froze for a second, then quickly covered her mouth in mock surprise. ¡°Oh, I see! I didn¡¯t realize. I¡¯ll find a different one, then!¡±

    Marc let out a quiet breath, relieved that she didn¡¯t push the matter. As he watched her walk off to explore the other rooms, his thoughts drifted. If what she said at the mall was true, then maybe it was time to start thinking ahead. Once the baby was born, he¡¯d make arrangements and cut things off.

    Eventually, Doreen settled on another room. It was smaller than the one she originally wanted, but the lighting was great, and it had a clean, open view of the garden.

    After the staff helped her unpack, she shut the door, sat on the bed, and stared at the sunlight streaming in. But she wasn¡¯t admiring the view.

    Her jaw tightened as she bit her lip, fury simmering quietly beneath her calm surface.

    She¡¯d already figured it out¡ªthe room Marc had stopped her from entering belonged to Ste. She didn¡¯t need anyone to tell her.

    The second she opened that door, she noticed the pink sheets, the floral curtains, the soft, feminine touches. No one else could¡¯ve lived there. It had to be Ste.

    And the room hadn¡¯t been touched. Ste had been gone for over a year, and still, Marc had left it exactly the same. Her blood boiled at the thought. Doreen refused to ept it. She didn¡¯t see herself as inferior in any way.

    Now that she¡¯d made it into the vi, she wasn¡¯t leaving without staking her im. That room, the master bedroom¡ªeverything Ste left behind¡ªshe wanted it all.

    And one way or another, she¡¯d wipe every trace of Ste from the house.

    Meanwhile, across town, Ste had just stepped out of the research institute when she got a call. It was Rutherford. ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± his smooth voice came through the line, ¡°I wonder if you have some time this evening. I¡¯m in Choria for business and would love to take you to dinner.¡±

    ?@???? ??@t?¨¨?? ¨ª¨½ ??????????????????.??????

    Ste paused. She remembered how Rutherford had helped her out before, delivering equipment to the institute. She owed him one.

    She picked a high-end restaurant with a good reputation and headed out after work.

    When she pulled up, she spotted Rutherford already waiting at the entrance. He was even taller than William, his broad frame making him look like he barely fit under the doorframe.

    She smiled as she walked over. ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte.¡±

    Rutherford opened the door with a polite smile. ¡°You¡¯re notte at all. I just got here early.¡±

    The restaurant¡¯s seating was built around a central chef who prepared the food in full view. It was warm, lively, and filled with the scent of good food.

    As they sat, Ste nced at him and said, ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, I remember our bet fromst time. I¡¯ll have you know, the project¡¯s progressing well. I¡¯m confident we¡¯ll seed.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t forgotten that if she lost, she owed Rutherford a million dors. He chuckled softly. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I didn¡¯t invite you here to discuss business. I just wanted to share a good meal.¡±

    Ste was a little caught off guard. She had expected some kind of progress check or at least a polite nudge about the bet.

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 Chapter 558

    ?Chapter 558:

    But he seemed rxed, even charming.

    She nodded and rxed, allowing herself to enjoy the evening.

    As the chef ced the first few dishes in front of them, Rutherford used the serving fork to portion some onto her te.

    The nearby diners¡ªmostly women¡ªsmiled in their direction, clearly noticing the way he was tending to her.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you liked, so I ordered a bit of everything,¡± he said warmly.

    Ste looked a little flustered. ¡°Thank you. But really, you don¡¯t need to serve me. Just enjoy your meal too.¡±

    Rutherford smiled. ¡°Serving a lovelydy is my pleasure.¡±

    If it hade from anyone else, she might have rolled her eyes.

    But there was something about the way Rutherford said it¡ªpolished, respectful, almost old-fashioned. Maybe it was the years he¡¯d spent abroad, or maybe it was just the kind of man he was.

    Ste had just popped a piece of sashimi into her mouth when she noticed William stepping through the entrance.

    She blinked in surprise, starting to think Choria was getting oddly small¡ªeverywhere she turned, she saw someone she knew.

    It used to be Marc showing up all the time, and now it was William.

    Was it pure coincidence, or was something pulling them together?

    William looked around the room until his eyesnded on Ste and Rutherford seated off to the side. A faint smile crossed his lips as he made his way over. ¡°Rutherford, fancy seeing you here. Didn¡¯t know you were a fan of sashimi.¡±

    Rutherford gave a polite nod. ¡°Mr. Briggs, yes, quite the coincidence indeed.¡± William looked around and noticed the ce was packed. The only free seat left was the one beside Ste.

    Noticing William¡¯s intent to sit, Rutherford calmly said, ¡°You seem rxed today, Mr. Briggs. Weren¡¯t you meeting someone this evening?¡± William raised an eyebrow and let out a shortugh. ¡°You really stay updated on my schedule. The meeting got canceledst minute.¡± Saying that, he sat down next to Ste without hesitation.

    ¡°Rutherford, things went great for you overseas, didn¡¯t they? Weren¡¯t you engaged or something? Wouldn¡¯t your fianc¨¦e be upset seeing you here with Ste?¡±

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s, where the best stories live

    Ste was surprised to hear this. She didn¡¯t know Rutherford had been engaged. ¡°You must be mistaken, Mr. Briggs,¡± Rutherford answered, his voice calm. ¡°I¡¯ve never had a fianc¨¦e.¡±

    William pretended to think, then added, ¡°Ah, right. Back in your student days, you weren¡¯t exactly a hit with thedies. They teased you for being on the heavier side.¡±

    He looked at Ste, adding casually, ¡°Did you know Rutherford used to be really chubby?¡±

    Ste nced at Rutherford, trying to picture how he might have looked before. Rutherford¡¯s face fell¡ªhe had hoped Ste wouldn¡¯t hear about this side of his past. He had wanted Ste to see the version of him he was now, not the one he used to be. But it felt like William was deliberately trying to ruin that.

    Rutherford gave him a hard stare. Was this about Sylvia? Did William have feelings for her too? What other reason would William have to bring up old, embarrassing memories out of nowhere?

    Their eyes locked, and a strange tension built up¡ªone that wasn¡¯t about business at all.

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 Chapter 559

    ?Chapter 559:

    Rutherford hade hoping for a peaceful dinner with Ste, but William had thrown that off course.

    Not wanting William to spill more about his past, Rutherford stood up. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯ve got to take care of something back at the office. Let¡¯s catch up another time.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t read too much into it and gave a polite nod. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Schoenberg.¡±

    She was nearly finished with her meal anyway, and after a few more sips of soup, she felt ready to get up and leave.

    William, still beside her, leaned in and asked in a quiet tone, ¡°Can you tell Rutherford likes you?¡±

    Ste stared at him, surprised and puzzled. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± She frowned slightly, unsure how he had arrived at that conclusion.

    ¡°The Schoenbergs have been working overseas for a long time. Now they¡¯re looking to branch out here. Rutherford, being the eldest, has to manage all that, and every move he makes reflects on the whole family.¡± Ste looked down and pressed her lips together.

    She didn¡¯t know much about Rutherford¡¯s family, but she understood what William meant¡ªsomeone like her wasn¡¯t likely to fit into that world.

    That realization left a bitter taste in her mouth.

    She met William¡¯s eyes, her tone steady. ¡°I don¡¯t see Mr. Schoenberg that way. We¡¯re just working together, and I owed him a meal for helping me out recently. That¡¯s all.¡±

    William smiled as soon as he heard she didn¡¯t return Rutherford¡¯s feelings.

    But that smile faded quickly as she went on, ¡°I¡¯m not into these wealthy family dramas. I don¡¯t want to get caught up in any of it. I just want to focus on my work. So please, don¡¯t go around spreading rumors like this again, or I might think you have nothing better to do.¡±

    Once Ste was done talking, she stood up, tossed her bag over her shoulder, and walked out without sparing William another look.

    A chill crept over him, and a heaviness settled in. Was she talking about people like him when she mentioned those rich families?

    g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s has it all

    The idea made him feel strangely empty. For the first time, his wealth felt more like a cage than a gift. If he¡¯d been a regr guy like her, could he chase after her without making thingsplicated?

    As Ste walked away from the restaurant, she made up her mind¡ªaside from work, she needed to steer clear of the upper-ss crowd, especially when it came to feelings. She couldn¡¯t afford to be careless.

    She often thought she was just being friendly, but others took it the wrong way, like she was flirting.

    It was too easy to misread. From now on, she¡¯d be more careful.

    She was tired of telling William again and again that she had no interest in those men.

    When she got back to her dorm at the research center, she saw that it was still early. She remembered the groceries she had bought¡ªthey were still in the fridge and starting to go bad.

    Not wanting to waste them, she figured she¡¯d cook a few dishes and take them along for lunch the next day.

    Everything she had was simple and meant for homemade meals. She whipped up a few dishes, packed them nicely, and popped them back into the fridge. The next day at noon, she went to warm up her lunch in the office microwave. Just as Sandra came back with her own food, she was instantly drawn in by the delicious smell filling the room.

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 Chapter 560

    Chapter 560:

    ¡°Sylvia, did you cook today? It smells so good,¡± she asked, clearly impressed.

    It smelled way better than anythinging out of the cafeteria.

    Hearing this, Ste smiled, picked up a chicken wing from her box, and passed it to Sandra. ¡°Give it a try¡ªI made it myself.¡±

    Sandra lit up and held her tray like it was a prize. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Sylvia! This is amazing¡ªyou could totally be a chef.¡±

    Sandra nodded as if she had cracked the code. ¡°So you¡¯re into the mix¡ªyoung and sweet, but also calm and dependable. The kind of soft-hearted male lead you see in romance stories, right?¡±

    Ste furrowed her brows,pletely lost. What was Sandra even saying? Noticing her confused face, Sandraughed. ¡°Those are the kinds of guys in the novels I read. Looks like you¡¯re into more than just one type, Sylvia¡ªat least two, I¡¯d say.¡±

    Ste gave a faint smile, then said, ¡°Alright, enough of that¡ªlet¡¯s focus on work now.¡±

    Later that day, Ste was in the middle of herb work when Sandra, done with her part, asked, ¡°Sylvia, this needs approval from either Mr. Hoffman or William. Should I take it, or do you want to go?¡±

    Usually, Ste handled this since most people didn¡¯t want to deal with William¡¯s temper. But today, knowing something was off between them, Sandra offered to help.

    Ste nced up from her setup and held out her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. Just give me ten minutes.¡±

    She had been meaning to speak with Paul about a few things too.

    Sandra gently handed her the file. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay upied. Let me know if you need help.¡±

    Once she was gone, Ste wrapped up her experiment and made her way upstairs.

    As she reached theb door, William stepped out, and they almost ran into each other.

    ???€$? ?§ß???€?$ 1? g??l??ov?l??.????m

    The sudden encounter caught her off guard, and she quickly looked down, trying to brush past him and head to Paul¡¯s office.

    However, before she could knock, William¡¯s calm voice came from behind. ¡°Mr. Hoffman isn¡¯t here today. He¡¯s at a meeting and won¡¯t be back until tomorrow morning.¡±

    Ste held the folder tightly and said softly, ¡°Alright. I¡¯lle back tomorrow, then.¡±

    William raised an eyebrow. At first, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it, but now it was obvious that she was avoiding him on purpose.

    The thought made his face tighten. He opened Paul¡¯s door, walked in, then turned and said coldly, ¡°Come in.¡±

    Ste hesitated. She wanted to say no, but she reminded herself¡ªthis was work. She couldn¡¯t let personal feelings get in the way. That wasn¡¯t who she wanted to be.

    She took a quiet breath and walked into the office, document in hand. William sat on the sofa, reading through the pages. Then he pointed at a number and said, ¡°There¡¯s a mistake here.¡±

    Ste stared at him, surprised. A mistake? Their team rarely made errors. How could one slip through now?

    He set the paper on the table, leaned in for a moment, then pulled back like nothing had happened.

    .

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Hope you liked the chapters dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (¡ä?? ? ??`) ?

    .

 Chapter 561

    ?Chapter 561:

    William looked annoyed. ¡°This should¡¯ve been rounded to three decimal ces. You used one. That small mistake throws off everything thates after it. Didn¡¯t they teach you this when you joined?¡±

    He didn¡¯t mean to be harsh, but a basic error like this shouldn¡¯t havee from her.

    Ste looked at the number he mentioned and saw he was right. Maybe Sandra had rushed and made the mistake.

    She let out a quiet sigh, closed the file, and asked, ¡°Other than that, Mr. Briggs, is there anything else wrong with the data?¡±

    She wanted to fix everything before handing it over to Paul.

    William replied coldly, ¡°This one mistake throws everything off. You should fix it before looking at the rest.¡±

    Then he got up and walked out, not looking back at her once.

    Ste didn¡¯t show any reaction to his words, even though hisst line was clearly meant to scold her a little.

    William felt confused. Ste didn¡¯t look upset¡ªjust calm. Had he really be so unimportant to her?

    He had seen signs that she liked him once.

    When did that change? When did her eyes stop lighting up for him and start focusing only on research?

    William picked up his phone and opened Ste¡¯s chat.

    He typed something, deleted it, then tried again.<fnfc56> Newest update provided by findnovel</fnfc56>

    Nothing felt right¡ªsome messages sounded too bold, others too soft, and a few just didn¡¯t make sense.

    In the end, despite all that effort, he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to hit send.

    If Ste checked her phone now, she would see that William had been typing nonstop in their chat.

    g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s, where stories thrive

    But she was so focused on her experiment that she forgot her phone even existed. When the workday ended, Sandra asked Ste why she had been showing up so earlytely and what had happened with the apartment she bought.

    Ste gave a small smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ve actually been staying in the institute¡¯s dorm for the past few days.¡±

    Sandra blinked in surprise. ¡°Seriously? Why did you move back? Was there a problem with your ce?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t know how to exin it right away.

    She had moved back to the research institute, but during that time, she had been in regr contact with the property management of her residentialmunity.

    She had repeatedly raised concerns about how easy it was for outsiders to enter, making the ce feel unsafe.

    Thankfully, the management took her feedback seriously and made some big changes to improve security.

    Now, to get into the building, residents had to use a swipe card, and each household was given only a limited number. Younger children who hadn¡¯t started school weren¡¯t issued any.

    For parking, a resident¡¯s pass had to be clearly ced on the dashboard¡ªwithout it, vehicles weren¡¯t allowed inside.

    Though the new process was a bit more inconvenient than before, at least it made the neighborhood feel safer.

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 Chapter 562

    ?Chapter 562:

    That day, Ste noticed in themunity group chat that people were discussing the new procedures. Everything seemed more organized now. Since Sandra mentioned it, Ste thought it might be a good time to go back home.

    ¡°The area¡¯s pretty nice now. I think I¡¯ll head back home today.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Really? I think we live along the same way. Want to share a cab?¡±

    Steughed and said, ¡°I brought my car today. I¡¯ll drop you off.¡±<fn7c81> Readplete version only at fin?novel</fn7c81>

    Sandra happily held onto her arm. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re the best! Do you need to stop by the dorm and pack up?¡±

    Ste paused for a second. She¡¯d only nned to stay temporarily. The bedding she used actually belonged to William, and returning it, even after washing, didn¡¯t feel right.

    She decided it would be better to just pay him backter. As for her belongings, she chose to leave them in the dorm for now¡ªjust in case she needed to spend the night there again sometime.

    ¡°There¡¯s not much to pack. Let¡¯s just head out.¡±

    She pulled up directions on her phone, and the two left the institute together.

    William left his office, nning to see Ste at theb, but it was empty.

    He went back to the dorms, paused at her door for a moment, and then knocked.

    He felt strangely down¡ªit was the first time a woman had left him feeling this unsettled.

    His thoughts were all over the ce, but her door remained closed.

    Where was she?

    She wasn¡¯t at the research institute, and her dorm was empty too. Had she gone out to dinner with coworkers¡­ or was she with someone else?

    His thoughts kept spinning out of control.

    I??§Ö$§ä ¡é#¦Áp?¨º§ñs I§Ú galno¦Íels

    Maybe he really did need to see a therapist.

    He sighed and went back inside, reminding himself that it was still early, and Ste had her own life. Whether he was her boss, a friend, or¡­ something more, it wasn¡¯t his ce to control her.

    He opened hisptop and focused on Briggs Group paperwork, hoping work would distract him from the fact that Ste still wasn¡¯t back.

    After she dropped Sandra home, Ste got two calls¡ªone from Sharon, the other from Josie.

    They both invited her out to eat, practically at the same time.

    With no better idea, Ste pulled over and created a group chat with the two of them.

    ¡°Alright, what are we doing for dinner then?¡± she asked.

    Sharon frowned when she saw Josie appear on the call. ¡°Why is she here?¡± she asked bluntly.

    Josie was caught off guard but kept her cool. ¡°Is it just the three of us having dinner?¡± she asked gently.

    Ste felt a headache creeping in. ¡°You both texted me about dinner at almost the same time, then called back-to-back insisting I couldn¡¯t bail. So now, all three of us are eating together. No arguments.¡± She added with a grin, ¡°Let¡¯s try that new restaurant¡ªthey¡¯ve got a killer group discount.¡± Neither Sharon nor Josie responded right away.

    ¡°If no one says anything, I¡¯m taking that as a yes. I¡¯ll drop the location in the group chat. See you there!¡±

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 Chapter 563

    ?Chapter 563:

    She quickly hung up before they could start bickering again.

    She sent the address and drove straight to the restaurant.

    A few minutester, Sharon and Josie arrived one after the other.

    The tension between them still lingered, but they were civil¡ªfor Ste¡¯s sake. Once they¡¯d ordered, Sharon noticed the smile tugging at Ste¡¯s lips and raised a brow. ¡°You look like you¡¯re in a good mood.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Yeah. The new property management at my ce is way better now, so I¡¯m moving back.¡±

    Sharon and Josie immediately blurted out in sync, ¡°You¡¯re not staying at the institute anymore?¡±

    Their voices were loud enough to turn heads. Ste hunched her shoulders and gestured for them to keep it down.

    ¡°I bought that ce fully furnished and barely lived in it before I had to leave. It¡¯s way morefortable than the institute,¡± she said, already picturing the electric adjustable bed in the master bedroom.

    Just thinking about it made her feel cozy.

    Sharon, always curious, asked, ¡°So what about William? You¡¯re just going to leave him there?¡±

    Ste paused, napkin in hand. She looked up. ¡°What does my moving have to do with William?¡±

    She looked genuinely puzzled. William wasn¡¯t her father or anything¡ªshe didn¡¯t owe him updates on her living situation.

    Still, Sharon and Josie had long picked up on William¡¯s interest in Ste. Him finding out she was suddenly moving out probably wasn¡¯t going to sit well. ¡°Did you tell him?¡± Sharon pressed.

    Josie chimed in before Ste could reply. ¡°You two work closely. He¡¯s your superior. It¡¯s just courtesy to let him know, that¡¯s all¡ªwe don¡¯t mean anything else.¡±

    Ste blinked, silently admitting they had a point.

    She picked up her phone to text William and let him know she wouldn¡¯t be staying at the institute dorm anymore. But just as she opened the app, a call came in¡ªfrom Rita.

    ????t??st ch??pt??rs in g??lno¦Íels.??????

    She hesitated, then answered. ¡°Hey, Rita. What¡¯s up?¡±

    Rita¡¯s warm voice came through. ¡°Ms. Russell, sorry to bother you. I wanted to ask¡ªwhat ingredients do I need to make spicy diced chicken? Mr. Briggs asked me to cook dinner tonight.¡±

    Ste frowned. Spicy diced chicken? She remembered William was still recovering. He definitely shouldn¡¯t be eating spicy food right now.

    ¡°Rita, he¡¯s still not fully healed. Better to keep it light. If he wants chicken, make scallion chicken instead¡ªit¡¯s easier on the system. I¡¯ll text you the recipe.¡± Rita was all gratitude, thanking her over and over.

    Then she added, ¡°Ms. Russell, why don¡¯t Ie over to your ce to cook, like before? I¡¯ll take it to Mr. Briggs after. You know he doesn¡¯t like the kitchen smell lingering.¡±

    Ste pursed her lips. William was honestly tough to please. He wanted to eat but couldn¡¯t stand the smell of cooking? Seriously?

    ¡°Sorry, Rita,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t stay at the institute dorm anymore, so I probably can¡¯t help you cook. If you still want to go over, you can use the passcode, but there¡¯s not much left in the fridge.¡±<fnfef8> Original content can be found at find?novel</fnfef8>

    Rita froze for a second. ¡°You¡¯ve moved out? You¡¯re noting back to the dorm at all?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 564

    ?Chapter 564:

    ¡°Yeah, probably not,¡± Ste replied.

    Rita sounded a little disappointed after that.

    Ste figured it was because the meal prep would fall solely on her now, and William wasn¡¯t exactly an easy guy to cook for.<fn5a73> Original content can be found at find[f]ovel</fn5a73>

    After a bit of small talk, Ste hung up.

    Meanwhile, Rita knocked on William¡¯s door.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I was nning to cook in Ms. Russell¡¯s ce like before, but she said she¡¯s not staying here anymore, so I might have to start cooking at home and bringing the food over. It will just take me a bit longer.¡±

    William¡¯s breath caught. His gaze sharpened. ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°I said the food might take longer¡­¡±

    ¡°No, the part before that.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªMs. Russell moved out. She¡¯s probably noting back. You didn¡¯t know?¡± Rita had assumed he was already in the loop¡ªafter all, they¡¯d always seemed close.

    But William was stunned. Again, she¡¯d left without telling him. Not even a word. She¡¯d really just¡­ gone?

    A storm of frustration surged through him. What was he to her, that she could walk away without so much as a heads-up?

    His chest tightened. His appetite vanished.

    He waved Rita off, then left the room. An hourter, William stood outside Steven¡¯s vi.

    Steven opened the door and immediately caught the sour look on William¡¯s face. ¡°What now? Sylvia trouble again?¡± William let out a heavy sigh.

    Steven stepped aside to let him in, grabbed a good bottle from the wine cab, poured a ss, and handed it over. ¡°Alright, spill it.¡±

    William didn¡¯t hold back. He told Steven how cold Ste had beentely, especially how she had moved out without telling him. ¡°She told Rita. But me? Nothing. Do I really mean that little to her?¡±

    Every chapter lives on g a lno vels ;m

    Steven clicked his tongue. Watching William struggle with love like this¡ªit was almost entertaining.

    ¡°Honestly, maybe it¡¯s karma. You turned down so many women before Sylvia, maybe the universe is getting even with you.¡±

    What goes aroundes around. It was definitely his karma.

    William shot him a death re. ¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing useful to say, just shut up and listen.¡±

    If Steven didn¡¯t shut up, he might have to make him.

    Steven raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t blow a fuse. I¡¯ll give you real advice this time.¡±

    William sipped his wine, already guessing where this was headed. ¡°Pretending to be innocent and vulnerable doesn¡¯t work.¡±

    Steven blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªhow¡¯d you know that¡¯s what I was gonna say? You already tried it? You must¡¯ve done it wrong.¡±

    William gave him a deadpan stare. ¡°You think this is funny?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 565

    ?Chapter 565:

    Steven¡¯s smirk vanished. ¡°Not at all. Totally serious now.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°If ying the innocent card didn¡¯t work, then she¡¯s not the type to fall for soft and sweet. She¡¯s probably the straight-shooting kind. Which means we need a bolder move.¡±

    William narrowed his eyes. ¡°You mean I should just confess?¡±

    Steven immediately shook his head. ¡°No way. What are you, twelve? A bold move doesn¡¯t mean you walk up and spill your guts.¡± He grinned. ¡°Here¡¯s the n¡ªyou know her friends, right? You¡¯ve got mutuals. So set up a casual hangout at a bar or club, have one of her friends invite her, and then¡­¡± He mimed taking a drink. ¡°Get her drunk.¡±

    William¡¯s eyes widened at Steven¡¯s suggestion.

    Seeing his reaction, Steven quickly added, ¡°Hey¡ªdrunk minds speak sober truths. Once she¡¯s tipsy, she¡¯ll drop her guard. You can finally get some answers.¡±

    William didn¡¯t respond right away. The idea wasn¡¯t exactly foolproof, but it was the only n on the table. At least it beat sitting around doing nothing. Without another word, he set down his ss with a firm thud and headed straight for the door.

    Steven trailed behind him and called out with a grin, ¡°Take care! Come cry to me again anytime!¡±

    William gave him a sidelong nce as he got into the car. ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± he muttered.

    Since he¡¯d been drinking, he couldn¡¯t drive. He called for a driver. Once the driver arrived, William slid into the back seat and said, ¡°Take me to the spa.¡±

    The driver blinked in the rearview mirror. ¡°Uh, which spa, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    There were plenty of spas in Choria¡ªno way he could guess the right one. William mentioned the name of the spa chain he knew Sharon managed. Then he leaned back, closed his eyes, and drifted into thought.

    Twenty minutester, the car pulled up in front of a sleek, high-end building.

    William stepped out and told the driver, ¡°Wait here.¡±

    Explore captivating tales on  .<fnc09c> Th?s chapter is updated by find[f]ovel</fnc09c>

    The driver nodded and cut the engine, still wondering if he¡¯d heard right. Mr. Briggs¡­ going for a spa day? Really?

    Upstairs, Sharon was inspecting some newly arrived equipment.

    She¡¯d just finished dinner with Ste and Josie and was back in work mode when a light knocknded on her office door.

    A staff member walked in and said quietly, ¡°Ms. Mitchell, there¡¯s someone here to see you.¡±

    Sharon looked up, surprised.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any appointments today. Who is it?¡±

    The receptionist hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s a man. Tall, handsome. Didn¡¯t say his name, just asked for you.¡±

    Sharon raised an eyebrow, a little intrigued. She wasn¡¯t dating anyone, and tall, handsome mystery guests weren¡¯t exactlymon.

    She descended the spiral staircase and looked up¡ªonly to freeze in ce. ¡°William?! What are you doing here? How did you even find this ce?¡±

    She gave him a quick once-over and added, ¡°Or¡­ are you here for a beauty treatment?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help it¡ªwho would¡¯ve thought William of all people was into facials?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 566

    ?Chapter 566:<fn6aea> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel</fn6aea>

    He looked mildly annoyed. ¡°Can we talk somewhere private?¡±

    The two receptionists were already stealing curious nces. William clearly felt out of ce.

    Sharon got the hint. ¡°Come upstairs. My office is quieter.¡±

    Once inside, William sat down across from her, his expression serious. ¡°I need your help. I want you to arrange a meeting with Ste.¡±

    Sharon frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t you have her number?¡±

    William looked slightly defeated. ¡°She moved out of the dorm without telling me. If I asked to see her now, I doubt she¡¯d even agree.¡±

    Sharon caught the strange tension in his voice¡ªand the weight behind it. ¡°You want me to get her to show up. Why? What are you trying to do?¡±

    Seeing the suspicion on her face, William quickly said, ¡°I just want to ask why she¡¯s avoiding me. That¡¯s it.¡±

    Sharon blinked, stunned. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±

    Just to ask that one thing, William had tracked her down at her spa? That wasn¡¯t nothing. That was huge.

    She leaned back, propped her chin in her hand, and studied him. ¡°William¡­ do you have feelings for Stel?¡±

    Because honestly, if this wasn¡¯t love, Sharon didn¡¯t know what it was. What kind of man went to this length just to ask a woman why she¡¯d pulled away? What kind of man cared this much about a female colleague¡¯s silence? If this wasn¡¯t love¡­ then Sharon really didn¡¯t know what love was.

    William¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on Sharon, serious and unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll do me this favor, Ms. Mitchell. Think of it as an IOU.¡± He didn¡¯t answer her question directly¡ªno confirmation, no denial.

    But Sharon knew William well enough¡ªif he didn¡¯t deny it, that was his answer. A sly smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve got you. But you¡¯d better promise not to bully Stel!¡±

    If he did, he wouldn¡¯t be spared, despite his status.

    A flicker of gratitude crossed William¡¯s usuallyposed face. ¡°I won¡¯t hurt her.¡±

    More content now at g?l¦Ç¦Òv???s

    Satisfied, Sharon picked up her phone and dialed.

    ¡°Stel! How about we go sing tomorrow?¡± she asked cheerfully.

    Ste had just arrived home and was a bit puzzled. ¡°Sharon, are you unusually free these days?¡±

    Sharon nearly burst outughing. ¡°I¡¯ve just been bored out of my mind. If you¡¯re not in the mood to sing, we can hit up a lounge bar after work¡ªjust unwind a little. Alright, it¡¯s settled! I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow!¡± Before Ste could get a word in, Sharon hung up.

    She turned back to William, shing him an OK gesture. ¡°Done. I¡¯ll send you the location tomorrow.¡±

    William blinked, clearly surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected Sharon to arrange a meeting so¡­ casually.

    His upbringing had always taught him that asking someone out required their consent and willingness.

    But Sharon had just called Ste, made the ns herself, and that was it. Like it was nothing.

    Was that what Ste was like with people she was close to?

    .

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 Chapter 567

    ?Chapter 567:

    Why was it so effortless with them¡ªbut never with him?

    He caught himself before he could spiral any further, pushed the thought aside, and stood up. ¡°Thanks. See you tomorrow.¡± Sharon walked him downstairs.

    Just as he was about to leave, she gave him a once-over¡ªhis skin wless under the soft lighting¡ªand couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you sure you don¡¯t want to stay?¡±

    ¡°for a beauty treatment? We justunched this amazing Ice-Cool Laser Hair Removal. I swear, you¡¯ll be smoother than silk.¡±

    William looked at her like she¡¯d lost her mind. ¡°Thanks, Ms. Mitchell. But I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    The next day, right after Ste wrapped up work, her phone rang. ¡°Stel! I¡¯m already outside the institute!¡± Sharon chirped. ¡°And guess what? I even invited Josie. See how great I am to you?¡±

    Ste was caught off guard. Sharon had never really liked Josie¡ªwhy the sudden change of heart?

    As if reading her mind, Sharon added quickly, ¡°I mean, she¡¯s your friend, right? And I¡¯m your best friend, so of course I¡¯m thinking about what¡¯s best for you. Nowe on out!¡±

    Sharon giggled to herself. The more people, the better.

    After all, William had taken the initiative to ask Ste out. He might even confess tonight. Something like that couldn¡¯t be witnessed by just her.

    Inside, Sandra was zipping up her bag when she noticed Ste hanging up. ¡°Got ns tonight, Sylvia?¡± she asked with a grin.

    Ste slid her phone into her purse and smiled back. ¡°A friend¡¯s dragging me out for a few drinks. Want toe?¡±

    Sandra¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Sure! I¡¯d love to.¡±

    Right then, Elbert and Jamir passed by. Ste figured¡ªwhy not? Since Sandra was alreadying, might as well invite the whole crew.

    She expected Jamir to decline, but to her surprise, everyone agreed. And just like that, the four of them walked out of the institute together.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???§àm hosts thrilling adventures

    When Sharon saw them approaching, her eyes widened for a beat¡ªthen she broke into a huge grin. Oh, William was definitely not ready for this crowd.<fn5973> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn5973>

    ¡°Sharon, there¡¯s not enough space in the car. Just send me the location¡ªI¡¯ll grab a cab with the others,¡± Ste said casually.

    She hadn¡¯t nned on driving tonight anyway, not with drinks involved. Sharon didn¡¯t argue. She quickly sent the address and drove off with Josie, who was already in the car.

    Ste and the rest followed in another ride.

    By the time they arrived, Sharon was waiting at the entrance of the bar. She had booked a private lounge for them, and they all went in.

    The group walked into the room¡ªonly to find someone already sitting there. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you¡¯re early! Hope we didn¡¯t keep you waiting,¡± Sharon said, far too deliberately.

    Ste froze.

    She leaned over, whispering, ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me he wasing.¡±

    Sharon blinked innocently. ¡°Didn¡¯t I? I could¡¯ve sworn I said Josie and Mr. Briggs would be here. You must¡¯ve missed that part.¡±

    Her face was so sincere, so straightforward, that Ste actually second-guessed herself. Had Sharon really mentioned it?

    .

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 Chapter 568

    ?Chapter 568:

    Truth was, Sharon had not said a word. But since she had promised William she¡¯d help, she made sure Ste ended up sitting right next to him.

    Ste tried to resist, but Sharon was too quick¡ªand stronger than she looked. She gave Ste a gentle shove and had her seated before she couldin.

    Now stuck beside William, Ste sat stiffly, unsure where to look or what to say. As Sharon and Sandra struck up conversation, William¡¯s presence beside her felt heavier by the second. He wasn¡¯t doing anything, yet somehow it was like he filled up the entire room. She couldn¡¯t rx at all.

    Then Sharon popped open a bottle of wine. Ste saw her chance and sat up, casually saying, ¡°I need to step out for a bit¡­¡±

    But before she could finish, William cut in. ¡°Ms. Russell, do you have a problem with me?¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath hitched. She awkwardly eased back down into her seat.

    ¡°What? No, Mr. Briggs, you¡¯ve got it all wrong.¡±

    But William wasn¡¯t buying it. He gave a quiet, amusedugh. ¡°Since you saw me, you¡¯ve been on edge. You were just about to leave¡ªbarely ten minutes in. Doesn¡¯t that say something?¡±<fn53fd> Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel</fn53fd>

    Ste felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Was she really being that obvious?

    He leaned back, keeping a polite distance, but there was a chill in his tone now. ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable around me, Ms. Russell, you can go. I won¡¯t stop you. I thought maybe we could be friends outside work. Guess I was wrong.¡±

    The way he said it¡ªcalm, restrained, but a little hurt¡ªmade Ste feel worse. He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. She was the one who had pulled away, all on her own. It really wasn¡¯t fair to him.

    After a beat of silence, Ste finally sighed. ¡°Mr. Briggs, really¡­ you misunderstood. I don¡¯t have any issue with you. I just needed to use the restroom, not leave.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, she stood and left.

    Inside the restroom, she sshed cold water on her face, trying to collect herself. It was just a casual night out. No need to overthink it. No need to hide from it either.

    Find your favorite stories at

    She dried her face, took a deep breath, and headed back to the room. Sharon spotted her right away and jumped into action. She grabbed Ste¡¯s wrist the moment she sat down. ¡°Stel,e on. Let¡¯s y a game!¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯t used to these kinds of drinking games, but she went along with it. Unfortunately, luck wasn¡¯t on her side. After a few rounds, she was the only one drinking.

    Josie started to worry.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t fun if only two people y. Let¡¯s get everyone in. Whoever loses drinks!¡±

    She figured with seven people, the odds would spread out and Ste wouldn¡¯t have to down so much.

    But Sharon frowned. She had a n¡ªthis wasn¡¯t part of it. Josie was messing things up.

    With an eye-roll, Sharon stood up and tugged Josie by the arm. ¡°Come with me. I need to grab more drinks¡ªI can¡¯t carry them all myself.¡±

    Josie could tell something was off with Sharon, so she agreed to step out of the private room. She felt curious about what new scheme Sharon might be nning this time.

    Outside, Josie folded her arms and faced Sharon, who wore a troubled look. ¡°So, what¡¯s your angle today? Why are you pushing Stel to drink more than usual? What are you trying to do?¡±

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 Chapter 569

    ?Chapter 569:

    A raised eyebrow from Sharon met the question. ¡°You catch on quick, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Josie let out a sigh of annoyance. ¡°You¡¯re not even being subtle. Anyone would notice what you¡¯re up to.¡±

    Josie took her role as both a friend and business partner seriously. For that reason, she refused to let Sharon pull any reckless stunt that could put Ste at risk.

    A soft click of her tongue was Sharon¡¯s only response. ¡°I¡¯ve known Stel forever. What could I possibly have nned that would hurt her? William¡¯s the one who wants to get a few answers out of her, and let¡¯s face it, she won¡¯t speak up unless she¡¯s had a drink or two.¡±

    That exnation was nothing Josie had ever thought up. So many scenarios had yed out in her head, but never this one.

    With wide eyes, Josie blurted out, ¡°You¡¯re working with William?¡±

    Confirmation came with a short nod. ¡°That¡¯s right. Is there something wrong with that?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve lost it. You call yourself Ste¡¯s friend, but you¡¯re taking William¡¯s side?¡±

    Recalling how Ste always described William as just a boss, Josie struggled to grasp what would make him pry for answers only Ste¡¯s inebriation could reveal.

    Sharon smirked and shot Josie a look that bordered on pity. ¡°Honestly, Josie, is your single status clouding your judgment? Anyone with eyes can see William likes her. What other reason would he have for wanting a heart-to-heart?¡±<fnd676> For more chapters visit find?novel</fnd676>

    The statement left Josie more rattled than before. Sure, she¡¯d picked up on William¡¯s behavior during the cruise, but she always figured nothing real would evere of it.

    Shy as she was, Ste needed someone who could coax her out of her shell, not someone who would make her shrink away even more. William, quiet as a shadow, was hardly the type to fill the silence.

    She pictured them together, both lost for words, the whole thing turning painfully awkward.

    That didn¡¯t sound like romance to her.

    Read it first on g?lno?els.c?m

    ¡°Sharon, stop matchmaking for no reason. Suppose Stel has zero interest? Then what?¡±

    Not even blinking, Sharon shrugged off the question. ¡°If she feels nothing for him, a few drinks might make her say so, and then William can move on. It¡¯s not about forcing them together. I want both sides to know where they stand.¡±

    Even though Sharon¡¯s n didn¡¯t sit right with Josie at first, the logic slowly began to make sense. If Ste truly wasn¡¯t interested, clearing things up would spare everyone a lot of trouble. Maybe Sharon¡¯s idea wasn¡¯t so terrible after all.

    Her lips pressed in a reluctant line, Josie muttered, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you try, but don¡¯t push it.¡±

    ¡°Rx. I¡¯ve got it handled. You can quit fussing now.¡± Sharon grinned, her confidence unshaken. With that, she grabbed two cases of beer and marched straight back to the private room.

    Back inside, the crowd wasted no time jumping into drinking games. The rounds quickly gotpetitive, and William found himself on the losing end more than once.

    Yet William only seemed to have eyes for Ste that night.

    A moment passed before he quietly slid his ss her way. ¡°Ms. Russell, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t handle another shot. Would you mind taking this one for me?¡±

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 Chapter 570

    ?Chapter 570:

    Ste stared at him, her thoughts running wild. Did she hear him right? ¡°What did you just say?¡± she asked, uncertain.

    Meeting her gaze, William answered without flinching. ¡°I¡¯ve reached my limit. Could you finish this for me?¡±

    All eyes were on them now. Aside from Sharon and Josie, nobody could believe what they were seeing.

    Could this truly be the same William everyone knew as reserved and straighced?

    The usuallyposed William had turned uncharacteristically soft, acting almost bashful as he pleaded with Ste to save him from another drink.

    Sandra leaned over and whispered to Jamir, ¡°Why¡¯s William acting so weird tonight? Was he trying to act cute, or just faking that whole innocent routine to get Sylvia to feel bad for him?¡±

    Honestly, it was odd. William hadn¡¯t even drunk that much to begin with, yet here he was¡ªalready looking like he¡¯d had enough?

    Jamir was just as puzzled. He shrugged, silently saying, ¡°Don¡¯t ask me,¡± then gestured for them to keep ying their game.

    Ste had only helped William finish one ss, nothing more.

    About half an hour passed. It was nearing eleven, and the energy in the bar had picked up¡ªmusic louder, lights dimmer, and the crowd more hyped.

    Feeling a little flushed from the alcohol, Ste got up to find the restroom and ssh some water on her face.

    Sharon noticed and immediately shot William a look, signaling it was his chance.

    Ste washed her face and stepped out of the restroom.

    The restroom was upstairs, and from where she stood by the railing, she had the perfect view of the stage downstairs.

    Lights, music, a crowd dancing¡ªit made her smile.

    More to discover g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m

    She was about to head down and rejoin the group when someone grabbed her arm.

    She turned, confused¡ªand there was William, standing close, towering beside her.<fn7b39> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel</fn7b39>

    ¡°You¡¯re drunk,¡± he said.

    Ste blinked, the music pounding in her ears. She didn¡¯t catch a word.

    ¡°Huh? What? It¡¯s too loud!¡± she said, squinting at him.

    William sighed, leaned in, and spoke right next to her ear. ¡°Come with me.¡±

    She paused. The faint scent of sandalwood on him cut through the heavy bar smell, oddly calming.

    She didn¡¯t resist as he led her out onto the terrace.

    The evening breeze hit her face, cool and refreshing, sobering her up a little.

    Ste found a spot and plopped down with a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s nice out here.¡±

    William¡¯s eyes softened. She finally looked rxed¡ªunguarded. If only she could act like this around him when she wasn¡¯t drinking, instead of always keeping her distance and calling him Mr. Briggs like a stranger.

    He quietly took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 571

    ?Chapter 571:

    Ste wrinkled her nose, clearly not a fan, and groaned softly, wanting to enjoy the breeze without being covered up.

    But William gently ced the jacket back again. ¡°It¡¯ste, and you¡¯ve been drinking. If you sit in the wind like this, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡±

    Maybe it was the tone of his voice¡ªlow and calm¡ªbut this time she didn¡¯t take the jacket off.

    They sat in silence for a bit before William finally spoke again. ¡°Ste, why didn¡¯t you tell me you were moving?¡±

    Her eyes felt heavy, her thoughts fuzzy. She smacked her lips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal. No need to tell you. You¡¯re a busy man¡ªno point bothering you with something like that.¡±

    She paused, then addedzily, ¡°Besides, you¡¯re the CEO of Briggs Group and the boss of the research institute. If I get too close to you, people might start talking.¡±

    William¡¯s voice was gentle but probing. ¡°Who would talk? And say what?¡±

    Ste blinked, like she was trying to piece it together. Then she waved her hand dismissively. ¡°What else? You¡¯re a man, I¡¯m a woman. People love to gossip. Isn¡¯t it better to keep a safe distance?¡±

    She started to get up¡ªclearly wanting to leave the conversation¡ªbut William reached out and pulled her gently back down.

    Her shoulder bumped into his.

    He asked again, his voice lower now. ¡°Ste¡­ tell me the truth. What¡¯s the real reason?¡±

    Things between them had been fine. Then out of nowhere, she started pushing him away.

    If it were just about appearances, she would¡¯ve kept her distance from the start. He didn¡¯t buy it. He couldn¡¯t.

    His sudden seriousness made her shrink back, pouting like a kid who had just been scolded.

    Seeing that, William softened immediately. His tone turned warm again. ¡°Ste, we¡¯ve known each other for so long. You know how I feel. When you suddenly start avoiding me like this¡­ it hurts.¡±

    Read thetest updates at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    He had held back for so long. Even when he confessed before, he was cautious, worried he might scare her off.

    But this time, he wasn¡¯t going to leave anything unsaid.

    Even if she turned him down, she needed to know¡ªhe wasn¡¯t just being nice. He cared. Really cared.

    Ste hadn¡¯t expected William to say that. She looked up, a little flustered. ¡°Actually¡­ I just felt like the gap between us is too wide. You said it yourself¡ªRutherfordes from a wealthy family with high standards for a partner. And since you¡¯re friends with him, I figured your family must be the same, right?

    So if you think I¡¯m not good enough for someone like him, then maybe I¡¯m not good enough for someone like you either. It just seemed better to keep my distance. I didn¡¯t want people thinking I was trying to climb the socialdder. I know I don¡¯te from that kind of background.¡±

    Her voice dropped a little toward the end, like she was trying to keep herposure. But the sting was still there.

    At the time, she and Rutherford had only been working together. Then out of nowhere, William had said she wasn¡¯t good enough. That hurt.

    .

    .<fn81dd> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fn81dd>

    .

 Chapter 572

    ?Chapter 572:

    Even if she didn¡¯t have feelings for Rutherford, hearing something like that would get under anyone¡¯s skin.

    William stared at her, stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected this at all.

    It was frustrating¡ªand oddly endearing. ¡°So you¡¯ve been avoiding me¡­ because you think I look down on you?¡± he asked.

    Ste hesitated, then nodded. ¡°That was the impression I got from what you said that day.¡±

    William let out a helpless chuckle. He met her eyes, his voice firm. ¡°If you forgot what I saidst time, let me remind you.¡±

    He spoke clearly, each word deliberate. ¡°I love you. I¡¯ve always loved you. I don¡¯t care about your background¡ªI don¡¯t even want to inherit my family¡¯s business. That stuff means nothing to me. I love you¡ªnot your family, not your past, not your appearance. Just you. The real you. Do you get it now?¡±

    Ste blinked at him, her longshes fluttering, trying to process it all. ¡°But¡­ although you say you love me, you don¡¯t even know what exactly you love. You just say it¡¯s ¡®me.¡¯ But I¡¯m just¡­ ordinary. Divorced, even. You could have anyone¡ªwhy waste time on someone like me?¡±

    She kept rambling, unsure if she was trying to talk sense into him or into herself. William watched her lips move and, for a moment, just listened. Then his patience snapped.

    Without warning, he leaned in and kissed her¡ªsoft but firm, his lips brushing hers, still warm from the wine, silencing everything she couldn¡¯t say.

    Ste¡¯s eyes flew open, stunned.<fnbfe3> Readplete version only at find?novel</fnbfe3>

    The atmosphere shifted.

    The night breeze tangled in her hair, carrying her scent straight to him.

    He cradled the back of her head gently, deepening the kiss.

    And just like that, her resistance melted.

    Explore fantastic tales on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s; ?¦Ïm

    Her eyes fluttered shut, her body softening into his touch. It felt unreal¡ªlike floating. Like a dream.

    And if it was a dream, maybe it was fine to stay in it a little longer. She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

    William felt her respond and held her tighter, joy quietly blooming in his chest.

    Then footsteps echoed from the rooftop entrance.

    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you say William was up here? Where¡ªoh.¡±

    Steven stopped mid-sentence, immediately spotting the two of them tangled in a kiss.

    Josie froze, then quickly turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s go.¡± She hadn¡¯te up here to catch a romance movie in real time.

    The air between them got awkward fast.

    Steven, ever the clown, nced sideways at Josie. ¡°Well, since the mood¡¯s already romantic, how about we follow suit?¡±

    Josie smacked his arm. ¡°Have you lost your damn mind?¡±

    She turned to leave, but Steven chased after her. ¡°Ms. Patel, I was kidding! Don¡¯t be mad. We¡¯re both friends of Sylvia and William, right? We should get along. Exchange contacts?¡±

    He waved his phone in front of her face like an eager kid. Josie let out a long sigh and finally gave in, handing over her number.

    Steven grinned as he added her. Best decision he¡¯d made all night.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 573

    ?Chapter 573:

    When they walked back into the private room together, Sharon raised a brow. ¡°Wait¡ªweren¡¯t you looking for Sylvia and William? Why¡¯d youe back with him? What, you take a liking to him or something?¡±

    Josie didn¡¯t even know where to start. ¡°They¡¯re up on the rooftop. Probably¡­ not convenient toe back yet.¡±

    Sharon¡¯s eyes narrowed. Not convenient, huh? It only took her a second to connect the dots. ¡°Wait¡ªare you saying things are heating up between them?¡±

    Sandra¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wait, are you serious? Did Sylvia and William get intimate?¡±

    Steven shrugged. ¡°Yes, very much so.¡±

    Now everyone got the picture.

    Up on the rooftop, Ste and William had just finished their kiss.

    The heat of the moment still lingered in the air, but now that the buzz was wearing off, all she felt was awkward. Her cheeks burned, and she couldn¡¯t even bring herself to look at him.

    The two of them sat in a silence that grew heavier with each passing second. The wind picked up, sending a chill down her spine.

    William finally stood and broke the silence. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. You¡¯re going to catch a cold.¡±

    Ste got up too, following his lead.<fn33b3> Updates are released by find¡¤novel</fn33b3>

    But before heading in, she knew she had to draw a line.

    ¡°Hey, Mr. Briggs,¡± she started, her tone light, almost casual. ¡°I drank a little too much earlier, so if I did anything inappropriate, just forget about it. You had a few drinks too, right? Let¡¯s just pretend it didn¡¯t happen.¡±

    William froze. His brows creased slightly as her words sank in. She was brushing it off. Just like that.

    Was she really going to pretend all that didn¡¯t happen?

    ¡°Ste¡­¡± he tried.

    Your imagination thrives at  punt

    But she was already backing away, clearly not in the mood for a heart-to-heart. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re all adults here. Alcohol makes people do dumb things. No hard feelings, right?¡±

    The unspoken words caught in his throat. He hadn¡¯t expected her to shut it down so fast.

    After a pause, he swallowed his frustration and nodded. ¡°Yeah. I guess I had one too many.¡±

    Ste watched him closely, and when he said that, she let out a soft sigh of relief.

    Good. That made things easier.

    She told herself a good night¡¯s sleep would clear it all up.

    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s head back. They¡¯re probably wondering where we disappeared to,¡± she said, already turning toward the stairs.

    As she walked, her thoughts raced.

    Men and alcohol? A dangerous mix. She figured William had just lost control for a second.

    It wasn¡¯t love, and it definitely wasn¡¯t real feelings.

    Just heat. Just impulse. Just¡­ nothing serious.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 574

    ?Chapter 574:

    She nodded inwardly at her evaluation.

    That kiss? That confession? Just tipsy nonsense.

    She wasn¡¯t going to overthink it. He was probably just looking for a fling.

    Back at the private room, Ste pushed the door open¡ªand spotted Steven among the group.

    Keeping her expression steady, she walked over and sat beside Sharon. ¡°Sorry. I just needed some air, went up to the rooftop for a bit.¡±

    Sharon gave her a sly look. ¡°Air, huh? All by yourself, or did someone tag along for the breeze?¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows twitched, and she nced at William, who had quietly taken the seat next to her again. ¡°I ran into Mr. Briggs by the restroom,¡± she said calmly. ¡°So we went up together.¡±

    Sharon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, good. I was worried someone might take advantage of you out there.¡±

    Sharon¡¯s jab only made things worse. Everyone around the table was already sneaking nces at Ste, their smirks saying everything she didn¡¯t want to hear.

    Sandra, sitting right beside Sharon, had that all-too-familiar glint in her eye¡ªthe one she got whenever juicy gossip was brewing.

    She leaned forward, eyes fixed on Ste like a cat about to pounce. ¡°Sylvia,¡± she said sweetly, ¡°your lipstick¡¯s a little smudged¡­¡±<fn9b90> Official source is ?ovelFind</fn9b90>

    Ste froze. Her face went red in an instant¡ªthankfully, the room was dim enough to mask most of it.

    The rest of the table picked up on thement and immediately broke into knowingughter and whistles.

    Even if she¡¯d wanted to y dumb, it was toote now.

    Everyone knew. They all knew what she and William had been doing on that rooftop.

    She didn¡¯t have to guess¡ªSteven and Josie had obviously caught them there.

    ?????? ???????? ? g??lnov?l??.???m

    Josie might¡¯ve zipped her lips, but Steven? That man couldn¡¯t keep a secret to save his life.

    And Ste¡­ wanted to disappear into the floor.

    She had never expected everyone to find out about the kiss. She thought she could just pretend it had never happened, like she told William.

    But now? With those smirks and nces being thrown her way? How was she supposed to stay here with a straight face?

    ¡°Stel,e on, spill it¡ªhow did it feel just now? You liked it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Sharon, ever the blunt one, went straight to the point.

    Ste¡¯s face froze. Without missing a beat, she covered Sharon¡¯s mouth. ¡°Sharon! Cut it out!¡± she hissed, flustered. ¡°It was nothing, okay? Just an ident. We were drunk, these things happen. We¡¯re adults¡ªlet¡¯s not make it a big deal!¡±

    Seeing how genuinely embarrassed she looked, Sharon finally let up. She chuckled, waved it off, and raised her ss, urging the others to return to their drinks.

    As the night wound down, even Sandra¡ªusually thest one standing¡ªwas done. No one could manage another drop, so the party finally broke up. Sharon and the others booked drivers. Sandra left with Elbert and Jamir. Josie had nned to go solo, but Steven was practically glued to her side, refusing to back off. Eventually, they ended up leaving in the same car.

    That left just Ste, Sharon, and William standing by the roadside.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 575

    ?Chapter 575:

    Sharon¡¯s driver hadn¡¯t shown up yet, so she decided to hang around and wait with Ste for her ride.

    Ste shot a nce at William, who was standing there quietly, then hesitated.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ aren¡¯t you leaving?¡±

    She figured with all his connections, he could¡¯ve had a car here in seconds.

    Sharon chimed in, ¡°Yeah, Mr. Briggs. I¡¯m sure your driver¡¯s just a phone call away. No need to slum it with us¡ªdon¡¯t let us hold you up.¡±

    Right then, Ste¡¯s ride pulled up.

    Sharon opened the car door for her and, like she was guarding against William, shut it quickly once Ste was inside.

    ¡°Stel, text me when you get home!¡± she called out.

    Ste nodded and told the driver to go.

    As the car drove off, she turned to peek out the window. William was still there beside Sharon. That uneasy feeling crept up again.

    She had a strong hunch Sharon had nned all this. William wasn¡¯t the type to just show up by chance¡ªnot at gatherings like these. If he came, it was because he was invited. Sharon must have arranged it with him beforehand.

    Still, she trusted Sharon. Whatever Sharon had in mind, it probably came from a good ce.<fndc3a> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fndc3a>

    The rooftop kiss¡­ that had been a mess. But it happened. And it was over now. Leaning back in the seat, Ste closed her eyes as exhaustion settled over her.

    Back at the curb, Sharon was still full of curiosity. She gave William a sideways nce. ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s going on between you and Stel? Did she say yes to something? I mean, you two don¡¯t just kiss out of nowhere.¡±

    William didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he gave her a long, unreadable look, then casually walked toward the street, where a ck Maybach was slowly rolling up.

    ¡°Ms. Mitchell,¡± he said politely, ¡°I¡¯ll be heading off. Thanks for tonight.¡±

    And just like that, he got in and was gone.

    Discover new content now g?ln¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m

    Sharon stood there, puzzled. That car was here the whole time? So he¡¯d just been standing around, waiting for Ste to leave first?

    Now she was the only one still standing on the roadside.

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bitter. She was the one who organized the whole night, and somehow, she¡¯d missed all the drama. Was it because she didn¡¯t step away to use the bathroom?

    If she¡¯d known there¡¯d be rooftop kisses going on, she would¡¯ve found an excuse to ¡°get some air.¡±

    Meanwhile, Ste made it back to her apartment building and dragged her tired body into the elevator.

    When she finally stepped out on her floor, she heard some noise nearby. She figured it was just a neighboring or going, so she didn¡¯t think much of it¡ªuntil she looked up.

    Across the hall, William was unlocking the door to the apartment directly opposite hers.

    Ste¡¯s mind nked. What¡­ what is he doing here? Wasn¡¯t he still standing on the street when she left? How had he beaten her home?

    She took a few cautious steps toward him, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ what are you¡­¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 576

    ?Chapter 576:

    William answered inly, his expression open. ¡°I acquired this apartment, purely coincidentally of course. Who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d end up as my neighbor?¡±

    Ste¡¯s lips twitched in disbelief. For her, that couldn¡¯t possibly be coincidental.

    No further words passed between them. She walked inside, shut the door behind her, and made a beeline for the bathtub.<fn0909> Newest update provided by Find1Novel</fn0909>

    The warmth of the water surrounded her as she tried to make sense of William¡¯s move.

    In her mind, he had gone out of his way to live so close. Someone with his resources could easily track down her address. That was the only way he could havended right across the hall.

    Sometimes, he seemed more like a shadow, impossible to shake off.

    A headache threatened to settle in as Ste mulled over the situation. Moving out crossed her mind.

    Quickly, she dismissed that option. Her finances wouldn¡¯t allow for a new ce, and selling her current home would mean taking a loss.

    Annoyed, she raked her fingers through her hair, certain that William was a puzzle she¡¯d never solve.

    A long sigh escaped her lips as she reasoned, ¡°It¡¯s not the end of the world. He¡¯s only in the apartment opposite mine, not sharing the same space.¡±

    Sunlight streamed into Marc¡¯s vi the next morning as he checked his messages. One update from a friend revealed news that William and Ste had shared a kissst night. Rage red, and Marc hurled his phone aside.

    Restlessness forced him to pace his living room, his agitation in.

    Insults came easily when he talked about Ste. He¡¯d always used her of being a gold digger, of chasing after William¡¯s wealth. The truth, however, was that every moment they spent together lingered in his mind.

    Up to this day, he had never once imagined marrying another woman. Ste remained the only woman he ever pictured as his wife.

    He sometimes managed to convince himself that she was just trying to make him jealous, or maybe she only wanted what William could offer.

    As soon as he reached William¡¯s level, he had imagined Ste would surelye back to him.

    That fantasy was now shattered.

    There were rumors of a kiss, and even blurry photos as proof.

    A bitter jealousy took hold, leaving Marc with no peace.

    Was Ste really starting to care for William?

    How could she possibly fall for someone else? Hadn¡¯t she promised him he was the only one she¡¯d ever love?

    Marc wandered through the vi, hunting down every forgotten piece Ste had left behind.

    Each item seemed to hold a trace of her, and he gathered them up with a wild determination. Settling in the living room, he sat surrounded by these reminders, his eyes fixed on them as memories of happier days washed over him, each one sharper and more painful than thest.

    Soon, Marc reached for his phone and made a call. ¡°Hi, I need you to restore the wedding photo of Ste and me. It must look exactly as it did before.¡±

    That photograph, once cherished, had been burned by Ste. In a moment of rage, he had told himself that if it was destroyed, he never wanted to see it again. Now, the longing for that single photo was overwhelming.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 577

    ?Chapter 577:

    He remembered how, within that frame, the love between them was obvious. Their joy had shone in their eyes, as if no one else existed.

    Marc clung to the idea that bringing the photo back could somehow bring back what they had lost.

    As Doreen stepped out of her room, she was greeted by a heap of belongings strewn across the living room floor.

    Jewelry and clothing made up most of the pile, and at first, Doreen assumed Marc had picked them out just for her.

    Ready to thank him, she paused as Marc¡¯s voice reached her from across the room. He was on the phone, asking someone to restore an old wedding photograph.

    A sinking feeling came over Doreen. She realized at once that every piece on the floor belonged to Ste.

    From her spot on the second floor, Doreen watched Marc, his face full of longing for a woman who no longer cared for him. Jealousy and bitterness filled Doreen¡¯s heart.

    So much time had gone by, and Marc still couldn¡¯t let go of Ste.

    Even with her carrying his child, he barely acknowledged her existence.

    Anger building, Doreen stormed into the kitchen, grabbed a pair of scissors, and returned to the living room. Before Marc could stop her, she began slicing through the clothes scattered on the floor.

    ¡°Marc, I can¡¯t watch you keep drowning in the past. Ste has moved on. You should, too. All of this needs to go. None of it should be here anymore,¡± said Doreen, her hands relentless as she destroyed every trace of Ste left in the vi.

    Marc snapped out of his daze, his face darkening in an instant. Rage surged through him. He suddenly grabbed Doreen and pped her hard across the face.

    Doreen held her cheek, stunned. Her eyes filled with tears, disbelief written all over her.

    ¡°Why did you hit me?¡± she choked out. ¡°Did I say anything that wasn¡¯t true? You always say nasty things about Ste. Why are you insisting on keeping her stuff now?¡±

    I@?e$t ¡é§ß@???§ñ$ ?¦Ç ???§Ú?v¦Å??.c?m

    Marc had dragged Ste through the mud plenty of times¡ªcalling her a gold digger whenever he saw her with another man. He¡¯d even trashed her name in public without a second thought.

    But then, out of nowhere, he¡¯d start reminiscing about their past, talking like he wanted her back, like they could somehow pick up where they left off. But Ste wasn¡¯t stupid. She wasn¡¯t about to take back a man who cursed her one minute and imed to love her the next.

    To Doreen, it was obvious¡ªSte was right to walk away and choose someone like William instead.

    Marc red at her, his voice cold. ¡°Who told you to touch her things? Who gave you the right to even mention her name?¡±<fn8b33> Follow current nov?ls on FindN()vel</fn8b33>

    Doreen clenched her fists, seething, but she knew better than to push him when he was like this.

    She softened her tone quickly. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m pregnant with your child, Marc. I¡¯m just worried about you, that¡¯s all¡­¡±

    Marc let out a bitterugh and cut her off. ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern. Stay in yourne. You? You¡¯re not even close to being on Ste¡¯s level. Don¡¯t forget that.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 578

    ?Chapter 578:

    Tears streamed down Doreen¡¯s face. His words cut deeper than the p. What made Ste so much better than her?

    ¡°Marc, I know you¡¯re just angry, but I¡¯m telling the truth. You need to let go of the past. Get rid of her things. Move on.¡±

    Marc shoved her hand away like it was nothing. ¡°You crossed a line.¡± His voice was sharp and final. ¡°Pack your things and get out. I don¡¯t want to see you in this house again.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t just any house¡ªit was the one he and Ste used to share when they were married. Doreen had no business being here. If his mother hadn¡¯t insisted, he never would have let her stay.

    Even Haley had never lived here permanently.

    This ce belonged to him and Ste.

    Not Haley. Not Doreen. No one else.

    Doreen stood there, frozen. She couldn¡¯t believe it.<fnd3da> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find1Novel</fnd3da>

    All this¡ªjust because she ruined a piece of clothing Ste had left behind? Her knees went weak. She stared at him, a mix of heartbreak and helplessness in her eyes.

    ¡°Marc, I¡¯m carrying your baby,¡± she whispered.

    Marc¡¯s expression twisted with irritation. ¡°Don¡¯t call me Marc. There¡¯s nothing between us. Don¡¯t forget¡ªyou were the one who said you were only in this for the¡­¡±

    He stepped back, voice cold as ice. ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it again. Leave.¡±

    Just then, footsteps echoed from the hallway. Jazlyn walked in, catching the tail end of their argument.

    She looked from Marc to Doreen, her brow furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s going on in here? Why all the yelling? And whose clothes are those on the floor?¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the one who brought her here. Take her with you. I don¡¯t want her in this house anymore.¡±

    Jazlyn blinked, taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected this.

    Your hub for updates: g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Seeing that Marc didn¡¯t want to exin, she turned to Doreen instead. ¡°Doreen, what happened? Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.¡±

    Tears streaked down Doreen¡¯s face as she spoke. ¡°Mr. Walsh can¡¯t let go of Ste. I¡¯ve tried everything to help him move on, but he just can¡¯t. Now he¡¯s furious because I destroyed her clothes and says he wants me out.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise, clearly caught off guard. ¡°Marc, Doreen was only trying to help you. You need to stop obsessing over Ste. Keeping her old things around does nothing but make it harder to move forward. Doreen did you a favor. All that stuff should have been tossed ages ago!¡±

    Marc listened, but Jazlyn¡¯s words only made his frustration mount. He feltpletely misunderstood, surrounded by people who refused to see his side.

    Marc had already made it in that what happened with Doreen was never meant to go further, and letting her keep the baby was already more than anyone could expect from him. What else did they want from him?

    ¡°Marc, Doreen¡¯s carrying your child,¡± Jazlyn insisted. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t be put under so much pressure. If something happens to the baby, can you really live with that?¡±

    But Marc hadn¡¯t even wanted a child in the first ce. Nothing Jazlyn said could reach him now¡ªit only pushed him further away.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 579

    ?Chapter 579:

    ¡°So you¡¯re not permitting me to kick her out?¡± he said.

    Jazlyn met his re, a flicker of unease in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t back down. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant with your child. You can¡¯t just throw her out. Letting her stay here is the least you can do.¡±

    Marc brushed off his sleeve with an angry motion. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to make her your daughter-inw, then fine¡ªshe can stay. I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    He stormed out of the vi, leaving Jazlyn standing in the entryway, annoyance in on her face.

    Doreen stood awkwardly, her posture defeated. ¡°Maybe I should just leave. I¡¯m only making things worse for everyone.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s temper red. Discovering the things scattered on the floor belonged to Ste only made her more eager to see them gone.

    Jazlyn gave Doreen¡¯s hand a reassuring pat. ¡°Just stay here and take care of yourself. The maids will see to your needs. If Marc wants to sulk somewhere else, he can.¡±

    ¡°Let him. I¡¯d like to see how long he thinks he can keep this up!¡± With Jazlyn¡¯s support, a sense of relief washed over Doreen.

    Casting a worried look at the clutter, Doreen asked, ¡°But what about all of this?¡±

    ¡°Get rid of it. Everyst bit.¡± Jazlyn didn¡¯t spare a thought for the value of any of it.

    Doreen assumed Marc would show up in a couple of days. Weeks passed, though, and still he didn¡¯t return.

    Elsewhere, Ste found herself tangled in her own mess with William. One afternoon, she reached her building just as William emerged from another elevator down the hall.

    It seemed as if their routines had been perfectly choreographedtelying and going at the same moments.

    The part that annoyed her most was that avoiding him had be impossible.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, fancy meeting you here!¡± William greeted her with a cheerful smile as he stepped out.

    Find more content at ???????¦Ò????????.c§àm

    Ste pressed her lips together in exasperation. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you really don¡¯t have to make small talk every single time. You¡¯ve been using that same line for two weeks. Aren¡¯t you tired of it yet?¡±

    Ste had never encountered a neighbor she bumped into at her door every single day.

    Living across the hall from someone shouldn¡¯t mean your schedules matched so perfectly¡ªeven down to thest minute.<fnd3f5> Follow current nov?ls on find(?)ovel</fnd3f5>

    Ste had even tried workingte at theb more than once, yet William always managed to show up at the exact same time.

    Unfazed by herints, William strolled over, his steps unhurried. ¡°Looks to me like fate keeps throwing us together,¡± he said.

    The way he said it left Ste¡¯s heart skipping unexpectedly, the energy between them shifting for a moment.

    Ste forced a polite smile, then hurried to her door, fumbling with her keys before darting inside.

    She had barely set foot in her apartment¡ªstill in her shoes, not even changed¡ªwhen her phone started buzzing from the table.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 580

    ?Chapter 580:

    William¡¯s name lit up on Ste¡¯s screen. Again.

    Just one more in the long string of calls he¡¯d made over the past couple of weeks.

    She picked up, trying to keep her voice steady. ¡°Hello, Mr. Briggs. Is there something you need again today?¡± Her tone was polite, but deep down, she¡¯d already cursed him ten times over.

    ¡°There¡¯s a slight discrepancy in the project data. Come take a look,¡± William said, sounding serious¡ªlike it was a crucial business matter.

    Ste almostughed. She¡¯d heard that tone before.

    Last time, it was ¡°urgent formatting changes.¡± Before that? ¡°Client revisions.¡± Every time, it sounded important.

    Every time, it was barely anything.

    So she tried, once again, to save herself the trouble. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just send me the file? I¡¯ll check it from myputer.¡±<fn7d56> This content belongs to find?novel</fn7d56>

    ¡°It won¡¯t open on yours.¡±

    Ste frowned in confusion. Why? Did his spreadsheet refuse to open on someone else¡¯sputer?

    ¡°The data sheet was created on a MacBook,¡± he continued smoothly. ¡°Shows up as gibberish on Windows.¡± He sounded serious.

    But how would he even know that? He didn¡¯t have a Windowsptop.

    Still, he pressed on. ¡°The data¡¯s important. Can youe now?¡±

    Ste looked down at her pajamas, her bare face, and her untouched dinner. Apparently, none of that mattered. ¡°OK,¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯lle.¡±

    She hung up. Not bothering to change, she sshed water on her face and tied her hair up in a messy ponytail.

    Then she dragged herself out, trudging across the hallway.

    When William opened the door, looking fresh and smug, she gritted her teeth in frustration.

    ???€$? ¡é????€?$ ?? g??l??ov?l????o??

    But he was her boss, so she forced a smile through clenched teeth.

    She sat in his chair, opened the spreadsheet, and got to work.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the issue?¡±

    He pointed at the screen. ¡°There.¡±

    She skimmed the file, did a quick calction, and found the error almost immediately.

    She fixed it in under two minutes.

    After saving the file, she looked at him. ¡°Mr. Briggs, are you seriously saying you can¡¯t handle spreadsheets?¡±

    William just shrugged. ¡°You and the project team manage the data. I¡¯m just here to catch mistakes. Isn¡¯t it your job to correct them?¡±

    She stared at him, exasperated. Was she the only employee in thispany?

    There were other members on the project team.

    But she didn¡¯t need to ask to know his answer¡ªhe¡¯d say it was convenient since she lived across the corridor.

    Sure, she didn¡¯t cook for him anymore, but now she was working unpaid overtime, running across the hall just to fix a single number.

    A sudden wave of irritation washed over her.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 581

    ?Chapter 581:

    She was just about to get up and leave when William casually added, ¡°There¡¯s something else. I need you to help me with a matter¡­ using Neb Group¡¯s name.¡±

    Ste paused, turning back to him with a frown. Neb¡¯s name? Did that mean Briggs Group couldn¡¯t be involved?

    Since William owned Neb Group, Ste didn¡¯t see a reason to refuse him.<fn0da4> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find1Novel</fn0da4>

    Still, she asked out of curiosity, ¡°What kind of help are we talking about?¡±

    William led her out of the study. ¡°Hard to exin right now. You¡¯ll understand when the timees.¡±

    Of course. Ste held back an eye roll. He was always vague¡ªlike he enjoyed keeping her in the dark.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll head back¡ª¡±

    ¡°I just ordered takeout,¡± he cut in. ¡°Stick around. I got enough for two.¡±

    Now that he mentioned it, Ste realized she was starving. She hadn¡¯t done any grocery shopping, which meant dinner at home would be a sad bowl of instant noodles.

    Compared to that, William¡¯s takeout sounded like a feast.

    Since she was already here, doing free overtime, she figured she might as well stay and get a proper meal out of it.

    She dropped onto the sofa to wait. William sat beside her.

    Bored, Ste pulled out her phone and started scrolling through social media, mindlessly flicking past photos and random posts.

    Then something caught her eye¡ªa local thread where someone was trying to find a guy they¡¯d seen.

    The post read: ¡°Saw this guy at the mall three days ago. Total heartthrob. Was too shy to ask for his number, so here¡¯s hoping the inte works its magic. If he¡¯s taken, no hard feelings!¡±

    Curious, Ste clicked to see what kind of guy would make someone post publicly like that.

    The second she saw the picture, her jaw almost dropped. He looked exactly like William.

    Read new content at g¦Áln¦Ò¦Íe?s

    If she didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d think he had a twin.

    But three days ago, she remembered exactly where William was¡ªeither at theb or stopping by the Briggs Group headquarters. Definitely not at a mall.

    She scrolled through thements.

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve got good taste. He¡¯s hot!¡±

    ¡°Is he a model or something?¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ isn¡¯t this the CEO of some techpany? Looks familiar, but I can¡¯t ce him.¡±

    Oddly, no one directly called him out as William Briggs. Maybe someone recognized him and decided to keep quiet.

    Still, she was too curious to let it slide. She turned her phone toward him. ¡°Mr. Briggs, someone¡¯s out here on the inte trying to track you down.¡±

    William had been casually ncing at his phone, but the second Ste leaned in, he quickly turned it off like he had something to hide.

    Not that she noticed¡ªshe was still staring at her screen, focused on the post.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 582

    ?Chapter 582:

    William looked over, saw the picture, and his face immediately darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t know her,¡± he said tly.

    Ste blinked, thenughed. ¡°Obviously. If you did, she wouldn¡¯t be out here asking strangers to help her find you.¡±<fne380> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on ?ovelFind</fne380>

    Since she didn¡¯t seem suspicious, William rxed slightly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s her username?¡±

    Ste checked. ¡°FoxySnowke.¡±

    William¡¯s expression froze for half a second before he muttered, ¡°What kind of ridiculous name is that?¡±

    He pulled out his phone again and quickly typed something in. Ste had no clue what he was doing, but he seemed weirdly serious.

    A few minutester, he let out a quiet breath and locked his phone.

    Too curious to resist, Ste asked, ¡°Who were you texting just now?¡±

    ¡°That Fox,¡± he replied without thinking.

    Ste raised a brow. ¡°It¡¯s FoxySnowke, actually.¡±

    Ste paused for a beat before asking, ¡°So, what did you tell her? Did you give her your number?¡±

    William shot her a look, as if she had just asked the most ridiculous question. ¡°Why would I give her my number? She posted my photo online without asking¡ªshe¡¯s already crossing the line. I¡¯m being generous by not suing her.¡±

    Ste blinked, caught off guard by how serious he sounded. Honestly? She couldn¡¯t say he was wrong.

    She figured that was the end of it¡ªuntil, a few minutester, FoxySnowke posted again.

    ¡°I¡¯m speechless! I just asked for his number nicely, and he flipped, saying I was viting his rights and even threatened to sue if I didn¡¯t delete the photo. What a total jerk!¡±

    This time, she included screenshots of their chat.

    L¨»t?st ch¦Ápt?rs ??n g??l??ov????.§ã??m

    William¡¯s tone in the messages was ice-cold¡ªborderline intimidating. Just reading it made Ste feel as if the temperature in the room had dropped.

    The first post had already gained traction since William¡¯s face looked like it belonged on a billboard. But now, the follow-up with chat receipts sent the inte into a full-on spiral. Comments flooded in:

    ¡°Technically, it is a privacy thing. He¡¯s not wrong, just¡­ intense.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be pissed too if a stranger took a shot of me.¡±

    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s just a photo! She was polite about it and even said it was fine if he didn¡¯t want to share his number.¡±

    People were quickly picking sides¡ªhalf defending him, half dragging him.

    Before long, the whole thing blew up. It even made the trending list. Some users took it further, saying they were going to dig up every detail on ¡°that guy¡±¡ªfull doxxing mode.

    Ste scrolled through the chaos, then nced at William instinctively.

    He caught the look instantly. ¡°What?¡±

    She pressed her lips together and slid her phone toward him. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re trending.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 583

    ?Chapter 583:

    William¡¯s brows, which had just rxed, furrowed again. He pulled out his phone and called Luca on the spot.

    ¡°Handle that online drama,¡± he said, his tone sharp.

    Luca, thinking something serious had happened, quickly checked the trending topics. But without William¡¯s name or the Briggs Group tagged, he was confused.

    ¡°Boss, which one exactly?¡±

    Since when did William care about tabloid gossip? Most of what was trending involved celebrities¡ªexcept for one vague post about some ¡°jerk,¡± with no names mentioned.

    William was silent for a moment before muttering, ¡°The jerk.¡±

    Luca paused, stunned. Then it clicked. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone on it now,¡± he said quickly, though there was a smothered chuckle in his voice.

    He was clearly trying not tough, and William picked up on it. His face darkened as he hung up.

    Ste noticed the shift in his mood. After a moment¡¯s thought, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to you. Inte drama burns out fast. By tomorrow, no one will even remember this.¡±

    She hesitated briefly, then added casually, ¡°By the way¡­ what were you doing at the mall that day? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be in the office?¡±

    William paused briefly and cast a nce at Ste.

    ¡°I stopped by the mall after visiting thepany. Is there some rule against that?¡± His tone carried a trace of annoyance.

    Ste picked up on his mood, gave a slight shrug, and chose not to press further.

    Suddenly, her appetite vanished. She was about to excuse herself when William spoke again.

    ¡°By the way, did you eat cake at the research institute the other day?¡±

    The question brought the memory back. Yes¡ªthere had been cake that day. Everyone got a small slice of mille-feuille. Hers had been strawberry-vored, and it had actually tasted pretty good.

    ¡°It was good. Did you try it too?¡± she asked, curious.

    William stared at her, trying to figure out if she was serious. Did she really think he was asking because he liked the cake?

    ¡°Have you had that brand before?¡± he asked instead.

    Ste thought for a moment, then shook her head. She rarely ate sweets, and Sandra had tossed the packaging before she even nced at it. There was no way she¡¯d remember the brand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    In her mind, not seeing the brand was the same as not having tried it. It seemed like a reasonable answer.

    To William, though, talking to her felt like banging his head against a wall. But somehow, he found himself falling for that wall.

    ¡°That cake came from a chain store,¡± he exined. ¡°Their slogan is something like ¡®as sweet as a first crush and cream as smooth as a lover¡¯s kiss.¡¯¡± He watched her for a reaction.

    However, Ste wrinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°That sounds ridiculous. Who writes these lines?¡±

    If she saw a slogan like that outside a shop, she¡¯d probably walk right past it. It sounded more like someone trying too hard to impress.

    .

    .

    .<fna01b> Th?s chapter is updated by F?ndNovel</fna01b>

 Chapter 584

    ?Chapter 584:

    William had tried hinting, teasing, and even sharing slogans. Nothing worked with her, so this time, he dropped all subtlety.<fn4d5c> Latest content published on ?ovelFind</fn4d5c>

    ¡°Do you think the cake felt anything like kissing me?¡± he asked.

    Ste nearly choked on her own saliva. Her face turned bright red as she coughed uncontrobly.

    William raised a brow, looking far too pleased with himself. ¡°Are you seriously blushing at the idea of kissing me?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Briggs!¡± she snapped, still breathless. ¡°You can eat whatever you want, but you can¡¯t just say whatever pops into your head!¡±

    Ste felt a wave of frustration rise. What annoyed her most was how casually he joked about the whole thing.

    William just gave azy shrug, then leaned in a little closer to her side. ¡°You know, that kiss the other night? It actually felt pretty nice,¡± he said with a straight face. ¡°You were drunk, so maybe you didn¡¯t notice. How about we give it another shot tonight?¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She immediately raised her hands to push him away. ¡°Mr. Briggs, please! A man with no shame is just embarrassing. Show a little self-respect, won¡¯t you?¡±

    Seeing the genuine look on her face, William finally dropped the act. Without another word, he got up, picked up his phone, and made a quick call. Then he opened the front door and bent down to pick up a paper bag from the floor.

    ¡°The delivery guy must¡¯ve figured no one was home, so he just left it here,¡± he said casually.

    Ste didn¡¯t say anything back. She kept her head down and quietly focused on her meal. Her only goal now was to finish quickly and leave. But her mind was spinning. When did William be like this?

    He used to be so distant and hard to read. Now, he was throwing around flirtyments like some smooth-talking heartthrob. Had Steven¡¯s influence rubbed off on him?

    Still puzzled, Ste put her fork down and left shortly after. The next day after work, she made a point to stop by the supermarket, thinking it would help her avoid bumping into William in the elevator again.

    As she browsed the aisles, she cheerfully picked out two packs of pork belly and some fresh lettuce, nning to grill themter for dinner.

    galn¦Ò¦Íels.c¡ðm hosts fresh updates

    But just as she turned the corner to grab some drinks, she looked up¡ªand there he was, William, casually pushing his cart from the other direction.

    Ste blinked, thinking maybe her eyes were ying tricks on her. But no¡ªthere he was. William, clear as day.

    He turned and saw her too, the corners of his lips lifting into that familiar,id-back smile.

    Ste forced a polite tone through gritted teeth. ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    William gave a small nod,pletely unbothered. ¡°Grocery shopping too, huh?¡± Then his eyes dropped to her cart for a moment, and his Adam¡¯s apple shifted slightly. ¡°What¡¯s on the menu tonight?¡±

    Ste caught sight of the whole wheat bread in his cart. A sly smile curved her lips. ¡°Barbecue,¡± she said with a touch of pride. ¡°And you, Mr. Briggs? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning on making sandwiches.¡±

    She was hoping to tease him a little, but he didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°I am making sandwiches,¡± he answered easily. ¡°But barbecue sounds a lot better. What do you say¡ªmind if I join you for dinner?¡±

    Ste instantly regretted bringing it up. Why, of all things, did she have to mention barbecue?

    .

    .

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 Chapter 585

    ?Chapter 585:

    Trying to salvage the moment, she asked, ¡°If I say yes, will you cancel your ns?¡±<fn60e0> ?????? ???? Find1Novel</fn60e0>

    William raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ll pay. Five thousand for a te of barbecue?¡±

    Ste hesitated. She wasn¡¯t proud of it, but the number made her pause. Five thousand? For dinner? Her whole cart didn¡¯t even cost a fraction of that.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you¡¯re way too generous. In that case, of course you cane over. If there¡¯s anything else you¡¯d like, let me know and I¡¯ll grab it for you.¡±

    William let out a low chuckle. Her switch-up was lightning fast. One second she was brushing him off, and the next, she was all hospitality. Clearly, money talked.

    They finished shopping and headed out together with bags in hand. The supermarket was close to their apartments, so they didn¡¯t bother driving.

    As expected of him, William carried most of the load without saying a word.

    He walked calmly beside Ste, asionally turning to chat with her. Ste, on the other hand, kept sneaking nces at him, her face a mix of quiet resignation and yful annoyance.

    Meanwhile, ever since Marc hade across those online rumors about her and William kissing, he hadn¡¯t been able to calm down. He had moved out of his ce, hoping that distance from Doreen would bring him rity. But being alone only made him long more deeply for the days he had spent with Ste.

    What scared him most was the possibility that Ste might really be involved with William. That fear drove him to her neighborhood today. In the past, getting through the gate hadn¡¯t been a problem, but today, no matter what trick he tried, the security wouldn¡¯t let him in. He even tried slipping one a bribe, but that didn¡¯t work either.

    Left with no other option, Marc waited outside, stewing in his thoughts. After what felt like forever, he finally saw them. William had just reached out to gently fix a strand of Ste¡¯s hair, smiling with an ease Marc had never seen. Ste, smiling too, brushed his hand away in a lighthearted manner.

    That was all it took. Marc stormed forward and stepped directly in front of Ste, his voiceced with disbelief and desperation.

    ¡°Stel, are you seriously dating him? Did you actually kiss him? What about us? Are you really just throwing everything we had away like it meant nothing?¡±

    Already irritated from her long day, Ste¡¯s expression soured even more the moment she saw him. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be lurking outside her building, let alone confront her like this.

    I??€$? ¡é??t??§ñ? ?¦Ç ga?n?¦Í¦Ål?.c??

    ¡°Marc, are you out of your mind? This is creepy behavior. You¡¯re acting like a stalker.¡±

    But Marc didn¡¯t see anything wrong. ¡°I just wanted to talk to you. How does that make me a stalker? And if he kissed you¡ªdon¡¯t you think he¡¯s stepping way out of line?¡±

    William, who had remained silent until then, let out a low chuckle. ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t lump me in with you. We¡¯re nothing alike.¡±

    Marc ignored him and turned back to Ste with a pleading look. ¡°I¡¯ve already left Doreen. She means nothing to me anymore. Can¡¯t we start over? I swear I¡¯ll treat you right this time.¡±

    Ste stepped back in disgust. ¡°Marc, you¡¯ve really hit a new low. Why would I even consider going back to someone like you? Walsh Group is hanging by a thread because you can¡¯t manage it, and you think now¡¯s the time toe chasing after me?¡± she said sharply. ¡°If you want to prove anything, fix yourpany first. Show some sense of responsibility for once.¡±

    To Ste, Marc wasn¡¯t even worth her respect anymore. Everything about him revolved around love and regret, but nothing about responsibility. Honestly, she thought it was a tragedy that someone like him was running the Walsh Group.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 586

    ?Chapter 586:

    Marc, standing there, looked like he¡¯d been pped. His face went from pale to flushed in seconds. ¡°So what¡ªare you with William because he has more money? Is that it? Is our entire rtionship worth less to you than his bank ount?¡±

    Ste really didn¡¯t want to waste another second talking to someone as shameless as Marc, so she turned and walked away.

    Marc started to follow, but William stepped in and blocked his path.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re not just broke¡ªyou¡¯re uncultured, heartless, and useless. Always chasing what you don¡¯t deserve. How could someone like you ever be worthy of Sylvia?¡±

    Marc¡¯s hands curled into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

    As he stared at William and Ste, he didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªthey looked perfect together.

    Back when he was married to Ste, she had poured all her attention into him. She usually dressed down at home, rarely wore makeup, and didn¡¯t care much about appearances.

    It wasn¡¯t until after the divorce that he realized how stunning she was¡ªgreat figure, brilliant mind, graceful andposed.

    Everything he had taken for granted.

    And now that he saw it¡­ it was toote.<fn3ebd> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn3ebd>

    Ste kept her tone t. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s no point arguing with him.¡±

    She figured if Marc had ever nned to listen, he would have stopped chasing her a long time ago.

    She and William walked into the residentialplex. Marc tried to follow, but the automatic gate shut in his face.

    Before they left, Ste made sure to tell the security guard, ¡°He¡¯s not wee here. If he shows up again, don¡¯t let him in.¡±

    The guard nodded. ¡°Understood, Miss. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t let someone like that in.¡±

    Ste smiled faintly in thanks and walked off with William, never once ncing back.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m is packed with great reads

    Marc stood there, watching their figures disappear into the distance.

    His heart ached with regret.

    He had been staying at a fancy hotel, but his money was almost gone.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to go home to Doreen.

    He hade today hoping Ste might soften up and give him another chance.

    But in the end, he couldn¡¯t even get through the gate.

    He lingered outside, pacing, unsure where else to go.

    Eventually, he drifted toward the roadside, nning to leave.

    Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

    He turned quickly, hopeful. ¡°Stel¡ª!¡±

    But it wasn¡¯t Ste. It wasn¡¯t even a woman. It was a man in a suit¡ªsomeone Marc had never seen before.

    ¡°You¡¯re Marc Walsh, right?¡±

    Marc frowned. ¡°Who are you, and how do you know my name?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 587

    ?Chapter 587:

    The man didn¡¯t take offense. Instead, he offered his hand with a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. I¡¯m here to talk business¡ªabout a potential coboration.¡±

    Marc immediately grew suspicious. The guy sounded far too casual for something serious.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested,¡± he said tly, turning to walk away.

    But the man added, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to bring yourpany back from the dead? Or are you really okay watching Walsh Group copse on your watch? And you¡¯re just going to stand by and let the woman you love end up with William?¡±

    That stopped Marc in his tracks. Of course he wasn¡¯t okay with it. How could he be?

    But the more pressing question was¡ªwho the hell was this guy? He turned to face him, his voice low. ¡°Who exactly are you? How do you know my name¡­ and how do you know so much?¡±

    The man extended his hand, smiling. ¡°Sorry¡ªI forgot to introduce myself. My name¡¯s Alonzo Briggs.¡±

    Marc felt a flicker of recognition. That name¡­ it rang a bell. He had definitely heard it somewhere before. He thought about it for a moment¡ªthen it hit him.

    He looked up at Alonzo, clearly surprised. ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re William¡¯s uncle?¡±

    Alonzo lifted a finger to his lips and gave a subtle shhh, signaling for silence. Marc quicklyposed himself, pushing the shock down beneath a neutral expression.

    ¡°So,¡± he asked, narrowing his eyes, ¡°why do you want to coborate with me?¡± He didn¡¯t get it. Alonzo was a Briggs. Why would someone like him want to help him, of all people? And how did he even know Marc would be here today? Had he been following him¡­ or William?

    Alonzo simply smiled. ¡°No special reason. I just hate seeing young talent go to waste. Besides, I¡¯d like to help you end up with the one you love. But you know how it goes¡ªyou can¡¯t win a woman¡¯s heart unless you win her respect first.¡±<fne452> This text is hosted at Find_Novel(.</fne452>

    The words hit Marc right where it hurt. Tempting. Almost too tempting. He knew Ste admired ambition. If he couldn¡¯t outdo William, she wouldn¡¯te back to him.

    Now, out of nowhere, someone was handing him a chance. Suspicious? Absolutely. But how could he walk away?

    Every story starts at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??§àm

    He hesitated, then asked, ¡°And what exactly does this coboration look like?¡±

    Alonzo¡¯s smile widened. ¡°It¡¯s not something we should discuss on the street. Why don¡¯t we head to the office, Mr. Walsh?¡±

    Marc nced at the luxury car parked by the curb¡­ and after a beat, he followed Alonzo inside.

    Earlier that day, William had mentioned needing Ste¡¯s help through the Neb Group. It wasn¡¯t until they were home, grilling barbecue, that she finally asked what it was all about.

    ¡°So,¡± she said between bites, ¡°what¡¯s the favor you wanted to ask mest time?¡±

    This time, William didn¡¯t dodge. ¡°I need you to meet with a potential partner on my behalf¡ªunder your title as the acting CEO of Neb Group.¡±

    Ste raised a brow. ¡°That¡¯s it? Is the partner hard to deal with or something?¡±

    William took a bite of his skewer, then said calmly, ¡°Not exactly hard. Just¡­ different from the usual.¡±

    ¡°How different?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my uncle. Alonzo Briggs.¡±

    His words made her pause mid-bite. ¡°Your uncle?¡± she repeated, blinking. Ste didn¡¯t know much about the Briggs family, but she had heard that name before.

    Wasn¡¯t Alonzo based overseas? When did he get back?

    ¡°If he¡¯s your uncle, wouldn¡¯t it be easier for you to meet with him directly? Are you two not on good terms?¡± she asked, genuinely puzzled.

    William wasn¡¯t sure if he shouldmend her intuition, but now wasn¡¯t the time to unpack hisplicated family dynamics.

    ¡°All I need is for you to handle the meeting¡ªuse your best judgment. Ms. Russell, with your capabilities, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do just fine.¡±

    Ste shot him a look¡ªclearly, he was teasing her¡ªbut she still tilted her chin with confidence. ¡°Of course I¡¯ll handle it. Piece of cake.¡± She had never failed him before.

    ¡°So when am I meeting your uncle?¡±

    William thought for a second, then said gently, ¡°Finish your current research project first.¡±

    The experiments she was working on were important. Alonzo could wait¡ªbut her research couldn¡¯t.

    Ste nodded, satisfied with the arrangement, then turned her attention back to the grill. Barbecue first. Workter.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 588

    ?Chapter 588:

    Over the next week, Ste threw herself into work,pletely tuning out everything else.

    Sandra had tried several times to bring up Ste¡¯s rtionship with William, but each time she walked in, Ste was deeply engrossed in something. She didn¡¯t want to interrupt.

    It wasn¡¯t until they grabbed lunch together one day that things took an unexpected turn¡ªthey spotted Nina sitting just a few tables away.

    The entire institute had already been buzzing with gossip about Ste and William. Everyone there was a fair-weather friend, loyal only to whoever could protect their position.

    As a result, Nina had lost the automatic support she oncemanded and had be a target of ridicule around the institute. She hadn¡¯t said a word about it, but the tension had been building.

    And today, she was clearly done holding it in.

    With her tray in hand, Nina marched over and sat directly across from Ste, startling both her and Sandra.

    ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Nina said coldly.

    Ste frowned and looked up, but didn¡¯t respond right away.

    Nina¡¯s voice was sharper this time. ¡°Sylvia, I didn¡¯t take you for someone so calcting. You walk around acting all generous and graceful, but behind the scenes, you¡¯ve been turning everyone against me. Now that you¡¯ve got William¡¯s attention, you must feel pretty smug, huh?¡±

    Ste calmly wiped her mouth with a napkin and said, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± She really didn¡¯t have the time¡ªor interest¡ªto feel triumphant about this kind of drama.

    Nina had never met someone like Ste before. On the surface, she seemed like she didn¡¯t care about power ys orpetition, but somehow everything always tilted in her favor. That quiet confidence only made Nina feel even more cornered. She couldn¡¯t understand why William would ever choose someone like Ste.

    Sandra sat there quietly, watching Nina. Nina reminded her so much of Cecelia¡ªcold, proud, and now eaten alive by jealousy.

    They had nearly finished their meal, but after Nina¡¯s interruption, neither Sandra nor Ste felt like eating anymore.<fn3701> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn3701>

    They stood up, trays in hand, ready to leave. Just as Ste was about to walk away, Nina suddenly grabbed her wrist.

    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m not done talking!¡±

    The tray in Ste¡¯s hand tipped forward, and food spilled straight onto Nina¡¯s clothes.

    Gasps echoed from nearby tables as people turned to stare.

    Nina froze, her clothes stained and her pride in shambles. She shot Ste a re, then stormed out of the cafeteria without another word.

    Ste blinked, then turned to Sandra, who looked equally confused.

    Sandra leaned in and whispered, ¡°Sylvia¡­ do you think Nina has a thing for William?¡±

    Ste stared at her like she¡¯d just grown a second head. ¡°What?!¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 589

    ?Chapter 589:

    ¡°Think about it,¡± Sandra said, dropping her voice even lower. ¡°She keeps targeting you, always dragging William into it. I heard people say she and William had some kind of interaction before. What if she¡¯s into him and sees you aspetition?¡±

    Ste was momentarily stunned. All of Nina¡¯s hostility toward her was because of William? Talk about being wrongly used!<fn8622> This content belongs to Find[F]ovel</fn8622>

    Later that afternoon, Ste was in theb with Elbert and the others, deep into an experiment, when Jamir walked in looking visibly rattled.

    Elbert looked up and frowned. ¡°Jamir? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Jamir hesitated, then let out a quiet sigh as everyone turned to look at him.

    ¡°Nina just called me outside¡­ using Mr. Hoffman¡¯s name.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s expressions darkened. Nina again?

    ¡°What did she say to you?¡± Sandra asked, already sensing this wasn¡¯t going to be good.

    Jamir gave a quick rundown of what had happened. ¡°She said working alone was too slow, so she wanted to build a team. She thought I had potential and asked me to join her.¡±

    Sandra and the others were stunned. None of them had expected Nina to pull a stunt like that.

    ¡°She¡¯s trying to poach you? Seriously? Doesn¡¯t she know you¡¯re already on Sylvia¡¯s team?¡±

    They were clearly annoyed. Out of everyone in the research institute, Nina had gone straight to Jamir? That alone seemed shady.

    Sandra narrowed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not actually considering it, are you? Be honest¡ªdid she offer something tempting?¡±

    Jamir shook his head firmly. ¡°Of course not! I¡¯ve been with you guys since the beginning. No matter what she offers, I¡¯d never ditch my team.¡± It wasn¡¯t often that Jamir spoke so assertively.

    Sandra, clearly relieved, gave him a light pat on the shoulder. ¡°Loyalty¡¯s solid. I like it.¡±

    Step into new worlds at g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s?conn

    The tension broke, and everyone slipped back into casual banter.

    But Ste, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly spoke. ¡°I actually think you should consider taking her up on it.¡±

    Jamir blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat? Me?¡± He stared at her, confused. ¡°You¡¯re not serious, right? You really want me to go with Nina?¡±

    Ste shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I mean it.¡±

    The group fell silent, clearly puzzled. They had always operated as a tight unit. Why send someone over to the other side now? Was this about trust?

    Jamir frowned. ¡°You think I¡¯d betray you?¡±

    Ste let out a smallugh. ¡°Of course not.¡±

    She looked at everyone¡¯s confused expressions and patiently exined, ¡°Nina picked you because she thinks your bond with us isn¡¯t that strong. So why not prove her right¡ªat least on the surface¡ªand see what she¡¯s up to?¡±

    That snapped things into focus.

    ¡°Oh¡­ you want me to act as a spy,¡± Jamir said, finally understanding.

    Ste gave a small nod. Nina was moving in the shadows while they were ying it straight, which put them at a disadvantage.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 590

    Chapter 590:

    But if Jamir joined her team, they would have a direct line into her ns and could stay one step ahead.

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re a genius,¡± Sandra said, grinning.

    Jamir had been worried that Ste didn¡¯t trust him, but now he saw the opposite¡ªshe trusted him enough to put him on the inside.

    ¡°But if you¡¯re notfortable with it, I won¡¯t push,¡± Ste added. ¡°It¡¯s just a suggestion.¡±

    Jamir¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination, and he replied almost without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m willing to go. Initially, this was just apetition, but since Nina started trying to y tricks on us, we¡¯re merely responding in kind!¡±

    She frowned slightly, suddenly remembering something. ¡°Wait¡­ you didn¡¯t already reject her, did you?¡±

    Jamir scratched his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t say anything. Just walked away.¡±

    He had thought she was being ridiculous and didn¡¯t see a reason to entertain it. Now, he looked slightly panicked. Had he lost the chance to go undercover?

    He asked, ¡°You think she¡¯ll take that as a ¡®no¡¯ and back off?¡±

    Ste thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Knowing her, silence won¡¯t stop her. She¡¯ll probablye back until you give her a clear answer. Let¡¯s wait and see what she does next.¡±

    As expected, Nina showed up after work that evening, once again seeking out Jamir.

    She had figured out his habits by now¡ªhe always stayed behind after Ste and the others left, often working ale into the night.

    That told her something¡ªhis rtionship with the team probably wasn¡¯t all that close, which made him the perfect target.

    ¡°Jamir,¡± she said, her voice casual butced with purpose, ¡°have you thought about my offer? What do you think?¡±

    Jamir looked up slowly, his tone t and unreadable. ¡°What exactly do you want me to do? And what¡¯s in it for me?¡±

    M¦Òr¦Å ¦Ôpd¦Á§äes ¦Én G¦Áln¦Ò¦Íels.c¦Òm

    Nina¡¯s lips curved. If he was asking questions, that meant she already had one foot in the door.

    ¡°I¡¯m just here for thepetition. After that, I¡¯m heading back abroad. If you¡¯re interested, I can help you get into one of the top research centers over there. The best of the best.¡±

    That caught Jamir off guard. He hadn¡¯t expected that kind of offer. ¡°You can really pull that off?¡± A flicker of doubt crossed his face.

    Nina nodded, her expression confident. ¡°If I say I can, I mean it. It¡¯s no big deal for me.¡±

    Jamir arched a brow. ¡°So, what do you need from me?¡±

    She smiled. Smart men were easier to talk to¡ªno nonsense, no pretense.

    ¡°Just keep me updated on Sylvia¡¯s progress.¡±

    Jamir was taken aback. ¡°That¡¯s it? You don¡¯t want to know the details of their research or get ess to their reports?¡±

    Nina thought back to the time Ste had beaten her, and a flicker of resentment shed in her eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need the full details,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Just a rough idea of how far they¡¯ve gotten and what they¡¯re working on. I¡¯m confident I can do better from there.¡±

    .

    .

    .<fnd4a2> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find¡¤novel</fnd4a2><hr>

    Message from Noah: Have a great week dear readers, new chapters this friday and new novels tomorrow. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ????(? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?

    .

 Chapter 591

    ?Chapter 591:

    Jamir raised a brow, silently wondering where all that confidence wasing from. She had already been crushed once¡ªwith that form, no less. What made her think she could actually beat Sylvia this time?

    But if all she wanted was vague updates, technically it wasn¡¯t stealing. Still, from a practical standpoint, it was pretty much pointless.

    ¡°You won¡¯t beat Sylvia,¡± he said tly.

    Nina¡¯s smile vanished. Her eyes sharpened. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just being honest,¡± Jamir said. ¡°Maybe you think she gets by on luck or help from others, but Sylvia¡¯s not someone you can underestimate. Everyone here knows how good she is¡ªand honestly, you¡¯re no match.¡±

    Nina¡¯s expression darkened, her hands clenching into fists.

    ¡°And what if I refuse to work with you?¡± she gritted out.

    Jamir gave a slow shrug. ¡°You¡¯re the oneing to me. I didn¡¯t ask for this. You can walk away if you want¡ªI¡¯m not losing anything.¡±

    Nina stared at him, seething at his calm indifference.

    After a tense pause, she snapped, ¡°Fine. Then I want all your experimental data.¡±

    Jamir smirked. She had fallen for it¡ªhook, line, and sinker. ¡°I can help you,¡± he said smoothly, ¡°but don¡¯t forget your end of the deal. If we¡¯re doing this together, don¡¯t think for a second I¡¯ll let you throw me under the bus if things go south.¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡± Nina raised her chin. ¡°And from now on, we don¡¯t know each other at the institute. If you¡¯ve got news, hit me up.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked off briskly, as if she couldn¡¯t escape fast enough.

    Ten minutester, Ste and the others came in through another hallway. What Nina didn¡¯t know was that Jamir had been on the phone with them the entire time.

    They had heard every word of her little scheme.

    ¡°She¡¯s taken the bait. Now we just need to roll out the n bit by bit,¡± Sandra said, ncing at Ste. ¡°Sylvia, should we go ahead and prep fake data for Nina?¡±

    L?t?st ?h??pt?rs ¦Én g??lnov§Ö???.??????<fnd> For more chapters visit find[f]ovel</fnd>

    Ste nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s easy. We¡¯ll have Al handle it.¡±

    Elbert frowned. ¡°You sure Al can pull it off? What if Nina catches something off?¡±

    Ste let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll give it a final polish myself. She won¡¯t notice a thing.¡±

    With the research center drama handled for now, Ste turned her focus to the business meetinging up that Saturday.

    Ste had agreed to meet William¡¯s unclest time, and now she finally had the chance to sit down and talk business.

    Inside an upscale private club, she stepped into the reserved room in a sleek, fitted business suit¡ªsharp and all business.

    About ten minutester, the door creaked open again.

    She looked up, ready to greet whoever it was. But the moment she saw the person walking in, her expression froze.

    He looked clean-cut in a tailored suit, shing a mild smile. ¡°Stel. Small world, huh?¡±

    Ste¡¯s stomach dropped. Her whole demeanor shifted. Did he follow her here? Her face darkened instantly.

    ¡°Marc, can you quit showing up like a bad penny?¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m here for work. Serious work. Leave. Don¡¯t screw this up for me.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 592

    ?Chapter 592:<fne373> Fresh chapters posted on find~novel</fne373>

    Marc didn¡¯t even blink. Instead, he strolled over and calmly took the seat across from her. ¡°I¡¯m here for work too, Stel. No need to bite my head off.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting today,¡± she said coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your games.¡±

    He didn¡¯t lose that smug smile. ¡°I am your meeting. I¡¯m here on behalf of Alonzo. We¡¯re discussing the project.¡±

    Ste blinked, stunned. For a moment, she just stood there trying to process what he had said. ¡°How can that be?¡±

    Since when did the Walsh Group have connections with Alonzo?

    As if he had expected her disbelief, Marc pulled out a folder and slid a document across the table. ¡°Take a look. Alonzo signed it himself. Still skeptical? Call him.¡±

    Ste nced down. The paper was legitimate¡ªperfectly formatted, stamped, and sealed. There was no way it was fake.

    She didn¡¯t say anything right away. Seeing that, Marc¡¯s tone softened. ¡°You told me once to keep work and personal stuff separate,¡± he said. ¡°So let¡¯s stick to business. Nothing else.¡±

    Marc quickly shifted into full professional mode.

    Ste forced herself to refocus as well. The deal came first. She pushed her emotions aside and got to work.

    Marc, to her surprise, handled the meeting like a pro¡ªsharp, confident, andposed. It was a far cry from the clueless guy she used to know.

    She had no idea when he had made this kind of progress, but that wasn¡¯t the point.

    Once the final page was signed, Ste closed the folder and looked up at him. ¡°Thanks for bringing the contract, Mr. Walsh. Let¡¯s hope for a smooth partnership.¡±

    She stood to leave, and Marc rose too. ¡°Stel, I really like your proposal. How about dinner to celebrate?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°No thanks, Mr. Walsh. We¡¯re not that close.¡±

    And with that, she walked out of the private room without looking back. She hadn¡¯t expected the meeting to go so smoothly, so when William called her afterward, there was a bit of smugness in her tone. ¡°Contract¡¯s signed,¡± she said casually.

    Updates loaded at g??????¦Òv????s.co??

    William was stunned. ¡°What?¡±

    It hadn¡¯t even been thirty minutes since the meeting with Alonzo was supposed to start, and Ste had already sealed the deal?

    This was no small project¡ªit involved importing a high-end batch of goods from overseas.

    Alonzo had built up serious clout abroad, and his products were premium quality. William had deliberately sent Ste to negotiate so Alonzo wouldn¡¯t catch wind that he was the one behind the deal.

    That way, the transaction would go more smoothly, and the shipment would be more secure.

    ¡°So, Mr. Briggs,¡± Ste said lightly, ¡°I¡¯ve handled everything you asked. That means I¡¯m done with this project, right?¡±

    But William didn¡¯t give her the out she wanted. ¡°The Neb Group¡¯s the one signing with Alonzo,¡± he said. ¡°And you¡¯re acting CEO of Neb. If you don¡¯t follow through, who will?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that William had yed her. Again.

    She had thought signing that contract was the end of it¡ªnice, neat, done. But no. It turned out she would have to wait for Alonzo to ship the goods before anything else could move forward.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 593

    ?Chapter 593:

    ¡°So I¡¯m stuck handling all the follow-ups for this project?¡± she asked, not bothering to hide the edge in her voice.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he replied.

    Great. That meant dealing with Marc. Again. And again.

    What William didn¡¯t know was that Alonzo had thrown Marc into the mix, pairing him directly with her. And for now, she wasn¡¯t about to tell him¡ªno need to stir up more drama.

    Since she had already brushed off her history with Marc as old news, Ste figured she had better deal with him head-on instead of dodging him like andmine every time. Avoiding him wouldn¡¯t solve anything.

    Marc ran the Walsh Group now. Whether she liked it or not, their paths were bound to keep crossing.

    ¡°Your uncle¡¯s shipment just cleared customs,¡± William said. ¡°It should be here in about two weeks.¡±

    He paused for a beat. ¡°So, how¡¯s it been dealing with my uncle?¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯t sure what he was fishing for, but she answered honestly. ¡°Haven¡¯t met him. He sent his assistant to talk to me instead.¡±

    William chuckled, eyes dark with amusement. ¡°That¡¯s just like him. Always calcting.¡±

    From his tone, Ste could tell things between William and his uncle weren¡¯t exactly warm and fuzzy.

    And now that they were doing business together¡ªwith Marc smack in the middle¡ªshe had to tread carefully.<fn83b7> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn83b7>

    ¡°You and your uncle¡­ don¡¯t really get along, do you?¡± she asked.

    William¡¯s answer was evasive. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say we¡¯re on bad terms.¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow. What kind of non-answer was that?

    Since he clearly didn¡¯t want to get into it, she let it drop.

    . is your storytelling hub

    ¡°I¡¯m heading out,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll update you if anything changes with the project.¡± With that, she ended the call.

    She was still annoyed at being dragged into more work out of nowhere. Thank God the researchb was running smoothly.

    That night, just as she was getting ready to crash, her phone lit up.

    Marc.

    She had to unblock his number thanks to their business partnership. Still, seeing his name sh across her screen after all this time threw her off for a second.

    Leaning against the headboard, she picked up.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Marc¡¯s voice was warm, smooth as ever. ¡°Stel, you free tomorrow? I can swing by theb and pick you up.¡±

    Ste frowned. ¡°Mr. Walsh, we¡¯re not exactly friends.¡±

    ¡°Maybe not, but we are partners now,¡± Marc said. ¡°Mr. Alonzo Briggs wants you to check thest shipment¡¯s quality at the port tomorrow. Thought I¡¯d take you.¡±

    It was a legitimate reason. If anything went wrongter, she would be held responsible.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 594

    ?Chapter 594:

    ¡°No need for a ride,¡± she replied tly. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you at the port after work.¡±

    Marc was a little disappointed, but the thought of seeing her tomorrow made up for it.

    ¡°Alright. See you tomorrow, Stel.¡±

    After hanging up, he stood by his closet, already thinking about what to wear. But just as he reached for a jacket, his phone rang again. Ste? he wondered, a flicker of hope sparking.

    But it was Jazlyn.

    ¡°Hey Mom, what¡¯s with thete call?¡± he answered.

    The second she heard his voice, Jazlyn snapped, ¡°Marc, get to the hospital! Doreen¡¯s in trouble!¡±

    He blinked. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with me?¡±

    Jazlyn was stunned. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant with your child! You really want to lose the child you finally got? Get to the hospital¡ªnow!¡±

    Marc let out a tired sigh. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m on my way.¡±

    He ended the call,id out his outfit for the next day, grabbed his jacket, and headed out the door.

    At the hospital, Marc rushed in and found Jazlyn sitting outside the operating room.

    The moment she spotted him, she shot up and grabbed his hand.<fn28f0> For original chapters go to find(?)ovel</fn28f0>

    Marc¡¯s voice dropped, tense. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Jazlyn smacked his hand. ¡°What do you think happened? Doreen felt like she was holding you back. You¡¯ve been gone over two weeks¡ªshe couldn¡¯t take it. She tried to hurt herself at the vi. We¡¯re still waiting to hear how she¡¯s doing.¡±

    Marc froze, stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected Doreen to go that far.

    Jazlyn saw the look on his face and sighed. ¡°Marc, I¡¯m begging you. Even if you¡¯re not in love with her, at least hang in there till the babyes. She¡¯s stuck by you this whole time. That has to count for something.¡±

    Back then, Jazlyn didn¡¯t think Doreen could ever match up to Ste. But once the baby came into the picture¡ªand Doreen waspliant and cooperative¡ªshe had to admit the girl wasn¡¯t bad.

    Fresh content live now g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s

    Maybe not daughter-inw material, but the baby¡­ that mattered.

    Marc rubbed the back of his neck, clearly irritated. ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t need to worry yourself about it.¡±

    Jazlyn snapped, smacking her thigh. ¡°How am I not supposed to worry? You trying to give me a heart attack? You think Ste still cares about you after all this? Focus on making things right with Doreen before it¡¯s toote!¡±

    But Marc thought about his meeting with Ste the next day and smirked. ¡°She¡¯s been a little softer than before. We¡¯re meeting tomorrow.¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Seriously?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Just watch. It won¡¯t be long before Stel¡¯s back.¡±

    Alonzo had promised to give him everything he wanted once he nailed the project.

    Jazlyn went quiet, holding back her thoughts.

    Right then, the doctor came out of the OR. Jazlyn rushed over. ¡°Doctor, how is she?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s stable for now,¡± he said. ¡°But we¡¯ll keep her in for observation to make sure there¡¯s no infection.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 595

    ?Chapter 595:

    Doreen had cut her wrist at the vi. When they wheeled her out, her wrist was wrapped in thick gauze, her face pale and hollow.

    Marc stared at her, and for a second, a sharp pang hit his chest.

    He thought back to the first time they met¡ªwhen she was lively, confident, always ready with something smart to say. She was nothing like the frail figure being rolled past him now.

    ¡°Put her in a private suite. And get a nurse to stay with her.¡± Guilt crept in. It wasn¡¯t much, but it made him act.

    Seeing him finally step up, Jazlyn let out a long sigh of relief.

    Later that night, after settling the nurse and making sure Doreen was okay, Marc left the hospital and headed home. Jazlyn didn¡¯t stay either.

    Only the nurse remained at Doreen¡¯s side. The room was quiet. Almost too quiet.

    The next day, Marc showed up at the port early. When he saw Ste¡¯s car roll in, he quickly fixed his hair and sprayed on some cologne before walking over.

    Even from a distance, Ste caught a whiff of his hair gel and noticed the extra effort. She kept a straight face. ¡°Let¡¯s go check the shipment.¡±

    Following Alonzo¡¯s instructions, Marc opened the container doors.

    Ste stepped forward, scanning the neatly stacked cargo. She picked one item up, inspected it closely, then set it back.

    This batch was leagues above Shaun¡¯s. The materials were top-tier, the craftsmanship impable.

    This cutting-edge material only came from abroad. And right now, Alonzo was their only pipeline.

    ¡°This batch¡¯s pretty solid, huh?¡± Marc said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯d say it beats anything local.¡±

    Ste looked at him, slightly amused. ¡°You ever actually studied construction materials?¡±<fn1366> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn1366>

    Marc stiffened. Sure, the Walsh Group had projects like this, but he had never touched the technical side. He was clueless.

    1???E$? ?????€?S 1? g¨»l??¦Ïv?l?.§ão??

    The silence dragged, and Ste raised an eyebrow. ¡°If you don¡¯t even know the basics, maybe don¡¯t act like you do, Mr. Walsh.¡±

    Marc¡¯s hand clenched the door, his jaw tight. ¡°Okay, I didn¡¯t know before. But I¡¯m learning. People can change, right? I¡¯ve learned how to treat someone right. If you¡¯d just give me another chance¡­¡±

    Before Marc could even finish, Ste turned on her heel and headed straight for the parking lot. She had already inspected the goods¡ªthere was nothing left to say. No point hanging around just to hear Marc ramble.

    Marc mmed the container doors shut and jogged after her. ¡°Stel, how about lunch? Mr. Briggs wants me to run some new terms by you.¡±

    Ste frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t we already sign the contract? What new terms?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong,¡± Marc said quickly. ¡°The update¡¯s in your favor. Just give me an hour¡ªwe can talk it through over lunch?¡±

    Ste wanted to say no, but this was work. She didn¡¯t have much choice.

    So she followed him downtown to a restaurant.

    Once they sat down, Marc handed her a menu. She barely nced at it. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time. What new terms?¡±

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 Chapter 596

    ?Chapter 596:

    Marc still had the menu open, trying to y it casual. ¡°Let¡¯s order first. You¡¯ve been running around all morning¡ªyou¡¯ve gotta be starving.¡±

    His voice was gentle, almost like how he used to talk to her when they were married. But now, it just made Ste ufortable.

    She skimmed the menu and randomly picked two dishes. ¡°Alright. Now talk.¡±

    Marc finally sighed and set his menu down. ¡°Mr. Briggs wants a long-term partnership. If Neb¡¯s willing tomit, we can offer you a twenty percent discount¡ªon this order and all future shipments.¡±

    Ste raised her eyebrows. A twenty percent discount? That was a serious markdown. But a long-term deal¡­ she¡¯d need to run it by William.

    Marc leaned in. ¡°Stel, this is the best deal I could get you. These new foreign materials? Tons of buyers are lining up.¡±

    He looked dead serious¡ªhoping she¡¯d just say yes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Ste said. ¡°Can¡¯t give you an answer right now.¡±

    If it were her ownpany, she might have signed then and there. But this was William¡¯s call.

    Marc frowned. ¡°What¡¯s there to think about? You still think I¡¯d try to screw you over?¡±

    Ste met his eyes. Honestly, she had doubted him at first. But this particr deal? He had no reason to y her.

    She didn¡¯t say anything.

    Marc exhaled hard. ¡°Alright, I get it. You don¡¯t trust me. I¡¯ll give you until tonight¡ªbut I need your decision by tomorrow morning. Offer¡¯s only good till noon.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± she said quietly.

    After lunch, Ste drove home. Once she got out of the elevator, she knocked on William¡¯s door.

    She waited ten minutes. No response.

    Your favorite stories g?ln¦Ò¦Íels

    Left with no choice, she dialed him.

    When the call connected, she immediately asked, ¡°Mr. Briggs, are you not home?¡±

    But it wasn¡¯t William who answered. ¡°Ms. Russell,¡± Luca¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Mr. Briggs is in a meeting. Would you like me to pass on a message?¡±

    Ste hesitated. ¡°Just tell him I need to talk about the coboration.¡±

    There was a short pause. Then Luca came back on. ¡°Mr. Briggs said you can handle it. He trusts your judgment.¡±

    Ste was quiet for a second. ¡°Okay. Thanks.¡±

    Back in her apartment, she reviewed Alonzo¡¯s profile again¡ªchecking his credentials, verifying his overseas supplier license, even searching online for any red gs.

    Everything checked out.

    If Alonzo could really secure that long-term deal with the discount, it was worth considering. Twenty percent off wasn¡¯t small change.<fn90ef> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find¡¤novel</fn90ef>

    Ste mulled it over all night.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 597

    ?Chapter 597:

    At dawn, she called Marc. ¡°We¡¯ll sign the contract.¡±

    Just before heading into the institute, Ste crossed paths with Marc at the entrance that morning.

    She handed him the signed contract and said, ¡°Hope this marks the start of a solid partnership.¡±

    Marc hesitated, then replied, ¡°Stel, about tonight¡ª¡±

    ¡°Nope. Not now,¡± Ste cut him off.

    Without giving him a second nce, she headed into the institute. Marc stayed behind, holding the contract, a quietugh slipping out. With that signature, Marc had wrapped up Alonzo¡¯s assignment.

    Now, he finally had what he needed to rebuild the Walsh Group¡ªand maybe stand beside Ste again.

    Thinking about everything that could finally fall into ce, Marc slid into his car and drove off.

    After signing the contract, Ste enjoyed a rare, calm week. She didn¡¯t bump into William once. Someone at the institute had mentioned he was out on a business trip, so Ste figured he wasn¡¯t in the city.

    Soon enough, the day arrived for Alonzo¡¯s shipment to pass through customs.

    Ste took the morning off and drove down to the port.

    Marc¡¯s car showed up about ten minutes after she did.

    Ste stood by the docks, eyes fixed on the shipment being unloaded, ready to inspect it.

    Marc followed a few steps behind and murmured, ¡°Stel, the materials are good, right? We already double-checked everything, didn¡¯t we?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t reply. She had the container doors swung open the moment the lock came off.

    But as soon as she looked inside, she stopped cold.

    Find magical tales on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c????<fn42ec> For more chapters visit find~novel</fn42ec>

    The materials inside weren¡¯t the ones she had seen before. They looked almost identical but were totally different beneath the surface.

    The moment Ste picked one up, a chill crept down her spine. Something was off.

    She spun around and faced Marc, her tone sharp. ¡°What is this supposed to be?¡±

    Marc looked baffled. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the same batch we checkedst time?¡±

    Ste hurled the materials toward him. ¡°Look again! Does that even resemble what we approved?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression shifted as realization crept in. Something didn¡¯t add up. ¡°Stel, wait¡ªlet me exin,¡± he said, fumbling his words. ¡°I have no idea what happened. Let me call Mr. Briggs real quick!¡±

    Marc caught the look in her eyes¡ªdoubt twisted with fury¡ªand his nerves kicked in.

    He stepped aside, pulling out his phone to call Alonzo, hoping for answers. But what he got left him speechless.

    A few minutester, Marc walked back to Ste, looking shaken.

    ¡°They¡¯re the materials they¡¯re actually supposed to send. Correct?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 598

    ?Chapter 598:

    Ste stared at him, stunned. ¡°Are you seriously saying that? This looks nothing like the batch we reviewed. Marc, you¡¯d say anything to cover yourself, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    They had locked that deal with signatures, and now the materials didn¡¯t match. She had grounds to sue.

    Marc¡¯s expression turned uneasy. After a long, tense pause, he muttered, ¡°Stel, what you saw was LG spec. But the contract you signed? That was for IG spec. They¡¯re supposed to be different.¡±

    Ste tilted her head slightly, trying to catch up¡ªthen the weight of his words crashed into her.

    Her eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a chill. ¡°Tell me straight. Did you and Alonzo set this up to screw me?¡±<fn6ec6> Content originallyes from Find?Novel</fn6ec6>

    No one had mentioned anything about specs when she signed. Not once.

    Marc raised his hands helplessly. ¡°Stel, I get why you¡¯re pissed. But the contract says what it says. How¡¯s that some kind of trap?¡±

    Ste took a step back. ¡°Marc, I should¡¯ve seen thising. You¡¯re just a money-hungry fraud,¡± she said, her voice tight. ¡°I thought this deal meant something. I actually trusted you. But all along, you and Alonzo were just out to use me!¡±

    She had beenpletely blindsided.

    From the beginning, Marc and Alonzo had nned to pin the risk on her. Now she was stuck with a long-term deal, and breaking it would bleed her dry.

    ¡°Marc, you¡¯re despicable!¡±

    Ste turned and walked away without another word.

    Marc, flustered, chased after her a few steps. ¡°Stel, I swear I didn¡¯t know! I only just found out after I made that call. You¡¯ve got to believe me!¡±

    She yanked her arm out of his grasp. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Her eyes were filled with pure disgust.

    Marc froze,pletely thrown off by her reaction. He could only stand there and watch as she drove off, disappearing from sight. His heart sank. He genuinely had no idea why Alonzo hadn¡¯t told him about the material switch and the altered specs. Why had Alonzo been setting Ste up from the very start?

    Latest chapters uploaded g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    Standing at the windy waterfront, Marc pulled out his phone and called Alonzo. ¡°Mr. Briggs, why the hell did you lie to Ste? And why didn¡¯t you tell me either? If that¡¯s how this is going to be, I¡¯m out. You¡¯ll have to find someone else to do your dirty work.¡±

    Marc had made up his mind¡ªhe wanted to back out and clear the air with Ste. He was willing to own up to his past mistakes, but this wasn¡¯t on him.

    Alonzo was quiet for a moment, then said calmly, ¡°Having second thoughts, are we?¡±

    Marc¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°This isn¡¯t what I signed up for.¡±

    Alonzo suddenly let out a lowugh. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you want her to respect you, don¡¯t you? You¡¯vee this far¡ªif you back out now, you¡¯ll look like a coward.¡±

    Marc¡¯s hands curled into fists.

    .

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 Chapter 599

    Chapter 599:

    Alonzo went on, ¡°Even if you walk away now, do you think Ste¡¯s going to believe you? She¡¯ll just assume you were in on it from the start. You¡¯ll lose her and yourst shot at saving the Walsh family. But if you stick with me and take a calcted risk¡­ once thepany recovers, you¡¯ll be able to stand tall in front of her again. Isn¡¯t that what you want?¡±

    Marc hesitated. Deep down, he knew Alonzo had a point. Ste already looked at him like he was nothing. Earlier, it had been contempt¡ªbut now, it was outright hatred. Even if he backed off now, she wouldn¡¯t believe his innocence.

    Sensing Marc¡¯s silence, Alonzo chuckled again. ¡°You¡¯re still wavering. That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll give you a day. Same as before.¡±

    Marc sat back in his car, staring nkly at the dashboard. Before he could even start the engine, his phone rang. It was Jazlyn. ¡°Doreen¡¯s awake. As the father of her baby, you need to get over here¡ªnow.¡±

    Marc sighed. As if things weren¡¯t alreadyplicated enough, now Jazlyn was dragging him to the hospital.

    The second he walked into the room, Doreen burst into tears. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m begging you. I really want to keep the baby. You don¡¯t have to care about me, but could you at least care about the child?¡±

    Jazlyn chimed in, arms crossed. ¡°Marc, say something. Look at her. What more do you want?¡±

    Marc felt his head pounding as the noise swirled around him.<fn0681> This content belongs to F¦ÉndNovel</fn0681>

    Then Alonzo¡¯s words came back to him. Maybe it really was time to take a calcted risk. If it paid off, the Walsh Group would be back on its feet. He wouldn¡¯t be stuck under his mother¡¯s thumb or tangled up with Doreen. He¡¯d have enough power and resources to stand beside Ste again¡ªand maybe win her back.

    The damage was done anyway. Ste already hated him for the material mess. Even if he apologized now, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. Might as well ride it out to the end. Once everything was settled, he¡¯de clean to Ste and exin everything. By then, he¡¯d have something to offer her¡ªpower, projects, a clean te. Wouldn¡¯t she considering back to him then?

    Snapping out of his thoughts, Marc looked at Doreen and said, a little softer this time, ¡°I never said I was against keeping the baby. If that¡¯s what you really want, then focus on taking care of yourself.¡±

    Your next favorite is on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s£®??o??

    Doreen¡¯s teary eyes lit up with hope. ¡°Will youe back to the vi? If you¡¯re not happy there, I can move out¡­¡±

    Marc shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to move. I¡¯ll be back after I settle somepany matters.¡±

    Doreen managed a faint smile, and Jazlyn looked pleased. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. No point keeping things tense between you two.¡±

    After saying a few moreforting words, Marc stepped out and called Alonzo.

    The second the line connected, he said, ¡°I¡¯m in. What¡¯s next?¡±

    Alonzo, unsurprised, sounded almost cheerful. ¡°Simple. Deliver the materials to Ste. Get her to sign. If she won¡¯t, make her fulfill the contract obligations.¡±

    Neither option would end well for Ste.

    But Marc had already made his choice. ¡°Got it,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    .

    .

    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Nice friday for you dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (?? ? ??)?

    .

 Chapter 600

    ?Chapter 600:

    Ste stormed into her apartment, still fuming. She dropped onto the couch and pulled out the contract she had signed with Marc. There it was¡ªIG specs spelled out in ck and white, in as day.

    She groaned, massaging her temples. This was bad. Really bad.

    The materials werepletely useless, but she was already locked into a long-term agreement. And if she bailed now? The penalty fee was an outrageous five hundred million dors.

    That number alone made her feel like the walls were closing in.

    After buying her apartment, her bank ount barely held a few million, which was just a drop in the oceanpared to what she owed.

    Leaning back into the couch, she sighed, realizing how badly she had messed up by not being more careful with Marc.

    And worst of all, William still had no idea any of this was going on.

    Just as the panic started sinking in, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Marc.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, the materials have been delivered. We need your signature immediately. If not, this will go to court. Let¡¯s not make it messy.¡±<fn6344> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn6344>

    The message hit her like a p. Her hands trembled as she stared at the screen.

    Half of her wanted to throw her phone across the room, and the other half just felt helpless.

    Trying to figure a way out of the mess, Ste considered calling Sharon or Josie for help.

    If she could somehow pull together the five hundred million on her own, she wouldn¡¯t have to involve the Briggs Group, and Neb Group wouldn¡¯t take a hit either.

    Taking a deep breath, she tapped Sharon¡¯s number.

    As soon as Sharon heard what Marc and Alonzo had done, she was livid and jumped into her car to drive over.

    Updates always at galno¦Íe??s

    When she walked into Ste¡¯s apartment, the angry words she had prepared to vent about Marc died on her lips the moment she saw how pale and worn-out Ste looked.

    ¡°Stel, don¡¯t worry,¡± she said gently, pulling her down onto the couch. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out. I¡¯ve got your back.¡±

    Her tone was soft, but there was fire in her eyes as she flipped through the contract.

    Ste hadn¡¯t told Sharon the penalty amount yet.

    But when Sharon saw it in the contract, her mouth fell open.

    ¡°Five hundred million? This is insane.¡± She had never seen anything like that before.

    ¡°Stel, this contract is¡­¡±

    Sharon wanted to say it was a total scam, but the look in Ste¡¯s eyes made her pause.

    After all their years of friendship, Ste didn¡¯t need her to finish the sentence; she already knew what Sharon was thinking.

    She curled up on the couch, hugging her knees, trying to block everything out for a bit.

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 Chapter 601

    ?Chapter 601:

    ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± she murmured. ¡°I didn¡¯t double-check the specs. I got careless and walked straight into Marc¡¯s trap.¡± Her voice was filled with guilt.

    Sharon grabbed her face gently, making her look up. ¡°No. Don¡¯t do that. You¡¯re not the one at fault here. This whole thing was premeditated. Marc and Alonzo set you up.¡±

    The business world had its fair share of shady deals, but Sharon couldn¡¯t wrap her head around how Marc could be this cruel to Ste.

    He said he loved her. He kept chasing after her, trying to win her over again¡­ was this really what he called love?

    ¡°Look,¡± Sharon said, more calmly now. ¡°Let¡¯s go through this contract again. Maybe we missed something.¡±

    They went through the contract line by line, and that¡¯s when they found it¡ªa tiny sentence hidden in the middle of the legal jargon.

    ¡°If Party B breaches the contract for any reason after signing, besides the penalty, they must also hand over a patent to Party A to cover damages.¡±

    Sharon¡¯s eyes widened. She looked at Ste.

    Ste stared back, stunned.

    She hadn¡¯t seen that part at all before.

    ¡°That scumbag!¡± Sharon snapped. ¡°Marc¡¯s still up to his usual tricks. I always knew he was bad news. First, he stole your patent for years, and now he¡¯s scheming to snatch it again. What a sleaze.¡±

    That patent Ste had once handed over to the Walsh Group was the only thing keeping them afloat. The moment she pulled it back, their business almost copsed overnight.

    Marc had no legitimate way to win it back, so of course, he turned to underhanded tactics.

    A chill ran through Ste. She finally saw it¡ªMarc and Alonzo had been nning this whole thing just to trap her.

    Fresh chapters uploaded on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls?c?m

    Even after all this time and their divorce, Marc wasn¡¯t letting go.

    ¡°Stel, listen to me,¡± Sharon said firmly. ¡°You cannot give them the patent. And definitely not the five hundred million either. That¡¯s exactly what they want. Don¡¯t walk into their trap.¡±

    Ste knew that. Giving in meant epting guilt¡ªessentially confirming she¡¯d broken the contract, and that wouldnd her in a legal mess she couldn¡¯t get out of.

    But refusing didn¡¯t magically solve anything either. How was she supposed to wriggle her way out?

    After a beat of silence, Sharon asked, ¡°Did you talk to William about this?¡±

    Ste shook her head. ¡°I tried calling him before I signed, but Luca said he was in the middle of something, so¡­ I handled it on my own.¡±

    Now that she was saying it out loud, she could kick herself for not waiting. If she¡¯d told William that Marc was the one involved, maybe none of this would¡¯ve happened.<fn9bc3> Latest content published on FindN()vel</fn9bc3>

    Sharon reached over and grabbed Ste¡¯s phone. ¡°You need to tell him. It¡¯s hispany too. He mighte up with something. He¡¯s smart enough to outmaneuver both Marc and that snake Alonzo.¡±

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 Chapter 602

    ?Chapter 602:

    She was right. If this had already blown up, the only way forward was to deal with it together.

    Ste couldn¡¯t solve this alone, but with William, maybe they had a shot.

    There had to be a way.

    Taking a deep breath, Ste dialed his number. The call rang a few times, and then his voice came through, low and maic as always.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    Her heart skipped, and she bit her lip before speaking.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ we¡¯ve got a problem with the project. It¡¯s about your uncle.¡±

    She took her time exining everything¡ªMarc, the materials, and the fine print in the contract. Every detail.

    He didn¡¯t say anything right away, and she had no idea what he was thinking on the other end.<fn6fe5> For more chapters visit FindN0vel</fn6fe5>

    ¡°I know I messed this up,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But I¡¯ll fix it, whatever it takes. And when it¡¯s over, if you think I should be punished, I¡¯ll take it. However you see fit.¡±

    Before she could say more, her doorbell rang.

    ¡°I¡¯m outside,¡± William said. ¡°Let me in.¡±

    Ste stared at the phone, stunned, then turned to Sharon, who looked just as surprised.

    When she opened the door, there he was¡ªWilliam, just back from his trip, the chill from outside still clinging to him like part of his aura.

    ¡°Why do you look so upset?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°I never said I med you.¡±

    Ste straightened her spine, trying to sound sure of herself. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I signed the contract without reviewing the specs properly. I made a careless decision.¡±

    But William¡¯s tone didn¡¯t shift. He was still calm, still steady, as though none of this bothered him.

    ¡°They hid the spec difference from you and showed you a different model altogether. Don¡¯t be so hard on yourself¡ªyou were set up. And even if you¡¯d been more cautious, there¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯d have caught that.¡±

    From the moment he¡¯d heard the story in the car, William knew Alonzo was behind it.

    Explore new stories g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s.c?m

    He had trusted Ste to manage this, and she had until the trap was sprung. But truthfully, even if he had been the one to handle things, he might¡¯ve missed it too.

    However, the part he hadn¡¯t seening was Marc and Alonzo teaming up. That was one heck of a curveball.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the contract you signed?¡± William asked, rolling up his sleeves, ready to dissect the mess himself.

    Ste passed William the stack of papers across the table.

    He flipped through them, pausing when he spotted the barely noticeable use. ¡°They¡¯re not just after the penalty,¡± he said, eyes narrowing. ¡°They¡¯re after your patent too.¡±

    William figured the money was just bait. The patent was the real prize. Seated beside him, a spark lit up in Ste¡¯s mind, and she clung to it like a lifeline.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± she said, leaning forward, ¡°what if I argue they hid the specs on purpose? Used different fonts to mislead me? Could that count as evidence if we go to court?¡±

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 Chapter 603

    ?Chapter 603:<fn3d85> This text is hosted at Find_Novel(.</fn3d85>

    William gave it some thought. ¡°If you take the legal route, yeah, that could work. But Alonzo¡¯s no pushover. You signed that contract, and legally, that means you¡¯re assumed to have read every word¡ªfine print and all.¡±

    Just like that, Ste¡¯s hope deted. Her shoulders sank.

    If she couldn¡¯t fight this head-on¡­ what was left?

    Even if she could somehow pull together five hundred million, what about the patent?

    ¡°Ste, are you giving up already?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always had the upper hand,¡± she muttered. ¡°But this time¡­ I¡¯m the one in the wrong. Winning¡¯s gonna be tough.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to cave, but she was stuck¡ªguilt, pressure, and frustration crowding her mind. She couldn¡¯t see a way forward.

    William¡¯s voice cut through the fog. ¡°Even if you made a mistake, that doesn¡¯t mean you let them walk all over you. You¡¯ve got the Neb Group. You¡¯ve got the Briggs Group. We¡¯re behind you. Alonzo set you up¡ªbut no n is wless. You just have to trust yourself.¡±

    That hit hard.

    Aside from Sharon, no one had ever believed in her like that.

    Back at the Walsh Group, every time the higher-ups shut down her proposals, Marc backed them without question.

    Ste had always been the one to back down.

    She¡¯d never had a boss step up for her before. But now¡ªeven with a five-hundred-million-dor penalty looming¡ªWilliam didn¡¯t me her.

    Not even a little.

    ¡°So, what do we do?¡± she asked, her voice low.

    Sharon, who had been listening in, was getting restless.

    ¡°Alonzo never mentioned the different material models when we signed. And the way he rushed everything? No way this was his first time pulling something like this.¡±

    William knew his uncle too well. Alonzo had spent years overseas, and it wasn¡¯t exactly easy surviving in that environment.

    Explore new chapters g?l¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    For him to be thriving¡ªand still have the gall to pull this shady stunt¡ªhe had to have done far worse abroad.

    William had never bothered digging into Alonzo¡¯s past before. But now that Ste was involved? That changed everything.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have people check into his overseas dealings,¡± he said. ¡°As for the patent¡­ Marc¡¯s the kind of guy who wouldn¡¯t recognize a line of code if it hit him in the face. Ste, I know you¡¯ve got him handled.¡±

    He said it with a confident smirk¡ªcool, assured, like he didn¡¯t doubt her for a second.

    She had gone up against Shaun and walked away with hispany¡¯s dirtyundry in hand. She could do it again.

    Ste got it right away.

    Marc wanted to see her fall t on her face. But no way was she handing him that win.

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 Chapter 604

    ?Chapter 604:

    She wasn¡¯t the type to back down from a fight.

    Marc had sent Ste a text hours ago, and the silence was starting to get under his skin.

    He wanted to see her again¡ªbut more than that, he wanted that patent in his hands, fast.

    Every ten minutes, he¡¯d nce at his phone, worried he might have missed a reply. But from that afternoon all the way into the evening, nothing came through. It left him wondering¡ªwas Ste really that calm about all this? How could she not be panicking?

    Just after his shower, while he was getting ready for bed, his phone finally buzzed.<fne86b> Discover more novels at </fne86b>

    A message came in. ¡°The patent¡¯s yours if you want it. But it only works on Neb¡¯s system. You¡¯ll need me toe over and sync it with yours.¡±

    Marc narrowed his eyes at the message, then fired off a reply. ¡°Tomorrow, 10 a.m., Walsh Group. We¡¯ll talk then.¡±

    No point hashing it out over texts.

    Ste didn¡¯t argue. She just sent a simple ¡°Okay.¡±

    That one word made Marc sleep like a baby.

    He even had a rare sweet dream¡ªof him and Ste getting remarried, walking down the aisle, the crowd cheering, her glowing in a white wedding dress. It was perfect.

    They were just about to exchange vows when¡ªBEEP-BEEP-BEEP. His rm went off, tearing the dream to shreds.

    Marc shot up, grumbling, ¡°Seriously? Couldn¡¯t it have waited just five more seconds?¡±

    At exactly 10 a.m., Ste arrived at his office at the Walsh Group, punctual as ever.

    She wasn¡¯t carrying much¡ªjust a single bag slung over her shoulder. Once seated across from him, she said straight-up, ¡°Open the patent on your system. See if it works.¡±

    Marc didn¡¯t doubt the patent itself¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t about to hand her the reins. ¡°I¡¯ll do the system sync,¡± he said, watching her closely. ¡°Not you.¡±

    Ste froze for a beat, then let out a low, sarcastic chuckle.

    ¡°Thought as much. Someone who¡¯s always scheming assumes everyone else is just as shady,¡± she said, tossing him a knowing smirk. ¡°Fine. Let your people handle it¡ªif they¡¯re even up to it.¡±

    With a shrug, she pulled a USB drive from her bag and slid it across the desk.

    Marc eyed her confidence with mixed feelings¡ªhalf impressed, half annoyed. He knew exactly what she was capable of. When Ste had yanked her patent from the Walsh Group years ago, thepany had crashed¡ªhard.

    And not one person on his tech team had been able to recreate what she built. Still, he wasn¡¯t giving up just yet.

    Alonzo had sent him some hotshot developer from overseas¡ªsupposedly just as talented as Ste.

    If Marc¡¯s guys couldn¡¯t crack it, maybe this one could.

    He made a call, and a few minutester, the guy walked in. ¡°Stel, meet Niki Volkov. Tech genius from Osnuria. Won the Global Innovation Award. You¡¯ve probably heard of him.¡±

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 Chapter 605

    ?Chapter 605:

    Niki stood tall¡ªsix-three, easily¡ªand filled the room like a wall.

    When Ste offered her hand, Niki barely nced at it. He didn¡¯t bother to shake.

    She didn¡¯t flinch, just handed him the USB.

    Niki took the seat at Marc¡¯s desk and got to work, fingers flying across the keyboard as he pulled up the files.

    Just as he was about tounch the instation, Marc¡¯s voice cut in sharply.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    Niki paused, turning back. ¡°Something wrong?¡±

    Marc¡¯s paranoia red. He hadn¡¯t forgotten what Ste had done before¡ªone tiny trick in the code and she could hijack an entire system.

    He wasn¡¯t taking chances.

    He said, ¡°Run a full security scan before loading anything.¡±

    Niki gave a small nod, a flicker of respect in his eyes. ¡°Marc, you¡¯ve really covered your bases.¡±

    Marc grinned. ¡°That¡¯s nothingpared to your skills, Niki. You nning to stick around in the country? Come work for the Walsh Group. I¡¯ll offer you top dor.¡±

    Ste let out a soft scoff at Marc¡¯s shameless pitch.

    ¡°Mr. Volkov, careful,¡± she said tly. ¡°Marc¡¯s great at making promises he doesn¡¯t keep. He fed me the same lines, then used my patent for years without paying me a dime.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face tightened, clearly embarrassed that she brought it up. ¡°Stel, don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± he muttered. ¡°Niki¡¯s new here. He might actually believe you.¡±

    ¡°Let him do a little digging,¡± Ste said coolly, ¡°and he¡¯ll see who¡¯s lying.¡±

    Marc, done with the back-and-forth, suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the office door.

    Outside, his tone dropped cold. ¡°Just wait here. Once Niki finishes checking everything, I¡¯ll let you back in. No need to stir things up.¡±

    Ste crossed her arms. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Marc? Afraid Niki might see through your act? That he¡¯ll realize what kind of person you really are?¡±

    Your imagination takes flight on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. Her words had hit a nerve.

    ¡°Stel, quit it. When all this is over, I¡¯ll make it right. Once the Walsh Group¡¯s back on top, I¡¯ll pay you whatever you want.¡±

    Ste stared at him like she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing.

    She yanked her hand free, her voice icy. ¡°You¡¯re pathetic, Marc.¡±<fn793c> Chapters first released on Find¡ïNovel</fn793c>

    He opened his mouth to argue but swallowed it back, thinking of Niki inside.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± he muttered.

    With that, he headed back inside, leaving Ste standing outside.

    Ten minutester, Niki spoke up. ¡°Marc, there¡¯s no virus in the files.¡±

    Marc finally exhaled. ¡°Great. Go ahead and upload it. Sync it to our system.¡±

    Niki nodded and got to work, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

    Outside, Ste sat calmly, not the least bit anxious. She hadplete faith in her tech.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 606

    ?Chapter 606:

    If they wanted it to work, they¡¯d have toe back to her.

    Sure enough, an hourter, Marc¡¯s brown dress shoes stopped in front of her.

    ¡°You win,¡± he said, exasperated. ¡°Even Niki couldn¡¯t get the system to sync.¡±

    Ste smirked. ¡°Told you. My tech? Only I can make it work.¡±

    Back when she handed over the patent, Ste had trusted Marcpletely¡ªenough to leave the code unlocked, free for his team to optimize however they wanted.

    But now? If she wasn¡¯t the one behind the wheel, the system wouldn¡¯t budge.

    With no other option, Marc let her back in.

    But not without backup¡ªNiki stood beside her like a watchdog, ready to step in at the first sign of trouble.

    Ste didn¡¯t even blink.

    She sat at Marc¡¯s main terminal and started typing, line after line ofplex code rolling across the screen.

    Marc could only catch snippets. Most of it flew over his head. But he didn¡¯t miss the look of admiration slowly growing on Niki¡¯s face.

    Ten minutester, Ste finished the sync code. But instead of running it, she turned to Marc and said casually, ¡°You press it yourself.¡±

    Marc¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What are you plotting now?¡±

    Ste gave azy shrug. ¡°Nothing. I just don¡¯t want you ming me when something goes wrong. If I press that button, you¡¯ll probably turn around and say it was all my fault. If you¡¯re not gonna press it, I¡¯ll just unplug my USB and leave.¡±

    She made a move to stand, and Marc, caught off guard, quickly said, ¡°Sit down. I¡¯ll press it myself!¡±

    He shot a nce at Niki. ¡°Niki, the program she wrote¡ªany issues?¡±

    Niki gave a shake of his head. ¡°I checked every detail. It¡¯s clean.¡±<fn4549> Official source is findnovel</fn4549>

    With that confirmation, Marc finally rxed a bit.

    But just as he reached for the keyboard, Ste whipped out her phone and started recording him.

    1@?€$? ¡é#4??€?$ 1? g??novels.c?m

    Marc hesitated for half a second. Then his finger hit the Enter key. The lights went out. The whole Walsh Group was instantly plunged into darkness.

    Marc froze, eyes wide. ¡°Stel¡­ why¡¯d the power just go out?¡±

    Ste slid her phone back into her pocket, stood up slowly, and pped her hands. ¡°Gotta hand it to you¡ªyou¡¯re pretty cautious. But I still win.¡±

    Marc stared at her, unease crawling up his spine. ¡°What the hell do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Ste said, her tone casual. ¡°The wholepany¡¯s without power now. If you try to reboot in a panic, you¡¯ll wipe everything¡ªevery bit of Walsh Group¡¯s data¡ªclean. You want to try and see?¡±

    Marc stood there, stunned. His pulse spiked. Thepany¡¯s database held everything¡ªconfidential projects, legal documents, records from years back. If that all disappeared, it¡¯d be catastrophic.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked.

    He red at her before turning to Niki, eyes shing. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say everything was fine?!¡±

    Niki looked just as shocked. His brows furrowed. ¡°There really weren¡¯t any issues when I checked. If you don¡¯t believe me, that¡¯s your call.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 607

    ?Chapter 607:

    Marc clenched his fists, turning back to Ste, practically grinding his teeth. ¡°Stel, what the hell do you want?!¡±

    Ste let out a small scoff. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you that? You wanted my patent¡ªI gave it to you. What now? Don¡¯t like what you got?¡±

    Marc stared at her, furious and helpless all at once. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and that just made it worse. ¡°Stel, I told you I¡¯d make it up to you. Why go this far?¡±

    He just couldn¡¯t understand it. If the Walsh Group bounced back, wouldn¡¯t that benefit her too? Besides, the patent was originally submitted under the Walsh Group. Wasn¡¯t it just going back to where it started?

    ¡°I¡¯m not the one taking things too far,¡± Ste shot back. ¡°Let me break it down for you, Marc. You¡¯ve got two options. One: keep working with Alonzo, and the Walsh Group loses all its data. Two: admit you tricked me into signing that contract from the start¡ªthat you schemed everything.¡±

    Marc froze. Herst sentence clicked in his head. ¡°Are you doing this for Neb Group?¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow. ¡°What else?¡±

    Marc¡¯s face twisted with disbelief. ¡°Neb¡¯s William¡¯s. Has nothing to do with you. Why are you so eager to defend him?¡± His tone sharpened. ¡°He¡¯s just your boss, right? Why go this far? What is he to you?¡±

    Ste¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°William isn¡¯t just my boss. He¡¯s a friend. You schemed first, so what¡¯s wrong with us retaliating?¡±

    She narrowed her eyes. ¡°And whatever I¡¯ve got going with William, it¡¯s none of your business. All you need to do is pick one¡ªwhat¡¯s it gonna be?¡±

    Marc waspletely cornered by Ste.

    She now held the fate of the Walsh Group in her hands, and even if he didn¡¯t want to betray Alonzo, he no longer had much of a choice.

    In the end, he gave up the act and said everything he had been holding back. ¡°That contract¡­ it was a setup from the beginning. We never nned to give you the right model specs. We just needed you to breach the terms so we could hit you with the fines. That long-term partnership? Just bait¡ªto drag you in and bury Neb and the Briggs Group with penalty fees.¡±

    Once it was all out, Marc slumped into his chair,pletely drained. He looked up at Ste with a bitter, defeated smile. ¡°Can you¡­ restore the system now?¡±

    Check updates now on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    He had spilled everything¡ªheld nothing back.

    Ste knew Alonzo was the one pulling the strings. Marc had just been his pawn. Even so, this confession was more than she expected.

    She tapped a few keys, and the power in the Walsh Group offices blinked back.

    ¡°Marc, don¡¯t try anything stupid. With your confession, I can get you locked up anytime I want. If you don¡¯t want to end up behind bars, back off. Stop targeting Neb. And stop messing with Briggs Group.¡± She turned to leave.

    Marc, unwilling to just let her walk away, gritted his teeth and leaned over the desk. ¡°Stel, what if I said I didn¡¯t know it was a setup? That I didn¡¯t even realize the specs were different? Would you believe me?¡±<fn5a84> Checktest chapters at FindN0vel</fn5a84>

    Ste paused by the door, then turned back. ¡°I believe you.¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression finally cracked, a hint of hope creeping in¡ªuntil she added coolly, ¡°You¡¯re too naive. Alonzo would never let you in on the n. But just because you didn¡¯t know¡­ doesn¡¯t make you innocent.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 608

    ?Chapter 608:

    Her words echoed through the office like a p. Marc¡¯s face turned pale.

    She stepped out and pressed the elevator button.

    Behind her, Niki nced at Marc, then shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m heading back too, Marc. Take care.¡± He walked out without another word.

    Niki had originally been brought in by Alonzo. Now that the n had failed, Marc was like a discarded pawn, and Niki had no reason to stay any longer.

    Marc was left sitting alone in the office, the lights humming softly overhead. He let out a bitterugh. In the end, he had just been a pawn too.

    Outside the building, Niki caught up to Ste. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you¡¯re seriously something else. Even I¡¯m impressed.¡±

    Ste just smiled at him. She offered a polite thanks before slipping into the waiting car.

    Inside, she met William¡¯s eyes¡ªand he was clearly in a good mood.

    A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, one he wasn¡¯t even trying to hide. Ste pulled a small recorder from her pocket and handed it to him.

    It was the same one that had transmitted everything she said to him earlier, word for word. He had heard it all¡ªhow she called him more than just her boss.

    How she said he was a friend. And even when Marc pushed her, she didn¡¯t back away. She defended William, without hesitation. That made his smile grow wider.

    As the car cruised down the road, he handed her a document. ¡°This is for you. Take a look.¡±

    Ste raised a brow and opened it. Her eyes widened. It was a stock transfer agreement.

    She looked up in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re giving me thirty percent of Neb¡¯s shares?¡±

    William had always held forty percent of Neb. Before now, Ste only had ten percent¡ªjust enough to get a seat at the table, but nowhere near enough to influence anything.

    But now, with the thirty percent William was handing over, that gave her a total of forty percent¡ªmore than anyone else. She was officially thergest shareholder in thepany.

    Which meant one thing¡ªNeb Group was hers now.

    L§Ñt?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??l??ov??ls.£ã¦Ïm

    William nodded calmly. ¡°Neb has flourished under your leadership. I¡¯ve seen how much effort you¡¯ve put into it. I trust you with it.¡±

    Neb was just a small piece of his vast empire, so handing it over wouldn¡¯t affect him.

    What mattered more was that Ste genuinely cared about thepany¡ªshe treated it like her own and worked tirelessly to grow it. So why not make her dream a reality?

    ¡°But¡­¡± Ste was caught off guard by the joy that hit her like a wave. She didn¡¯t even know how to react.

    He had handed her thepany¡ªjust like that.<fnb9df> Fresh chapters posted on Find_Novel(.</fnb9df>

    She stared at the contract, overwhelmed. How was she supposed to express her gratitude for something this big?

    William nced over at her with a raised brow, teasing lightly. ¡°What? You don¡¯t want it?¡±

    Ste clutched the contract a little tighter, still reeling. ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­ I¡¯m just surprised.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 609

    ?Chapter 609:

    William chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d give you Neb one day? Managing it was just the warm-up. No need to look so shocked.¡±

    Ste lowered her gaze to the bold signature already inked on the contract¡ªWilliam¡¯s. Her heart swelled with emotion. He had helped her again and again, offering not just support but genuine encouragement.

    She looked up, her tone serious. ¡°William¡­ thank you. For trusting me with this. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    Her sincerity made himugh. ¡°Alright, I believe you. Go on, Ms. Russell¡ªsign it.¡±

    Ste took the pen and carefully signed next to his name, her handwriting graceful and steady.

    She passed the contract and pen back to him, but he only took the document. ¡°The pen¡¯s for you,¡± William said casually. ¡°You¡¯re apany director now¡ªyou need a pen that fits the role.¡±

    It was a stunning, high-end pen¡ªsolid in the hand and subtly luxurious. Ste recognized the logo under the cap. It was a foreign brand she had only ever seen in magazines. One of these would cost at least ten grand.

    He gave her thepany and the pen? Now she felt even more awkward not giving something in return.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I honestly don¡¯t know how to thank you¡­ If there¡¯s anything you need, just say the word. I¡¯ll do whatever I can.¡±<fn0325> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel</fn0325>

    William didn¡¯t hesitate. He paused briefly, then said, ¡°Actually, there is one thing.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Tell me.¡±

    ¡°How about you keep cooking for me? I really can¡¯t stand Rita¡¯s food.¡±

    Ste blinked, frowning slightly. Why did it suddenly feel like she¡¯d walked into a trap?

    Meanwhile, after being outmaneuvered by Ste yet again, Marc tried reaching out to Alonzo. No luck.

    Call after call, Alonzo¡¯s phone remained out of service.

    Even someone as slow as Marc finally caught on¡ªhe¡¯d been ditched.

    After the failed scheme against Ste, Alonzo had clearly decided Marc was useless and severed all ties without warning.

    Explore magic at g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s,

    And just like that, Walsh Group crumbled back to rock bottom¡ªworse than before.

    No matter how many doors Marc knocked on, no one wanted to work with him anymore.

    He spent a week straight holed up at the office, chasing deals that nevernded.

    In the end, defeated, he dragged himself back to the vi just to shower and change.

    But as soon as he opened the door, he saw Doreen lounging in the living room, eating fruit.

    Her belly was just starting to show¡ªpregnancy rounding her figure slightly. The moment she saw Marc, her face lit up. She walked over with a bright smile. ¡°Marc, you¡¯re finally back!¡±

    He nced at her briefly, eyes dull with fatigue. Without a word, he trudged upstairs.

    Doreen¡¯s heart sank. She could tell something was off the moment she saw the look on his face.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 610

    ?Chapter 610:

    After he¡¯d showered ande back down, she leaned on the sofa and studied him closely. ¡°Is everything okay at thepany?¡±

    His frustration was eating her up.

    Marc sighed, rubbing his temples, his voice low. ¡°Nothing¡¯s working out. No one¡¯s biting. We can¡¯t close a single deal.¡±

    Doreen¡¯s heart skipped. ¡°If this keeps up, what¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡±

    Marc¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What else? Bankruptcy. If you don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, don¡¯t make it worse by asking dumb questions.¡±

    There was a brief silence. Just as Marc¡¯s mood was starting to boil over, Doreen changed the subject with practiced ease.

    ¡°By the way, Marc, it¡¯s about time you covered next month¡¯s nutritional cost.¡±

    Living in a big house with servants to wait on her, Doreen wasfortable. But without extra cash, she couldn¡¯t keep funneling money to her mother, ra¡ªwho was practically a leech. So every month, like clockwork, she had no choice but to ask Marc for more.

    But this time, Marc didn¡¯t hand it over without a word like he usually did. Instead, he looked at her, tone t. ¡°How much do you need?¡±

    That shift in his attitude made her stomach sink. He¡¯d never asked before. He¡¯d just transferred the money without blinking. Now he was questioning her? She kept her tone gentle, careful. ¡°Same as always is fine.¡±<fnf271> Fresh chapters posted on FindN()vel</fnf271>

    Marc¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯ve already spent everything I gave youst time?¡±

    He used to give her a hundred grand a month. For someone just a few months pregnant, even with supplements and checkups, that should have been plenty.

    Panic flickered across Doreen¡¯s face.

    ¡°Marc, I wouldn¡¯t ask unless it was necessary. The baby needs better nutrition now¡­ and I have a checkuping up. That stuff adds up, you know.¡±

    But Marc wasn¡¯t really listening. Without another word, he pulled out his phone, transferred the money, and muttered, ¡°Manage it wisely.¡±

    With thepany barely staying afloat and most of his savings sunk into saving it, he didn¡¯t have much left for anyone¡ªnot even Doreen.

    She nodded quickly. ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry, Marc. I won¡¯t be any trouble!¡±

    Your next tale lives on g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s,

    He changed into fresh clothes and left again, barely home ten minutes. Doreen didn¡¯t stop him this time. She just watched as the door closed behind him.

    Once she was back in her room, her fingers gripped her phone tightly, an uneasy feeling creeping in. Marc was already hesitating over a hundred thousand? She¡¯d hoped to get even more today.

    Sitting on the edge of the bed, a sharp glint shed in her eyes as she started to think things through.

    If Marc really was going broke, there¡¯d be no way to keep sending money to ra. And ra¡ªselfish and loud¡ªwas bound to throw a tantrum when the money¡­

    Stopped. If she caused a scene, it could blow Doreen¡¯s cover, and Marc might even end up hating her.

    So maybe¡­ it was better to disappear before it all hit the fan.

    If she ran now, she could save herself the fallout.

    Determination shed in Doreen¡¯s eyes.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 611

    ?Chapter 611:<fn5936> Read full story at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn5936>

    She¡¯d only gotten involved with Marc because she thought he was some wealthy heir who¡¯d give her the life she wanted.

    Now he was drowning in debt and still entangled with Ste. There was no reason to stay.

    That night, Doreen made up her mind.

    She booked a one-way flight out of Choria, set to leave in a week. She didn¡¯t want ra to know¡ªif she did, she¡¯d never let her go.

    Luckily, Doreen was still a university student. It would be easy for her to go abroad with a student visa. ra, though? No passport. No savings. No way she¡¯d get out of the country. Once Doreen boarded that ne, ra wouldn¡¯t be able to chase after her.

    The next morning, she headed straight to a travel agency to rush her visa.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to know how soon this visa can be processed?¡± she asked.

    The clerk smiled politely. ¡°As soon as we receive yourplete documents, we can process it in about ten days.¡±

    Doreen frowned. Ten days?

    ¡°Can¡¯t it be any sooner?¡±

    ¡°It can be done,¡± the clerk added, ¡°but it¡¯ll cost a little extra.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± she said without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll pay. Just make sure it¡¯s done fast.¡±

    The clerk brightened. ¡°No problem. With the rush fee, you¡¯ll have it in five days.¡±

    Satisfied, Doreen slung her purse over her shoulder and left.

    But what she didn¡¯t notice¡­ was that someone had been watching. A shadowy figure followed her from a distance, snapping a picture of her back view as she walked away¡ªthen quietly disappeared into a nearby alley.

    Doreen came home glowing with excitement, already nning how she would pack her bags. Once her visa got approved, she would think of a casual excuse to ask Marc for more money.

    But things didn¡¯t go as nned. She had barely stepped outside to do some shopping when someone pressed a cloth over her mouth and nose. The strong chemical smell hit her all at once.

    Her eyes widened in shock as her limbs grew weak. Her body gave out, and everything faded to ck.

    Feel the magic on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s

    When she finally woke up, her head was spinning, and the room felt unfamiliar. ra was sitting right in front of her on the sofa, arms crossed and eyes full of rage.

    ¡°Doreen,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Did you really think you could sneak off and leave the country without me noticing?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s breath hitched. She stared at ra in disbelief. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡±

    ra let out a darkugh. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. I¡¯ve had someone watching you for a while now. I know about the visa application. What¡¯s the n? Leave the country and forget you even have a mother?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s eyes widened even more. ¡°You had someone follow me?¡±

    ¡°So what if I did?¡± ra snapped. ¡°I¡¯m your mother. If you¡¯ve got nothing to hide, then why does it matter if I kept an eye on you?¡±

    Her voice was harsh, making Doreen¡¯s stomach churn, but she forced herself to stay calm. Taking a softer tone, she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve always given you money whenever you needed it. I just wanted a little time away to breathe, to think things through. Why are you turning it into such a big deal?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 612

    ?Chapter 612:

    ra narrowed her eyes at the sudden change in her daughter¡¯s tone and smirked coldly. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ve got money to rx? Great. Then why not send some of that to me?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I already did! I sent you money earlier this month.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t lying. ra had used that money to pay off some of her gambling debts. It was never enough.

    ra stood up and looked at Doreen from head to toe. Her tone softened, but it wasced with bitterness. ¡°Doreen, I raised you. I took care of you all these years. Now I ask for a bit of money and you act like I¡¯m a burden? Fine. If you won¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯ll just go to your boyfriend. He¡¯s rich, isn¡¯t he?¡±<fn8a5f> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn8a5f>

    Doreen¡¯s heart sank, and her breath caught in her throat.

    If Marc ever found out about ra¡­ he wouldn¡¯t give her a single cent. He might even cut her offpletely.

    Clenching her jaw, Doreen forced the words out. ¡°I have a hundred thousand dors on me right now. I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡±

    It was already the second time this month she¡¯d sent ra money. At this point, she wasn¡¯t sure if ra would ever stop treating her like a walking ATM.

    But instead of being grateful, ra scrunched her face in displeasure. ¡°Only a hundred thousand? You gave me way morest time.¡±

    Doreen¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, then don¡¯t take it!¡±

    That shut ra up for a moment. With a dramatic sigh, she finally epted the transfer, pretending she was doing Doreen a favor by taking it.

    As Doreen got up to leave, ra casually tossed out, ¡°Forget about going abroad. I¡¯ve taken your passport. And next time, if you show up with just a hundred thousand again¡­ you won¡¯t like what happens.¡±

    Doreen froze. ¡°What right do you have to take my passport? Give it back!¡± she shouted angrily.

    But ra wasn¡¯t bothered at all. She let out azy yawn, stretching her arms as if nothing had happened. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. You can leave now.¡±

    And just like that, the hundred thousand Doreen had begged and lied for was gone¡ªsnatched away like loose change.

    Stay connected g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    Anger boiled inside her, but there was nothing she could do. She would have to think up another excuse to squeeze more money out of Marc again.

    With her ns to leave the country falling apart, Doreen shut herself inside the vi. For over a week, she didn¡¯t leave and buried herself in disappointment and frustration.

    However, one day, out of the blue, Jazlyn showed up holding a bag of supplements.

    ¡°Doreen, you need to take good care of yourself now that you¡¯re expecting. These are high-quality vitamins I brought back from abroad. Make sure you take them daily.¡±

    Jazlyn could have easily ignored the situation, but the baby in Doreen¡¯s belly was her grandchild. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t just stand by.

    Doreen greeted her with a smile and gratefully took the bag. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Walsh. I¡¯ll make sure to take them every day.¡±

    She was secretly thrilled, because this meant she didn¡¯t have to spend her own money on health supplements.

    As Jazlyn looked around the empty living room, she asked casually, ¡°Has Marc note hometely?¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 613

    ?Chapter 613:

    Doreen¡¯s smile faltered slightly. Her face looked a bit pale, but she kept her voice calm. ¡°He¡¯s been really busy with work. I understand.¡±

    Jazlyn was about to offer a few words of advice when suddenly, the doorbell rang.

    Jazlyn quickly told the servant to open the door.

    But the moment it swung open, ra barged in with a fiery re. ¡°Doreen,e out right now! I know you¡¯re in there!¡±

    Doreen froze on the spot. When she saw ra standing there, her face went pale. A cold sweat ran down her back as her mind went nk.<fn0a50> Find the newest release on F¦Énd£Îovel</fn0a50>

    Jazlyn¡¯s face tightened the moment she heard the shouting. She turned to Doreen, frowning. ¡°Who is this woman?¡±

    Before Doreen could answer, ra shoved past the servant and stormed straight into the living room, locking eyes with Doreen.

    But when she spotted Jazlyn sitting beside Doreen, she hesitated for a split second and then lifted her chin with confidence.

    ¡°You must be Doreen¡¯s future mother-inw,¡± ra said boldly. ¡°I¡¯m Doreen¡¯s mother. Since you¡¯re here too, let¡¯s not beat around the bush. My daughter¡¯s marrying your son, so your family needs to prepare a wedding gift. One million minimum.¡±

    Doreen¡¯s face turned red with panic. ¡°Mom! What are you saying?¡± she cried, standing up quickly. ¡°We never talked about any one million! Besides, Mr. Walsh and I aren¡¯t even at that stage yet!¡±

    Worried ra¡¯s outburst would ruin everything, she reached out and pushed her away, lowering her voice. ¡°Please just go home for now. I¡¯ll exin everythingter. Don¡¯t make a scene here.¡±

    But ra wasn¡¯t having it. The push only made her angrier. ¡°What do you mean, make a scene? Huh? Doreen, you¡¯re pregnant out of wedlock, and her son won¡¯t take responsibility¡ªwhy shouldn¡¯t I demandpensation? If you won¡¯t speak up, I will! And don¡¯t you dare push me again. Whose side are you on?¡±

    Jazlyn, though born humble, had lived among polished people for years. She wasn¡¯t easily rattled, but ra¡¯s loud, brash attitude was too much even for her. She narrowed her eyes, ncing between them. ¡°Doreen, exin. What is she talking about?¡±

    Just as Doreen opened her mouth to speak, ra cut in bluntly, ¡°Your son got my daughter pregnant before marriage. Now they¡¯re getting married, so pay up, or I¡¯ll press charges!¡±

    Get the newest chapters g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls

    Doreen was mortified. She couldn¡¯t believe what wasing out of her mother¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Mom, will you stop already?¡±

    But ra was on a roll. ¡°Stop? I haven¡¯t even started! And you¡ªuseless girl¡ªmove out of the way!¡±

    Then she turned back to Jazlyn, pointing a finger. ¡°My daughter¡¯s carrying your son¡¯s baby. If you don¡¯t give us what we¡¯re owed, don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let this go quietly!¡±

    Her rude, shameless behavior left Jazlynpletely stunned.

    Finally, Doreen, unable to take it anymore, stood up and snapped, ¡°Mom, enough! You¡¯re treating me like something to be sold! Haven¡¯t I given you enough money? Who even told you to show up today?¡±

    The mention of money lit a fire in ra¡¯s eyes. ¡°Money? Don¡¯t make meugh. You gave me a lousy hundred grand¡ªbarely enough to keep the loan sharks off my back! I¡¯m your mother! It¡¯s your job to help me with my debts!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 614

    ?Chapter 614:

    ra said it like it was perfectly reasonable, as if her daughter and soon-to-be inws owed her just because she gave birth to Doreen.

    Jazlyn had heard enough. The anger bubbling inside her was now fully on the surface.

    She had once thought Doreen could be useful with a bit of guidance¡ªmaybe even serve as a weapon against Ste one day. But after what she just witnessed, she realized she¡¯dpletely misjudged the girl. Doreen was worse than Ste, far worse.

    Her voice went cold. ¡°Doreen, you never mentioned any of this before.¡±

    Seeing that there was no hiding it anymore, Doreen dropped the gentle, innocent act and looked at Jazlyn with an unbothered calm. ¡°I never lied to you. You just never asked about my family.¡±

    Jazlyn raised her hand, pointing at Doreen as her body trembled with rage. ¡°You. You!¡±

    But Doreen didn¡¯t flinch. She stayed calm and said, ¡°Mrs. Walsh, I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. I¡¯m pregnant with your son¡¯s child. If you think I¡¯m not good enough, that¡¯s fine¡ªI¡¯ll end the pregnancy right now. Just so you know, it¡¯s a healthy baby.¡±

    That hit Jazlyn like a punch to the chest. Her eyes flew wide open¡ªnot just with rage, but with fear too. The baby was the one thing she cared most about.

    Doreen, knowing this, didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Now that everything¡¯s out in the open, let¡¯s just be honest with each other. Give my mom a million, and I¡¯ll give birth to the child for your family. Sound fair?¡±

    To her, a baby in exchange for a million sounded like a reasonable deal. But Jazlyn didn¡¯t even have that much money in her ount. How was she supposed toe up with it?

    ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck, Doreen!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not being greedy,¡± Doreen replied calmly. ¡°But if you won¡¯t agree, that¡¯s fine too. I¡¯ll pack my things, leave this house, and head straight to the hospital.¡±<fn688d> Checktest chapters at Find~Novel</fn688d>

    With that, she turned and started walking upstairs.

    Jazlyn¡¯s heart clenched at the thought of losing the baby. She rushed after her and stopped at the bedroom door. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll give you the million you want.¡±

    Discover fresh updates g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í?ls

    Doreen¡¯s face lit up instantly. She thought she had sealed the deal. But then ra¡¯s voice rang out from the first floor. ¡°One million? That¡¯s just the beginning! We still need a house, a car, and everything else thates with marriage. Don¡¯t think we¡¯ll settle for less!¡±

    Jazlyn¡¯s expression turned from tense to furious. She had just agreed to give a million, and now ra was asking for even more? She shot a sharp re at Doreen. ¡°Don¡¯t take it too far.¡±

    Doreen knew her mother had crossed a line, but she still tried to keep things going.

    ¡°Mrs. Walsh, everything my mom said is normal. Any decent family gives these things when their son gets married.¡±

    Jazlyn sneered with augh. ¡°I¡¯m not stopping you from marrying into the Walsh family. But have you asked Marc? Does he even want to marry you?¡±

    The moment ra heard that, she bolted up the stairs and shouted, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Your son knocks up my daughter and refuses to take responsibility? No¡ª¡±

    Way! If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯re going for an abortion right now!¡±

    The repeated threats about abortion finally pushed Jazlyn over the edge. ¡°Fine! Go do it. Get rid of the baby. After that, don¡¯t expect anything from us ever again!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 615

    ?Chapter 615:

    She spun around to leave, but ra panicked and yelled, ¡°Hold it right there! You can¡¯t just walk away like that! Your son messed with my daughter. I could take this to court!¡±

    That was all it took to start a full-blown shouting match.

    ¡°Enough already! Can you both stop fighting?¡± Doreen shouted, trying to calm them down.

    She reached for Jazlyn¡¯s arm, but Jazlyn yanked it back and snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Who do you think you are to bring this circus into my home?¡± She then looked at the servants downstairs and barked, ¡°Why are you all just standing there? Throw them out, now!¡±

    Doreen, terrified of being thrown out, quickly reached for her mother¡¯s hand to stop her.

    But no one noticed her struggling. In the chaos of pushing and pulling, Doreen suddenly lost her footing. ¡°Ahh!¡±

    A sharp scream echoed through the house as Doreen stumbled and fell straight down the stairs from the second floor.

    It was only then that Jazlyn and ra realized how serious things had be. Their faces went pale. They quickly called for an ambnce and rushed Doreen to the hospital.

    After running a series of tests, the doctor finally stepped out of the emergency room. His expression was calm but serious. ¡°Who¡¯s the patient¡¯s family?¡± he asked.

    ra rushed forward. ¡°I¡¯m her mother!¡±

    Jazlyn, her face tight with anxiety, jumped in. ¡°Doctor, how is she? Is the baby okay? Was it affected by the fall?¡±

    The doctor gave them a puzzled look. ¡°Baby? What baby?¡±

    ra and Jazlyn stared at him, confused. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant!¡± ra said. ¡°She took a bad fall. What about the child?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jazlyn added quickly. ¡°Did she lose the baby?¡±

    The doctor frowned. ¡°Doreen Greville did suffer a mild concussion from the fall, but¡ªshe¡¯s not pregnant.¡±

    Find your next adventure at g¦Á ?¦Ç ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s<fncb55> Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel</fncb55>

    Silence. Both women blinked in shock.

    ¡°What¡­ what do you mean, not pregnant?¡± ra asked, her voice shaking.

    ¡°She¡¯s been pregnant for months!¡± Jazlyn insisted. ¡°It¡¯s a healthy baby¡ªwe¡¯ve been preparing for them!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the doctor said gently. ¡°But based on our examination, there are no signs of pregnancy. None at all.¡±

    Right then, the nurses wheeled Doreen out. She was pale and still unconscious. Jazlyn, impatient, pulled back the nket covering her¡ªonly to find apletely t stomach. No swelling. No bruises. No sign she¡¯d ever been expecting. She looked like any young woman¡ªno pregnancy, no injury. Nothing.

    Jazlyn¡¯s face twisted in rage. She didn¡¯t say a word¡ªjust turned and stormed out of the hospital.

    All this time, she¡¯d been doting on Doreen, buying expensive prenatal supplements, even talking about wedding ns. She¡¯d told everyone¡ªincluding Ste¡ªthat Doreen was carrying Marc¡¯s baby. She¡¯d humiliated Ste, using Doreen¡¯s fake pregnancy as ammo.

    And it was all a lie. A scheme nned by Doreen.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 616

    ?Chapter 616:

    Outside the hospital, Jazlyn pulled out her phone and called Marc.

    He answered with a sigh, thinking she was calling to nag him about returning to the vi. ¡°Mom, I told you¡ªI¡¯m swamped at work. Can we not do this today?¡±

    But Jazlyn cut him off. Her voice was cold. ¡°Marc, Doreen was never pregnant.¡±

    Marc nearly dropped his phone. He froze at his office desk,pletely blindsided.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± he asked, stunned. ¡°Did you two get into a fight or something?¡±

    ¡°Why would I make this up?¡± Jazlyn snapped. ¡°Her mother came over earlier asking for a million dors as a wedding gift. Then Doreen slipped down the stairs, so I rushed her to the hospital¡ªand that¡¯s when the doctor told me. She¡¯s not pregnant. She never was.¡±

    Marc said nothing. He¡¯d been scammed. yed. All of them had.

    Marc¡¯s mind was in turmoil, unsure of how to react.

    Jazlyn¡¯s voice cracked with frustration. ¡°What kind of cursed luck is this? What did our family ever do to deserve this kind of disgrace? Is this karma?¡±

    Marc let out a long breath and raked a hand through his hair. ¡°Mom, I told you from the start¡ªI didn¡¯t want that baby. I wasn¡¯t going to marry her. You¡¯re the one who pushed for all this. You let her move into our home. You deal with the mess.¡± Then he hung up.

    Marc sat there in silence. Yeah, the news had hit like a p¡ªbut now that the shock was wearing off, he actually felt¡­ relieved.

    He had never wanted Doreen to have the baby, and now he wouldn¡¯t have to be the bad guy trying to end it.

    When Doreen came to, the hospital room was empty.

    Feeling unsettled, she lifted a hand to her forehead and touched the bandage there. Her mind was hazy, but shes of what happened before she cked out starteding back.

    Her eyes flew open. She snatched up her phone and dialed Jazlyn without thinking.

    The line rang a few times before Jazlyn answered, her voice cold. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve calling me.¡±<fne9a7> The rightful source is find[?]ovel</fne9a7>

    Doreen quickly switched to a pitiful tone. ¡°Mrs. Walsh, please don¡¯t be mad. I only went along with my mom because I had no choice. She¡¯s got a gambling problem¡ªI¡¯ve wanted to cut ties with her for ages. But she¡¯s unpredictable. If I¡¯d gone against her that day, she might¡¯ve hurt you¡­ or the baby I¡¯m carrying!¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is where magic happens

    Jazlyn scoffed. ¡°The baby you are carrying? Seriously? You think I¡¯m stupid, Doreen? You really think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re not even pregnant?¡±

    Doreen¡¯s heart skipped. Her grip on the phone tightened as she stared nkly at the white wall in front of her. How¡­ how did Jazlyn find out?

    ¡°Mrs. Walsh, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Save it. From this moment on, the Walsh family has nothing to do with you. I¡¯ve already thrown your things out. If you dare show up again, I¡¯ll call the cops.¡± Jazlyn hung up.

    Doreen tried calling again, but the phone was off.

    Teeth clenched, she stared at the screen, her free hand curling into a fist so tight her nails dug into her palm.

    She¡¯d worked so hard for this. Why did it all have to fall apart now?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 617

    ?Chapter 617:

    Tears blurred her vision, streaming down her cheeks.

    While Doreeny in the hospital, ra had been making a scene at the Walsh vi¡ªstorming over repeatedly to confront Jazlyn and Marc.

    She shrieked at the gates, ¡°Your son messed with my daughter and now she¡¯s in the hospital! And you think you can just walk away from this? You owe her!¡±

    ra didn¡¯t care about Doreen¡¯s dignity. She only wanted a payout.

    Naturally, the whole thing blew up. It spread like wildfire across the city, even going viral online.<fn957c> Official source is Find~Novel</fn957c>

    When Sharon brought it up over the phone, Ste¡ªstill busy in theb¡ªresponded tly, ¡°Got it.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t care less about the mess between Marc and Doreen. All she wanted was to focus on her research. Frankly, knowing both of them, she wasn¡¯t surprised things had ended this way.

    Sharon agreed, then added cheerfully, ¡°Let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight, okay?¡±

    That evening, the two of them shared a meal at a breezy restaurant patio.

    As they chatted over dinner, Sharon propped her chin on her hand and gave Ste a look. ¡°Y¡¯know, there¡¯s a bunch of people online talking about Marc. Everyone¡¯s saying he got what wasing to him and that the Walsh Group is doomed. Are you¡­ even a little upset?¡±

    After all, Ste had poured a lot into thatpany. She¡¯d practically built it from the ground up¡ªmentoring staff, forging partnerships,ying the foundation. If the Walsh Group did go under, it¡¯d be like watching something she¡¯d raised fall apart.

    Ste paused. Then, calmly, she said, ¡°Sure, I helped build the Walsh Group¡ªbut it still carries the Walsh name. And it¡¯s Marc who couldn¡¯t keep it afloat.¡±

    Seeing how detached Ste was, Sharon stopped worrying.

    As they wrapped up dinner and Sharon headed to the counter to pay, a familiar figure stepped out of a nearby private room.

    Marc.

    And right behind him, Doreen came rushing out, trying to grab his arm.

    Sharon¡¯s lips widened into a grin. Ooh, this was going to be fun. She leaned back quietly and enjoyed the show from a distance.

    Unforgettable stories on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s??o??

    ¡°Marc, you can¡¯t treat me like this. My feelings for you are real! Can¡¯t you see that? We¡¯re both at rock bottom right now. Shouldn¡¯t we be helping each other?¡±

    Marc let out a sharp, mockingugh, like she¡¯d just told the world¡¯s most ridiculous joke. ¡°Help each other? You¡¯re just a broke student with a gambling addict for a mother. What the hell do you have to offer me?¡±

    The Walsh Group¡¯s stock had been tanking ever since Doreen and her mother stirred up drama. Honestly, if it wasn¡¯t for the risk of prison time, Marc would¡¯ve gotten rid of her already.

    He thought she¡¯d be smart enough to stay far away after everything that had gone down, but here she was again¡ªboldly chasing him into a restaurant, babbling like a fool.

    ¡°No! I can help you, I swear I can!¡± Doreen blurted, scrambling for a lifeline.

    The whole mess with Marc had blown up so badly that her school got wind of it, and now they were asking her to withdraw. No degree meant no future. Marc was her only way out.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 618

    ?Chapter 618:<fnab42> Chapters first released on f?ndnovel</fnab42>

    But Marc shoved her aside, forcefully, and snapped coldly, ¡°Doreen, vanish¡ªbefore I lose my patience.¡±

    The look in his eyes was terrifying. That sharp, bone-deep re froze her on the spot. She couldn¡¯t even breathe.

    After a beat of stunned silence, Doreen turned and stumbled out of the restaurant.

    Sharon came back, all too eager to dish out what she¡¯d just witnessed. ¡°Stel, those two are a mess. They used to act like they couldn¡¯t live without each other. I remember Marc even said she was better than you. Look at them now¡ªfull-on enemies.¡±

    Ste gave a calm, knowing smile. Human rtionships were never simple¡ªespecially not with someone like Marc.

    She and Sharon quietly paid their bill and walked out, pretending not to have seen anything.

    A few dayster, Ste had just wrapped up an experiment at the research institute when she got a message from Paul, asking everyone to head to the hall.

    Sandra leaned in beside her and whispered excitedly, ¡°Sylvia, I heard Mr. Hoffman¡¯s announcing the new project team leader. I bet it¡¯s going to be you!¡±

    She looked at Ste like her promotion would be the highlight of her own week. Elbert had led thest team Ste joined, and she preferred it that way¡ªlow pressure, no spotlight, and no one to manage. Being in charge wasn¡¯t her thing.

    ¡°Sandra, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. Mr. Hoffman¡¯s never said a word to me about any leadership position. Why would it be me?¡±

    In Ste¡¯s mind, if the institute were going to announce a new team lead, they¡¯d at least give the person a heads-up. Maybe even ask them to prep a short speech. But her past few days had been business as usual.

    Sandra pouted with a yful huff. ¡°You¡¯re literally the most capable one in the whole ce. If not you, then who else?¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright, keep your voice down. Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves,¡± Ste said, signaling for her to quiet down as they headed into the hall.

    Up on the second-floor balcony, Paul stepped forward, gripping the railing as he addressed everyone below with a loud,manding voice. ¡°Everyone, the new team leader has been decided. It¡¯s¡­ Nina Carter!¡±

    Gasps and murmurs rippled through the room.

    Every journey starts at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c????

    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that the same Nina who tried to sabotage Sylvia? Sylvia beat her in thestpetition. So why¡¯s Nina the one getting promoted?¡±

    Someone from Nina¡¯s side overheard the conversation and scoffed. ¡°Can¡¯t you see what¡¯s going on? Nina only stepped back before because she didn¡¯t want to cause drama at work. But now that the team leader has been picked, it¡¯s time for you to face reality.¡±

    Sandra got upset right away. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, and you know it! Don¡¯t forget Nina already lost to Sylvia once!¡±

    Nina¡¯s face turned dark. She hated being reminded of that loss, but there was no way to deny it¡ªit had really happened. The only thing that gave her somefort was that she¡¯d still managed to beat Ste and be the new project leader.

    Trying to act kind and forgiving, Nina turned to Ste and said, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about what happened before. We¡¯re coworkers now, so let¡¯s just get along.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t respond. She found Nina¡¯s fake attitude ridiculous but chose not to say anything. Instead, she looked up at Paul, who was standing on the second floor.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 619

    ?Chapter 619:

    Paul was caught off guard when their eyes met. He looked ufortable and quickly turned his head away.

    ¡°I just wanted to make this announcement,¡± Paul said. ¡°Now everyone can go back to work.¡± He turned and walked back into his office with his hands behind his back.

    Sandra, Elbert, and Jamir looked worriedly at Ste. They were afraid she might be feeling hurt after all that had happened.

    ¡°Sylvia, don¡¯t be upset. Even if you¡¯re not the leader of the institute, you¡¯ll always be our leader,¡± Jamir said.

    ¡°Sylvia, we all know how capable you are. You don¡¯t need topare yourself to someone like Nina,¡± Elbert added.

    Ste, however, stayedposed. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s just focus and get back to work.¡±

    At lunchtime, William showed up at the cafeteria and said to Ste, ¡°Come with me to the supermarket after work.¡±

    Ste was momentarily confused by his words. ¡°Why do we need to go to the supermarket?¡±

    William narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Did you forget what you promised me?¡±

    That¡¯s when she remembered¡ªshe had told him she would cook for him again.

    ¡°Okay, just send me a list of what you want to eat, and I¡¯ll go get the ingredients after work,¡± she replied.

    Sandra, sitting nearby, leaned over excitedly. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    After William left, she quickly asked, ¡°Sylvia, are you and William living together? Why do you shop for groceries together?¡±

    Hearing that, Ste almost choked on her soup. She coughed a few times and replied quickly, ¡°No, we¡¯re not living together. Don¡¯t jump to conclusions, Sandra.¡±

    Sandra looked confused. ¡°But William just asked you to go to the supermarket with him, and you asked him what he wanted to eat. It sounded like you two live together.¡±

    Ste gave her a light tap on the forehead. ¡°What are you always imagining? How could I possibly live with someone like William?¡±

    Just thinking about living with him made her frown. It would be a total nightmare.

    L?t£åst ch?pt?rs in g??lnovels.??¦Ï??

    While they were talking, Nina walked by with her lunch tray and identally caught part of their conversation. Her expression shifted right away. She barely sat for a moment before getting up and quietly making her way to William¡¯s office.

    ¡°Come in,¡± William said when he heard the knock.

    Nina¡¯s face lit up with excitement as she stepped in quickly. ¡°William, I made you some coffee. I hope it suits your taste.¡±

    Seeing it was Nina, William paused his typing and looked up. ¡°Miss Carter, is there something you need?¡±

    Hearing William¡¯s question, Nina hesitated for a moment, then shyly crossed her hands in front of her and spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯m having some trouble with my experiment. William, would you have dinner with me? I¡¯d really appreciate your guidance.¡±

    Her eyes sparkled with hope, clearly waiting for him to say yes.

    But William didn¡¯t seem moved at all. His face stayedpletely neutral as he calmly replied, ¡°Miss Carter, please call me Mr. Briggs.¡±

    .

    .<fn796f> Original content can be found at ?ovelFind</fn796f>

    .

 Chapter 620

    ?Chapter 620:

    To him, Nina wasn¡¯t officially part of their research institute and they weren¡¯t close. Using a formal title seemed more appropriate.

    Nina¡¯s heart sank at his cold tone. Trying to keep herposure, she corrected herself. ¡°Then, Mr. Briggs, could you have dinner with me tonight? I just got promoted to project leader, and I have a few things I¡¯d like to ask your advice on.¡±

    William rested his hands together and said calmly, ¡°If you have questions, you can ask me now. I¡¯m free.¡±<fn4088> ?????? ???? find{n}ovel</fn4088>

    Being turned down a second time hit Nina hard. She looked away and gently bit her lip, not ready to believe that Ste was better than her.

    Still, she asked a few general questions, which William answered patiently and clearly.

    Once their conversation seemed to be wrapping up, she added, ¡°Mr. Briggs, I don¡¯t know if you remember, but I used to be at a research institute abroad. My uncle, Henry Saunders, was also my mentor. He told me to treat you to a meal on his behalf. I hope you wouldn¡¯t mind epting for his sake?¡±

    Realizing her own invitation wasn¡¯t enough, Nina decided to bring up her uncle. William remembered Henry well. They had met several times abroad. Henry had treated William like a close friend, and William had respected him deeply in return.

    Even after William returned home, they still stayed in touch asionally. Hearing that the invitation came from Henry changed things. William no longer felt it was something to refuse.

    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind,¡± he replied. ¡°But since you¡¯vee all this way to join us, I should be the one treating you. Let me handle the dinner.¡±

    A bright smile broke out on Nina¡¯s face at his response. ¡°Then I won¡¯t argue over it. I¡¯ll go ahead and book the restaurant now¡ªgood ces fill up fast!¡±

    However, just as she turned to leave, William spoke up calmly. ¡°Miss Carter, I¡¯ve got something else nned for tonight. Let¡¯s reschedule for tomorrow.¡±

    Nina¡¯s smile faded instantly. Her hand, which had just reached for her phone, suddenly stopped mid-air. ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ is it something important tonight?¡± she asked, trying to sound casual.

    William gave a simple nod. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite important.¡±

    New updates in g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    A wave of embarrassment washed over Nina. She had invited him to dinner, even brought up her influential uncle, Henry Saunders, and yet William had chosen to spend the evening grocery shopping with Ste? Couldn¡¯t he have done that any other time? Was Ste really that important to him?

    Holding back her frustration, Nina forced a tight smile. ¡°Alright then, tomorrow it is.¡±

    Once she stepped out of his office, her forced smile instantly dropped. Fuming, she stomped her foot on the floor in frustration before walking away.

    Meanwhile, inside the office, William cast a quick nce at the untouched coffee Nina had brought him. Without a second thought, he turned back to his work.

    He hadn¡¯t liked the taste, and the coffee had been left to sit and cool. When Luca arrived from Briggs Group, William gestured to the cup. ¡°Get rid of that coffee.¡±

    Luca raised a brow in surprise. For a second, it almost felt like being back at Briggs Group, where William regrly rejected anything he didn¡¯t like without hesitation.

    He took the cup to the restroom. As soon as he took a sip, he realized it wasn¡¯t the usual brew William preferred. Clearly, it hadn¡¯t been made by William. Could Ste have made it?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 621

    ?Chapter 621:

    After rinsing the cup thoroughly, Luca returned it to the desk.

    He then spent about thirty minutes in the office, reporting work and some updates from Briggs Group to William.

    When he left, he saw Ste clocking out on the first floor. Grinning, he waved and called out cheerfully, ¡°What a pleasant surprise, Ms. Gilbert!¡±

    Ste turned around and was surprised to see Luca there. ¡°Luca? What are you doing here?¡±

    Luca gave her a warm smile. ¡°Just picking up some signed documents from Mr. Briggs.¡±

    ¡°Are you heading out now?¡± she asked.<fnd92b> Updates are released by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnd92b>

    Luca nodded but took a step toward her instead of leaving. ¡°Ms. Russell, Mr. Briggs likes iced Americanos. Don¡¯t bring the wrong kind next time¡ªhe didn¡¯t even touch the one in his office today.¡±

    Ste blinked in confusion. ¡°What coffee?¡±

    Luca looked surprised. ¡°Wait, that wasn¡¯t from you?¡±

    She quickly shook her head. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m not his assistant, so why would I just bring him coffee?¡±

    Ste thought Luca might be too deep into his assistant role.

    Luca frowned slightly, rubbing his chin. ¡°Then who brought the caf¨¦ auit that was on Mr. Briggs¡¯ desk today?¡±

    Just as he finished, footsteps echoed from the corridor behind Ste. Both turned their heads, and there was Nina.

    In that moment, a thought clicked in Ste¡¯s mind. She had a strong feeling that the coffee was probably sent by Nina.

    Before she could say anything, William stepped off the elevator and walked over. ¡°What are you thinking about so seriously?¡± he asked.

    Ste blinked, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Inside the supermarket, William casually pushed the shopping cart, walking alongside her at an easy pace. His crisp suit stood out in the casual setting, attracting nces from nearly everyone around.

    Meanwhile, Ste, dressed in a in blouse, looked a bit out of sync next to his polished appearance.

    L??t??¦Ó ?h??¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??§àm

    ¡°Next time, wear something casual. You¡¯re turning heads like you¡¯re on a runway,¡± she muttered.

    William looked down at his clothes and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this outfit?¡±

    He didn¡¯t get it. This was what he normally wore to work¡ªneat, professional. It made sense for the office, so why wouldn¡¯t it be okay for a quick trip to the supermarket?

    All of a sudden, Ste grabbed his arm and whispered, ¡°Everyone¡¯s staring! We¡¯re grocery shopping, not walking a fashion ramp!¡±

    Her unexpected closeness made William¡¯s heart skip a beat. He didn¡¯t even hear what she said¡ªhe just pulled her close without thinking.

    Ste stumbled and almost fell into his arms.

    Once she stood steady again, she frowned and said, ¡°William! What was that?¡±

    William shrugged, ying innocent. ¡°You almost hit the shelf.¡±

    She turned to look, but right then, two women walked by, whispering, ¡°That young couple is adorable. Even in the supermarket, they¡¯re all over each other. They really look perfect together!¡±

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 Chapter 622

    ?Chapter 622:

    William couldn¡¯t help but smile, clearly pleased.

    However, Ste¡¯s lips twitched. A couple? What a joke.

    She sighed. William was clearly enjoying this. There was no point in arguing when he looked that smug.

    She took a small step back and said tly, ¡°Let¡¯s go get the vegetables.¡±

    They strolled through the aisles for over thirty minutes before heading to the checkout.

    Once home, Ste said, ¡°I¡¯m going to change. If you don¡¯t want to wait, go ahead¡ªI¡¯ll bring the food overter.¡±

    William replied casually, ¡°No rush. I¡¯ll help with the vegetables.¡±

    She froze for a second, surprised to see him actually washing the vegetables. Then she turned and went to her room.

    When she came back in morefortable clothes, he was nearly done with the vegetables.

    She tied on an apron and said, ¡°You can sit now. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±

    She had already promised to cook again, so she had no reason toin.

    Within the hour, Ste finished setting out dinner and called from the kitchen, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. Come eat.¡±

    A wave of unfamiliarfort washed over William. He wondered if this was what a real home felt like.

    She ced the forks and knives beside the tes. When she caught him lost in thought, Ste gave a quick wave in front of his face and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    His focus snapped back. ¡°Nothing really,¡± William responded, his voice low. ¡°Just thinking dinner smells amazing tonight.¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together, unconvinced. Her food was nothing special¡ªjust the sort of simple meals anyone could whip up. Was heying it on thick to ensure she¡¯d keep cooking?

    Before they could dig in, the shrill ring of the doorbell cut through the moment. The sound caught William off guard. Only a handful of people even knew this address. Who could it be now?

    New updates uploaded to g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m<fne173> Read full story at ?ovelFind</fne173>

    He pushed his chair back and crossed the floor in a few long strides. At the door, William pulled it open and found a woman in a crisp white dress facing away from him.

    Nina turned at the sound of thetch and greeted him with a bright smile. ¡°Mr. Briggs, so you live here? I thought your ce was across the hall.¡±

    That sight left William blinking in surprise. He left the door halfway open and fixed her with a small frown. ¡°Did you need something, Miss Carter?¡±

    Nina lifted the restaurant bags she was holding and answered, ¡°You mentioned being busy tonight, so I figured I¡¯d swing by just in case. Didn¡¯t think I¡¯d catch you home.¡±

    Nina¡¯s face beamed with satisfaction, as if her lucky guess had made her whole evening.

    .

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 Chapter 623

    ?Chapter 623:

    Still, William¡¯s brow creased. ¡°Apologies, Miss Carter, but I¡¯m done with work for today,¡± he said. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to answer any questions tonight.¡±

    A chill settled over Nina when she caught the look on William¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong, Mr. Briggs. This isn¡¯t about work,¡± she exined quickly. ¡°Uncle Henry asked to see you, so I offered toe by.¡±

    William¡¯s brow furrowed. If Henry really needed something, he could have just called. Why send Nina instead?

    ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, have you? Or maybe you¡¯re not a fan of takeout?¡± Ignoring the tension, Nina kept her cheerful tone, as if nothing was wrong.

    A voice floated in from the dining room. ¡°Who¡¯s at the door?¡±

    A heartbeatter, all three stood face-to-face.

    Spotting Ste, Nina¡¯s eyes went wide. Was she staying here with William?

    It took Ste a moment, but she gathered herself. At the institute, Nina was always confident¡ªexcept when William was near. Ste noticed the way Nina looked at him. It was obvious what she felt.

    ¡°Well, since Nina came to see you, I¡¯ll let you both have some privacy. Why don¡¯t you take her home to discuss whatever she¡¯s here for?¡± Ste said to William.

    He faced Ste and responded, ¡°I still have food left to eat.¡±

    Confusion crossed Ste¡¯s face. It puzzled her why he spoke as though she had stopped his meal. She nced toward the bags Nina brought. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Nina supposed to bring something fresh?¡±

    Without a word, he continued to hold Ste in his stare.

    Eventually, Ste broke eye contact and relented. ¡°Alright then,e in, I¡¯ll grab another set of utensils for Nina.¡±

    Ste tried to convince herself that one more set of utensils was no big deal, but having Nina at her dinner table left her unsettled. The two never clicked back at the institute, and she never pictured them eating together under her roof.

    After picking at her food, Ste lost her appetite. ¡°I¡¯m finished. You two go ahead and eat.¡±

    Gathering her things in a hurry, Ste left the table and disappeared into her bedroom.

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    William was clearly annoyed. It wasn¡¯t often he got the chance to have a meal with Ste, and now it had beenpletely derailed by Nina¡¯s unexpected visit. On the other hand, Nina seemed more than happy that Ste had made herself scarce. Once Ste returned to her room, Nina visibly rxed and even began offering William a few dishes she had brought along.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, I¡¯m curious,¡± she asked in a light tone. ¡°Why are you having dinner at Sylvia¡¯s ce? Are you two friends?¡±

    William didn¡¯t bother hiding his disinterest. His face remained neutral as he replied coolly, ¡°She¡¯s a good cook.¡±

    Nina blinked, surprised by the blunt reply. ¡°For someone of your status, I¡¯m sure you could have any five-star chef cook for you. Are you saying her cooking actually beats theirs?¡±

    Her overly chatty tone began to grate on William. His voice turned curt. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating too? And didn¡¯t you say Henry wanted to talk to me?¡±

    .<fn0> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn0>

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 Chapter 624

    ?Chapter 624:

    Nina froze for a second, then suddenly remembered Henry. Without wasting any time, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

    The call connected almost instantly.

    ¡°Uncle Henry, guess who I¡¯m having dinner with? Mr. Briggs! You always talk about him¡ªwhy don¡¯t you say hi?¡±

    She stretched her arm toward William, offering the phone. The pink crystal bracelet on her wrist sparkled faintly under the light, drawing attention to her smooth, delicate skin.

    He nced briefly at the bracelet before taking the phone and walking over to the tall window nearby.

    Henry, excited to get a rare call with William, chatted away cheerfully.

    Toward the end of the call, he said meaningfully, ¡°William, Nina is a remarkable young woman. In some ways, she even reminds me of you in your younger days¡ªsmart, confident, and driven. Seeing you two together really puts me at ease.¡±

    William wasted no time clearing things up, not wanting Henry to get the wrong idea. ¡°Henry, you¡¯ve misunderstood. Nina¡¯s just working on a project with us at the institute. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Henry paused, slightly disappointed. He had hoped something romantic might develop between the two.

    ¡°You¡¯re so picky, William. What, is Nina not good enough for you? You¡¯ve never dated anyone for as long as I¡¯ve known you. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ are you gay?¡±<fn1528> Get full chapters from find(?)ovel</fn1528>

    William let out a softugh. ¡°No. I like women. In fact, there¡¯s someone I already have feelings for. She¡¯s smart, capable, and beautiful.¡±

    Henry caught on immediately. William was already in love.

    ¡°Well now, I¡¯m really curious. What kind of woman could steal your heart?¡±

    William smiled gently, the image of Ste surfacing in his mind.

    ¡°You¡¯ll meet her someday. When the time¡¯s right.¡±

    To him, no onepared to her¡ªshe was perfect in every way, even if others didn¡¯t agree.

    Henryughed. ¡°Sounds like I need to make a trip to Choria soon¡ªyou¡¯ve got me intrigued!¡±

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    Looking out at the sunset, William replied calmly, ¡°You¡¯re always wee in Choria.¡±

    After hanging up, he walked back and handed Nina her phone.

    She hadn¡¯t heard a word of the conversation, so naturally, she was curious.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, what did you and Uncle Henry talk about?¡±

    With his usual calm expression, William replied, ¡°He spoke highly of you and said you have real talent.¡±

    A spark of happiness lit up her face. If Henry had praised her, did that mean he also mentioned how well they matched?

    She looked at William with anticipation, hoping he would say more.

    But he simply stood up and began helping Ste clear the table.

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 Chapter 625

    ?Chapter 625:

    ¡°Miss Carter,¡± he said as he tidied up, ¡°Henry thinks you have great potential. I hope you don¡¯t let him down.¡±

    Nina, who had just stood up as well, froze for a moment,pletely confused. What was William trying to say? Did she disappoint Henry somehow? Or was that his way of drawing a line?

    Thinking about everything she had done to Ste since arriving at the institute, Nina started to panic.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs¡­ did you tell my uncle everything I did here?¡±

    William¡¯s brow lifted slightly. ¡°Do you think your uncle would still want to talk to you after hearing about it?¡±

    Nina froze, her face pale. Then she let out a breath and nearly clutched her chest in relief. She knew it¡ªWilliam wouldn¡¯t talk to her uncle about such trivial things.

    But her relief was short-lived. His sharp gazended on her again. ¡°But if it happens again,¡± he said coldly, ¡°I won¡¯t keep it quiet.¡±

    Nina¡¯s breath hitched. Flustered, she snatched up her bag. ¡°Thanks for the heads-up, Mr. Briggs. I have something to take care of, so I¡¯ll head out. Please inform Miss Gilbert.¡±

    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left Ste¡¯s apartment. But the second she got into the elevator, frustration boiled over inside her. Was that a warning? Or a threat?

    She had put her pride aside toe see him¡ªand what did she get? He was having dinner with Ste, and now he was threatening her?

    The resentment was instant. Why Ste? What made her so special? How was she any less than her?

    After hearing the front door close, Ste assumed both William and Nina had left.

    But as she walked into the living room, William emerged from the kitchen, drying his hands with a towel.

    Their eyes met¡ªthen they nearly collided.

    Startled, Ste stumbled backward. Her left foot caught her right.

    Before she could fall, William instinctively reached out, and the next second, shended squarely in his arms.

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    Her nose smacked right into his chest¡ªhard. It stung so badly her eyes welled up on reflex.

    ¡°You okay? Did you twist your ankle?¡± William bent down to check.

    But Ste quickly pulled back. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Didn¡¯t twist anything.¡±

    Seeing her retreat, William didn¡¯t press.

    Ste awkwardly rubbed her nose. ¡°Where¡¯s Nina?¡±

    ¡°She left.¡±

    ¡°She left? Didn¡¯t shee just to see you? Why didn¡¯t you go with her?¡±

    William frowned. ¡°She came to see me, so I have to leave with her? You wanted me to go with her?¡±

    Ste¡¯s shoulders stiffened. His sudden tone shift threw her off.

    William waited, but she didn¡¯t say a word.

    Something in his expression darkened¡ªdisappointed, maybe. Then he straightened up, put a bit of distance between them, and walked straight out of the house without looking back.<fn8beb> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn8beb>

    .

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 Chapter 626

    ?Chapter 626:

    The door clicked shut. Ste stood frozen, frowning. He was mad. But¡­ why? She had cooked for him. Nina brought him food. What was there to be upset about? Was it the dishes? But she hadn¡¯t asked him to wash them.

    Ste sighed. William¡¯s moods were impossible to figure out, so she stopped trying.

    The next day at the institute, William was nowhere to be found. Ste needed his signature on some experimental data. Since he wasn¡¯t around, she brought the documents to Paul instead.<fn1c3d> Content originallyes from find?novel</fn1c3d>

    He nced at the folder. ¡°William¡¯s not here?¡±

    ¡°I checked his office and theb earlier. Didn¡¯t see him.¡±

    Paul gave a knowing nod. ¡°He went out with Nina this morning.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t ask further. She just took the documents he signed and headed back.

    Paul watched her walk away and let out a low sigh. ¡°She really doesn¡¯t seem interested in him at all, huh¡­¡±

    On her way back to theb, Ste caught sight of William just getting in. He looked sharp in his ck suit, calm andposed as always, his long strides confident.

    She quickly looked away and turned to leave¡ªonly to run straight into Nina at the stairs.

    Nina lifted her coffee with a smirk. ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime. Want to catch up?¡±

    At first, Ste wanted to say no, but since Nina was now heading the project team, she decided to go along¡ªfor the sake of the research.

    Up on the rooftop, Nina handed her a coffee again.

    Ste shook her head. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m not into overly sweet coffee.¡±

    Nina¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°What, you only drink ck coffee now too?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t take the bait. Instead, she asked, ¡°So what did you want to talk about?¡±

    She didn¡¯t have time for Nina¡¯s games¡ªshe still needed to grab lunch and prep for the afternoon experiments.

    Nina stared at her, clearly annoyed by her calm indifference.

    ¡°Ste, do you really think you¡¯re all that? That you¡¯re actually good enough for William?¡± She stepped closer, her voice sharp with disdain. ¡°He¡¯s the Briggs heir, you know. He¡¯s not just running this institute¡ªhe¡¯s managing the whole Briggs Group. He¡¯s on the list of the wealthiest men alive. And you? What do you have?¡±

    Ste¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What does any of that have to do with me? I¡¯m just here to do my work.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to help you see reality. You don¡¯t belong in his world. I studied abroad, I have a powerfulwork, and I¡¯ve already contributed to the international market. I¡¯ve also achieved more than you in research. So be honest¡ªdon¡¯t you think I¡¯m the better match for him?¡± Her tone was smug and arrogant.

    Ste didn¡¯t argue. She wasn¡¯t about to get dragged into some petty debate over who was more ¡°worthy.¡±

    ¡°Nina,¡± she said calmly, ¡°you¡¯ve got it all twisted. I¡¯ve never once said I wanted to be with William. You¡¯re the only one treating this like a rivalry.¡±

    Her voice was steady, but her message was clear¡ªshe had no interest in fighting for a man. Her priorities were crystal clear: her work, not romance.

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 Chapter 627

    ?Chapter 627:

    But Nina wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°Drop the act, Ste. No one else is here, so who are you performing for? If you don¡¯t want him, why¡¯d you kiss him? Why¡¯d you invite him over for dinner? Stop pretending to be innocent when you¡¯re clearly not!¡±

    Ste opened her mouth to respond¡ªbut paused. Did she really owe Nina an exnation? No. She didn¡¯t.

    With that realization, Ste cut the conversation short.

    ¡°If you like William, go for it. Pursue him all you want. I¡¯m not stopping you. But stop dragging me into your schemes¡ªand don¡¯te for me again. I won¡¯t let it slide next time.¡±

    And with that, she turned and walked away.

    Behind her, Nina shouted, ¡°Ste! Face it! You and William aren¡¯t from the same world!¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even flinch. She kept walking¡ªstraight to the cafeteria.

    She thought she¡¯d bete and miss lunch, but to her surprise, Nathalia was there, sitting with a tray of untouched food.

    The moment Nathalia saw her, she smiled. ¡°Sylvia, you haven¡¯t eaten yet, right? I¡¯ve got a fresh meal here.¡±

    Ste blinked, a little caught off guard by her sudden return.

    Still, she was starving¡ªso she sat down and picked up her fork without hesitation.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been gone a while,¡± Ste said casually. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you around the institutetely.¡±

    Her tone was easy and warm, like talking to an old friend. No awkwardness, no resentment.

    Nathalia leaned her chin on her hand. ¡°I was abroad¡ªfurther studies. William didn¡¯t tell you?¡±

    Ste raised an eyebrow. ¡°Was he supposed to?¡±

    Nathalia chuckled and shrugged. ¡°Guess not.¡±

    She hade back to wrap up her resignation, but after hearing all the buzz at the institute, she had deliberately waited to run into Ste. Now, she sat watching her, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

    Ste took a couple of bites and nced up, exasperated. ¡°Whatever it is you¡¯re dying to ask, just ask. Stop staring.¡±

    More novels avable at g¦Áln¦Òv???s?c?m

    Nathalia grinned, amused by her honesty. ¡°So¡­ I heard there¡¯s a new heavyweight in the research team. That Nina¡ªshe¡¯s got a thing for William, huh?¡±

    Ste was caught off guard. Nathalia had only juste back, and she was already knee-deep in thetest gossip?

    Nathalia clicked her tongue and said with a teasing grin, ¡°Sylvia, it looks like you¡¯ve met your match. I heard Nina¡¯s actually pretty talented. Aren¡¯t you even a little worried that William might fall for her and pick her over you?¡±<fn0b5d> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fn0b5d>

    Ste could only sigh. ¡°You¡¯ve got two things wrong there. First, whether William is impressed by her or not has absolutely nothing to do with me. Second, he and I are just coworkers. If he does pick her, that¡¯s his business, not mine.¡±

    Nathalia shook her head as if she¡¯d heard this line one too many times. ¡°Seriously, Sylvia? Are you that dense, or are you just acting clueless? If William ends up dating someone else, you¡¯re really telling me you wouldn¡¯t feel anything at all?¡±

    Ste felt a faint ripple inside her chest, but her face stayed calm. She met Nathalia¡¯s gaze and asked, ¡°Why should I feel anything?¡±

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 Chapter 628

    ?Chapter 628:

    Nathalia leaned in, pressing on. ¡°If he and Nina became a couple, you wouldn¡¯t be mad? Not even a little jealous?¡±

    From where she stood, it was obvious Ste had some sort of feelings for William, and she just wasn¡¯t willing to face them. Or maybe she didn¡¯t even realize it herself.

    Ste hesitated. Sometimes, her mind drifted to the time William kissed her at the bar or when he admitted his feelings. But each time, she brushed it off, thinking he only did those things to kill the rumors that he liked men.

    Watching her lost in thought, Nathalia narrowed her eyes. ¡°What is it? You finally realize you like him?¡±

    Ste let out a small sigh, then leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Actually, I should¡¯ve told you this before¡­ William¡¯s not into women.¡±

    Her voice dropped as she delivered the final part like it was a national secret.

    Nathalia stared at her in disbelief. ¡°Wait, what did you just say?¡±

    Ste nced around and repeated under her breath, ¡°He¡¯s not into women.¡±

    For a moment, Nathalia was stunned. Then, out of nowhere, she burst intoughter. Of all the things she expected, this wasn¡¯t it. So that was why Ste had been holding back? She thought William was gay? How had she evene to that conclusion?

    She hadn¡¯tughed like this in ages. And the irony made it even better. William had once turned her down so coldly, and now Ste, the very woman he liked, had him filed away as unavable. Honestly, it felt like fate ying a prank on all of them.<fn358b> Newest update provided by find(?)ovel</fn358b>

    She could hardly wait to see William¡¯s face when he found out Ste thought he was into men. This misunderstanding was just too good.

    Watching Nathalia nearly double over withughter, Ste asked, ¡°Wait, do you still like William? Is that why you¡¯re reacting like this? You can¡¯t ept the idea that he might like men?¡±

    That question sobered Nathalia up a bit. Herughter faded, and she straightened up. ¡°I did like him,¡± she admitted honestly. ¡°A lot. Back then, he was everything¡­ smart, responsible, and good-looking, and he never yed with anyone¡¯s feelings. Men like that are hard to find.¡±

    And it was true. Nathalia hadn¡¯t just crushed on William, she had admired him deeply.

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    ¡°But,¡± she went on with a soft shrug, ¡°after I went abroad and spent some time away, I let it go. I realized that no matter what I did, he didn¡¯t return my feelings. So I gave up. I¡¯ve moved on, really. Besides, I¡¯ve met some pretty amazing guys abroad. I¡¯ve got my eyes on a new target now. So don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m notpeting with you anymore.¡±

    Ste blinked. Competing? Was that what this had looked like to Nathalia all along?

    Before she could say anything else, Nathalia stood up and gave her a once-over. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve officially resigned and wrapped everything up. Sylvia, you can be a bit of a pain, but you¡¯ve got your good points. So, good luck. I¡¯m off.¡±

    She tossed her hand up in a casual wave and strode out of the cafeteria like she had somewhere better to be.

    It was just like her¡­ showing up to chat, then leaving like the wind, off to whatever came next.

    Ste sat there for a moment, surprisingly moved. Who would¡¯ve thought the two of them could sit and talk like this,ugh even, without a trace of rivalry?

    But what really amazed her was how fast Nathalia moved on. She had dropped William without hesitation and already had her eyes on someone new. Now that was independence.

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 Chapter 629

    ?Chapter 629:

    There really were plenty of men in the world. Why get stuck on just one?

    After finishing her lunch, Ste headed back to theb, only to be met by Sandra¡¯s curious expression.

    ¡°Sylvia! I saw Ms. Fuller today. She¡¯s back, and she even had lunch with you. Tell me, is she William¡¯s first love?¡± Sandra asked, her eyes practically sparkling with gossip.

    Ste sighed and gave Sandra a gentle flick on the forehead. ¡°You¡¯re always caught up in other people¡¯s drama. Focus on the experiments, or we¡¯ll be stuck here all evening!¡±

    Later that afternoon, as Ste stepped out of the elevator after work, she caught sight of William walking just ahead of her.

    She instinctively slowed down, unsure if she should say hello. But before she could decide, Nina raced up beside him, an Americano in hand. ¡°Mr. Briggs! What a coincidence. Want to walk together?¡± Nina said cheerfully.

    Seeing that, Ste quietly turned and headed to the underground parking lot without saying a word.

    With so many people drawn to William, she figured it was better to keep her distance.<fn6ae1> Checktest chapters at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn6ae1>

    After parking her car and getting into the elevator, she was startled when arge hand stopped the doors from closing. William stepped in. Ste blinked in surprise.

    Hadn¡¯t he just left with Nina not long ago? How was he already here?

    William noticed her reaction and asked with amusement, ¡°You look surprised to see me.¡±

    Caught off guard, she hesitated for a second. ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to have dinner with Nina?¡±

    William raised a brow. ¡°Who said that?¡±

    ¡°You two were leaving together,¡± she murmured.

    Without another word, William handed her the bag he was holding. ¡°I went to buy groceries.¡±

    Ste froze. She shouldn¡¯t have mentioned dinner. Now she had to cook. While preparing the meal, she brought it up. ¡°William, maybe you should consider hiring a personal chef.¡±

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    He nced up and asked, ¡°What? Ten thousand per meal isn¡¯t enough?¡±

    That shut her up. For that kind of money, anyone would dly cook. No matter how much effort it took, the pay was too generous to argue with.

    At dinner, William naturally ced all her favorite dishes in front of her.

    Ste¡¯s hand froze mid-air, still holding her fork. Her eyes widened just a little. Why was he putting food on her te? And not just any food¡ªit was all the dishes she liked best. Did she even have any privacy left around him? He knew her tastes so well, it was almost unsettling.

    She ate in silence, while the mood between them remained a little tense. As soon as she finished, she got up and headed back to her room, just like she had the night before.

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 Chapter 630

    Chapter 630:

    William watched her leave again and couldn¡¯t help feeling a little disheartened.

    Was she upset with him again? Had he done something wrong?

    After clearing the table and putting the dishes in the sterilizer, he gently knocked on her door. ¡°Dishes are done. I¡¯m heading out.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± came her soft reply from the other side. Then silence.

    With a sigh, he turned and left.

    Ste didn¡¯te out until she heard the front door close.

    Leaning against the door frame, she let out a slow breath. Lately, she felt like a guest in her own home. This arrangement wasn¡¯t working anymore.

    Sitting on the sofa, she thought hard. Williaming over every day, having dinner like it was routine¡­ it couldn¡¯t continue. They weren¡¯t in a rtionship, and letting things go on like this would only get messy. Not to mention, Nina clearly had feelings for him, and Ste didn¡¯t want to get dragged into that. It was time to draw some boundaries.

    The next morning, as Ste walked into the research institute, she was immediately met with a strange sight¡ªa crowd gathered in the lobby, murmuring among themselves, eyes wide with surprise. The moment she stepped in, every pair of eyes turned to her.

    Confused, Ste didn¡¯t slow down. She just figured she¡¯d head straight back to theb.

    But before she could get far, Sandra rushed up and pulled her aside into a quiet corridor.

    ¡°Sylvia, something huge just broke! Did you hear? They¡¯re saying your previous project is being used of giarism!¡±

    Ste froze for a second, like she¡¯d just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. ¡°giarism? Seriously? That¡¯s absurd.¡±

    If someone wanted to nder her, they could have at leaste up with something more believable. She¡¯d been at the institute long enough¡ªPaul and William both knew she would never do something like that.

    But Sandra didn¡¯t look amused. Her brows were furrowed with concern. ¡°Sylvia, this time it¡¯s serious. Nina already handed over what she ims is ¡®evidence¡¯ to Mr. Hoffman. She¡¯s been in his office since eight this morning. It¡¯s almost nine. If Mr. Hoffman was sure you were innocent, there¡¯s no way the meeting would be dragging out this long.¡±

    L?t??st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.c??m

    That gave Ste pause. She knew she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. No matter how hard Nina tried to twist things, lies didn¡¯t be truth just because someone repeated them enough.

    She gave Sandra¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go exin everything myself. I know what I¡¯ve done¡ªand I know I¡¯ve never giarized.¡±

    Sandra nodded quickly. ¡°If you need anything¡ªanything at all¡ªI¡¯ll back you up. I know you wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±<fn7361> This content belongs to findnovel</fn7361>

    Ste gave her a small smile before heading for Paul¡¯s office.

    Just as she reached the door, it opened from the inside. Nina stepped out with a thick folder clutched to her chest.

    Their eyes met. Nina looked smug, her voice dripping with satisfaction. ¡°Ste, let¡¯s see how you talk your way out of this one.¡± Then she turned and walked off without another word.

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Great tuesday loved ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?

    .

 Chapter 631

    ?Chapter 631:

    Ste stepped inside.

    Paul was sitting at his desk, rubbing his temples like he had a headache. The second he saw her, he gestured toward the chair across from him. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re here. Have a seat.¡±

    She sat down and went straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I don¡¯t know what Nina said, but I can tell you right now¡ªI¡¯ve never giarized anyone¡¯s work.¡±

    Paul let out a long sigh. ¡°I believe you. I do. But the material Nina brought is detailed. Too detailed. The evidence she presented looks bad. One of your earlier projects has an eighty percent simrity to a foreign proposal. It¡¯s from five years ago. Was never implemented¡ªit was just a concept¡ªbut still.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected anything like that.

    Taking a steady breath, she asked, ¡°May I see the document Nina submitted?¡±

    Paul nodded and handed it over.

    As she flipped through the pages, Ste saw the official-looking seal and certification. The proposal was indeed dated five years back¡ªand it looked shockingly simr to hers.

    She stared at the document for a moment before looking back at Paul. ¡°Mr. Hoffman,¡± she said slowly, ¡°did you personally verify whether this document is genuine?¡±

    Paul¡¯s eyes flicked up in surprise. ¡°Are you saying¡­¡±

    He hadn¡¯t thought to question it. The seal looked legitimate. Who would fake something like that? But if what Ste was hinting at was true¡­ forging that kind of document was a criminal offense. Jail time. Would Nina really go that far just to frame Ste?

    He couldn¡¯t quite wrap his head around it.

    His voice dropped, cautious now. ¡°Sylvia¡­ is there something going on between you and Nina? Some bad history?¡±

    Ste let out a small sigh when Paul questioned her, feeling a little stuck in the situation.

    ¡°She has feelings for William. Since I interact with him more than anyone else here, I guess that¡¯s reason enough for her to find me annoying,¡± she said honestly, though her tone carried a hint of frustration.

    Your source of stories: g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í??s.c??m

    Her words felt heavier than she intended, and Paul quickly realized it was best not to dig deeper.

    Getting back to the issue at hand, he looked at her again. ¡°Do you have any idea how to deal with this situation?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t have a clear answer. She had nned to check whether the seal and the document were real, but proving that Nina was trying to frame her wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find a way,¡± she said calmly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hoffman. I didn¡¯t mean to bring personal issues into theb. I promised you before that none of this would interfere with the experiments.¡±

    The thought that Nina was usingpany time and resources for personal revenge was something Ste found hard to swallow.<fn2d05> For more chapters visit findnovel</fn2d05>

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 Chapter 632

    ?Chapter 632:

    Paul waved his hand dismissively. ¡°I know what kind of person you are. This didn¡¯t start because of you¡ªsomeone else brought it up on purpose. You¡¯ve just been dragged into it. I won¡¯t hold this against you. After this project is over, I¡¯ll put in a request to transfer Nina back abroad. That way, she won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together and replied with determination, ¡°If she¡¯s trying to drag me down with these dirty tricks, I won¡¯t let it slide.¡±

    With the document in hand, she left Paul¡¯s office and headed back to theb. On her way, she could feel the cold stares from her coworkers. She couldn¡¯t make out exactly what they were whispering about, but she could guess it was about the giarism.

    Still, Ste didn¡¯t respond. She knew the truth woulde out eventually. There was no need to waste time defending herself to those who only listened to rumors.

    Back in theb, Sandra and Elbert looked at her with worry written all over their faces.

    ¡°Sylvia, how did it go?¡± Sandra asked immediately.

    Ste ced the document on the table and replied quietly, ¡°Nina used me of giarism. This is the document she used as proof. It looks prettyplete and even has an international seal. From the outside, it really does look like I copied someone else¡¯s work.¡±

    Sandra shot up from her chair. ¡°No way! There¡¯s something wrong with that document!¡±

    Elbert quickly nodded. ¡°Yeah, I agree with Sandra. This feels off. Let¡¯s go through it carefully and see if we can find any ws. If wee up empty, we can ask someone else for help.¡±

    By ¡°someone else,¡± Ste knew he meant William. However, she didn¡¯t want to run to him for help.

    Sure, he had helped her countless times behind the scenes, and she had grown used to that quiet support. But she also knew she couldn¡¯t keep leaning on him forever¡ªnot for everything. This time, she wanted to solve it herself.

    So, she, Sandra, and Elbert spent the whole morning reviewing the document Nina had submitted. ording to the results, the document had been published five years ago.

    Ste stared nkly at the information on the screen, a headache growing behind her eyes.

    Your escape begins with g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?????m

    She began questioning herself. Had she overlooked this material during her own project development?

    Could she really have missed something with an eighty percent simrity? Was it a genuine oversight? Or was there something more to that five-year-old document?

    She realized she¡¯d hit a dead end on her own. With no other option, she asked Paul for the afternoon off and arranged to meet Sharon and Josie at a caf¨¦.

    The three of them sat down at a table.<fnad12> The rightful source is F?ndNovel</fnad12>

    ¡°Stel, you didn¡¯t invite us out just for a coffee break, did you?¡± Josie asked, half-joking.

    Ste pulled the document out of her bag and ced it on the table. ¡°Take a look at this first.¡±

    Josie and Sharon picked up the document and began reading. Ten minutester, they both mmed the papers down on the table at the exact same time.

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 Chapter 633

    ?Chapter 633:

    ¡°This is total nonsense. Is she really using you of copying someone else¡¯s work?¡± Sharon said with obvious irritation.

    ¡°I know it¡¯s ridiculous, but the issue is that the document has an official stamp,¡± Ste replied with a deep breath. ¡°Everything mentioned can be found online, even though the timelines are off. She¡¯s trying to frame me for giarism, and the worst part is, on the surface, it all looks convincing.¡±

    Josie leaned over the table, both hands resting firmly as she looked straight at Ste. ¡°This seems like a trap, but maybe there¡¯s a way to prove if this report and data are even real. What if we go directly to the address listed in the document and talk to the person who originally worked on the project?¡±

    Her idea hit Ste like a lightbulb moment. Why didn¡¯t she think of that? She¡¯d only been considering digging through documents or trying to catch Nina off guard. Butpared to all that, Josie¡¯s idea was much simpler and smarter than anything Ste hade up with.

    If the project really had been done by someone abroad five years ago, that person should still be reachable. And if they found them, everything could finally be cleared up.

    There was no way Nina could pull off fabricating international records and creating something so detailed in a single day. And she definitely wouldn¡¯t expect Ste to hop on a ne to chase the truth.

    Without wasting time, Ste booked a ne ticket.

    Sharon quickly picked the same flight after seeing how fast Ste acted. Ste nced at her, surprised by how quickly she paid. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe. I can handle this on my own.¡±

    Sharon reached out and gave Ste a light tap on the forehead. ¡°Stel,e on. We¡¯re friends. Of course I¡¯m going with you. It¡¯s just a flight. I can afford it.¡±

    Josie, who was still standing nearby, said, ¡°I¡¯ming too.¡±

    Seeing how supportive they were, Ste felt touched.

    They booked the next avable flight. With less than three hours left, they all rushed home to pack and nned to meet at the airport.

    As Ste was about to leave, her phone rang. Sandra sounded panicked. ¡°Sylvia, something bad¡¯s happening! Nina¡¯s at the institute trying to get everyone to convince the director to remove you from the project!¡±

    Discover more at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s

    Ste¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What¡¯s she ying at now?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s using this whole giarism thing to force you off the project. A lot of people believe her, and Mr. Hoffman doesn¡¯t know what to do. Maybe you shoulde back for a while?¡±

    Ste was quiet for a few seconds. It was obvious Nina had nned everything ahead of time. She knew that fighting back with just words wouldn¡¯t do much because she needed solid proof.

    With a sigh, Ste said, ¡°Sandra, I can¡¯t turn back right now. Don¡¯t worry about the institute. Let Nina say whatever she wants.¡±

    And with that, she ended the call.

    Sandra sat between Elbert and Jamir, looking helpless as she said slowly, ¡°Sylvia said she had a personal emergency and couldn¡¯t make it back. She told us not to stress over whatever Nina says.¡±<fn9a24> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fn9a24>

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 Chapter 634

    ?Chapter 634:

    Elbert rubbed his temple, already feeling a headacheing on. ¡°How are we not supposed to stress? Nina¡¯s been running her mouth all over the ce, and almost everyone¡¯s buying into it¡ªexcept us.¡±

    Sandra frowned, but honestly, she had no idea what else to do.

    Just then, theb door flew open and someone poked their head in. ¡°Nina¡¯s headed to Mr. Hoffman¡¯s office with a bunch of people. Looks like she¡¯s about to stir up trouble!¡±

    Without wasting a second, Sandra and the others shot to their feet and followed the person down the hallway.

    By the time they reached Paul Hoffman¡¯s office, Nina was already there, surrounded by a group of coworkers she had clearly convinced to side with her.

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, you¡¯ve seen the document I gave you this morning,¡± Nina said, her voice steady but smug. ¡°Sylvia¡¯s being used of giarism. Someone like her shouldn¡¯t be allowed to stay on this project team.¡±<fn1c22> Follow current nov?ls on ?ovelFind</fn1c22>

    ¡°She¡¯s right, sir,¡± someone added. ¡°Our institute has zero tolerance for giarism. Sylvia¡¯s crossed a line, and this project represents the reputation of the entire research institute. She shouldn¡¯t be part of it anymore.¡±

    The speaker sounded like they had all the facts, fully confident Sylvia was guilty.

    But just as the words left their mouth, Sandra and the others barged in. ¡°Mr. Hoffman,¡± Sandra said firmly, ¡°don¡¯t listen to them. Sylvia would never giarize.¡±

    Nina spotted Jamir walking in behind them, and her eyes glinted with calction. She stepped up again, her voice full of righteous energy. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, Mr. Hoffman, why not ask the people who work with Sylvia every day? Let them tell you what they really think.¡±

    With that, she shot a look at Jamir, signaling him to back her up.

    But Jamir¡¯s expression didn¡¯t budge. Instead, his voice was steady and low. ¡°Sylvia¡¯s always been dedicated to her work. I don¡¯t see any possibility of her giarizing.¡±

    Nina froze, stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected that. She thought she had Sylvia cornered this time.

    Determined to push forward, she pulled out the reports Jamir had given her earlier and ced them on Paul¡¯s desk.

    M??? ??d???? ?? g????????.????

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, these are Sylvia¡¯s group¡¯s progress reports. A lot of the data is inurate, and their progress is way behind. Is someone like that really fit to stay here?¡±

    The air in the room turned tense in a heartbeat. Paul nced at the reports but didn¡¯t touch them. Instead, he looked straight at Nina.

    ¡°How did you get your hands on Sylvia¡¯s group files?¡±

    Nina didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Other researchers in theb think Sylvia¡¯s a problem. They gave them to me, hoping I¡¯d help expose her.¡±

    Paul¡¯s gaze darkened as he finally flipped through the pages. After skimming a few lines, he closed the folder with a dull thud.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who gave you these,¡± he said, ¡°but they look nothing like Sylvia¡¯s group¡¯s actual files.¡±

    Nina¡¯s confident smile vanished. She blinked, stunned. ¡°W-What? That¡¯s impossible!¡±

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 Chapter 635

    ?Chapter 635:

    These were the reports Jamir had been feeding her every day. How could they be wrong? Unless¡­

    She instinctively turned toward where Jamir had just been standing¡ªonly to find he¡¯d vanished. Jamir was gone?

    Sandra stepped forward with Elbert and addressed the crowd. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t be misled. Sylvia¡¯s always beenmitted to her research. She has no reason to giarize.¡±

    Hester let out a coldugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Come on. Everyone knows Sylvia loves showing off around here. And with Nina¡¯s evidence so credible, you¡¯re still trying to clear Sylvia¡¯s name. If she¡¯s so confident she¡¯s innocent, why isn¡¯t she showing up at the research institute now?¡±

    Then another voice chimed in, ¡°Yeah! If she¡¯s really innocent, why hasn¡¯t she shown up yet?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Hoffman, are you seriously nning to protect her?¡± another voice asked.

    Paul¡¯s tone dropped. ¡°These reports are confidential to each team. Nina, regardless of how you got them, you¡¯ve already broken institute rules.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t the reaction Nina had expected. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, we¡¯re talking about giarism here,¡± she protested. ¡°That document is stamped. You¡¯re seriously going to just ignore it?¡±

    Paul mmed his hand on the desk, his voice sharp. ¡°Enough! If someone here has done something wrong, I¡¯ll deal with it. But what you¡¯ve done¡ªdragging a crowd into my office¡ªthat¡¯s just as serious.¡±

    He gave her a hard look. ¡°You essed another team¡¯s research without permission. That alone is grounds for removal from the project.¡±

    Nina¡¯s face darkened. She clenched her fists at her sides, eyes burning with fury. She knew it. Paul was protecting Sylvia.

    ¡°It¡¯s office hours,¡± Paul said coldly. ¡°All of you¡ªget back to work.¡±

    Nina opened her mouth to argue, but right then, the door opened again. Someone walked in slowly, step by step, until they were standing in full view of everyone.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    William hadn¡¯t been at the research institute that morning. He had gone to the Briggs Group for business and had only just returned when he overheard a group of staff talking about Ste and the giarism rumors swirling around her.

    I??€?? ¡é§ß?¦Ñ§ä¦Å?? ?¦Ç g?l§Ú¦Ò¦Í¦Å??.c?m<fn8057> Th?s chapter is updated by Find_Novel(.</fn8057>

    Outside Paul¡¯s office, he ran into Jamir, who told him that Nina was stirring things up and getting others to turn against Ste. Feeling uneasy, William headed straight to Paul¡¯s office.

    When he walked in, his eyesnded on Nina. His voice was sharp and direct. ¡°Miss Carter, mind exining why you¡¯re creating such a scene with half the institute gathered here? This isn¡¯t a yground. We don¡¯t tolerate workce bullying here.¡±

    He didn¡¯t bother hiding his annoyance. In the past, he might have been more courteous toward Nina, but now his tone held no warmth.

    Nina hadn¡¯t expected him to walk in just then. She had assumed that since William already knew about the giarism allegations, he wouldn¡¯t get involved. Keeping herposure, she replied, ¡°They came on their own. I didn¡¯t ask them to. What right do you have to use me, Mr. Briggs?¡±

    William didn¡¯t flinch. His expression remained calm but clearly unimpressed.

    He turned to Paul. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, I heard there was a document that ims Sylvia giarized?¡±

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 Chapter 636

    ?Chapter 636:

    Paul nodded. ¡°Sylvia came in this morning, saw it, and took it with her.¡±<fn7246> For original chapters go to </fn7246>

    William¡¯s brows twitched. ¡°And where is she now?¡±

    Before Paul could answer, Sandra stepped in. ¡°She left with the document. I think she¡¯s out trying to find proof to clear her name.¡±

    William gave a small nod. ¡°Understood. From now on, I don¡¯t want anyone discussing this issue at the institute. Mr. Hoffman and I will look into it. Once we have the truth, we¡¯ll announce it. Everyone, please return to your work.¡±

    Nina¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line. She was clearly unhappy. After all the effort she had put into collecting evidence and turning the staff against Ste, William was still brushing it aside? Sure, he said he would investigate, but how long would that take? What if he kept dragging it out?

    She couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Mr. Briggs, if you¡¯re going to investigate, shouldn¡¯t you give us a timeline? We can¡¯t just wait forever.¡±

    William gave her a calm nce and replied, ¡°Three days.¡±

    He intended to get to the bottom of everything within that time.

    Hearing that, Nina bit back the rest of herints. Three days wasn¡¯t long. If she kept pushing, she riskedpletely ruining her image in William¡¯s eyes. With nothing else to say, she turned around and led the rest of the staff out of Paul¡¯s office.

    After everyone had left, Sandra turned to William and spoke firmly. ¡°Sylvia would never giarize. You have to believe her.¡±

    William stayed calm. ¡°If she¡¯s innocent, I¡¯ll make sure that¡¯s proven.¡±

    In other words, if Ste really had copied someone else¡¯s work, he wouldn¡¯t let it slide either, just as Paul had said.

    To Sandra, his reply felt vague and nomittal. She was about to say more when Elbert, who had been quietly standing nearby, pulled her out of the office.

    Once outside, she yanked her arm free. ¡°Why did you stop me?¡±

    Elbert sighed and rubbed his forehead. ¡°What were you nning to say? That William doesn¡¯t trust Sylvia? Or that he¡¯s pretending it¡¯s none of his business?¡±

    Sandra pressed her lips together. Weren¡¯t those things true?

    £í????£å £õ??£ä??£ô£å£ó ??£î ???£ì????£ö??£ì??.??????

    ¡°William couldn¡¯t say too much in front of Mr. Hoffman. What he said earlier was already a clear hint. Just trust him, and he¡¯ll make sure Sylvia¡¯s name is cleared,¡± Elbert said calmly.

    Then, slipping back into his usual team leader tone, he added, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s focus. We have to keep the experiment moving.¡± They couldn¡¯t afford to stop just because Sylvia was gone.

    As they walked, Sandra nced around and noticed someone missing.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Jamir? Did you see him?¡±

    Elbert shrugged. ¡°Probably pulled aside by Nina.¡±

    That made Sandra anxious, but Elbert ced a steady hand on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. He¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Jamir wasn¡¯t the talkative type, but that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t know what he was doing. He had been the one dealing with Nina before, so now that things had escted, it was only natural she¡¯de looking for him to argue or press her side of the story.

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 Chapter 637

    ?Chapter 637:

    On the rooftop of the research institute, Nina stood facing Jamir, her eyes sharp, her voice cold.

    ¡°You set me up from the start, didn¡¯t you?¡± she said tightly. ¡°Those were fake files. You never nned to work with me at all.¡±

    Jamir finally let out a dry chuckle, like he¡¯d been waiting for her to catch up. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± he said. ¡°You really thought I¡¯d help you steal internal data just so you could one-up Sylvia?¡±

    Nina¡¯s heart sank. She had suspected it the moment Paul scolded her in the office, but hearing Jamir admit it out loud still caught her off guard.

    ¡°Did Sylvia save your life or something?¡± she asked bitterly. ¡°Why are you so desperate to protect her? Does your shot at going abroad mean that little to you?¡±

    Jamir gave her a t look. ¡°Talking to someone as self-serving as you is a waste of time.¡±

    That one linended like a p. Nina¡¯s face turned pale. She clenched her jaw and snapped, ¡°You think you can act all high and mighty? If I go down, don¡¯t think you won¡¯t be dragged down with me. I¡¯ll tell them everything. About the deal.¡±

    But Jamir didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Go ahead. Say what you want.¡±

    He slid his hands into his pockets and turned to leave.

    ¡°You think it¡¯s that easy to walk away from this?¡± Nina called after him, her voice rising. ¡°You mess with me, and I¡¯ll make sure your little overseas dream crashes and burns! You¡¯ll never get out of Choria!¡±

    If that happened, he¡¯d be stuck working only in domestic research institutes for the rest of his life.

    Jamir didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡±

    And with that, he disappeared down the stairs without a backward nce.

    Nina stood rooted to the spot, her chest heaving with rage. She had been so sure her n was airtight¡ªSte would never suspect someone from her own team. But Jamir had flipped the entire thing on her.

    Her face twisted. If Jamir wanted to y dirty, fine. She could y dirtier. Pulling out her phone, she made a call. ¡°His name¡¯s Jamir Palmer,¡± she said tly. ¡°I¡¯ll send you his photo¡ªdon¡¯t get the wrong guy.¡±

    She hung up, her hair whipping in the rooftop wind. As she tucked it behind her ears, her eyes gleamed with cold resentment. She wouldn¡¯t let Ste win this so easily.

    Get thetest g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    Across the ocean, Ste, Sharon, and Josie finallynded at the airport. They were exhausted from the long haul¡ªdark circles under their eyes, clothes rumpled, but they moved with purpose.

    In Choria, it was already nighttime. But here, the sky was wide and bright, the sun ring down as if trying to wake them up by force.

    After checking into the hotel and freshening up, Ste didn¡¯t waste a second. She was ready to go find the man listed in the documents. Thanks to the power of big data, she had already pinpointed his address.

    Sharon was sprawled on one of the hotel beds, rubbing her temples. ¡°Stel, slow down. You haven¡¯t even slept. Can¡¯t we crash for a few hours and head out in the morning? If you copse halfway there, what¡¯s the point?¡±

    She wasn¡¯t wrong. Ste hadn¡¯t closed her eyes the whole flight.

    But Ste shook her head. ¡°We don¡¯t have time. The longer Nina keeps spreading rumors, the more people will start to believe them.¡±

    .

    .

    .<fn744f> Get full chapters from Find1Novel</fn744f>

 Chapter 638

    ?Chapter 638:

    She didn¡¯t care what the institute staff thought of her personally¡ªbut she wasn¡¯t about to let her name bring shame to the ce either.

    ¡°Sharon, Josie¡­ you two should rest. I¡¯ll go alone.¡±<fn7593> For original chapters go to f?ndnovel</fn7593>

    The moment she said that, Sharon shot upright. ¡°Alone? Are you kidding? This is a foreign country. What if something happens out there?¡±

    Josie, already changed into herfy clothes, chimed in, ¡°No way we¡¯re letting you go by yourself. We go as a team. More people means more backup.¡±

    Ste had a hard time turning them down, so in the end, she left the hotel with Sharon and Josie, heading toward the address they had found.

    The architecture in this part of town waspletely different from back home. Every neighborhood looked like its own little self-containedmunity.

    Soon enough, they pulled up in front of the listed address.

    As they stepped out of the car, two neat rows of ne trees lined the avenue, their leaves rustling in the breeze. It looked like something out of a painting¡ªbut Ste didn¡¯t have the time or mood to admire it.

    They walked up to Vi No. 163, and Ste took a deep breath.

    Clutching the stack of documents she had carefully organized, she rang the doorbell.

    A momentter, a middle-aged woman opened the door.

    Ste offered a polite smile. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m here to see Mr. Jimenez. Is he home?¡±

    The woman returned the smile, though hers held a hint of curiosity. ¡°Why are you looking for Jimenez?¡±

    Ste exined the situation as briefly as she could. ¡°I just really need him to confirm that this report wasn¡¯t released five years ago¡ªand to rify that I didn¡¯t giarize his work.¡±

    She half expected the woman to shut the door on her.

    But instead, the woman blinked, visibly surprised. ¡°Well then, why don¡¯t you alle in first?¡± She stepped aside and led them into the living room.

    After listening to the full story, the woman looked stunned. ¡°You¡¯re saying Jimenez¡¯s project oveps with yours by eighty percent?¡±

    Your next chapter awaits g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls?c?m

    Ste gave a helpless nod, pulling out her past project materials. ¡°These are mine. I¡¯m just hoping Mr. Jimenez can take a look and tell me if this really came out five years ago.¡±

    The woman¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Of course not,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Actually¡­ I¡¯m Jimenez. That project? I only wrote itst month. How on earth did it suddenly turn into five years ago?¡±

    Jimenez frowned slightly. Five years ago, she had been just an ordinary person who knew nothing about that subject, so how could she havepleted such a professional project?

    Ste froze. She hadn¡¯t expected this twist.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Jimenez?¡± she asked in disbelief. ¡°But the records showed a man.¡±

    Jimenez waved a hand, looking almost amused. ¡°That¡¯s my husband. I didn¡¯t want to deal with unwanted attention or have to speak publicly about the project, so I used his photo on the records.¡±

    That threw all three of them for a loop. After a beat of stunned silence, Ste quickly gathered herself.

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 Chapter 639

    ?Chapter 639:

    ¡°Mrs. Jimenez, could I¡­ could I talk to you more about this in detail? This whole thing¡¯s really important to me. It¡¯s affecting my reputation, and I¡¯d be grateful if you could help me clear things up,¡± Ste pleaded sincerely.

    Jimenez looked into Ste¡¯s eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod. ¡°Come with me to the study.¡±

    Ste stood up to follow her, but Sharon shot to her feet too, clearly uneasy.

    ¡°Sharon,¡± Ste said gently, ¡°you and Josie wait here for me.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡± Sharon frowned, not wanting to let her go in alone.

    Josie reached over and tugged her sleeve. ¡°Rx. They¡¯re just going to talk. Let¡¯s just wait.¡±

    Sharon sat back down, reluctantly.

    Ten minutes crawled by. Finally, Ste came out of the study.<fn473f> Th?s chapter is updated by fin?novel</fn473f>

    Josie and Sharon both sprang up. ¡°So? Did you get the answers?¡±

    Ste gave a small nod and sank into the sofa. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s all clear now¡­¡±

    Jimenez had indeed written the project report, but she had also included references from publicly avable online sources, one of which happened to be Ste¡¯s original design.

    When she submitted her project to the institution, they got back to her saying it could be used but asked her to remove a few lines that mentioned the references.

    Jimenez hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time and went ahead, signing the contract without a second thought. That gave the institution full ownership of her project n.

    ¡°It was the institution that faked the so-called evidence. Jimenez and I just checked online, and it turns out that the head of that institution actually knows Nina,¡± Ste exined.

    And with that, everything finally clicked into ce.

    The release date of Jimenez¡¯s report was suddenly backdated to five years ago, recing the original date of one month ago. Nina then used that to frame Ste for giarism.

    Nina probably assumed Ste wouldn¡¯t travel overseas to investigate and that the institution wouldn¡¯t publicize such a petty scheme. But with just a little digging, the truth became easy to uncover.

    Fresh updates avable at galno¦Íe?s?c?m

    Sharon suddenly sprang up from the couch, furious. ¡°Nina¡¯s unbelievable! Someone really needs to give her a taste of her own medicine so she learns to behave.¡±

    Josie gave Sharon a helpless look, sighing. She always leaned toward using force to fix things. But could violence really solve this kind of mess?

    Turning back to Ste, Josie asked, ¡°Did Jimenez say if she¡¯s willing to testify for you?¡±

    Ste nodded. ¡°She is. This whole thing is fabricated, and she doesn¡¯t want to be unknowingly tied to a scam artist.¡±

    Earlier, while they were in the study, Jimenez had even helped Ste draft a rification letter and signed her name at the bottom.

    After handing it over to Ste, Jimenez went on to write a formalint to a more reputable institution, calling out the one she had originally submitted her project to.

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 Chapter 640

    ?Chapter 640:

    ¡°Jimenez said we might hear back about theint as early as tomorrow. It¡¯s a serious issue, so they¡¯re likely to treat it that way,¡± Ste added.

    Hearing that, both Sharon and Josie finally rxed a bit.

    With the rification letter in hand, they could now return to Choria and clear Ste¡¯s name.

    ¡°Jimenez promised to call me right away if there¡¯s any update about theint,¡± Ste said reassuringly.

    Their trip abroad had gone better than expected. It was smooth, efficient, and productive.

    As Jimenez walked out of the study, she smiled and asked, ¡°Would you like to stay for dinner? I was just about to head to the store for groceries.¡±

    Ste smiled gratefully but shook her head. ¡°Thanks, but we¡¯ve got to get back home as soon as possible. There¡¯s still a lot to take care of.¡±

    Jimenez didn¡¯t insist on making them stay any longer. She simply stood at the door, waving them off with a gentle smile.

    Back at the hotel, Ste barely had time to kick off her shoes. Her head hit the pillow, and she was out like a light.

    By the time she woke up, Josie and Sharon were hovering nearby, both wearing troubled expressions.

    She rubbed her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s with those faces? Something wrong?¡±

    ¡°We just checked the flight options,¡± Sharon sighed. ¡°There are no direct ones left. Only connecting flights, and we¡¯ll be stuck in theyover city for over ten hours. With all the waiting and transfers, we won¡¯t get back to Choria until the day after tomorrow.¡±

    Ste blinked and then let out a softugh. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s all? I thought you were going to tell me Jimenez¡¯sint was rejected.¡±<fn132c> The rightful source is F¦Énd£Îovel</fn132c>

    Sharon¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it! Don¡¯t go around saying stuff like that!¡±

    Ste let out a smallugh and pushed herself up from the bed. ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s book the flight. We can use the longyover to stretch our legs and enjoy the city a bit.¡±

    They boarded the flight, slept through most of it, and eventuallynded in theyover city.

    Uncover new worlds at g   alnov els

    As they stepped out into the terminal, Ste¡¯s energy returned. She looped her arms through Josie¡¯s and Sharon¡¯s and grinned. ¡°Hey, since we¡¯ve got time to kill¡­ how about we visit that famous tower? I¡¯ve always wanted to see it.¡±

    She had always wanted to visit, but her schedule had never allowed the time. Since they were passing through now, a short detour wouldn¡¯t hurt.

    Sharon and Josie, seeing her excitement, didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Sure,¡± they said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    After dropping their luggage off at the airport storage, the three of them made their way to the iconic site.

    Standing at the base of the towering structure, Ste wiped her forehead and looked around. ¡°Anyone up for some juice? I¡¯m really thirsty.¡± She spotted a juice stall not far off and offered to get three cups.

    Josie wandered off a little to snap a few more pictures of the tower.

    Just then, a voice rang out behind her, one that sounded strangely familiar.

    ¡°Ms. Patel? What a surprise running into you here!¡±

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 Chapter 641

    ?Chapter 641:

    Josie flinched at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. She turned, startled, and saw Steven standing there, smiling as if he hadn¡¯t just snuck up on her.<fn077a> Newest update provided by FindN()vel</fn077a>

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked, raising a brow.

    Steven gave a small, easy smile. ¡°If I told you I came all this way just to find you¡­ would you believe me?¡±

    Josie blinked, then scoffed. The surprise on her face quickly turned into exasperation. ¡°Mr. Harrison, you really need to cut back on the cheesy lines.¡± She honestly couldn¡¯t figure out where he had picked up the style.

    Just then, Ste and Sharon returned with their drinks. Both halted at the sight of Steven standing next to Josie.

    Ste spoke first. ¡°Mr. Harrison? What brings you here?¡±

    Unbothered by the attention, Steven kept hisposure. ¡°Business trip,¡± he replied casually. ¡°Ran into Ms. Patel as soon as I got here¡ªsmall world. Didn¡¯t expect you all to be together.¡±

    Time slipped by quickly, and before long, the sun was high. Ste and Sharon started looking up restaurants nearby for a quick lunch before heading to the airport.

    Right then, Steven jumped in. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, mind if I join you for lunch?¡±

    Before Ste could even answer, Josie cut in sharply. ¡°No, you may not. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be working? Meeting clients, handling deals, that sort of thing? You¡¯re clearly a busy man. Go handle your business. I¡¯m sure your partners will treat you to something great.¡±

    Steven paused, lips parting like he might protest, then sighed in surrender. He turned to Ste instead. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, may I have a word?¡±

    Ste nced at Josie, then nodded and stepped aside with him.

    Lowering his voice, Steven asked, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, since you¡¯re already here, why not stay a few more days? Take a little break?¡±

    Ste shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re just passing through. We have to head back to Choriater today.¡±

    Steven gave a slow nod, as if trying to read between the lines. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re on business too? Everything settled?¡±

    ¡°More or less,¡± she said vaguely.

    Her vague tone made Steven pause, but he didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he changed the subject entirely. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯m curious¡­ what kind of men does Ms. Patel like?¡±

    Ste stared at him for a second, caught off guard by the question¡ªand by how suddenly he had shifted gears.

    She remembered Steven as the serious, polite type. Since when did he ask questions like that? Had Josiepletely messed with his personality?

    After a brief pause, Ste replied thoughtfully, ¡°Josie likes men who take responsibility, who know how to be romantic, who understand her needs without her spelling them out¡ªand who actually follow through.¡±

    Steven¡¯s eyes lit up with understanding. He thanked her sincerely. She gave a small nod and walked back to rejoin the others.

    Once the trio was gone, Steven pulled out his phone and dialed.

    ¡°I found her,¡± he said into the receiver. ¡°She said the matter¡¯s been handled.¡±

    There was a long pause before the voice on the other end answered¡ªcool and indifferent. ¡°Okay.¡±

    Steven let out a dryugh. ¡°Seriously? I go out of my way for you and all I get is one word? You¡¯re too cold.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 642

    ?Chapter 642:

    Before he could get another word in, the line cut off.

    Once they were settled at the restaurant, Ste nced at Josie and asked casually, ¡°Why were you so sharp with Mr. Harrison back there?¡±

    Josie let out a quiet sigh, her expression tinged with helplessness. ¡°Stel, you know I don¡¯t like guys whoe on too strong. Especially not when we barely know each other.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t that Josie disliked Steven¡ªshe just didn¡¯t feel anything special for him either. From the first time they met, he had been flirty and lighthearted. Then, out of nowhere, he started showing obvious interest in her. But how could someone catch feelings after just one meeting? Without even knowing anything real about her?<fn490e> Content originallyes from find~novel</fn490e>

    To Josie, it all felt superficial. And given Steven¡¯s background, it was hard not to assume he was just ying around. That kind of guy didn¡¯t deserve her time or her niceness. So no¡ªshe didn¡¯t feel the need to be polite.

    ¡°I think Mr. Harrison really likes you, though,¡± Ste said thoughtfully. ¡°You¡¯ve run into him a few times now. Are you sure you don¡¯t feel anything?¡±

    Josie looked

    Genuinely surprised, she said, ¡°No! I only know the guy¡¯s name¡ªSteven Harrison. That¡¯s it. What would I even be interested in? His face?¡±

    She wrinkled her nose as if the very idea were ridiculous. Falling for someone just because they were good-looking? That was so not her.

    Ste couldn¡¯t help but sigh silently. Josie was tough¡ªand cautious. If Steven really wanted a shot, he was going to have to put in some serious effort. Winning her over wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    After Ste, Josie, and Sharon finished their meal, they headed back to the airport,pleted the boarding process, and boarded their flight.

    It was yet another long, exhausting journey. By the time their ne touched down, it was already the early morning of the third day since they had left for their trip.

    At the airport, the three friends hugged and parted ways, each heading home. Ste dragged her somewhat weary body back home. Just as she was standing at her doorstep, she heard the sound of a door opening behind her.

    She turned around and, just as she guessed, saw William standing there in his loungewear.

    Your imagination starts at g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s?conn

    Gone was his usual sharp suit. Instead, he was wearing something loose and casual, which made him look softer and more approachable.

    His hair, normally styled with precision, now fell naturally across his forehead in messy waves.

    It gave him an oddly gentle charm Ste hadn¡¯t seen before.

    She blinked and smiled faintly. ¡°Mr. Briggs? What a surprise. Are you heading out at this hour?¡±

    William returned her smile, his tone calm but warm. ¡°No, I was waiting for you.¡±

    His blunt answer made Ste pause for a second.

    Gripping the doorknob, she asked quietly, ¡°Why were you waiting for me?¡±

    William¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He exined, ¡°I was at a meeting the day the incident happened. I didn¡¯t know what had gone on at the research institute until I returned and heard you¡¯d been used of giarism. I tried contacting you, but Paul said you had taken leave.¡±

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 Chapter 643

    ?Chapter 643:

    What he didn¡¯t say was that he had waited for her each of thest three days, even asking Steven to help check where she had gone overseas. He had spent those days in quiet frustration, not knowing how she was or what had happened.

    Listening to his exnation, Ste responded, ¡°And what makes you so sure it was a false usation? What if it really was giarism?¡±

    William didn¡¯t even pause. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±

    His certainty caught her off guard.

    She realized that those around her seemed to believe in her unconditionally, even including William.

    Ste didn¡¯t ask why he had so much faith in her. Instead, she quietly said, ¡°I¡¯ve mostly taken care of everything. But thank you for worrying, Mr. Briggs.¡±<fnacb1> Th?s chapter is updated by </fnacb1>

    Just as she was about to unlock her door, William stopped her hand. ¡°You kept this from me on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Her breath caught, and her eyes widened slightly. She hadn¡¯t told anyone, so how could he know?

    William continued calmly, ¡°We¡¯ve spent enough time together for me to understand a few things about you. Next time something like this happens, just let me know. Even if not as a friend, I¡¯m still your boss. I have the responsibility to stand by you.¡±

    Ste looked at him. Her mind was quiet, but her heart thudded loudly. She gave a small blink, trying to hold back her feelings, and quietly said, ¡°Alright, I get it.¡±

    Satisfied, William stepped back a little. ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯ll see you at the research institute tomorrow.¡±

    She nodded and gently closed the door, her eyes lingering on William until he disappeared from sight.

    He had promised Nina that he would get to the bottom of everything within three days, and that deadline would be up by morning. But seeing how calm and trusting Ste looked just now brought him a small sense of relief. He just hoped tomorrow wouldn¡¯t bring any more chaos.

    The next morning, Ste got a text from Rowan, letting her know that the result of theint had been emailed to her.

    When she opened it, she saw that an immediate investigation had been approved into the institution that had changed Rowan¡¯s project schedule without approval.

    ??? ??????? ?? ?????????.???

    Still, it didn¡¯t mention how long the investigation mightst.

    Knowing this wouldn¡¯t be resolved quickly, Ste took a deep breath, steadied herself, and made her way to the research institute.

    Just as she entered, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning slightly, she saw Nina walk in.

    Nina sneered the moment their eyes met, her tone dripping with mockery. ¡°Well, look who decided to crawl back. I thought you were too scared to ever show your face here again.¡±

    Ste gave Nina a cool once-over. ¡°You know what they say, Nina. Keep doing wrong, and eventually, it¡¯ll catch up with you.¡±

    Nina, who had grown up abroad, blinked, not quite catching the meaning. She frowned as Ste walked into the elevator, then turned to a colleague. ¡°What did she mean by that?¡±

    The coworker hesitated, then gave it to her straight. ¡°Basically¡­ if you keep screwing people over, it¡¯s gonna blow up in your face.¡± It was blunt, but the messagended.

    .

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 Chapter 644

    ?Chapter 644:

    Nina just scoffed, brushing it off. As if Ste had the power to take her down. By the end of the day, she figured no one at the institute would even remember Ste or Sylvia.

    She was the rising star now. She¡¯d shine so bright, William would see she was just as capable¡ªif not better¡ªthan Ste.

    At 9 a.m. sharp, most of the researchers were already at the institute.

    Nina stood tall in the lobby. ¡°Alright, everyone, today¡¯s the day Mr. Briggs promised we¡¯d get to the bottom of this. Sylvia¡¯s back, so let¡¯s hear what she has to say!¡±

    She shot Ste a smug little look, clearly expecting a win. But Ste¡¯s calm, almost amused gaze didn¡¯t waver.

    Without a word, Ste stepped up, pulled a USB from her bag, and connected it to the big screen behind her. Evidence lit up the screen. ¡°Go ahead. If you can read, you¡¯ll understand what¡¯s up there.¡±

    No dramatic speech. Ste let the facts speak for themselves.

    The staff squinted at the documents. The name on the patent clearly wasn¡¯t from five years ago.

    ¡°Wait¡­ you can¡¯t just backdate experiments, right?¡±

    ¡°Is this saying Nina forged the whole thing?¡±

    ¡°So that official seal was fake?¡±

    The questions flew fast.

    Whispers rippled through the crowd.

    Nina¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. She stared at the screen, her mind racing.

    How the hell had Ste pulled all this together in just three days?

    Ste flipped to the final slide. ¡°Done reading? Any questions, ask away.¡± She was ready for whatever they threw at her.

    One researcher asked, ¡°Sylvia, does this mean Nina broke thew?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not up to me. But she used me of giarizing someone else¡¯s work¡ªand I¡¯m not letting that slide.¡±

    On screen, two documents sat side by side. They didn¡¯te close to being fifty percent simr.<fn0bca> Read full story at F?nd-Novel</fn0bca>

    Your next chapter is here g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    The people who had been quick to use her of giarism now looked ufortable.

    ¡°This document says Jimenez only wrote hersst month. That doesn¡¯t scream ¡®five years ago.¡¯ That screams setup.¡±

    Nina stiffened. Her eyes flicked over the files, and for a second, she looked rattled.

    But she regrouped fast and snapped, ¡°Sylvia, quit trying to scare people. You really think some random videos prove anything? I could hire an actor to fake a video too.¡±

    But her wordsnded t.

    Ste barely blinked. ¡°Easy, Nina. I¡¯m not done.¡±

    She pulled out a signed letter from Jimenez, exining that her project wasn¡¯t from five years ago at all¡ªand that someone at the institute had altered the date without her knowledge.

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 Chapter 645

    ?Chapter 645:

    Jimenez¡¯s signature was crystal clear. Nina bit down hard on her lip. She¡¯dpletely forgotten about Jimenez.

    ¡°And one more thing,¡± Ste added. ¡°The agency that forged those documents? Turns out the founder¡¯s an old friend of Nina¡¯s.¡±

    Ste¡¯s words sent the crowd into a frenzy.

    ¡°So Nina framed Sylvia?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s got all this proof¡­ but how do we know it¡¯s not fake too?¡±

    ¡°At least Nina¡¯s papers had an official seal and looked legit.¡±

    Nina froze, stunned by what she saw. Her expression twisted with disbelief as she snapped at Ste, ¡°Sylvia, this so-called evidence? Anyone around you could¡¯ve put that together! You¡¯ll go to any lengths to cover up your giarism, won¡¯t you?¡±

    Before Ste could respond, Sandra, who had been standing nearby, immediately spoke up in her defense. ¡°Nina, stop pretending everything¡¯s fake. The truth is staring us in the face. Your friend¡¯s the head of the institution, and it¡¯s not far-fetched to think you could¡¯ve tampered with the records yourself!¡±

    Nina let out a scornfulugh. ¡°Sylvia, if this is all real, then show me something stamped with an official seal. If you truly have proof that points to me, I¡¯ll own up to it.¡±

    Her stubborn refusal to admit fault, even now, made Ste feel a bit ridiculous. But in reality, aside from the letter Jimenez had written for her and the email confirmation from the institution, Ste didn¡¯t have any clear, undeniable proof.

    Just as she was racking her brain for a way topletely corner Nina, a deep, familiar voice cut through the tension like a de. ¡°Looking for real evidence?¡± William said calmly. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    Ste turned in shock as he stepped forward, holding a thick stack of documents. Her expression gradually shifted to one of disbelief.

    She hadn¡¯t expected the evidence toe from the very institution where Jimenez had filed theint.

    William knew that normally, processing such aint would take at least a week. But there was no time to wait, so he had quietly asked Steven to pull a few strings and get the matter expedited, and thankfully, they had made it just in time.

    The documents bore the institution¡¯s official seal, and with William personally delivering them, no one could doubt their authenticity.

    ???€$t ¡é?¦Á¦Ñ?§×§ñ? 1¦Ð [dot

    As he disyed them on the big screen, everyone read in stunned silence. The institution had ruled against Nina¡¯s agency. They would be stripped of their equipment and privileges for altering someone else¡¯s project files without authorization. Legal consequences, including possible imprisonment, were also outlined.

    The verdict looked anything but fake.

    William faced the room, his voice steady. ¡°This decision will be publicly released soon. But if any of you still have doubts¡­¡± He paused, then turned slightly. ¡°I also brought a witness.¡±<fn00b9> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find¡ïNovel</fn00b9>

    As he stepped aside, Ste¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Jimenez had just entered through the institute¡¯s front door.

    She stood before everyone and calmly exined how she had written the project, even admitting that she had used her husband¡¯s photo and credentials out of fear that her own would attract unwanted attention.

    She then presented her original manuscript and the creation timestamp from herptop.

    .

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 Chapter 646

    ?Chapter 646:

    Every word, every piece of proof, pointed straight at Nina.

    William¡¯s gaze turned icy as he looked directly at Nina. ¡°Still not enough for you?¡±

    Nina¡¯s body gave a slight tremble. Leaning against the nearby table, she looked stunned. Never had she imagined losing to Ste again.

    Ste, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t expected William to go as far as bringing Jimenez back to Choria to testify for her.

    At the very same moment, Paul showed up and told Nina toe to his office. William thanked Jimenez and personally walked her out of the research institute.<fn478c> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn478c>

    Gradually, the colleagues who had gathered to watch the confrontation began to disperse.

    Sandra, standing behind Ste, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°William¡¯s amazing. He even brought the key witness with him!¡±

    Ste felt a wave of helplessness settle in her chest. She had really hoped to pull this off without leaning on William this time¡ªbut in the end, it was still his hand that tipped the scales.

    Sandra, noticing the look on her face, furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Sylvia, now that everything¡¯s cleared up and there¡¯s no way they¡¯re kicking you off the project team, why do you still look like that? What¡¯s with the long sigh?¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t know how to exin the mix of guilt and frustration tangled up inside her, so she just gave a faint shake of her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just tired.¡±

    But deep down, she was struggling. Did she always have to rely on William? When exactly had he started showing up every time she was in trouble? She couldn¡¯t even remember anymore.

    After Paul¡¯s questioning, Nina locked herself in theb all day.

    By the end of work, Ste just wanted to head home and clear her mind.

    She walked to her car alone, her keys in hand. But just as she reached the driver¡¯s side and went to unlock the door, a dark shadow darted out from behind her.

    Before she could react, a cold de was pressed against her throat. ¡°Ste Russell, right?¡± a low voice growled. ¡°If you go against Nina again, don¡¯t me me if things get ugly.¡±

    With that, the figure disappeared into the parking lot like smoke, quick and soundless.

    L??e$? ??¦¤T??R? 1¦Ð ???lnovels.c??m

    Ste stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat. The chill of the de still lingered on her skin.

    Hands trembling, she touched her neck¡ªno blood. Still, her knees nearly gave out as she copsed into the driver¡¯s seat, gasping for air.

    She never thought Nina would take it this far.

    Sure, Ste knew Nina was bitter¡ªunwilling to lose, unable to ept that William didn¡¯t want her. But this? This was no petty trick. This was a threat.

    Everything had changed now.

    Ste started the engine and drove out of the cold underground lot. On the way home, she stopped by the police station and reported what had happened.

    The police jumped into action immediately. Thankfully, the surveince in the garage was intact. The footage clearly showed a man in ck threatening her with a knife.

    As soon as William got word, he rushed straight to the station. When he saw Ste sitting there, unharmed, he finally let out a breath of relief.

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 Chapter 647

    ?Chapter 647:

    But Ste arched a brow and said with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°Luca¡¯s intel really is something else.¡±

    William instinctively rubbed the tip of his nose. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    She gave a little shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a bit shaken.¡±

    Just then, a police officer walked over and said, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, can we take your statement now?¡±

    Ste nodded and followed him to a seat. Calmly, she began, ¡°After work, I went to the garage to head home. A man popped up out of nowhere behind me, held a knife to my throat, and said, ¡®If you dare to oppose Nina again, don¡¯t me me if things get ugly.¡¯ That¡¯s all he said.¡±

    William sat beside her, his face darkening with every word. His frown deepened, eyes narrowing coldly. Nina again.

    Ste took a deep breath and added, ¡°That¡¯s everything I know. Nina¡¯s a colleague. I don¡¯t understand why she¡¯d go so far, but maybe Mr. Briggs might know more.¡±

    She shot William a pointed nce as she said it.

    Now that the situation involved a fourth party, the police turned to William for questioning as well.

    Ste didn¡¯t know what he said behind closed doors, but within ten minutes, both he and the officer were back.

    The officer closed the file in his hands and told them they could leave. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you¡¯re free to go. We¡¯ll contact you if there are any updates.¡±<fn8667> Latest content published on f?ndnovel</fn8667>

    As they stepped out of the station, the sun was already dipping behind the high-rises, casting long shadows on the pavement.

    William walked beside her, his voice low and steady. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Nina.¡±

    Ste turned to look at him. ¡°And how exactly are you going to do that?¡±

    Her brows drew together slightly in confusion. Nina wasn¡¯t some rookie intern. She had transferred in from abroad, with a fancy r¨¦sum¨¦ and connections that ran deep.

    Even Paul treated her with respect. If Nina was dead set on staying in Choria, who could really stop her?

    Was William really going to risk stepping on that many toes overseas¡ªjust to drive Nina out of town?

    L?t§Öst ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.??m

    William Briggs spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice. ¡°If Nina isn¡¯t here to focus on research, then she has no ce in my institute.¡±

    The moment he said it, Ste was reminded that William was the one running the show now. His position clearly outranked Nina¡¯s.

    But siding against someone like Nina meant stepping on the toes of many powerful people, and honestly, Ste didn¡¯t think it was worth that kind of fallout.

    ¡°She¡¯s just upset her smear campaign didn¡¯t work,¡± Ste said casually. ¡°So she sent someone to intimidate me. It¡¯s really not a big deal.¡±

    William shot her a sharp, surprised look. ¡°She had someone threaten you, and you¡¯re calling that no big deal?¡±

    He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so nonchnt about something so serious. Ste pressed her lips together. She honestly didn¡¯t think Nina would go so far as to really hurt her.

    .

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 Chapter 648

    ?Chapter 648:

    William gave a short sigh. ¡°You¡¯re part of my team, and a key one at that. I can¡¯t have you working while someone¡¯s breathing down your neck. It¡¯ll affect your performance.¡±

    He knew if he openly admitted he was just concerned about her safety, she¡¯d likely brush it off. So he framed it as a productivity issue instead.

    Sure enough, her expression softened slightly.

    She got into her car, ready to say goodbye, but to her surprise, William opened the passenger door and slid right in without saying a word.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, don¡¯t you have your own car?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.

    His tone was serious. ¡°I was in a rush and took a cab. Since you¡¯re heading home and we live in the same direction¡­¡±

    Ste blinked. Technically, he wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªthey were neighbors. So she didn¡¯t have aeback.

    When they arrived at their building, the maid Rita opened the door for William. Her face lit up when she noticed Ste just across the hall. ¡°Ms. Russell! You¡¯re living next door again?¡±

    There was something suspiciously yful in the way she said again. But really, shouldn¡¯t she be asking William that question?<fnd337> The rightful source is F¦Énd£Îovel</fnd337>

    Before Ste could respond, Rita smiled warmly. ¡°Ms. Russell, I made dinner. Want to join us?¡±

    Ste froze mid-step, surprised by the invitation. She looked at Rita, puzzled.

    Wait a minute¡­ since when does Rita cook?

    She was definitely overthinking it. Rita¡¯s ¡°dinner¡± turned out to be nothing more than instant noodles with some vegetables, a fried egg, and sausage thrown in, but it actually looked kind of decent.

    Watching William eat that, Ste couldn¡¯t help but feel a little sorry for him. The man had a sensitive stomach, and his own maid couldn¡¯t even make a proper meal.

    No wonder he was always bothering her to cook for him.

    After dinner, Rita took Ste out to the balcony and began teaching her some new self-defense techniques.

    hosts great stories

    Once she saw that Ste had gotten the hang of the basics, she moved on to more advanced moves.

    Ste was absolutely thrilled to learn something new, and from the living room, William couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Her bright, excited smile outshone everything else, as radiant as a blooming rose in full spring.

    News of Ste calling the police reached Nina in no time. She was quickly summoned to give a statement for allegedly sending someone to harm Ste.

    With no solid evidence, the police had to let her go after a brief questioning. But once she got back into her car, Nina sat there seething, with fists clenched in anger.

    Ste actually called the police on her? She had underestimated just how bold Ste could be.

    Thinking back on how every attempt to sabotage her had failed, Nina fumed in frustration.

    She snatched her phone and made a call. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m being bullied in Choria. You¡¯ve got to help me out!¡±

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 Chapter 649

    ?Chapter 649:

    The next morning, as Ste walked into the institute, Lainey rushed over with a sneaky grin and pulled her aside. ¡°Stel, guess who¡¯s here at the institute today?¡±

    Ste shook her head. But with how crowded the hallway was, she figured it had to be someone important.

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    Lainey leaned closer. ¡°Professor Frank McGill from Osnuria. He¡¯s super famous! Won a bunch of awards years ago, and people still study his projects in ss.¡±

    Ste froze for a second. She knew that name. He was a big deal in their field, and she had even read through his patent work back in college.

    ¡°He¡¯s really here? Just like that?¡±

    Someone that important should¡¯ve had a formal visit nned. This felt way too sudden.

    Lainey lowered her voice. ¡°Apparently, he¡¯s here for Nina. Word is, he¡¯s close with her grandfather.¡±

    It all made sense now. Nina had brought in another powerful ally, and this visit was probably aimed at her.

    Lainey looked a little worried as she added, ¡°The first thing he did after arriving was ask if you were around. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good sign, Stel.¡±

    Ste made up her mind to deal with things as they came. She gave Lainey¡¯s shoulder a gentle pat and smiled softly. ¡°Thanks for telling me.¡±

    Then she walked over to her workstation, nning to organize her things before heading to theb.

    But she had barely taken a few steps when Nina spotted her with those sharp eyes and called out with a bright smile, ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re here! Frank was just looking for you.¡±

    Ste paused mid-step. It looked like there was no avoiding this meeting.

    She turned around and came face to face with Frank, who was dressed in a brown suit and wearing a beret. ¡°Mr. McGill,¡± she greeted him politely. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡±

    Frank looked her up and down but didn¡¯t even bother to shake her hand. His voice was cold and condescending. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you say you¡¯ve heard of me, but I haven¡¯t seen any respect in your actions. You¡¯rete.¡±

    Discover your escape on g  aln ov el s

    Ste almostughed. She calmly lowered her hand and replied, ¡°The institute starts at nine. It¡¯s only eight fifty. By any measure, I¡¯m notte. Mr. McGill, using someone unfairly the first time you meet them seems rather rude, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    She had nned to show him some respect, given his seniority, but his attitude left her no reason to hold back.

    Standing next to him, Nina chimed in with a stern look. ¡°Sylvia, Professor McGill is highly respected in our field. How can you talk to him like that? And he didn¡¯t mean to use you.¡±

    Ste nced at Nina, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand what ¡®use¡¯ means, maybe it¡¯s time you brushed up on your vocabry.¡±

    Nina¡¯s face instantly darkened. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±

    ¡°Exactly what you said¡­ no usations, right?¡± Ste answered coolly, throwing her words right back at her.

    .

    .<fn0656> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find_Novel(.</fn0656>

    .

 Chapter 650

    ?Chapter 650:

    Frank huffed. ¡°How uncivilized. Speaking so recklessly in a research institute, with no regard for anyone.¡±

    Ste kept her tone calm as she replied, ¡°Mr. McGill, I was the one who tried to greet you first, but it was you who chose to act arrogant and dismissive. And as far¡ª¡±

    As I know, this is a research institute, not a stage for theatrics. Shouldn¡¯t science and work be the focus here?¡±

    She frowned slightly. Since when did research institutes care more about formalities than actual work?

    Nina, who clearly trusted Frank¡¯s abilities, looked at Ste and said, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, since you say researches first, why don¡¯t you let Frank take a look at your group¡¯s experimental data?¡±

    Ste was standing with Sandra and a few others. As soon as she heard that, Sandra subtly tugged on Ste¡¯s arm and whispered, ¡°Nina¡¯s trying to pull something again. She probably just wants to know how far we¡¯ve gotten.¡±

    If Ste hadn¡¯t already figured out that Frank was on Nina¡¯s side, she might have shared her data. After all, he was a well-known name in their field, and who wouldn¡¯t want some expert advice? But after that little exchange, she wasn¡¯t about to hand over her current project files so easily.

    ¡°Sure,¡± she said calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll show Mr. McGill the results from one of my previous projects.¡±

    Nina frowned. Previous? Why not thetest ones?

    Just as she was about to say something, Ste continued, ¡°Mr. McGill just wants to see my capabilities, right? A finished project should be enough. Unless, of course, he insists on seeing something more recent?¡±

    Her tone made things crystal clear. If Frank pushed further, it would only make his intentions more obvious.

    In the end, Ste handed him a project she had submitted to Neb Group in the past. It was a patented piece of work, already transferred to Neb legally. Even if Frank tried anything, using it without permission would be illegal.<fnf727> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel</fnf727>

    He took the file and began reviewing it seriously. At first, he had nned to pick it apart and find ws.

    ?@???? ??@t?¨¨?? ¨ª¨½ ??????????????????.??????

    But the deeper he read, the more surprised he was. Everything was well-structured, detailed, and solid. Even he couldn¡¯t find a single problem.

    Nina waited excitedly nearby, hoping Frank would put Ste in her ce. She was clearly ready to vent her frustration.

    But after reading through the files, Frank handed them back and simply said, ¡°This project is perfectly done.¡±

    Even though Nina¡¯s grandfather had brought him in to support her, Frank couldn¡¯t lie. From a professional view, Ste¡¯s skills were top-notch.

    Nina stared at him, clearly annoyed and finding it hard to believe what she had just heard.

    Ste, on the other hand, was calm as ever. ¡°Mr. McGill, since everything seems in order, may I return to theb? Or would you prefer I stand beside you just to make a point?¡±

    She had no patience for games. Frank and Nina had both been disrespectful from the start, so Ste felt no obligation to be polite in return.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 651

    ?Chapter 651:

    Frank¡¯s face darkened a little, but he eventually just motioned for her to leave.

    Sandra and a few others followed her back to theb, giving her a thumbs-up. ¡°Sylvia, that was epic! I wouldn¡¯t have had the guts to stand up to Frank like that.¡±

    Ste justughed. Sure, seniors deserved respect, but not if it meant sacrificing her self-respect.

    Watching Frank back down instead of scolding Ste left Nina fuming. She was so mad, she nearly tore herb apart.

    Meanwhile, Frank had a quick word with Paul, then left the institute. He hade to back Nina up, but once he realized Ste wasn¡¯t someone he could mess with, there was no point in sticking around.

    Later that afternoon, Nina¡¯s grandfather, Karson Carter, called her. ¡°I heard even Frank had nothing to say about that patent,¡± Karson said, sounding rather amused.

    He had chosen Frank for this job because of his high standards and blunt honesty. The fact that even he couldn¡¯t criticize Ste¡¯s work made Karson curious about this so-called troublemaker Nina disliked.

    Nina grew even more frustrated. ¡°Grandpa, what are you even saying? I¡¯m so mad right now!¡± she snapped.<fn751f> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fn751f>

    Karsonughed, not bothered by Nina¡¯s mood. ¡°She must be amazing if even¡ª¡±

    Frank couldn¡¯t criticize her. ¡°I¡¯m curious now. Since I¡¯ve got some time, maybe I¡¯lle to Choria and meet her myself.¡±

    Nina¡¯s face dropped. Thest thing she wanted was for her grandfather to take an interest in Ste. She had expected support, not admiration for her enemy. Hearing that note of curiosity in his voice only made her more anxious.

    ¡°Grandpa, it was just a coincidence,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Things are really hectic here at the institute. Maybe it¡¯s better if you wait a little beforeing.¡±

    After quite a bit of convincing, she finally talked him out of visiting¡ªfor now. But the second she hung up, she swept everything off her desk in a rage. The loud tter echoed through the room.

    She was reaching her limit. Ste was proving to be a far tougher opponent than she had imagined.

    Elsewhere, William only found out about Frank¡¯s visit after it had already happened.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s, where the best stories live

    Over in his office, Paul was enjoying his coffee as he recounted the story. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen Sylvia today. She was calm as ever and didn¡¯t flinch in front of Frank.¡±

    William¡¯s eyes lit up with interest. He could picture her standing there, confident and collected. He even imagined the exact tone she probably used.

    The thought made him chuckle under his breath.

    Paul raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you actually falling for her?¡±

    Love could be strange, but Paul always thought William wasn¡¯t the type to care about romance.

    William didn¡¯t answer thatment. Instead, he looked serious and said, ¡°We need to talk about Nina¡¯s future at the institute.¡±

    He knew Ste could handle herself, but he didn¡¯t like watching Nina take shot after shot at her.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 652

    ?Chapter 652:

    Paul nodded in understanding. He felt the same. Still, Nina¡¯s situation was different from the ones they had dealt with before, like Nathalia and Cecelia. This wasn¡¯t something they could rush. It had to be handled carefully.

    A week before Ste¡¯s birthday, things at the research institute were still moving at their usual fast pace.

    One afternoon, Sandra came over with a curious smile and asked, ¡°Hey, Sylvia, isn¡¯t your birthdaying up soon?¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise. ¡°How do you know that?¡±<fne1a5> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? findnovel</fne1a5>

    She hadn¡¯t told anyone about it, especially not at work.

    Sandra grinned mischievously. ¡°That¡¯s a secret! So, what are your ns? Doing anything special this year? If not, I could ask Elbert and the others to book a karaoke room. We could all hang out and have some fun!¡±

    True to her energetic nature, Sandra was clearly in the mood to celebrate. But Ste shook her head gently. ¡°Not this time. I just want to take it easy at home. I¡¯m nning to spend the day resting. No outings this year.¡±

    The truth was, she had been exhausting herselftely. Between stayingte at work, managing the demands of theb, and trying to keep up with what everyone expected from her, she was running on empty. It was no wonder she feltpletely worn out.

    Luckily, there was a rule at the institute, one William had personally put in ce, that allowed staff to take the day off on their birthday.

    Ste had decided a while ago that she would use that chance to stay in, sleep as much as she wanted, and give herself a break.

    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s a shame, but I get it,¡± Sandra said, sounding a bit disappointed but understanding. She could see how tired Ste had beentely. With a small sigh, she turned back to her workstation and returned to her experiments.

    The day before her birthday, Ste stayed a littlete at work to wrap things up and submitted a leave request to Paul before leaving.

    Paul noticed the date and immediately realized it was her birthday. Without saying anything, he stamped the approval and sent it through.

    The next morning, Ste finally got the rest she¡¯d been craving. She didn¡¯t open her eyes until almost noon. Just as she was stretching under the covers, the doorbell rang.

    g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s has it all

    Still a little groggy, she dragged herself to the door and opened it to find a delivery person holding a bouquet. ¡°Good afternoon, Ms. Russell. These are for you. Happy birthday,¡± the courier said with a polite smile as he handed over the flowers.

    Ste blinked in confusion. She hadn¡¯t ordered any flowers. Still, she took them inside and set them down on the table.

    Attached was a small card. There was no name, no message, just two simple words: ¡°Happy Birthday.¡±

    She stared at the flowers for a moment. They weren¡¯t the usual roses or lilies¡ªeach one was unique and unfamiliar, yet stunning in its own way.

    As she tried to guess who might have sent them, her phone buzzed on the table.

    It was a message from William.

    ¡°Do you like the flowers? Happy Birthday!¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 653

    ?Chapter 653:

    Ste was caught off guard. She hadn¡¯t expected them to be from him.

    Lowering her gaze, she typed back, ¡°Thank you. I really like them.¡±

    His reply came almost immediately. ¡°If you like them, why not open the door and let me in?¡±

    Ste turned her eyes toward the door, and when she opened it again, she found William standing there, holding several bags of groceries in his arms. He was dressed casually, his usual sharpness softened by a warm smile that made him seem more approachable than ever.

    With a teasing tone, she said, ¡°Mr. Briggs, it¡¯s my birthday today. Don¡¯t tell me you expect me to cook for you?¡±

    In her head, she thought that if he really was, then he must be the definition of a ve driver.

    William chuckled. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ve hired a professional chef toe over. Dinner will be made right here. I thought it¡¯d be better than dragging you out.¡±

    He knew she didn¡¯t feel like going out, so he brought everything to her instead. His thoughtfulness caught her off guard. She looked at him with surprise, then simply said, ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Among the groceries, he also had a neatly wrapped gift box. Once everything was ced in the kitchen, he walked over and handed it to her. ¡°Here, open it. It¡¯s your birthday present.¡±

    Ste had assumed the flowers were already the gift. She hadn¡¯t expected anything more.

    She took the box, untied the ribbon, and carefully opened it. The moment she saw what was inside, her calm expression lit up with excitement.

    ¡°Oh wow! This is that rare, out-of-print programming book! Where on earth did you find it?¡±

    Ste had been wanting this book for ages, but it had been out of print for two decades. The few people who still had a copy either treated it as a prized collectible or kept it close as their go-to programming reference. She had looked everywhere for it and eventually gave up, thinking she¡¯d never get her hands on it.

    That¡¯s why she was genuinely stunned that William had managed to track it down and give it to her as a gift.

    ???€$? ?§ß???€?$ 1? g??l??ov?l??.????m

    ¡°Found it on an online auction site,¡± William said casually. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it.¡±

    He made it sound so effortless, as if he hadn¡¯t gone through a long, meticulous search just to surprise her.<fna322> Checktest chapters at find(?)ovel</fna322>

    Ste had searched countless online auction sites in the past, so she knew exactly how hard it was to track down this particr book. It wasn¡¯t just about knowing where to look¡ªit also required serious patience and a bit of luck too.

    Now, holding the book gently against her chest, she felt a kind of joy that far surpassed what she had felt when the flowers arrived earlier.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Briggs,¡± she said sincerely. ¡°I really love this. It¡¯s the best birthday gift I¡¯ve ever gotten.¡±

    She meant every word. Back when she was married to Marc, he used to give her things like nes or bracelets that were fancy on the surface but often thoughtless. One year, he even repeated the exact same bracelet from the year before, just in a different box. Over time, Ste had learned to stop expecting anything meaningful on her birthday.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 654

    ?Chapter 654:<fnfed8> Readplete version only at find?novel</fnfed8>

    William¡¯s brows lifted slightly at her words. Hearing her say it was the best gift she had ever received gave him a quiet sense of pride. All the time and effort he had spent finding it suddenly feltpletely worth it.

    Soon after, the chef William had arranged arrived, dressed in a crisp uniform and a tall chef¡¯s hat. He moved confidently through Ste¡¯s kitchen, and before long, the rich aroma of food filled the air.

    Just the smell alone made her stomach growl, and it reminded her how good a meal could be when made by a professional.

    Then came another ring at the door. Ste started to get up, but William beat her to it. ¡°I¡¯ll get it. I¡¯ll take out the trash on my way.¡±

    He opened the door, and upon seeing who was outside, grabbed the trash bag from beside the door and stepped out, closing it gently behind him.

    Standing there was Marc, holding a bouquet of roses. The moment he saw William, his expression darkened.

    ¡°What are you doing at Ste¡¯s ce?¡±

    William met his re with a smirk. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. It¡¯s her birthday, and I¡¯d rather not let you ruin her mood. So how about you turn around and leave?¡±

    Marc had finally remembered Ste¡¯s birthday and even slipped in by paying someone to use their parking pass, only to be blocked at the door by William before he could even say a word to her.

    Tensing his jaw, Marc said stiffly, ¡°I came to see Ste. Who are you to decide if she wants to see me or not?¡±

    William gave a shortugh, like he wasn¡¯t even taking the argument seriously. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see. Boss, superior, colleague, friend¡­ none of those ring a bell for you? Then how about this¡­ boyfriend?¡±

    Thatst one struck Marc like a blow. He didn¡¯t care about the job titles, but boyfriend was different.

    ¡°Are you and Stel dating now?¡± he asked, almost in disbelief.

    William didn¡¯t even flinch. He didn¡¯t confirm, and he didn¡¯t deny it either. Instead, he stared him down and said coldly, ¡°If you keep hanging around here, I¡¯ll call security.¡±

    He knew full well that Marc had gotten in without proper clearance. If security got involved, Marc might end up in the station for a night, at the very least. Marc clenched his hand tightly, but in the end, he had no choice but to leave.

    g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s, where stories thrive

    William stood at the door, watching silently as Marc disappeared into the elevator. Once he was out of sight, William took the trash down using a different elevator and returned calmly.

    When Ste opened the door again, she was surprised to see only William standing there, and this time holding a cake. Curious, she asked, ¡°Who was at the door just now?¡±

    ¡°Just a food delivery,¡± William replied smoothly as he stepped inside with the cake.

    About an hourter, the chef finished cooking the meal. After presenting the dishes neatly on the dining table, he bowed politely to both William and Ste, tidied up the kitchen, and left without making a sound.

    Ste looked at the table in disbelief. It waspletely covered in exquisite dishes, like something straight out of a fine-dining magazine. ¡°There¡¯s so much food, how are we supposed to finish all of this?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 655

    ?Chapter 655:

    William let out a softugh. ¡°It¡¯s your birthday. It doesn¡¯t matter if we finish it or not. We¡¯re here to enjoy it.¡±

    He pulled out a chair for her like a proper gentleman, then took his seat across the table.<fnb30e> Latest content published on find~novel</fnb30e>

    Before leaving, the chef had even arranged the table with rose petals and candlelight, giving the whole room a soft, romantic glow.

    As Ste sat down and quietly picked at the beautifully ted steak, she felt a touch awkward, unsure of how to act in such a romantic setup. The only sound in the room came from the quiet clinks of their cutlery. Outside, the glowing lights from the tall buildings lit up the city and reflected softly on herrge windows.

    After they finished eating, William brought out the cake from the fridge and began cing candles on top of it.

    ¡°Make a wish,¡± he said, looking at her gently.

    Ste stared at the candles. It had been years since shest made a birthday wish. In fact, thest time she did was probably back in her school days.

    As if reading her thoughts, William smiled and added, ¡°You get three wishes. Take your time.¡±

    Ste thought hard, but only two wishes came to mind. The third just wouldn¡¯te, so she smiled and said, ¡°I only have two. Since you¡¯re spending my birthday with me today, I¡¯ll give one of mine to you.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t someone who usually put much faith in birthday wishes, but something about the soft candlelight inside and the neon signs glowing outside made her take it seriously this time.

    With her hands sped, she closed her eyes slowly, letting the warm light dance over her face.

    A minuteter, she opened her eyes and gently blew out the candle.

    William looked at her softly and asked in a warm voice, ¡°So, what did you wish for?¡±

    Ste turned to nce at him. ¡°If I tell you, it won¡¯te true, right?¡±

    William smiled. ¡°Well, since you gave me a wish, I¡¯ll tell you mine. I wished for all of your wishes toe true.¡±

    When she saw the sincerity on his face and those clear, deep eyes, Ste felt her heart skip a beat.

    I??§Ö$§ä ¡é#¦Áp?¨º§ñs I§Ú galno¦Íels

    Flustered, she quickly looked away. ¡°I¡¯ll go do the dishes,¡± she mumbled, almost rushing to the kitchen.

    With her back to William, she ced a hand over her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

    ¡°Get a grip, Ste,¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°You really think William has feelings for you? Don¡¯t be foolish.¡±

    She took her time in the kitchen. Only once her racing heart had settled did she return to the living room.

    The lights were on now, bright and crisp, clearing away all that lingering warmth and confusion.

    Walking over, she said softly, ¡°Thank you for being with me tonight, William. It really meant a lot.¡±

    He stood up, still looking at her. ¡°You¡¯re wee. As long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s enough.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 656

    ?Chapter 656:

    He made his way toward the door, his tone calm, but underneath it was a quiet hope that she might ask him to stay.

    But Ste didn¡¯t. Instead, she walked him to the door and handed him a slice of cake from earlier. ¡°Here, take this with you. And goodnight, William.¡±

    William returned to his room, a little deted, staring at the slice of cake in silence. After all his efforts, she still seemed as distant as ever.

    He sighed. It looked like he still had a long road ahead.

    After Ste¡¯s birthday, Nina kept a low profile at the research institute. Maybe the fallout with Frank had shaken her more than expected. Either way, she hadn¡¯t approached Ste in days.

    Ste was grateful for the quiet, and without distractions, the project her team was handling began to move along faster than before.

    One evening after work, Ste and Sandra stopped by a newly opened bakery to grab some sweets. As they stepped out, they spotted someone familiar across the street.

    Marc. He looked nothing like the confident man he used to be. His stubbled chin and tired face made it clear that he hadn¡¯t been taking care of himself.

    As soon as their eyes met, Marc stiffened. Ste looked radiant, fresh out of the shop with a smile on her face. He braced himself, assuming she¡¯d take one look at his sorry state and mock him.

    She hadn¡¯t expected to see him either, not like this. Rumors said Walsh Group hadn¡¯t signed a single deal in weeks.

    Marc held his breath as she came down the steps toward him. His voice was tense and defensive. ¡°If you¡¯re here tough at me, go ahead.¡±

    The truth was, he knew he didn¡¯t deserve her sympathy. Back when he was managing Walsh Group, even after snatching her patent, he¡¯d treated her like she was beneath him. And now, with thepany nearly falling apart, she had every reason to look down on him.

    But Ste saw it differently. No matter what had happened, thepany itself hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. So she looked at him and said, ¡°Marc, I¡¯m not here to mock you. If you really want to bring Walsh Group back, then stop drowning in regret and start sharpening your skills.¡±

    Her words were simple, but they hit hard. Without saying anything more, she walked away with Sandra.

    ????t??st ch??pt??rs in g??lno¦Íels.??????

    Marc stood frozen for a while, but something in his eyes had shifted. Her words echoed in his mind. For the first time in weeks, he didn¡¯t feel hopeless. There was still a chance¡­ if he was willing to fight for it.

    Ste¡¯s words hit Marc harder than he cared to admit. He had been running around, chasing partnerships, pulling strings¡ªyet the core problem remained untouched. Hispany¡¯s tech hadn¡¯t improved one bit. She was right. Raw determination wasn¡¯t enough. He needed real skill.<fnfef2> Chapters first released on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnfef2>

    As she walked away, Marc stood there, frustration simmering beneath the surface. She had said only a few words and cut right through him. He had worked like hell to get here, but in front of her, it always felt like he was falling short. Was he destined to always becking before her?

    Marc didn¡¯t dwell on the thought. He turned, got in his car, and drove straight back to the Walsh Group. The moment he stepped into the office, he gave out a bold new directive: to find top-level researchers¡ªanyone who could develop a program better than Ste¡¯s MORE ONE. If anyone delivered, he was prepared to give them Walsh Group shares.

    .

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 Chapter 657

    ?Chapter 657:

    That deration fired up the team. Kody, sensing Marc¡¯s renewed resolve, quickly mobilized the staff to reach out through all their contacts. Soon enough, a self-rmendationnded on his desk.

    Marc waited in his office. Soon after, the door opened with the confident click of heels.<fn6484> Newest update provided by Find~Novel</fn6484>

    He looked up¡ªmildly surprised to see a woman walk in.

    She strolled over and sat down across from him, legs crossed, gaze direct. ¡°Marc,¡± she said, smooth and deliberate, ¡°I know exactly what you need. And I have it.¡±

    Marc frowned slightly. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    The woman leaned back, her tone smug. ¡°Nina Carter. I was in the same research institute as Ste. We were rivals.¡± She paused, then added slowly, ¡°You hate her, don¡¯t you? If it weren¡¯t for her, you wouldn¡¯t be in this mess¡­ while she¡¯s off smiling with some other man. You¡¯re not okay with that, are you?¡±

    Marc¡¯s expression darkened. Her words were hitting too close to home. He didn¡¯t respond, just stared at her with narrowed eyes. ¡°What¡¯s your angle?¡± He wasn¡¯t about to trust someone blindly again.

    Nina smiled, unfazed. She pulled out a file and tossed it on his desk. ¡°This patent? It outperforms MORE ONE. I¡¯m offering a coboration.¡±

    Marc flipped through the documents, and his brows shot up in shock. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± he asked, still skeptical.

    Nina raised a brow, voice calm. ¡°Because I can¡¯t stand Ste. And you clearly hate her. Simple. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡±

    She knew exactly what drove him¡ªthat aching need to prove himself to Ste¡ªand she used it to her advantage.

    ¡°I¡¯ll provide the tech. I just want one thing in return,¡± she said coldly. ¡°When Walsh Group rises again, I want you to crush her. Leave her no chance to bounce back.¡±

    Her eyes were sharp, brimming with cold hatred. Only by watching Ste fall, watching her be a helpless wreck, would Nina feel even a sliver of peace.

    Marc stared back at her, then suddenly said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯m in.¡±

    Nina blinked, surprised by how quickly he agreed. ¡°You won¡¯t back out when it matters, right?¡±

    Every chapter lives on g a lno vels ;m

    After all, he had tried to win Ste back for quite some time.

    Marc chuckled bitterly. Yeah, he¡¯d tried. He¡¯d swallowed his pride, tried to win Ste back¡ªbut every time, she brushed him off like he was beneath her. Eventually, even the strongest feelings run dry. Now, all he wanted was payback. To show her what it meant to choose wrong.

    Nina grinned, satisfied with his attitude, and held out her hand. ¡°Well then, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said, ¡°here¡¯s to our partnership.¡±

    Once she left, Marc wasted no time. He handed the patent over to the tech department for evaluation.

    The results came back quickly. It was real. The patent was solid¡ªmore advanced than Ste¡¯s previous work.

    Marc finally let out a slow breath. For the first time in a while, his nerves settled. Just then, his phone buzzed. A new message popped up.

    ¡°Meet the client at this address at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Don¡¯t bete.¡±

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 Chapter 658

    ?Chapter 658:

    Short. To the point. He didn¡¯t need a signature to know who it was from. Nina. He saved the number under her name and started preparing for the next day¡¯s meeting.

    At the research institute, Ste was standing in William¡¯s office, holding her data sheets as she walked him through the findings.

    William nodded now and then, pretending to study her data, but his eyes kept drifting back to her graceful side profile.

    After catching him staring one too many times, Ste finally snapped, ¡°Mr. Briggs, is the data written on my face?¡±

    She was clearly annoyed. What was the point of exining if he was too busy staring at her instead of the papers?

    But William didn¡¯t flinch. Calm as ever, he replied, ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re beautiful. I couldn¡¯t help looking.¡±

    Caught off guard by his bluntness, Ste gave him a sharp look. ¡°This document needs your signature today. How are you supposed to catch any issues if you don¡¯t even read it?¡±

    William smiled slightly, still rxed. ¡°I¡¯ve read it. Everything¡¯s fine.¡±

    He had already scanned through it earlier¡ªhe was quick like that. The only reason he asked Ste to go over it was so he could spend more time with her.

    Realizing what he was up to, Ste shoved the document toward him. ¡°Then sign it,¡± she said tly.

    William didn¡¯t argue. He picked up a pen and signed it right away.

    Without another word, Ste took the signed papers and left. She had spent thirty minutes in his office only to be stared at the whole time.

    During lunch break, William brought desserts for everyone at the institute. They were allid out in the hall for people to pick up, except for one. William personally handed Ste hers.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard. Have some dessert and take a break,¡± he said.

    Sandra noticed the cake and gasped, ¡°Whoa, you got a whole cake? Ours are just little slices! And yours has so many strawberries!¡±

    Jamir, who was sitting nearby, quickly pulled Sandra away before she could say more.

    Explore captivating tales on  .<fndc5c> Read full story at find?novel</fndc5c>

    Meanwhile, Ste, feeling a little awkward, took the cake and quietly said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Neb has a partner meeting tomorrow, so I¡¯ll wait for you outside the institute after work. Thanks again for your hard work.¡±

    Before she could say anything, William had already turned and walked away.

    As soon as he disappeared from view, Sandra came rushing back with a teasing grin. ¡°Sylvia, he¡¯s definitely into you! Everyone else got tiny pieces, but yours was a full cake. Do you think he bought desserts for everyone just so he could give you one himself?¡±

    Ste looked at the cake, and her heart warmed. So, it really had been him. Evenst time, it must have been him as well.

    ¡°Sylvia, I seriously think William loves you. Do you like him too?¡±

    Sandra¡¯s question pulled Ste back to reality. She looked over and replied gently, ¡°Just because you like someone doesn¡¯t mean you have to be with them. And William¡­ his feelings aren¡¯t like that.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 659

    ?Chapter 659:

    Sandra blinked in confusion. She didn¡¯t quite understand what Ste meant, but before she could ask, Ste had already returned to her desk.

    Still curious, Sandra leaned toward Jamir, who was quietly reviewing some data. ¡°Hey, she said his feelings aren¡¯t like that. What does that even mean?¡±

    Jamir, holding up a test tube, sighed and shook his head. ¡°Can you stop asking questions for one minute? Do you carry a whole quiz show in your head?¡±

    Sandra scowled. ¡°I¡¯m just curious, okay? It¡¯s for Sylvia¡¯s sake!¡±

    He ignored her and went back to his work, while Sandra stood there, still wondering what Ste really meant.

    Around noon, William did something different and invited Ste out for lunch. Instead of eating their usual meal inside the institute, he took her to a nice ce nearby.

    They sat across from each other, enjoying the quiet moment. While they were talking, Ste happened to notice a very handsome man walking past on the street.

    He had shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair and gave off a calm, artistic vibe, like someone who studied the arts or literature.

    With her chin resting in her hand, Ste casually said, ¡°That guy¡¯s really good-looking.¡±

    William followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow when he spotted the man. ¡°Is that your type?¡± he asked.<fnefd2> Official source is findnovel</fnefd2>

    Ste gave him a sideways nce, her lips curving into a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you think he¡¯s handsome?¡±

    To her, men like that¡ªwell-groomed, a bit artistic, and effortlessly good-looking¡ªwere rare. There was something charming about them that stood out from the usual crowd.

    As she talked about it, her eyes lit up, almost as if she were curious to see how William would respond.

    But instead of agreeing, William gave her a puzzled look. ¡°Why would I think that?¡±

    He honestly couldn¡¯t understand what she expected. He was a man too, so why would he have an opinion on the attractiveness of another man?

    More content now at g?l¦Ç¦Òv???s

    Seeing William¡¯s genuinely confused expression, Ste let out a soft sigh and teased, ¡°Come on, William. We¡¯ve known each other forever. Why are you still pretending around me? Just admit that you like men. I won¡¯t think any differently of you.¡±

    William was stunned. Of all the things she could have said, that wasn¡¯t one he had ever seening. He opened his mouth to respond but was left speechless for a moment, trying to process what she had just used him of.

    After a pause, he looked at her seriously and asked, ¡°Wait, Ste, do you really think I¡¯m gay?¡±

    That caught her off guard. ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Now she was the confused one. If he wasn¡¯t gay, why did he get so strange whenever she talked to Steven before?

    William let out a long sigh, resting his elbows on the table. ¡°Ste, listen to me carefully. I don¡¯t like men. I¡¯m straight. And I¡¯ve had feelings for you this whole time. When I kissed you on the rooftop, that wasn¡¯t because I was drunk. I meant every word I said to you then and every time since. None of it was a joke.¡±

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 Chapter 660

    Chapter 660:

    He couldn¡¯t figure out why, whenever he tried to be sincere, she always assumed he was joking. Did she really think he¡¯d mess around about something like this?

    ¡°Honestly,¡± he continued, ¡°I¡¯ve tried hinting. I¡¯ve tried being subtle. But clearly, that¡¯s not working. So I¡¯m spelling it out for you now. I¡¯m into you. I¡¯ve been serious this whole time. Do you finally understand?¡±

    Ste stared at him, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She had only been in one rtionship before, with Marc, and it had smoothly turned into marriage. He had said he wanted to marry her, and she simply agreed. She never thought of herself as someone clueless about love. But now, listening to William, she wasn¡¯t so sure anymore. Had she really misread everything?

    William leaned forward slightly, his voice softer this time. ¡°Stop wondering if I like men. I don¡¯t. The only person I¡¯ve ever fallen for is you.¡±

    Ste felt her breath hitch. She hadn¡¯t expected someone like William to say something so openly heartfelt. When she looked into his eyes, they were calm and steady, like the sky just before sunrise.

    She could hear the frantic thud of her heartbeat, loud and clear. It felt like she was falling in love.

    ¡°Why not give him a chance?¡± a tiny voice whispered in her mind.

    But almost immediately, another part of her pushed back. ¡°What if he¡¯s just saying what you want to hear? Men can be unpredictable. Don¡¯t forget he almost married Willow.¡±

    Conflicting thoughts tugged at her from opposite ends, leaving her tangled in hesitation.

    Just then, William, noticing her zoning out, quietly reached toward her face. She blinked and snapped back, meeting his eyes. His long fingers softly brushed the edge of her lips, wiping something away.<fn096c> ?????? ???? find?novel</fn096c>

    ¡°Just a crumb,¡± he said softly.

    Realizing she had food on her face the whole time, her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She quickly grabbed a napkin, dabbing at her mouth. She couldn¡¯t believe she had been so swept away by his confession of love that she hadn¡¯t even noticed.

    William let out a low chuckle at how flustered she was. ¡°No need to get so shy. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re strangers.¡±

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???§àm hosts thrilling adventures

    His teasing tone made her heart pound faster. After all, they had already shared more personal moments than a simple touch to the lips.

    But hearing it out loud only made her squirm even more. She scolded him in a hushed tone, ¡°We¡¯re outside, William! Can you not be like this here?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little annoyed. Didn¡¯t he ever get embarrassed about anything?

    After lunch, William walked Ste back to the research institute.

    They strolled side by side, and for once, Ste kept her head slightly down. A faint blush dusted her ears¡ªsomething rare for her.

    Neither of them said a word, but even so, people around them could sense something different in the air. They didn¡¯t know what had happened during lunch, but the vibe was unmistakable.

    That afternoon, the institute held a meeting for the project team.

    Sandra, Elbert, and a few other colleagues sat with Ste.

    .

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Have a really really nice weekend dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (¤Å ? _?)¤Å?

    .

 Chapter 661

    ?Chapter 661:

    William stood at the front of the room, his tone calm but authoritative. ¡°How¡¯s the progress on your projects?¡± he asked. The groups took turns presenting updates.

    William skimmed through each report, flipping quickly through the pages. If nothing stood out as a major issue, he didn¡¯tment much.

    But when he got to the report from Ste¡¯s group, something changed. He slowed down. Page by page, he flipped through it¡ªtaking his time.

    Ste noticed right away. Her brows furrowed slightly. Was there something wrong with their experiment?

    She had personally double-checked everything. There shouldn¡¯t be any issues.

    Still, unease crept in. Her hands clenched under the table.<fnba1c> The source of th?s content is Find~Novel</fnba1c>

    The room grew quieter by the second.

    A few people snuck nces at Ste, assuming she was about to get dragged over the coals. Some even looked a little too pleased about it.

    Finally, William closed the report and set it down. Then he looked straight at Ste.

    Her nerves shot up again. She couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Mr. Briggs, is there a problem with our data?¡± Everything had been normal during thest check with Paul. How could William have spotted a major issue now?

    His eyes locked onto hers. For a moment, he didn¡¯t say anything.

    The air between them tensed, so much so that the others around them started shifting ufortably in their seats. Then he spoke, low and calm. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, your team¡¯s progress is impressive. This was the most urate report out of all the groups.¡±

    Ste blinked. Her heart, which had been in her throat, finally dropped back into ce.

    Still, confusion lingered. If everything was fine, then why had he taken so long with the report? Why the staring?

    She nced at him suspiciously, slowly realizing¡ªhe¡¯d done it on purpose. She narrowed her eyes and shot him a re. William,pletely unfazed, gave her a small, smug smile.

    Around them, the team was stunned. Everyone had seen the interaction¡ªher re, his smile¡ªit wasn¡¯t subtle.

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    A momentter, William stood up and ended the meeting. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. You¡¯re dismissed.¡±

    As he walked toward the door, he paused, turned slightly, and said casually, ¡°Ste,e with me.¡±

    Gasps echoed quietly around the room. Ste gathered her things and followed him out.

    The moment the door closed behind them, Sandra leaned toward Jamir and Elbert, unable to keep quiet. ¡°Did you see that?¡± she whispered. ¡°There¡¯s something going on between those two.¡±

    Jamir, usually oblivious to matters of romance, surprisingly agreed with Sandra¡¯s observation, feeling the peculiar vibe between Ste and William. It was as if Ste and William were flirting right in front of them.

    ¡°Are they together now?¡± Sandra asked, her toneced with uncertainty. It didn¡¯t make sense. Not long ago, Ste had insisted they weren¡¯t involved. Could things have changed that fast?

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 Chapter 662

    ?Chapter 662:

    Meanwhile, in William¡¯s office, Ste stood by his desk, arms crossed. ¡°Why¡¯d you call me in here?¡±

    William tilted his head toward the sofa. ¡°Sit.¡± His tone was calm, but there was a hint of something else underneath.

    ¡°Can¡¯t this wait until after work?¡± She sighed. ¡°We really shouldn¡¯t be mixing work with personal stuff like this.¡±

    Everyone in the meeting room had definitely noticed his unusual behavior.

    William was sitting across from Ste, carefully making a cup of coffee. ¡°This is the Geisha blend I asked Luca to pick up earlier. I remember you like this one. Go ahead, give it a try.¡±

    Ste froze for a second, caught off guard. She had never told him she liked Geisha coffee. How did he even know?

    The warm, rich aroma filled the room, wrapping around her like a gentle hug. She lifted the cup to her lips and took a slow sip. The vor was smooth and deep, with aplexity she rarely experienced. ¡°These beans are amazing,¡± she murmured.

    She wasn¡¯t a coffee connoisseur, but she did enjoy brewing her own every morning.

    She knew enough to recognize that this blend wasn¡¯t something you¡¯d find just anywhere.

    ¡°If you like it, take the rest home,¡± William said casually. He pulled out a small bag of beans from the drawer and ced it on the desk. ¡°You have a grinder at home, right?¡±

    He seemed unsure. Maybe he hadn¡¯t paid much attention thest time he visited.

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened when she saw thebel on the bag.

    Her first thought was how ridiculously expensive it must be. He really bought something this pricey just for her? That tiny bag probably cost a fortune. She frowned slightly. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to save these for entertaining business partners at Briggs?¡±

    William chuckled. ¡°You think they deserve beans this good?¡±

    She didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. Then he added calmly, ¡°Just take it as a gift. To celebrate us being together.¡±<fnf856> Newest update provided by ?ovelFind</fnf856>

    Ste narrowed her eyes. ¡°When exactly did I agree to be with you?¡±

    Read it first on g?lno?els.c?m

    But despite her tone, the blush she had tried so hard to hide during the meeting returned to her cheeks.

    William¡¯s voice came out soft and teasing as he said two simple words. ¡°Right now.¡±

    Ste blinked, a little stunned. ¡°What?¡±

    He leaned in slightly and added, ¡°Your face is saying everything your mouth won¡¯t, Stel.¡±

    Hearing that, a chill ran down her spine. She quickly cupped her cheeks with both hands. ¡°It¡¯s because your office is way too warm!¡±

    Before she could gather her thoughts, William had stepped closer. In an instant, the space between them disappeared.

    His scent, soft sandalwood, wrapped around her like a fog, clouding her mind. And then, just like that, she found herself pinned between the sofa and his chest.

    ¡°Still feeling warm with the AC set to twenty-three degrees?¡± he asked with a smug look.

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 Chapter 663

    ?Chapter 663:

    Ste¡¯s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. She bit her lip, unsure what to say. ¡°William, this is the research institute!¡±

    Her cheeks were still burning. This wasn¡¯t her home or the Briggs Group. If anyone walked in and saw them like this, she wouldn¡¯t know where to hide.

    Just as William was about to say something, her phone rang in her pocket.

    She immediately straightened up, pulled it out, and saw Sharon¡¯s name shing on the screen. cing a hand on William¡¯s shoulder, she gently pushed him back and answered the call in her most serious tone. ¡°Hi, Sharon. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Sharon¡¯s voice sounded firm. ¡°There¡¯s been progress on that thing you asked me to look into.¡±<fnd828> Th?s chapter is updated by find¡¤novel</fnd828>

    Ste sprang back so fast that she nearly bumped into William¡¯s chin. But she didn¡¯t seem to care and rushed out of his office. ¡°What did you find? Tell me.¡±

    After searching for so many years and constantly hitting dead ends, she had nearly lost hope. She didn¡¯t expect Sharon to find something now of all times.

    ¡°It¡¯s a bitplicated,¡± Sharon replied. ¡°Better if we talk in person. Come to the salon when you¡¯re free.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stop by right after work!¡±

    There were just under two hours left in her shift. Although she was anxious, she didn¡¯t want to leave early.

    Sharon said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for you here.¡±

    As the call ended, Ste turned to nce at William¡¯s closed office door. She hesitated for a second but ultimately decided not to go back in.

    He had only called her in to give her the coffee beans, and if she returned now, she¡¯d probably have to deal with more of his teasing. It was safer to head back to theb and focus on work.

    At exactly five-thirty, Ste left the institute and made her way to Sharon¡¯s beauty salon.

    Ste was sitting on the ground floor when she spotted Sharoning down the stairs.

    Sharon¡¯s expression was grim, and she had a lightweightptop tucked under one arm.

    More to discover g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m

    ¡°Stel,e take a look. I found something,¡± she said, her voice low as she sat down beside Ste and opened theptop. ¡°This is some data from before your adoptive parents¡¯ ident. I tracked down the license te of the hit-and-run car¡ªand I found the driver. He gave me a few leads.¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart clenched. ¡°Wait¡­ you actually found him?¡±

    Her adoptive parents had died in a terrible ident¡ªtheir car went off a cliff, both of them dying on the spot.

    Back then, she¡¯d still been in school. Her teacher was the one who broke the news.

    The Russells had taken her in after her mom passed away, giving her a roof, warmth, a sense of belonging.

    They once told her that her mother had been hunted by unknown people, but they never knew exactly who was behind it.

    Over the years, Ste had quietly done her own digging.

    She learned her mother had worked on a top-secret weapons project. After the details leaked, someone went after her, trying to get their hands on the ess codes. Her mom refused¡ªand they hunted her down.

    Her adoptive parents had always urged her to let go of the past and live a normal life.

    And just when she was starting to genuinely ept them, starting to move on¡­ they had an ident.

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 Chapter 664

    ?Chapter 664:

    The ident had always felt off. The official reports made it sound routine, clean¡ªjust another tragic mishap. But Ste had never bought that. As she got older, that gut feeling only grew stronger. She¡¯d looked into it over the years, dug into records, chased every lead¡ªbut nothing ever stuck.

    Everything looked too perfect. No ws.

    Her adoptive dad had always been a cautious driver. He never sped, never took risks. That road? They¡¯d driven it a hundred times without a single issue. So how did they just suddenly crash into another car and fly off a cliff? It didn¡¯t add up.

    She¡¯d pulled Sharon into the search. Even Josie had helped.

    And still, for the longest time¡ªnothing.

    But maybe persistence really did pay off. Because now¡ªfinally¡ªthey had something.

    Sharon frowned and gave her a look. ¡°Stel¡­ you might want to brace yourself. This isn¡¯t what you were hoping for.¡±

    Ste blinked, confused¡ªuntil Sharon tapped the screen. A name appeared in bold letters: Promethic Group.<fn1813> Content originallyes from F¦Énd£Îovel</fn1813>

    Sharon exined, ¡°The driver said someone gave him the job. He never saw their face¡ªjust got a business card. ¡®Promethic Group¡¯ was printed on it. He carried out the task, then skipped the country. Stayed hidden for years. He only just came back.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows drew together. Promethic Group¡­

    Then it hit her. That was a subsidiary of the Briggs Group.

    She froze, staring at the screen, her eyes wide.

    The Promethic Group?

    It was the Briggs family?

    Sharon saw her expression and gently reached out, cing her hand over hers. ¡°Don¡¯t freak out, okay? When all this happened, William was just a kid. He couldn¡¯t have been involved.¡±

    She knew how close Ste and William had gotten.

    She understood why Ste was so shaken. It wasn¡¯t just about the truth¡ªit was about William.

    Read thetest updates at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    She spoke gently. ¡°Stel, if you really have feelings for him¡­ don¡¯t let this be a wall between you two. He didn¡¯t choose to be born into the Briggs family. This wasn¡¯t his doing.¡±

    Ste stared at her, eyes ssy, lips pressed into a thin line. After a moment, she said quietly, ¡°He might not have known¡­ but he¡¯s still a Briggs, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    Sharon was at a loss for words.

    Ste¡¯s voice trembled, but she kept going. ¡°Even if he had no idea, it was still his family that took my adoptive parents from me. They were good people. And Promethic Group destroyed them¡ªfor what? Greed?¡± Her throat tightened. ¡°How am I supposed to be with him, knowing that? How can I live with that?¡±

    Each word choked her. Her chest felt tight, like she couldn¡¯t breathe.

    Her heart was bleeding, raw.

    Just earlier today, she¡¯d finally let herself admit how she felt about William. She¡¯d epted that he wasn¡¯t gay.

    They had built a connection, and she had been willing to give their rtionship a try.

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 Chapter 665

    ?Chapter 665:

    But now she knew. He was the heir to the people who murdered her adoptive parents¡­ perhaps even her birth mother. Fate was cruel.

    No matter how much she liked him, no matter how much they¡¯d just started to open up to each other¡­ that was a blood debt. And love¡ªlove didn¡¯t stand a chance against something that deep.

    Ste looked at Sharon, her voice low, eyes clouded with conflict. ¡°Sharon, I swore I¡¯d get justice for them. They can¡¯t just die without answers. Now that we finally have a lead¡­ I can¡¯t turn a blind eye.¡±

    Sharon stared at her, heart heavy. Over the years, Ste had only ever truly loved two people¡ªMarc, who betrayed her¡­ and William. And neither had ended well.

    ¡°Stel,¡± Sharon wanted to say something, to offerfort¡ªbut no words came. What could she possibly say? If she were in Ste¡¯s shoes, she wouldn¡¯t know what to do either. She couldn¡¯t tell her what was right or wrong. She didn¡¯t have that kind of rity.

    In the end, Sharon just pulled her into a hug and whispered, ¡°No matter what you choose, I¡¯ve got your back. I¡¯ll always be your strongest support.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes stung. The tears slipped down silently, soaking into her cor.

    An hourter, Ste left the beauty salon, copies of the documents tucked under her arm.

    She stepped out of the elevator in her apartment building and headed for her door. Just as she reached for the handle, she heard a familiar sound¡ªthe soft click of William¡¯s door opening across the hall.

    William stepped out and caught sight of her. ¡°You disappeared right after work,¡± he said gently. ¡°You weren¡¯t off meeting someone else, were you?¡±

    Ste looked at him, but her eyes were dull, empty of their usual light.

    His smile faltered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    He moved toward her, reaching out to hold her wrist. She pulled away. ¡°William,¡± she said coldly, ¡°don¡¯t treat me like this anymore.¡±

    He froze, stunned. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± What had he done?

    Ste¡¯s throat tightened. She turned away so he wouldn¡¯t see the tears brimming in her eyes.

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    Clenching her door handle, she said in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t have feelings for you. I can¡¯t ept your proposal. From now on, whether at theb or at Neb Group, we¡¯re just colleagues. Let¡¯s keep it professional. Please don¡¯t bother me anymore.¡±

    Before he could say another word, she slipped inside and shut the door with a loud bang, leaving him standing there¡ªstunned, speechless.

    William stood outside for a long time, trying to process what had just happened. He looked down at the bag of freshly ground coffee beans in his hand¡ªmeant as a small gift for her¡ªand suddenly felt ridiculous.

    He¡¯d thought their feelings were mutual, that they were both just waiting for the right moment to break the ice.

    He thought she was shy. That maybe she just didn¡¯t know how to say it.

    But now¡­ she suddenly wanted to draw a line.

    No exnation. She didn¡¯t even give him the chance to question it.

    William stood there for what felt like forever, but in the end, he didn¡¯t knock. He turned and walked back into his apartment, quietly shutting his own door.

    Only a hallway separated them now¡ªbut it felt like an entire world.

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    .<fn7efe> Latest content published on find(?)ovel</fn7efe>

 Chapter 666

    ?Chapter 666:

    Inside her bedroom, Ste finally broke down.

    She locked the door, threw herself on the bed, and buried her face in the pillow. The sobs came in waves, silent but gut-wrenching, her tears soaking through the fabric.

    Only now did she truly understand just how cruel fate could be.

    In the days that followed, Ste threw herself back into her usual routine¡ªworking in theb, proofreading data, burying herself in silence.

    Sandra had thought things were starting to move forward between Ste and William after thatstb interaction.

    But now, every time William came near, Ste would quietly turn and walk away.

    Even in the cafeteria, if she spotted him from across the room, she¡¯d stand up immediately and clear her tray¡ªanything to avoid sitting near him.

    In theb, Sandra watched as Ste kept her head down, focused entirely on her experiments. She leaned over and tugged Jamir¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Hey, do you think Ste and William are fighting again?¡±

    Jamir shot her a warning look and motioned for her to stay quiet. Even though Sandra had kept her voice low, theb was quiet¡ªand Ste could definitely hear her.

    Sandra pressed her lips together and didn¡¯t say another word.

    As Ste wrapped up her day and stepped out of the institute, she spotted Rutherford casually leaning against a sleek ck car parked nearby.

    The moment he saw her, he waved enthusiastically. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, off work already?¡±

    Ste blinked in mild surprise. Rutherford didn¡¯t usually show up in Choria unless it was for something important. Thest time she¡¯d seen him around, it was strictly business.

    Holding her bag, she walked over and asked softly, ¡°Are you here on another work trip, Mr. Schoenberg?¡±

    Heughed lightly. ¡°No, nothing official. A friend of mine is celebrating their birthday tonight, so I came for the party.¡±<fnf9a0> The source of th?s content is </fnf9a0>

    ¡°Oh.¡± Ste gave a slight nod, thinking that had nothing to do with her.

    Your imagination thrives at  punt

    She was just about to politely take her leave when Rutherford added, ¡°The party requires everyone to bring a date, and honestly, I don¡¯t know any other women here. Would you minding with me for a bit?¡±

    Ste hesitated. Her first instinct was to turn him down, but as if he sensed her hesitation, Rutherford continued, ¡°You won¡¯t have to stay long. Juste in with me, say a few hellos, and I¡¯ll make up a reason to drop you off early.¡±

    Ste understood how much social image mattered in circles like his. Showing up solo when everyone else had a partner could easily lead to teasing or worse. She remembered how Rutherford had really helped her out once, so she felt she owed him and finally agreed. ¡°Should I change into something formal?¡± she asked, figuring a birthday party like this was probably going to be pretty fancy.

    Rutherford smiled and shook his head. ¡°No need to go home. I picked up a dress for you earlier today and left it in the car.¡±

    She looked at him, surprised, then let out a smallugh. ¡°You were that sure I¡¯d say yes? What if I had ns?¡±

    Opening the car door like a true gentleman, he answered, ¡°Then the dress would¡¯ve just been a gift from my trip here.¡± It didn¡¯t seem to bother him either way.

    Ste wasn¡¯t put off by his confidence. She slipped into the car and settled into the seat. Just as Rutherford closed the door, her eyes caught sight of Williaming out of the institute.

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 Chapter 667

    ?Chapter 667:

    It was strange, almost like instinct, how his eyesnded straight on the car.

    For a moment, Ste wondered if he could see her through the tinted windows. But she quickly looked away andposed herself. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said calmly.

    At the party, Ste arrived with her arm tucked into Rutherford¡¯s, wearing the dress he¡¯d picked out for her.

    The event was set in arge garden, filled with soft lights and gentle music. As they walked in, Ste couldn¡¯t help but notice the nces sent their way.

    Sensing that she might be feeling a bit nervous, Rutherford gently patted her hand and said, ¡°Rx, they¡¯re just staring because you look incredible tonight.¡± His kind words made Ste chuckle softly, and some of her tension eased.

    Then Rutherford guided her over to his group of friends and introduced her. ¡°This is Ste Gilbert, the one I¡¯ve mentioned before.¡± That surprised Ste. He¡¯d talked about her?

    The group turned to look at her, their faces showing a mix of curiosity and interest.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Ste,¡± said one man in ck-rimmed sses. He looked more clever than bookish.

    ¡°That¡¯s James Holmes,¡± Rutherford added. ¡°We went to college together.¡± He then introduced the rest of the group one by one, and Ste greeted each with a polite smile and nod. After the introductions, Rutherford said, ¡°We¡¯ll take a quick walk. You guys go ahead and enjoy.¡±

    There was light teasing from the group as he led her away.

    Rutherford guided Ste toward a quieter corner of the garden and asked gently, ¡°Are you okay? If you¡¯re feeling out of ce, I¡¯ll take you home right now.¡±<fne4bb> For more chapters visit ?ovelFind</fne4bb>

    Ste, who was more used to indoor events, actually found the open-air setting refreshing and less overwhelming than she¡¯d expected.

    With a small smile, she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Go enjoy time with your friends. I¡¯ll head back myselfter.¡±

    But Rutherford quickly objected, saying, ¡°Not a chance. You¡¯re here with me. I¡¯ll make sure you get home safely.¡±

    His tone left no room for debate. Ste thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll call you when I want to go home.¡±

    ?????? ???????? ? g??lnov?l??.???m

    Knowing she wasn¡¯tfortable hanging around strangers, Rutherford didn¡¯t push her to rejoin the others. He gave her a small nod and let her go.

    Ste wandered alone for a while and was enjoying the peaceful surroundings until a familiar figure came into view.

    It was William.

    He¡¯d clearly spotted her too. After setting his drink aside, he made his way over.

    She instinctively wanted to step away, but then she heard his voice behind her. ¡°Ste, why are you avoiding me? Do I reallye off as that scary?¡±

    His words made her freeze. Her body tensed, and without meaning to, she clenched her teeth before slowly turning around to face him.

    ¡°What do you want, Mr. Briggs?¡± she asked in a t tone.

    Her coldness hit William like a sharp sting to the heart.

    ¡°Why have you been avoiding me?¡± William asked.

    Ste¡¯s expression didn¡¯t give anything away. Her face was calm, and her eyes were steady, almost like she was hollow, impossible to read.

    She said, ¡°I¡¯m not avoiding you.¡±

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    .

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 Chapter 668

    ?Chapter 668:

    Even as the words left her mouth, she knew they weren¡¯t exactly true. William let out a quietugh. ¡°You can say that to me all you want, but can you lie to your own heart?¡±

    Her heart?

    That question made her chest tighten for a moment. She hadn¡¯t let herself think about what her heart wanted.

    Then, as if someone snapped their fingers, she remembered something Jane had said to her recently. It pulled her back to reality.

    Her expression firmed again. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I¡¯m not lying to you or myself. I already told you the other day. There¡¯s nothing between us. I don¡¯t feel that way about you.¡±

    She turned to walk away, but William blocked her path. ¡°Then what¡¯s going on with you and Rutherford? Why did you show up with him tonight?¡±

    This wasn¡¯t some huge public event; it was a small, private gathering. If Rutherford brought Ste, that meant something.

    And if Ste agreed toe with him, that meant something too, didn¡¯t it?

    Did she realize how it looked?<fn80b1> Discover more novels at FindN()vel</fn80b1>

    Being someone¡¯s plus-one at a party like this usually said you were more than just friends. Was Ste trying to send that message?

    Ste¡¯s brows pulled together slightly. ¡°Mr. Briggs, I don¡¯t owe you any exnations.¡±

    Yes, she¡¯d once cared about him. She didn¡¯t deny that. But that didn¡¯t mean she owed him anything now¡ªnot her loyalty, not her time, and definitely not an answer.

    Even if she came here with Rutherford, that wasn¡¯t a betrayal. William had no right to act like it was.

    And seeing the way she stiffened, William suddenly didn¡¯t know what else to say.

    Ste shot him onest cold look and walked away.

    For the rest of the evening, she kept her distance from him.

    But since it was a small party, it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again.

    After a little while, she saw Rutherford walking quickly toward her. His face looked tense, but as soon as he saw her, he rxed.

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    ¡°I thought you left,¡± he said.

    Ste smiled. ¡°I said I¡¯d be here. I wouldn¡¯t leave without telling you.¡±

    She meant what she said. When she gave her word, she followed through.

    Rutherford gave her a warm look. ¡°Some of my friends are starting a game and asked me to bring you along. But only if you feel like it, no pressure.¡±

    Ste almost said no without thinking. But then she remembered she was here with him tonight.

    She¡¯d already skipped out on chatting with his friends earlier. If she turned this down too, it might seem rude.

    She gave a small nod.

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 669

    ?Chapter 669:

    Rutherford looked genuinely happy as he led her toward the group.

    Ste figured it would just be a casual thing with a few of his buddies. What she didn¡¯t expect was to find William already seated at the table.

    That¡¯s when it clicked. Rutherford and William were friends.

    She should¡¯ve remembered. Thest time she borrowed the equipment from Rutherford, William was the one who brought it back.

    She mentally scolded herself for forgetting that detail.

    Rutherford, unaware of the tension bubbling in her chest, motioned for her to take thest open seat beside him. ¡°Man, finally! What took you so long?¡±

    ¡°And when were you going to tell us you¡¯ve got a girlfriend?¡±

    Everyone wasughing and teasing, and Ste felt a little ufortable. She wanted to correct them that they weren¡¯t a couple, but it didn¡¯t seem like the right moment.

    ¡°Alright, alright, enough messing around. Didn¡¯t someone say we¡¯re ying a game?¡±

    William sat tucked in the corner, his eyes locked on Ste.

    Ste could feel it¡ªthat intense stare burning into her skin. She tried to brush it off, act normal, but it was impossible to ignore.

    Her whole body tensed up, uneasy under the weight of his gaze.

    Noticing her difort, Rutherford leaned over and asked, ¡°Is the chair notfy?¡±

    Without waiting for an answer, he handed her a cushion.

    Caught off guard, Ste just nodded and took it. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, even though the chair wasn¡¯t the problem at all.

    Someone suggested from across the table, ¡°Since there¡¯s a bunch of us, why don¡¯t we just y Truth or Dare?¡±

    Ste had a sinking feeling they¡¯d go there.

    Truth or Dare was a staple at gatherings like this¡ªespecially when people were itching for gossip. She already knew how this would go.

    Ryan Spencer, ever the hype man, chimed in, ¡°If no one¡¯s against it, let¡¯s start.¡± He reached for the bottle, but James cut in, clearly unimpressed. ¡°This game again? Can¡¯t we do something else for once?¡±

    Ryan shot him a look. ¡°Geez, James, don¡¯t be that guy. Let¡¯s vote. Show your palm if you¡¯re in for Truth or Dare, back of your hand if you¡¯re not.¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯t expecting the turn of events.

    As soon as the voting started, she didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªshe showed the back of her hand. She wasn¡¯t one for such games.

    Rutherford nced at her, then casually followed her lead.

    James, obviously, showed the back of his hand too.

    Another woman at the table joined them, quietly raising the back of her hand as well.<fnfd34> Latest content published on find?novel</fnfd34>

    So that made four of them opting out. There were nine people total. Everyone else had already paired off¡­ except William.

    And now, all eyes were on him.

    His vote would break the tie.

    .

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 Chapter 670

    ?Chapter 670:

    Ryan turned to William, eyebrows raised. ¡°Well, Mr. Briggs? You in or out?¡±

    Ste looked at William, certain he¡¯d vote no.

    With how serious and reserved he always was, she figured there was no way he¡¯d be into something as childish as this.

    She started to feel a little relieved. Maybe her side would win the vote.

    But then, without a word, William slowly raised his hand¡ªpalm up.

    ¡°That¡¯s a wrap, folks. Majority wins. We¡¯re ying!¡± Ryan grinned.

    James let out a sigh, chuckling at Ryan¡¯s enthusiasm.

    If anyone was the instigator in this group, it was Ryan. He was like a kid who never grew up¡ªloud, yful, and always stirring the pot.

    He was also the one who¡¯d urged Rutherford to bring Ste tonight.

    James didn¡¯t buy that Ste and Rutherford were a real couple. It felt more like Rutherford brought her just to save face.

    But even so, James had noticed something¡ªRutherford seemed genuinely interested in her.

    Whether Ste felt the same? Hard to say.

    The first round kicked off. The bottle spun, wobbling slightly beforending on Rutherford.

    He raised his ss, cool as ever. ¡°Truth.¡±

    Ryan didn¡¯t waste time with something tame. ¡°Is the person you¡¯re into sitting at this table?¡±

    Straight to the point. No warm-up.

    Rutherford didn¡¯t flinch. He nodded, his gaze steady. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    The table exploded with cheers, hoots, and a few gasps. Ste¡¯s eyes flew to Rutherford in shock.

    His crush was at this table?

    But wait¡ªbesides her, weren¡¯t all the other women taken?

    Had Rutherford fallen for someone else¡¯s girlfriend?<fn4e75> Get full chapters from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn4e75>

    I@?e$t ¡é§ß@???§ñ$ ?¦Ç ???§Ú?v¦Å??.c?m

    Ste hadn¡¯t expected the very first question tond like a bomb. This was drama¡ªreal drama. The kind that made her heart skip a beat.

    The others at the table began sneaking nces at her, their expressionsyered with meaning.

    But under the dim lights, she didn¡¯t notice a thing.

    The bottle spun again¡ªand this time, itnded on William.

    Everyone at the table stilled. William was the type who rarely joked around, always cool and unreadable.

    But William didn¡¯t hesitate. He chose truth.

    Ryan kept it simple. ¡°Same question¡ªyour crush. Are they here tonight?¡± He asked more out of habit than hope, just trying to move past William¡¯s usual deadpan vibe. So when William answered, ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re here,¡± the whole table went quiet.

    Ste froze for a split second, catching the heat in William¡¯s gaze before quickly looking away, pretending not to notice.

    Everyone was stunned.

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 Chapter 671

    ?Chapter 671:

    Ryan looked like he¡¯d just been pped with a plot twist. He hadn¡¯t expected anything juicy¡ªhe was just killing time. Even James nced between Ste and Rutherford, unsure what to make of the tension suddenly thick in the air.

    The bottle kept spinning through the next few rounds, skipping over William, Rutherford, and Ste. Itnded on other people, giving Ste some breathing room.

    Since she wasn¡¯t ying, she just leaned back, sipping her drink and enjoying the chaos.

    By the time a few rounds passed and the bottle still hadn¡¯t pointed her way, Ste was starting to think luck was on her side tonight.

    But the moment she thought that, itnded on Rutherford again.

    He let out a soft sigh, clearly ready to pick truth again¡ªbut Ryan wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°You already did truth,¡± Ryan said. ¡°This time¡¯s a dare.¡± Rutherford gave a reluctant nod, resigned to whatever came next.

    Ryan pulled out his phone, opened a truth-or-dare app, and tapped the screen.

    The app spun¡­ then stopped. ¡°Kiss the cheek of the first woman to your left,¡± Ryan read out loud, grinning.

    Everyone turned. The first woman to Rutherford¡¯s left¡­ was Ste.

    Rutherford looked from the screen to Ste, then asked gently, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, are you okay with that?¡±

    If she wasn¡¯t, he¡¯d just take a drink instead.

    Ste paused for a beat. It was just a silly dare. No big deal. And maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªit¡¯d send a message to William to cool it.<fn8949> Checktest chapters at Find~Novel</fn8949>

    So she nodded. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m good with it.¡±

    William¡¯s chair creaked. For a second, it looked like he was about to lunge across the table¡ªbut under the table, James shot out a leg and kicked him lightly. Then, as if nothing happened, James leaned in and whispered, ¡°Hey, could you pour me a drink? The bottle¡¯s closer to you.¡±

    William nced at James and caught the warning in his eyes.

    Chill out.

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    Reluctantly, William reached for the bottle¡ªbut his eyes never left Ste. Meanwhile, Rutherford leaned over, lips brushing Ste¡¯s cheek so fast and light it was barely even there. Most people missed it entirely.

    Ryan let out a groan. ¡°What was that? That was a ghost kiss! Total cheat!¡±

    He was clearly hoping for more drama.

    But Rutherford didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°The dare said kiss, not how long or how intense. I did it. That¡¯s fair.¡±

    Ryan opened his mouth to argue but gave up with augh. He moved on to the next round.

    Once the focus shifted again, Rutherford leaned over and murmured, ¡°Sorry about that, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Ste gave him a small smile. ¡°No need. I said I was fine with it.¡±

    She was actually surprised by how gentlemanly he¡¯d been. She barely felt it¡ªit was over before she could react.

    A few more rounds went by, and the bottle eventuallynded on William again. This time, he had no choice. Dare.

    Ryan tapped the app. ¡°Give a one-minute hug to a woman at the table,¡± he read with a dramatic pause, eyebrows raised.

    The group perked up instantly.

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 Chapter 672

    ?Chapter 672:

    Everyone knew both William and Rutherford had admitted their crushes were here tonight. The obvious guess? Ste.

    After all, she hadn¡¯t minded Rutherford¡¯s quick kiss¡ªso surely, a hug from William wouldn¡¯t be a big deal.

    Compared to a kiss, a hug seemed like no big deal.

    William looked straight at Ste and calmly said, ¡°I choose Ms. Gilbert.¡± He started to get up from his seat, but before he could, Ste lifted her ss and raised a hand to stop him.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather drink,¡± she said.

    The rules were simple. If the person doing the dare couldn¡¯t go through with it, they had to drink. If the one expected to y along backed out, then both had to drink.

    But the drinks didn¡¯t really matter at this point. Everyone was far more interested in seeing how William would react to being rejected.

    For a second, William didn¡¯t move and thought he must¡¯ve misunderstood her. But when Ste threw back her drink without blinking, he knew she meant it. Earlier, when Rutherford had to kiss her on the cheek, she had hesitated briefly but still went along with it. But now?

    Just a short hug with William, and she chose to drink instead?

    His expression hardened, like he was holding back a dozen questions. Why was she treating him differently?

    If this was all just for fun, why not go along with it like everyone else?

    As William sat there, visibly trying to make sense of her reaction, Ste leaned back and finished her drink without a word.

    Frustration built inside him, and suddenly, being at the party didn¡¯t feel fun anymore.

    In the next rounds, Ryan noticed something was off between William, Ste, and Rutherford.

    He tried to steer the game away from them, but the bottle didn¡¯t care who was tense, and it still pointed at Ste and William now and then.

    Each time the game called for them to interact or answer something personal, Ste would quietly reach for her drink without giving William a second nce. As the night went on, William¡¯s expression turned steadily darker, while Rutherford started to grow concerned about how much Ste was actually drinking.

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    Sometime after midnight, everyone gathered to give the birthday guy his wishes. Then Rutherford stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m taking her home now.¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯tpletely drunk, but the alcohol had definitely hit her.

    She got up and told the others, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not feeling too well. I¡¯ll head out.¡±

    No one stopped her. Ryan and the rest could sense the tension and kept quiet.

    As Rutherford helped her downstairs, William suddenly followed them. He nced at Rutherford, who had his arm around Ste, and said, ¡°Let me take her home. We¡¯re headed in the same direction.¡±

    Rutherford looked at him coolly and replied, ¡°She came with me tonight. That means it¡¯s my responsibility to get her home safe.¡±

    William frowned, clearly not backing down. ¡°We live in the sameplex. You don¡¯t need to go out of your way.¡±

    .

    .

    .<fn9b45> The source of th?s content is Find?Novel</fn9b45>

 Chapter 673

    ?Chapter 673:

    In truth, Rutherford lived on the opposite end of the city.

    Dropping Ste off would mean a long trip and ate return.

    But he simply shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. I don¡¯t mind being a littlete.¡±

    William¡¯s jaw tightened, but he didn¡¯t say anything right away.

    Rutherford gently tried to guide Ste away, but William stepped forward and grabbed her other arm.

    ¡°I said I¡¯ll take her,¡± he insisted.

    Rutherford¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°William, have you forgotten she came here as my date tonight?¡±<fn4d0c> ?????? ???? Find_Novel(.</fn4d0c>

    That hit William straight in the gut. He shot him a re and asked, ¡°So what, you two are a thing now?¡±

    Rutherford pressed his lips into a tight line. Part of him wanted to say yes. But it wasn¡¯t his ce to define whatever was going on between them without Ste¡¯s say.

    William wasn¡¯t letting up. ¡°If she¡¯s not your girlfriend, then what gives you the right to act like this?¡±

    The tension between the two of them was almost suffocating. They stood facing each other like neither wanted to be the first to blink.

    Just then, a cool gust of wind swept by, and it helped Ste shake off some of the fog in her head.

    Rutherford quickly turned back to her and said, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I promised I¡¯d get you home safely. Let me do that.¡±

    But William jumped in right after, saying, ¡°We live across the hall. It just makes more sense for me to take her.¡±

    Their voices swirled around her like noise she couldn¡¯t quite tune out.

    Blinking a few times to clear her thoughts, Ste looked at the two of them holding onto her like she was a prize. Suddenly, she yanked her arms free. ¡°I can go home by myself, thanks.¡±

    At first, she¡¯d thought they were having a serious disagreement.

    ???€$? ¡é????€?$ ?? g??l??ov?l????o??

    But now she realized they were just arguing about who¡¯d take her home. It was ridiculous. She wasn¡¯t a child. She wasn¡¯t their responsibility. And she definitely didn¡¯t need two grown men arguing like teenagers over a ride. ¡°You¡¯ve both been drinking. Neither of you should be driving,¡± she pointed out. ¡°If someone¡¯s calling a cab anyway, then I can take one myself. No need for this.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, she walked straight to the curb, waved down a taxi, and got in without hesitation.

    The moment she shut the door, she locked it and told the driver, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The taxi sped off, leaving William and Rutherford coughing in a cloud of exhaust.

    Neither of them had gotten in.

    Rutherford turned to William, still catching his breath. ¡°What¡¯s your deal, man? You into Ste too?¡±

    William¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°What, I¡¯m not allowed to like her?¡±

    Rutherford blinked, clearly not expecting him to just admit it like that. ¡°But I asked you about her before,¡± Rutherford said slowly. ¡°You told me you two were just coworkers.¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 674

    ?Chapter 674:

    William let out a slow sigh. Back then, he hadn¡¯t been ready to tell anyone how he really felt¡ªnot even Rutherford. Even when Rutherford had asked directly, William had brushed it off. He never thought Rutherford would twist that silence into a free pass to go after her himself.

    ¡°People change,¡± William said tly. ¡°I like her now.¡±

    That answer made Rutherford pause, really looking at him for a second. ¡°So what happens now?¡± he asked. ¡°I like her too.¡±

    Rutherford wasn¡¯t the type to chase women. Never had been. But Ste was different.

    She¡¯d walked straight into hispany, all the way from Choria, bold as hell, asking for his equipment. She¡¯d bet on herself¡ªand won. Rutherford had never met a woman with such confidence.

    Later, Ste won the bet, just as she¡¯d said, and got the equipment for free.

    It was the first time Rutherford had ever lost a bet.

    Ste Gilbert wasn¡¯t just some woman. She was one of a kind. And he wasn¡¯t about to let her slip away.

    When he first met her, Rutherford had asked William¡ªout of courtesy¡ªif there was anything between them. If William had admitted to liking Ste, Rutherford would¡¯ve backed off. But William had said he wasn¡¯t into her.

    So Rutherford had taken that as the green light. He wrapped up his work in other cities and came to Choria to spend more time with her.

    Now, suddenly, William was saying he liked her?

    ¡°Look, I get that people change,¡± Rutherford said, his voice steady. ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to just bow out because you changed your mind. I like Ste, and I¡¯m going to pursue her.¡±

    He took a step back and added, ¡°I¡¯m not telling you not to go for her. I¡¯m just saying¡ªdon¡¯t throw shade at me for doing the same. I asked, you answered. If your story¡¯s changed, that¡¯s on you, not me.¡± No bad blood, no grudges¡ªjust fair y.

    With that, Rutherford turned and headed for his car parked nearby, shutting down any further conversation.

    William stood there for a moment, jaw clenched, then exhaled hard and walked toward the lot to find his own car.

    Read new content at g¦Áln¦Ò¦Íe?s

    Back at home, Ste didn¡¯t notice when William returned. She¡¯d already showered and knocked out cold.

    She didn¡¯t stir once through the night. The next morning, it was her phone buzzing on the nightstand that finally pulled her out of sleep.

    ¡°Hello?¡± she mumbled, still half-asleep, not even checking the caller ID.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, it¡¯s Rutherford,¡± came the voice on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m at your apartmentplex¡¯s gate, but the security guard won¡¯t let me in. Can you vouch for me?¡±<fn7597> For original chapters go to find(?)ovel</fn7597>

    Ste jolted upright, suddenly wide awake. She could hear the guard in the background. ¡°He¡¯s my friend,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Let him in.¡±

    The guard didn¡¯t ask questions. Rutherford was allowed in, still on the call. ¡°Figured you probably haven¡¯t eaten yet,¡± he said. ¡°Brought you breakfast.¡±

    Ste blinked, still groggy. ¡°Yeah¡­ I haven¡¯t,¡± she said, rubbing her temples.

    Rutherford seemed thrilled to catch her before breakfast, and within ten minutes, he was ringing her doorbell.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 675

    ?Chapter 675:

    She opened the door to find Rutherford dressed casually¡ªlight sweatshirt, athletic pants, and a warm smile.

    ¡°I went for a morning run and thought about you drinkingst night, so I grabbed some oatmeal and a light breakfast,¡± Rutherford said.<fne6a6> This content belongs to f?ndnovel</fne6a6>

    He set the contents neatly on the table: two boiled eggs, a bowl of oatmeal, and some lemonade for her hangover.

    Ste looked at the spread, her heart warming. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, thank you for this. How much do I owe you?¡±

    She reached for her phone to send him money, but Rutherford just waved her off.

    ¡°It¡¯s just diner food,¡± he said casually. ¡°Consider it an apology. I shouldn¡¯t have let you drink that muchst night.¡±

    Honestly, he hadn¡¯t expected things to go that way.

    If Ryan hadn¡¯t pushed that drinking game, and if Ste hadn¡¯t been so set on avoiding William, maybe she wouldn¡¯t have knocked back so many rounds.

    ¡°My bad luck in the game is on me, not you,¡± Ste said with a small smile.

    Ste was seated at her dining table, quietly enjoying the breakfast Rutherford had brought over.

    It tasted really good, like something from a warm, homey diner.

    When she finished eating, she felt full and happy.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert,¡± Rutherford began, ¡°I¡¯m in Choria for a friend¡¯s birthday, but I¡¯ve also got a bit of work to handle. We just received a batch of new equipment, and I¡¯ve set one aside for the Choria Institute. I haven¡¯t tested it yet. If you¡¯re free, do you want to check it out with me?¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of equipment. That was her thing. New tech always sparked her interest.

    She leaned forward slightly. ¡°You mean right now?¡± It was clear she was excited.

    Rutherford could see it in the way she perked up. Her job wasn¡¯t just work; it was something she truly loved.

    He admired that. Not everyone managed to turn what they loved into their career.

    L¨»t?st ch¦Ápt?rs ??n g??l??ov????.§ã??m

    They stepped out of the apartment together, and while they waited for the elevator, the door behind them opened.

    It was William. He stepped out, dressed neatly in a suit, looking polished but exhausted.

    Though he hadn¡¯t drunk heavily the night before, Ste¡¯s distant attitude had left him restless. He¡¯d barely gotten any sleep and had an early meeting at the Briggs Group that morning.

    He¡¯d heard Ste¡¯s door earlier and, out of instinct, checked.

    What he didn¡¯t expect was to see Rutherfording out of her apartment. So, Rutherford was serious about going after her, just like he saidst night.

    Rutherford saw William and greeted him like everything was perfectly normal.

    ¡°Heading to the Briggs Group?¡±

    William gave a quiet ¡°Yeah,¡± barely louder than a whisper.

    The elevator arrived, and the three of them stepped inside.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 676

    ?Chapter 676:

    As they rode down, Rutherford nced at William and said casually, ¡°Ms. Gilbert works for Neb, but I¡¯m borrowing her today. Hope that¡¯s not an issue.¡± There was¡­

    A glint of mischief colored his tone, as if the words were meant to poke at William¡ªand they did. He was still stewing from the night before, and this only added fuel to the fire.

    William clenched his jaw slightly, then said, ¡°If she skips work today, she¡¯ll lose this month¡¯s performance bonus.¡±

    It was a poor attempt to keep her from going, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say he didn¡¯t want her spending the day with Rutherford. So instead, he threw out this awkward warning.

    Ste stayedposed and replied, ¡°I¡¯m just helping out for a bit. It won¡¯t take long. But if you¡¯re really concerned, I don¡¯t mind losing the bonus.¡±

    She knew skipping work came with a cost, but that didn¡¯t bother her.

    William, seeing that the bonus didn¡¯t sway her, tried again. ¡°The project deadline¡¯sing up. We can¡¯t afford dys.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Ste answered calmly. ¡°We¡¯re ahead of schedule. Everything¡¯s under control.¡±

    It was Saturday anyway, technically their day off.

    And during theirst project meeting, William himself had praised her team for their progress.<fne915> Readplete version only at Find_Novel(.</fne915>

    So she didn¡¯t feel guilty about taking a breather. She knew how to deliver results, but she also knew when to unplug. She had no intention of letting work take over her weekend.

    The elevator doors opened, and William couldn¡¯te up with anything else to stop her. All he could do was watch as she got into Rutherford¡¯s car and they drove off.

    The moment the car disappeared from sight, William pulled out his phone and called Luca.

    ¡°Find out where Rutherford¡¯s taking her.¡±

    Luca was caught off guard. He didn¡¯t even know Ste had gone with Rutherford. ¡°Why not just ask Mr. Schoenberg directly?¡±

    He said it like it was a reasonable idea, like Rutherford and William were still on good terms.

    William sighed and rubbed his temple. ¡°Just do what I asked, Luca.¡±

    Luca had been getting a bit too talkativetely, probably from spending so much time working with Ste.

    A few minutester, Luca texted him the address.

    William opened the message, grabbed his keys, and headed straight to his car, determined to find out exactly what Rutherford was up to.

    Rutherford brought Ste to the port, where their shipment was waiting. They popped open one of the crates, and right on top was the new research equipment, perfectly packed and looking pristine.

    The moment sheid eyes on it, Ste¡¯s excitement was hard to miss. She could tell this was top-tier gear. Imported equipment like this always had a certain edge over what was avable locally.

    .

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 Chapter 677

    ?Chapter 677:

    ¡°Think you can handle the inspection on your own, Ms. Gilbert?¡± Rutherford asked.

    Ste nodded lightly. ¡°I can manage. But there¡¯s no power out here. I¡¯ll need electricity to test it properly.¡±

    Rutherford scanned the surroundings. Not far off, he spotted an old lighthouse. ¡°We might be able to find power in there,¡± he said.<fn1233> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find1Novel</fn1233>

    They found an old cart nearby and gently ced the equipment on it before pushing it toward the lighthouse.

    When they reached the door, it was locked, but the ce was empty. Usually, there¡¯d be a port staffer stationed in the office below, but today it seemed deserted, and neither of them had a key.

    While Rutherford looked around helplessly, Ste circled the building and spotted a window that hadn¡¯t been shut properly. She pushed it open wider and climbed inside with ease.

    A momentter, the front door swung open from within, and Rutherford blinked in surprise.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, how did you get in there?¡±

    ¡°I used the window,¡± Ste replied calmly, brushing off the dust on her hands.

    She said it like it was the most normal thing in the world, but Rutherford was clearly taken aback by her quick thinking and her boldness.

    They moved the equipment into the lounge and found a working outlet. Without wasting a second, Ste got to work. Her fingers moved quickly across the screen as she checked the system, ran diagnostics, and tested eachponent with practiced precision.

    Rutherford, who was no stranger to this kind of work himself, watched with quiet admiration. Her confidence and skill were exactly why he¡¯d asked her to help with this task.

    Ten minutester, she turned to him and said, ¡°All good. Everything¡¯s running perfectly. If the rest are anything like this one, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡±

    Rutherford gave a nod of relief. ¡°Great. Let¡¯s head back, then.¡±

    They had barely reached the door when it swung open, and in stepped the lighthouse manager, returning to his post.

    galn¦Ò¦Íels.c¡ðm hosts fresh updates

    He stopped short when he saw two unfamiliar faces in his lounge.

    With eyes narrowing in suspicion, he immediately reached for the stun gun on his belt. ¡°Who are you, and what are you doing in here?¡± he demanded.

    Rutherford quickly raised both hands in a calming gesture. ¡°Easy there. We just needed a power source to test some equipment. No harm done.¡±

    The manager shifted his eyes to Ste, who was standing behind Rutherford.

    After a long second of sizing them up, he slowly rxed and eased his grip on the stun gun. ¡°What kind of equipment?¡±

    ¡°We had a shipment of equipment to test, and that¡¯s all we did. Everything¡¯s done now, and we didn¡¯t mess with anything. You can see for yourself,¡± Rutherford exined.

    Honestly, there wasn¡¯t much in the lounge worth taking anyway¡ªjust a basic setup to monitor the waves and keep an eye on port deliveries.

    The ce didn¡¯t even have a properputer.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 678

    ?Chapter 678:

    ¡°Next time, try asking first,¡± the manager said gruffly. ¡°I¡¯ll let it go today, but don¡¯t make a habit of sneaking in.¡±

    Rutherford thanked him, and he and Ste made a quick exit. Once outside, she let out a deep breath, still tense from the close call.

    If that manager had called the police, they would¡¯ve wasted hours clearing things up, even though they hadn¡¯t done anything wrong.

    They packed up the equipment and headed toward the parking lot.

    As they walked, Rutherford turned to her with curiosity. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, where¡¯d you pick up all those skills? Got a tech genius in the family?¡±

    Steughed a little. ¡°Nope. No one in my family does this. I just figured things out on my own.¡±

    Rutherford looked genuinely impressed. ¡°Wow. You¡¯ve really got talent.¡±<fna3fa> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN()vel</fna3fa>

    His straightforward praise caught her by surprise, and she replied, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s less about talent and more about putting in the hours. I was always the one stayingte in theb back in school.¡±

    Back in school, Ste had racked up her fair share of awards, something Rutherford already knew.

    In his eyes, natural talent always had the upper hand, and Ste had it in spades. She¡¯d left even the most hardworking students in the dust without breaking a sweat.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, you don¡¯t have to downy it,¡± he said with a rxed smile. ¡°You¡¯re already ahead of the pack.¡±

    Ste brushed her wind-blown hair behind her ear, but before she could say anything, Rutherford spoke again. ¡°You and William work at the same ce. I¡¯m sure people think you two make a great pair. He¡¯s one of the only people I¡¯ve seen with talent like yours.¡±

    Her smile faded, reced by a dry look. ¡°Mr. Briggs is just my boss. That¡¯s it.¡±

    Rutherford gave a smallugh. ¡°At that birthday party, it didn¡¯t look that way. He seemed a bit too focused on you.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t said anything that night to keep thingsfortable for Ste, but now he was hoping she¡¯d be more honest about it.

    I??€$? ¡é??t??§ñ? ?¦Ç ga?n?¦Í¦Ål?.c??

    She let out a quiet sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t help how he feels. But for me, he¡¯s nothing more than my boss.¡±

    Her voice was steady, and her gaze didn¡¯t waver. Rutherford could tell she meant every word.

    The answer left him quietly delighted, and his steps slowed as if to savor the moment.

    ¡°Well then,¡± he said lightly, ¡°since William¡¯s off the table, how about giving me a chance instead?¡±

    Ste came to a full stop, blinking at him in surprise. ¡°Seriously? Don¡¯t mess around like that.¡±

    To her, it felt like a joke¡­ how could it not? They¡¯d only run into each other a few times, maybe half a dozen at most.

    It was hard for her to believe Rutherford would develop feelings for her so fast.

    Rutherford stopped too and turned to face her squarely. ¡°In case I wasn¡¯t clear earlier, let me say it again properly.¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 679

    ?Chapter 679:

    Looking her in the eyes, he began, ¡°I really think you¡¯re smart, confident, and talented. I mean it. If you¡¯re not seeing anyone, maybe you could give me a chance.¡±

    For a moment, Ste didn¡¯t know what to say.

    She wanted to brush it off with a joke, but Rutherford¡¯s honest tone made that feel wrong.

    Still, being serious about it felt a little awkward too.

    After all, she¡¯d never thought of him that way.

    Rutherford noticed the hesitation in her eyes and gently looked away. ¡°Hey, no pressure,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to rush you or make you ufortable.¡±

    And with his gaze elsewhere, Ste felt her shoulders rx just a bit.

    Rutherford dropped Ste off at her apartmentplex, and once she unbuckled her seatbelt, she thanked him politely before stepping out and heading toward her building.

    Luckily, William wasn¡¯t standing by the entrance, which helped her rx a little. But as soon as she got home, her thoughts began looping back to Rutherford¡¯s confession.

    She couldn¡¯t shake the thought that both Rutherford and William handled their emotions in surprisingly simr ways. Maybe it was because they were longtime friends, but still, their approach felt too alike.

    They both confessed how they felt, directly and without sugarcoating. While their honesty was bold, it always seemed to catch herpletely off guard, leaving her unsure how to respond.

    Settling into her couch, Ste found herself thinking about Marc.

    Things with him had been different. They spent years getting to know one another before quietly slipping into a rtionship.

    Compared to that, both William and Rutherford felt like they were sprinting, and it just wasn¡¯t her pace.

    She knew the two men couldn¡¯t be more different.

    Rutherford had that charming, polished ease about him. He was friendly andposed. William, on the other hand, was all sharp lines and cool distance. He rarely let anyone in.<fn80ed> Readplete version only at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn80ed>

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m is packed with great reads

    Ste realized she was actuallyparing Rutherford and William, and it made her chuckle softly at herself.

    Ste brushed the situation aside and got up to attend to her own affairs.

    The next morning, just as she stepped out at her usual time for work, she noticed a car already parked out front. The window rolled down, and to her surprise, Rutherford was in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, need a ride?¡± he called out casually.

    Ste stopped in her tracks. She hadn¡¯t expected him to show up just to drive her to work.

    Her ce wasn¡¯t exactly close to the institute, but it wasn¡¯t too far either. If she remembered correctly, William once mentioned that Rutherford lived nowhere nearby.

    ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, have you been waiting long?¡± she asked.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 680

    ?Chapter 680:

    It was just past eight. If William¡¯s estimate was right and Rutherford had over an hour¡¯s drive, he must have left around seven.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure when you usually leave, so I came a bit early,¡± he said with a small smile. ¡°Brought you breakfast, too. You can eat on the way.¡±

    Before she could reply, another engine started nearby. She turned and saw William pulling his car out of the garage.

    He immediately recognized Rutherford¡¯s license te and hit the brakes, stopping beside him.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re up early today. Are you ying chauffeur, huh?¡± William said, raising an eyebrow.

    Rutherford nced over with a faint grin. ¡°Driving Ms. Gilbert isn¡¯t exactly a burden.¡±

    William scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve known you forever, and I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you try this hard for anyone.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Rutherford said with a shrug, ¡°history might just need its first exception.¡±

    Ste was standing between the two cars, listening to them go back and forth. Without meaning to, she let out a soft sigh.

    Rutherford heard it and turned to her with a light smile. ¡°Come on, Ms. Gilbert, won¡¯t you let me have this small win?¡±

    Ste felt a little touched.

    She hadn¡¯t nned on epting the ride, but now that William was here, the situation had changed.

    If she didn¡¯t ride with Rutherford, she¡¯d probably end up with William. After a quick moment of thought, she pulled open Rutherford¡¯s door.

    ¡°Thank you for the ride.¡±

    The engine purred to life, and they pulled away, leaving William behind. He hadn¡¯t expected this turn of events. One rival was already enough to deal with, and now Rutherford had entered the picture.

    Ste really did have a way of attracting attention, even when she wasn¡¯t trying. Inside the car, Rutherford handed her a paper bag with a quiet smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you like, so I went with something ssic. Hopefully, it¡¯s something you¡¯ll enjoy.¡±

    Ste peeked inside and saw a warm panini and a cup of coffee. She smiled and said, ¡°Paninis are actually one of my favorites. Thank you.¡±

    Every story starts at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??§àm

    Rutherford kept his eyes on the road, looking calm and collected as always. But then, without looking her way, he added casually, ¡°This is how a guy should chase a girl, so no need to thank me.¡±

    Chase a girl, huh?

    Only then did it hit Ste that this ride and breakfast weren¡¯t just casual gestures. They were his way of showing interest.

    She tightened her grip on the bag and said softly, ¡°You really don¡¯t have to do all this.¡±

    ¡°I know I don¡¯t have to. But I want to,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°Even if you never feel the same, I¡¯d still want to show up for you. As long as you¡¯ll let me.¡±

    He didn¡¯t mind waking up earlier or the possibility that she might say no. If he liked someone, he showed it with actions and not just empty words.

    Ste stared at the panini in her hands, not really sure what to say. Her thoughts were all over the ce.

    .

    .

    .<fnbd77> This content belongs to Find[?]ovel</fnbd77>

 Chapter 681

    ?Chapter 681:

    She opened the car window just a bit, letting the cool morning air hit her face, and it did help her settle down.

    After a moment, she reached for her phone, tapped a few times, then asked, ¡°Can you give me your Choria address?¡±

    Rutherford gave it without hesitation, not asking a single question in return. He trusted her.

    Ste didn¡¯t exin right away. She just said, ¡°I ordered something for you. It¡¯ll be delivered in a few days, so keep an eye out.¡±

    A hint of curiosity shed in Rutherford¡¯s eyes. ¡°What made you want to get me something?¡±

    ¡°You drove me to work and bought me breakfast. I thought it was only fair to return the favor,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s a woody-scented candle. It feels like your kind of thing.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just any candle, either. It was from a luxury brand¡ªdefinitely not something you¡¯d pick up on a whim. Ste didn¡¯t like owing people favors, and when someone did something for her, she made sure to give back.

    Rutherford was pleased that she¡¯d picked something personal.

    ¡°Since it¡¯s from you, Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯ll light it every night when I get home. Wouldn¡¯t want that thoughtfulness to go to waste.¡±

    As they pulled up to the institute, Ste thanked him again. ¡°I appreciate today, but there¡¯s no need to pick me up tomorrow. See you.¡±

    Before he could respond, she had already stepped out and was walking toward the building.

    Rutherford knew Ste had left in a rush because she was worried he might reject her proposal.

    Watching her figure disappear, he let out a low chuckle, then stepped on the gas and pulled away from theb¡¯s entrance.

    Barely ten secondster, William¡¯s car rolled in behind him, pulling straight into the underground garage of the research institute.

    He¡¯d been tailing them the entire way, fuming the whole time. He couldn¡¯t see what they were doing or saying inside the car¡ªand that only made it worse.

    As soon as he stepped into the building, a young colleague called out to him, ¡°Good morning, William!¡±

    Magic begins at g ¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s

    She was a new hire, fresh out of school, and had barely been at the institute for a year. Before today, she hadn¡¯t even dared to make eye contact with him, let alone speak.

    But the others kept telling her not to overthink it¡ªWilliam just had a cold face, that¡¯s all.

    So she finally gathered the nerve to greet him. William didn¡¯t even nce at her. He just walked straight into the elevator with that icy expression locked in ce. Her courage instantly shriveled up. She silently promised herself never to try again.

    Meanwhile, just as Ste stepped out of Rutherford¡¯s car, Sandra¡¯s taxi happened to stop across the street.

    Later, after Ste arrived at theb and threw on her coat, Sandra bounced in, her voice bright and chipper.<fn461b> ?????? ???? find?novel</fn461b>

    ¡°Morning, Sylvia! Morning, Elbert! Morning, Jamir!¡±

    .

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 Chapter 682

    ?Chapter 682:

    The others were used to her high energy and casually greeted her back while staying focused on their work.

    Once Sandra changed into herb coat, she walked over and asked with a glint of curiosity, ¡°Sylvia, who dropped you off this morning?¡± She had seen everything from across the street.

    Ste paused, already used to Sandra being theb¡¯s unofficial gossip radar¡ªnever missing a beat.

    ¡°It was Mr. Schoenberg¡ªthe one who delivered our equipmentst time,¡± she said casually.

    Sandra¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°He¡¯s back in Choria?¡±

    ¡°Seems like he¡¯s got other work here,¡± Ste said. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure.¡±

    She remembered Rutherford had said he came for the birthday party, but now that the event was over, he hadn¡¯t rushed to leave. He probably had more business in town. She didn¡¯t tter herself into thinking he¡¯d stayed just for her.

    While fiddling with her equipment, Sandra mumbled, ¡°William and Mr. Schoenberg are both amazing¡­ Sylvia, if you had to choose, who would you choose?¡±

    Ste looked up. Sandra had asked this before¡ªjust ying around, trying to liven up theb.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t choose either of them,¡± Ste replied tly.

    Sandra blinked. ¡°What? You don¡¯t think they¡¯re good enough?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that. They¡¯re both great guys,¡± Ste said. ¡°But that¡¯s exactly why it¡¯s not up to me to choose.¡±

    She didn¡¯t see the point in ying out hypotheticals that didn¡¯t mean anything.

    But Sandra wasn¡¯t letting it go. ¡°Still, if you had to pick one?¡± Clearly,b work was too boring today.

    Ste hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°Then I¡¯d choose Rutherford.¡±

    She didn¡¯t put much thought into it. It was just¡­ ever since she started suspecting the Briggs family might¡¯ve had a hand in her adoptive parents¡¯ death, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to choose William anymore.

    Sandra looked surprised. She¡¯d always thought Sylvia leaned toward William¡ªafter all, they¡¯d known each other way longer.

    Step into a new world at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Before she could ask anything else, Ste cut her off. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back to the experiment.¡±

    Neither of them noticed the shadow that had silently passed by outside theb door.

    Back in his office, William sat down at his desk. All the way from theb to here, not a single smile crossed his face. He hadn¡¯t said a word to anyone.

    The other researchers saw his expression and quickly steered clear.<fnd56b> Readplete version only at find?novel</fnd56b>

    Staring at hisputer screen, William didn¡¯t absorb a single line.

    His head was spinning with Ste¡¯s words. She picked Rutherford. Even after he¡¯d known her for more than a year¡ªlong before Rutherford showed up¡ªwhy would she give Rutherford a chance and not him?

    William ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. For the first time, he had to admit¡ªhe really didn¡¯t understand her.

    He¡¯d seen the emotion in her eyes. It wasn¡¯t as simple as she made it sound.

    But the words she spoke? Cold. Final.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 683

    ?Chapter 683:<fn25c5> Official source is find~novel</fn25c5>

    Burying his face in his hands, he muttered under his breath, ¡°Ste, what are you really thinking?¡±

    By the time Ste got off work that afternoon, she wasn¡¯t even surprised to see Rutherford¡¯s car waiting outside again.

    She let out a quiet sigh¡ªclearly helpless. She couldn¡¯t just ignore him and walk off like he didn¡¯t exist.

    ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, you really don¡¯t need to keep acting like my personal driver,¡± she said.

    Rutherford smiled faintly. ¡°I know if I drive you every day, you¡¯ll start to feel pressured. But I just want to make things easier for you. After thinking about it, I figured¡­ maybe I should just get you a car.¡±

    That caught Ste off guard. And once again, she noticed how simr Rutherford and William were when it came to chasing women.

    Afraid he might actually follow through and send her a car, she quickly shut it down. ¡°I appreciate the thought, Mr. Schoenberg, but I already have a car. There¡¯s really no need for another one.¡±

    In fact, she¡¯d nned to drive herself today¡ªbut Rutherford had parked right at the entrance of her building, blocking her way before she could even try.

    ¡°No one everins about having too many cars,¡± he said, still smiling. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, whatever cars you already own, that¡¯s your business. I¡¯m just trying to take care of you in my way.¡±

    Ste felt cornered. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, if you truly care about me¡­ then please don¡¯t put me in a tough spot.¡±

    Her tone was soft, but there was no hiding how exhausted she felt¡ªlike just the thought of him gifting her a car would keep her awake for a month.

    Rutherford, who had already booked an appointment with the dealership, paused. For now, he had to put the n on hold.

    So that evening, once he finally left, Ste drove her own car into the underground garage of her building.

    That way, the next morning, she could leave straight from the basement and avoid running into him in the lobby.

    Yes, it was a little evasive. But she¡¯d already made herself clear. If he still chose to ignore her boundaries, then she had no choice but to keep her distance.

    Your source: g??ln??v??ls.??????

    And with that, she managed to dodge him for the next few days.

    ¡°Sylvia, we need international data for our experiment,¡± Jamir said one afternoon, looking frustrated as he walked over with the experiment sheet. ¡°But the dataset link from the original author is broken. What should we do?¡±

    Ste took the sheet from him and frowned. ¡°Did you check all the backup links?¡±

    ¡°I did. I even tried reaching out to the author. No response.¡±

    Their project was no small task¡ªplenty of details still needed in-depth research. If they could build on existing data, things would move faster.

    But if the groundwork wasn¡¯t avable, they¡¯d have to start everything from scratch. That meant months¡ªmaybe the rest of the year¡ªjustpiling numbers.

    The data wasn¡¯t ssified or anything. The issue was how vast the system was.

    Without that summary dataset, they¡¯d be swimming in chaos.

    But sure enough, the original link was dead.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 684

    ?Chapter 684:

    ¡°Keep looking for alternatives,¡± Ste said, handing back the sheet. ¡°If nothing works, we¡¯ll figure out another n.¡±

    She then sat down to dig into the problem herself. Afterbing through every possible source, the conclusion was clear¡ªonly that one author had ever posted theplete version.

    Problem was, he hadn¡¯t updated his ount in over a year. Maybe he¡¯d run into trouble. Maybe he¡¯d gonepletely offline. Either way, the oue wasn¡¯t good for them.

    Ste spent the rest of the afternoon searching, but came up empty.

    If even she couldn¡¯t find it, the odds weren¡¯t great for the rest of the team. With no other option, she posted on her social media: ¡°Dear onlinemunity, does anyone have the full version of this dataset? I need it urgently!¡±

    A long shot? Absolutely. But it was the only thread left to tug on.

    Sandra had also been digging for hours, her eyes red from staring at the screen. During a short break, she rubbed her temples and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just ask William? He probably has it.¡±

    After all, William was practically a legend in their field. If anyone could track it down, it¡¯d be him.

    Ste knew Sandra had a point. William might have it. But she wasn¡¯t willing to ask.

    Before, it had been about pride. Now¡­ now it was about something deeper. Knowing what his family had done to her adoptive parents, asking him for help just felt impossible.

    So for the first time, Ste gave Sandra a firm look and said, ¡°Sandra, we need to handle this ourselves. Mr. Briggs isn¡¯t just our senior¡ªhe¡¯s also our boss. If we run to him with every little problem, we¡¯ll never grow.¡±

    Sandra froze for a second¡ªclearly not expecting Ste to be this serious.

    But she recalled Ste had warned her in the past not to always rely on William. It was just that she¡¯d never listened. Every time the team hit a wall, William always seemed to swoop in and save the day. Naturally, he was the first person she thought of now too.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sylvia¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± Sandra mumbled, head lowered, feeling a little embarrassed.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c¨®m is your escape

    She promised not to run to William anymore whenever things got tough.

    The group kept digging for data until the end of the day. Progress was slow, but not one of them mentioned giving up.

    Everyone quietly packed up theirptops and took their work home, determined to keep at it after hours.

    As Ste got home and opened herptop, a soft ding signaled a new email.

    She clicked it. There it was¡ªthe document.

    Her eyes widened in shock. It was the exact dataset she¡¯d been hunting down all day.

    Just as she was about to reply and ask who¡¯d sent it, her phone rang.

    She nced at the screen¡ªRutherford. After a brief pause, she picked up. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, did you get the email?¡± Rutherford¡¯s calm voice came through.

    Ste¡¯s breath caught.

    She stared at the screen, then asked in disbelief, ¡°That was from you?¡±

    Rutherford chuckled lightly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you post for help online? I saw it. Turns out I know the original author, so I asked him to send it over.¡±

    .<fn8496> Chapters first released on Find[?]ovel</fn8496>

    .

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 Chapter 685

    ?Chapter 685:

    Once again, Ste was reminded¡ªconnections really were everything.

    This database wasn¡¯t exactly trending. Barely anyone hadpiled it. And somehow, of all people, Rutherford knew the guy who did. If this had happened before today, she might¡¯ve thought it was all staged. But he couldn¡¯t have known they needed it until she posted online.

    So¡ªjust pure luck. One crazy coincidence.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Schoenberg. This¡­ really helps our team a lot.¡± She fumbled for the right words.

    A simple thank-you over the phone just didn¡¯t feel like enough.

    Rutherford didn¡¯t make a big deal of it. ¡°Happy to help. No need to overthink it, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Still holding the phone, Ste said sincerely, ¡°I owe you one. If you ever need a favor, just ask. I won¡¯t hesitate.¡±

    There was a short pause on the other end, then Rutherford said, ¡°Actually¡­ there is something I could use your help with.¡±

    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Next week¡¯s the wedding anniversary of one of my business partners and her husband. We¡¯ve worked together for years, and I¡¯d like to get her something thoughtful. The problem is¡ªI have no clue what women like for anniversaries. Could you help me pick something out?¡±

    Picking gifts wasn¡¯t hard for Ste. But not knowing the recipient¡¯s personality or preferences made it trickier.

    ¡°Could you tell me what your partner is into? Their hobbies?¡± she asked.

    Rutherford¡¯s voice was deep and steady. ¡°Hard to exin over the phone. If you¡¯re okay with it, maybe we could talk it over in person after work?¡±

    Ste agreed without much thought. He¡¯d helped her, and now it was her turn. She wasn¡¯t the type to dodge a favor.

    After ending the call, Ste quickly forwarded the data to her team.

    One by one, surprised reactions flooded in.

    Sandra was the first to respond: ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re literally a goddess. I¡¯ve been frying myptop all day, and you somehow pulled this out of thin air??¡±

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    Jamir chimed in: ¡°So¡­ does this mean we can move forward with the experiment tomorrow?¡±

    Then Elbert popped in: ¡°Where did you find this file, Sylvia? Did you get in touch with the author directly?¡±

    Sandra suddenlymented, ¡°Wait¡ªElbert! What¡¯s with your WhatsApp name? BillyBob? That does not match your vibe at all!¡±<fnb5cb> Official source is find[?]ovel</fnb5cb>

    Elbert (a.k.a. BillyBob) typed back: ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±

    Ste leaned back in her chair, letting out a long breath as the group chat slowly shifted from work to idle banter.

    She¡¯d just closed her eyes for a quick breather when a knock sounded at the door¡ªfirm and familiar. She didn¡¯t need to check. She already knew who it was: William.

    Their interactions had been frequent enough that she could practically recognize him by the rhythm of his knock alone.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 686

    ?Chapter 686:

    Sure enough, when she opened the door, there he was¡ªstill in his neatly pressed suit, lookingposed as ever.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs. Just getting off work?¡± she asked lightly.

    Without a word, William handed her a document.

    Ste nced down, confused, then froze. It was the exact experimental data she¡¯d been trying to track down all day.

    Seeing her hesitation, William¡¯s voice dropped low. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it was urgent?¡±

    Her fingers tightened slightly on the doorknob. ¡°I did. But¡­ I already received this document earlier today. Thank you for the effort, Mr. Briggs.¡± He¡¯d even printed it out for her.

    William¡¯s hand paused midair, still slightly extended. A brief silence passed before he asked, ¡°Was it Rutherford?¡±

    Aside from Rutherford, there was really no one else who could¡¯ve sent the data that quickly.

    Ste didn¡¯t bother denying it. She nodded.

    ¡°He emailed it to me about five minutes ago. Still, thank you for going out of your way, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    Then she slowly closed the door.

    It clicked shut between them¡ªnot loudly, but final enough to make William feel the gap growing. They were still neighbors, just a few feet apart¡­ but in that moment, she felt miles away. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to ept defeat. He stared at the closed door for a few seconds, then walked back to his apartment.

    As he stepped into his study, he looked down at the file in his hand¡ªthe one he¡¯d carefully prepped just for her.

    His fingers loosened. The papers slid from his grasp and fluttered into the trash. It was useless now.

    Back inside her ce, Ste stood still for a moment, watching the door she¡¯d just shut. She hadn¡¯t expected both Rutherford and William to respond to her online request so quickly.

    Even more surprising¡ªthey both had her on social media.<fna559> Official source is Find[?]ovel</fna559>

    Every story starts at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s

    Thinking back to the look in William¡¯s eyes, a twinge of guilt crept into her chest.

    She shook her head, trying to clear it, and turned back to her work.

    The next morning, as Ste pushed open theb door at the research institute, Elbert and the others looked up. ¡°Sylvia, that data you sentst night came in clutch,¡± Elbert said, visibly relieved. ¡°We would¡¯ve fallen behind today without it.¡±

    Ste wasn¡¯t too concerned with falling behind¡ªit was a long-term project, not a race. Still, she understood howpetitive her team could be. They thrived on momentum.

    By midday, she stepped into the lunchroom to grab some hot water. Just as she pressed the button, a mocking chuckle rang out behind her.

    Then came the familiar voice as Nina walked up to her. ¡°Well, well¡­ Sylvia, I didn¡¯t know you were this shameless.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t even bother looking at her. Once the water finished pouring, she picked up her cup and turned to leave. After dealing with Nina¡¯s petty antics a few times already, she¡¯d learned it was better not to engage.

    But Nina wasn¡¯t going to let her off so easily. She stepped in front of Ste, blocking her path. Her tone turned cold. ¡°What? You can put on a show but can¡¯t take a little criticism? You act like you¡¯re above everyone, but we both know how you really got in here.¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 687

    ?Chapter 687:

    Ste frowned. Where was this sudden usationing from?

    She looked Nina straight in the eye. ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡±

    ¡°You want me to spell it out?¡± Nina scoffed. ¡°Your team was stuck yesterday, and then boom, you magically produce some rare data today. Where¡¯d you get it? You think people can¡¯t put two and two together?¡±

    Ste almostughed at her obsession. ¡°Miss Carter,¡± she said calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t owe you an exnation. There¡¯s no rule against using publicly avable databases.¡±

    But Nina wasn¡¯t done yet. She stared at Ste with thinly veiled disgust. ¡°You¡¯re always going on about being independent, acting like you¡¯ve got nothing to do with William. But the second you run into a wall, who do you turn to?¡±

    Ste froze for half a second. So that was what this was about.

    ¡°You think William gave me the data?¡± she asked, her brow furrowing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think¡ªI know,¡± Nina said smugly. ¡°I heard him talking to Paul yesterday. That data¡¯s clearly rted to your team¡¯s project. Who else would he have given it to?¡±

    Nina had been restless ever since yesterday, ever since she found out just how far William was willing to go for Ste.

    She¡¯d racked her brain trying to find excuses to get closer to him¡ªheck, she had even gone so far as to use her uncle Henry¡¯s name to arrange a dinner meeting. And still, William hadn¡¯t spared her a second nce.

    It was maddening. Why was he so willing to bend over backward for Ste, a woman who didn¡¯t even seem the slightest bit interested in him?<fne1e5> For original chapters go to find?novel</fne1e5>

    What did Ste have that she didn¡¯t? Was it talent? Background? Looks?

    As far as Nina was concerned, she had Ste beat in every category. Besides, if she and William partnered up, she could help him break into the international market; there would only be gain, no loss. But Ste? What did she have to offer?

    ¡°Ste,¡± Nina sneered, her voice dripping with contempt, ¡°what I can¡¯t stand most are people like you¡ªhypocrites who act all righteous, but when things get tough, you still go running to your so-called connections.¡±

    Ste turned and shot her a sharp look. Her voice was calm but cold. ¡°Nina, I¡¯ve always treated you with respect. I¡¯ve kept things professional. But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to stand here and insult me. For one, the data wasn¡¯t from William. And even if it was¡ªwhat gives you the right to question that?¡±

    Exclusive updates: galno¦Íe??s.co??

    Nina¡¯s eyes narrowed. Her hand, which had been clutching her own chest in faux offense, dropped as she jabbed a finger toward Ste. ¡°You¡ª!¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡± Ste snapped, refusing to back down. ¡°Before you start pointing fingers, maybe get your facts straight.¡±

    ¡°And as for all your moral superiority talk¡ªif anyone here is ying both sides, Nina, it¡¯s you. You know that better than anyone.¡±

    When Ste had first met Nina, she had genuinely thought she was a sharp, dedicated researcher. But after spending some time around her, she realized Nina was just another woman caught up in petty rivalry. There was nothing remarkable about her. Honestly, if this was the level of talent the internationalbs had to offer, Ste couldn¡¯t help but worry for them.

    ¡°Ste Russell,¡± Nina snapped, her voice rising. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know who you really are. You think changing your name erases the past? A woman who divorced and still went around flirting with another man before it was even finalized?¡±

    Ste¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. She didn¡¯t care if Nina exposed her identity¡ªhalf the institute had probably figured it out already. She¡¯d only changed her name to cut ties with Marc. Whether people knew or not didn¡¯t matter.

    .

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 Chapter 688

    ?Chapter 688:

    ¡°If you¡¯re using me of cheating, then show me the evidence. And as for my marriage with Marc¡ªthat¡¯s none of your business, Miss Carter. Maybe focus on your own research instead of digging into my life.¡±

    She turned to leave, but her words clearly struck a nerve.

    Nina¡ªproud,petitive, and obsessed with maintaining her image¡ªcouldn¡¯t stomach the hit to her ego. She grabbed Ste¡¯s arm in a sh, trying to yank her back. ¡°Don¡¯t walk away from me! William gave you that data¡ªwhy won¡¯t you admit it?!¡±

    Ste had been holding a cup full of hot water. The sudden tug made her stumble, and the cup tilted. Scalding water sshed over her wrist. She hissed in pain.

    Before she could even react, a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, yanking her away from Nina.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± William¡¯s voice was low and furious as he shielded Ste.

    Nina froze. Why was William here? Didn¡¯t he have his own office? What was he doing in the break room? And worse¡ªhe saw everything. He saw Ste get burned.

    Her mind spun, but she had no time to process before she blurted out in disbelief, ¡°You burned yourself on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Ste was in too much pain to speak, the searing burn across her wrist and forearm radiating with such intensity that she could only clench her teeth, every nerve screaming under the scalding aftermath.

    William¡¯s gaze darkened as he turned to Nina, his voice cold and clipped. ¡°I warned you before. This institute is for research, not for stirring up drama. What happened today won¡¯t just slide.¡±

    Then he looked at Ste, and just like that, his tone shifted¡ªgentle, concerned. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to the hospital.¡±

    Nina¡¯s heart twisted. His partiality was obvious.<fn5088> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find{n}ovel</fn5088>

    She quickly tried to exin, her voice trembling. ¡°William, I didn¡¯t do anything! I was just asking her a question and she kept dodging it¡ªthen the water spilled! I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± She genuinely didn¡¯t mean to hurt Ste.

    William didn¡¯t even nce back; he was already guiding Ste. Nina leaned weakly against the table as they left. Her chest felt tight, her heart like it had just been wrung out. Why didn¡¯t he believe her?

    L?t§Öst ch¦Ápt?rs ??n g??l§ßov?ls.§ã§à??

    Outside, Ste tried to ease out of his grip. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor burn. I can handle it.¡±

    William¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re resisting me this much? You won¡¯t even let me drive you to the hospital?¡±

    She looked away, lips pressed into a tight line, her face pale from the pain. She tried to pull her hand back again, but William held on firmly, unwilling to let go.

    ¡°You¡¯re hurt. Let me help.¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯ve got it.¡±

    They stood in tense silence, staring each other down.

    Finally, William sighed, his voice softer. ¡°I¡¯ll take you. I won¡¯t go in with you if that makes you ufortable¡ªI¡¯ll wait in the car. That okay?¡±

    Ste hesitated, then gave in. ¡°Let go of my hand first.¡±

    He let go. She flexed her wrist carefully, then climbed into the back seat of his Rolls-Royce without another word.

    .

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 Chapter 689

    ?Chapter 689:

    By the time they returned from the hospital, Sandra spotted them the moment they stepped inside. Her relief turned into rm when she saw the gauze wrapped around Ste¡¯s wrist and forearm. ¡°Sylvia! What happened?¡± she asked, rushing over.

    Ste had been fine before going to get some water.

    Ste waved her off. ¡°It¡¯s just a small burn. Nothing serious.¡±

    Jamir and Elbert, who had been nearby, also turned to look. Sandra narrowed her eyes. ¡°You burned your wrist and forearm? Was it Nina?¡±

    She¡¯d overheard someone mention earlier that Ste and Nina had argued in the break room¡ªand that William had stepped in.

    Ste thought for a second before saying, ¡°It was an ident.¡±

    She didn¡¯t think Nina had intentionally hurt her. So, it was an ident.<fn32d6> Official source is FindN0vel</fn32d6>

    But Sandra wasn¡¯t buying it. She stormed over and examined the bandage closely, her face full of concern and anger. ¡°An ident? Seriously? She pulled you, and the water spilled on your arm. She knew you were holding a hot cup¡ªhow is that an ident? This can¡¯t be ignored. We¡¯re going to Mr. Hoffman!¡±

    They¡¯d put up with Nina long enough. The petty arguments, the digs during projects¡ªthey¡¯d let it slide. But this time, she went too far. Researchers worked with their hands. A burn like that wasn¡¯t just painful¡ªit was risky. How would Ste work?

    To Sandra, it was undoubtedly intentional.

    Ste was genuinely touched by Sandra¡¯s reaction. She gently ced a hand on her shoulder and said, ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s not serious. Just a few days of rest, and I¡¯ll be fine. The project¡¯s in its final stretch¡ªwe should focus on that.¡±

    Jamir spoke up too. ¡°Sandra, don¡¯t blow this up now. Nina¡¯s probably heading back overseas once this project¡¯s over.¡±

    In other words, Nina should be allowed to go quietly.

    Sandra looked like she still wanted to argue, but after ncing at Ste¡¯s wrist one more time, she nodded reluctantly. ¡°Fine. Workes first.¡±

    That was the institute¡¯s standard¡ªand Ste¡¯s, too.

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    That afternoon, Ste packed up her things early. She hadn¡¯t forgotten her promise to Rutherford¡ªshe was supposed to help him pick out a gift after work.

    William had nned to catch Ste before she finished work¡ªto check on her burn, maybe offer to tag along for her dressing changes over the next few days. But just as he was about to step into herb, he saw her rushing out from the far end of the hallway, bag slung over her shoulder, moving quickly. He paused for a second, confused. What had her in such a hurry?

    Without thinking twice, he followed her.

    Outside the institute, Rutherford had already pulled up at the curb, leaning casually against the car door like it was routine¡ªlike they were a married couple about to hit the grocery store together after the day¡¯s work.

    As soon as Ste stepped out of the building, Rutherford flicked away his cigarette and walked toward her.

    She looked down at her phone, reading a message from William: ¡°How¡¯s your burn? Sandra said you were in a hurry. Is something wrong?¡± Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitating.

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 Chapter 690

    Chapter 690:

    Just then, the re of a horn ripped through the air.

    Startled, Ste looked up¡ªonly to see a truck barreling toward her. She froze, legs locked.

    ¡°Ste!¡± William¡¯s panicked shout echoed from the entrance.

    Before she could even turn, a firm hand grabbed her arm and yanked her backward¡ªhard. She stumbled into a solid chest, arms instinctively clutching at it.

    Looking up, she realized it was Rutherford.

    Normally calm andposed, his face was pale, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. He looked like he¡¯d just had the scare of his life.

    Ste¡¯s heart was thudding so hard it felt like it might burst. She took a few shaky breaths before she managed to speak. ¡°Thank you¡­ Mr. Schoenberg.¡± If he hadn¡¯t pulled her back in time, who knew what would¡¯ve happened?

    ¡°Damn, thank God you¡¯re okay,¡± Rutherford said, hands braced on his hips as he let out a long breath. ¡°That scared the hell outta me.¡±

    He had never felt such a scare in his entire life.

    Ste blinked, still dazed. She could¡¯ve sworn she¡¯d heard William¡¯s voice. She looked back across the street¡ªnothing. Had she imagined it?

    Rutherford caught her gaze. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I thought I heard Mr. Briggs,¡± she murmured. ¡°Guess I was wrong.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Must¡¯ve been. I didn¡¯t see him anywhere.¡±

    Brushing off the thought, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Tell me about your partner¡¯s preferences on the way.¡±

    Rutherford reached for the passenger door, but something caught his eye¡ªher arm. The bandage. ¡°You hurt your arm?¡±

    Ste couldn¡¯t remember how many times she had answered this question today. She gave a helpless littleugh. ¡°I spilled hot water. It¡¯s fine.¡±

    He didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he opened the door for her, then drove her to a cafe with a uniquely quiet charm.<fn0114> Get full chapters from F?nd-Novel</fn0114>

    Across the street, hidden just out of view, William finally stepped out from the shadows.

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    He¡¯d seen it all: the truck, Ste¡¯s frozen panic, Rutherford¡¯s arms around her. And the moment he saw Rutherford protect her, he turned and walked away. She already had someone. He didn¡¯t need to be there.

    From the institute entrance, Nina had seen it too. She saw both William and Rutherford panicking when Ste was in danger¡ªsaw how William¡¯s whole posture deted once Rutherford pulled Ste out of danger.

    Nina crossed her arms, a trace of smugness in her tone. ¡°William, you saw it with your own eyes. She doesn¡¯t have feelings for you.¡±

    William¡¯s face darkened at the sound of her voice.

    Nina thought he¡¯d finally snap¡ªthought maybe, just maybe, he¡¯d be angry at Ste this time. But when she stepped closer, the look he gave her made her heart skip. His eyes were icy cold, not with anger toward Ste, but toward her.

    ¡°Nina,¡± he said, his voice low and sharp, ¡°have I been too lenient with you?¡±

    Nina stiffened. ¡°What, just because Ste didn¡¯t pick you, you¡¯re going to take it out on me now?¡±

    Was he seriously ming her?

    .

    .

    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Hope you like the new content, best regards dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ( ? ? ¨C ) ?

    .

 Chapter 691

    ?Chapter 691:

    But William cut her off, his voiceced with quiet fury. ¡°This has nothing to do with her. I¡¯m talking about you. Do you really think you can do whatever you want in my institute? That I won¡¯t do anything just because you¡¯ve got some reputation abroad?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t one to be hard on women due to his upbringing, but Nina continually tested his limits.

    Nina frowned, clearly confused as she looked at William. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re clearly a better match. Why would you choose Ste over me?¡± She scoffed and pressed on, ¡°Do you really think she appreciates it? You gave her that data just yesterday, and today she¡¯s off with another man, leaving you behind. Is it really worth it?¡±

    William let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Who told you that data came from me?¡±

    That shut her up. Nina stared at him, stunned. ¡°Wait¡­ it wasn¡¯t you?!¡±

    William¡¯s eyes shed with contempt, making Nina¡¯s heart skip. His expression said it all. She stammered, ¡°Then who else could possibly dig up that kind of information in such a short time?¡±

    He didn¡¯t bother answering. He didn¡¯t want to waste another second on her. But thinking of Ste¡¯s burn from earlier that day, his gaze darkened further. ¡°Nina,¡± he said sharply, ¡°since you¡¯re Henry¡¯s disciple, I¡¯ll give you onest warning¡ªif you don¡¯t know how to rein yourself in, I¡¯ve got more than enough ways to make sure you¡¯re publicly humiliated with nowhere to hide.¡±

    With that, he turned and got into the car parked at the curb. Before she could respond, he¡¯d already hit the gas and sped off without a backward nce.

    Nina stood frozen as the car disappeared down the street, her heart twisting painfully in her chest.

    She had heard of William long before she ever met him¡ªback when she was still overseas. A young genius. Head of a top-tier research institute. CEO of Briggs Group. Heir to the Briggs family. Famous for his ruthless business smarts and calm, calcting demeanor. That kind of reputation was enough to make anyone curious.

    And once she finally met him abroad, she couldn¡¯t help developing a crush. Back then, it was just a fleeting attraction¡ªsomething she could still keep under control.<fn935e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find[?]ovel</fn935e>

    But after arriving in Choria and joining his research team¡­ seeing him every day, working closely with him¡ªit wasn¡¯t just a crush anymore. She fell. Hard.

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    She wanted to be close to him, to make herself stand out¡ªeven if it meant constantly trying to impress him. But no matter what she did, the only one he ever had eyes for¡­ was Ste. Just Ste.

    At a quiet cafe, Rutherford sat across from Ste, walking her through his business partner¡¯s preferences.

    ¡°She¡¯s into jewelry¡­ collects antiques¡­ andtely, I think she¡¯s been into paintings too. That¡¯s all I really know.¡±

    Ste stirred her coffee with her good hand, a little surprised. If that was true, it would be easy enough. She could give the woman a Sterion piece¡ªthere were still a few left. Jewelry? Even simpler. Her next-quarter collection was nearly ready: a blend of agate, conch pearls, jade, and amber, all themed around ¡°Eternity¡¯s Pulse.¡± And as for antiques, she could just take Rutherford to the local antique market. They could find something unique there.

    ¡°Mr. Schoenberg,¡± she asked, ¡°are you thinking of just going with one gift, or nning to get all three?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 692

    ?Chapter 692:

    Rutherford paused to think. ¡°If I had to pick just one, which do you think would be best?¡±

    ¡°That depends on what she values most,¡± Ste replied simply.

    He thought for a second and said, ¡°She¡¯s got a lot of paintings in her office. I¡¯ve seen pieces by both ssic and modern artists.¡±

    Ste nodded. She scribbled down an address and handed it over. ¡°This gallery has work from a wide range of artists, and everything¡¯s the real deal. If you trust me, you can mention my name¡ªthey¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± She tossed in the joke casually, smiling.

    If he really did go, she¡¯d probably just call ahead and have the gallery waive the price. After all, he¡¯d just saved her life and delivered the data she¡¯d been desperate for. A painting was the least she could offer in return.

    Rutherford nced at the address, then asked gently, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, when would you be free to go with me?¡±

    Ste froze for a second, then quickly gathered herself. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, my forearm¡¯s injured. The doctor¡¯s orders were to rest, so I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t apany you right now.¡±

    It was a polite way of declining¡ªone anyone with social awareness would pick up on. Knowing Rutherford, he wouldn¡¯t insist.

    And sure enough, Rutherford gave a faint smile. ¡°My apologies for being presumptuous.¡±

    ¡°I hope you find the perfect gift,¡± Ste said in a light tone, smoothly steering the conversation away from that awkward moment.<fnacf1> Discover more novels at FindN0vel</fnacf1>

    Rutherford looked at her for a long beat, his hands cradling the warm coffee mug. His voice came low and steady, with a calm warmth beneath it.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, have you considered what I brought up during ourst conversation?¡± Rutherford asked.

    The mention of their previous talk made Ste pause. The topic was no mystery to her. Rutherford wanted to see if she would be willing to explore a rtionship with him.

    Thoughts raced through Ste¡¯s mind, but one image kept surfacing. For some reason, William¡¯s face lingered, refusing to leave her thoughts. As she tried to decide what to say, the memory of screeching tires from her recent brush with danger came back with a chill.

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    Try as she might, she found herself unable to stop thinking about William. Frustration built as she tried to focus on the present.

    Ste lowered her gaze, then spoke with honesty. ¡°I appreciate your offer, Rutherford, but after giving it real thought, I feel we¡¯re better suited as friends.¡±

    Rutherford took her reply in stride. Nothing about his face suggested surprise, yet what he asked next caught her off guard.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, when you turned me down just now, did you picture William¡¯s face?¡±

    The questionnded like a stone in her chest. Ste gripped her hands tightly in herp, almost like a schoolchild put on the spot by a teacher, anxiety prickling in her veins.

    Rutherford¡¯s tone remained gentle, without a hint of usation. All he wanted was the truth behind her answer. When Ste remained quiet, it was clear to him what was going on.

    .

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 Chapter 693

    ?Chapter 693:

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Gilbert,¡± said Rutherford. ¡°I¡¯m not here to interrogate you. There¡¯s no need to exin yourself.¡±

    Rutherford chuckled softly, easing the lingering tension in the air. Ste managed a polite smile, trying her best to appear at ease. She didn¡¯t need a mirror to know that her attempt fell t.

    Leaning in a little, Rutherford lowered his voice. ¡°Winning someone over is tough, I know that, Ms. Gilbert. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t expecting you to say yes. Friends work for me, if you¡¯re up for it.¡±

    Ste had always figured someone as busy as Rutherford would retreat gracefully, expecting him to cut his losses.

    Instead, he showed no sign of letting go. If anything, his persistence only seemed to grow stronger, like he had just begun to dig his heels in. A thought struck her¡ªmaybe he wanted to challenge William. No matter how much time passed, Rutherford remained an enigma. His choices never failed to catch her off guard.

    ¡°Would you like a ride home, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    Rutherford didn¡¯t suggest grabbing dinner after their conversation. He had enough sense to realize that if he pushed her any further, she would just close herself off.

    Ste gave him a grateful nod. ¡°I drove myself, so there¡¯s no need.¡± The cafe¡¯s parking lot was only a few minutes away on foot.

    On another day, Rutherford would have dropped it, but his gazended on the white bandage wrapped around Ste¡¯s hand. He pointed it out. ¡°Your hand and arm look pretty roughed up. Are you sure you can handle driving?¡±

    Ste nced down at her bandaged hand, feeling a little sheepish for forgetting about her own injury.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of your car and drop it off at your ce. That way, you won¡¯t have to worry about getting around tomorrow.¡±

    His easy tone caught her off guard. She looked at him and asked, ¡°How will you get home then?¡±

    Rutherford gave a small shrug and replied, ¡°My driver cane and get me.¡±

    Ste had to remind herself that, for someone like him, that was hardly a problem.

    The drive back was smooth, with Rutherford handling her car as if he¡¯d done it countless times before. They pulled into the underground garage beneath her apartment building. As they cruised in, Ste¡¯s eyes darted to William¡¯s usual parking space. Strangely, it was empty.

    L§Ñt?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g?lnov?ls.?¦Ïm

    It made her pause. It was well past the time he usually got back from work, yet he was nowhere to be found. The realization crept up on her. She had not expected to feel any concern for William, but it tugged at her anyway.

    Rutherford parked and stepped out, waiting for her to join him. ¡°I¡¯m calling my driver now. Would you mind if I apany you upstairs for a cup of coffee, Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    Rutherford had never visited Ste¡¯s apartment before, but since they were both there, he figured he might as well ask.

    Just as Ste opened her mouth to answer, her phone rang.

    Ste shot Rutherford an apologetic look and said softly, ¡°Sorry, I need to take this call.¡±

    As she answered, Steven¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°Sylvia, did you lock up all of Neb Group¡¯s old contracts?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re in the safe,¡± she replied.

    .<fnd0e1> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnd0e1>

    .

    .

 Chapter 694

    ?Chapter 694:

    Those were confidentialpany documents¡ªshe couldn¡¯t risk them falling into the wrong hands.

    ¡°And the key?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s with me,¡± Ste answered without thinking, just before she heard Steven let out a low sigh.<fnd023> Discover more novels at Find[?]ovel</fnd023>

    ¡°William needs to check some data from one of those contracts¡ªurgently. But since you¡¯re the only one with the key¡­ Sylvia, can youe over?¡±

    She hesitated, ncing at Rutherford, who was still standing quietly beside her. Compared to having coffee with Rutherford, matters involving Neb came first.

    She quickly looked away and said into the phone, ¡°I¡¯ll bring the key right now.¡±

    Once she hung up, Rutherford asked gently, ¡°Everything all right?¡±

    Ste gave a quick nod. ¡°Something¡¯se up at Neb. I need to drop something off. I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Schoenberg, but I won¡¯t be able to invite you up for coffee.¡±

    He was clearly a little let down, but his tone remained steady. ¡°Where are you headed? I¡¯ll drive you.¡±

    Earlier, he¡¯d already handed the car keys back to her after they got out. But Ste shook her head with a polite smile. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You¡¯ve already helped me enough today. Just wait here for the driver¡ªI¡¯ll go on my own.¡±

    With that, she turned and got back into the car.

    She only had time to roll down the window and wave a quick goodbye before she pulled out of the parking lot.

    Rutherford stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching her drive away. After a long beat, he let out a quiet chuckle.

    As William¡¯s friend, he knew full well that Neb was just a subsidiary under the Briggs Group. But the moment Ste heard something was wrong at Neb, she¡­

    She dropped everything and rushed off¡ªburned wrist and all. Was it really just about Neb? Or was it because William was involved?

    Staring in the direction her car had disappeared, Rutherford pressed his lips into a thin line, then turned and walked out of the garage.

    His driver pulled up less than twenty minutester.

    Your next story begins at  .

    As he climbed in, Rutherford said calmly, ¡°Take me to Neb Group.¡±

    His purpose was simple¡ªto see if William was also at Neb.

    Neb was a smallpany under the Briggs umbre. Logically, there was no reason for William to be there personally. But if he was¡­ then Rutherford figured the reason had little to do with business.

    Before long, the driver had taken Rutherford to Neb headquarters.

    When they arrived, he didn¡¯t get out. Instead, he told the driver to circle the building and check the underground parking lot.

    Sure enough, William¡¯s car was parked neatly in one of the reserved spaces. Rutherfordughed quietly to himself. That confirmed it. No matter what he did, would he ever be able to take William¡¯s ce in Ste¡¯s heart?

    He sat there for a while, staring out the window at the sleek ck Rolls-Royce, not saying a word. Then, he murmured, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The driver blinked, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re not going up, sir?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 695

    ?Chapter 695:

    He¡¯d assumed Rutherford came to see William.

    But Rutherford leaned back in his seat and rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡°No need.¡±

    He¡¯d already seen all he needed to see. Going up now would be pointless.

    The car pulled out of the underground garage and drove off into the distance.

    Ste stepped into Neb Group and took the elevator up, certain that William wouldn¡¯t show up for something this minor. But when the elevator doors opened and she walked into the office, she froze for a second¡ªWilliam was right there on the couch with Steven.

    Steven spotted her first and waved. ¡°Sylvia, finally! We were two seconds away from calling someone to crack that safe open.¡±

    Ste let out a wry smile, half amused, half exasperated. Sure, the safe technically belonged to Neb, so if they wrecked it, thepany would just buy a new one. And really, she didn¡¯t care all that much about the safe itself. But judging by the sleek build, it definitely wasn¡¯t cheap.

    She handed the keys over to Steven. ¡°Here. Everything¡¯s in there. I¡¯m heading out.¡±

    If not for thisst-minute errand, she¡¯d probably be home by now¡ªlounging on her couch, scrolling through her phone, enjoying her peace.

    Seeing she was about to leave, Steven quickly stepped in. ¡°Wait, since you¡¯re already here, why not grab dinner with us? You and William live in the sameplex anyway. You could head back together.¡±

    As he spoke, he threw a quick look William¡¯s way. He was trying to create an opening for William. He fixed William with a pointed look, urging him to say something and not just sit there like a statue.

    William cleared his throat. ¡°There are a few good spots nearby. What do you feel like eating? I¡¯ll have Luca make a reservation.¡±

    His tone was calm, but it carried that usual hint ofmand¡ªlike he wasn¡¯t asking, just expecting her to say yes.

    She shook her head, her voice cooler than before. ¡°No thanks. I¡¯ve got groceries at home. I¡¯ll make my own food.¡±

    Steven blinked in surprise. He hadn¡¯t seen thating. Ste rarely turned down invites like this, not so bluntly. And then he remembered what William had told him earlier, before she arrived.

    Half an hour earlier¡­

    Steven nudged William with his shoulder, grinning. ¡°So? What¡¯s thetest with Sylvia? You making any moves?¡±

    William frowned slightly, jaw tense. ¡°She¡¯s been avoiding me. Looks like she¡¯s getting close to Rutherford.¡±

    Steven froze, stunned. ¡°Wait, seriously? Rutherford took her away from you?¡±

    Thement hit a nerve. William¡¯s face darkened, a sh of cold frustration flickering in his eyes.

    Sensing he¡¯d struck a chord, Steven dropped his voice. ¡°Why¡¯s she dodging you? Got any theories? Or is Rutherford just more her type?¡±

    It didn¡¯t make any sense to him. Rutherford and William weren¡¯t that different. Both were sharp, sessful, from solid backgrounds. Both kept their distance from strangers, rarely let anyone in. William had a cold,manding edge, while Rutherford leaned more toward charming and easygoing. It was like choosing between a stern, no-nonsense boss and a chill senior who always had your back. If she really liked Rutherford¡¯s type, why had she rejected William in the first ce?<fnc980> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n </fnc980>

    ¡°You sure she¡¯s into him?¡± Steven pressed.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 696

    ?Chapter 696:

    William¡¯s eyes flicked toward him, sharp and annoyed. ¡°How would I know?¡± His tone was clipped, cutting the question short.

    Steven raised both hands slightly, dropping the subject. ¡°Alright, alright. So, why¡¯s she avoiding you then?¡±

    Steven¡¯s endless questions were starting to grate on William¡¯s nerves. William stared at him for a beat, silently daring him to keep going.

    William hade to the office to go over some documents. However, the documents were locked up and the key was with Ste, which neither William nor Steven had expected. When Steven called Ste, he told William it was a golden opportunity. If Ste showed up, they¡¯d get to see each other. They could grab dinner, talk more, and maybe connect. A few drinks, and who knows? They might start opening up about their real feelings.

    Steven¡¯s imagination was running wild, but reality was far less rosy. Neither Steven nor William had expected Ste to t-out refuse dinner.

    Seeing William¡¯s face sour, Steven jumped in to smooth things over. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re cooking tonight? Mind if we tag along for dinner?¡±

    Ste pressed her lips together. Before she could answer, Steven went on, ¡°Josie¡¯s been hyping up your cooking like it¡¯s some Michelin-level masterpiece. Said I had to try it. So hey¡ªperfect opportunity.¡±

    That caught Ste off guard. Josie had been talking about her cooking to Steven? Since when were the two of them that close? She suddenly felt like she needed to catch up with Josie sometime.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t say no,¡± Steven grinned, seizing the moment. ¡°So I¡¯ll take that as a yes. Let¡¯s go, William. We¡¯ll swing by a store and grab her a little thank-you gift on the way.¡±

    He was about to throw an arm around William¡¯s shoulders when William¡¯s eyes locked on Ste¡¯s wrist.

    ¡°Your hand¡¯s injured. How are you nning to cook like that?¡± William¡¯s tone dropped, clearly unhappy.

    She was hurt, and she was still nning to cook? Was she always this careless with herself? It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d seen her brush off an injury. Didn¡¯t Marc ever tell her to rest when she was sick or hurt?

    Ste¡¯s fingers trembled slightly. She paused, then said, ¡°It¡¯s just a burn. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s broken or anything. I can still cook.¡±

    Stay tuned at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s<fn5a62> Content originallyes from Find?Novel</fn5a62>

    She wasn¡¯t some delicate porcin doll who would shatter over a little burn. She wasn¡¯t raised with maids waiting on her, either.

    Ste had always handled things on her own. A minor burn wasn¡¯t about to keep her out of the kitchen. Honestly, if William hadn¡¯t dragged her to the hospital that day, she would have just pped some burn cream on it and gone about her day.

    ¡°She said it¡¯s fine, so quit worrying already,¡± Steven cut in. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m starving.¡±

    They headed down to the underground garage and split into two cars. Ste drove ahead while William trailed behind in his own car.

    As they pulled out of the garage, William muttered, ¡°Are you that desperate for¡­¡±

    Steven blinked. Everything seemed fine a minute ago¡ªwhy was William suddenly in a mood? ¡°What did I do now?¡±

    William didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°Her hand¡¯s hurt, and you¡¯re making her cook for you? You don¡¯t have staff at home, or is your head just full of air?¡±

    He didn¡¯t want her cooking tonight. He¡¯d rather take her out to eat. That way, her hand could rest, and she¡¯d heal faster.

    Steven let out a slow sigh, giving William a side-eye. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot to learn, man. Sometimes, when a woman says no¡­ she might actually mean yes.¡±

    William¡¯s brows knitted together. What nonsense was that?

    .

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 Chapter 697

    ?Chapter 697:

    Steven chuckled, clearly enjoying the confusion. ¡°I¡¯m serious. She might say she doesn¡¯t want to¡ªbut deep down, maybe she does. You gotta learn to read between the lines.¡±

    William thought it sounded like pure garbage¡ªbut he didn¡¯t argue.

    Steven leaned back with a knowing look. ¡°But with someone like Sylvia, it¡¯s different. She knows her own mind. She doesn¡¯t like being coddled or having her choices made for her. If she says her injury¡¯s no big deal, then acting like she¡¯s fragile might just piss her off.¡±

    William shifted in his seat, clearly conflicted. ¡°So now caring about her is wrong? That¡¯s disrespect?¡±

    Steven actually showed a bit of patience. ¡°No. But she¡¯s not just someone for you to protect. She¡¯s her own person. If she doesn¡¯t want your concern and you keep forcing it on her, it doesn¡¯t feel like love. It feels like pressure.¡±

    He paused, then offered an analogy. ¡°It¡¯s like your mom insisting you wear a coat when you¡¯re already hot.¡±

    That clicked for William. The image was crystal clear.

    But then he muttered, ¡°That didn¡¯t really happen with me.¡±

    He came from money. Chauffeurs. Central heating. Before his mom passed, she wore skirts around the house in winter.

    Steven gave him a look. ¡°It¡¯s a metaphor, genius.¡±

    Still, William got it. If Ste didn¡¯t want his concern, pushing it on her might just weigh her down.

    Even so, he was genuinely worried about her hand.

    ¡°You know some doctors overseas, right?¡± he asked. ¡°If you care so much, get her some scar cream. Burns can leave marks.¡±

    That snapped William back to the present. Without hesitation, he called Luca and told him to go buy one¡ªfast.

    When Ste got home, she walked straight into the kitchen and firmly closed the door behind her, making sure Steven and William stayed out.

    From outside, Steven watched her moving around inside and asked, ¡°Is she really going to handle all of this by herself?¡± After all, she was cooking for three people.

    Dive into the story world at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s?c?m

    William gave him a look and replied, ¡°You¡¯re the one who tagged along for a free meal.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t?¡± Steven shot back.

    But for William, the food was just an excuse. What he really wanted was to be near Ste. He didn¡¯t care if he ate or not. Just being around her was enough.

    Inside the kitchen, Ste turned on the exhaust fan, pulled out her phone, and dialed Josie.

    ¡°Hi, Josie. Would you like toe over for dinner tonight?¡± she asked casually.

    Josie was surprised. Ste rarely invited her over for meals¡ªthis was definitely out of the ordinary. ¡°What¡¯s cooking?¡±

    Ste nced at the pot of water already simmering on the stove. ¡°Stew.¡±

    With so many people to feed, she wasn¡¯t going to oveplicate things with fancy dishes.

    Josie¡¯s taste was usually simple, but when it came to stew, she couldn¡¯t resist. Ever since she¡¯d tried a local version during a trip down south, she¡¯d been hooked. She even started buying stew bases online after that. And tonight, Ste was using the same one Josie had ordered before.

    ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± Josie said, and ended the call.

    Less than thirty minutester, Josie rang the doorbell, only to be greeted by Steven.

    She froze. ¡°Why¡­ are you at Ste¡¯s ce?¡±

    .<fn5186> This update is avable on find?novel</fn5186>

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 Chapter 698

    ?Chapter 698:

    Steven hadn¡¯t expected to see the girl he liked either. But the moment he did, he lit up. ¡°Ms. Patel,e in! Ste¡¯s just in the kitchen.¡±

    Without giving her a chance to object, he gently took her arm and guided her inside, shutting the door behind her with a quiet thud, almost like he was worried she might change her mind and leave.

    Josie sighed and headed for the kitchen.

    The smell of stew filled the air, and Ste already had everything set out. The ingredients were prepped and ready to cook.

    ¡°Stel, what¡¯s Steven doing here?¡± Josie asked as soon as she stepped in, clearly puzzled by his sudden appearance.

    Ste nced at her and said calmly, ¡°Apparently someone told him I was a great cook, and he just had to try it for himself. I couldn¡¯t say no.¡±

    Josie raised an eyebrow. ¡°And who exactly told him that?¡±

    Ste looked directly at Josie. ¡°He said it was you.¡±

    Josie¡¯s hand mmed against the counter. ¡°What? That¡¯s a load of crap!¡±

    Ste gave a small nod. ¡°I thought so too. That¡¯s why I invited you, toe hear it from him directly.¡±

    That¡¯s when it hit Josie¡ªSte had yed her cards well. If she hadn¡¯t been invited over to rify things, a misunderstanding like this might have snowballed and hurt their friendship down the line. The thought of a guying between them made Josie¡¯s blood boil.

    As she turned to leave the kitchen, her eyes suddenlynded on Ste¡¯s wrist and forearm. ¡°Hey, what happened to your arm?¡±

    Ste nced down casually. ¡°Oh, just a burn. It looks worse than it is because of the bandage.¡±

    She had thought about taking it off earlier, but since a nurse at the hospital had wrapped it so carefully to prevent infection, she decided to leave it on.

    ¡°How did you burn yourself?¡±

    Josie hadn¡¯t heard anything about it until now. Her heart sank a little. Ste always had this habit of quietly dealing with everything on her own. And that thought frustrated her more than anything.

    Ste said, ¡°I spilled some hot water at the institute.¡±

    Josie shot Ste a look¡ªshe wasn¡¯t buying it.

    Ste was always careful. The chances of her spilling water were slim. And of all ces for it tond¡ªon her? Yeah, no.

    She worked in research, designed jewelry, painted¡ªeverything she did required precision. She wasn¡¯t some careless klutz like Sharon.

    ¡°Stel, you seriously expect me to buy that?¡±<fnef04> Checktest chapters at findnovel</fnef04>

    Ste¡¯s grip on the spat tightened briefly before she sighed and said, ¡°It was Nina Carter, but it was an ident. No big deal, so I didn¡¯t bother mentioning it.¡±

    The moment she mentioned Nina, Josie¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°She¡¯s still at your institute?¡±

    After that giarism mess, Josie had assumed she¡¯d be long gone. But no¡ªturns out Nina was still around, still stirring up trouble. And now she¡¯d even hurt Ste?

    ¡°She¡¯s got experiments to finish,¡± Ste said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s not practical to remove her right now.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t want personal grudges getting in the way of work.

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 Chapter 699

    ?Chapter 699:

    ¡°And William¡¯s just letting that slide?¡± Josie snapped. ¡°It¡¯s his institute, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Josie felt a surge of frustration, thinking any friend of Steven wasn¡¯t exactly a saint.

    The moment his name came up, a flicker of unease crossed Ste¡¯s face. ¡°He¡¯s the boss. He¡¯s got to put the institute first. He¡¯s not doing anything wrong. Don¡¯t worry about me, Josie¡ªI¡¯ve got it under control.¡±

    Josie let out a sigh, clearly frustrated but not wanting to push it further. ¡°Come on, help me carry the food out. Dinner¡¯s ready.¡±<fn8916> Readplete version only at fin?novel</fn8916>

    As soon as Josie stepped out of the kitchen, Steven¡¯s face lit up. He jumped up, ready to ¡°help¡± with the food¡ªthough really, he just wanted to sit next to her. But Josie saw right through him. She stuck to Ste¡¯s side and casually leaned against the wall, making sure there was no seat left for him by her side.

    Steven had no choice but to flop down next to William, looking less than thrilled.

    ¡°Ms. Patel, what do you like? I¡¯ll grab it for you,¡± he offered with a bright smile.

    Josie didn¡¯t even look at him. She dropped some beef strips into the fondue pot like he wasn¡¯t even there.

    Steven, still trying to be friendly, chimed in, ¡°Ms. Patel, you like beef strips? So do I!¡±

    Josie frowned, clearly fed up. ¡°Mr. Harrison, a little self-awareness goes a long way. You might want to think before you speak¡ªor you¡¯ll end up embarrassing yourself.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t just annoyed¡ªshe was calling him out for that nonsense he¡¯d spouted earlier, iming she¡¯d praised Ste¡¯s cooking.

    But Steven had already forgotten that little lie he¡¯d told back at the office. So now, confused, he blinked and asked, ¡°What¡¯d I say that was so bad?¡±

    Josie set down her fork and stared him down. ¡°You said I told you Ste was a great cook. When, exactly, did I ever have that conversation with you?¡±

    Steven froze. He hadn¡¯t expected her to call him out like that. He hadn¡¯t thought his offhand lie would get exposed so fast, especially by Josie, the woman he liked. So embarrassing.

    Ste gently patted Josie¡¯s arm. ¡°Let it go, Josie. Let¡¯s just eat.¡± She didn¡¯t want dinner to turn into a scene.

    But Josie wasn¡¯t about to let it slide that easily. She shot a sharp look across the table. ¡°Mr. Harrison, if you¡¯re going to run your mouth, at least be man enough to own it. Don¡¯t just throw words around like they don¡¯t matter.¡±

    More chapters just for you g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    William, who¡¯d been quietly holding his te, finally spoke up, his tone low. ¡°Ms. Patel, that¡¯s enough. Steven was just saying Ms. Gilbert¡¯s a good cook. Nothing more.¡±

    But that only made Josie angrier. ¡°Oh, so what now? She¡¯s your personal chef? Just because she¡¯s good in the kitchen, she has to cook for you? Her hand¡¯s injured, and you two couldn¡¯t even be bothered to bring takeout? What¡ªno food at home? You had to make a hurt woman cook for you? Seriously, aren¡¯t you guys ashamed?¡±

    Her words hit Steven hard, and he felt like every decision he¡¯d made today was a mistake. All he wanted was to y wingman for William tonight. He hadn¡¯t nned for Josie to show up¡­ and definitely hadn¡¯t expected to get roasted like this.

    ¡°Ms. Patel, we¡¯re really sorry about all this,¡± Steven said, ncing between the two women. ¡°Sylvia¡¯s hand is hurt, and William¡¯s genuinely worried. He even had his assistant pick up some top-tier scar cream from overseas. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re ignoring her, like you made it sound. Dinner was my idea, so if you¡¯re going to me someone, me me.¡±

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 Chapter 700

    ?Chapter 700:

    Steven figured Josie already didn¡¯t like him, so he¡¯d rather take the heat than drag William down too. As long as Ste didn¡¯t hate William, that was good enough for him.

    Ste blinked, surprised to hear William had gone out of his way to get her scar cream. The doctor hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about scarring¡ªjust told her to rest and be careful. She hadn¡¯t even considered getting cream for it. Scars didn¡¯t bother her that much.

    So when had William managed to do that for her?

    Her grip tightened around her te and fork. After a pause, she said quietly, ¡°I appreciate the thought, Mr. Briggs, but I don¡¯t need the cream.¡±

    William¡¯s heart sank. Another rejection. ¡°It¡¯s just a tube of cream. It¡¯s not like I bought you a car,¡± he muttered.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think back to how she¡¯d turned him down when he offered to take her to the hospital. Now she didn¡¯t even want his help with something as small as this. Why did everything he did seem to push her further away?

    Steven¡¯s words from earlier echoed in his mind¡ªabout how Ste didn¡¯t like being smothered, about knowing her own mind¡ªbut William still couldn¡¯t figure it out. When had things shifted between them?

    Was it because he confessed how he felt? Had that been a mistake?

    The fondue pot in front of him bubbled gently, the savory steam filling the air, but William couldn¡¯t taste a thing. Appetite gone, he set down his fork. ¡°Thanks for dinner, Ms. Gilbert. I¡¯m going to head out. I¡¯ll send Rita overter to help clean up.¡±

    He stood and left without giving Steven a chance to stop him.<fnb8f3> Original content can be found at find?novel</fnb8f3>

    Steven watched him make it to the door, sighed, and finally set down his own fork. ¡°William, wait for me!¡±

    But William was already gone. Steven had barely gotten any time with Josie, and the meal hadn¡¯t even wrapped up properly. Now, with the mood wrecked, there wasn¡¯t much left to salvage.

    After they left, the warm steam from the fondue pot clung to the air around Ste and Josie. Josie nced at her, voice low. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and William?¡±

    Ste froze, then tried to downy the question. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Step into fiction with g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s???o??

    Josie gave her a long look, then set her te down. ¡°Come on, Stel. You two have always had this tension¡ªlike, flirty tension. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t noticed. It¡¯s obvious to everyone. But tonight, you were ice cold to him. Something¡¯s definitely going on.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Her silence stretched before she quietly asked, ¡°Is it really that obvious?¡±

    Josie nodded without hesitation. ¡°Crystal clear.¡±

    Josie wasn¡¯t the type to pry¡ªshe usually stayed out of people¡¯s business unless she had to. So for her to bring this up now¡­ it must have been painfully obvious to everyone.

    Sharon already knew the backstory. Josie didn¡¯t.

    As they cleared the table, Ste finally filled her in¡ªeverything Sharon had dug up.

    By the time Ste finished, Josie was holding her breath without realizing it. She stared at Ste in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­ your adoptive parents¡¯ ident¡­ had something to do with William¡¯s family?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 701

    ?Chapter 701:

    Ste turned on the faucet, watching the water run over her hands, and gave a faint nod. ¡°Yeah. Hard to believe, right? I could barely wrap my head around it.¡±

    She¡¯d been on the verge of epting him. There had been so many misunderstandings between her and William over time. First, she thought he was into men. Then she figured he was just using her as a shield from other women.

    And then, after that night when he finallyid his feelings bare, she¡¯d been ready to give it a real shot. But then came the truth¡ªpainful, sharp, undeniable. A buried past neither of them could erase. That truth stood between them like a wall too high to climb.

    Josie opened her mouth, wanting to say something¡ªanything¡ªbut no words came out. What was there to say? Comfort her? Tell her she could still try with William? Neither felt right.

    Finally, Josie exhaled and pulled Ste into a hug, gently patting her back. ¡°Stel, you¡¯ve endured a lot.¡±

    Ste stiffened.

    It felt like Josie could see straight through her¡ªpast the calm front she always wore¡ªright into that mess of pain and vulnerability she¡¯d tried so hard to keep buried.

    Her shoulders trembled slightly as she leaned into Josie¡¯s arms, letting herself fall apart for just a moment.

    When Josie finally pulled back, she gave Ste¡¯s arm a gentle squeeze and said, ¡°In a few days, Amanda Ruiz from Oshos is throwing a birthday bash here in Choria. You remember¡ªshe¡¯s one of our biggest clients.¡±

    Of course Ste remembered Amanda.

    Ste¡¯s jewelry brand had been a hit overseas and had only recently broken into the domestic market. Back then, Amanda was always first in line to buy Ste¡¯s new collections¡ªsometimes buying them out entirely.

    As the designer, Ste never appeared publicly. Josie handled all the client mingling andworking. During the holidays, Ste sent gifts to keep those connections warm. She even had a VIP client list¡ªpersonallypiled by Josie¡ªof everyone who had spent over a million on her pieces.

    Ste had studied that list, researched every name, and memorized the key details. But she hadn¡¯t expected Amanda to throw a birthday party in Choria this year.

    Find exclusive chapters g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    ¡°She¡¯s not from Choria, is she?¡±

    Ste remembered Amanda being born and raised in Oshos. Last she checked, the woman had only been to Choria once¡ªon vacation. So what changed?<fn0853> Chapters first released on find~novel</fn0853>

    ¡°Word is, she¡¯s trying to find a good match for her daughter,¡± Josie said. ¡°Her daughter¡¯s not a fan of Oshos and has actually been living in Choria for the past six months.¡±

    Ste was stunned. Someone that influential had been in Choria all this time, and she hadn¡¯t heard a thing?

    With William and Rutherford both circling her almost daily, how had neither of them mentioned Amanda? Anyone who could casually drop a million bucks on jewelry wasn¡¯t someone you missed.

    Josie gave her a look. ¡°Stel, if you¡¯re thinking about making a ssh here at home, this could be your moment. Might be time to go public with your identity.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the first time this hade up. Ste had heard gossip before¡ªat events, frompetitors¡ªabout why she always stayed so low profile. Back then, she had no interest in being seen.

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 Chapter 702

    ?Chapter 702:

    But now¡­ Josie¡¯s suggestion gave her pause. Ste thought it over seriously.

    ¡°For now¡­ let¡¯s keep it under wraps.¡±

    After weighing her options, she decided mystery still worked in her favor. As long as her designs kept selling, her name didn¡¯t need to be out there. Going public might raise her visibility¡ªbut it wouldn¡¯t guarantee a jump in sales. To Ste, the perks of revealing her identity weren¡¯t worth much.

    These days, the market was flooded with new indie designers trying to stand out. Staying mysterious wasn¡¯t a bad look¡ªespecially when the work spoke for itself.

    Josie pressed her lips together. ¡°So are you going to the party, then?¡±

    If she didn¡¯t go as the designer behind the brand, she¡¯d have to show up as Sylvia Gilbert from the research institute. And she wasn¡¯t sure a title like that would carry much weight at an event packed with the upper crust.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go as your assistant, if that works for you.¡±

    Josie stared at her. ¡°My assistant?¡±

    Technically speaking, it was the opposite¡ªJosie was her assistant.

    ¡°Anyway, Amanda¡¯s never met me. She won¡¯t know the difference.¡±

    All Ste wanted was to meet Amanda face-to-face. She wasn¡¯t nning to drop the bomb about who she really was.

    On the day of Amanda¡¯s birthday bash, Ste slipped into a gown she had picked recently. Tiny rhinestones lined the hem, sparkling under the lights like stars trailing behind her with every step.

    She met Josie at the banquet hall entrance. Josie gave her a once-over, eyebrows raised. ¡°Stel, that dress is perfect on you. Shows just enough shoulder to turn heads.¡±

    Ste offered a faint smile at thepliment and walked into the hall beside her.<fn303f> Read full story at find?novel</fn303f>

    She hadn¡¯t even had a chance to look for Amanda before she noticed a few familiar faces¡ªincluding Rutherford.

    The moment Rutherford spotted her, his eyes lit up¡ªclearly stunned, and maybe a little mesmerized by how radiant she looked.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert?¡± he said, walking over. ¡°You¡¯re here for Amanda¡¯s party too?¡±

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    Rutherford had wanted toe with Ste, but she¡¯d told him her hand wasn¡¯t up for it. And yet, here she was at the party anyway.

    The second she spotted Rutherford, everything clicked into ce. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, is Amanda Ruiz your business partner?¡±

    Rutherford nodded. ¡°You know her?¡±

    ¡°My friend worked with her before. I¡¯m just tagging along as her assistant.¡± Assistant? With Ste¡¯s talent, she was ying second fiddle to someone else?

    Rutherford was caught off guard, but he didn¡¯t let it show. ¡°How¡¯s your hand?¡±

    Ste looked a little embarrassed and lowered her voice. ¡°Thanks for asking, Mr. Schoenberg. It¡¯s getting better.¡±

    His expression softened. ¡°If you¡¯re here to see Amanda, we could head over together.¡±

    Ste froze, then nced over at Josie, who raised a brow at her with a knowing look. Ste gave a quick shake of her head. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Mr. Schoenberg. My friend and I want to mingle a bit first.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 703

    ?Chapter 703:

    Rutherford¡¯s eyes shifted to Josie, and he gave her a polite nod.

    Josie offered a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Schoenberg. Didn¡¯t think you¡¯de all the way from Briset just for Amanda¡¯s birthday.¡±

    Rutherford raised his ss, voice cool. ¡°I didn¡¯te just for Amanda¡­¡± His words trailed off, gazending on Ste.

    Ste blinked and gave an awkward little smile.

    Josie quickly looped her arm through Ste¡¯s. ¡°Then we won¡¯t keep you.¡±

    She led Ste to the terrace, leaned against the balcony railing, and turned with a smirk. ¡°All right, spill. What¡¯s going on with you and Rutherford?¡±

    It had been a while since theyst caught up, and it felt like Ste suddenly had men orbiting her likes.

    Ste stared out at the sunset, voice t. ¡°We¡¯re just friends.¡±<fnc043> This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnc043>

    Josie shot her a look. ¡°You might see him as a friend, but he¡¯s obviously hoping for more.¡±

    Ste sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t start, Josie. You¡¯re starting to sound like Sharon.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m serious. Rutherford¡¯s a decent guy. If things with William aren¡¯t going anywhere, why not give him a shot? You¡¯re young. Date around. Doesn¡¯t hurt to try.¡±

    Josie wasn¡¯t like Sharon, who talked big about love but had never actually been in a rtionship. Josie had dated plenty.

    Her thing was simple¡ªif she wasn¡¯t feeling it, she¡¯d end it without a second thought.

    Ste honestly admired that.

    ¡°I¡¯m grateful to Rutherford, and I appreciate everything he¡¯s done for me¡­ but there¡¯s no spark,¡± Ste said quietly.

    She had thought hard about her feelings for Rutherford. Getting together without real feelings didn¡¯t seem right.

    Josie sighed. That was the hardest part¡ªwhen feelings just weren¡¯t there.

    ¡°But you do have feelings for William,¡± she said. ¡°And how¡¯s that working out?¡± She nced through the window and spotted William in the garden, one hand in his pocket, deep in conversation.

    Ste followed her gaze, eyesnding on his sharp profile. Her chest tightened. She looked away quickly, afraid she might lose control if she stared too long.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine being single. It¡¯s not the end of the world,¡± she muttered.

    Josie let out augh at herment. ¡°Stel, dating isn¡¯t just about dinner and small talk. Being with someone helps keep you sane.¡±

    Ste thought back to the year after her breakup with Marc. She¡¯d been constantly on edge, always irritable. Sharon had told her then to go find a new guy, let someone bnce her out. She hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time, but now Josie was echoing the same thing.

    Josie gave her shoulder a pat and said in a half-joking, half-serious tone, ¡°Even for the sake of hormonal bnce, one should avoid staying single for prolonged periods.¡±

    It sounded way more practical than all that emotional, messy love stuff.

    Ste raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯re one to talk. Haven¡¯t you been single for over six months? What about Steven?¡±

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 Chapter 704

    ?Chapter 704:

    At the mention of Steven, Josie¡¯s face shifted¡ªexpression guarded. ¡°Stel, let¡¯s not bring up irrelevant people right now.¡±

    Ste grinned. ¡°If he¡¯s so irrelevant, why do you get so worked up every time you see him?¡±

    Josie, who always kept her cool, never raised her voice and rarely lost her temper¡ªeven when annoyed, she only ever gave a cold stare.

    People called her the untouchable, an ice beauty.

    But the second Steven was involved? That calm flew right out the window. Her temper spiked almost as fast as Sharon¡¯s.

    Josie froze for a second. She hadn¡¯t realized just how much her emotions red up every time she saw Steven.

    ¡°I just get annoyed when he keeps bugging me,¡± she said.

    To her, that irritation felt perfectly normal¡ªanyone would feel the same, right? Ste, watching Josie pretend she wasn¡¯t feeling anything at all, chose not to call her out.

    Everyone had their own illusions to hold onto. Sometimes, it was the only way to keep life moving.

    Josie drained thest of her champagne and turned to Ste. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll take you to meet Amanda.¡±

    Amanda, the star of the evening, sat at the center of the banquet hall. People stopped by her table one after another, offering gifts and a few words of ttery.

    Just ahead of Ste, Rutherford stepped up and handed Amanda andscape painting.

    Amanda¡¯s eyes lit up the moment she spotted the artist¡¯s signature¡ªSterion. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, thank you so much! How¡¯d you know I¡¯ve been obsessed with Steriontely?¡± Amanda beamed, holding the painting with both hands. ¡°Her style is so unique. Nothing else out there evenes close.¡±

    Standing next to Ste, Josie leaned in and whispered, ¡°She really does love your work. Not just your jewelry¡ªyour paintings too.¡±

    Ste smiled softly. She was starting to feel a subtle connection with Amanda. Maybe one day, if the timing felt right, she¡¯d share who she really was. But not tonight.<fn4a28> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel</fn4a28>

    galn¦Òv???s.????m ¨C your update hub

    ¡°Where¡¯d you even find this piece?¡± Amanda asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been hunting through galleries. No one¡¯s selling Sterion¡¯s stuff anymore.¡±

    Ste hadn¡¯t painted muchtely, and her own gallery had only a few pieces left.

    Other galleries? Even less.

    ¡°A friend tipped me off about this hidden gem of a gallery,¡± Rutherford replied. ¡°Totally off the radar. I¡¯m lucky she mentioned it in time.¡±

    That ce had stood out to him immediately¡ªthe decor, the location, the vibe.

    It all reminded him of Ste.

    Amanda¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Is your friend here tonight?¡±

    Rutherford smiled, then turned to look toward Ste. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, Amanda would love to have a word with you.¡±

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 Chapter 705

    ?Chapter 705:

    Ste and Josie exchanged nces before weaving through the crowd.

    Amanda lit up the moment she saw her. ¡°Josie! You actually came!¡± Over the years, Josie had been sending Amanda new jewelry every quarter. They¡¯d started out as a client and a luxury goods supplier. Somewhere along the line, a real friendship had taken root.

    Josie smiled and handed Amanda a box. ¡°Happy birthday, Amanda. This set isn¡¯t even out yet. You¡¯re the very first to have it.¡±

    She knew Amanda couldn¡¯t resist words like exclusive and first edition.

    Amanda¡¯s face lit like a kid on Christmas morning. She wasted no time putting on the pieces.

    ¡°Wow, this is gorgeous!¡± she said, admiring herself in the mirror. ¡°Your brand never disappoints, Josie. Not once.¡±

    Josie gave a slight nod. ¡°It¡¯s our honor.¡±

    After slipping on the jewelry, Amanda turned to Ste with a curious look. ¡°And you are¡­¡±

    Josie cleared her throat. ¡°Amanda, this is Sylvia Gilbert, my assistant. She¡¯s got a real eye for design. Might just branch out on her own soon.¡±<fn2242> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel</fn2242>

    Amanda was a little surprised. Josie didn¡¯t usually go out of her way to hype people up. She studied Ste for a second, then smiled warmly as Ste extended a hand.

    ¡°Hi, Amanda. It¡¯s a pleasure,¡± Ste said.

    Amanda held her gaze for a beat, then grinned. ¡°It¡¯s our first time meeting, but I already like you, Ms. Gilbert.¡±

    Ste felt a quiet wave of relief. She really hoped Amanda would like her¡ªnot just her designs, but her too.

    And right on cue, Rutherford chimed in, ¡°Amanda, Sylvia¡¯s actually the one who told me about that gallery.¡±

    Amanda¡¯s admiration deepened instantly.

    Amanda was from Oshos, and her fashion sense was a bit different from the local crowd, so Ste hadn¡¯t expected her to say she was elegant.

    While the rest of the guests were still lining up with their gifts, Josie led Ste back to the same balcony they¡¯d been on earlier.

    Your next journey starts at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s???o??

    Ste wasn¡¯t a fan of these glitzy, wine-ss-clinking parties. She leaned closer to Josie and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve met her. Can I head out now?¡±

    Josie looked at her in disbelief. ¡°Even if you¡¯re leaving, you have to stay for the opening dance, right?¡±

    Opening dance?

    Ste hadn¡¯t realized Amanda¡¯s birthday bash included something like that.

    ¡°Josie, you know I rarely dance.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t dance often, but you can,¡± Josie said, grabbing her hand. ¡°Once the dance is over, I¡¯ll leave with you.¡±

    With Josie insisting, Ste had no choice but to give in.

    She nced out the window and spotted a woman in a teal gown chatting with William.

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 Chapter 706

    ?Chapter 706:

    They were deep in conversation, and from the looks of it, they were hitting it off.

    Josie excused herself to use the restroom, leaving Ste alone on the balcony. She heard footsteps behind her and turned slightly¡ªRutherford had joined her. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, what are you looking at?¡±

    Snapping out of it, Ste shifted her gaze from William, a little flustered. ¡°Just the garden. The roses are blooming really well.¡±

    Rutherford noticed Ste¡¯s attempt to change the subject and chuckled softly. ¡°That¡¯s Amanda¡¯s daughter. She¡¯s twenty-five. Amanda¡¯s been trying to set her up with William.¡±

    The wordsnded like a blow. Ste froze, caught off guard.

    After a long pause, Ste managed, ¡°They¡­ seem like a good match.¡±

    They really did. Amanda¡¯s daughter was beautiful, with elegant features and a graceful presence.

    Out there in the garden, she looked like a fairy-tale princess.

    And William, with his sharp looks and quiet confidence, really did seem like her perfect match.

    Rutherford sensed the hurt in her voice but pretended not to notice. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, about that question I asked before¡ªhave you given it a thought?¡± He was bringing it up again.

    Ste¡¯s fingers tightened around her wine ss. She knew Rutherford had always treated her well, and Josie¡¯s words from earlier still echoed in her mind. She wanted to try to move forward with Rutherford¡­ but seeing him didn¡¯t stir anything in her.

    Just as she opened her mouth to respond, amotion broke out in the garden.

    Ste instinctively turned and saw Amanda¡¯s daughter holding onto William¡¯s hand, panic written all over her face. Blood was dripping from his palm. A sharp jolt of pain tore through Ste¡¯s chest. Without thinking, she nearly rushed toward him.

    But just as she took a step, Rutherford said calmly, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, William has someone with him now. If you went over¡­ what would you be to him?¡± His words stopped her cold.

    She watched from a distance as Amanda¡¯s daughter called for help, clearly worried as she tried to take care of William.

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    Ste wasn¡¯t needed there.

    Her shoulders slumped. She turned to Rutherford and said quietly but firmly, ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, I¡¯ve thought about it. No matter how long I consider it¡­ there¡¯s no chance for us. Don¡¯t waste your time on me.¡±

    Because just now, when she saw William hurt, her heart had clenched so tight it hurt to breathe. That¡ªthat was real.

    And it was nothing like what she felt when she was around Rutherford.

    It hurt to admit, but she didn¡¯t want to lead him on.

    ¡°You¡¯re still into William, aren¡¯t you?¡± Rutherford asked. ¡°You don¡¯t want to admit it, but it shows.¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart skipped. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely why I said no¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t owe me an exnation,¡± Rutherford interrupted. ¡°I love you. That¡¯s on me. I¡¯d never ask you to feel the same. William¡¯s a decent guy. If you end up with him, I¡¯ll be happy for you.¡±

    .

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    .<fn3d5f> Th?s chapter is updated by FindN0vel</fn3d5f>

 Chapter 707

    ?Chapter 707:

    Then he raised his ss, finished his wine, and walked off just as Josie returned.

    Rutherford¡¯s words kept echoing in Ste¡¯s ears.

    Even after Josie returned, she was still dazed, stuck in that moment.

    Happy for her?

    Ste hadn¡¯t even figured out how to face her feelings for William yet.

    After the birthday party, Ste found herself feeling drained and overwhelmed. Since she¡¯d had a few drinks, driving wasn¡¯t an option. She called for a driver to take her home.<fnce11> Find the newest release on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnce11>

    Just as she stepped outside, Josie hurried after her and said, ¡°Stel, you¡¯re heading out already? They haven¡¯t even cut the cake yet.¡±

    Ste pressed her fingers to her temple, looking tired. ¡°I¡¯m just not feeling great. I think I¡¯ll go home.¡±

    Josie was hoping to convince her to stay a little longer, but when she saw how tired Ste looked, she gave in and said, ¡°All right, just text me when you get home, okay?¡±

    Ste was grateful that Josie didn¡¯t push the issue. She got into the car and let the party fade behind her.

    Over the next few days, Ste threw herself into herb work at the research institute, doing everything she could to block out Rutherford¡¯s words from the party.

    But soon, whispers started making their way around the institute. ¡°Apparently, William¡¯s been spending time with some woman after hours. No one knows who she is, but she¡¯s definitely not from around here.¡± ¡°Is that his real fianc¨¦e, then?¡± someone else chimed in.

    Ste caught bits of the gossip and instantly knew who they meant.

    It had to be Amanda¡¯s daughter, the same girl she¡¯d seen at the party.

    Ste was so deep in thought, she almost bumped into Nina in the hallway. Since herst blunder, Nina had been keeping a low profile, most likely because of the scolding she got from William.

    She nced at Ste from head to toe, then let out a sly smirk. ¡°Guess neither of us made the cut, huh? He¡¯s clearly into someone else now.¡±

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    Ste looked at her evenly. ¡°I was neverpeting with you,¡± she replied.

    Honestly, what was the point in fighting over men?

    Nina¡¯s jaw tightened, her eyes filled with frustration.

    ¡°Why is it always you or that foreigner?¡± Nina snapped. ¡°I¡¯m just as good as both of you, so why doesn¡¯t he ever see me?¡±

    Nina had always seen Ste as her biggest rival; only now was she realizing there were more yers in the game.

    Ste¡¯s patience was fraying. Nina¡¯s endless love-life drama was exhausting.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got work to finish,¡± she said firmly. ¡°If you want to vent, pick someone else.¡±

    After all, there were plenty at the institute who lived for Nina¡¯s drama.

    Ste picked up her notes and walked off. She stayed focused on her research the rest of the day, blocking out all distractions.

    After work, Sharon called with a lead about Ste¡¯s adoptive parents. If Ste was free, they could go see the site where everything happened.

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 Chapter 708

    ?Chapter 708:

    As they climbed the mountain, the sky turned gloomy and gray. It hadn¡¯t started raining yet, but the higher they climbed, the colder it got. The strong wind made them both shiver.

    Ste pulled her jacket up and zipped it all the way to her chin.

    Sharon¡¯s voice shook in the wind. As darkness fell, she sounded unsure. ¡°Stel, are you sure this is the spot?¡±

    Doubt crept into her tone. It had been years, and the mountain paths were confusing. What if they couldn¡¯t find the ce?

    ¡°The map says it¡¯s nearby,¡± Ste replied tensely. ¡°This used to be the road back then.¡±

    Her words hung in the air, then got lost in the howling wind.

    Memories of her adoptive parents¡¯ warm smiles shed through Ste¡¯s mind, followed by the haunting image of them in the morgue. Ste felt a sharp pain in her chest, so strong it nearly took her breath away. William¡¯s face shed in her mind too, mixed with everything Sharon had told her. It was all too much.

    Sharon looked up at the sky, then nced around. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. And it might rain soon. Let¡¯s find a ce to stay for the night.¡±

    Heading back down wasn¡¯t realistic. They needed shelter fast. Sleeping out here in the cold was not an option.<fn6f6b> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find?Novel</fn6f6b>

    Ste nodded in agreement. ¡°There¡¯s a cabin near the peak,¡± she murmured. ¡°At least, there used to be one.¡±

    She used to y there when she was little. Unless someone had knocked it down, it should still be standing.

    Ste and Sharon hiked toward the cabin, their boots crunching over the underbrush. Before long, Sharon let out a whoop, pointing ahead. ¡°Stel, there it is! We found it!¡±

    The cabin was more of a rundown shack, half-eaten by the mountain. It looked like no one had set foot near it in years.

    As they drew closer, the weathered boards creaked in the wind, and a thick stench of mold and rot hit them like a p.

    Ste¡¯s pulse quickened, old memories crashing into her without warning.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c???? brings imagination alive

    Sharon slipped an arm around her shoulders in quiet support.

    Their eyes met. Sharon gave a small nod, tightening her grip on her phone. Her other hand slipped into her bag, fingers curling around the pepper spray she had snuck along in case things went south.

    Ste inhaled sharply, forcing down the storm of emotions swirling inside her, and stepped up to the door. She eased it open slowly.

    The door let out a high-pitched squeak that cut through the silence like a scream.

    She nudged it open just a crack¡ªand recoiled. A sharp, metallic stench of blood poured out like a wave.

    Both girls staggered back instinctively, their breath catching in their throats.

    How could a ce this deserted reek so strongly of blood?

    Sharon, her voice shaky, flicked on her phone¡¯s shlight and swept the beam inside. ¡°Yo¡­ anyone in there?¡±

    Sharon liked to act tough, but even she was rattled. Out here, in the middle of nowhere, it felt like a scene straight out of a horror film.

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 Chapter 709

    ?Chapter 709:

    Dust danced in the light. Cobwebs hung thick in the corners.<fn1551> Follow current nov?ls on ?ovelFind</fn1551>

    Broken furniturey scattered like forgotten bones. Then the beam hit something¡ªor someone.

    In a dark corner of the cabin, slumped in a chair, was a man.

    Ste and Sharon froze, their breathing barely audible.

    He was wearing camo gear, stained with dirt and dried blood.

    One arm dangled uselessly at his side; the other clutched his ribs as if he were barely holding himself together.

    His face was buried in shadow, but the slow, shallow rise and fall of his chest showed he was still breathing.

    ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± Sharon breathed, instinctively stepping in front of Ste, her eyes never leaving the man in the chair.

    Then he moved. Slowly, with obvious pain, he lifted his head.

    His lips were cracked and bloody, his eyes dull but locked on the two of them. ¡°Who¡¯s¡­ there?¡± he croaked.

    Even through the haze of pain, his eyes flicked toward Ste¡ªconfused, surprised, desperate.

    His throat bobbed as he struggled to keep his gaze on them, every muscle in his body coiled tight.

    Strangely, Ste didn¡¯t feel scared. She felt¡­ drawn. She started to step forward.

    Sharon grabbed her arm. ¡°Stel, what are you doing?!¡±

    Ste shook her head, her voice low. ¡°He¡¯s badly hurt. He¡¯s not a threat.¡±

    Sharon hesitated, lips pressed into a thin line, but finally let go.

    Before either of them could say more, the man slumped back into the chair, unconscious. Once inside, Ste had Sharon aim the shlight at his wound, which was still oozing blood.

    Ste crouched beside him and gently brushed back a blood-matted lock of hair from his forehead.

    The moment she saw his face, something strange and inexplicable struck her. A flicker of recognition. But she couldn¡¯t remember when or where she had seen such a face.

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    Her gaze dropped to his side. The wound was deep, ugly, and still bleeding. She winced, imagining what the man must be going through.

    ¡°He¡¯s in bad shape,¡± she muttered. ¡°We need to get him to a doctor.¡± If they didn¡¯t, he might not pull through.

    Sharon looked around, exasperated. ¡°So what now? Drag him down the mountain?¡±

    She tugged Ste¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Stel, we came up here looking for clues about your adoptive parents. We don¡¯t even know this guy. Let¡¯s just leave him.¡±

    Sharon had a point. Some half-dead stranger bleeding out in the middle of the woods was unsettling.

    Ste understood Sharon was worried for her, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling in her gut.

    The man being here wasn¡¯t some random twist of fate.

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 Chapter 710

    ?Chapter 710:

    That car ident that had killed her adoptive parents on that dark, winding mountain road¡­ Could it somehow be connected to this half-dead man? The thought struck her like a lit match in a pitch-ck room, sparking a sudden surge of hope.

    Maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe held the key to secrets buried for years.

    ¡°Sharon, we need to get him down the mountain. Now,¡± Ste said, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument.

    Sharon opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Ste¡¯s eyes made her swallow it back. Instead, she stepped in to help.

    Together, they dragged the unconscious man off the chair, stumbling under his weight, and somehow got him into the back seat. By the time they were done, Sharon was breathless, sweat dampening her shirt.

    ¡°So, we¡¯re taking him to the hospital, right?¡±

    They hade up here hunting for clues, not to rescue some stranger.

    ¡°No hospital,¡± Ste said, her voiceced with a firm resolve she didn¡¯t even know she had. ¡°We don¡¯t know who he is. And with injuries like that, the hospital¡¯s just going to make a mess of things. Too many questions.¡± She locked eyes with Sharon, her gaze fierce. ¡°Help me get him to my apartment. He can¡¯t die. Not yet. He knows something¡ªI can feel it.¡±

    Sharon stared at her like she had grown a second head. Today, Ste had been full of wild decisions.

    But¡­ this one might not be entirely crazy.

    Because seriously, what was this guy doing up here in the middle of the night? Still, she raised an eyebrow. ¡°You do realize he¡¯s bleeding out, right? And we¡¯re not exactly trained medics. You know how to fix him up?¡±

    Ste hesitated for just a breath. Then a few familiar faces shed through her mind, and she squared her shoulders. ¡°Just get him back first. I¡¯ll figure the rest out.¡±

    As they wound down the mountain road, raindrops started tapping against the windshield, soft but steady, casting a quiet gloom inside the car.

    Sharon broke the silence. ¡°Ste¡­ you¡¯re really just guessing here. What if he¡¯s some psycho who came up here to dump a body, and we just happened to show¡ª¡±

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    ¡°Up in the middle of it? You¡¯re not even a little worried he might kill you in your sleep?¡±

    Ste let out a softugh. ¡°Sharon, you¡¯ve got the wildest imagination.¡±<fne4cf> The rightful source is FindN0vel</fne4cf>

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Sharon muttered, not amused. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s impossible.¡±

    Ste didn¡¯t respond. She just pulled out her phone and called Rutherford. ¡°Mr. Schoenberg, do you know any doctors who coulde to my ce right now?¡±

    Rutherford was caught off guard. Ste asking for a doctor¡ªespecially at this hour¡ªwas thest thing he expected.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert? Are you alright?¡±

    She hesitated, biting her lip. ¡°It¡¯splicated. A friend had an ident. We can¡¯t take him to a hospital. I hate to trouble you, but if you know someone¡­ I¡¯ll call myself. I just need the number.¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to owe Rutherford more than she already did¡ªespecially after she had turned him down a few days ago.

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 Chapter 711

    ?Chapter 711:

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a private doctor,¡± Rutherford said after a pause. ¡°I¡¯ll send him over. Don¡¯t worry¡ªyour friend¡¯s in good hands.¡±

    Relief washed over her. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Schoenberg.¡±

    After the call, Sharon gave her a long look from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You don¡¯t even like the guy, and now you¡¯re asking him for favors? You¡¯re racking up debts, Ste. How are you gonna pay him back?¡±

    Ste leaned back with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with that when the timees.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really going all-in for a stranger?¡±

    Ste nced at the unconscious man stretched out in the backseat. ¡°We¡¯ve already brought him this far. Might as well see it through.¡±

    Besides, she had a hunch he knew something about the ident. Something important.

    Within the hour, they reached her apartmentplex. After parking in the underground garage, the two women wrestled the man out of the car and into the building.<fn5a44> For original chapters go to F¦ÉndNovel</fn5a44>

    Inside, thick curtains shut out the city lights. The air smelled of cleaning alcohol and faint medicinal powder¡ªnot exactly cozy, but it would do. Ste got to work.

    Fast, she cleaned his wounds as best as she could, holding her breath until the doctor arrived.

    When the doctor finally showed up and saw the extent of the injuries, he froze for a second.

    ¡°Doctor, is it bad?¡± Ste asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.

    The doctor frowned. ¡°Gunshot wound. First priority is getting the bullet out.¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened. Sharon looked equally stunned.

    No wonder the bleeding wouldn¡¯t stop¡ªhe still had a bullet lodged inside him.

    For the next hour, the room was filled with tense silence and the asional clink of metal. The doctor worked meticulously, sweat dripping from his brow as he pulled the bullet out and closed the wound.

    When it was finally over, Ste let out a long breath. ¡°You¡¯ve been a lifesaver tonight, Doc. You want to crash here and head out in the morning?¡±

    Explore more chapters on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s?c?m

    The doctor shook his head. ¡°No need. As long as he doesn¡¯t spike a fever, he¡¯ll pull through.¡±

    Ste walked him out, then returned with a ss of warm water. She moved quietly, not wanting to disturb the heavy silence.

    On the bed, the many deathly still. His face was pale, eyes tightly shut. No telling when he¡¯d wake up.

    Ste let out a yawn, and Sharon suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest. He¡¯s probably not waking up tonight anyway.¡±

    The two of them headed back to the master bedroom, freshened up, and settled into bed.

    Since there was an unfamiliar man in the house, Sharon didn¡¯t feelfortable leaving Ste alone, so she stayed the night.

    By morning, the man finally stirred, his eyes blinking open as his focus sharpened.

    He was now dressed in the new clothes Ste had arranged for him the night before¡ªslightly tight-fitting, but they suited him and gave off a rugged charm.

    Seeing him step out, Ste asked gently, ¡°Why are you up? Does your wound still hurt?¡±

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 Chapter 712

    ?Chapter 712:

    Urging him to lie down again, she added, ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s a gunshot wound. You shouldn¡¯t be moving around. If you need something, just tell me.¡±

    She guided him back to the room, sat in a chair beside the bed, and took out a roll of clean bandages, ready to change his dressing.

    His eyes followed her every move, filled with guarded curiosity.

    After hearing her soft tone, his expression shifted slightly, and a faint smile appeared. ¡°I feel much better. Thank you for saving me yesterday. But aren¡¯t you afraid I might be dangerous?¡±

    Ste looked a little surprised. ¡°It was an emergency. I didn¡¯t have time to figure out if you were good or bad. I just wanted to save a life.¡± She meant every word.

    Although she hoped to learn how he might be connected to her adoptive parents, she knew she wouldn¡¯t have ignored him even if their encounter had happened elsewhere.<fn8306> Original content can be found at find{n}ovel</fn8306>

    He paused, his voice low and raspy. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll repay you once I¡¯m back on my feet.¡±

    Ste gave him a warm smile. ¡°My name¡¯s Sylvia Gilbert. What¡¯s yours?¡±

    ¡°Lance Carter.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s change your bandages. It might sting a little, so be ready.¡±

    As she worked on his bandages, Lance¡¯s eyes stayed on her. There was something about her that felt different. Even though this was their first meeting, he felt no difort being around her.

    Ste shifted her chair closer, set the bandages and ointment on the table, and looked up at him. ¡°Are you hungry? I can run out for groceries. What do you feel like eating?¡±

    Lance frowned faintly. ¡°You¡¯re letting me stay here?¡± After all, they barely knew each other.

    ¡°If you go now, you¡¯ll probably copse before you make it downstairs. Then you¡¯ll just end up in the hospital. You¡¯re better off staying here,¡± she replied.

    Lance¡¯s gaze grew more intense.

    The best reads are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re a good person. Being with you doesn¡¯t feel awkward. In fact¡­¡± He hesitated, searching for the right words. ¡°It feels like I¡¯ve known you for years.¡±

    Lance kept telling himself it really did feel like they had known each other forever. Ste¡¯s heart gave an unexpected jump, and that same strange sense of familiarity she¡¯d felt back in the cabin returned.

    She lowered her eyes and lifted his T-shirt, exposing the bandage wrapped neatly around his ribs.

    The injury had been stitched up by the doctor the night before, but the edges were still red and swollen.

    Her hands moved a little awkwardly as she took off the old bandage and began to clean and disinfect the wound.

    ¡°Hang in there,¡± she said as she pressed the alcohol swab to the wound, making Lance stiffen and grit his teeth.

    Ten minutester, she had the wound freshly rebandaged.

    She was about to leave the room with the supplies when a steady knock sounded at the door.

    She froze. Who woulde knocking at this hour?

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 Chapter 713

    ?Chapter 713:

    Casting a quick look at Lance, she whispered, ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t move.¡± Then she stepped out, her pace instinctively quickening.

    However, out in the living room, Sharon had already opened the door. Standing there was William, dressed in a white shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing his corbone.

    His tailored suit jacket hung loosely over one arm, and it was obvious he had juste back from the office.

    His deep-set eyes showed a trace of exhaustion, but the moment he saw Sharon at the door, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

    Sharon¡¯s brows drew together instinctively. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked.

    William¡¯s voice was low and steady as he replied, ¡°Where¡¯s Ste?¡±

    Knowing Ste was still upset about the truth of her adoptive parents¡¯ deaths and had mixed feelings about William, Sharon snapped, ¡°Why do you care where she is? You¡¯re just her boss, not her dad!¡± And with that, she mmed the door in his face.

    Ste stepped out of the bedroom just in time to hear Sharon¡¯sst remark.

    ¡°Sharon, who was at the door?¡±

    Sharon quickly turned and answered, ¡°Nobody, just a mix-up. Nothing worth worrying about.¡±

    Without giving it much thought, Ste told Sharon, ¡°He¡¯s awake. I¡¯m heading to the supermarket for groceries. Want toe along?¡± Sharon nodded quickly, happy to tag along.

    When they came back, they stepped out of the elevator together, chatting andughing.

    Even though there was a man at home, Ste figured Lance was still resting, so she reached out to unlock the door with her fingerprint.

    But right before her finger touched the sensor, the door swung open from the inside.

    She blinked in surprise, only to see Lance standing there, holding the door open for her.

    Just then, the door across the hall opened too. In that brief exchange of nces, William immediately noticed the unfamiliar man in a T-shirt inside Ste¡¯s home.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s, the ce for amazing tales

    Not knowing Ste and William were acquainted, Lance opened the door wider and said, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, thanks for helping me out.¡±<fn5d77> Get full chapters from f?ndnovel</fn5d77>

    With the door now fully open, Lance¡¯s tall frame came clearly into William¡¯s sight.

    Dressed in a T-shirt, his toned arms and solid build were hard to miss. A few loose strands of ck hair fell over his forehead, and despite the paleness of his skin, there was a rugged, almost defiant edge to his features.

    William¡¯s stare turned razor-sharp, locking on Lance like ice.

    The air between them thickened with tension, the silence stretching ufortably.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Let¡¯s go in,¡± Ste said, breaking the heavy silence as she stepped forward toward her home.

    But William¡¯s voice stopped her. ¡°Ste, wait!¡±

    She turned to face him. ¡°Mr. Briggs, did you need something?¡±

    Her tone was cool, edged with a distance she didn¡¯t even realize she was showing.

    Almost without thinking, she shifted slightly, trying to block Lance from William¡¯s view.

    After a moment, his eyes left Lance and returned to Ste.

    .

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 Chapter 714

    ?Chapter 714:

    His lips were pressed tight, his jaw tense, and his deep eyes carried the weight of a storm about to break.

    Ignoring her question, he looked back at Lance and asked slowly, ¡°Who is he?¡± His voice was like ice, weighted with the kind of authority that pressed down on anyone who heard it.

    Lance, still at the doorway, lifted an eyebrow. Rather than looking intimidated by William¡¯s dominance, he seemed faintly amused. A small smile tugged at his lips as his eyes studied William with interest.

    Meeting William¡¯s cold stare with unhurried calm, he asked in a clear voice, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, is this your ex?¡±

    He let out a shortugh, ncing at Ste with a hint of familiarity before fixing his eyes on William¡¯s tense face.

    The air between them seemed to freeze solid.

    Ste saw William¡¯s hand clench into a fist, the veins standing out.

    The low, heavy pressure radiating from him made the corridor¡¯s atmosphere drop suddenly.

    Ste had no idea why Lance would suddenly say that or how he¡¯d decided William was her ex-boyfriend.

    ¡°My rtionship with her¡­ how is that your concern?¡± William¡¯s words came out through gritted teeth, every syble coated in ice.

    His sharp gaze swept over Lance, from his pale face to the faint outline of bandages on his chest, before locking on those eyes that carried a taunting smile.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re the one with the shady background,¡± William said pointedly, his tone brimming with suspicion and wariness.

    Ste¡¯s heart sank. Thest thing she wanted was to watch these two sh for no reason.

    Taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°Mr. Carter, please go inside and rest. I¡¯ll handle this.¡±

    Sharon shot Ste a quick look, then hurried Lance into the room and shut the door tightly. Ste then turned to William and said, ¡°Mr. Briggs, this isn¡¯t what you think.¡±<fn5002> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel</fn5002>

    She could tell he had gotten the wrong idea.

    Step into a new journey on  .con

    ¡°What do I think?¡± William cut her off, his eyes locked on her with a mix of hurt and anger she could feel instantly.

    ¡°Ste, what exactly are you doing? Do you even know him well enough to bring him here?¡± His voice trembled with barely contained fury.

    A tense silence settled between them, making Ste¡¯s skin crawl. She took a slow breath and said softly, ¡°I know what I did.¡±

    William¡¯s lips curled in a mix of irritation and disbelief. ¡°If you really knew, you wouldn¡¯t still have him in your home. You¡¯d have kicked him out the moment you found him, instead of running off to the supermarket to buy him groceries!¡±

    His eyes had alreadynded on the shopping bag in her hand, filled with fresh ingredients. The thought of her cooking for someone else left an unpleasant bitterness in his chest.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Ste¡¯s voice rose suddenly.

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 Chapter 715

    ?Chapter 715:

    She lifted her chin and locked eyes with him. His gaze was clouded with emotions she couldn¡¯t quite read, but her own words came out clear and cold. ¡°Mr. Briggs, who he is and why he¡¯s here is my business. Not yours. Perhaps you should focus on your own affairs before meddling in mine.¡±

    Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned, reopened her door, and stepped inside.

    She didn¡¯t say it aloud, but she thought he knew she was referring to his engagement to Amanda¡¯s daughter. His personal life was already a mess, so what right did he have to interfere with hers? The thought was almostughable.

    William stood there, watching as she closed the door without the slightest pause. He¡¯d lost count of how many times she¡¯d done that to him. His shoulders tightened, his throat constricted, and though he seemed on the verge of speaking, nothing came out.

    Standing in the quiet hallway, his expression shifted from anger to helplessness before turning into something darker and unreadable. Without looking at her door again, he opened his own and walked inside.

    Ste leaned back against the door, letting out a tired sigh. Her chest felt tight, and there was this tiny sting in her heart she couldn¡¯t shake.

    She shut her eyes, wanting to block out the image of William¡¯s pained expression.

    ¡°Stel?¡± Sharon¡¯s voice floated over, soft but worried.

    Ste straightened, took a breath, and forced a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Really. I¡¯ve got it handled. I¡¯m going to start cooking dinner.¡±

    She then turned to Lance with a gentle tone. ¡°Sorry you had to see that.¡±

    Lance shook his head. ¡°If anything, I¡¯m the one who caused the problem by opening the door. I should be apologizing.¡±

    His perceptiveness caught her off guard. ¡°Mr. Carter, this really isn¡¯t your fault. Don¡¯t me yourself,¡± she replied firmly.

    She helped him back into the bedroom. Hey down without protest, though his eyes stayed on her, thoughtful and searching.

    From the look on the man outside and the surprise and disappointment in his eyes when he saw him, Lance had a pretty good guess about their rtionship. Even though Ste tried to actposed, he could tell she was fighting to keep her emotions in check.

    After a pause, he spoke in a steady, almost detached voice. ¡°That Mr. Briggs¡­ the way he looks at you, it¡¯s not just neighborly.¡±

    Dive into fiction with g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s

    Ste¡¯s fingers twitched, the smallest tremor giving her away. She lowered her head, keeping her face hidden by hershes.

    ¡°He¡¯s just the neighbor. We happen to work at the same ce, that¡¯s all.¡± Her voice sounded weighted, as if she needed to convince him¡ªand herself¡ªof those words.

    ¡°Really?¡± Lance tilted his head. ¡°Because he looked like a guy who just got stabbed in the back by the person he trusted the most.¡±

    Ste¡¯s whole body went still. His words hit too close to home, leaving a dull ache in her chest. Maybe William truly did care for her, but the past had left wounds she couldn¡¯t ignore. epting his feelings wasn¡¯t an option, and avoiding them was the only choice she had.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us,¡± she almost said through gritted teeth.<fnae8b> Th?s chapter is updated by Find1Novel</fnae8b>

    Forcing herself to regain control, she managed a small smile. ¡°Get some rest. Don¡¯t overthink it. I¡¯ll call you when dinner¡¯s ready.¡±

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 Chapter 716

    ?Chapter 716:

    She quickly left the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her.

    In the hallway, she leaned against the wall and tried to steady her breathing. The day¡¯s events had drained her, but she pushed herself toward the kitchen anyway.

    Sharon spotted Ste in the living room and pressed her lips together, choosing not to say anything.

    She knew now wasn¡¯t the time to bring up William, because Ste wouldn¡¯t want to hear his name, let alone talk about him.

    The best thing she could do was act like nothing unusual had happened.

    When Ste headed into the kitchen, Sharon offered to help, but Ste shook her head, saying, ¡°When did youst cook? Let me take care of it. You just rest in the living room.¡±

    Before Sharon could respond, Ste had already slipped inside and closed the door behind her.

    Sharon let out a small sigh. Maybe giving her that space was exactly what she needed.

    Alone in the kitchen, Ste¡¯s phone lit up on the counter. A new message. It was from an unknown number¡ªor at least, that was what the screen showed. But she recognized those digits instantly. Marc.

    The message was short, but its impact was like a spark thrown into dry grass. Her whole body trembled.

    ¡°Stel, be careful of ying with fire. If the Briggs family could harm your adoptive parents, William could easily get rid of that stranger staying with you.¡±

    Her fingers turned cold around the phone. Marc knew about Lance? And about her and Sharon digging into her adoptive parents¡¯ deaths?

    How long had he been watching her?

    For a moment, all she could hear was the pounding in her ears. She forced herself to breathe, deleted the message, blocked the number, and acted like nothing had happened. Then she went back to chopping vegetables.

    At dinner, Lance was all smiles, praising nearly every dish.

    ¡°Mr. Carter, you¡¯re giving me too much credit,¡± Ste said with a smallugh. ¡°They¡¯re just simple meals.¡±

    Discover more on g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why it¡¯s impressive,¡± Lance replied warmly. ¡°Making simple food taste this good isn¡¯t easy. Your cooking really feels like home.¡±

    She smiled and thanked him.

    Before she knew it, four days had already passed since Lance came to stay.

    After the first day Sharon had apanied her, Ste gently told her not toe over every day. She didn¡¯t want Sharon¡¯s life thrown off bnce just to keep herpany.<fn6a9f> Chapters first released on FindN()vel</fn6a9f>

    It helped that Sharon had taken a good look at Lance and decided he didn¡¯t seem like a bad guy. That eased her mind.

    Work at the research institute rolled along without issues, and the Neb project was moving forward nicely.

    Still, Ste¡¯s thoughts weren¡¯t always on her work. Ever since that heated argument, she hadn¡¯t exchanged a single word with William.

    When they ended up in the same elevator or passed each other at the institute, both acted as though they¡¯d agreed to keep their distance. No greetings, no small talk.

    .

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 Chapter 717

    ?Chapter 717:<fn4db3> Checktest chapters at find¡¤novel</fn4db3>

    William¡¯s expression was always the same¡ªcool and distant. His eyes were like deep, frozen water, keeping everyone, including her, at arm¡¯s length. Every time she saw him, she would drop her gaze, pretending not to notice him.

    The truth was, she just didn¡¯t know how to face him anymore.

    Meanwhile, Lance had picked up on her low spirits.

    But as a guest in her home, one still recovering from injuries, he knew it wasn¡¯t his ce to get involved in whatever was going on between her and William. Instead, he quietly focused on healing, sometimes helping with chores as a way to show thanks.

    That evening, thest light of the setting sun spilled through the tall windows, bathing the living room in a soft orange glow.

    Lance, now in a clean, well-fitting T-shirt Ste had bought him, stretched his arms and shoulders, testing how much strength had returned.

    He nced toward the kitchen where Ste was working, his face unusually serious. ¡°Ms. Gilbert?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Ste turned from the stove,dle still in hand, when she heard Lance¡¯s voice.

    His tone was steady, his eyes held a rare sincerity. ¡°Would youe with me to Briset tomorrow? My parents found out you saved me, and they want to thank you in person. They¡¯ve arranged a small banquet at home.¡±

    ¡°A banquet?¡± Ste asked, surprised.

    After a brief pause, she waved it off. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. It was pure chance I saved you¡ªyou don¡¯t need to thank me.¡±

    ¡°No, you have toe.¡± Lance cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°They already called me. They want to meet you and thank you themselves. Even if you don¡¯t stay for dinner, just show up for ten minutes.¡±

    His words were firm, but his eyes¡ªbright with anticipation¡ªwaited for her agreement.

    Ste studied him. There was something in his gaze,yered beneath that earnestness, that she couldn¡¯t quite name.

    She¡¯d been ready to refuse¡­ until a thought shed through her mind. Lance was at the mountain where her adoptive parents had lost their lives, and now his parents wanted to meet her. If she met his family, could she pick up a thread¡ªsome clue from that year? Maybe not just Lance, but his parents might know something too.

    Fresh chapters live g?ln¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m

    If she wanted answers about her adoptive parents, the Carter family wasn¡¯t a road she could avoid.

    Pushing down her hesitation, she gave it a little more thought, then nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go.¡±

    The top-floor banquet hall of a riverside club in Briset shimmered under a massive crystal chandelier.

    The floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering city and the endless flow of the river below.

    Inside,ughter mingled with the soft clink of sses. Men in tailored suits and women in elegant gowns filled the space¡ªan entire world of polished manners and old money.

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 Chapter 718

    ?Chapter 718:

    This was a world of elite socialites,pletely different from Ste¡¯s everyday life.

    Ste realized, with a quiet jolt, that Lance wasn¡¯t from an ordinary family after all. One didn¡¯t throw a banquet like this unless they had serious standing. It could have passed for the high-end events she¡¯d attended back in Choria.

    She wore a champagne cocktail dress Sharon had chosen¡ªsimple cut, elegant lines, ttering in all the right ways.

    Walking beside Lance, she kept her smileposed as they approached a couple in the inner circle.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lance murmured. ¡°My parents are warm people. They won¡¯t say anything to make you ufortable.¡±

    Something in his tone eased thest of her nerves.

    ¡°Mom, Dad, this is my lifesaver¡ªSylvia Gilbert,¡± Lance said warmly. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying at her home while recovering. I hope I didn¡¯t worry you too much.¡±

    Susie Carter¡¯s perfectly kept face lit with gratitude as she sped Ste¡¯s hand. Austin Carter, all stern lines and quiet authority, stood beside her, his eyes no less sincere.

    Dozens of eyes seemed to follow Ste, sizing her up. She straightened her spine, telling herself not to fidget.

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t do much,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I just got Mr. Carter down from the mountain. This is far too much thanks.¡±

    The couple exchanged a nce, then Susie said warmly, ¡°What a lovely woman you are. Lance is lucky to have met you. If it weren¡¯t for you, he might not be here at all. We must thank you properly.¡±

    To them, this night wasn¡¯t just about celebrating their son¡¯s safe return¡ªit was about honoring her.

    After politely insisting she didn¡¯t need the fuss, Ste slipped away from the center of attention toward the quieter edge of the room¡­ and froze. Near the restroom, standing like he belonged there, was William. Her steps faltered. ¡°Why is he here?¡± she wondered.

    William stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows, nked by a few men in tailored suits who radiated business clout.

    He wore a custom dark suit, posture straight andposed, the chandelier¡¯s light skimming over his sharp features like it was tracing a sculpture. Ste¡¯s lips tightened. Of course¡ªhe had that effect. Always the center of attention, no matter the room.

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    He didn¡¯t appear to notice her, his head slightly tilted toward an elder speaking beside him, nodding now and then with quiet elegance¡ªso different from the way he¡¯d lost hisposure at her apartment door.

    Yet Ste couldn¡¯t shake the feeling he¡¯d seen her the moment she walked in. His cold, contained presence seemed to cut through the crowd and find her, sending a shiver down her spine.

    She tore her gaze away and slipped toward the restroom.<fn968a> Get full chapters from f?ndnovel</fn968a>

    By the time she came back, Lance was waiting.

    ¡°Mr. Carter, shouldn¡¯t you be mingling with the guests?¡± she asked, surprised.

    Lance chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve never cared much for these events. I¡¯d rather find a quiet corner and have a drink. You seem a little tense¡ªis everything alright?¡±

    His tone was light, reassuring. He assumed it was her first time attending such an event.

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 Chapter 719

    ?Chapter 719:

    ¡°Rx,¡± he said, voice low and steady, leaning in slightly.

    His arm hovered protectively at her back, a subtle shield. ¡°Stick with me when we go in.¡±

    She met his eyes briefly and gave a small nod of thanks.

    Halfway through, the banquet was in full swing. Austin and Susie Carter, surrounded by well-wishers, made their way to the center. Conversation faded without anyone needing to ask.

    The hall quieted down, honoring the Carters with due respect.

    ¡°Thank you all for being here tonight.¡± Austin¡¯s deep voice carried easily across the hall. ¡°And a special thanks to the person who saved my son¡¯s life¡ªMs. Sylvia Gilbert!¡±

    Ste felt every gazend on her. She forced herself to hold her head high, even as awkwardness prickled under her skin.

    ¡°Please, everyone, enjoy yourselves¡ªthat¡¯s why we¡¯re here,¡± Austin added, then stepped back into the crowd.

    From her quiet corner, Ste saw Lance reappear. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, my grandfather would like to see you in the study upstairs,¡± he said.

    The estate¡¯s second floor was unfamiliar to her.

    The mention of his grandfather sent a flicker of unease through her. The Carters had been abroad until recently¡ªso why were they all gathered in Briset tonight?

    Still, she followed Lance toward the stairs.

    Across the room, Nina stood in the shadows, her fingers tight around a wine ss.

    Her gaze locked on Ste¡¯s back as she ascended, dark with malice.

    She caught a passing servant, leaning close to whisper something quickly.

    The servant¡¯s eyes widened, but Nina¡¯s sharp look left no room for refusal.

    Momentster, the servant hurried upstairs and slipped past Lance and Ste without stopping, heading straight for the study.

    ¡°Mr. Carter,¡± she blurted after knocking, ¡°there¡¯s trouble. Miss Carter cut her hand downstairs!¡±

    Karson looked up from his desk, brows drawn. ¡°Is it bad? How did it happen?¡±

    Read exclusive content at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    The servant hesitated. ¡°Miss Carter says it hurts and asks if you coulde take a look.¡±

    It was exactly what Nina had told her to say.

    Karson¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°If she¡¯s hurt, call the family doctor to dress it. Why call me? I¡¯m busy. Go.¡±

    The servant fidgeted. ¡°But¡ª¡±

    One look from him cut her short. She swallowed, nodded, and turned back down the hall.

    At the door, she nearly collided with Lance and Ste.

    Ste noticed her hurried steps. ¡°Mr. Carter, is something wrong?¡±

    Lance shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t think so. My grandpa¡¯s inside¡ªlet¡¯s go.¡±

    He knocked, and a deep,manding voice came from within. ¡°Come in.¡±

    Lance pushed the door open and stepped inside, Ste following.

    ¡°Grandpa,¡± he said warmly, ¡°this is my savior¡ªSylvia Gilbert. The one I told you about before I came home.¡±

    .

    .<fnaac6> Get full chapters from Find¡ïNovel</fnaac6>

    .

 Chapter 720

    Chapter 720:

    Inside the room, an elderly man with silvering hair sat behind a polished desk, his suit crisp, his posture straight. The moment he looked toward the door, Ste caught the sharpness in his gaze¡ªnone of the dullness age sometimes brought, but a keen intelligence wrapped in quiet authority.

    Ste inclined her head politely. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Carter. My name is Sylvia Gilbert.¡±

    Karson¡¯s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. ¡°Sylvia Gilbert, is it?¡±

    The name rang a bell. He was sure he¡¯d heard it somewhere before¡­ But where? A moment¡¯s thought, and it clicked. Nina¡ªsome time ago, she had mentioned a Sylvia Gilbert at the research institute, painting her as a particrly difficult person to deal with.

    Back then, he¡¯d even called in an old favor to help Nina, only for them to lose to this same woman.

    Karson studied her quietly. Today she wore a simple yet refined dress that framed her elegance without sh. There was a calm resilience in her bearing, grace bnced with quiet strength.

    Something about her stirred a faint sense of familiarity. That stubborn line in her expression¡­ it reminded him of someone.

    The thought felt absurd, and he brushed it aside with a soft chuckle to himself.

    Ste stood just behind Lance, spine straight, gaze steady. She didn¡¯t fidget under his scrutiny, didn¡¯t even blink.

    ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Karson gestured to the chair opposite his desk, his tone neutral.

    She sat without hesitation, movements smooth andposed. First meeting or not, she carried herself with the easy poise of someone who knew exactly where she stood¡ªno nerves, no awkwardness.

    ¡°I heard from Lance that you saved him,¡± Karson said, cutting straight to it, his gaze holding hers with quiet force.

    ¡°You¡¯re overstating it,¡± Ste replied lightly. ¡°It was just a coincidence that day. Anyone else would have done the same.¡± She didn¡¯t think much of it.

    Karson lifted a brow. ¡°Anyone else? Lance was alone in the wilderness. You¡ªa young woman¡ªweren¡¯t afraid?¡±

    Find the best stories g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s

    Her clear eyes met his head-on. ¡°It was urgent. Fear wasn¡¯t important. Getting him to safety was.¡±

    The honesty in her voice made something flicker in his expression¡ªsurprise, maybe.

    He leaned forward a fraction. ¡°Lance tells me you work in research. What field?¡±

    ¡°Biological engineering,¡± she said evenly. ¡°I¡¯m at a research institute right now.¡±

    Karson drummed his fingers lightly against the mahogany desk, his mind ticking over.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been part of several projects¡ªsessful ones. Even Frank McGill lost to you once.¡±

    So that was it¡ªhe was here to settle an old score. Beating Frank had clearly rubbed the Carter family the wrong way.

    Only now did Ste connect the dots¡ªNina Carter, Lance Carter. Family. She mentally cursed herself for not realizing sooner.

    Still, her expression stayedposed. She pressed her lips together briefly, then spoke clearly. ¡°I¡¯m ttered. I was lucky at the time. Frank is a senior in the field, and I respect him greatly. Competing with him was an honor. However¡­¡±

    She paused deliberately, locking eyes with Karson before finishing, ¡°I believe our field needs more integrity. I¡¯m sure Frank understands that after ourst meeting.¡±

    Her words were calm but edged with meaning¡ªresearch should never be weaponized to harm people.<fn5223> Discover more novels at Find[?]ovel</fn5223>

    .

    .

    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: New novel releases in a few hours, have a great evening dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (¤Å ? _?)¤Å?

    .

 Chapter 721

    ?Chapter 721:

    She wasn¡¯t sugarcoating it, and she wasn¡¯t afraid to let him hear it.

    Sunlight streamed in through the window, tracing the sharp line of her profile in gold.

    Karson listened, then let out a quiet, almost amused chuckle. She was the first person to speak so bluntly to him. Even Lance was careful not to contradict him. Yet here was Sylvia, meeting him for the first time, and she¡¯d all but used him of conspiring with Frank and Nina.

    Courage, indeed. And she was nothing like the unpleasant woman Nina had described.

    Karson asked a few more detailed questions about the research, and Ste answered smoothly. It was easy for her; she didn¡¯t even need notes and could reply to every question without hesitation.

    The longer Karson listened to Ste¡¯s honest and clear exnations, the more impressed he became. She wasn¡¯t just a smooth talker but truly skilled, proving she couldpete with Nina.

    He respected her calm yet strong attitude.

    As they talked, he also felt a strange sense of familiarity with her, one that grew stronger and clearer the more she spoke.

    Leaning back, Karson let a slight smile soften his stern expression. ¡°You¡¯ve got sharp thinking and solid knowledge. Good job.¡±<fnf6bd> ?????? ???? find~novel</fnf6bd>

    He paused, sounding like an elder giving advice to the young. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder Nina had trouble keeping pace with you.¡±

    Ste stayedposed and replied politely, ¡°Mr. Carter, you¡¯re too generous.¡±

    Right outside the study, the thick wooden door was left slightly ajar.

    Nina lingered in the hallway, quietly listening to the conversation inside. Her hands were tightly clenched into fists.

    Her perfectly shaped brows furrowed in anger as she stared at the woman she loathed. She couldn¡¯t believe her grandfather was smiling at Ste and even admitted it was no surprise Nina had lost to her.

    Nina¡¯s anger boiled over. She had told Karson on the phone how much she hated Ste, calling her a liar and an opportunist who had sneaked her way in. Karson had told her to ignore people like that and promised he would support her.

    Your favorite tales live at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s£®??????

    But now, seeing how he looked at Ste with open respect made Nina feel sick and even more furious. After all these years, she had hardly heard him say anything nice to her. Yet Ste, after just one meeting, had his respect? Why? How could aplete outsidere in and steal the spotlight from her?

    Her breaths quickened, fingers digging into her palms despite the sharp sting.

    She couldn¡¯t take it anymore and turned sharply, walking down the stairs in her designer heels, seething with anger.

    Downstairs, with people talking and sses clinking, Nina stood among the crowd holding a ss of champagne. Her eyes fixed on Ste, who wasing down the spiral stairs.

    Maybe people already knew who Ste was, because a group had gathered around her, eager to talk.

    Nina¡¯s eyes were icy. With red wine in hand, she headed directly toward Ste. She had promised herself she would make things hard for her, and this was the chance.

    The wine spun slowly in her ss, mirroring the bitterness in her eyes.

    .

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 Chapter 722

    ?Chapter 722:

    Taking a deep breath, she put on a bright, weing smile and walked up to Ste, carrying herself with the confident air of a host.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, what a surprise to see you here today,¡± she announced loudly, making sure everyone nearby could hear.

    She moved as if to hug Ste but suddenly slipped, stumbling forward. The ss of red wine in her hand tipped over, pouring straight toward Ste¡¯s chest.<fnade3> This content belongs to Find_Novel(.</fnade3>

    The room wentpletely quiet, and a victorious gleam sparked in Nina¡¯s eyes. She already pictured the shame Ste would soon feel. Trying to climb the socialdder? Ste was about to find out where her ce really was.

    However, the ssh and gasps she had expected never came.

    Just as the red wine was about to soak her, Ste quickly stepped back with her left foot and smoothly turned her body about forty-five degrees to the left.

    The movement was wless, and the ss Nina had tipped missed Ste¡¯s right shoulder by inches.

    Instead, the wine spilled over the shiny marble floor, creating a big, bright stain. Some droplets flicked onto the edge of Ste¡¯s dress and the tips of her shoes, leaving only a few small marks and nothing more.

    Nina¡¯s eyes went wide. This wasn¡¯t the disaster she had nned.

    Ste stood her ground, her expression calm, though a brief flicker of frost passed through her eyes.

    Not once did she look at the shattered wine ss lying in pieces on the floor. Her attention remained fixed on Nina, whoseplexion shifted from pale to flushed with fury.

    When Ste spoke, her voice carried a quiet sharpness. ¡°Miss Carter, you ought to watch your step. It¡¯s a shame to waste such fine wine.¡±

    The words weren¡¯t delivered like an usation, yet they struck with the sting of an unseen p.

    A moment of stillness passed before the surrounding whispers began, and curious nces turned toward Nina.

    No one at an event like this could be easily fooled. The cause of the little ident was in enough to everyone.

    Endless adventures await on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s

    Heat rose to Nina¡¯s cheeks as humiliation settled in, smothering her with shame.

    Her eyes moved to Ste¡¯s dress, barely touched by the spill, and a deeper resentment festered in her chest. This couldn¡¯t end here. Ste needed to be put in her ce, and Nina would see to it.

    Forcing a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, she let sarcasm drip from her voice while looking Ste up and down. ¡°A shame? I¡¯d say you¡¯re just bitter about your bargain-bin outfit. Sylvia, have you even looked at yourself? Clothes that are cheap have no ce in the Carter family¡¯s home. A little dirt almost improves them¡ªsaves us from having to look at something so pathetic.¡±

    The air in the room seemed to sink again, and a heavy stillness swept over the crowd. Eyes flickered between Nina and Ste, as if everyone was silently asking the same question¡ªwas Nina implying that Ste¡¯s dress was a fake?

    Without moving from her spot, Ste bore the weight of Nina¡¯s insult and the probing stares surrounding her.

    Rather than fire back, she simply regarded Nina with a calm, steady gaze.

    A momentter, her eyelids dipped, and her longshes cast a faint shadow over her cheeks, concealing whatever emotions she held beneath the surface. To Nina, that small gesture was proof enough that she had struck a nerve.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 723

    ?Chapter 723:

    Nina¡¯s mouth curled into a victorious smile. In her mind, there was no way Ste could own such a gown legitimately¡ªit had to be counterfeit.

    Nina was preparing to deliver another cutting remark when Ste¡¯s hand moved toward the buffet table. Her fingers closed around a porcin te sshed with streaks of thick, dark-brown sauce left behind by someone else.

    With her eyes fixed on Nina¡¯s self-satisfied expression, Ste gave her wrist a sharp flick. In an instant, the entire teful of sauce came down hard on Nina¡¯s dress.

    Gasps erupted around them, and several people raised their hands to their mouths.<fnfaee> This text is hosted at FindN0vel</fnfaee>

    The gown Nina wore¡ªcustom-made by a foreign designer¡ªwas worth more than most would dare to spend.

    In that frozen moment, the glossy fabric lost all of its pristine beauty. The dark sauce oozed downward in slow, sticky streams, soaking into the silk and leaving an ugly, spreading stain.

    Nina stared down at her chest, her face etched with disbelief, the tacky weight of the sauce pressing cold and nauseating against her skin. A sharp, ear-splitting scream ripped through the banquet hall.

    The noise died instantly, reced by an almost eerie stillness as all eyes turned to witness the spectacle.

    Every gazended on Nina¡¯s ruined gown, making her look absurd.

    Ste lowered the now-empty te onto the table with a quiet clink.

    Her fingers reached for a fresh napkin, and she wiped away the small trace of sauce that had touched her skin. Every movement was unhurried, deliberate, and dripping withposure.

    When she finished, her eyes lifted to meet Nina¡¯s. The other woman¡¯s shoulders shook with fury, her face pale from rage and humiliation.

    A faint smile ghosted across Ste¡¯s lips, her gaze capturing every detail of Nina¡¯s disheveled state.

    ¡°Miss Carter,¡± she said, her voice carrying clearly through the hush, ¡°would you say my so-called bargain-bin dress now holds its own against your designer gown?¡±

    Ste tilted her head ever so slightly, as though genuinely awaiting an answer.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s is where imagination thrives

    The silence cracked with a softugh from somewhere in the crowd, and like a spark in dry grass, the tension in the room shifted. Conversations began to hum again, low and brimming with amusement.

    Those who had once regarded Ste with scorn now studied her with fresh eyes, their expressions shifting to intrigue, surprise, and even a trace of excitement at the spectacle unfolding before them.

    ¡°She¡¯s out of her mind, sshing Nina like that. But that look on Nina¡¯s face¡ªabsolutely priceless.¡±

    ¡°Finally, someone gave Nina a taste of her own medicine. Who would¡¯ve guessed this woman had the nerve?¡±

    ¡°Nina¡¯s run into a wall this time. Couldn¡¯t have happened to a better person.¡±

    ¡°Who is she, anyway? I swear I¡¯ve seen her before, but her name¡¯s noting to me. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s just some nobody, not if she¡¯s bold enough to stand up to the Carter family.¡±

    The muffledughter and murmured remarks swirled around Nina, each word striking like a p, until the weight of disgrace threatened to crush her.

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 Chapter 724

    ?Chapter 724:

    Nina¡¯s sight blurred with dark spots, and her legs wobbled uncontrobly. She had never been so humiliated while overseas before, and now, with so many people staring, the shame overwhelmed her.

    If Karson upstairs learned about this, how could she even think of going back abroad?

    The more the thoughts raced through her mind, the heavier her chest became, until tears brimmed in her eyes, burning with bitterness. No matter how hard she tried to hold them back, the tears spilled over.

    Right there in front of the crowd, Ste had actually made her break down.

    And now, no one even cared anymore if her dress was real or a knockoff.

    Without looking back at Nina even once, Ste acted like she was dismissing a minor irritation.

    She gave a small nod, then calmly turned and walked confidently through the banquet hall, making her way straight toward the exit.

    She had arrived with Lance and, having already greeted Karson, she saw no reason to stick around any further.

    A cool night breeze swept in, instantly breaking the heavy tension that had filled the room.

    Outside, Ste inhaled deeply, trying to push down the anger and exhaustion from everything she¡¯d been through. Throwing that te of sauce at Nina had felt good in the moment, but she knew she¡¯d burned every bridge with the Carters. Nina wouldn¡¯t forget it, and if Karson found out she¡¯d humiliated his granddaughter, he¡¯d likely make her pay too.

    For now, Ste pushed those worries aside and headed for the parking lot. She clicked the unlock button, slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and turned the key, but the engine didn¡¯t roar to life. Instead, she heard a sharp clicking noise.

    She tried once more, but the car just coughed weakly a few times and then diedpletely.

    The dashboard¡¯s battery light blinked faintly several times, then went out.

    A wave of helplessness washed over her. The car had worked fine on the way in, so why now, of all times, did it decide to break down?

    Closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead to the chilly steering wheel. Today was definitely one of those days where everything that could go wrong, did.

    g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s, your fiction escape<fnbe3e> Discover more novels at find?novel</fnbe3e>

    The car was a rental from Briset. If it stayed stranded here, she¡¯d face extra fees, and if the rentalpany found out it had broken down, the charges would only pile up.

    Pulling out her phone, she got ready to call a tow truck.

    Suddenly, bright headlights appeared from a distance, and a sleek ck Rolls-Royce smoothly parked nearby. When the door opened, a tall, powerful figure stepped out,manding attention in the quiet night.

    Ste¡¯s heart fluttered with surprise when she saw William, then dropped heavily.

    Without thinking, she gripped her phone tighter, confused about why he had shown up right now.

    William saw her too. He hesitated briefly, then walked toward her.

    The steady click of his shoes echoed, each step sending a jolt of tension through Ste.

    .

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 Chapter 725

    ?Chapter 725:<fn4349> Th?s chapter is updated by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn4349>

    He stopped at her window and asked quietly, ¡°Car trouble?¡±

    Ste pressed her lips tight and stayed silent.

    His eyes moved to the car¡¯s hood, and he thought he saw faint wisps of smoke rising, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was real or just in his head.

    ¡°Can¡¯t get it to start?¡± he asked in a low voice that gave nothing away, leaving Ste guessing what he was thinking.

    Unbothered by her silence, William moved to the front, ran his fingers along the hood¡¯s edge, then eased it open with a soft pop.

    Ste frowned deeply and leaned out the window. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked.

    William carefully lifted the hood and held it up, bending over slightly, then said clearly, ¡°I¡¯m here to help you fix it.¡±

    William didn¡¯t even open the trunk for tools. He looked like the type who thought he could fix anything with just his hands and confidence.

    The night air carried the faint scent of sandalwood from him, making Ste¡¯s breath hitch for a moment. She gripped the car door a little tighter, unsure if she should get out or stay seated.

    In the end, she realized she wasn¡¯t asposed as she thought.

    Unable to keep quiet anymore, she opened the door and stepped out. She walked to the front of the car, where William was leaning over the open hood, his expression focused as he checked each part.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, you really don¡¯t need to bother,¡± she said, her voice as chilly as the night breeze. ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for a tow truck, and it¡¯ll be here any minute.¡±

    William kept working with steady precision, giving no sign that her words had reached him. His eyes moved carefully over eachponent, studying every line and connection. After several moments, he spoke calmly.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a big problem. We can either jump-start it or push it to get it running. There¡¯s no point in calling a tow truck, or you¡¯ll be stuck waiting for at least an hour because there¡¯s a party nearby and the roads are jammed.¡±

    His certainty only made something inside her bristle. She didn¡¯t really know why she was upset; she just felt a strong urge to stay away from him.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s has your next chapter

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, must you always push your way into other people¡¯s business? I told you, my problems aren¡¯t your concern!¡± Her voice carried the kind of chill that shut doors.

    William stopped and straightened slowly, his figure almost blocking the light, which only made Ste¡¯s mood feel heavier.

    The neon glow lit them both as William looked at her tight, worried face with his deep eyes, as though trying to see straight into her heart.

    In the stillness, his voice cut sharp. ¡°Really? Then I suppose your adoptive parents¡¯ sudden deaths have nothing to do with me either?¡±

    Ste froze, her whole body tense as if struck by something invisible. How could he possibly know that?

    Her fist clenched at her side, lips pressed tightly together as she summoned every ounce of control to mask the storm his words had unleashed.

    But her uneven breaths gave her away. Her chest heaved as her mind spun with shock and questions.

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 Chapter 726

    ?Chapter 726:

    William, on the other hand, stayed calm, though his eyes were a storm.

    Leaning forward, closing the space between them, his voice dropped to a low murmur. ¡°This is the reason you¡¯ve been avoiding metely, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath caught, and she looked at him, too stunned to say anything. But after a quiet moment, she finally blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean!¡±

    Frustrated, she lifted her foot, ready to walk away, deciding the car wasn¡¯t worth her time anymore. She¡¯d rather spend extra money than get caught up with him here.

    But just as she was about to leave, William quickly raised his hand to stop her.

    ¡°Ste, can¡¯t you just give me a chance to finish what I need to say?¡±

    She hesitated for a second, then nodded. ¡°Alright. Go ahead.¡±

    William exhaled deeply and said with a serious tone, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been looking into your adoptive parents recently. Well, I found out that just a few days before the ident, they got a package with no return address.¡±

    Those words hit Ste like a bomb in her mind. She suddenly remembered her adoptive father receiving a package a few days before the ident. He had seemed unusually serious back then, and when she asked him about it, he didn¡¯t say a word. He just locked it away in the study¡¯s safe and told her not to worry about grown-up matters.

    That safe, and whatever was inside, had disappeared after the ident.

    A sudden thought struck Ste. Maybe that package was the key to everything!

    When she was younger, she had brushed it off as just some ordinary delivery. If William hadn¡¯t brought it up today, she probably never would have remembered it.

    But how had he found out about it so easily, when she hadn¡¯t had any clues all these years?

    Shock flooded through her, and though questions bubbled up, she couldn¡¯t speak.

    How could she forget? He was William Briggs, from the Briggs family.

    Why was he helping her? What did he really want?<fnbffe> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fnbffe>

    If he knew about her adoptive parents, then he must have known the Briggs family was involved too.

    So why was he standing by her side? That was the real mystery.

    Ste¡¯s voice was low and shaky, as if each word was forced out through gritted teeth. ¡°Mr. Briggs, don¡¯t waste your fake concern on me. I¡¯m not that easy to fool.¡±

    William¡¯s expression flickered with a trace of pain. He had expected she wouldn¡¯t trust him right away, but hearing it straight from her was still hard to take. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m the kind of person who would throw human life aside?¡± he asked.

    Ste pressed her lips into a firm line before answering in a steady tone. ¡°Maybe you wouldn¡¯t. But your family? Would you risk going against them for what¡¯s right?¡±

    People had defied family for what was right before, but those who actually did it were rare. Ste didn¡¯t buy the idea that William would put her above family loyalties and his own interests.

    Watching his tense face, she took a steadying breath, gathering all her will to say, ¡°William, two lives are caught in this. You can¡¯t just ignore that.¡±

    Her words hit hard, like ice slicing through both his heart and hers.

    The pain was so intense that her vision blurred, and her body trembled slightly. For a moment, William¡¯s carefully maintainedposure cracked. He looked at her over the car¡¯s hood, quietly meeting her gaze.

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 Chapter 727

    ?Chapter 727:<fnb414> For more chapters visit f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnb414>

    Ste noticed the hurt in his eyes, like dark clouds before a storm. His silence revealed he was still reeling from what she said.

    The only sound between them was the soft rustle of the night breeze. Neither wanted to back down.

    Suddenly, a loud ng came from under the car¡¯s hood, like something had fallen.

    Both quickly turned toward the sound. Near the front corner beneath the hood, a t metal object that had been wedged in ce slipped free and ttered onto a bracket, catching their attention.

    Shocked, Ste reached down and picked it up.

    Looking at it carefully, she realized it was an old pocket watch.

    Her heart jumped. She remembered that watch from childhood. It had hung around her adoptive mother¡¯s neck like a ne, holding a photo of her adoptive parents when they were young.

    She carefully flipped open the watch cover and froze at the photo inside. She had always thought it was just the three of them in the picture. But now, there was a fourth person.

    At the far left stood the face of a kind old man, with soft, wise features and wrinkles. The features were unmistakably Karson¡¯s¡ªthe same man who had looked at her kindly in the study earlier¡ªbut here, he appeared much younger.

    The photo looked like it had been cropped, and besides Ste¡¯s adoptive parents and Karson, there was a small part of a child¡¯s arm showing. But the child¡¯s face was only partly visible, and no matter how hard Ste tried, she couldn¡¯t tell who it was.

    She frowned in confusion. Why were her adoptive parents connected to Karson? Were they old friends? If that was true, why didn¡¯t she remember ever meeting Karson as a child?

    William caught sight of the photo too and nced at Ste, an idea forming in his mind. But with no proof, he kept his thoughts to himself.

    Confusion lingered in Ste¡¯s eyes, but she slipped the pocket watch into her pocket for now.

    William let out a quiet sigh and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tow your car.¡±

    Explore fresh updates on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s

    Ste was about to refuse, but then she remembered the tow truck wouldn¡¯t arrive for at least an hour. With some hesitation, she agreed and let him tow her car.

    At the same time, Nina waited in the banquet hall, expecting William to show up. The Carter family was hosting the event, and William was definitely on the guest list. Still, all the other guests had arrived¡ªexcept him.

    Upstairs, she had changed into a fresh outfit and touched up her makeup, ready and eager for his arrival.

    But as night fell and the crowd mingled, William was nowhere to be seen. After a moment of hesitation, she made her way to the entrance and approached the guards.

    ¡°Have you seen William Briggse in?¡± she asked quietly.

    One guard nodded slowly. ¡°His car pulled into the parking lot, but after that¡­¡±

    ¡°After that what? Say it!¡± Nina pressed.

    ¡°He left againter, and it seemed like his car was pulling another vehicle.¡±

    As soon as Nina heard this, she rushed to check the surveince footage, and sure enough, Ste¡¯s figure appeared on the screen.

    Her anger red instantly, resentment burning hot as she stared ahead with a fierce re.

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 Chapter 728

    ?Chapter 728:

    After a moment, she grabbed her phone and called someone. ¡°Go ahead with the n I told you about. Don¡¯t fail me.¡±

    Once William dropped Ste off at her ce, she quickly thanked him and slipped inside, closing the door before he could say another word.

    William seemed used to her brusque manner and simply turned to leave for his own home.

    In the days that followed, things at the research institute stayed surprisingly calm. Ste thought Nina would keep making trouble, but it looked like she was worrying for nothing.

    Lately, she hadn¡¯t seen much of Nina at all.

    On Thursday, right after finishing up at the institute and getting ready to leave, Ste got a call from her assistant at Neb.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, we have a problem!¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes widened, and she quickly asked what was wrong.

    ¡°Marc has taken control of the project we¡¯ve been working on for half a year. The deal they¡¯re offering¡­ it¡¯s like they don¡¯t care about losing money just to get it. This is the third time this month!¡±

    The assistant sounded stressed and urgent, hoping Ste could find a quick fix. But Ste herself was shocked by the news, her mind goingpletely nk.

    ¡°Third time? What do you mean?¡±

    The assistant exined that recently, many important Neb projects had run into trouble. Partners who¡¯d promised to help suddenly pulled out, and key materials had their prices jacked up unfairly. At first, they thought it was just bad luck, but then they realized the Walsh Group was behind taking over all those projects.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t the Walsh Group having trouble getting partners? How did they suddenly manage to take our projects?¡±

    Ste found it hard to believe that the Walsh Group, with their earlier problems, could snatch her projects. Something fishy was definitely going on.

    The assistant sighed deeply. ¡°It¡¯s Nina Carter. She handed a patent over to the Walsh Group, and now they¡¯re bouncing back because of it.¡±<fn56c4> Chapters first released on find?novel</fn56c4>

    Ste closed her eyes and drew in a steadying breath. She had thought Nina wasying low, only to realize she was now working with Marc.

    Your new favorite is g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    ¡°Got it.¡± Her voice was hoarse but firm. ¡°Shift priorities for our remaining projects and lock down what we can. We can¡¯t afford dys. And Marc¡­ I¡¯ll figure out how to deal with him.¡±

    Ste told herself to stay calm. Even if the Walsh Group grabbed some projects, she couldn¡¯t lose her cool. The ones still with them had to bepleted perfectly.

    Hearing Ste¡¯s steady tone, the assistant nodded. ¡°Okay, Ms. Gilbert. I¡¯ll keep things steady here.¡±

    After the call, Ste sat alone in theb. Outside, the sky was gray and heavy, matching her mood.

    She rubbed her temples, her eyes betraying the frustration she felt deep inside. She knew every project at Neb was the result of endless hours and sweat from the team. With the Walsh Group snatching a few key projects, the team must have felt crushed.

    The room was quiet as she leaned back, trying to ease the tension with slow breaths.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 729

    ?Chapter 729:

    She hadn¡¯t seen iting. Marc teaming up with Nina was a total shock. Their partnership felt like a trap tightening around her from every angle. Snatching those projects was only the beginning of what Marc had nned. She was sure more dirty moves were waiting in the wings. Like a hunter stalking prey, he had found a partner and was ready to attack again.

    The lessons fromst time still lingered in Ste¡¯s mind. This time, however, she promised herself that she wouldn¡¯t fall victim to Marc again.

    On Friday, there was a meeting scheduled to go over project details with a potential business partner.

    At first, Ste had nned to send someone from the nning department. But with everything going ontely, she decided she had to be there in person. The next day, after wrapping up things at the research institute, she headed out early to the client¡¯s office.

    When she opened the door to the meeting room, she wasn¡¯t surprised to find Marc already there, dressed sharply in a suit.<fnb037> Checktest chapters at F?ndNovel</fnb037>

    Even though she had expected to see him, a rush of frustration and anger hit her as soon as her eyesnded on him.

    When they divorced, she had walked away with nothing but her patents, a generous move on her part that saved him from greater embarrassment. But somehow, Marc had never really moved on from it.

    Honestly, she had never met someone as shameless and bold as him.

    Mr. Glyn, the chairperson of the otherpany, greeted her with a smile. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, d you made it. Please, sit down. Actually, we were just waiting for you so we can announce the results. We¡¯re almost done here.¡±

    Ste blinked in surprise. ¡°Mr. Glyn, weren¡¯t we still supposed to review Neb¡¯s proposal? I brought it with me today, and you haven¡¯t even looked at it yet. How is there already a decision?¡±

    Mr. Glyn hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°Well, Ms. Gilbert, we were sincere about cooperating with Neb at first. But then¡­¡± He paused.

    Ste pressed in a low, firm voice. ¡°And then?¡±

    Mr. Glyn let out a small, awkward chuckle. ¡°Then Mr. Walsh showed up today. Honestly, his offer fits perfectly with what I expected for this project. So, I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Gilbert, but we¡¯ve chosen to go with the Walsh Group for thisnd.¡±

    Discover what¡¯s next on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s???o??

    Despite the apology, Mr. Glyn¡¯s expression was full of confidence, almost bordering on arrogance.

    At that moment, Marc lifted his head and shot Ste a smug look. ¡°Stel, that¡¯s just business. The client picks the best offer. It¡¯s not Neb¡¯s fault; you don¡¯t have to take it personally.¡±

    Watching him put on his performance, Ste couldn¡¯t help but find it almostughable. She had trusted the client from the start and hadn¡¯t pushed for a contract.

    Who could have guessed that Marc would take advantage of that gap? Ste realized this was less about the Walsh Group¡¯s merit and more about the Carter family¡¯s clout. Mr. Glyn was clearly leaning on their influence.

    While she didn¡¯t know the exact details of Nina and Marc¡¯s partnership, Ste was sure she had been yed.

    Thend itself wasn¡¯t anything special, but to Marc, it meant everything. It was the biggest parcel the Walsh Group had secured in ages, and the location was prime.

    More than itsmercial value, something else made thatnd priceless to him¡ªan old house standing right in the middle of it. That house was thest piece of property left by Ste¡¯s adoptive parents, the heart of her childhood memories. It was her home.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 730

    ?Chapter 730:

    Ste had always promised herself she would buy thatnd someday, making sure the house would always belong to her.

    Marc hadn¡¯t forgotten how much that house meant to Ste.

    And Ste knew it too, which was why she wanted to fight for it onest time. ¡°Mr. Glyn, you should at least review our proposal. Just to be sure¡­¡±

    Before she could say more, Mr. Glyn stood up and cut her off. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯d love to, but I have other things to attend to. Hopefully, we¡¯ll get to work together down the road!¡±

    With that, he and his team filed out, leaving the room suddenly empty except for Ste and Marc.

    Ste sat across from Marc, her gaze sharp enough to cut ss. ¡°Marc, what are you scheming this time?¡±

    She could write off those previous projects he had snatched away, but this plot ofnd¡ªshe was absolutely determined to im it by any means necessary.

    It wasn¡¯t just about business¡ªit was personal. Her adoptive parents¡¯ house stood right in the middle of that project site.

    Marc reclined in his seat with infuriating arrogance, a slow chuckle curling off his lips. ¡°Stel, don¡¯t get so riled up. This is business. You win some, you lose some. You can¡¯t me me for ying by the rules.¡±

    Then he pretended to remember something, snapping his fingers dramatically. ¡°Oh, right¡­ isn¡¯t your old house on thatnd?¡± His smile turned wicked. ¡°You know how urban reconstruction works¡ªknock it down and build something shiny. That crumbling little ce¡­¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath hitched. Every nerve in her body screamed that he knew exactly what he was doing.

    Marc watched her face drain of color, then leaned forward with a leer. ¡°But because I¡¯m a sentimental guy¡­ I¡¯ll give you a choice. Beg me¡ªand maybe I¡¯ll spare it. How about that?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t negotiating. He was humiliating her.

    ¡°Marc, you¡¯re despicable!¡± Ste ground out through clenched teeth.

    Instead of being angered, Marc smirked. ¡°Despicable? Ste, don¡¯t act so noble. That house means everything to you, right? Then get on your knees and beg. Otherwise, watch it turn to rubble.¡±<fn8118> This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn8118>

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    With that, he picked up his briefcase and sauntered out triumphantly, not even sparing her another nce.

    As the conference room door mmed shut, a bitter chill swallowed Ste whole.

    That house wasn¡¯t just bricks and wood¡ªit was her sanctuary. When her adoptive parents passed away, that ce kept her alive.

    On countless sleepless nights of failed experiments and merciless skepticism, she would slip back to that house just to breathe.

    Her adoptive father¡¯s paintings still hung on those faded walls. The oak tree her mother had nted still cast a familiar shadow in the backyard. That home held all her warmth and longing.

    Marc knew that¡ªand still twisted the knife.

    But Ste gritted her teeth. She wasn¡¯t going to fold. Yes, the Walsh Group had secured the redevelopment rights, but they still needed consent from the current property owners before they could demolish anything¡ªand that deed had her name written clearly on it.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 731

    ?Chapter 731:

    She marched straight to the chairman¡¯s office, determined to meet Mr. Glyn and hash things out face-to-face.

    As long as they left her house untouched, Marc could do whatever he wanted with the rest.

    Unfortunately, reality pped her hard. Barely ten minutes after arriving, she was told Mr. Glyn was ¡°out of the office.¡±

    His assistant imed not to know where he had gone.

    A tant lie, obviously.

    He was avoiding her.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, maybee back tomorrow? I¡¯m not sure when he will be back today,¡± the assistant suggested with a sympathetic wink.

    Ste could only swallow her frustration and leave.

    The next morning¡ªa Saturday¡ªshe showed up at dawn. Three exhausting hourster, the receptionist finally approached her. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡¯m so sorry¡­ today¡¯s apany holiday. Mr. Glyn won¡¯t be in.¡±

    Ste¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°But his assistant told me toe today!¡±

    The receptionist looked helpless. ¡°I really wish I could help, but Mr. Glyn isn¡¯t here today.¡±

    Sucking in a slow breath, Ste forced herself to stay calm. ¡°Fine. When can I see him?¡±

    ¡°I can book you for Monday morning.¡±

    And so, she endured a torturous weekend waiting. On Monday, she arrived before office hours. The assistant led her to the waiting lounge and asked her to sit tight.

    She did. For two whole hours.

    When she finally went to check again, the assistant gave her an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ms. Gilbert. Mr. Glyn¡¯s meeting has run over. He won¡¯t be able to see anyone else today.¡±

    Ste stepped outside, her chest heaving with rage and humiliation. But her eyes remained icy-bright. They could dodge her today. Hide tomorrow. But she wasn¡¯t giving up.

    On her third try, Ste called in a favor from Paul at the research institute. He and Mr. Glyn had worked together before, and rumor had it they were on good terms.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s has stories worth exploring

    Thanks to Paul, she finally managed to get Mr. Glyn to sit down with her. She exined everything, but he just sat there nursing his coffee, looking only mildly interested, and replied half-heartedly, ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I understand your position, but the city¡¯s moving forward with development. Sentiment can¡¯t drive decisions. Marc¡¯s team has a strong n, and the teardown-and-rebuild approach has already been approved by everyone involved. Changing it now would be a headache.¡±

    Every sentence from him was just a well-dressed version of ¡°no.¡±

    It was like life kept dumping ice water over her head. For the first time, she saw clearly that Marc, now working with Nina, was determined to trap her with no way out.

    Marc had shared a roof with her long enough to know all her weak spots, and he was aiming right for them.

    This wasn¡¯t business¡ªit was revenge disguised as a deal.

    .

    .<fn506c> Follow current nov?ls on find~novel</fn506c>

    .

 Chapter 732

    ?Chapter 732:

    She remembered Marc once promising she¡¯d regret ever going against him.

    That same powerless feeling spread fast, burning through her. She trudged back to the institute and tried to bury herself inb work, but her mind kept wandering to the old house.

    Sandra noticed Ste¡¯s mood and asked with concern, ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯ve seemed offtely. Is something bothering you? You look like you haven¡¯t been sleeping.¡±

    She was right. Ste had barely been getting two or three hours of rest each night before waking up, her thoughts constantly circling back to the house.<fn7f30> Content originallyes from Find1Novel</fn7f30>

    Even herb work had slowed, her concentration shot.

    Late at night, in her cold apartment, Ste sat staring at the city¡¯s neon lights as memories of growing up in that house came rushing back.

    Neb was bleeding projects, and as the biggest shareholder, the one in charge, she didn¡¯t have the luxury of staying on the sidelines.

    But the thought of losing that house pressed down, stealing her breath.

    She was back in that same suffocating helplessness.

    Other than chasing down Mr. Glyn, she was out of moves.

    Mr. Glyn clearly wasn¡¯t willing to upset Nina, and Marc? He would drag her to the point of begging, maybe even let her think she had a chance, only to rip it away at thest second.

    Marc¡¯s petty streak would make sure she paid twice over for every wrong he thought she had done.

    Ste let out a long, tired breath.

    William noticed every bit of her strain.

    Since their encounter in the parking lot that night, he had kept his distance. But after catching sight of the photo in her pocket watch, curiosity got the better of him. He had quietly set people to work digging into any link between Karson and her adoptive parents.

    He understood she kept her walls high around him, and until the mystery of her adoptive parents was cleared, those walls weren¡¯ting down.

    Ste clearly needed room to breathe, and William didn¡¯t need to ask to know her mind was a storm right now.

    But staying away didn¡¯t mean he was blind to what she was doing.

    The moment Nina and Marc teamed up to sabotage her project, the news found its way to William almost instantly.

    Steven, still working at Neb, had called him the second it happened. At first, William didn¡¯t think Marc was worth his time, and honestly, he still didn¡¯t. He had held back, not wanting her to use him of meddling in her business again.

    But watching Ste run herself ragged was more than he could stomach.

    In the top-floor office of the Briggs Group, the glow of Choria¡¯s neon lights spilled through the wide windows. William stood up, picked up the phone, and spoke in a low voice.

    ¡°Luca, call the Horizon Group¡¯s chairman. Let him know we¡¯re suddenly very interested in that west-side project.¡±

    Luca froze, not expecting that request.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 733

    ?Chapter 733:

    That piece ofnd owned by Mr. Glyn¡¯spany was hardly a prize for the Briggs Group. So why the sudden interest?

    ¡°Boss, is this about stealing that property out from under the Walsh Group?¡±<fnc8be> Th?s chapter is updated by find[?]ovel</fnc8be>

    William sidestepped the question. ¡°What I want,¡± he said evenly, ¡°is every detail of Marc¡¯s deal with Horizon. Focus on the demolition dates. Have it on my desk by ten tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Luca replied without missing a beat. ¡°I¡¯ll get it done.¡±

    He still didn¡¯t know why thend mattered, but he knew for certain that winning the bid for it would be effortless for the Briggs Group.

    Whenever the Briggs Group stepped into a deal, their offer almost always leftpetitors in the dust, andpared to them, whatever the Walsh Group could promise Horizon looked like pocket change.

    When Luca contacted Horizon, a thought nagged at him. Was this somehow tied to Ste? Marc wasn¡¯t just anyone; he was Ste¡¯s ex. Was William stepping into this fight for her sake, maybe even to settle the score?

    At his luxury vi, Mr. Glyn lounged with a ss of champagne in hand, the warm crackle of an old vinyl spinning in the background.

    The moment was cut short when his secretary called¡ªapparently, the Briggs Group wanted a word about the west-side property.

    Just hearing William¡¯s name was enough to make Mr. Glyn¡¯s stomach twist. In Choria, the Briggs family weren¡¯t just rich; they were untouchable. And William? He had a reputation for getting exactly what he wanted, no matter who stood in the way.

    Mr. Glyn spent the night staring at the ceiling, running through every possible reason William might being after him.

    By morning, he had decided not to keep the man waiting. He showed up at the Briggs Group before business hours, where Luca walked him straight into William¡¯s office.

    Sweat prickled along his hairline, his nerves wound tight. He still had no idea what this meeting was really about.

    William didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries or a seat. He simply pushed two folders across the desk. One was filled with the Walsh Group¡¯s recent financials, and the other was a polished new partnership offer from the Briggs Group.

    Giving Mr. Glyn a calm, measured look, he said, ¡°Mr. Glyn, there¡¯s an old house on that west-sidend. It belongs to a friend of mine, and I want it left alone.¡±

    Mr. Glyn froze, his breath catching in his throat. A quick nce at the financial report told him all he needed to know. William had dug deep into Horizon¡¯s private numbers, which meant he had already been sniffing around their business. He didn¡¯t need to read every page to understand¡ªit was a blend of tempting offers and quiet threats.

    The partnership file, on the other hand, dangled profits that made thend deal seem like spare change. William was clearly ying a stick-and-carrot game, and he yed it well. He never mentioned Ste¡¯s name, only referring to her as a ¡°friend,¡± but Mr. Glyn could tell she meant something to him.

    Staring at the promise of massive profits in one file and the dangerous leverage in the other, Mr. Glyn knew exactly what choice he had. He could either drop Marc and protect the old house, securing Briggs¡¯ backing, or keep Marc and go head-to-head with the most powerful family in Choria. It wasn¡¯t a tough decision.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 734

    ?Chapter 734:

    ¡°I hear you loud and clear, Mr. Briggs,¡± Mr. Glyn said, bobbing his head as if his life depended on it. The sweat running down his back made him squirm in his seat. ¡°That old house? A treasure. Wepletely overlooked its historical value. I¡¯ll rework the ns immediately to keep it just as it is.¡±

    William gave a small nod, a hint of a smile flickering as he motioned toward the stack of papers. ¡°Good. Looks like we¡¯ll work well together.¡± He reached for another file, then paused just long enough for the silence to feel loaded. ¡°One more thing about thatnd project. Neb¡¯s proposal looks fine to me. Where do you think it needs fixing?¡±

    Mr. Glyn¡¯s stomach dropped. How could he forget that Neb had once belonged to the Briggs Group before being sold off? He had assumed William was too high up to care about a small fry like Neb. But bringing it up now? That was a curveball.

    William drummed his fingers on the desk in an even rhythm. ¡°If I¡¯m remembering right, Horizon Group was nning to team up with Neb at first, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Mr. Glyn nearly swallowed his tongue. ¡°Yes, sir, you¡¯re right. It was just a little mix-up, nothing serious.¡± He wasn¡¯t stupid enough to argue with William, so all he could do was nod and go along with it.

    William arched a brow. ¡°A mix-up? I was starting to think you were leaning toward Walsh Group¡¯s offer over Neb¡¯s.¡±

    The words cut both ways¡ªan opening for Mr. Glyn to choose where he stood.

    Mr. Glyn ducked his head. ¡°I¡¯ve reconsidered. Neb¡¯s n wins. Horizon Group hasn¡¯t locked anything in with Walsh yet, so there¡¯s still room to move. I¡¯ll go along with what you want, Mr. Briggs.¡±

    William¡¯s brow twitched at that. ¡°What I want?¡±

    Mr. Glyn panicked, realizing his slip of the tongue. Quickly forcing a smile, he tried to cover it up. ¡°Sorry, I misspoke. I¡¯ll go with the proposal that fits thend best. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Briggs, it¡¯ll be handled fairly.¡±

    William gave a small nod, clearly satisfied, then waved him off like he was already done with the matter.

    By the time Mr. Glyn stepped out of the Briggs Group building, his shirt was sticking to his back with sweat. The man¡¯s presence was suffocating, and every second inside felt like walking on ss. One wrong word, and Horizon Group could¡¯ve been crushed.

    Back in his car, Mr. Glyn wasted no time and rang up his assistant, telling thetter to get in touch with Marc right away.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m is a world of wonder

    When the assistant delivered the news that Horizon Group was pulling out of the partnership, Marc was leftpletely stunned.

    Only yesterday, Mr. Glyn had been all friendly and assured him with full confidence, saying, ¡°Everything¡¯s going exactly as nned.¡± Yet now, out of the blue, he was backpedaling and iming the partnership might not even happen?

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®can¡¯t continue the partnership¡¯?¡± Marc snapped, barely keeping his temper in check.

    The assistant¡¯s voice stayed polite, almost rehearsed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Walsh. This is Mr. Glyn¡¯s decision. He hopes you¡¯ll understand. There will be chances to work together again in the future.¡±<fn54ad> Chapters first released on Find_Novel(.</fn54ad>

    Marc let out a bitterugh. Understand? Really?

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 735

    ?Chapter 735:

    ¡°So Mr. Glyn breaks his word and expects me to understand? If he¡¯s pulling out, he owes me an exnation!¡± Marc retorted.<fn2523> This update is avable on Find?Novel</fn2523>

    Still calm, the assistant replied, ¡°Mr. Walsh, no contract was signed. Technically speaking, nothing has been broken.¡±

    Marc was stunned into silence, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Nina had been the one to bring him into this deal, and since Mr. Glyn was her connection, he hadn¡¯t pushed for a formal contract right away. He thought they were ying on the same side, but now it was clear that he had been yed.

    The call ended abruptly, and when Marc tried ringing back, all he got was a cold notification that the number was no longer in service.

    Boiling with rage, Marc dialed Mr. Glyn¡¯s personal number, but no one answered. Just then, Kody pushed the door open and froze when he saw Marc¡¯s thunderous face.

    ¡°Uh, Mr. Walsh, is everything okay?¡±

    Marc¡¯s head snapped toward Kody, his tone like ice. ¡°Who said you could walk in here? Get out. Now.¡±

    Kody instantly realized he¡¯d walked into a storm. He backed out quickly, pretending he¡¯d never been there. Marc clenched his fists, yanked his coat from the chair, and marched out. If Mr. Glyn was going to dodge his calls, then so be it. He¡¯d hunt him down in person.

    Instead of marching inside, he drove straight to Horizon Group¡¯s garage, parked, and turned off the engine. Then he waited. If Mr. Glyn had no clue he was there, he¡¯d eventually corner him. Calls could be ignored, but sooner orter, Mr. Glyn had to show up at the office or leave it.

    More than an hour dragged by before Marc finally spotted him stepping out of the elevator. The moment Mr. Glyn reached his car and began unlocking it, Marc slipped out of his own car and closed the distance without a sound, positioning himself right behind him.

    ¡°Mr. Glyn,¡± Marc said tly. ¡°Care to exin why the partnership was suddenly scrapped?¡±

    The unexpected voice made Mr. Glyn nearly leap out of his skin. He whipped around, his hand pressed to his chest. When he saw Marc, he exhaled shakily.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯ll give someone a heart attack creeping up like that,¡± he muttered, trying to y it off.

    Marc didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. Without a word, he shoved Mr. Glyn hard against the car door, his expression cold and unforgiving.

    ¡°We had a deal, didn¡¯t we? What¡¯s with the sudden U-turn? You trying to tank your ownpany, Mr. Glyn?¡± Marc seethed. To him, Horizon only stood because of the Carter family¡¯s backing. With Mr. Glyn¡¯s skills alone, it should¡¯ve sunk ages ago. And this was how he repaid them? Betraying Marc was the same as betraying Nina.

    Pinned and cornered, Mr. Glyn looked up at the taller man with a pained expression. Finally, he stammered, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m¡­ really sorry. Thepany¡¯s shifting project ns, and we need a different partner. That¡¯s why we called it off.¡±

    ¡°Call it off?¡±

    ¡°Off? You think it¡¯s that simple?¡± Marc¡¯s face flushed red with fury. He was seconds from exploding.

    Seeing him so furious, Mr. Glyn instinctively cowered, his voice dropping to a nervous whisper. ¡°It¡¯s not all on me. Someone interfered. I didn¡¯t have a choice. For your ownpany¡¯s good, I¡¯d suggest dropping this project.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 736

    ?Chapter 736:<fn5653> Find the newest release on fin?novel</fn5653>

    Without another word, Mr. Glyn yanked open his car door, slid inside, and sped off. Marc was left standing there, stunned and unprepared, his expression shifting from pale shock to full-blown rage.

    Someone had interfered¡ªbut who?

    Marc waspletely in the dark, with no idea who was working against him this time. He cast onest sharp look toward the exit of the underground parking garage before turning away.

    The next morning, Marc had his team adjust the proposal, preparing to take another shot at Mr. Glyn. But as he reached the office door, voices drifted to him from inside¡ªMr. Glyn speaking with his assistant.

    ¡°Boss, are we still handing this project to Neb?¡± the assistant asked. Once the deal was set, they¡¯d have to move forward with the contract¡ªno more room for second-guessing.

    Mr. Glyn¡¯s calm reply carried clearly to where Marc stood.

    ¡°Yeah. If William Briggs says so, what choice do I have? You want to go against William Briggs? The man is more frightening than the devil himself.¡±

    The assistant pressed his lips together and stayed silent. When he stepped out into the hallway, it was eerily empty. He paused, frowning. A moment ago, he could¡¯ve sworn someone was there. Where had they gone? Had he imagined it?

    Shaking off the thought, he headed for the print room to start preparing the contract.

    Marc was already gone¡ªstorming out of the building with fury in his eyes. William. Again. Marc could count on one hand the number of people in Choria he¡¯d managed to offend, and William sat at the very top of that list.

    But why was William gunning for thisnd? Was it because of Ste?

    The possibility darkened Marc¡¯s mood further. William would do anything for her¡ªeven rip a guaranteed deal right out of Marc¡¯s hands.

    Meanwhile, Ste was still preupied with the fate of the old house. One evening, as she left the research institute, her phone buzzed. She nced at the screen¡ªan unfamiliar number.

    She had already blocked Marc¡¯s number and worried he might be trying a new one. Staring at it for a moment, she hesitated, then finally answered.

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Gilbert? I¡¯m the assistant to the CEO of the Horizon Group. Sorry to bother you.¡±

    The Horizon Group? Surprise flickered in Ste¡¯s eyes.

    She steadied her voice. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡±

    Could this be Horizon Group acting on Marc¡¯s orders, trying to push her into contacting him?

    The assistant¡¯s tone was polite¡ªexcessively so¡ªwith a trace of ttery beneath it.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the deal, Ms. Gilbert,¡± he began. ¡°Mr. Glyn asked me to apologize for how things went before. He believes your proposal is the better fit and wants to know when you¡¯d be free to drop by and discuss partnership details.¡±

    Ste tightened her grip on the phone, taken aback. Hadn¡¯t Mr. Glyn made it clear the project was Marc¡¯s? Why the sudden pivot toward her?

    ¡°What¡¯s yourpany ying at? I chased you down three times, and Mr. Glyn himself told me you weren¡¯t working with Neb.¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 737

    ?Chapter 737:

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Ms. Gilbert,¡± the assistant said quickly, his voice even more deferential now. ¡°That was our mistake. We¡¯d like the chance to make it right. We¡¯re eager to work with you.¡±

    Ste frowned. The shift was too abrupt, and it set off rm bells in her mind. Marc¡¯s deal with the Horizon Group had been arranged through Nina. How could it have unraveled so suddenly? Had something gone wrong on Nina¡¯s end?

    The assistant, sensing her silence, grew anxious. Mr. Glyn had ordered him to get her on board, and failure wasn¡¯t an option.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, how about thise by the office tomorrow. We¡¯ll exin everything. We know you care about thatnd. Your house is on it, isn¡¯t it? Sign with us, and we¡¯ll make sure that house stays untouched.¡±

    Ste¡¯s fingers curled tighter around the phone. She didn¡¯t trust the Horizon Group¡¯s sudden shift, but for the sake of protecting her home, she decided to go.

    The next day, Ste arrived at Horizon Group, where she was greeted by Mr. Glyn¡¯s assistant¡ªthe same one who had called her the previous day.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, your proposal to develop a cultural leisure district on that plot ofnd was remarkable,¡± he said, sliding a document across the desk. ¡°Here¡¯s the contract we¡¯ve drafted for you to review.¡±

    He continued smoothly, ¡°ording to your n, thend will be restored and maintained by professionals, and your house will remain protected. This coboration offers nothing but advantages for you and Neb Group.¡±

    Ste opened the folder and read through the contents carefully.

    The first page was a conceptual illustration. Her old, familiar house stood at the center, preserved exactly as the assistant had described¡ªuntouched and intact.

    The proposal outlined detailed preservation measures for the property and a clear vision for the district¡¯s positioning. Everything was meticulously organized, even more refined than Neb Group¡¯s own original n. It made her pause. Was this truly a partnership¡ªor just a convenient way to hand over a ready-made n so someone else could profit?

    When she finished reading, the assistant spoke again. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, to show our sincerity, Horizon Group hopes you will serve as the project¡¯s chief cultural advisor, overseeing its execution.¡±

    Everything was moving so fast it felt surreal.

    g ¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s takes you away

    Just days ago, that same house had been used by Marc as a pawn to humiliate her. Now Horizon Group was promising to preserve it without a single brick touched.

    But Ste wasn¡¯t naive. There was more to this than what she was being told.

    Her eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Who put you up to this?¡±

    The assistant hesitated, clearly caught off guard. ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I¡­ don¡¯t quite understand what you mean.¡±

    Ste¡¯s lips curved in a faint, knowing smile. ¡°Really? Alright. Since you don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll assume this partnership isn¡¯t genuine. Perhaps you should work with the Walsh Group instead.¡±

    Her words sent a visible jolt through the assistant.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, the terms we¡¯ve offered are the most favorable possible. Neb won¡¯t face any risk at all. There¡¯s no reason for you to refuse.¡±

    She knew that already. But she also sensed an urgency in his tone¡ªas if someone was pressuring him to get her signature. If she refused, not only would the assistant¡¯s job be in jeopardy, but Mr. Glyn might also anger the person pulling the strings behind all this.

    .

    .

    .<fn4014> Fresh chapters posted on find[?]ovel</fn4014>

 Chapter 738

    ?Chapter 738:

    And so, Ste had no intention of moving forward blindly. Even if someone wanted to help her, she deserved to know who that person was.

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to make this difficult for you,¡± she said calmly. ¡°I just need to know who initiated all this. I promise it will remain between us. But if you can¡¯t tell me, I won¡¯t sign.¡±

    The assistant studied her face for a moment, then gave in with a sigh. ¡°It was Mr. William Briggs.¡±

    A tightness gripped her chest. She had suspected it, but hearing the name out loud still caught her off guard.

    ¡°I see,¡± she murmured, her voice slightly hoarse. ¡°I¡¯ll review the document, and if it¡¯s all in order, I¡¯ll sign.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Ms. Gilbert!¡± The assistant¡¯s relief was almost palpable. ¡°Please take your time. Once it¡¯s signed, just leave it on the table. I won¡¯t disturb you further.¡±

    Ste found the sudden shift in his tone almost amusing.

    When she finished reading and confirmed everything was in ce, she signed the contract and left Horizon Group.

    Two dayster, a beautifully wrapped envelope arrived at her research institute. Inside was a thick stack of documents. On topy Horizon Group¡¯s official appointment letter, naming her as the project¡¯s cultural advisor. Below her title was the advisory fee¡ªfollowed by a string of staggering zeros.

    She didn¡¯t dwell on the money. Instead, she skimmed through the project terms one more time, confirming her house would remain untouched. Only then did she set the documents aside with quiet relief.

    Her fingers trembled slightly. The matter that had weighed on her for so long was finally resolved. She could sleep peacefully again, knowing her home was safe.

    This wasn¡¯t a dream. But it was William who had made it happen.

    She blinked away the moisture in her eyes, pushing down the surge of conflicted emotions rising in her heart.<fn0bcf> Follow current nov?ls on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn0bcf>

    For reasons she couldn¡¯t quite exin, William¡¯s face drifted into Ste¡¯s mind, blending seamlessly with the weatherworn walls of the old house. She could almost smell the faint sweetness of the osmanthus blossoms from the tree in the yard. And in that imagined scene, William stood beneath its branches, watching her quietly¡­ his gaze steady and warm.

    Her eyes burned, a mist of emotion rising faster than she could stop it. She tilted her head back and drew in a deep breath, trying to steady herself before the tightness in her throat betrayed her.

    Stay tuned for updates at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    The name William Briggs carried too much weight.

    Gratitude, yes¡ªbut also a tangle of emotions she could never fully untangle,plications knotted tightly around the history of his family and hers.

    Was he helping her out of genuine feeling¡­ or was he simply trying to make amends? She had once promised herself she would not rely on him¡ªnot too much. Because leaning on someone was the beginning of dependence. And dependence, sooner orter, brought pain.

    Yet here she was again¡ªsheltered under his quiet protection. And once more, because of him, she had been able to preserve what she cherished most. The debt weighed heavily in her chest, and she doubted she would ever find a way to repay it. But how could she face the past between them?

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 Chapter 739

    ?Chapter 739:

    She sat in silence for a long moment before shaking herself back to the present. Carefully, she put away the crucial document on her desk and reached for the bottom drawer.

    Inside, sealed in a clear bag,y the pocket watch she had found under the hood of the car.

    Its hands were frozen in ce¡ªbroken, useless. She didn¡¯t know if it could ever be repaired.

    She studied it for a long while before tucking it into the drawer beside the document.

    Two pieces of her life¡ªside by side¡ªheavy with meaning she couldn¡¯t fully name. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she closed the drawer.

    Oddly, with it shut, some of the weight on her heart seemed to ease. Then a sudden, insistent thought came to her¡ªshe wanted to see the old house.

    She had visited countless times over the years, but now, it felt different.

    Her experiments for the day were done; leaving now wouldn¡¯t set her back. Once the thought took root, she didn¡¯t linger.

    She slung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.

    Sandra was justing in, a bag of snacks in her hand. She paused mid-step. ¡°Hey, Sylvia, heading out?¡±

    Ste gave a small nod. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got something to take care of.¡±

    Sandra¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. ¡°Something to do with you and William?¡±

    Ste stopped mid-stride, caught off guard by the question, then gave a quietugh. ¡°Sorry to burst your bubble¡ªit¡¯s not about him. I¡¯m going to visit my adoptive parents¡¯ old home.¡±

    Sandra blinked, then caught on quickly. ¡°So that¡¯s what¡¯s had you in a mood thesest few days¡ªbecause of that house?¡±

    Ste almost smiled. Whoever said Sandra wasn¡¯t sharp clearly hadn¡¯t seen her like this. She was quite perceptive.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ste admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s sorted now. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±

    After bidding farewell to Sandra, Ste drove toward the west side of the city.

    Latest updates at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s

    The city thinned out, high-rises giving way to older neighborhoods worn by time but alive with their own kind of energy. The further she went, the more the air changed¡ªdustier, but tinged with theforting scents of street food and damp stone.

    Half an hourter, the familiar courtyard wall came into view, its wooden gate weathered but standing firm. Her pulse quickened involuntarily.

    She was just about to pull over when her gaze snagged on a figure leaning against a sleek ck car. Her stomach dipped. She knew that car¡ªand the man leaning on it. William. Why was he here?<fnda4b> Find the newest release on Find1Novel</fnda4b>

    He hadn¡¯t noticed her yet. His head was slightly bowed, an unlit cigarette loose between his fingers, eyes fixed on the old house as though lost in thought, unaware of her presence.

    The nting sunlight caught him just right, painting him in gold against the peeling paint and faded bricks.

    Her brows drew together.

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 Chapter 740

    ?Chapter 740:

    She stepped out of her car, leaves crunching under her shoes¡ªthe sound breaking the still air.

    William turned at once. No flicker of surprise crossed his face, as if he had known she wasing.

    He slipped the cigarette into his pocket and straightened.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± she called lightly as she walked toward him, her tone deliberately cool, ¡°you¡¯re in a good mood. Scoping out Neb Group¡¯s next project site?¡±

    They both knew exactly how Neb had bought thisnd. There was no point pretending otherwise.

    William ignored the sharpness in Ste¡¯s tone, his eyes calm but focused. ¡°I just want to see the ce you¡¯re trying so hard to protect.¡±

    His voice was low, but there was a sincerity in it that she didn¡¯t often hear. Ste didn¡¯t want to linger.

    ¡°You¡¯ve seen enough,¡± she said, her tone clipped. ¡°Can you leave now?¡±<fn442e> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel</fn442e>

    Without waiting for him to answer, she turned and fumbled for the keys to the old yard gate. The lock groaned loudly as she twisted it, rusty and stiff.

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to let me in?¡±

    William¡¯s calm voice came from behind her. ¡°I can check if something¡¯s broken.¡±

    Ste stopped in her tracks, still facing away, and stayed silent for a few seconds. She hadn¡¯t expected the head of the Briggs Group to act like a handyman. But if he was offering, why argue?

    Without looking back, she said simply, ¡°Do what you want.¡±

    Ste pushed the wooden gate open with a little force.

    The yard was small but neat, with a big oak tree in the corner, still bare. A few cracked flowerpots along the wall, leftover from her adoptive mom¡¯s gardening, had wild grass growing in them. Everything was just as she remembered, and the familiar smell made her feel a strange kind of peace.

    Inside, a lightyer of dust covered the old furniture. Ste¡¯s fingers brushed the chipped dining table where she had eaten with her adoptive parents. She noticed a faded sketch on the wall, drawn by her adoptive dad while teaching her to read.

    Every corner reminded her of her childhood, each memory priceless to her. Her birth mother had died long ago, and she never knew her dad. Without her adoptive parents¡¯ love, she might not have grown up safely. Their love and care stayed deep in her heart.

    .c¨®m is the source

    William followed quietly, looking around the simple house. His face showed mixed emotions.

    He could feel the life she¡¯d had here and understand the pain of losing it. His lips pressed together, more serious than when he first came in.

    Ste stopped by a small window, her voice gentler as she remembered. ¡°My adoptive mom would sit here and sew,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯d do my homework close by. In winter, the sun would shine in, so warm.¡±

    She gestured toward the corner of the yard. ¡°That oak tree¡­ my adoptive dad nted it for my fifth birthday. He promised that when it bloomed, he¡¯d make me candied nuts. Every autumn, I had more than I could eat, and I still long for that vor.¡±

    Ste kept talking, not exactly to William, but to hold onto memories she didn¡¯t want to lose.

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 Chapter 741

    ?Chapter 741:

    She talked about how they saved every penny for her schooling, protected and taught her, and tucked her in on cold nights.

    Her voice was calm and warm, full of nostalgia, but the sadness in her eyes made William¡¯s heart ache.

    William stayed quiet and listened without a word.

    This was the first time he had seen such a clear window into Ste¡¯s past. He learned things even Luca¡¯s investigations hadn¡¯t been able to reveal. These were special memories, shared only because Ste had decided to let William in.

    A small thrill ran through William¡¯s chest, realizing she had trusted him with something so personal.

    Could it mean he wasn¡¯t just another face to her?

    But the feeling didn¡¯tst long. Ste stepped away from the fading light at the window and faced him.

    The gentle look in her eyes disappeared, reced by a cold, hard expression as she stared at him.

    ¡°William, do you know why I can¡¯t forgive?¡± she said. ¡°This ce gave me the most love I¡¯ve ever known.¡±

    Her voice shook slightly, and she paused for a moment.

    ¡°If I discover that the Briggs family caused that ident, I won¡¯t hold back. No matter the cost, I¡¯ll make them pay. I owe that to my adoptive parents.¡± Her words hit William like a knife, breaking the small warmth he¡¯d felt moments ago.

    He looked at the calm, unshakable woman before him, her eyes full of determination, and felt his chest tighten as if it were being crushed.

    For a long moment, he remained silent, holding her intense stare without flinching. Finally, he drew in a deep breath, stepped closer, and locked eyes with her.

    ¡°Ste, I promise you. If the Briggs family had a hand in that ident, I won¡¯t hide it.¡±

    His voice was calm and serious, full of weight and determination. His words hit Ste like a thunderp, her eyes widening in shock.

    He wouldn¡¯t keep it quiet?

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s hosts captivating tales<fna0fc> For more chapters visit F?ndNovel</fna0fc>

    But they were his family.

    William continued, choosing his words carefully. ¡°Whoever it is, whatever their ce in the Briggs family, taking lives is wrong. I¡¯ll support you, using everything I have to help you uncover the truthpletely.¡± His gaze was unwavering, solid as stone, with not a hint of doubt.

    Ste stood frozen, surprised by what he said. She thought he¡¯d make excuses or try to get her to step back¡­ not this.

    She never thought William would side with her so strongly, even against his family.

    A whirl of confusing emotions hit her all at once.

    Shock and confusion hit her first, but underneath, a small flutter she couldn¡¯t ignore stirred.

    Ste wasn¡¯t cold toward William. If it weren¡¯t for her adoptive parents¡¯ death, she wouldn¡¯t have kept him at a distance.

    In that moment, she almost wished he would step back, side with his family, and leave her alone.

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 Chapter 742

    ?Chapter 742:

    That way, she could pursue the truth about her adoptive parents¡¯ ident without feeling guilty and keep her distance from him.

    But with him acting this way, she felt confused, not knowing how to deal with him.<fn8e9d> Checktest chapters at find~novel</fn8e9d>

    Loving him meant dealing with his connection to the people who might have killed her family. Not loving him felt impossible when he was willing to go against his own family for her.

    Her heart felt trapped in a painful struggle.

    Ste¡¯s eyes drifted to the far corner of the room, where a small wooden chest sat half-forgotten under a veil of dust. Her adoptive mother had always kept it tucked away, the kind of box reserved for things too sentimental to throw out. Something¡ªshe couldn¡¯t quite exin what¡ªpulled her toward it. Kneeling, she ran her fingers over the rough, dusty lid, brushing it clean before lifting it open. Insidey a jumble of old clothes, worn with time, a few yellowed photo albums, and some small trinkets. Her hand moved deeper until it hit something solid at the bottom. Curious, she pulled it out¡ªa small object wrapped in a faded blue cloth. Unwrapping it, she froze.

    A white jade pendanty in her palm. Smooth to the touch, finely carved, with a crane etched in delicate detail on the front. She turned it over. A single word was engraved on the back¡ªCarter. Her heartbeat quickened. This jade pendant¡­ She had never seen it before. It definitely wasn¡¯t her adoptive parents¡¯ style ¡ª the jade was too fine, too valuable. With her knowledge of jewelry, she knew it wasn¡¯t something anyone could just buy, even with money.

    She looked up sharply at William, her eyes questioning, searching. The moment his gazended on the pendant, his expression changed. He stepped forward in quick, deliberate strides, taking the pendant from her hands as though it were a delicate relic. Tilting it toward the light, his eyes narrowed at the carved word.

    ¡°This¡­¡± His voice was low, tinged with disbelief. ¡°This is a pendant that only members of the Carter family¡¯s direct bloodline would have. The crane, the script¡ªit¡¯s the mark of Karson¡¯s lineage. I¡¯ve seen one exactly like it at Karson¡¯s house.¡±

    Karson often invited him over to his ce, so he knew the pendant well. During those visits, William had seen an identical pendant and had asked out of curiosity. Karson had exined the significance of the mark. Afterward, he¡¯d sighed and said, ¡°As long as my granddaughter has the pendant, no matter how long it takes, I will find her.¡±

    The words jolted Ste. A Carter family heirloom? Here? In her adoptive parents¡¯ home?

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??§àm opens doors to fiction

    ¡°Home?¡± Her mind spun. She remembered seeing a photograph of Karson in the pocket watch, and back when she first met him, she hadn¡¯t been afraid of him; if anything, there had been an odd sense of familiarity. But the Carter family¡­? She had never dared to imagine any link. All she¡¯d wanted was to uncover the truth of her past.

    Her gaze returned to the pendant in William¡¯s hand. Could it be¡­? Was there something about her origins she¡¯d never been told? If not, why would her adoptive parents¡ªordinary in every way¡ªpossess something that tied directly to one of the most influential families she¡¯d ever heard of?

    William¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. ¡°This is the Carter family¡¯s possession. Ste¡­ you might be the granddaughter they¡¯ve been looking for all these years.¡±

    Her eyes widened, suspicion flickering. ¡°Mr. Briggs, you can¡¯t be serious. Me? The Carter family¡¯s granddaughter?¡± Her mother had never mentioned anything. As far as she knew, there was no connection. But William¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know if you have blood rtives out there? This pendant wouldn¡¯t be in the hands of anyone outside their immediate family. If you don¡¯t believe me,e with me to meet them. See for yourself.¡±

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 Chapter 743

    ?Chapter 743:

    She studied him for a moment. There was no calction in his tone, no trace of self-interest¡ªhe honestly wanted to help. Her eyes dropped back to the pendant. Silence stretched between them. William didn¡¯t press, just stood there, letting her decide.

    Finally, she lifted her chin. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go.¡±

    That night, she drove home, her thoughts in turmoil. The next morning, William contacted Karson. By noon, Karson had arranged for a full DNA test¡ªfast-tracked, no expense spared. The results came back before the end of the day. Ste was indeed his granddaughter. A Carter by blood.

    When the news spread, the entire Carter family was overjoyed. Karson, who had searched for her tirelessly for years, could finally stop looking. And now it made¡­

    It made sense¡ªwhy, from the first time they met her, they¡¯d felt an unshakable sense of familiarity. Blood ties, long buried, had finally surfaced¡­

    Karson¡¯s tears streamed freely as he clutched Ste¡¯s hand, his voice trembling with years of longing. ¡°Sylvia¡­ it¡¯s good to have you back. You must¡¯ve suffered so much all these years away.¡±

    Ste¡¯s chest tightened. His raw emotion left her unsettled. For more than two decades, she hadn¡¯t known she even had a grandfather¡ªhadn¡¯t known she belonged anywhere. Now, faced with Karson¡¯s joy, she didn¡¯t know how to respond.

    Lance, beaming, reached across the table. ¡°Sylvia, we¡¯ll announce it soon¡ªyou¡¯ll finally take your rightful ce as part of the Carter family.¡±

    His words left her momentarily dazed. Her rightful ce? She was really bing a part of the Carter family. Everything felt too sudden, too surreal. She wasn¡¯t ready.

    The Carters, however, were swept up in celebration. Even Timothy Carter, Karson¡¯s elusive grandson buried in overseas medical research, sent a rare message: ¡°Wee home.¡± It appeared the entire family rejoiced at her return. Everyone¡­ except Nina.

    When Karson led Ste to the dining table and seated her as the daughter of the Carter family, Nina¡¯s smile froze in ce, brittle and lifeless. Her nails dug into her palm until the sting nearly drew blood. How could she be a Carter? Nobody noticed her stiff posture or the fury simmering beneath her silence.

    Lance¡¯s voice filled the room. ¡°From this day forward, Sylvia is one of us. A week from now, we¡¯ll host a banquet and announce her identity. Everyone in Choria will know she¡¯s a daughter of the Carter family.¡±

    Check new chapters at <fn3d4c> This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn3d4c>

    Nina¡¯s chest tightened. Jealousy and humiliation gnawed at her, hollowing her out. The woman she had mocked for having no background was now exalted as a Carter. A true Carter, with status higher than her own. Her pride¡ªher one unshakable shield¡ªwas crumbling. She stared at Ste, hatred zing in her eyes.

    Nina had always worn her Carter name like armor, certain it would forever ce her above Ste. But now¡­ everything had shifted. Ste¡¯s rise shattered the foundation of Nina¡¯s pride was crumbling. It was unthinkable, like waking into a nightmare where nothing made sense, where the world had tilted against her. And while Nina reeled in silence, another storm brewed elsewhere¡ªwhen the Walsh family finally learned the news.

    When Marc heard it, he nearly choked on his frustration. First, William had seized that project, and Horizon Group had betrayed him. Now, Ste¡ªhis ex-wife¡ªhad risen higher than he could ever reach. He had called Nina again and again for answers. She hadn¡¯t picked up once. If not for Walsh Group¡¯s solid foundation, their empire might already be rubble. Every move against Ste seemed to backfire, draining him dry. Briggs Group trampled him, Horizon Group betrayed him, and Nina had gone silent. Why was he always on the losing end?

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 Chapter 744

    ?Chapter 744:

    At first, he assumed Nina was simply busy and couldn¡¯t take the calls. But then came the news. Ste. A Carter.

    Jazlyn nearly copsed when she heard. That wretched woman had been a Carter all along? Everyone in Choria knew of the Carters. Even while based abroad, their influence rivaled the Briggs¡ªand their reach stretched far wider. The daughter-inw she had scorned and dismissed as worthless was not only a renowned researcher but also the Carter family¡¯s long-lost daughter.

    Her heart ached with regret. How could she have let Ste go? She wed at her hair, her voice breaking. ¡°Oh my God¡ªthe Carter family! Marc, do you understand? If you hadn¡¯t been blinded by that temptress¡­ if you hadn¡¯t divorced Ste, we¡¯d be tied to them now. Do you know what kind of power that would¡¯ve given us?¡±<fn1c9c> Find the newest release on fin?novel</fn1c9c>

    Her wails filled the room, thick with despair.

    The allure of staggering profits caused Jazlyn to conveniently forget the way she had once sneered at Ste for being ¡°unworthy¡± of her son. Now, all she could think about was pressuring Marc to win Ste back.

    ¡°Marc, you have to get her back!¡± Jazlyn pleaded, clutching his arm, her eyes sparkling with greedy visions of the luxurious life she¡¯d once enjoyed.

    Since Marc and Ste¡¯s divorce, her morous lifestyle had spiraled downhill. She hadn¡¯t stepped foot in a spa for months. Every time she asked Marc for money, he wouldin about being broke, leaving her unable to keep up with the high-society women.

    If this continued, she¡¯d be too humiliated to even show her face in Choria.

    ¡°She must still have a soft spot for you,¡± Jazlyn insisted, her voice sharp with desperation. ¡°You were married for years! Sure, her status has changed, but women never forget the past. Beg for her forgiveness, show her you¡¯ve changed, and she¡¯lle running back!¡±

    In Jazlyn¡¯s eyes, Marc could do no wrong. Even after everything, she still believed a little charm would bring Ste back into his arms¡ªand, by extension, bring her back into Jazlyn¡¯s life as the perfect daughter-inw.

    Marc¡¯s face twisted with a mix of shock and regret. If he hadn¡¯t cheated back then¡­ would things have turned out differently?

    Ste¡¯s status as the Carter family¡¯s daughter carried a weight far beyond anything Marc could ever aplish on his own. Winning her back wouldn¡¯t just revive the Walsh family¡ªit could catapult them to heights they had never dreamed of.

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    ¡°Mom¡­¡± Marc¡¯s voice was low and heavy. ¡°Her status is different now.¡±

    His expression darkened as William¡¯s name surfaced in his mind.

    ¡°And?¡± Jazlyn¡¯s eyes gleamed as inspiration struck. She pped her palm against her thigh dramatically. ¡°Right! Your grandpa adores you, and the doctors say he doesn¡¯t have long. Ste¡¯s softhearted¡ªloyal to a fault. If you tell her hisst wish is to see you two reunited, she wouldn¡¯t dare say no. What woman could turn down a dying old man¡¯s request?¡±

    Morals had never been a barrier for Jazlyn.

    If maniption brought results, she would use it without hesitation.

    Marc¡¯s eyes brightened, a dangerous spark flickering to life.

    Ste had always listened to Truett. If he stepped in, this could work.

    And sure enough, news of Truett Walsh¡¯s failing health reached Ste quickly. Marc wasted no time. He waited outside Ste¡¯s research institute, intercepting her with a pleading look. ¡°Ste, I know you hate me,¡± he began, ¡°but Grandpa always loved you. He¡¯s sick¡­ and he wants to see you. You wouldn¡¯t refuse him hisst wish, would you?¡±

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 Chapter 745

    ?Chapter 745:

    Disgust curled in Ste¡¯s chest at the sight of him. But the thought of Truett¡ªwho had shown her rare kindness when she first entered the Walsh family¡ªmade her hesitate.

    She couldn¡¯tpletely shut down his request.

    ¡°Ste, I know you care about Grandpa. Just this once,¡± Marc coaxed. ¡°Come with me. See him.¡±

    Reluctantly, Ste agreed, but she leveled him with an icy stare. ¡°I¡¯m only going for your grandfather. Don¡¯t get any other ideas.¡±

    Marc bobbed his head eagerly. ¡°Of course, of course. We¡¯re just making Grandpa happy.¡±

    At the estate, Ste¡¯s chest tightened when she saw how frail Truett had be.

    His eyes lit up the second he spotted her. ¡°Stel, it¡¯s been forever!¡± Truett eximed, stretching his arms wide. ¡°Come here, let me see if you¡¯ve been taking care of yourself.¡±

    Ste¡¯s chest warmed. Out of the entire Walsh family, Truett was the only one who truly made her feel seen.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said softly, then tilted her head at him. ¡°But I heard you¡¯ve been having trouble eating. What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Truett dismissed it with a wave of his hand. ¡°Ah, just the usual aches. Don¡¯t fuss over me. Tell me about you instead, your love life? Anyone special caught your eye?¡±

    He still held onto the hope that Ste would one day be part of the family again. Marc might have been a fool, but Truett had always liked the idea of Ste as his granddaughter-inw.

    ¡°Grandpa, why ask her that?¡± Marc cut in, trying to sound casual but not quite pulling it off.

    Truett¡¯s sharp re could¡¯ve cut ss. ¡°Did I ask you? Zip it. I¡¯m talking to Stel.¡±

    Marc¡¯s throat bobbed as he swallowed, quickly backing down.

    With a flick of his hand, Truett shooed him toward the door, signaling that he wanted to talk to Ste alone.<fn20a1> Original content can be found at F¦ÉndNovel</fn20a1>

    After Marc left, Truett reached over and gently sped Ste¡¯s hand, his tone soft but probing. ¡°Stel, be honest with me¡ªare you interested in anyone out there?¡±

    More content at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    William¡¯s face shed in Ste¡¯s mind before she could stop it. She quickly pushed the thought aside and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in rtionships right now.¡±

    A wave of relief washed over Truett, a smile tugging at his lips. If she had no one, Marc¡¯s chances weren¡¯t entirely lost.

    ¡°Stel, you¡¯re a good girl. Marc didn¡¯t cherish you back then¡ªthat was his mistake. But I¡¯m getting old now. I just want to see you happy before I go. I hope¡­ I hope to see you both doing well.¡±

    Ste¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°Truett, Marc and I are no longer¡ª¡± He cut her off gently, raising a hand. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you should get back together right away. I know the past between you was hard. I won¡¯t force you. But at least¡­ give Marc a chance to show whether he¡¯s truly changed.¡±

    If anyone else had said that, Ste might haveughed outright. She didn¡¯t believe Marc could change. Selfishness ran in his veins¡ªit was who he was. Buting from Truett, the words felt heavier, harder to dismiss. She didn¡¯t want to hurt him, yet she couldn¡¯t agree either.

    So, she stayed silent.

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 Chapter 746

    ?Chapter 746:

    Truett¡¯s shoulders sagged with a sigh. ¡°We all have regrets, Stel. Mine is not having many wishes left in this life. All I want is to see you and Marc doing well. If you could be together again¡­ that would mean everything. Please, just promise me you¡¯ll give him a chance.¡±

    Her gaze softened at his weary expression. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to shatter his hope.

    After a long pause, she spoke in a soft voice. ¡°I¡¯ll visit you from time to time. But I can¡¯t promise anything about Marc.¡±

    It was the furthest she was willing to bend.

    Truett nodded, knowing she wouldn¡¯t be swayed further. ¡°Alright. Tomorrow I have a hospital check-up. Stel, could youe with me¡ªand Marc?¡±

    Though she had refused to promise Marc another chance, Truett was determined to establish contact between the two of them. He believed that, with enough time spent together, perhaps old wounds could fade.

    Ste thought it was silly, but she couldn¡¯t refuse him after already agreeing to visit. So, she nodded.<fn1d0e> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find{n}ovel</fn1d0e>

    The next afternoon, she took leave from the research institute to apany Truett to the hospital.

    Word of her absence reached William soon enough.

    As Sandra delivered a stack of files to his desk, he casually asked, without looking up, ¡°Why are you the one here today?¡±

    Sandra instantly understood his meaning. ¡°Sylvia took the afternoon off.¡±

    William¡¯s pen paused mid-page. Leave? Why?

    He signed the papers with a flick of his wrist, dismissed Sandra, and went straight to Paul¡¯s office.

    ¡°She said she¡¯s apanying an elder to the hospital for a check-up,¡± Paul exined. ¡°Didn¡¯t say who.¡±

    William frowned. Someone from the Carter family? Unease crept into his chest. Without another word, he pulled out his phone and dialed Luca. ¡°Find out who Ste took to the hospital today.¡±

    Luca moved fast. Within hours, he not only confirmed who Ste had apanied but alsopiled her recent movements, forwarding the report and photos straight to William¡¯s inbox.

    When William opened the file, anger surged through him. There, on the screen, was Ste walking into the Walsh mansion with Marc.

    Marc leaned toward her slightly, his posture protective, his expression soft.

    Ste didn¡¯t lean back, but she didn¡¯t push him away either.

    A sharp snap cracked the silence¡ªWilliam¡¯s pen broke in his grip, ink streaking across his sleeve. He didn¡¯t notice. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened. Marc. What was she doing with him? How dare that man circle back into Ste¡¯s life? And Ste¡­ she knew exactly what kind of snake Marc was. She knew his selfishness, his lies, his betrayals. So why¡ªwhy was she allowing him toe close?

    An unsettling heaviness pressed down on William. His chest tightened, and the tie around his neck suddenly felt unbearable. He yanked at it with sharp impatience. Striding toward the floor-to-ceiling window, he tried to steady his breath, but the thought gnawed at him.

    .

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 Chapter 747

    ?Chapter 747:

    He had given her everything¡ªstood by her, promised to turn against his own family for her sake, helped her chase the truth she so desperately wanted. And yet, did he still matter less to her than Marc, that unworthy scoundrel, or old Truett?<fn8592> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn8592>

    Frustration twisted inside him, coiling tight until it became a desperate urge. He had to see Ste. Now.

    In the hospital, the sterile tang of disinfectant lingered in the quiet room. Ste sat at Truett¡¯s bedside, her eyes fixed on the frail figure sleeping beneath pale sheets. Her heart tangled with emotions she could hardly name.

    Behind her, Marc stood silently. His gaze stayed locked on her back, his expression unreadable, as though even he didn¡¯t know what he truly wanted. Did he genuinely yearn to start fresh with Ste, or was she just a convenientdder for hiseback?

    He couldn¡¯t genuinely answer that.

    What he did know¡ªwhat he was certain of¡ªwas that he had to win her back. At any cost.

    Outside the private room, Truett¡¯s attending physician approached, test reports in hand. His white coat swayed slightly as he walked. His expression was grim when he handed the papers to Ste and Marc.

    ¡°Mr. Walsh¡¯s condition is deteriorating,¡± the doctor said, his tone measured but heavy. ¡°He¡¯s experiencing multiple organ failure. If we proceed conservatively¡­¡± He paused, lowering his voice. ¡°It will only prolong things. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a matter of time.¡±

    Marc¡¯s face nched, panic shing across it. ¡°Doctor, no¡ªyou must save my grandfather! Money isn¡¯t a problem. Use the best medicine, the best equipment, whatever it takes!¡±

    The doctor adjusted his sses, ncing briefly at the silent Ste before turning back to Marc.

    Ste¡¯s eyes stayed on the numbers and charts, cold on the page yet suffocating in their finality. Her chest ached.

    She drew a steadying breath and asked, ¡°Is there any other option?¡±

    ¡°There is,¡± the doctor admitted. ¡°A new treatment n. But it¡¯s risky, costly, and the sess rate is only thirty percent.¡± His voice lowered even more. ¡°Still, it¡¯s the only chance he has. The decision must be made immediately. We can¡¯t dy admission.¡±

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s??om has it all

    Thirty percent. His only chance at survival.

    Ste¡¯sshes fluttered shut. She wasn¡¯t a Walsh¡ªshe had no authority to decide his fate. The weight of it pressed heavily on her chest.

    Marc broke the silence first, his voice carrying a forced strength. ¡°We¡¯ll do it. Even if it¡¯s only one percent, we can¡¯t give up!¡±

    He turned to Ste, his eyes softening with deliberate appeal. ¡°Stel, my grandpa loves you dearly. Please¡­ stay with him during this time.¡±

    Something sour rose in Ste¡¯s throat at the cunning gleam in his eyes. The sight made her stomach churn. But she didn¡¯t argue. Instead, she inclined her head toward the doctor. ¡°Please arrange it quickly.¡±

    Marc signed the consent forms with a flourish, and Truett was transferred to a specialized care unit.

    Ste followed, her gaze falling on the kind old man whose presence had once felt like a shield. Her heart knotted painfully. She wasn¡¯t cruel enough to walk away. Quietly, she pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down, keeping watch as dusk bled into night and shadows swallowed the sky outside.

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 Chapter 748

    ?Chapter 748:

    Marc lingered, studying her devotion. A secret thrill curled through him¡ªthe situation was giving him what he wanted most: proximity.

    He approached, a ss of water in hand, his voice softened into a practiced tenderness. ¡°Stel, you must be exhausted. Here, have some water. I¡¯ll stay with Grandpa¡ªwhy don¡¯t you rest in the lounge for a while?¡±

    As he reached to touch her shoulder, Ste recoiled instantly, as if his hand were filth. She turned sharply, her gaze cold as ice. ¡°No need. Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Her voice was quiet, but it carried a chill that froze him where he stood.

    Truett slept soundly nearby, so there was no longer a reason to pretend.

    Marc¡¯s hand lingered awkwardly in the air before he dropped it, his gentle mask threatening to crack. For a fleeting second, his eyes shed with malice. But he swallowed it back, smoothing his expression into calm.

    ¡°Alright,¡± he murmured, forcing an awkward smile. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about him. But you should eat something¡ªit¡¯ste. I¡¯ll grab food from a good restaurant nearby.¡±<fn16a5> Read full story at </fn16a5>

    He tried changing the subject.

    Ste didn¡¯t spare him a nce. Her eyes stayed on Truett. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Thanks.¡±

    Her indifference was like a p. Inside, Marc seethed, but outwardly, he held hisposure. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, my grandpa will worry about you when he wakes up tomorrow,¡± he said smoothly.

    Without waiting for her reply, he turned and slipped out, closing the door with deceptive gentleness behind him.

    The blinding re of the lights in the hospital hallway made it hard to look straight ahead. Marc leaned against the elevator doors, scheming if sneaking something into her midnight meal might speed up his chances of dragging Ste back to him.

    A chime broke his train of thought. The elevator doors slid open, and a tall figure stepped out.

    Marc¡¯s breath caught. William?

    His fake smile faltered, freezing halfway before curdling into something darker. Why the hell was he showing up now?

    William looked just as surprised, though his reaction was colder and sharper. His eyes swept over Marc like he was nothing more than an annoying obstacle, then shifted past him toward the ward without a word.

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    ¡°Mr. Briggs!¡± Marc lunged forward, nting himself in William¡¯s way.

    Marc¡¯s lips curled into a smug grin, his eyes shing like a gambler who thought he¡¯d already won. ¡°Out for a midnight stroll, Mr. Briggs?¡± he sneered, his words heavy with scorn.

    William halted, his gaze like steel. ¡°Step aside.¡±

    Marc chuckled harshly, standing his ground and lifting his chin in defiance. ¡°You came here for Ste, didn¡¯t you? Hate to break it to you, but she¡¯s with my grandfather right now. No room for gate-crashers. And¡­¡±

    He deliberately drew out his next words, his eyes narrowing with spite. ¡°And I¡¯d advise you to back off, Mr. Briggs. Ste and I are about to reconcile. Her heart¡¯s still tied to my grandfather and everything we shared. So don¡¯t even think about getting in our way.¡±

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 Chapter 749

    ?Chapter 749:

    ¡°Reconcile?¡± William¡¯s lips tugged upward in a cold, humorless smirk. He looked like someone who had just heard the most absurd joke of the century. The world could crumble to dust before he¡¯d believe Ste would ever return to Marc.

    ¡°Marc, are you insane, or do you just enjoy lying to yourself? Stop embarrassing yourself and step aside. I came for Ste.¡±

    Marc¡¯s pride took the hit like a de. His face hardened, his voice rising, sharp enough to echo down the hall.

    ¡°I told you, she doesn¡¯t want to see you! This is a hospital. My grandpa needs peace, not noise. Don¡¯t think your fancyst name gives you power here.¡±

    William closed the gap, his presence pressing down so hard that Marc instinctively edged back. ¡°If your grandfather matters to you, you¡¯ll move before I make you.¡±

    Marc burned with both anger and humiliation, feeling small under William¡¯s re. Thoughts of Ste being the Carter heiress, her distance from him, and William¡¯smanding look fueled his anger. Bursting out, he yelled, ¡°William, what makes you so great? Just because you helped her a few times, you think you¡¯re her savior? She despises your whole family. You¡¯ll never win her over. Ste belongs to me, now and forever!¡±

    William¡¯s eyes burned with fury. Marc¡¯s words snapped something inside him. Without thinking, he yanked Marc by the cor and mmed him against the wall with a harsh thud. ¡°Who gave you the right to stick your nose in our matters?¡± William snarled. His fist shot forward, hitting Marc¡¯s face hard, whipping his head to the side. Marc sagged against the wall, dizzy and stunned, his lip cut and bleeding.

    ¡°Stop! What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

    A sudden cry broke the heated moment. Ste froze in the corridor, an empty cup trembling in her hand as her eyes widened at the sight before her. Marc was pressed against the wall, and William had his fist raised, ready to hit him. Both of their faces were filled with anger. She quickly hurried over, her eyes moving from Marc¡¯s red face to William¡¯s tense one. She hadn¡¯t expected William to show up, much less be ready to fight. This was a hospital, with Truett resting just inside. No matter the reason, William had no right to start a fight here.<fn4588> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find¡¤novel</fn4588>

    ¡°William, stop! This is a hospital!¡± Ste¡¯s voice cut through the tension as she quickly stepped in front of Marc to block William. The look in her eyes made William¡¯s anger vanish, as though cold water had been poured over him.

    Meanwhile, Marc, rubbing his neck and coughing, moved behind Ste and said in a raspy voice, ¡°Ste, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t be upset.¡±

    Discover endless worlds on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©q??o??

    ¡°Enough!¡± Ste¡¯s sharp voice cut through the air, her eyes cold as they fixed on Marc. She had no patience left for his maniptions, and no trust remained for him. His deliberate provocation only filled her with disgust.

    Without sparing William a nce, she grabbed Marc by the sleeve and yanked him back. Her voice was firm,ced with restrained anger. ¡°Come with me. Don¡¯t disturb your grandfather any further.¡±

    Marc, still pretending to cough for effect, allowed himself to be pulled along. The door swung shut with a dull thud.

    The sound struck William¡¯s chest like a blow, hollowing the breath from his lungs.

    The corridor fell into silence.

    William remained rooted in ce, fists clenched tightly, his face hidden in shadow. The image of Ste walking away with Marc burned into his mind. Did she¡­ choose him?

    The thought pierced deeper than he wanted to admit, a cold tide of defeat dragging him under.

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 Chapter 750

    Chapter 750:

    How could she look at him with such indifference? How could she keep cutting him open, again and again?

    His chest ached, exhaustion weighing heavily on his bones, but still¡ªhe couldn¡¯t leave. Not now.

    Marc¡¯s taunting words echoed in his mind, forcing him to confront the truth he dreaded most. Does she still have feelings for Marc?

    Yet, instead of storming into the room, William sank into a chair by the wall. His back stayed straight, his figure outwardlyposed, but there was no mistaking the loneliness etched in his slumped shoulders.

    His head lowered, gaze unfocused, thoughts buried where no one could reach them.

    Passing nurses slowed their steps, stealing curious nces.

    ¡°That man over there is so handsome. I¡¯ve never seen him before¡ªmaybe he¡¯s family?¡±

    ¡°I saw him outside Mr. Walsh¡¯s room earlier. He hasn¡¯t moved an inch.¡±

    ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t he go in?¡±

    William gave no sign he had heard them. He sat, unmoving.

    The hours dragged on, the sterile light in the corridor casting long, lonely shadows on the floor.

    William remained as still as a statue¡ªso cold, so unreachable¡ªthat none of the nurses dared to approach him. They observed him from their seats, whispering in hushed voices.<fnfc6a> Original content can be found at find?novel</fnfc6a>

    It was deep into the night when the door finally creaked open.

    Ste stepped out, rubbing at her temples. Fatigue was etched into her face, the kind born from more than just a sleepless night. She started down the hall toward the restroom but stopped short.

    Her breath caught.

    William. He was still here.

    His head was bowed, dark strands of hair falling across his brow. In the dim light, his face looked almost fragile, stripped of the usual arrogance he wore.

    Don¡¯t miss fresh updates at g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls?c?m

    His tie was loose, his cor unbuttoned, exposing the edge of his corbone.

    His jackety forgotten across hisp.

    He didn¡¯t look like the William she knew. He looked¡­ human. Vulnerable.

    How long had he been sitting there?

    The whole night?

    Realization struck her like a jolt¡ªhe had been here all along. Her heart gave an involuntary flutter; she¡¯d been so certain he¡¯d left hours ago. The sound of the door stirred him. Slowly, William lifted his head.

    Bloodshot eyes. Heavy shadows beneath them. Every line on his face screamed of a sleepless night. And yet, when his gaze met hers, it was startlingly sharp¡ªtoo sharp¡ªlike he¡¯d been waiting just for this moment.

    Ste¡¯s throat tightened. The words she wanted to say¡ª¡±Why are you still here?¡±¡ªstalled on her tongue.

    His eyes were unreadable,yered with something that made her chest ache.

    He didn¡¯t move from his chair. His voice, hoarse and rough from silence, carried a weight that pressed straight into her heart.

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: New content avable, please enjoy it dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ¡°?? ????? ??

    .

 Chapter 751

    ?Chapter 751:

    ¡°Ste¡­ are you really going back to him?¡±

    That question¡ªhe had turned it over and over in his mind all night, and it had robbed him of sleep.

    His eyes searched her face, desperate, unyielding.

    ¡°Does it mean that no matter what I do¡­ you¡¯ll never trust me again? That you won¡¯t even give me another chance?¡±<fn0a38> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on </fn0a38>

    William¡¯s blunt question sliced through Ste¡¯s defenses, ripping open everything she had tried so hard to bury.

    His raspy voice and burning gaze tightened around her heart like a steel vise, stealing her breath and making her pulse quicken.

    She stood rooted in ce, staring at him in stunned silence as a wave of bitterness¡ªsharp and unfamiliar¡ªflooded her chest.

    His hoarse question dropped like a stone into still water, shattering everyst trace of calm she had left.

    Unable to bear the disappointment swimming in his eyes, she jerked her gaze away, fixing it on the dim end of the corridor.

    Her voice turned cold. Freezing.

    ¡°Go home, William. Stop wasting your time on me.¡±

    His shoulders jerked¡ªalmost imperceptible, but enough to make her chest ache.

    Ste forced herself to press on. The knife had to be quick and clean. She had to sever every lingering feeling.

    ¡°I can¡¯t be with you. No matter what you do, nothing will change that¡ªyou know it.¡±

    She swallowed her own heartache, ruthlessly pushing aside the chaos inside.

    ¡°And Marc?¡± She scoffed softly. ¡°There¡¯s zero chance we¡¯ll ever get back together. I¡¯m only here because his grandfather was kind to me once. That¡¯s it.¡±

    Marc¡­ just the thought of him filled her with disgust.

    Before the divorce, she had given him chance after chance¡ªuntil there were no more left. She would rather die than offer him another.

    Silence crashed over the corridor like a tidal wave. All Ste could hear was the thunder of her own heartbeat.

    Find the best stories now at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m

    She didn¡¯t dare look up. She couldn¡¯t bear to watch the light drain from William¡¯s eyes¡ªcouldn¡¯t bear to see hope copse into despair. So she stood there, stiff as a statue, waiting for him to walk away.

    Seconds passed like torture.

    Finally, she heard a long, heavy exhale behind her, followed by footsteps retreating down the hall.

    No words. No pleading. William headed for the elevator, disappearing behind its silver doors without a nce back.

    The moment he was gone, Ste¡¯s body buckled. Her back hit the cold wall as her knees threatened to give way.

    Rejecting the one man she had slowly started to care about¡­ might have been the cruelest thing she¡¯d ever done. A self-mocking smile tugged at her lips. The corridor was empty now¡ªdim, silent, unforgiving. She stood there alone, cloaked in loneliness so thick it almost suffocated her.

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 Chapter 752

    ?Chapter 752:

    Maybe this was for the best. Maybe he¡¯d give up now. Maybe they would go back to being strangers.

    Meanwhile, just a few feet away, a dark figure lurked in the shadows.

    Marc stood hidden behind the hospital room door, his face twisted in the gloom.

    He hadn¡¯t slept all night¡ªhad stayed with Ste in the room, trailing behind her like a shadow. The second she stepped out, he followed.

    But when he heard William¡¯s voice, he froze, listening to every word. ¡°There¡¯s zero chance we¡¯ll ever get back together.¡± That single sentence pierced straight through his chest. Yet, strangely¡­ her cold rejection of William sparked something savage inside him¡ªmadness, obsession, possessiveness¡ªall rolled into one.

    His fists clenched at his sides. He bit down on his lip so hard he tasted blood.

    His eyes burned with feral determination. ¡°Ste,¡± he hissed under his breath, ¡°you¡¯re not getting away from me. You¡¯re mine. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re the Carter family heiress¡ªI¡¯ll still make you my wife.¡±

    A chilling n began to form in his mind, its roots digging in deep.

    If he couldn¡¯t win her heart¡­ then he¡¯d take her by force. Reputation, public pressure, family expectations¡ªhe¡¯d use every tool at his disposal.

    And if fate happened to bless him with a child in her belly? Marc¡¯s lips curled into a slow, twisted smile. That would be perfect.

    The days that followed blurred into a relentless rush. Ste found herself shuttling back and forth between the research institute and the hospital, barely pausing to breathe.

    At the institute, a new project had reached its most critical stage. The data showed troubling fluctuations, keeping the entire team on edge. Nights bled into days as they chased stability in their experiments, each team member burning through their strength.

    Ste, already pale, now looked utterly drained.

    Sandra, Elbert, and some other team members were concerned about how much she was pushing herself.

    ¡°Ste, you haven¡¯t slept properly in days,¡± Elbert said, his voiceced with worry. He nced at the report in his hand, then looked back at her drawn face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a day off and rest? You¡¯re going to copse at this rate.¡±

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    She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Once we get through this phase, I¡¯ll have time to rest. I can hold on until then.¡±

    Her colleagues exchanged uneasy looks.

    Ste¡¯s workaholic habits were nothing new, but seeing her push herself this far unsettled them.<fnf80a> This content belongs to </fnf80a>

    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Truett¡¯s condition remained fragile after a round of high-risk treatment. Though temporarily stable, he lingered in a state of constant uncertainty, needing round-the-clock care.

    At first, Ste tried to bnce both worlds¡ªspending long hours at the institute and stopping by the hospital whenever she could. But as the pressure mounted, her visits grew shorter, sometimes only enough to check on him before rushing back to herb.

    Jazlyn, who had briefly helped, soon excused herself on ount of her own health and stopped showing up.

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 Chapter 753

    ?Chapter 753:

    Worried for Ste, Truett eventually asked Marc to hire a professional caregiver.

    Marc, seizing the opportunity, yed the role of a devoted grandson¡ªhovering at the hospital, tending to Truett, and always finding ways to fuss over Ste whenever she was present.

    Ste found his presence suffocating. Yet, faced with Truett¡¯s frail figure in bed, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to cut tiespletely.

    Whenever she visited, she kept her distance from Marc, sitting quietly in the corner or chatting softly with Truett about trivial things.

    That evening, after a tense meeting reviewing experimental results, Ste¡¯s head throbbed as if it were splitting apart. She rubbed her temples, ready to pack up and head to the hospital, when her phone buzzed inside her bag.

    Marc.<fnd077> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? findnovel</fnd077>

    She frowned. She¡¯d only unblocked his number so she wouldn¡¯t miss any updates about Truett. Without hesitation, she rejected the call.

    But almost instantly, the screen lit up again.

    Grinding down her irritation, she answered, her voice t and tired. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Marc¡¯s tone came through the receiver, soft and deliberately gentle. ¡°Stel, are you free tonight? I¡¯d like to take you to dinner.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± The refusal left her lips without hesitation.

    She had no desire to share a table with him.

    Sensing her rejection, Marc hurriedly added, ¡°I know how hard it¡¯s been for you¡ªworking all day, then visiting my grandpa at night. I really appreciate it, truly.¡±

    Ste¡¯s lips curled into a cold line, unmoved. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. I visit Truett because he¡¯s been kind to me. This has nothing to do with you.¡±

    On the other end, Marc paused, his voice catching as though hurt. ¡°I know. But he¡¯s still my grandfather, and I¡¯m grateful you¡¯ve been there for him. Please, just one meal¡ªtake it as my way of showing thanks. Nothing more.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Ste said coolly. ¡°I don¡¯t need your gratitude.¡±

    ¡°I understand, but I can¡¯t sit with the sense of debt, knowing how much you¡¯ve done. If you turn me down, I¡¯ll just keep searching for ways to repay you.¡± His tone shifted, pressing the point with quiet persistence. ¡°Please, Stel. Let me ease my conscience, just once. After this dinner, I won¡¯t trouble you again.¡±

    L?¦Ó??¦Ó ch?¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?ls.????

    The words were wrapped in humility, but the undertone was clear¡ªif she refused, he would only pester her in other ways.

    Ste exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. She knew Marc too well. If she didn¡¯t agree, he¡¯d keeping up with new excuses. It was better to face him once and end it cleanly than to let him linger like a shadow.

    After a long pause, she finally relented. ¡°Fine,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Send me the address. But understand this¡ªjust this once. After tonight, aside from Truett¡¯s health, we have nothing left to say to each other.¡±

    ¡°Agreed!¡± Marc¡¯s voice lit up with triumph, unable to hide his joy.

    Hanging up the phone, Ste gazed out at the darkening sky beyond the window, feelingpletely worn out.

    Ste just wanted the dinner to be over so she could rid herself of Marc, who trailed behind her like an annoying shadow she couldn¡¯t shake off. As soon as she stepped inside, soft violin music drifted through the restaurant. The ce was famous for its breathtaking view of Choria¡¯s glowing skyline, the kind of romantic spot people saved up for and fought to reserve.

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 Chapter 754

    ?Chapter 754:

    The waiter led her to Marc¡¯s table, and she paused for a moment, not intending to.

    Through the massive ss windows, the entirety of Choria¡¯s night sparkled. The table was covered in whitece, decorated with bright red roses, and each te held something she once adored. The view, the food, even the candlelight¡ªit was all so familiar, almost painfully so. A heavy feeling weighed on her chest, deepening with every passing second.

    When they had first gotten married, she had excitedly told him she wanted to celebrate their anniversary at this very ce. She had painted vivid pictures of the view and the romantic ambiance, almost pleading, but Marc never listened. He brushed her off and never once took her here. After being let down time and again, she eventually stopped thinking about it altogether.

    Now, sitting here because he chose this spot, it hit her that Marc had remembered every word she¡¯d said all along. He had always known her likes, her small dreams, but the truth was he simply hadn¡¯t cared enough to make theme true back then.

    Now, this carefully arranged dinner felt nothing but ironic to her. Instead of surprise or joy, all she felt was emptiness. If Marc knew what was truly in her heart at this moment, it would destroy him.

    While Ste was lost in her thoughts, Marc approached from behind, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit with every strand of his hair neatly in ce. Wearing a bright smile, he pulled out a chair for her, as though expecting something grand. ¡°Come, sit. Check if the food¡¯s still to your liking. I ordered all the things you used to love,¡± he said warmly.

    Ste sat down without showing the slightest hint of emotion. She didn¡¯t even nce at the food or the view. Her eyes went straight to Marc, cold and distant. ¡°Marc, don¡¯t you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Think this is a joke? You ignored me back then, so why pretend to care so deeply now?¡± she asked tly.

    His smile faltered before he smothered the irritation in his eyes. ¡°Stel, I was blind back then, too stupid to see what mattered. I admit I failed you. I¡ª¡±<fn77f1> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn77f1>

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want to hear another word,¡± Ste cut him off sharply, taking a slow sip of water to steady herself. ¡°Don¡¯t drag up the past, and stop with these fake shows. It won¡¯t win me over. If anything, it just makes me hate this even more.¡±

    She absentmindedly lifted her fork, poked at the nearest sd, and chewed without noticing any vor at all. The soft glow of the candles only made her distant expression stand out, shing against the carefully staged romantic setting.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s£®c????, a world of tales

    Marc studied her detached look and felt a little annoyed. All his effort and nning had fallen t, as if she found it more suffocating than endearing. She wasn¡¯t the same woman she used to be. Back when they were married, even the smallest gift could light her up and keep her smiling for days. But now, even though he remembered every tiny detail of what once made her happy, all he got in return were cold words and a distant, unfeeling stare. If she hadn¡¯t been a Carter, Marc would never have bothered putting himself through this humiliating chase.

    With that bitter thought buried, he pushed his irritation down and forced a smile, carefully cing some food onto her te. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drop the subject. Here, taste this. It¡¯s soft, you¡¯ll like it.¡±

    Even as he fussed over her te, his eyes flicked toward the restaurant¡¯s entrance as if expecting something.

    Ste just wanted the miserable dinner to be over. She forced down a few more bites, but the heavy atmosphere made her want to run away. Setting her utensils aside, she spoke quietly. ¡°When this dinner¡¯s over, I expect you to keep your word. From here on out¡­¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 755

    ?Chapter 755:

    Before she could finish, a waiter carrying a tray lost his bnce and stumbled toward her. A spray of icy champagne and crushed ice drenched her arm and shoulder, soaking her outfit and making her flinch at the cold.

    ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m terribly sorry! Are you alright?¡± the waiter blurted in a panic, rushing to grab napkins to help Ste dry her sleeve.

    Ste shook him off with a frown, her gaze fixed on her drenched clothes, frustration mounting. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll clean up in the restroom.¡±

    Without sparing Marc a single nce, she stood up and quickly made her way toward the restroom.

    Marc watched Ste¡¯s figure disappear around the corner, a chillingly smug smile tugging at his lips. He lifted his champagne ss and took a leisurely sip, his eyes dark with determination.

    Inside the restroom, Ste dabbed at her dress, relieved that the champagne stain was nearly invisible.

    As she rinsed out the fabric, however, she suddenly felt a strange, powdery irritation tickle her nose. She sneezed several times, her brows furrowing. A slow, throbbing headache bloomed in her temples. Probably just stress, she told herself.

    After rinsing her dress, she sshed cold water on her face in hopes of clearing the exhaustion fogging up her mind. The shock of the cold gave her a quick jolt, but almost instantly, a fierce wave of dizziness swamped her senses.

    The room tilted. The lights above the sink stabbed like needles into her eyes. Ste clutched the marble countertop, fighting to stay upright, but her legs turned heavy and stiff¡ªas though they didn¡¯t belong to her.

    Panic shed through her. Something was wrong.

    Her lips parted to cry for help, but before a sound escaped, everything went ck. She copsed¡ªonly for two arms to catch her from behind as Marc¡¯s syrupy-sweet voice murmured in her ear,

    ¡°Stel, what¡¯s wrong? Too tired? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take you home to rest.¡±

    She tried to shove him away, but her bodyy limp in his arms, useless. Herst conscious memory was the glittering crystal chandelier overhead¡­ then, darkness swallowed her whole.

    She wasn¡¯t sure how long she had been out. A scorching heat rolled through her veins, burning like wildfire under her skin.

    Explore more on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©q??????

    The air carried a nauseating mix of cheap cologne and greasy food that made her stomach churn.

    Her eyelids weighed a thousand pounds. She tried to open them¡ªfailed. A strange heat pooled in her belly, coupled with a hollow ache that made her tremble.

    She¡¯d been drugged. But¡­ when?

    Marc?

    How had he managed to drug her?

    Her mind swirled, unable to grasp a single thought before it slipped away again.

    ¡°I told you, Stel, you were always going toe back to me.¡± Marc¡¯s low voice rasped beside her ear. Hot breath ghosted down her neck, making her skin crawl.

    Even in her foggy state, she felt his mmy fingers fumbling with the buttons of her blouse.

    No¡­ please¡­ no!

    .<fnfe6d> The source of th?s content is F¦ÉndNovel</fnfe6d>

    .

    .

 Chapter 756

    ?Chapter 756:

    Terror exploded inside her. With everything she had left, Ste jerked, a broken whisper escaping her throat. ¡°G-Get¡­ off¡ª¡±

    ¡°Quit pretending,¡± Marc sneered, excitement thick in his voice. ¡°I know you want this too.¡±

    The drug coursing through her veins made it impossible to fight.

    Marc¡¯s hands grew bolder, his movements rougher. He had nned everything. The drug. The timing. The room. Once he slept with her ¡ª even if it had to be forced ¡ª he¡¯d twist it into a scandal, corner her intoing back to him.

    Just as he struggled to rid himself of thest restraints, ready topletely take her¡ª

    BANG!

    The locked door burst open with a deafening crash, splintering off its hinges. Blinding light flooded in from the hallway. Marc flinched. Then a man stormed in like a violent hurricane. William?

    His tall frame was haloed in light, eyes bloodshot, rage pouring off him in waves. The second he saw Ste lying disheveled and drugged on the bed, something inside him snapped.

    ¡°Marc!¡± His roar shook the walls.

    Before Marc could even react, William was already there¡ªgrabbing him by the cor and yanking him off the bed as though he weighed nothing.

    He hurled Marc across the room. Marc mmed into a cab with a sickening crash, shattering sses everywhere and crumpling to the floor in a heap. He let out a shrill, animalistic scream, clutching his body in pain¡ªevery ounce of arrogance drained from his face. The predator had be prey.

    William didn¡¯t spare a single nce at Marc, whoy wailing on the floor. Stripping off his suit jacket, he hurried to Ste¡¯s side and carefully wrapped it around her half-exposed body, his fingers trembling ever so slightly. Her face was flushed an rming shade of red, her eyes ssy and unfocused. Her skin burned like fire. She had clearly been drugged.

    Unaware of her surroundings, Ste whimpered softly as scorching heat surged through her veins ¡ª desperate, instinctive sounds slipping past her lips. William¡¯s expression darkened with fury. He had never imagined Marc would stoop so low.

    ¡°Stel, don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s me¡­ I¡¯m here.¡± His voice was low and hoarse, threaded with a tenderness he didn¡¯t even know he had. He patted her back gently, trying to anchor her dazed consciousness.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is your storytelling haven

    After ensuring she wasn¡¯t in immediate danger, William slowly turned his head ¡ª his eyes sharpening like icy des the moment theynded on Marc, who was struggling to stand.

    ¡°W-William,¡± Marc stammered, forcing a brave posture. ¡°What business is this of yours? What right do you have barging into my room with Ste¡ª¡±<fn0613> For original chapters go to find{n}ovel</fn0613>

    William didn¡¯t let him finish. Step by step, he stalked forward, each footfall echoing like the toll of a funeral bell.

    He looked down at Marc with utter contempt, a deadly smile slowly curving his lips. ¡°Marc¡­ you really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡±

    Before Marc could react, William¡¯s hand shot out and mped around his throat. He hauled Marc clean off the floor with one arm. Marc kicked helplessly in the air, his face turning an ugly purple.

    William¡¯s voice was ice-cold, each word dripping with lethal rage. ¡°How dare you drug her!¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 757

    ?Chapter 757:

    Without waiting for an answer, he mmed his fist into Marc¡¯s stomach and face ¡ª then again, and again.

    The sound of pounding blows and cracking bones thundered through the room.

    Marc¡¯s screams tore through the air¡ªshrill.

    Blood poured from his nose and mouth, speckled with broken teeth. ¡°M-Mr. Briggs¡­ spare me¡­ please¡­¡± Marc begged, his voice quivering with pure terror.

    William only released him when Marc¡¯s breath hitched and nearly stopped altogether.

    Marc crumpled to the floor like a corpse, blood spreading beneath him in a ghastly pool. If not for the faint twitch of his limbs, one might have thought he was already dead.

    William¡¯s eyes were still burning with rage as he strode back to the bed, scooping Ste¡¯s limp body into his arms. She instinctively curled toward his chest, seekingfort like a wounded animal recognizing its protector.

    Without looking back at Marc, William spat out a chilling warning. ¡°This isn¡¯t over. Just wait.¡±

    Then, with Ste clinging weakly to him, he turned and left the foul room without hesitation.

    Ste felt like she was trapped between a furnace and a block of ice ¡ª burning one second, shivering the next. She kept drifting in and out of consciousness. But through the haze, she registered a steady heartbeat beneath her ear and a familiar sandalwood scent surrounding her.

    Warm liquid touched her lips. Bitter medicine flowed down her throat.

    A soft bed cradled her. A cool, gentle hand wiped her forehead over and over with a damp cloth ¡ª each movement careful, cherishing¡­ as though she were the most precious thing in the world.

    Gradually, the raging fever subsided. Comfort wrapped around her like a nket. Exhaustion dragged her down, and she finally sank into dreamless sleep.

    She had no idea how much time had passed before harsh sunlight pried her eyes open.

    Blinking, Ste stared up at a glittering crystal chandelier and an ivory-painted ceiling. Soft bedding cocooned her body. This wasn¡¯t her home¡­ or a hospital. She sat up abruptly ¡ª only for a stabbing headache to make her gasp and clutch her temples.

    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s???§à?? opens doors to wonder

    Looking around again, bewilderment creased her brow.

    She had been to William¡¯s ce before ¡ª but never stepped foot in this room. She¡¯d always stayed in the living room. Even if she needed the bathroom, she would only use the guest one outside. Never his private quarters.

    Ste lowered her gaze and froze. The clothes on her body weren¡¯t hers.

    She was dressed in an oversized men¡¯s silk pajama top, deep gray in color, the cor loose and slipping off one shoulder to reveal her delicate corbone.

    Her own clothes were nowhere in sight.

    Panic mmed through her chest. She frantically searched her muddled memories, but everything after dinnerst night was a blur ¡ª as though someone had cleanly sliced a piece out of her mind.

    She vaguely remembered eating with Marc¡­ the waiter spilling wine on her¡­ heading to the restroom¡­ dizziness striking out of nowhere¡­

    Was it Marc?

    .<fnbade> ?????? ???? find?novel</fnbade>

    .

    .

 Chapter 758

    ?Chapter 758:

    Her heart lurched violently. She jumped out of bed, ready to hunt him down.

    But the moment she threw open the bedroom door, she stopped dead.<fn22d1> This update is avable on FindN()vel</fn22d1>

    This was¡­ William¡¯s house.

    Images from the previous night shed in her mind.

    William had carried her away¡­ not Marc!

    An icy dread spread through her limbs.

    Before she could sort any of it out, William stepped out of the guest room across the hall ¡ª wearing a white bathrobe, hair still damp from a shower. Ste¡¯s eyes widened in horror. If nothing happened¡­ why would he have showered?

    ¡°What did you do to me, William?!¡± Her voice cracked as she shrieked at him. Rage and shame tangled inside her chest. Ignoring her pounding headache, she rushed forward and pped him with all her strength.

    The pnded with a crisp sound. William¡¯s head tilted slightly from the blow, a bright red handprint blooming across his cheek.

    Ste trembled, hands balled into fists as tears streamed down her face. ¡°You¡¯re disgusting! What did you do to me? You¡¯re just like Marc ¡ª no better than him!¡±

    William kept his calm.

    He slowly turned back to look at her, eyes turbulent with emotion.

    ¡°Ste, calm down,¡± he said gently.

    ¡°Calm down?!¡± She let out a hystericalugh. ¡°How am I supposed to calm down after this?¡±

    How could she possibly stay calm?

    Her voice shook with rage as she demanded, ¡°Where are my clothes?!¡±

    All she wanted now was to bolt from his house¡ªthe farther away, the better.

    William sighed, pinching the space between his brows. He pointed toward a clothes rack outside the room. ¡°Right there. Your blouse¡¯s cor was torn¡­ and you threw up on it, so I washed it.¡±

    Hanging neatly on the rack was her outfit fromst night ¡ª cor ripped, fabric wrinkled.

    Find exclusive stories at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s

    After bringing Ste homest night, everything had been perfectly normal ¡ª at first. But just before dawn, right as he was about to leave her to rest, she suddenly started vomiting without warning. She soiled not only her own clothes but also his bed sheets¡­ and even his pajamas.

    Left with no other choice, he had carried her out to the sofa, stripped all the dirty linens, and reced everything before gently moving her back to the bedroom.

    William¡¯s calm exnationnded like a hammer in Ste¡¯s chest, leaving herpletely speechless. So¡­ her clothes had only been changed because they were covered in vomit. But then, a new question shot through her mind¡­ who changed her clothesst night?

    William seemed to read her confusion. ¡°I called Rita over to help. She changed your clothes. She only left thirty minutes ago.¡±

    He had taken the opportunity to grab a quick shower during the break¡ªotherwise, the stench of vomit clinging to him was making it hard to breathe.

    Now, he lifted a hand to the fresh red p mark on his cheek, then motioned toward a messy pile of bed sheets on the floor beside the washing machine. ¡°Ste¡­ do you really think I¡¯d do something like that?¡± His tone was calm, but there was hurt flickering in his eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, check the sheets yourself¡ªthey¡¯re still unwashed.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 759

    ?Chapter 759:

    He had only rinsed her soiled clothes. The bedding was still soiled. Undeniable proof of what had really happenedst night.

    Ste looked at the messy sheets on the floor and the crumpled papers in the bin, and it hit her that she had gotten William all wrong.

    Broken memories came flooding back. Marc¡¯s disgusting touch, his smell that wouldn¡¯t leave her skin, then William rushing in, holding her carefully as if she might break.

    The gentle touch and calm presence she remembered weren¡¯t illusions. It really was William who stayed by her sidest night.

    He hadn¡¯t hurt her at all. In fact, he had been the one to save her.

    Realizing this, guilt swept through her, breaking down the little strength she had left.

    She stumbled back against the cold wall, dropped her head, and covered her face with her hands.

    Her mind was in chaos,st night¡¯s scenes shing one after another, leaving her head pounding.

    William didn¡¯t scold her. Instead, he said gently, ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit on the couch for a while?¡±

    If she kept standing like that, she¡¯d copse sooner orter.

    Once she sat on the couch, it took more than half an hour before Ste slowly pieced together what had happened.

    Guilt washed over her as she nced at William, who had been quietly sitting by her side all this time. Her voice came out soft and shaky. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± A sob slipped from her lips, heavy with regret and self-me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, William. I don¡¯t know what came over mest night. Everything¡¯s a blur. I didn¡¯t mean for it to happen¡­¡±

    She was trembling, and not just from guilt, but from fear.

    Seeing her like this, William¡¯s eyes showed nothing but worry.

    He let out a sigh, crouched beside her, and gently touched her shaking shoulders.<fn196b> Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel</fn196b>

    ¡°It¡¯s okay now, it¡¯s over,¡± he began softly. ¡°I never meant to me you. The doctor checked on youst night. Other than the drug¡¯s effect, you¡¯re fine. Once it wears off, you¡¯ll be okay.¡±

    He had also made sure with the doctor that she hadn¡¯t been assaulted. If she had, there¡¯s no way Marc would have walked away so lightly.

    Feel the magic at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c¦Ï??

    Hearing his attempt tofort her only made the ache in her chest feel heavier.

    With tears blurring her eyes, she noticed the clear handprint on his face and whispered hoarsely, ¡°Your cheek¡­¡±

    William brushed his cheek with no concern, a small crooked smile forming. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a mark, like when a scared kitten swipes at you.¡±

    His light tone dragged a softugh out of Ste against her will, and when he saw her smile, his worries finally lightened.

    To William, the p didn¡¯t matter one bit as long as she was safe.

    In fact, being hit by the woman he loved didn¡¯t feel like such a punishment at all.

    Over in Truett¡¯s hospital room, the air was so tense it felt like the temperature had dropped several degrees.

    Truett looked a little brighter that day, managing to stay awake longer. Propped against the headboard, his weary eyes kept shifting toward the door, filled with quiet hope.

    Normally, Ste would have walked in around this time to keep himpany, but as the clock ticked closer to noon, she still hadn¡¯t shown up.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 760

    ?Chapter 760:

    In a faint, fragile voice, Truett asked, ¡°Marc, why hasn¡¯t Stee today?¡±

    Marc, still sore and bruised from the thrashing William gave him the night before, sat stiffly in the room, his face carrying both the marks and the shame. At Truett¡¯s question, Marc¡¯s eyes darted nervously before he muttered, ¡°Grandpa, Ste had some sudden worke up. She¡­ probably can¡¯t make it today.¡±

    ¡°Work? Right now?¡±

    A faint doubt passed through Truett¡¯s eyes. He knew Ste too well; she wasn¡¯t the type to break her word, especially while he was this sick.

    Without waiting for Marc to exin further, he grabbed his phone and dialed Ste¡¯s number himself.

    By the time Marc caught on, the call was already ringing, and Truett shot him a sharp look that warned him not toe near or touch the phone.

    The call kept ringing, but no one picked up, and eventually, it cut off on its own.

    Truett refused to give up. He dialed again and again until, atst, someone picked up.

    ¡°Hello? Truett.¡± Ste¡¯s voice came through the line, but it was faint, detached, and colder than he¡¯d ever heard it. There was exhaustion in her tone too, the kind that couldn¡¯t be hidden. The warmth and care she usually spoke with were gone.

    Truett¡¯s heart softened at once. He spoke with the gentle fondness of a grandfather. ¡°Ste, my dear, why didn¡¯t youe by today? I¡¯ve been missing you.¡±

    There was a pause before her reply came. ¡°Truett, I¡¯m sorry. Things are going to be hectic for me for a while, and I probably won¡¯t be able to visit. Please take care of yourself.¡±

    Her words pierced him, and his frown deepened. ¡°What¡¯s keeping you so busy all of a sudden? Is there something I can do? Maybe Marc¡ª¡±

    ¡°No need!¡± Ste¡¯s sharp interruption carried an edge, especially at the mention of Marc. The faint resistance in her voice was unmistakable. ¡°Truett, don¡¯t trouble yourself. I really have to go now.¡±

    And then the line went dead. Truett stared at the phone, his hand trembling slightly. Something wasn¡¯t right. Why had Ste¡¯s behavior flipped so suddenly since yesterday?

    His mind reyed Marc¡¯s panicked expression from earlier, that restless nce when he caught him trying to call Ste, and the strange injuries scattered across his grandson¡¯s face. Slowly, a dreadful suspicion took root in his heart. Could it be that Marc had done something to her?

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c§à??, your storytelling home

    His head snapped up, eyes zing as they locked on his grandson. ¡°Marc!¡± His voice shook with fury, his control barely holding. ¡°Tell me the truth. Did you do somethingst night you shouldn¡¯t have?¡±

    Marc stiffened, the color draining from his face. Cold sweat gathered on his forehead. ¡°Grandpa¡­ I swear, I didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡±

    ¡°Nothing at all?¡± Truett demanded with a deep frown.

    His body shook with anger as he suddenly snatched the cup from his bedside table and flung it at Marc. He knew him too well¡ªhis behavior and guilty look spoke louder than words.

    Marc¡¯s eyes widened as he quickly ducked out of the way. The cup smashed against the wall behind him, water spraying across the room.

    ¡°If you¡¯re so innocent, then why didn¡¯t shee today? Why won¡¯t she even pick up my calls? And what about those bruises on your face? Do you really think I¡¯m old enough to be fooled by such cheap lies?¡±

    .<fnf34a> Th?s chapter is updated by findnovel</fnf34a>

    .

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 Chapter 761

    ?Chapter 761:

    Marc¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line. His head dropped, unable to meet his grandfather¡¯s eyes. He had no words because how could he exin? What happenedst night¡­ if things had gone his way, he could¡¯ve excused it. But they hadn¡¯t. And now, there was no way to confess.

    Just then, a sharp knock broke the tense silence. The door opened, and Ard, Truett¡¯s long-time butler, stepped in with a face carved in stone.

    His gaze skimmed briefly over Marc, who looked pale and cornered, before settling on Truett. He bent close to the old man¡¯s ear and murmured in a hushed rush.

    The moment the words reached his ears, Truett¡¯s chest tightened as though the air had been stolen from him. Never in his darkest fears did he expect Marc to stoop so low as to slip drugs to Ste with cruel intentions.

    Truett¡¯s weak hand came down hard on the side of the bed with a sharp thud, making the whole frame rattle.

    His eyes widened in fury as he red at Marc, his chest rising and falling quickly, his face turning from ashen to flushed red in moments.

    Pointing a trembling finger at him, Truett¡¯s voice shook with bitter disappointment. ¡°Shame on you! To think my bloodline produced such filth. To trick Ste with such cruelty. What kind of monster have you be?¡± The fury cost him dearly; each word felt like it drained the life out of him, but grief forced them forward.

    Ard immediately ced a steadying hand on Truett¡¯s shoulder, panicked that the old man might copse. ¡°Sir, please¡­ don¡¯t strain yourself. Your healthes first!¡±

    But Truett shoved his concern aside with a sharp shake of his head. ¡°You¡¯ve dragged the Walsh name through the mud!¡±

    Marc was terrified. He dropped to his knees beside the bed, tears running down his face. ¡°Grandpa, please, listen to me! I swear it wasn¡¯t me. I only had dinner with her, someone else set me up!¡±

    ¡°Liar!¡± Truett snatched the nearest vase and hurled it straight at Marc. ¡°How dare you lie to me!¡± he roared.

    This time, Marc didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t even try to protect himself. He knew he deserved it.

    The vase shattered against his forehead, and blood immediately began to stream down his face.

    galn¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m opens doors to new adventures

    Ard¡¯s chest ached at the sight. He had watched Marc grow from a boy into this man, yet he never imagined he would live to see this.

    ¡°Get out! I have no grandson who would bring me such disgrace!¡± Truett¡¯s furious shout was cut off by a fit of violent coughing, his hand clutching his chest as pain twisted his face.

    Marc crawled forward desperately. ¡°Grandpa, please¡­¡±<fn89cb> Get full chapters from ?ovelFind</fn89cb>

    ¡°Out!¡± Truett shouted again, forcing the strength from his failing lungs. His eyes, filled with disgust, were fixed on Marc. ¡°Even if death takes me today¡­ I will never im you as my blood. Ste was right to leave you¡­ you are not worthy of her¡­¡±

    The words dissolved into another fit of coughing. Blood spilled from his mouth as his body jerked back against the pillows. The monitor beside him wailed with a sharp rm.

    ¡°Grandpa!!¡±

    Marc¡¯s panicked cry cracked through the hospital room as he mmed the call button, his face twisted with fear and regret.

    The room exploded into chaos. Doctors and nurses rushed in, swiftly wheeling Truett toward the operating room.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 762

    ?Chapter 762:

    Marc tried to follow, but the staff blocked him at the doors. The metal panels shut with a heavy ng, sealing him out. His legs buckled, and he copsed onto the cold floor, despair flooding his chest.

    This wasn¡¯t how things were supposed to go. He never meant for his grandfather to find out.

    Marc¡¯s n had been simple: if he could win Ste back, maybe Truett would forgive him. If he failed, Truett would never know.

    But now everything had unraveled.

    Not only had he lost Ste, but he¡¯d also lost the trust of the one person who might have shielded him. Worse, Marc feared he had pushed his grandfather to the brink of death.

    He couldn¡¯t shake Truett¡¯s harsh words from earlier¡ªwords that cut deeper than any knife: Ste was right to leave you.

    That condemnation seared into his chest like a curse he couldn¡¯t escape.

    Meanwhile, at the research institute, Ste was absentminded all day. Sandra and Elbert called her name several times, but she didn¡¯t respond.

    Her colleagues quickly noticed. Ste was usually razor-sharp in theb, but today she drifted through her work, nearly botching several experiments. At noon, Elbert tapped her shoulder gently.

    ¡°Sylvia, if something¡¯s weighing on you, take a break. Theb will manage.¡±

    She wanted to brush it off like always, to insist she was fine.

    But even she knew her focus was gone.

    A slow pace was one thing; mistakes could ruin everything.

    Reluctantly, Ste nodded and agreed to take the afternoon off.

    After lunch, she sat alone in the courtyard, sunlight spilling over her shoulders. Usually, the warmth calmed her. Today, it couldn¡¯t touch the heaviness in her chest.

    Her phone buzzed beside her.

    It was an unfamiliar number. Not Marc¡¯s.

    Your imagination begins with g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©q?????

    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she answered.

    ¡°Is this Ms. Ste Russell?¡± A nurse¡¯s voice came through, calm but serious. ¡°This is the hospital. We¡¯re calling about Mr. Truett Walsh. He had a heart attack this morning after bing upset and is still in surgery. His condition is critical. Could youe right away?¡±

    Ste froze.

    ¡°How¡­ how did you get my number?¡± she asked cautiously, fearing another of Marc¡¯s tricks.

    ¡°When Mr. Walsh was admitted, he listed you as a family contact,¡± the nurse exined.

    Her breath caught. She hadn¡¯t expected that.

    Even after her divorce from Marc nearly two years ago, Truett still regarded her as family.

    Her fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles nched, a dull ache striking her chest like a hammer.

    No matter how much she hated Marc, she could never turn her back on Truett.

    ¡°I understand,¡± she rasped, her voice dry and hoarse. ¡°I¡¯lle now. Please¡­ please do everything you can to save him. I¡¯m counting on you.¡±

    .<fn0582> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?ndnovel</fn0582>

    .

    .

 Chapter 763

    ?Chapter 763:

    ¡°We¡¯ll do what we can,¡± the nurse reassured softly before hanging up.

    Ste sat motionless on the bench, eyes closed.

    The sunlight that had been warm moments ago now felt icy against her skin.

    She hadn¡¯t wanted to see Marc¡¯s infuriating face again. But Truett¡¯s kindness to her back when she was part of the Walsh family weighed on her like chains she couldn¡¯t break.

    And just days ago, she¡¯d promised him she¡¯d visit more often.

    The hospital¡¯s call meant things were dire. If she didn¡¯t go now, she might never see him again.

    Her issues with Marc had nothing to do with his grandfather¡ªshe had always kept that boundary clear.

    Drawing a deep breath, Ste grabbed her keys, slid into her car, and sped toward the hospital.<fn655c> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find1Novel</fn655c>

    Outside the operating room, Marc sat slumped in a stiff chair, his face hidden behind trembling hands. A sterile glow spilled from the light above the door, the kind that signaled life or death was still being fought over inside, and the faint sting of disinfectant clung to the air.

    Marc looked nothing like the proud man he once was. His messy hair stuck out in awkward tufts, and the expensive suit he wore hung loosely on him, wrinkled and stained. Faded bruises marked his skin, cruel reminders of the beating William had given him the night before.

    There was no strength left in him. His hollow gaze stayed fixed on the floor, while his hands pressed into his skull as though he could force away his despair.

    The sound of footsteps finally pulled Marc out of that fog. Slowly, he raised his head, and when his eyes caught sight of Ste, a faint flicker of feeling returned to them.

    Resentment burned there. So did a bitter unwillingness, mingled with the sharp sting of self-contempt.

    His lips twitched into something that resembled augh, harsh and broken. Yet he quickly looked away, unwilling to let her see the full weight of his ruin.

    ¡°Well, Ste¡­ or perhaps I should call you Miss Carter.¡± His voice cracked as he forced the words out. ¡°Did youe here to gloat? To watch me crumble while my grandfather lies dying behind that door? Are you pleased now? Do you feel victorious, seeing me ruined and him pushed to this edge because of you?¡±

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    He staggered upright, anger simmering as he drew closer. ¡°Is this your triumph, Ste? To see me broken beyond repair?¡±

    Marc was certain that William and Ste had worked together, scheming until Truett uncovered the truth.

    In his mind, they had made certain his grandfather learned everything, just so he would sit here drowning in despair.

    Ste met the venom in his eyes with cool detachment. Whatever softness she once felt on Truett¡¯s behalf withered in that moment.

    Her palm swung before she thought twice, and the crack of the p echoed through the corridor as itnded across his unshaven cheek.

    Exhaustion weighed Marc down. After sleepless hours and a haze of pain, the strike sent him staggering into the wall, his body colliding with a hollow thud that rang in the silence.

    Marc clutched his cheek, his eyes briefly shing with shock before twisting into derision.

    .

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 Chapter 764

    ?Chapter 764:

    Now it felt as though anyone had the right to strike him.

    ¡°So, William¡¯s beating wasn¡¯t enough? You had to finish the job yourself today?¡± he sneered.

    His broken state only fueled Ste¡¯s disgust. Her tone cut like ice, every syble heavy with scorn. ¡°Marc, don¡¯t pretend to be the victim. Every bit of this is the consequence of your own actions!¡±

    She pressed forward and drove her finger into his chest, her anger sharp and deliberate. ¡°You schemed to destroy me. You pushed your grandfather into that operating room. And after all that, you dare toy the me on me?¡±

    A harsh snort escaped her as her eyes hardened with pure contempt. ¡°If he truly doesn¡¯t pull through this time, you will be the prime culprit responsible for his death. You can forget about living a peaceful life for the rest of your days!¡±

    The phrase responsible for his death struck Marc harder than any blow William had delivered the night before. Hisplexion drained of color, and his lips quivered beyond his control.

    Marc wanted tosh back, yet his throat locked tight, for every word Ste hurled at him rang true.

    His recklessness had paved the path to ruin, and no matter how he tried, he couldn¡¯t keep the truth from Truett.

    When his eyes lifted to Ste towering before him, the bitter truth sank in¡ªhe would never again measure up to her.

    A hollow smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Then tell me, why are you even here? If I disgust you so much, did youe only to strike me?¡±

    Ste¡¯s gaze remained like ice as she stepped away with guardedposure. ¡°What you did won¡¯t be forgotten, Marc. You¡¯ll pay for all of it.¡±

    Drawing in a steadying breath, she pressed her fury down and spoke with chilling detachment. ¡°I¡¯m here for Truett, not for you. Don¡¯t mistake yourself for someone worth my concern.¡±

    To her, even witnessing him broken and miserable felt like a needless waste of time.

    How could he still be so blind as to believe she came to revel in his downfall?

    Ste refused to nce again at Marc¡¯s hollow expression. She walked straight to the doors of the operating room and tried to see inside, but nothing was visible. In the end, she chose a seat across from him, with only a corridor between them.

    To Marc, that narrow stretch of space felt like a gulf so wide it could never be crossed in this lifetime.

    Ste remained still in the chair, waiting for word on Truett¡¯s surgery.

    Her chest tightened with unease, yet she wore an outward calm. Opposite her, Marc, stung by the p she had given him, sat motionless with his head bowed like a carved figure.

    Far away on the top floor of the Briggs Group, the department heads gathered before a giant projection screen, presenting thetest project reports.<fnee59> Find the newest release on F¦Énd£Îovel</fnee59>

    At the head of the table, William tapped his fingers restlessly on the polished surface. His eyes appeared to follow the shifting figures on the screen, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

    The memory of Ste curled up in his bedroom the night before lingered in his mind. She had looked so fragile, and this morning, when she left, the calmness on her face had felt painfully forced.

    Even though she seemedposed, he knew the hurt inside her had not faded. Due to the Briggs Group meeting, he had missed his morning visit to the research institute.

    .

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 Chapter 765

    ?Chapter 765:

    Now, he found himself wondering how she was holding up.

    At that moment, Luca entered from the hall and bent close to William¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, Ms. Russell has gone to the hospital.¡±

    William¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. She went back to the hospital?

    After everything that unfolded, she still chose to go there?

    He knew the message he released earlier must have reached Truett, and Marc would not have stayed away.

    Even knowing Marc was there, Ste still went?

    An uneasy wave of concern rose inside him,ced with a hidden spark of frustration.

    Did she truly ce so little value on her safety?

    Or was her attachment to Truett strong enough to blind her to Marc¡¯s threat?

    ¡°Mr. Briggs?¡± The nning director hesitated in the middle of his report, wary of the clouded look on William¡¯s face.

    The sound pulled William back, and he drew in a steady breath to push down the anger pressing at him. Yet the irritation continued to burn quietly within. He motioned with his hand and spoke in a low tone. ¡°Go on.¡±

    The nning director picked up the report again, but William failed to absorb a single word.

    His thoughts clung to Ste¡¯s presence at the hospital, and dread twisted in him at the idea of Marc, that lunatic, harming her once more.

    The danger she faced yesterday resurfaced in his mind, and the thought of doing nothing was unbearable. Abruptly, he rose from his chair.

    The sudden movement startled the entire room. Eyes fixed on him, uncertain if the n had provoked his anger or if something worse was at y.

    ¡°Meeting¡¯s over.¡± William¡¯s voice carried restrained fury as he turned to Luca. ¡°Leave the follow-up ns on my desk.¡±

    Without another word, he snatched the suit jacket from the back of his chair and strode for the door.

    Luca rushed after him, intercepting him in the hallway with a weary look.

    New content avable now at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    It was clear William was headed straight for Ste, but¡ª

    ¡°Mr. Briggs,¡± Luca said quickly, ¡°this meeting is crucial. It involves our international partnership. The vice presidents and senior executives are waiting for your final approval. You can¡¯t just¡­¡±

    William pressed forward without hesitation and brushed past Luca. ¡°Move aside. We will talk when I return.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Briggs!¡± cried Luca, so distressed that perspiration gathered along his brow. ¡°Truett is still in the middle of surgery, and Marc may not even have the chance to approach Ms. Russell. After all, it is a hospital, with countless people present¡­¡±

    What he wanted to suggest was that Ste might not require William¡¯s immediate presence, and the meeting could reasonably continue without interruption.

    Yet William¡¯s expression showed nothing but firm resolve. He halted suddenly and fixed his gaze on Luca. ¡°Whether she needs help is her concern. Whether I go is mine. Move. Now!¡±

    William shoved Luca aside and slipped into the elevator like a cutting breeze, leaving him stranded in the hallway with nothing to do but stare at the vacant corridor and let out a weary sigh.

    .

    .

    .<fnc74b> Content originallyes from FindN0vel</fnc74b>

 Chapter 766

    ?Chapter 766:

    Luca had long since realized that whenever Ste was involved, William lost his usualposure and acted on impulse.

    The thought of returning to the conference room and confessing to the executives that William had already stormed out weighed heavily on him. When he first epted the role of the CEO¡¯s assistant, no one had warned him that crises like this woulde with the job.

    At the hospital, Ste had lost track of how long she had been sitting there. Every passing moment stretched endlessly, refusing to move any faster.

    Marc hunched in a chair pushed against the wall, too timid to step near Ste, his eyes stealing quick, uneasy nces that carried both bitterness and dread.

    Then the sound of firm, purposeful footsteps carried through the corridor, each one carrying amanding presence.

    Lifting her head, Ste caught sight of William advancing toward her.

    His tall frame turned the corner, the sharp lines of his ck suit emphasizing the strength in his shoulders and the lean cut of his waist. His face was severe, and his dark gaze immediately locked on Ste in the chair.

    Only after he assured himself that she was unharmed did the rigidity in his jaw ease just a little.

    But when his eyesnded on Marc, slumped in the corner with his clothes in disarray, the brief calm in his expression vanished and darkened again. Instead of addressing him, William strode straight toward Ste, the weight of his presence pressing down in the small space.

    She nced up at him in surprise, a faint crease forming between her brows. ¡°Why did youe here?¡±

    For a moment, she had assumed her imagination was ying tricks on her, never expecting he would truly appear at the hospital.<fn6d09> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel</fn6d09>

    Still, thest person she wanted to deal with now was him, and she certainly didn¡¯t want him entangled in the Walsh family¡¯s turmoil.

    When William noticed the tiredness etched across her face, the anger he carried over her disregard for herself eased, reced by worry and the quiet frustration of being powerless to sway her choices.

    ¡°Should I not havee?¡± he asked, his tone low and edged with disapproval, his gaze unflinching on her. ¡°Did you forget what Marc did to youst night? Yet here you are, alone again, choosing to face him. Ste, where is your sense of caution?¡±

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    His words hung in the air, but when she gave no reply, he pressed on. ¡°Do you care for Truett so much that you are willing to risk yourself again just for him?¡± The sharpness of his rebuke struck Ste, cutting into emotions that were already raw.

    She had been weighed down by Truett¡¯s condition all day, and William¡¯s usations only deepened the storm of irritation and unease swirling inside her.

    She raised her chin and met his cold stare. ¡°I owe you no exnation. Whoever I decide to meet is entirely my choice.¡±

    The blunt dismissal struck William like ice poured over his chest, and the gloom on his face deepened.

    He had only wanted to protect her, but she treated his concern as if it carried no weight.

    She seemed merciless.

    With his brows knitted together, William studied her in silence until a heavy sigh escaped him. ¡°I¡¯m not here to dictate your life. I only fear for your safety. Can¡¯t you see the difference between worry and reproach?¡±

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 Chapter 767

    ?Chapter 767:

    The words caught Ste off guard, stealing the reply from her lips.

    She understood his intentions, but in what role did he ce himself in her life? They were not lovers. Their bond was limited to that of superior and subordinate.

    Whenever he involved himself this way, she ended up cornered and uneasy.

    While the two spoke, Marc sat listening, each word tearing at him until he felt hollow.

    Overwhelmed, he suddenly lurched forward from his seat and copsed to his knees with a dull thud only a few steps away from Ste.

    The sudden outburst startled both Ste and William, leaving them momentarily frozen.

    ¡°Stel, forgive me. I was wrong¡ªhorribly wrong!¡± Marc sank to his knees in front of her, his face still bearingst night¡¯s bruises and the fresh imprint of a p, the picture of misery.

    His words rasped from his throat. ¡°I acted like a fool, lower than a beast. I never should have schemed against you or slipped that drug into your drink. It was madness, nothing more. But, Stel, I beg you to believe me¡ªI only wanted a chance to begin again with you!¡±

    Regret filled his eyes as he searched her face. ¡°Please, Stel, just this once, forgive me for everything. Think of our history, think of my grandfather. Give me one chance to set things right. I swear I will never cross you again. Please, I¡¯m begging for your forgiveness!¡±

    Marc stayed on his knees, begging. His figure looked pitiful, nothing like the proud man he once paraded himself to be.

    Ste regarded his tearful disy with nothing but scorn, the irony of it all twisting in her chest.

    Forgive him?

    Could a handful of sorrowful words ever wipe away what he had done?

    Ste¡¯s tone carried the chill of winter. ¡°Marc, stop pretending. Your crying and apologies mean nothing to me.¡±

    Marc raised his head slowly, despair clouding his expression. ¡°I don¡¯t expect your true forgiveness. I know I¡¯ve lost that right. But, Stel, I beg you. When my grandpa wakes, if he asks about what happenedst night, please tell him you¡¯ve forgiven me. I can¡¯t let him be upset again.¡± His only concern now was sparing Truett from anger.

    g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í?ls has fresh updates for you

    He bent lower at Ste¡¯s feet, his tear-streaked face lifted toward her with desperation. ¡°The doctor warned us that if Grandpa survives this ordeal, he can¡¯t bear another shock. Please, have pity. Say it was nothing more than me drinking too much, losing control, and that you¡¯ve already forgiven me.¡±

    The sight of Marc on his knees, pleading before so many eyes, left Ste briefly taken aback.<fn183d> Find the newest release on FindN0vel</fn183d>

    He had always clung to his pride.

    Ste sensed the performance behind his every word.

    Yet the mention of Truett unsettled her. His health was the one thing weighing on her more than anything else.

    If not for Truett¡¯s condition, she would never have lingered there for hours.

    Ste¡¯s body grew taut with unease. Marc¡¯s ruin meant nothing to her, and her hatred for him remained unshaken, yet she could not turn away from Truett¡¯s life hanging in the bnce.

    .

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 Chapter 768

    ?Chapter 768:

    From a short distance, William observed Marc¡¯s pitiful act with open scorn. To exploit family bonds as a shield for his sins was beneath contempt, and the sight of it sickened him.

    He leaned toward Ste, determined not to let her waver. ¡°Are you honestly convinced by his words?¡±

    William could see that Marc¡¯s plea was driven by selfish motives, not by concern for Truett.

    Though Ste heard him, she chose not to respond.

    Her eyes betrayed her conflict¡ªa mixture of helplessness andpassion¡ªrooted in the thought of Truett still on the operating table, fighting for his life.

    Atst, a long sigh escaped her.

    Her gaze dropped to Marc, who still knelt at her feet, and her voice came out chilled and exhausted. ¡°Marc, I¡¯ll go along with this charade for Truett¡¯s sake, but don¡¯t mistake it as mercy toward you. What you¡¯ve done, I¡¯ll make sure you pay back a hundredfold.¡±

    She shifted her legs away, unwilling to let him graze her, her expression filled with loathing.

    ¡°You¡¯d better pray Truett survives this ordeal. If he doesn¡¯t¡­¡± She let the threat hang, though the ice in her eyes made the rest painfully clear.

    ¡°Thank you, Stel!¡± Marc¡¯s shoulders slumped with relief, as though he had just been granted mercy.

    William watched as Ste made her final choice, a storm of emotions stirring within him.

    He understood her heart was gentle, yet too much gentleness only turned into self-inflicted harm.

    She was fully aware of Marc¡¯s true nature, yet for Truett¡¯s sake, she was still willing topromise.

    Did Truett truly mean that much to her?

    The thought left William wondering what the old man had done during her years of marriage to Marc that made her feel indebted enough to endure all this.

    The hours dragged on until night finally fell, and the doors of the operating room swung open once more. The surgeon stepped out, pulling the mask from his face.

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    ¡°The patient has stabilized for now, though his body remains dangerously weak. He must restpletely, without any kind of stimtion. He can be moved to the intensive care unit, but visits should be brief so as not to disturb him.¡±

    Relief struck Marc like a sudden release of chains, and he crumpled to the floor under the weight of it.

    Ste avoided looking Marc¡¯s way, though a quiet breath of relief escaped her too.

    When Truett was pushed out on the gurney, Marc rushed after the doctors toward the ICU, and Ste followed close behind. Just before entering the room, she cast a nce at William, who lingered nearby.

    Half an hourter, the intensive care unit echoed with the steady rhythm of beeping monitors.

    Truetty on the bed, hisplexion pale, his breathing shallow, but his eyes were finally open.

    .<fnce43> This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnce43>

    .

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 Chapter 769

    ?Chapter 769:

    The moment he saw Ste step inside, his gaze glistened, and his lips trembled as though trying to form words, though none came.

    Ste hurried to his side, wrapping her hand gently around his frail, icy fingers. Her voice was soft, almost soothing. ¡°Truett, don¡¯t strain yourself. I¡¯m here. Take it slow if you want to speak.¡±

    The old man¡¯s breathing eased slightly. He squinted as though gathering all his strength, then clutched Ste¡¯s hand with surprising force.

    ¡°Ste¡­¡± he whispered hoarsely, guilt swimming in his weary eyes. ¡°I failed you. Raising such a disgrace of a grandson, I¡¯ve brought you nothing but suffering¡­¡±

    Truett¡¯s words seared into Ste¡¯s heart like fire against flesh. All the resentment she had carried seemed to dissolve in that instant, leaving her only with a heavy ache of helplessness.

    She sped his hand firmly, shaking her head as she tried to steady her voice with warmth. ¡°Truett, please don¡¯t speak that way. I don¡¯t hold you responsible. What matters now is your health. Focus on regaining your strength¡ªeverything else can wait.¡±

    She honored the promise she had made with Marc earlier, showing no hint of resentment toward him and choosing instead to soothe the old man with kindness.

    Truett seemed to recognize what she was doing, gripping her hand without pressing her for more.

    Because the visit could notst long, Ste left after offering a few more words offort.

    The moment she stepped into the hallway, Truett¡¯s frail but furious voice carried out from the room. ¡°You worthless boy, are you trying to drive me to my grave?¡±

    Truett¡¯s gazended on Marc, who stood slouched before him, unkempt and haggard after a sleepless night¡ªso different from the proud heir of the Walsh family he once presented himself to be.

    Marc lowered his eyes and muttered, ¡°I know I was wrong. But all I wanted was for Ste to return to me.¡±

    Truett¡¯s face darkened with rage at the confession.

    If his body had any strength left, he would have hurled whatever he could find at Marc. ¡°You still haven¡¯t repented! Do you think she¡¯ll ever forgive you after this? Stop fooling yourself. Ste deserves far better than you!¡±

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    For years, Truett had believed Marc was simply reckless and blind to his feelings, not malicious. But this ordeal had stripped away that illusion. He now understood clearly that his grandson was utterly unworthy of Ste.

    In this lifetime, there would be no chance of calling her his granddaughter-inw again. From this point on, all he could do was make sure Marc stayed out of her way.

    Minutester, Marc emerged from the room, shoulders slumped, carrying the look of a man who had been harshly rebuked once again.

    When Truett¡¯s condition seemed more stable, Ste rose to her feet, preparing to leave the hospital. Before she departed, she gave Truett her word that she would return when she could, though she never once allowed her eyes to rest on Marc.

    William had remained close to her side the entire time, and when he saw her finally ready to go, a trace of relief and satisfaction crossed his face. But the moment Ste reached the parking lot, she slipped into her car and drove away, leaving him without the chance to say a word.

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 Chapter 770

    ?Chapter 770:

    Over the next week, every time Ste visited the hospital to see Truett, she never once crossed paths with Marc.

    The absence pleased her, yet it also left her quietly confused.<fn9ed0> Follow current nov?ls on Find¡ïNovel</fn9ed0>

    After all, it was his grandfather lying in the ward, and his continued disappearance felt out of ce.

    Sensing her doubt, Truett spoke softly. ¡°I knew you didn¡¯t want to face Marc, so I told him to stay away.¡±

    His exnation left Ste taken aback.

    Although Marc was rotten, Truett had seemed blind to it, constantly forgiving him no matter how many times he stumbled.

    That was why Truett¡¯s decision to forbid his grandson froming to the hospital startled her.

    ¡°My dear, we¡¯ve wronged you. Marc behaved disgracefully with what he did, and you spared him by not taking him to court. I feel ashamed to ask you for anything more, but I only wish for you to find happiness and live the life you long for.¡±

    Ste¡¯s hand shook as she offered Truett a ss of water, the sharp taste of bitterness pressing against her heart.

    Never had Truett spoken it aloud, though Ste had always sensed he wanted her to mend things with Marc. This time, however, Truett was releasing her, urging her to walk freely down her own path.

    Biting down on her lip, Ste whispered, ¡°Truett, even if I¡¯m no longer tied to Marc, I¡¯ll still think of you as family. I¡¯lle to see you often.¡±

    Tears gathered in Truett¡¯s eyes as he nodded quickly, touched by her promise. ¡°Good, very good! We¡¯ll remain close¡­ You¡¯re precious, Ste. Marc isn¡¯t worthy of you. If he dares cause more trouble, do whatever you must. I won¡¯t stand in your way.¡±

    With Ste¡¯s constion, Truett¡¯s burden over his reckless heir eased atst.

    During those long hospital days, Jazlyn hardly bothered to visit.

    Like mother, like son.

    Truett had long understood that Jazlyn¡¯s coddling had ruined Marc, yet with age pressing down on him and his health slipping, he no longer had the strength to change him.

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    Trying to reform Marc now was a hopeless endeavor.

    In the wake of everything that had happened, Truett finally saw that some battles were unwinnable. He would have to let go.

    Ste remained by his side through lunch before returning to the research institute.

    At the gate, a ck sedan caught her attention as it idled along the curb.

    The moment she recognized the te number, her expression turned grim. Determined not to acknowledge it, she strode past without a nce and slipped through the doors.

    Inside atst, Ste released a long, weary sigh. Her nerves had been braced for Marc to confront her again, but he stayed put in the car.

    To Ste, that counted as a rare victory.

    Lainey noticed Ste¡¯s shaken look and gave her shoulder a light pat. ¡°Ste, why do you look so jumpy?¡±

    .

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 Chapter 771

    ?Chapter 771:

    Relief washed over Ste the instant she recognized Lainey.

    ¡°Nothing. I just ran into someone I can¡¯t stand.¡±

    A knowing grin spread across Lainey¡¯s face. ¡°Marc, right?¡±

    Ste¡¯s eyes flew wide, caught off guard. ¡°Lainey, you must be psychic! How on earth did you guess?¡±

    Lainey broke intoughter. ¡°That deer-in-headlights look only shows up when it¡¯s him.¡±<fn4033> ?????? ???? Find[?]ovel</fn4033>

    A chuckle slipped out of Ste, though she couldn¡¯t think of a reply.

    Brushing it aside, she fell into step with Lainey and headed into the institute.

    Later that afternoon, Ste¡¯s phone lit up with Steven¡¯s name.

    ¡°Sylvia, Neb justnded a new project with Mornstar Corporation in Choria,¡± he exined. ¡°Can youe over right now?¡±

    Ste¡¯s breath caught at the mention. Mornstar was a heavyweight in Choria. What business could they possibly have with Neb?

    She had avoided pitching to them before, certain they only partnered with firms that had more than ten years of history. Yet against all odds, they were the ones making the call.

    ¡°Why would Mornstar Corporation want to work with us?¡± she asked.

    Steven sounded just as puzzled. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Their chairman¡¯s assistant rang me about forming a partnership. I hung up and called you straight away.¡±

    As Neb¡¯s chairwoman, Ste¡¯s approval was essential before anything could move forward.

    Whatever the reason behind Mornstar Corporation¡¯s approach, Ste recognized the chance as a breakthrough for Neb.

    ¡°I¡¯m on my way from the institute,¡± Ste told him. ¡°Give me twenty minutes and wait for me.¡±

    Sandra stepped out of the research institute just in time to spot Ste. She waved with a smile. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯re still here? Want to head back together?¡±

    Ste ended her call, looking a little apologetic. ¡°Sorry, Sandra. I can¡¯t. I need to swing by Neb Group.¡±

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    At once, Sandra¡¯s expression clouded with concern. ¡°Sylvia, you¡¯ve been pushing yourself too hard. You just wrapped up work here, and now you¡¯re heading straight there. Aren¡¯t you worried about burning out?¡±

    Ste only smiled. She was so used to this kind of schedule that it hardly registered as tiring anymore.

    By the time she arrived at Neb Group, Steven was already waiting in her office.

    ¡°Sylvia,¡± he said, holding up a folder, ¡°Mornstar Corporation just delivered their contract. You should take a look.¡±

    Ste set her bag aside and took a seat at the desk. She scanned the document, and her brows lifted in surprise. ¡°They¡¯ve already drafted a full n?¡±

    The document wasn¡¯t some casual outline. Every detail had been thought through, leaving little room for doubt.

    Steven, reading her reaction, spoke with equal seriousness. ¡°I thought it was odd too. But they seem very sincere. They even suggested we meet tomorrow to go over everything.¡±

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 Chapter 772

    ?Chapter 772:

    Though Ste found the timing strange, the proposal itself was undeniably thorough. Mornstar Corporation was clearly putting real effort into this partnership.

    Steven studied her face and asked quietly, ¡°So, you¡¯re nning to meet them?¡±<fn997e> Chapters first released on Find[?]ovel</fn997e>

    Her eyes flicked from the document to him. ¡°Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    A deal like this falling into herp was too good to brush aside. Whatever Mornstar¡¯s true intentions were, it would be foolish not to at least hear them out.

    Steven pressed his lips together before adding, ¡°There¡¯s just one thing. They asked that youe alone.¡±

    Everything Mornstar proposed had been eptable up until their final request. It was strange, asking Ste to go by herself.

    That part made him uneasy, as if Mornstar might have hidden intentions toward her.

    Ste¡¯s brow creased, and she murmured, ¡°Just me, on my own?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Yes. They made it their only condition. Sylvia, I really think there¡¯s something off about this. Maybe you should talk it over with William first?¡±

    The mention of William darkened her expression immediately.

    Steven realized his mistake and quickly backtracked. ¡°Forget I said that.¡±

    Ste steadied her breathing before she spoke again. ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯lle with me. Wait in the car park, and I¡¯ll keep the call connected. If anything goes wrong, youe in right away.¡±

    Steven gave a firm nod, his eyes lighting up as though he¡¯d just discovered something new about her. ¡°You¡¯re sharper than I thought,¡± he said with a grin.

    The praise made Ste arch a brow at him.

    It was strange. When she first crossed paths with Steven, he gave off the impression of being reserved, almost stiff, someone cut from the same cloth as William. But somewhere along the way, especially after meeting Josie, Steven had loosened up, even picking up this habit of buttering people up.

    He noticed the way she was looking at him now and instantly second-guessed himself, wondering if he had slipped up again.

    The next day, Ste and Steven arrived at thekeside restaurant. They were led to a table by the tall windows, where Mornstar Corporation¡¯s representative was already waiting.

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    But sitting next to him was someone Ste never thought she¡¯d see¡ªMarc.

    The moment her eyesnded on him, she wanted to turn and walk out. So this was the reason Mornstar had suddenly shown interest in her. It wasn¡¯t business¡ªit was Marc pulling strings.

    When Marc noticed her about to leave, he shot to his feet. ¡°Stel, wait, please don¡¯t go. Mornstar really does want to work with you. I know you don¡¯t like me, but can¡¯t you at least keep business and personal matters separate?¡±

    A hollowugh almost escaped her lips. Keep business and personal matters separate? Coming from him, of all people? The hypocrisy was staggering.

    Marc watched as she paused, and his chest tightened. Winning her back wouldn¡¯t be easy, he knew that now. Flowers and gifts hadn¡¯t moved her before, and he doubted they ever would. This time, he had to find another way.

    .

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 Chapter 773

    ?Chapter 773:

    Marc understood that Ste¡¯s greatest priority was her career. That was why he had taken the initiative to approach Mornstar Corporation. By calling in a few favors from the Walsh family¡¯swork, he managed to lower costs and open the door to a potential deal with Neb Group.

    Ste¡¯s team had evaluated this project before and marked it as a rare opportunity. If Mornstar hadn¡¯t limited partnerships topanies with over a decade of history, she would have chased it long ago.

    She did recall that the Walshes had ties with Mornstar¡¯s leadership, but she never expected Marc to be the one to ce such an offer in her hands. And yet, here he was, humbling himself, putting his pride aside, just to hand her this coboration as if it were an olive branch.

    ¡°Stel,¡± he said, his voice stripped of its usual swagger, ¡°I know I¡¯ve wronged you in the past. I¡¯ll own that. But this, this isn¡¯t about me. I only wanted to make things easier for you. That¡¯s all. Nothing else.¡±

    Ste studied his face. The usual arrogance was gone, and instead, there was something that almost looked genuine. Almost.

    Even so, she couldn¡¯t forget who he was. She was well aware of his cunning nature, and she knew better than anyone that old habits rarely faded. Memories of the times Marc had schemed with Nina and William¡¯s uncle to trap her were still fresh. A man like Marc didn¡¯t change overnight. There could be a dozen motives hidden behind his polite mask.

    Still, with Mornstar¡¯s executives sitting across the table, walking away now would only damage Neb.

    So Ste forced her voice into crisp professionalism. ¡°If Neb partners with Mornstar, then our discussions remain strictly between myself and Mornstar¡¯s representatives. Mr. Walsh, you can leave now.¡±

    The excuse was obvious. Deals like this required confidentiality, but really, she just wanted him out of the room.

    Marc¡¯s jaw tightened. He understood perfectly well that she was dismissing him. And though disappointment flickered in his eyes, he didn¡¯t argue. He stood, smoothed down his suit, and quietly moved aside.

    Only when he was gone did Ste seat herself opposite Michael Wace, Mornstar¡¯s representative.

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    ¡°Mr. Wace,¡± she said evenly, ¡°if yourpany truly intends to work with Neb, I can set aside what happened earlier. But if this is nothing more than a favor to Mr. Walsh, then Neb will withdraw.¡±

    The edge in her words was impossible to miss. She would not ept charity dressed up as business.

    Michael gave a small, amusedugh. Ste¡¯s calm yet firm tone reminded him she wasn¡¯t someone easily swayed.

    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, I think you misunderstood. Yes, I gave Neb a chance because of Mr. Walsh, but after looking deeper into yourpany, I really want to work with you.¡±

    Michael had been in business for years, and spotting good projects came naturally to him. He could tell that Neb¡¯s patents and Ste¡¯s vision were far ahead of thepetition. Within five years, Neb would definitely grow several steps higher. For Mornstar Corporation, partnering with them was a safe and smart move.

    Hearing Michael¡¯s words, Ste decided to trust one more time.

    She carefully went through the contract, line by line, making sure she didn¡¯t miss a single detail. To be safe, she even forwarded the document to Steven, asking him to double-check for any hidden loopholes.<fn57c8> Newest update provided by FindN0vel</fn57c8>

    .

    .

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 Chapter 774

    ?Chapter 774:

    After Steven confirmed it was clear, she signed her name without hesitation. From then on, the details no longer needed her direct attention. Neb¡¯s nning team would take care of them.

    A weekter, Neb and Mornstar officially signed the deal.

    To celebrate, Michael invited Neb¡¯s team to dinner at the Comet Grove, a revolving restaurant well known for its luxury.

    At first, Ste didn¡¯t want to go. But since Mornstar had gone out of its way to choose Neb, she had to attend as their representative.

    She knew Marc would be there, but since she couldn¡¯t avoid him, she decided to act as though he didn¡¯t exist.

    Inside the private dining room of Comet Grove, Michael, the project lead, sat with Emerson Quimby, Mornstar¡¯s general manager.<fn373a> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn373a>

    Emerson, a refined man in his fifties, spoke warmly about Ste, who had recently been weed back into the Carter family.

    ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re impressive. Everyone in the industry has noticed how quickly Neb has been growing. We¡¯re looking forward to this partnership with real sincerity.¡±

    Ste offered a graceful smile and replied, ¡°Mr. Quimby, you tter me. This achievement is really the result of Neb¡¯s entire team working hard together.¡±

    She kept her tone modest, careful not to take all the credit for herself.

    Ste wasn¡¯t alone in representing Neb Group; Steven sat at her side, his steady gaze fixed on Marc across the polished table.

    Marc, however, had no interest in Steven. His eyes never strayed from Ste, following her with a quiet intensity.

    In a rare shift from his usual mocking tone and dismissive remarks about herpetence, Marc addressed Emerson with striking sincerity. ¡°Mr. Quimby, you might not be aware, but Ste¡ªMs. Russell¡ªhas always had an exceptional gift for research. I saw it from the beginning, and truly, the sess Neb Group enjoys today is owed to her ability.¡±

    While he spoke, Marc carefully poured Ste a drink, his voice rich with admiration, as though he had never once belittled her in front of others.

    Ste gave no sign of being moved by his unexpected praise, keeping her attention on Emerson as they discussed specific points of the coboration.

    Uncover your next story on g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,

    Several toasts passed before the private room door swung open at the touch of a waiter. The interruption allowed William to step inside without warning.

    ¡°Mr. Quimby, what a coincidence. Mr. Briggs and his team are seated right next door. When they heard you were here, they wanted to drop by and say hello.¡± Steven smiled as he exined William¡¯s unexpected arrival.

    William stood in the doorway, his deep blue suit tailored to perfection, enhancing his striking presence. His eyes traveled across the room but soon rested on Ste.

    Then his gaze caught Marc, who was leaning forward to refill Ste¡¯s ss, and the warmth drained from his face in an instant.

    ¡°It¡¯s been some time, Mr. Quimby,¡± William said atst, his courteous smile never touching the cool sharpness in his eyes.

    His eyes flicked toward Marc as he remarked, ¡°If memory serves, Mr. Walsh, your dealings with Mornstar Corporation have been rather quiettely.¡±

    The moment William stepped in, Marc¡¯s smile faltered. A shadow of resentment shed across his face before he quickly smoothed it away.

    .

    .

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 Chapter 775

    ?Chapter 775:

    Choosing his words carefully, Marc answered in a mild tone, ¡°Mr. Briggs, this is nothing formal. We¡¯re just sharing a meal as acquaintances. No need for stiffness.¡±

    He shifted his attention to the waiter lingering by the door. ¡°Bring another chair and a full setting for Mr. Briggs.¡±

    Marc¡¯s attempt at courtesy went unanswered. William¡¯s eyes never left Ste. Under the weight of his gaze, Ste lifted her head atst, though her reluctance was clear.

    For a heartbeat, Ste faltered.

    William¡¯s look carried depth and a quiet sting, as though he were silently using her of once again sitting at Marc¡¯s table.

    ¡°Mr. Briggs, an honor to meet you!¡± Emerson rose hastily. His voice betrayed the unease William¡¯s arrival had stirred.

    With a softer tone, William turned toward Emerson. ¡°The pleasure¡¯s mine. I¡¯d just wrapped up a meeting with some friends and heard that you and Ms. Russell were here. I thought I¡¯d stop in to pay my respects. I trust I¡¯m not intruding?¡±

    Though William¡¯s words carried courtesy, his presence alone seemed to draw the atmosphere of the private room several notches lower.

    ¡°Of course not, Mr. Briggs. We¡¯re honored you could join us!¡± Emerson said brightly, shaking William¡¯s hand before ushering him to take a seat.

    Naturally, the empty chair ced for William ended up at Ste¡¯s side, directly across from Marc.

    Once he settled, everyone at the table¡ªexcept Ste and Steven¡ªlifted their sses to toast his arrival.

    William joined in with easyughter, his tone warm, never unting superiority. To Steven¡¯s surprise, he even carried himself as though he were an old friend among them.

    But no matter how lightly he spoke, William¡¯s eyes clung to Ste without break. Steven couldn¡¯t tell if Ste realized, yet he did, and unease crept over him until it felt like he was sitting on thorns.

    This dinner wasn¡¯t simply a gathering; it had turned into a battlefield of affections. Marc, once Ste¡¯s lover, sat on one side, while William still vied for her heart, precariously holding the role of something like a boyfriend. The sh between past and present promised nothing less than sparks.

    Marc seemed to catch William¡¯s motive the moment he entered. Determined not to yield, he shifted tactics. Instead of hovering close to Ste, he poured his energy into extolling her abilities, again and again reminding Emerson of how well he understood her.

    Exclusive updates avable at g?ln¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m

    As William reached across the table to serve Ste some food, Marc cut in with practiced ease. ¡°Stel¡¯s not a fan of foie gras.¡±

    William¡¯s hand paused midair, and for the first time that evening, he turned and leveled Marc with a direct look.

    A dull ache pressed behind Ste¡¯s temples. She dreaded a scene. Before William could reply, she stepped in quickly, her tone even. ¡°Thank you for thinking of me, Mr. Briggs. But I can manage.¡±

    She silently hoped everyone else would take William¡¯s gesture as nothing more than polite courtesy.

    But William raised a brow, circling back with deliberate persistence. ¡°Not a fan of foie gras?¡± he asked, as though unwilling to let the matter drop.

    .

    .

    .<fn6713> Find the newest release on Find1Novel</fn6713>

 Chapter 776

    ?Chapter 776:

    Marc leaned forward, seizing the chance. ¡°Ste doesn¡¯t eat organ meats, Mr. Briggs. Better to stick to your own te.¡±

    Ste nearly choked, catching the cool, unruffled expression on William¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s not that I dislike it,¡± she countered, her exasperation slipping through. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡±

    Marc¡¯sposure faltered. Shock flickered in his eyes at her siding with William.

    Ste sighed inwardly. Once, she would never have touched organ meats, turning her nose at their gamey vor. But this was a work dinner. A single bite wouldn¡¯t kill her, and there was no sense in being picky.

    Marc¡¯s attempt to embarrass William crumbled as William calmly ced the foie gras on Ste¡¯s te. Beneath the table, Marc¡¯s fists curled tight, frustration burning through him.

    Forcing a steady breath, Marc pivoted toward Emerson with forced enthusiasm. ¡°Mr. Quimby, Stel¡¯s patents are the best in our field. Neb¡¯s partnership with Mornstar Corporation won¡¯t disappoint. She¡¯s not only a brilliant researcher¡ªshe¡¯s an outstanding manager. Neb¡¯s young, but thanks to her leadership, it¡¯s growing fast.¡±

    His praise rang smooth and convincing, but Ste¡¯s expression cooled with each word.

    Had she not known Marc¡¯s true nature so well, she might almost have been swayed by his performance.

    But the memory of his venom on that cruise ship still lingered, too sharp to forget.

    Across the table, William¡¯s grip on his wine ss tightened until his knuckles nched.

    Marc¡¯s feigned sincerity stirred both disgust and jealousy inside him. He knew exactly why Marc had suddenly adopted this tone¡ªjust another ploy to crawl back into Ste¡¯s good graces.<fnd0cd> Follow current nov?ls on Find1Novel</fnd0cd>

    William might have dismissed Marc¡¯s antics asughable, yet Ste¡¯s refusal to expose him¡ªor even shut him down¡ªfelt too much like silent consent. A knot of frustration twisted deep in his chest.

    Just as Marc prepared to heap more praise, William set his ss down with a sharp, deliberate clink of porcin against ss, cutting him off mid-sentence.

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    Leaning slightly toward Ste, William let a sly half-smile curl his lips, his gaze cutting deep. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you seem to know Ms. Russell well. But if you knew her so well, how did you end up divorced? I seem to recall¡­¡±

    He let the pause hang, then struck with razor-edged precision. ¡°Didn¡¯t you keep a few old mes, Mr. Walsh? Or have you managed to cut ties with them all before circling back to Ms. Russell?¡±

    Marc¡¯s breath caught. He hadn¡¯t expected William to drag his private matters into the open.

    Their divorce had once been the scandal of Choria¡ªan ugly story everyone knew. As long as no one mentioned it, Emerson and the others could politely pretend it had faded into memory.

    But William¡¯s jab yanked it back into the spotlight, amusement sparking in the guests¡¯ nces as they turned on Marc.

    His practiced smile faltered, sweat beading along his brow. His eyes darted to Ste, desperate.

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 Chapter 777

    ?Chapter 777:

    ¡°I made mistakes back then. Stel¡¯s extraordinary. She deserves better.¡±

    His words caught Ste off guard. She knew he was performing, and yet¡­ something in her chest tightened, a faint pang she couldn¡¯t name.

    She ducked her head, hiding behind a sip of coffee, and said evenly, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±

    ¡°The food¡¯s getting cold.¡±

    William¡¯s expression barely shifted as Ste steered the conversation away, though the steel in his gaze lingered.

    He picked up his ss once more, swirling the wine slowly.

    Marc, hearing Ste defuse the tension, felt a flicker of hope ignite.

    For the first time that evening, she had spoken in his favor over William. Excitement rushed through him, and he silently credited the Mornstar deal for softening her stance toward him.

    The dinner dragged to an end, and Ste feltpletely wiped out. Emerson had taken all her attention as it was, but William showing up had only pushed her nerves further.

    All through dinner, she watched William and Marc carefully, waiting for the two to snap at each other over the smallest thing.

    When it was over, Emerson offered to drive her home, but she quickly refused. She just wanted to breathe again and get away from the stifling atmosphere.

    As she reached the entrance and walked toward her car, Marc hurried after her like a stubborn shadow.

    His face still carried the tension from earlier with William, though he tried to cover it up with a smile when he caught up to her.

    ¡°It¡¯ste,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home. We can stop by the hospital too. Grandpa¡¯s in a good mood today, and he wouldn¡¯t stop talking about you.¡±

    He reached out, as if naturally trying to rest a hand on her shoulder, like nothing had changed between them.<fb5> For original chapters go to f?ndnovel</fb5>

    However, Ste stepped aside sharply, dodging him as if his touch was something she wanted no part of. Her voice came out cold and firm. ¡°Marc, don¡¯t kid yourself. Why should I go with you? What are we even supposed to be now?¡±

    Watching Marc¡¯s face stiffen in surprise, Ste¡¯s mouth curved into a sharp, mocking smile.

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    ¡°Do you actually believe a meal and a project can wash away the filth you¡¯ve caused? Am I supposed to be grateful and act like we¡¯re friends again?¡±

    His smile fell apart, his hand stuck in the air as shame spread across his features.

    She ignored his difort. ¡°Let¡¯s be very clear,¡± she said, her words slicing through him. ¡°I don¡¯t forget so easily. One deal won¡¯t make you any less pathetic, and it definitely won¡¯t earn you forgiveness. Don¡¯t waste your time.¡±

    Back at the hospital, she¡¯d already made it obvious that she was only humoring things for Truett¡¯s sake. Whatever Marc tried to twist between them, it wasn¡¯t going to fool her.

    Seeing his face tighten with unease, she added with a chill, ¡°Your grandfather is my concern, not you. I¡¯ll visit, but not in yourpany.¡±

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 Chapter 778

    ?Chapter 778:

    Without another nce, she slid into her car, started the engine, and drove off, leaving Marc standing behind in silence.

    As the distance grew, she sank into her seat, letting out a long, tired breath. The night had left her mind in knots, and William¡¯s mocking smirk from dinner kept reying in her thoughts, making her mood worse.

    Nearly thirty minutester, she pulled into the parking garage of her apartment. The silence of the night was broken only by the sharp echo of her heels as she stepped out.

    The elevator crawled upward to her floor, and when the doors slid open, she started down the hall. But only a few steps from her door, she froze.

    In the dim glow of the corridor lights, a tall figure stood waiting, leaning casually against the wall beside her apartment.

    It was William. His dinner jacket was still on, his tie loose around his neck. A faint red glow came from the cigarette between his fingers.

    When he heard her steps, he looked up. His eyes met Ste¡¯s for a moment, a flicker passing through them before he went still again.<fn2492> Find the newest release on </fn2492>

    He said nothing, just watched her, and she couldn¡¯t tell what he was feeling. His ce was across the hall, yet he had chosen to wait outside hers.

    Ste¡¯s heart jolted, then quickly gave way to annoyance.

    After such an exhausting dinner, all she wanted was to rest, not face him.

    She met William¡¯s piercing gaze for a moment before pulling in a deep breath and looking away. Acting as if he wasn¡¯t there, she walked straight to her door and pressed her finger to the lock.

    ¡°Ste.¡±

    His voice, low and rough, broke the quiet.

    She froze but didn¡¯t turn. ¡°Do you need something, Mr. Briggs? If this is about dinner, don¡¯t bother. I¡¯m not interested.¡±

    William put out his cigarette and walked closer, closing the gap between them. The sharp scent of sandalwood,ced with a hint of tobo, reached Ste.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t about dinner,¡± he said in a firm tone, his eyes fixed on her. ¡°It¡¯s about your adoptive parents.¡±

    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????

    Ste¡¯s body went rigid, her fingers curling tightly in midair.

    William noticed the sudden tension in her back and said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want me to bring this up, let alone get involved, but I promised you an exnation. I¡¯ve been looking into it.¡±

    He paused, weighing his words, his tone carrying a solemn weight. ¡°I haven¡¯t found direct evidence yet, but my team followed a vague lead from a witness who was at the scene of the ident years ago. We uncovered some details that were overlooked back then.¡±

    His words struck her like a pebble dropped into still water, sending ripples through the numbness of her heart.

    She spun around, a flicker of panic in her eyes. ¡°What did you find?¡±

    Her voice quivered beyond her control. Sharon had been investigating for so long, yet they had barely scratched the surface. How could William suddenly dig up what had been hidden all this time?

    Meeting her searching gaze, William¡¯s voice remained steady. ¡°I can¡¯t confirm everything yet. The clues are scattered, and it¡¯ll take time to piece them together. But I promise, once I know for sure, you¡¯ll be the first person I tell.¡±

    Hope flickered, only to be dimmed again by the demand for more waiting.

    For Ste, it was agony.

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 Chapter 779

    ?Chapter 779:

    This was her family¡¯s tragedy, yet she couldn¡¯t intervene¡ªforced to rely on William¡¯s investigation while she stood by helplessly.

    Seeing the storm in her eyes, William exhaled quietly. ¡°Ste, I know you resent my family and don¡¯t trust me. But I¡¯m asking for a little time, and a little faith.¡±

    His voice softened, carrying a quiet ache. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for my family. I¡¯m doing it for you, and for those two innocent lives. I swore to you that the truth woulde out¡ªwhatever it may be. I won¡¯t cover anything up.¡±

    The hallway fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Ste¡¯s uneven breaths. William¡¯s words felt like a key pressing against the lock of her tightly shut heart.

    She knew this was all he could give her.

    He had even promised not to hide the truth, not knowing who the culprit was. But if it turned out to be his father or grandfather, could he really stay impartial?

    Bitterness welled up inside her.

    She longed for justice for her adoptive parents, but when she looked at William, she felt utterly lost.

    Her chest rose with a deep sigh as she turned away, her tone returning to its frosty edge. ¡°Thank you for your efforts, but I¡¯ll pursue the truth in my own way.¡±

    She pressed her fingertip against the keypad and unlocked the door. Without another nce, she stepped inside and mmed it shut, cutting off William¡¯s unspoken reply.

    He stood staring at the door for a long while, then rubbed at his temples, weariness weighing on him. Breaking through her walls would not be easy. Still, he had no intention of giving up because of her sharp words.

    Atst, he turned and opened his own door, leaving only the faint trace of their presence lingering in the hallway, evidence of what had just transpired.

    Back home, Ste showered, but though her body was drained, sleep eluded her. She tossed restlessly until dawn before finally drifting off.

    The following morning, faint shadows darkened the skin beneath her eyes as she arrived at the research institute.

    Walking toward theb, she tried to push William¡¯s words from her mind, forcing herself to focus on her experiments.

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    She had let herself be distracted for far too long, unable to properly concentrate on her work.

    But just as she entered the hallway leading to theb, a voice dripping with jealousy and spite cut through the air.

    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the distinguished Miss Carter?¡±

    Nina strutted up in a bold red dress, arms folded, her face radiating raw scorn as she squared off with Ste.

    ¡°How¡¯s it feel climbing the socialdder? Bet you¡¯re grinning in your sleep.¡±

    Ste halted, her gaze cutting cold as she locked onto Nina¡¯s mocking stare.

    Hatred gleamed in Nina¡¯s eyes, sharp enough to wound. Ste didn¡¯t flinch.<fnc80d> The rightful source is Find[?]ovel</fnc80d>

    ¡°Move aside.¡± Her voice was cool, unwilling to waste more words.

    Nina stiffened, her toneced with venom.

    ¡°Who do you think you are, bossing me around? Just because Grandpa took you in doesn¡¯t make you better than me. You¡¯re still nothing¡ªno matter how you dress it up.¡±

    Ste found Nina¡¯s outburst almost amusing.

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 Chapter 780

    Chapter 780:

    With a faint arch of her brow, she replied dryly, ¡°Nina, by family ties, I¡¯m your cousin. No manners at all. Is this really how the Carters raised you?¡±

    She knew Nina resented her sudden wee into the Carter family. What she hadn¡¯t expected was for Nina to pick a fight this quickly.

    ¡°Cousin? Ha!¡± Color flushed Nina¡¯s face as she sneered, raking her eyes over Ste. ¡°Don¡¯t kid yourself, Ste. I¡¯m not your cousin. I see right through you. You¡¯re cozying up to Grandpa just to get closer to William, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Spending time at the institute had long fed Nina¡¯s suspicions about Ste and William. Whenever anyone asked, Ste brushed it off, insisting there was nothing between them. What hypocrisy.<fn9999> The source of th?s content is fin?novel</fn9999>

    To Nina, it was obvious they had crossed lines, yet Ste paraded around as if butter wouldn¡¯t melt in her mouth. The thought of William ignoring her while chasing Ste made Nina seethe.

    ¡°You¡¯d better back off William. I¡¯ve already told my parents¡ªwe¡¯re securing an alliance with the Briggs family. William is mine, your future cousin-inw. Stay away from him, or I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t even show your face in Choria.¡±

    Steughed outright. Nina had just denied their cousin connection, and now she imed William as her future cousin-inw?

    The contradiction wasughable.

    Watching Nina¡¯s fuming expression, Ste only felt bored. ¡°Nina, instead of yapping at me like a bitter ex, why not ask William himself? If he¡¯s ready to marry you, I¡¯ll write a fat check for the wedding and even wish you a lifetime of happiness.¡±

    She paused, then added, ¡°If you¡¯re done, move aside. I have work to do. Not all of us have time to loiter around.¡±

    The jabnded, aimed squarely at Nina¡¯s reputation for coasting at the institute, dabbling in everything but serious research.

    Ignoring the venom in Nina¡¯s re, Ste brushed past and continued toward herb, leaving Nina trembling with fury.

    Her manicured nails bit into her palms as she stared after Ste¡¯s retreating figure, wishing she could scorch her on the spot.

    What she despised most was Ste¡¯s indifference. Nothing seemed to touch her. It was like hurling fists at a pillow.

    g¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s is your story hub

    Rage bubbled in Nina¡¯s chest with nowhere to go.

    The more she dwelled on it, the more unjust it felt. William was supposed to be hers. Why was Ste¡ªthis nobody¡ªstealing his attention?

    By noon, still wrapped in her striking red dress, Nina stormed to William¡¯s office. Since William had no assistant at the institute, technically anyone could walk in. Most, out of respect for his authority and status as a shareholder, stayed clear unless it was urgent.

    But Nina barged straight through the door.

    William stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, phone pressed to his ear, his brow furrowing at the interruption. He muttered a few words into the receiver before cutting the call short.

    When he looked up and saw Nina, his expression iced over, irritation in on his face.

    ¡°Ms. Carter, what¡¯s this about?¡±

    William¡¯s voice was clipped and cold, stripped of any warmth.

    .

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    .<hr>

    Message from Noah: Have a great weekend dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?

    .

 Chapter 781

    ?Chapter 781:

    Nina¡¯s heart stung at his indifference, but she forced a bright smile, reminding herself why she was here. Lifting her chin, she strode up confidently. ¡°William, I came today to discuss something important with you!¡±

    Her bold tone only made his brow tighten further. He didn¡¯t bother to answer.

    Nina bit her lip, steadied her breath, and plunged ahead. ¡°You and I are both of marrying age. If the Carter family and the Briggs family joined through marriage, it would be a powerful alliance¡ªbeneficial to us both. My parents already approve. William, we could even arrange a family dinner to set a wedding date.¡±

    William¡¯s frown deepened. Marriage alliance? His eyes turned razor-sharp, and his voice cut like ice. ¡°Miss Carter, you¡¯re mistaken.¡±

    That frigid gaze pierced her, freezing her smile in ce.

    ¡°My marriage is mine alone to decide. And the Briggs family doesn¡¯t need some so-called ¡®alliance¡¯ to boost its prestige.¡±

    His expression darkened, his tone merciless. ¡°I don¡¯t have any feelings for you¡ªother than those of ordinary colleagues. So please, Miss Carter, and your family as well, let go of this ridiculous fantasy.¡±

    The words struck like heavy blows.

    Nina¡¯s face drained of color. The smile she had carefully practiced copsed into raw humiliation. She had thought the Carter name, paired with the benefits of such a match, would at least make William hesitate. She never imagined he would dismiss her so coldly.

    ¡°Why?¡± Her voice cracked, sharp with desperation. Herposure broke. ¡°William, how am I any less than Ste? I¡¯m the heiress of the Carter family. Does she have better looks than I do?¡±

    She truly couldn¡¯t understand. Ste had always denied having any rtionship with William.

    Nina had even investigated¡ªdiscovering that Ste resented the Briggs family to the core. Though she still hadn¡¯t uncovered who killed Ste¡¯s adoptive parents, she was sure it was tied to the Briggs family. That meant Ste and William should have been enemies.

    And yet¡­ he still chose Ste over her?

    Find more chapters now g?ln¦Òv??ls?c?m

    William¡¯s expression hardened instantly, his voice steely. ¡°Miss Carter, watch your mouth. You have no right to judge Ste.¡±<fnc12e> This text is hosted at Find1Novel</fnc12e>

    Nina¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, her body trembling from the force of his rejection.

    His voice grew colder. ¡°For your own good, don¡¯t speak that way again. Next time, I won¡¯t be this patient.¡±

    Her throat tightened. She choked out, her voice trembling with bitterness, ¡°You love Ste that much? Even if she avoids you, even if she doesn¡¯t return your feelings¡ªyou still love her? Is she really that much better than me?¡±

    William didn¡¯t flinch. His voice was unwavering, every word dripping with protectiveness. ¡°She is extraordinary. Whether she loves me back or not isn¡¯t for me to decide. But none of this concerns you.¡±

    The dismissal was final. He cut off everyst tie, leaving her with nothing. Yes, he had fallen for Ste¡ªhelplessly, irreversibly. No matter who she loved or hated, he was willing to bear it all. Nina had no ce in this. He owed her nothing.

    Tears spilled down Nina¡¯s cheeks. ¡°But my feelings for you are real! Wouldn¡¯t marrying me be better than chasing after Ste?¡±

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 Chapter 782

    ?Chapter 782:

    His patience finally snapped. ¡°Feelings can¡¯t be forced. I don¡¯t have any for you, Miss Carter. Face reality and stop clinging to this obsession. And stop using the excuse of a ¡®marriage alliance¡¯ to pressure me¡ªit¡¯s nothing but self-humiliation.¡±

    Thest shred of Nina¡¯s pride shattered. The facade she had held together crumbled, leaving only raw despair and humiliation. Her voice rose in a broken cry. ¡°William, you bastard!¡±

    She shot him one final, venomous re, then covered her face and stumbled out of his office.

    Nina stormed back to the Carter estate in tears, skipping her afternoon shift at theb. She ignored her family¡¯s startled looks, ran straight upstairs, mmed her bedroom door, and locked it behind her.

    The moment she copsed on the bed, the dam broke. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as sobs wracked her body.

    Never in her life had she been so humiliated.<fnc241> Original content can be found at fin?novel</fnc241>

    William hadn¡¯t just rejected her¡ªhe had crushed her pride,paring her unfavorably to Ste, as if she wasn¡¯t even worth standing in the same light.

    The shame burned her chest raw, leaving her unable to think straight.

    With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone and dialed her parents abroad. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Her voice cracked with a sob. ¡°William Briggs¡­ he humiliated me. He rejected me¡ªfor that nobody, Ste Russell.¡±

    Choking on her tears, Nina poured everything out, desperate forfort. ¡°He looked down on me, Mom. He praised her instead! Why? How am I any less than Ste? Why would he do this to me?¡±

    On the other end, her mother, Norene Carter, turned sharp with fury. She had already despised Ste ever since learning the girl was Karson¡¯s real granddaughter. Hearing Nina cry only made her blood boil hotter.

    ¡°That¡¯s outrageous!¡± Norene snapped. ¡°How dare William say such things to you? Don¡¯t cry, sweetheart. I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Her tone hardened, dripping with venom.

    ¡°That woman is nothing but trouble. She hasn¡¯t even been back for long and already she¡¯s stealing what should be yours, turning William against you. I¡¯ll speak to your grandfather myself. He needs to understand exactly what kind of granddaughter he¡¯s protecting.¡±

    Norene booked the next flight without hesitation. The moment shended in Choria, she went straight to the Carter estate, rage burning in her chest.

    L?t??st ch¦Ápt?rs in ???lnovels.??????

    In the study, Karson Carter was listening to the butler¡¯s report on Ste¡¯s work at the research institute. The old man¡¯s expression was calm, almost pleased.

    The door mmed open. Norene barged in, her face twisted with rage.

    Karson¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Norene? You return without notice and burst into my study without knocking?¡±

    His voice wasced with displeasure. He valued discipline, and her behavior grated instantly.

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯te back, Nina would¡¯ve been bullied to death!¡± Norene cried, her voice trembling. ¡°You have no idea how William humiliated her on Ste¡¯s ount!¡±

    Karson¡¯s expression darkened slightly, though confusion flickered in his eyes. What did William have to do with Nina, and how was Ste involved?

    .

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 Chapter 783

    ?Chapter 783:

    ¡°William crossed the line,¡± Norene pressed on. ¡°Nina went to him with a marriage proposal, showing him kindness, offering the Briggs family an honor¡ªand what did he do? He rejected her, humiliated her, and even said she¡¯s not worth Ste¡¯s shadow! He actually told her love can¡¯t be forced. Isn¡¯t that a p in the Carter family¡¯s face?¡±

    Karson¡¯s lips tightened. He pieced everything together.

    Marriage wasn¡¯t something that could be forced. William wasn¡¯t wrong about that.

    But Norene didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Nina¡¯s been crying nonstop, locking herself in her room, refusing to eat. You¡¯ve got to stand up for her! Ste¡¯s behind this, I¡¯m sure of it¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Karson¡¯s palm mmed against the desk with a sharp crack. His eyes burned with fury as he red at her.

    ¡°Stand up for what? William doesn¡¯t want Nina¡ªthat¡¯s his choice. As her mother, you should be talking sense into her, not barging in here, stirring trouble, and ming Ste! And who gave you the right to go behind my back and propose marriage to the Briggs family? Do you have any idea how much disgrace that brings to the Carters?¡±

    Karson had always doted on Nina¡ªeven though she was not his biological granddaughter, she was still Carter blood.

    But he knew Nina¡¯s spoiled, arrogant nature. She was pampered and haughty, and it was no wonder William turned her down.

    And now Norene dared to badmouth Ste in front of him?

    ¡°Nina is the way she is because you spoiled her rotten.¡± Karson¡¯s voice thundered. ¡°She thinks she can have anything she sets her eyes on. But William isn¡¯t some prize on a shelf¡ªhe¡¯s a man with his own choices. If he loves Ste, that¡¯s his business. What right do you or Nina have to interfere?¡±

    His anger grew sharper with every word. ¡°And ming Ste? That¡¯s nothing but jealousy. Nina has been targeting her again and again, and I¡¯ve kept quiet. But hear me now¡ªSte is my true granddaughter, the rightful heiress of this family. Don¡¯t you dare smear her name in front of me!¡±

    Karson¡¯s hand clenched the desk as his voice boomed. ¡°Tell Nina to stop with her schemes and focus on something worthwhile. If she keeps stirring up drama over some crush, don¡¯t expect me to protect her again. Now get out!¡±

    Norene stumbled out of Karson¡¯s study, pale and shaken. His sharp tongueshing still rang in her ears.

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    Never had she seen Karson so furious¡ªnor imagined he would defend Ste so fiercely.

    Her chest burned with resentment, but she didn¡¯t dare say another word. Head bowed, she slunk away in defeat.

    Inside the study, Karson¡¯s anger lingered. His breath came heavy, his chest rising and falling as he tried to calm himself.

    Sensing his master¡¯s mood, the butler quickly poured a cup of coffee and ced it in front of him. ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t let it upset you too much. Mind your health.¡±

    Karson epted the cup, sipping slowly as his heartbeat steadied.

    Though most of Norene¡¯s rant had been baseless nonsense, one thing she¡¯d said stuck with him.

    William had t-out rejected Nina, dering that she wasn¡¯t worth Ste¡¯s shadow and that love couldn¡¯t be forced.

    That meant William¡¯s feelings for Ste ran far deeper¡ªand more genuine¡ªthan Karson had realized.<fn7d6e> Read full story at Find_Novel(.</fn7d6e>

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    .

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 Chapter 784

    ?Chapter 784:

    He thought back to the scene at the hospital parking lot, William¡¯s protectiveness and concern for Ste in to see. A sly smile crept across Karson¡¯s wrinkled face, his eyes shing with calction.

    Setting his cup down, he turned to the butler. ¡°Make arrangements for this weekend. Have the kitchen prepare Stel¡¯s favorite dishes. Tell her I miss her and want her home for dinner.¡±

    The butler, who had served him faithfully for years, immediately understood the hidden meaning and gave a small nod. ¡°Yes, sir. I¡¯ll get in touch with Ms. Russell right away.¡±

    Norene¡¯s words had been full of spite, but she wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. A marriage alliance between the Carter family and the Briggs family would benefit both sides.

    And since William had made it clear where his hearty, Karson decided he might as well y matchmaker.

    If it worked, it would be perfect.

    By Saturday evening, the Carter estate was lit up warmly, the air rich with the aroma of avish home-cooked meal.

    Ste arrived right on time. She had spent the week burying herself inb work, avoiding any chance of running into William and shutting out every piece of news about him.

    But no matter how much she distracted herself, a restless unease still lingered in her chest.

    So when the butler called to invite her to dinner, she didn¡¯t refuse.

    After all, the Carters were her family now¡ªat least in name. She wasn¡¯t close to them, but she didn¡¯t reject them either. And aside from Nina, they had treated her kindly.

    In the dining room, Karson was already waiting. His face lit up the moment he saw her. He waved her over, smiling from ear to ear.

    The long dining table wasden with dishes clearly prepared just for her.

    As soon as Ste sat down, Karson began piling food onto her te, his voice warm with grandfatherly affection.

    ¡°Look at you, you¡¯ve gotten thinner. Work is important, but you can¡¯t neglect your health.¡±

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    Ste¡¯s lips curved faintly. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡±

    A soft warmth spread in her chest, easing her worries. For the moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the meal.

    Halfway through, Karson set his fork down, lifted his coffee cup, and eyed Ste with a seemingly casual smile.

    ¡°Stel, is anything bothering youtely? You can always talk to me.¡±

    Ste¡¯s hand paused mid-reach, her instincts kicking in. She had suspected this dinner wasn¡¯t just about food.

    cing her fork neatly down, she dabbed her mouth with a napkin and answered calmly, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m fine. Work¡¯s going smoothly. Nothing to worry about.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Karson¡¯s smile deepened, but his sharp gaze seemed to pierce right through her. ¡°No troubles at work, maybe. But what about your love life?¡±

    He didn¡¯t give her a chance to respond before continuing, ¡°I heard that young Briggs heir seems to have quite an interest in you.¡±

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 Chapter 785

    ?Chapter 785:

    Ste¡¯s heart gave a small jolt, but her expression stayedposed. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± she said evenly. ¡°Mr. Briggs has helped me a few times for the Carter family¡¯s sake. That¡¯s all it is¡ªnothing more.¡±

    Ste¡¯s tone was cool, almost detached, as though she were simply stating a fact. But Karson wasn¡¯t buying it.

    He leaned back, drawing out his words in a knowing voice. ¡°Just help? Yet I¡¯ve heard he offended Nina for your sake, even dering she couldn¡¯tpare to a single strand of your hair.¡±

    Ste froze.

    She hadn¡¯t been there when William shed with Nina, but those blunt, cutting words¡ªyes, that sounded exactly like him. From the very start, William had never cared about sparing anyone¡¯s feelings. What startled her was how Karson knew the details. Someone must have run straight to him with the gossip. She didn¡¯t need to think hard to know who.

    Taking a steady breath, Ste met her grandfather¡¯s probing gaze, her voice firm. ¡°Grandpa, I don¡¯t know what William said to Nina. But one thing¡¯s certain¡ªI and William don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Karson asked, his eyes filled with genuine curiosity. ¡°That young man seems solid to me. He¡¯s got brains, ambition, and I can see he¡¯s got a soft spot for you. I¡¯ve lived long enough to judge character, and trust me¡ªhe¡¯s nothing like the rest of that Briggs family.¡±

    Ste shook her head, her voice soft but resolute. ¡°There are things between us we just can¡¯t get past. Problems that can¡¯t be fixed.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t tell Karson the truth about her adoptive parents. That wound ran too deep, and it was a secret she intended to keep buried. But her eyes and tone left no room for doubt¡ªher decision was firm.

    Karson saw it too. His chest rose and fell as he let out a long sigh.

    Instead of pressing further, he reached over and patted her hand with his weathered one. ¡°Young people walk their own paths,¡± he said gently. ¡°I¡¯m too old to meddle too much. All I want is for you to be happy, to find someone who truly cares for you. And William¡ªhe¡¯s got a good heart, I can see he¡¯s sincere about you. But if you say it¡¯s impossible, then I won¡¯t force it.¡±

    Still, his eyes glinted as his tone shifted. ¡°That said, Ste, fate¡¯s a funny thing. Sometimes it pushes you where you least expect. You¡¯re a smart girl¡ªyou¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

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    Warmth spread through Ste¡¯s chest at his care, but at the same time, helplessness pressed down heavier than ever.

    She knew exactly what he was hinting at. He didn¡¯t say it outright, but the matchmaking aura was loud and clear.

    Meanwhile, across town at the top floor of Briggs Group, tension hung thick in the CEO¡¯s office.

    William stood tall by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his shoulders rigid, a slim encrypted file clutched in his hand.

    Luca¡¯s voice was low as he reported from behind. ¡°Mr. Briggs, this just came in. Our team tracked down the son of an old police officer¡ªthe one who was first at the crash scene years ago.¡±

    He hesitated before adding, ¡°Before he passed away, the officer left behind some notes and copies of photos from the ident. I¡¯m not sure how clear they¡¯ll be, though.¡±

    The photos had survived so many years.

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 Chapter 786

    ?Chapter 786:

    William¡¯s face was unreadable as he turned and opened the file. Insidey a few yellowed photocopies of old photographs, along with some hastily scrawled notes.

    His eyes swept over the chaotic crash-site images. Then¡ªsuddenly¡ªhis pupils contracted sharply.

    In one blurry photo, amid the wreckage and scattered debris, a tiny shard of metal no bigger than a fingernail glinted. Warped by fire, almost unrecognizable.

    The copy was grainy, the details faint. But William¡¯s heart gave a jolt.

    He snatched up a magnifying ss and leaned closer.

    Under the lens, the twisted fragment revealed a faint symbol¡ªan eagle spreading its wings¡ªbeside a distinctive letter abbreviation. That pattern¡­ and abbreviation¡­

    William¡¯s breath caught as he stared at the markings again and again. The more he looked, the clearer it became. He knew this pattern.

    It traced back to his uncle, the man who had stepped away from the Briggs Group years ago but still pulled strings behind the scenes, handling the family¡¯s shadow business.

    William hadn¡¯t expected this trail to lead back to his uncle once again.

    His eyes narrowed, and with it, the room seemed to grow colder.

    Behind him, Luca finally broke the silence. ¡°Mr. Briggs, do you n on meeting the policeman¡¯s son?¡±<f55> Read full story at find?novel</f55>

    A face-to-face talk might be the fastest way to dig up the truth.

    William gave a short nod. ¡°Is he willing to meet?¡±

    Luca pressed his lips together, hesitant.

    William¡¯s brow creased in irritation. ¡°Spit it out. Since when did you start dragging your feet?¡±

    Luca wasn¡¯t usually this cagey. Something about this was different.

    Looking helpless, Luca adjusted his stance. If this were a regr business deal, he wouldn¡¯t think twice. But Ste¡¯s name was tied up in all this, and that made it trickier.

    ¡°He agreed, but there are conditions.¡±

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    William¡¯s lips curved in a knowing smile. He had expected as much. After all, in this world, who offered help without wanting something in return?

    Besides, this was the kind of matter that could easily stir up trouble with people lurking in the shadows.

    ¡°What conditions?¡± William asked.

    Luca fixed his sses, answering carefully. ¡°First, he wants five hundred thousand transferred before the meeting. Second, he needs an admission letter from Crossroads University. And the third¡­ he wants you to y a game of pool with him.¡±

    William¡¯s brow lifted. The first two, though troublesome, at least made sense.

    But pool?

    A game of billiards as a bargaining chip? It sounded more like a joke than a negotiation tactic.

    Squandering a condition on that seemed absurd.

    After a pause, William asked, ¡°What program is he trying to get into?¡±

    ¡°Finance,¡± Luca replied, flipping through the folder.

    William gave a short nod. ¡°Fine. Handle the transfer and see what can be done about the admission. As for the pool game, let him know I¡¯ll show up whenever he¡¯s ready.¡±

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 Chapter 787

    ?Chapter 787:

    Once Luca left, William sank into therge leather chair in his office, holding an unlit cigarette between his fingers. On theputer screen, details about the old policeman¡¯s son shed before him.

    Curtis Ellsworth, twenty-two, had drifted aimlessly for years after high school. He¡¯d spent some time abroad using the money histe father left behind but came back no more disciplined than before. His work history was spotty¡ªsecurity guard, bartender, and little else. Now he had no steady job.

    Sharp in some ways, rebellious in others, Curtis was clever enough to get by but still nothing more than a drifter.

    The most ring note, underlined in red, was his record of dismal academics.

    William pinched the bridge of his nose. With grades that poor, there was no way Curtis could get into Crossroads University¡¯s finance department on his own.

    The university was among the best in the country, and finance was one of its toughest programs to enter.

    Even if William leaned on the Briggs family¡¯s influence to secure him a ce, it would cause more trouble than it was worthter.

    He wanted to help Ste dig up the past, but Curtis¡¯s score¡­ that was a problem.

    Luca hadn¡¯t pushed the matter when leaving earlier, knowing William would form his own judgment once he saw the results.

    Half an hourter, Luca returned, standing before the desk with a furrowed brow. ¡°Mr. Briggs, about Curtis¡¯s three conditions¡­ The first and the third aren¡¯t an issue. I can transfer the five hundred thousand right away, and ying pool with him is easy enough for you. But getting him into Crossroads University¡­ that¡¯s a serious hurdle.¡±

    William didn¡¯t answer right away. The difficulty was obvious.

    Luca added carefully, ¡°Curtis has never been serious about academics, not here or abroad. He was expelled several times. It doesn¡¯t feel like he¡¯s chasing an education. It feels more like¡­¡±

    He stopped himself, but William caught the meaning.

    This wasn¡¯t about school. Curtis was testing him, seeing how far William would go to make things happen.

    William rested his chin on his hands, exhaling a slow breath.

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    ¡°So,¡± he asked atst, ¡°where did he arrange the pool game?¡±

    William¡¯s voice was so subdued that Luca found it impossible to read his tone.

    Checking his tablet, Luca answered in a steady voice, ¡°Westside Club, VIP Room 3, eight o¡¯clock tonight.¡±

    Without another word, William stood and lifted his suit jacket off the chair. ¡°Prepare five hundred thousand in cash. The Crossroads University issue¡ªI¡¯ll take care of it myself.¡±

    By the time eight rolled around, the air inside VIP Room 3 of the Westside Club reeked of smoke and stale liquor.<fn4d43> ?????? ???? find¡¤novel</fn4d43>

    The dim bulbs cast murky shadows, while a lonemp above the pool table spilled a pale light across the felt.

    Curtis leaned against the pool table with a cheap cigarette between his lips. His short hair was dyed in garish colors, and he wore a tight T-shirt and ripped jeans. He looked William up and down as the man entered the room.

    As soon as William walked in, Curtis¡¯s eyes shifted to Luca trailing at his heels. A smirk curled across his lips. Blowing out azy ring of smoke, he sneered, ¡°Mr. Briggs, always the celebrity. Can¡¯t step out without backup? What¡¯s he here for, to chalk your cue stick?¡±

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 Chapter 788

    ?Chapter 788:

    The remark made Luca¡¯s jaw tighten, though he kept his expression stone still as he stood behind William.

    William moved closer to Curtis, his gaze drifting toward the velvet sofa in the corner, his brow creasing ever so slightly.

    The sofa looked filthy, but refusing to sit would make him seem prissy, so William lowered himself onto it.<fna84c> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fna84c>

    ¡°Five hundred thousand can be in your ount immediately,¡± William said evenly.

    Greed flickered in Curtis¡¯s eyes as he licked his lips, though he quickly reced the look with his usual swagger. ¡°Right to business, Mr. Briggs,¡± he replied. ¡°And what about my second request? That eptance letter from Crossroads University¡ªdo you have it?¡±

    A pool cue rested nearby, and William picked it up, letting his hand glide across the polished wood. His gaze never wavered from Curtis. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, your GPA was 1.8,¡± he remarked.

    Curtis¡¯s grin faltered for a moment, though he brushed it off with a shrug. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why I need someone like you. With the Briggs family¡¯s pull, getting me an admission letter should be easy.¡±

    Cold amusement curved William¡¯s lips, and his eyes hardened like steel.

    ¡°Crossroads University isn¡¯t run by my family. With a GPA of 1.8, you¡¯re nowhere near their cutoff. If I forced you in, you¡¯d stand out as a joke. Studying would be pointless¡ªyou¡¯d be lucky to even make it through.¡±

    Afterying the cue down, William leaned forward, pressing his palms against the edge of the table, his stare slicing through Curtis. ¡°The cash is yours now, and I¡¯ll give you a game. But Crossroads University?¡± William stopped deliberately.

    ¡°What I can do is hire top tutors to train you for next year¡¯s exams. If you pass on your own merit, the Briggs Group will fund your tuition for all four years and guarantee you a position after graduation.¡±

    Curtis¡¯s expression contorted as his voice shot up. ¡°A whole year of study? William, I¡¯m not waiting. I want to attend Crossroads University this year. I don¡¯t care how you do it. Just make it happen. If you can¡¯t, the deal¡¯s off.¡±

    Unmoved by the outburst, William fixed him with a steady, unblinking stare.

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    Everyone in the room knew the truth about backdoor admissions. The Briggs Group could make it happen and stille out spotless, while Curtis would be the one carrying the consequences.

    William had no doubt Curtis understood that reality, and he studied him the way one might watch a cheap performance.

    The weight of that gaze crawled over Curtis¡¯s skin until he snapped. He snatched his cue stick and cracked the cue ball across the table, the sharp tter echoing like his frustration.

    ¡°Third condition. y with me. Win, and then we¡¯ll talk.¡±

    A shadow crossed William¡¯s eyes at the arrogant challenge.

    He lifted a cue withoutment, bent over the table, and sent the cue ball flying with wless uracy.

    For the next ten minutes, Curtis endured a merciless rout.

    William had shed theposed demeanor of a CEO, revealing instead a ruthless predator at the pool table, dismantling his opponent with cold-blooded precision.

    Every strike William made flowed with seamless precision, sending one solid ball after another into the pockets at angles most would never dare attempt.

    Not once did he leave Curtis room to retaliate.

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 Chapter 789

    ?Chapter 789:

    All the way to the final shot, William¡¯sposure never wavered, the same calm he carried from the very beginning.<fn1129> Latest content published on find?novel</fn1129>

    Curtis¡¯s smug indifference slowly copsed into disbelief. He stood stiff beside the table, clutching his cue while William dismantled the game with effortless mastery.

    It no longer felt like a match. He was just an onlooker to William¡¯s dominance. The gulf in skill left him stung with a humiliation he had never tasted before, especially in William¡¯s presence.

    Words weren¡¯t necessary; William¡¯s relentless control over the table spoke louder than any boast.

    The eight ball slid into the pocket with a quiet finality.

    Rising to his full height, William returned the cue to its rack with the casual air of someone brushing off a minor task.

    A napkiny on the table, and he used it to wipe his hands before fixing Curtis with a detached stare. ¡°I¡¯m finished. Now, are we ready to discuss what actually matters?¡±

    Defeat etched itself across Curtis¡¯s face as he copsed into a chair. A beer bottle found its way into his grip, and after a few heavy gulps, he let out a shaky breath. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking monster¡­¡±

    All the hours he had spent polishing his pool game overseas seemedughable now. Against William, he had never even belonged at the same table.

    William paid no mind to the insult, simply holding Curtis in a steady silence while waiting for his reply.

    ¡°You started the game, so that win doesn¡¯t count!¡± Curtis barked in protest.

    Expecting the excuse, William responded without a flicker of irritation. ¡°Fine. You can break this time.¡±

    Confidence returned to Curtis as he stepped toward the table.

    He knew all too well there was no room for error¡ªif he failed to run the table, victory would once again belong to William.

    Yet fear had a way of tightening the grip, and the more he worried, the shakier his hands became.

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    Though he managed to sink five balls, his control slipped soon after. William moved in without hesitation, methodically finishing the game until the eight ball dropped once more.

    This time, William¡¯s gaze bore straight into Curtis. ¡°Are you convinced?¡±

    Curtis dragged a sleeve across his mouth, his eyes shifting as though weighing his options. Atst, he gritted his teeth and blurted, ¡°Fine, you win. I¡¯ll spend a year preparing for the exam. But you¡¯d better not short me on the money or the promise!¡±

    ¡°Deal.¡± William gave a short nod and gestured to Luca, who immediately transferred five hundred thousand into Curtis¡¯s ount. ¡°The money is yours. Luca will handle your tutoring and make further arrangements. Now, tell me what you know.¡±

    The buzz of an iing notification lit Curtis¡¯s phone, and he cast a wary look at William and Luca before speaking in a lower tone. ¡°Before my dad died, when his mind was fading, he talked about the car ident. He swore it wasn¡¯t an ident. In the bushes at the scene, he found something solid, like a metal tag, with an eagle emblem and a few letters on it. He never dared keep it, afraid it would bring trouble, so he took a hidden photo instead.¡±

    An eagle crest, letters carved into metal.

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 Chapter 790

    ?Chapter 790:

    William¡¯s pulse quickened. The clue tied directly to the vague image he had already uncovered, only now the details were sharper, more damning. The photo had been taken with an old film camera, which meant the original negatives should still exist. If William could get his hands on them, the images would be far clearer than the digital copies he had studied on hisputer.

    With eyes like sharpened steel, William demanded, ¡°Tell me where the film is.¡±

    ¡°The negatives are at my old family house in the countryside. I can give you the address.¡± Curtis rattled it off quickly, then leaned forward with unease creeping into his tone. ¡°Sharing this puts me in danger. You have to promise I¡¯ll be protected. And another thing¡ªI want to know something¡­¡±

    A strange glint crossed his face, part curiosity, part suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re digging into this like your life depends on it. Are you really trying to put your uncle Alonzo behind bars? He¡¯s your own blood. Is chasing this worth it¡ªfor a woman?¡±

    William¡¯s eyes went cold, a shadow of anger settling over them as he locked onto Curtis.

    ¡°I know you¡¯ve had dealings with Amon Briggs. But watch what you say,¡± William warned, his voice edged with frost.

    Curtis seemed to realize he had let something slip, his eyes darting nervously before he shrugged it off.

    ¡°Don¡¯t drag me in with Amon. We¡¯re not close. Everyone in the circle knows his father¡¯s dealings are dirty. No one just dares to speak about it openly.¡±

    During his nights of reckless partying abroad, Curtis had crossed paths with Amon at a handful of events. To him, Amon had always been a loose cannon, too shrewd and unpredictable to trust.

    A grin returned to Curtis¡¯s face as he slipped his phone into his pocket.

    ¡°Anyway, I gave you the address and the message. You¡¯re the one in charge here, so don¡¯t forget what you promised. If Amones sniffing around, I¡¯ll take the money, vanish somewhere quiet to study, and he won¡¯t catch me. I¡¯m done here.¡±

    William stood still as Curtis hurried out, his own expression darkening with every step the man took.

    Amon, Alonzo¡¯s only son, raised overseas, had lived recklessly for years, yet rumors now said he was preparing to return.

    Check the newest chapters on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s

    The thought of Amon¡¯s name tied to Curtis sent rm bells ringing in William¡¯s head.

    From the way Curtis spoke, there was no love lost between the two. William¡¯s suspicion deepened, convinced that Alonzo summoning Amon home at this moment was deliberate.<fn1f80> Read full story at find[?]ovel</fn1f80>

    His cousin¡¯s homing was certain to drag cmity in its wake.

    Lowering his voice, William turned to Luca. ¡°We¡¯re going back to the office.¡±

    Luca steered the car back to the Briggs Group, but before William could step out, his phone buzzed insistently.

    The unfamiliar number on the screen made William¡¯s brow crease.

    Answering it, William heard the butler¡¯s respectful tone. ¡°Mr. Briggs, your grandfather requests your presence at the mansion tonight. Mr. Amon Briggs returned this afternoon¡­¡±

    A shadow crossed William¡¯s eyes as he replied, ¡°Understood.¡±

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 Chapter 791

    ?Chapter 791:

    By nightfall, the Briggs family mansion shimmered with light, the glow spilling across the grand estate. William exited his car and strode inside.

    The dining hall glittered beneath a towering crystal chandelier, its brilliance cascading over a long table filled with rtives and guests.

    At the head sat Alonzo, while Amon leanedzily in his chair, one leg draped over the other, swirling a ss of wine with careless ir.

    A velvet suit of deep burgundy clung to Amon, paired with a ckce-trimmed shirt. His rolled sleeves revealed faint tattoos etched along his arms. Slicked-back hair framed features that carried a resemnce to William¡¯s, though softened and more delicate.

    His tilted eyes sparkled with mischief, edged with ridicule.

    The corners of his lips lifted in a half-smile as he regarded William stepping through the doorway.

    ¡°Well, well. The workaholic cousin finally shows his face. Busy man, too important toe home.¡± Amon spoke slowly, every word dripping with provocation.

    William lowered himself into a chair, his expression unreadable, his gaze sweeping the table before settling coolly on Amon. ¡°I hadpany matters to attend to,¡± he said tly, addressing the room more than the man taunting him.

    Amon cut in quickly. ¡°You bury yourself in work, unlike me,¡± he said, the curve of his smile masking his cold eyes.<fnb0ae> Official source is find?novel</fnb0ae>

    William flicked him a nce. ¡°Not nearly as entertaining as the time you¡¯ve wasted abroad,¡± he answered with dry disdain.

    Amon lifted his brow in an exaggerated gesture, swirling the red wine in his ss withzy grace. ¡°Fun? You make it sound like that¡¯s all I do. I only came back because the family called me. Unlike you, chained to endless work, I¡¯d rather enjoy life.¡±

    The words cut with deliberate mockery, aimed squarely at William.

    Alonzoid down his utensils, his expression firm but not furious. ¡°Amon, mind your tone with your cousin,¡± he scolded, though the hint of pride in his voice betrayed his indulgence.

    Shifting smoothly, Alonzo turned toward William, stering on a smile that rang hollow. ¡°Don¡¯t take him seriously, William. He spent too much time abroad, picked up wild habits. Now that he¡¯s back, I hope you¡¯ll guide him, show him how things are done.¡±

    L§Ñ¦Ó??¦Ó ch?¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?ls.??????

    The remark was anything but innocent, a subtle push to wedge Amon into the Briggs Group.

    William reached for a napkin, dabbing his hands withposed elegance.

    ¡°Uncle Alonzo, you¡¯re generous in your expectations. But Amon has his own way of doing things. Pushing him into a role won¡¯t lead anywhere. Besides¡­¡± His gaze lifted, locking firmly with Alonzo¡¯s, steady against the probing challenge. ¡°Thepany already runs smoothly. Everyone is in their ce. There aren¡¯t any vacancies.¡±

    With that, William closed the door on Alonzo¡¯s maneuver as neatly as a de snapping shut.

    Alonzo¡¯s smile slipped away, and a shadow flickered in his eyes before he forced it back behind his usual mask. ¡°I really don¡¯t meddle much in thepany¡¯s business. Since you insist there are no openings, let¡¯s leave it for now. Amon still needs time to learn, and there¡¯s no harm if he joinster.¡±

    A derisiveugh spilled from Amon as he lowered his ss and leaned toward the table. His piercing gaze locked on William. ¡°Tell me the truth, William. Is thepany really without vacancies, or is it that you simply don¡¯t want me there?¡±

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 Chapter 792

    ?Chapter 792:

    Amon had no patience for Alonzo¡¯s slippery manner. His frustration burned openly, and he spoke without restraint.

    William¡¯s expression remained even. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try asking the HR department at Briggs Group?¡±

    Amon dismissed the idea with a careless shrug and turned the conversation elsewhere. ¡°By the way, William, word has it you¡¯ve been spending time with the Carter family¡¯s newly discovered heiress?¡±

    His tone sharpened, carrying an edge beneath the smooth delivery. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her picture. She¡¯s striking, with a grace of her own, and Karson treats her like a treasure. You certainly know how to choose. Still, I have to wonder¡ªdo you care for her, or are you only drawn to the power her name brings?¡±

    The air in the dining room dropped to an icy chill. William¡¯s brow creased, while Alonzo sipped his wine, his eyes glinting with amusement as though he were watching a performance.

    A darker mood settled over William. He ced his knife and fork onto the te, the faint clink cutting through the silence. ¡°Stay out of my personal affairs, Amon.¡±

    His voice carried unshakable authority. ¡°And keep your distance from Ste. She is not someone for you to provoke.¡±

    Amon leaned back with exaggerated ease, spreading his hands wide as if the whole matter wereughable. ¡°Easy there, no need to get so worked up. I was only asking. Did I strike a nerve? That Ms. Russell must be something special to make you¡ªof all people, who never shows interest in romance¡ªlose your cool.¡±

    A dangerous gleam lit his eyes, carrying the thrill of a hunter spotting new prey. ¡°Since you guard her so fiercely, I¡¯m even more eager to meet her and see what kind of woman has managed to capture your heart.¡±

    William¡¯s gaze turned like ice, sharp with warning. ¡°Amon, this is the final time I¡¯ll say it. Stay away from her!¡±

    Inside, Amon sneered to himself. William¡¯s protectiveness only deepened his curiosity about Ste and the spell she might cast.

    On the surface, though, Amon lifted both hands high in a theatrical show of surrender. ¡°Fine, fine, I was only joking. Why take everything so seriously?¡±

    The table never recovered from the tension, and the dinner ended in bitterness. William had no desire to remain longer. He pushed back his chair and rose, intent on leaving.

    ???¨¨?? ¡é?¦¤T?¦Å§Á? ?¦Ç ?a?§Úo¦Í???.???<fn66b5> This text is hosted at Find¡ïNovel</fn66b5>

    As he reached the foyer, Amon¡¯szy drawl floated after him. ¡°Goodbye, William. Do pass along my greetings to Ms. Russell.¡±

    Not a single step faltered, but William¡¯s retreat carried the stiffness of a man forcing restraint.

    Over the next several days, his attention shifted to arranging a team to travel to Curtis¡¯ hometown in search of the hidden film roll, though he still kept close watch on Amon¡¯s every move. William was certain that with Amon¡¯s love for stirring chaos, the remarks made that night at Briggs Mansion would not be left as empty threats.

    Later that afternoon, Ste wrapped up her experiment for the day. With her temples aching, she left the research institute and stepped outside.

    A drizzle came down lightly, cold enough to make the air unpleasant. She had forgotten an umbre, so she raised her hand against her forehead and walked on.

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 Chapter 793

    ?Chapter 793:

    A sharp screech cut through the drizzle as a sleek yellow Ferrari spun into view, drifting neatly before halting just a few meters away from her. Dust swirled in the air from the tires.

    Ste¡¯s brow tightened, and she instinctively stepped back.

    The driver¡¯s door swung open, and out stepped a man d in a loud printed shirt with dark sunsses covering his eyes.

    He slipped the sses off, unveiling a striking yet roguish face. His lips curved into what he clearly believed to be an irresistible smile as he strode confidently toward Ste.

    His eyes roamed over her without hesitation, brimming with bold amusement and a hint of menace.

    ¡°Hello, gorgeous. What a pleasure to meet you!¡± Amon spoke with exaggerated warmth, his tone dripping with theatrics. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m Amon Briggs. Would you grant me the honor of knowing you better?¡±

    Ste studied the man who reeked of arrogance and entitlement, her wariness rising sharply.

    Ste didn¡¯t know Amon, but her instincts warned her¡ªthis man was dangerous.

    ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t know you, and I¡¯m not interested in getting to know you,¡± she said coldly, trying to brush past him.

    Amon sidestepped, blocking her path again. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so distant.¡±

    His smile stayed, but his eyes grew bolder as they roamed across her face. ¡°The more we meet, the closer we¡¯ll get. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Russell. Besides your research, what else excites you? Racing? Bungee jumping? Or maybe¡­¡±

    His lips curved into a smirk. ¡°Wine tasting? I¡¯ve got a few vineyards overseas. You should visit sometime.¡±

    His words dripped with arrogance. The cloying scent of his cologne pressed in on her, making her skin crawl.

    Something about his frivolous, overbearing manner felt strangely familiar¡ªlike she had met someone with a simr attitude before.

    Ste¡¯s gaze turned sharp, her voice like ice. ¡°Step aside, or I¡¯ll call the police.¡±

    Your update hub: g?l¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s?c?m

    The police?<fnf88c> Original content can be found at fin?novel</fnf88c>

    Amon chuckled softly, though his eyes flickered with something darker. She was different.

    ¡°No need to be so tense. I¡¯m just being friendly. What would you even tell them¡ªthat I invited you out for a drink? That¡¯s hardly a crime.¡±

    His insolence disgusted her. Without wasting another word, she pulled out her phone and dialed.

    The moment he realized she was serious, Amon¡¯s expression shifted. He lunged forward, pressing the hang-up button with a swift hand. ¡°Alright, alright, Ms. Russell. No need to get worked up. I¡¯ll back off.¡±

    He raised both hands and stepped back, though the heat in his gaze never wavered.

    Walking toward his car, his tone dropped into a low murmur. ¡°But¡­ we¡¯ll see each other again. The more I look at you, the more curious I be.¡±

    He whistled, slid into his Ferrari, and sped off with a roar.

    Ste watched the taillights vanish, her brows knitted tightly. Amon Briggs? What was his rtionship with William?

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 Chapter 794

    ?Chapter 794:

    Why had he suddenly approached her? A heavy unease sank into her chest.

    A few dayster, while she was processing data at the research institute, her phone suddenly rang, startling her.

    The caller ID shed Sharon.

    Ste¡¯s eyes lit up as she quickly answered. ¡°Hello, Sharon?¡±

    ¡°Stel, are you at the institute? Can you talk?¡± Sharon¡¯s voice was hushed, brimming with excitement.

    ¡°Yes. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°I think I found new clues about your adoptive parents¡¯ car ident!¡± Sharon¡¯s words tumbled out. ¡°After I traced a connection to the Briggs family, I kept digging. Just now, I got in touch with someone who ims he was near the crash site back then. He says he saw suspicious people that night. He¡¯s willing to talk¡ªbut only if you meet him in person. He insisted youe alone. The meeting ce is on the outskirts.¡±

    Ste¡¯s heart skipped.

    A witness¡­ after all these years!

    Excitement surged through her. She had told William she would handle this on her own, and now¡ªfinally¡ªshe had a chance to contribute.<fn18d0> Latest content published on F?nd-Novel</fn18d0>

    ¡°Sharon, can we trust him? How did you find him?¡± Ste forced herself to breathe, clinging to caution.

    ¡°I think we can. I tracked him down through an anonymous online lead. From the sound of it, he¡¯s been living in fear all these years. It took me forever to get him to talk. Stel, this is a rare chance¡ªyou might not get another.¡±

    Sharon hesitated before adding, ¡°But meeting him alone in the outskirts¡­ I¡¯m worried about your safety.¡±

    Ste barely heard the warning. Her mind was already made up. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Before Sharon could argue, Ste hung up.

    She stared at the location Sharon had sent¡ªdeep in the outskirts of Choria.

    Excitement and determination surged in her veins.

    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s£®?§àm takes you away

    Sharon was her most trusted friend. She trusted her.

    And for the truth about her adoptive parents¡¯ deaths¡ªeven if there was only the slightest chance¡ªshe had to take it.

    Ste canceled all her afternoon ns without exnation, telling no one at the research institute where she was headed¡ªonly that something urgent hade up.

    Her hands tightened around the steering wheel as she drove toward the deste address, nerves and anticipation tangling in her chest. The suburban road stretched endlessly, deserted and eerily quiet, until hers was the only car left in sight.

    The navigation finally guided her to the edge of an overgrown field, where a solitary vi stood beside a tiny caf¨¦¡ªthe only sign of life in the area.

    Taking a steady breath, Ste stepped out of her car. A cool breeze carried the faint aroma of coffee, but it did little to calm the tension twisting inside her. Her fingers brushed the pepper spray hidden in her pocket, drawing a small measure of courage from its presence as she pushed open the caf¨¦ door.

    The shop was nearly empty, unsurprising given its remote location. The counter stood unmanned, and the silence pressed down oppressively.

    ¡°Hello? Is anyone here?¡± Ste called cautiously. ¡°Sharon asked me toe. My name is Ste¡­ Hello?¡±

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 Chapter 795

    ?Chapter 795:

    The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps broke the silence.

    Her heart leapt, and she spun toward the sound.

    From the shadows, a familiar figure emerged with azy grin. His burgundy velvet jacket hung open, his smile dazzling yet edged with mischief.

    Amon.

    ¡°Ms. Russell,¡± he drawled, eyes glinting with amusement. ¡°We meet again.¡±

    His gaze swept over her like a predator savoring its prey. ¡°Quiet spot, isn¡¯t it? Perfect for a heart-to-heart. I searched quite a while to find it.¡±

    Ste froze, her blood running cold. Sharon¡¯s so-called eyewitness¡­ was Amon?

    Impossible.

    Sharon wouldn¡¯t lie to her. Which meant Amon had deceived them both. Her throat tightened as she forced herself to speak.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this? I¡¯ve never crossed you before.¡±

    Did he truly find it amusing to toy with her like this?

    Amon chuckled, stepping closer, his polished shoes tapping softly against the wooden floor.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, Ms. Russell. I just want a little chat¡­ maybe even make a new friend.¡±

    He tilted his head, his voice dripping with mockery.

    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been digging into that car ident from more than ten years ago. You never give up, do you? But sometimes, knowing the truth isn¡¯t such a good thing. Why not talk about lighter things instead? What you like¡­ the kind of man you prefer?¡±<fn16b0> Th?s chapter is updated by FindN0vel</fn16b0>

    His tone was careless, but his eyes shamelessly roamed her face, making her skin crawl.

    Ste¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. She had walked straight into a trap. Amon had lured her here deliberately, and she doubted it was only for conversation.

    ¡°I have nothing to say to you,¡± she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay firm. ¡°I don¡¯t know you, nor do I want to. You¡¯d better let me go, or else¡ª¡±

    ¡°Or else what?¡± Amon cut in smoothly, his grin widening. ¡°Call the police again? There¡¯s no signal here. Shout for help? There¡¯s no one around for miles. Save your strength, Ms. Russell. We¡¯re only talking.¡±

    ???€$? ?§ß?t??§ñ? 1¦Ð ?al§Úo¦Í¦Å??.???

    He stayed maddeningly rxed, his eyes glinting with amusement¡ªas though she were already his prey and he was savoring the hunt.

    Ste drew in a steadying breath, masking her unease.

    ¡°What exactly do you want to talk about?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t fathom what she had done to offend the arrogant yboy.

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot I¡¯d like to know,¡± Amon replied smoothly. ¡°William, my cousin, guards you like a treasure. I¡¯m curious¡ªwhat makes you so special?¡±

    With each word, he drifted closer, his cologne heavy in the air, making Ste¡¯s stomach turn.

    She instinctively retreated, step by step, until her back collided with the cold wall, leaving her with no means of escape.

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 Chapter 796

    ?Chapter 796:

    Her eyes sharpened into a re as her hand slipped discreetly into her bag, fingers curling around the pepper spray she had brought as a precaution.

    If Amon dared to cross the line, she was prepared to fight back with everything she had.

    Ste¡¯s chest tightened, and before she could take another breath, a thunderous crash split the air.

    The cafe¡¯s ss door was kicked open, shattering into pieces across the floor. Before she could even react, a group of masked men stormed inside.

    For a split second, they looked just as startled to see anyone there. Their eyes flicked between Ste and Amon. Ste¡¯s face twisted in shock and disbelief.

    Who on earth were these men?

    ¡°Nobody move! This is a robbery!¡± the leader barked.<f59> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?nd-Novel</f59>

    Her gaze darted to him just as he drew a knife and pointed it directly at her. She turned quickly to Amon, her mind racing. Did he know something about this? Was this somehow connected to him?

    The leader sneered when he realized they had stumbled upon an audience. ¡°Well, well, didn¡¯t think we¡¯d find anyone here. And a pretty little thing, too. Jackpot, boys.¡±

    The three masked men exchanged looks, their expressions dripping with something uglier than greed.

    Amon¡¯s yful smile vanished, his eyes turning cold, though a trace of surprise flickered in them.

    That was when Ste realized these men weren¡¯t with him.

    His jaw tightened in irritation. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t how he had nned to spend his afternoon.

    ¡°What are you waiting for? Both of you, hand over your wallets, phones, and anything valuable, now!¡± the robber with the knife shouted.

    His two partners swung their clubs menacingly, moving closer to trap Ste and Amon. One of them kept staring at Ste, his eyes filled with lecherous intent. ¡°Boss, she¡¯s gorgeous¡­ even prettier than a movie star. How about we¡ª¡±

    The so-called boss kicked his loudmouthed man, though he still sneaked a few nces at Ste himself. In the end, he forced himself to stay focused. ¡°Shut up and grab the money first!¡±

    Latest stories on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s

    Ste¡¯s skin went cold, her body trembling despite herself.

    She had picked up a few simple moves from Rita, but they were only enough to fight off one attacker. Against three men, she stood no chance.

    And the pepper spray buried in her bag? She knew she¡¯d never get the chance to reach for it.

    Amon¡¯s eyes flickered, as if weighing his odds. Then, forcing a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, he raised his hands. ¡°Rx, guys. Money¡¯s not an issue. Just¡­ don¡¯t hurt anyone.¡±

    He spoke slowly, easing a hand toward his wallet while sneaking a sidelong nce at Ste. His expression was unreadable, as though working through a n of his own.

    Before he could figure out how to handle the three men, someone slipped silently through the broken door. The robbers were so focused on Ste and Amon that they didn¡¯t notice. Suddenly, the shadow attacked the man closest to Ste, and with a sharp crack, he screamed in agony.

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 Chapter 797

    ?Chapter 797:

    The man¡¯s wrist twisted unnaturally, his grip on the bat snapping loose as it ttered to the ground.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± the other two robbers shouted, whipping their heads around in panic.

    The intruder was merciless. As the first robber¡¯s wrist broke, a strong side kick struck the second robber¡¯s knee, sending him crashing to the floor, clutching it in pain.

    The leader, burning with rage, scanned the room until his eyes locked on the figure in the dark. He raised his knife, but before he could make a move, a fruit knife whistled through the air and buried itself deep in his palm.

    ¡°Arghhh!¡± he shrieked, the weapon slipping from his grip as it ttered onto the tiles.

    The figure surged forward, delivering a swift, ruthless blow to the man¡¯s neck. He went limp, hitting the ground unconscious before he could yell again.

    The cafe went dead silent, broken only by the groans of the injured robbers. Ste¡¯s heart pounded as she watched everything unfold. In the dim light, she could make out the figure moving toward her.

    When she recognized who it was, shock and disbelief rippled through her eyes.

    William, dressed in a ck casual outfit, stood tall and imposing. Even with dust streaking his face, hismanding presence remained unshaken.

    His sharp gaze swept over the groaning bandits sprawled on the floor, ensuring they posed no further danger, before fixing on Amon, who lingered nearby with a sullen expression.

    William¡¯s voice came low and chilling, each wordced with menace. ¡°Amon, who gave you the nerve?¡±

    Amon flinched under the weight of that terrifying stare and instinctively stepped back. The carefree arrogance he usually wore slipped away, reced by a trace of gloom¡ªand a panic he refused to acknowledge.

    Trying to appear unfazed, Amon spread his hands with mock ease. ¡°William, what a coincidence. I was just having a casual chat with Ms. Russell today. These people? They¡¯ve got nothing to do with me!¡±

    William closed the distance in a few strides, his towering frame casting a shadow over Amon. His tone was cold enough to cut. ¡°You lured her here through her friends, with ill intent, then dared to y it off as small talk? Amon, do you really think I don¡¯t see straight through you?¡±

    New updates live on g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s

    Before Amon could react, William seized him by the cor and mmed him hard against the nearby bar counter with a dull crack. ¡°I warned you back at the Briggs Mansion to stay away from her. Did you choose to ignore me?¡±

    The violent impact sent stars bursting across Amon¡¯s vision, pain zing through his back. Meeting William¡¯s re¡ªan expression carved from fury¡ªdrove a coil of dread into his chest. He had no doubt William truly meant to break him apart, all for Ste¡¯s sake.

    ¡°William, it seems you¡¯re awfully devoted to Ms. Russell.¡± Amon smirked weakly, forcing a taunt through clenched teeth, feigning lightheartedness even as William¡¯s rage pressed down on him.

    William¡¯s bloodshot eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on Amon¡¯s throat until his breath came in ragged gasps. ¡°Listen closely, Amon. If you ever touch her again, you¡¯ll wish you¡¯d never been born.¡±

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    .<fnca6e> ?????? ???? Find_Novel(.</fnca6e>

    .

 Chapter 798

    ?Chapter 798:

    They may have shared the Briggs name, but William didn¡¯t hesitate to make it clear¡ªif anything happened to Ste, blood ties wouldn¡¯t save Amon.

    William flung him aside like trash. Amon staggered back several steps, coughing violently and clutching at his throat.

    Resentment flickered in his gaze, mingling with fear¡ªbut beneath it all glimmered a perverse satisfaction. His suspicion had been right. William cared for Ste enough to stand against him openly. That weakness was priceless.

    Even battered, Amon considered it worth the blow.<fncb1c> This update is avable on find{n}ovel</fncb1c>

    He lingered just long enough to throw Ste a lingering look before cutting a nervous nce at William. Then he turned and stumbled out of the cafe without another word.

    Only when Amon¡¯s figure disappeared down the street did William whirl back toward Ste. Her face was pale, and his fury melted instantly into worry.

    ¡°Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Were you frightened?¡± His hands closed over her chilled shoulders as he scanned her quickly, eyes raking over every detail as though afraid to miss even the smallest injury.

    For a long moment, Ste stood stunned. Then, with a sudden jerk, she shook his hands off.

    Her head lifted, and her calm eyes burned with anger¡ªanger at the deception, and humiliation at being manipted by both William and his cousin.

    She met his gaze with an icy stare, her breath trembling as she spoke. ¡°William, you Briggs are all the same. One sets a trap to deceive me, the other swoops in pretending to be a knight in shining armor. What are you really after¡ªmaking me a fool?¡±

    The bandits had long since dragged themselves away with Amon.

    Now only Ste and William remained inside the cafe.

    The silence grew thick around them, Ste standing rigid and cold, like a statue carved from stone.

    William¡¯s hands hung in the air, the trace of warmth from her shoulder fading while the sting of her rejection lingered. She had brushed him aside as though she were swiping away something foul, and the look she gave him carried only contempt.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t how you imagine it,¡± said William, his tone pleading.

    Stay tuned galnov??????.co??

    Ste¡¯s reply cut through his words like a de. ¡°William, spare me. I don¡¯t need your excuses.¡±

    Her gaze pinned him in ce, and the venom in her eyes struck deep, leaving a hollow ache in William¡¯s chest.

    William bit down on his frustration, forcing himself to speak again in a strained voice. ¡°That¡¯s not the truth. I didn¡¯t know Amon would appear. I hurried here because Luca warned me¡­¡±

    His voice faltered, and the rest of the thought never came.

    A cold smirk twisted across Ste¡¯s lips. ¡°Warned you about what? My whereabouts? You have people following me, don¡¯t you?¡±

    William parted his lips to argue, but no denial woulde. The truth weighed heavily. He had arranged for someone to shadow Ste¡¯s movements, certain that danger lurked in every shadow around her. His only wish was to protect her.

    ¡°The mighty William Briggs. You already suspected your cousin might chase after me, but you pretended ignorance. And today, you appear here on cue with your noble act. Do you really want me to bow in gratitude? Should I worship you for saving me?¡±

    .

    .

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 Chapter 799

    ?Chapter 799:

    Her replynded like ash, sharp and filled with her own brand of vengeance. William clenched his jaw, and a shadow of hurt flickered in his eyes. He understood she would dismiss anything he tried to say, so he held back his words.

    The risk he had taken weighed heavily. He hadn¡¯t acted when he first learned that Amon might seek her out. He had assumed his cousin would wait longer to make a move. That error struck him hard, as though he had been struck across the face.

    When silence stretched between them, William steadied himself and spoke again with practiced calm. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t stay here. Come with me, and I¡¯ll exin everything on the way.¡±

    A humorlessugh slipped from Ste as she pulled her coat close. She didn¡¯t even spare him a nce before striding toward the exit.

    Though her steps wavered, her back remained straight, carrying a defiance that refused to bend.

    Keeping a measured distance, William followed in silence. He stayed behind like a shadow, his eyes fixed on her slim figure, unwilling to let her drift out of his sight.

    The moment they stepped outside, the evening greeted them with emptiness. A cold gust swept by, and Ste shivered against it.

    Catching sight of her car in the vacant lot, she quickened her pace, pulled the door open, and slipped inside without hesitation.

    William stood back, watching her leave. He didn¡¯t call out or move to stop her. Instead, he turned and entered a ck Rolls-Royce stationed nearby.

    Pulling out his phone, he connected the line without dy. ¡°Luca, find the men who vanished earlier. I want their backgrounds. And keep someone on Amon. I need a report on his every move.¡±

    ¡°Got it, Mr. Briggs,¡± Luca responded without hesitation.

    Engines roared to life, breaking the stillness of the suburban lot. Ste¡¯s car shot forward, her urgency clear in the way she sped off, as if distance itself could shield her.

    William followed at a controlled pace, his gaze never leaving the glow of her taillights. His thoughts twisted into knots, heavy and unsettled. Was she running from the danger at the cafe or from him? The question pressed against his chest, leaving his breath tight and shallow.

    The thought of arriving toote chilled him. He didn¡¯t want to imagine the oue if he hadn¡¯t arrived in time. But every part of it traced back to him. Ste had be a target only because of his existence in her life. Amon would never have singled her out otherwise.<fnff70> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel</fnff70>

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    For the first time, William began to question if Ste¡¯s persistent desire to distance herself from him might actually be justified.

    Nearly forty minutester, Ste made it home. She secured the lock quickly, leaned back against the door, and slid down until she hit the floor.

    Relief didn¡¯te. Instead, dyed terror surged through her body, leaving her limbs weak and shaking.

    The memories of the day surged forward in cruel shes, impossible to shake off.

    With trembling fingers, she reached for her phone and pressed Sharon¡¯s number.

    The call rang several times before Sharon¡¯s voice finally came through, weighted with worry. ¡°Stel, did you run into him? Tell me what happened.¡±

    Tears threatened to spill as Ste struggled to steady herself. Her voice wavered, and she drew in a few shaky breaths before forcing the words out.

    ¡°Sharon, the witness you told me about¡­ he¡¯s William¡¯s cousin.¡±

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 800

    ?Chapter 800:

    The silence on the line stretched on, making every second feel unbearable. Sharon¡¯s breath hitched as though the truth had knocked the air out of her. When she finally spoke, disbelief clung to her words. ¡°Stel, I¡­ I swear I had no idea. Honestly, I didn¡¯t know. Tell me where you are right now. Are you safe?¡± Sharon¡¯s voice carried both panic and regret, each syble betraying how much she med herself for leaving Ste exposed.

    Hearing that raw mix of guilt and fear broke something inside Ste. Tears slipped free, streaking her face and falling to the floor beneath her.

    She forced her voice through the tightness in her throat. ¡°I¡¯m alright, Sharon. I made it home. Please stop ming yourself. Amon set everything up so carefully. We¡¯d never seen him before, so it¡¯s only natural we couldn¡¯t recognize who he was.¡±

    The kindness in those words only deepened Sharon¡¯s guilt. ¡°I can¡¯t believe William has a cousin none of us even knew about! What game is Amon ying? If he¡¯s targeting you, I won¡¯t sit back. I¡¯m already digging into his past.¡±

    ¡°Drop it, Sharon.¡±

    Ste leaned her head back against the wall, her voice heavy with fatigue. ¡°He¡¯s been nning this long before tonight, waiting for us to stumble. I¡¯ll investigate that ident myselfter. You don¡¯t have to get tangled in this.¡±<fna7c3> Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel</fna7c3>

    The thought of dragging her closest friend into the danger was unbearable, and Ste knew Sharon deserved to stay clear of it.

    But to Sharon, Ste¡¯s words sounded like disappointment over what happened earlier.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Stel,¡± Sharon said, her tone thick with remorse. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll pay closer attention next time. I won¡¯t let you down again. Don¡¯t take this on by yourself. We¡¯ll figure it out together, alright? Two heads are always better than one.¡±

    Ste pressed her fingers to her temples. ¡°Sharon, you¡¯ve done nothing wrong. I just don¡¯t want you dragged into this. I¡¯m exhausted. Let¡¯s talk tomorrow. I¡¯m hanging up. Good night.¡±

    She ended the call before Sharon could say anything more.

    Quiet reimed the room, broken only by the faint hum of traffic drifting through the window.

    For a long moment, Ste remained slumped against the door, the chill seeping through her frame. Atst, she pushed herself upright and walked toward the bathroom.

    Feel inspired by ga  ln o vels .

    Steam soon wrapped around her as warm water eased the stiffness from her body. With her eyes shut, her thoughts flooded with the faces of Amon and William. Until tonight, she hadn¡¯t even known William had a cousin, and the revtion struck harder than she wanted to admit.

    The truth became clear: the Briggs family was a nest of dangerous men. Amon¡¯s easygoing manner was nothing more than a mask, hiding a mind as calcting as William¡¯s. From here on, she resolved to keep as much distance as she could from both of them.

    Across the city, William still hadn¡¯t returned home. A ck Rolls-Royce rolled quietly into the Briggs Group¡¯s parking lot. The building was mostly dark, but one light still glowed¡ªthe CEO¡¯s office. William entered the office, and the atmosphere weighed down like a storm ready to break.

    He moved to the tall ss window, his broad frame casting a presence that warned others to keep their distance. Behind him, Luca lingered with unease, his palms damp and a sheen of sweat collecting on his forehead.

    ¡°I failed you today, Mr. Briggs,¡± Luca admitted. He lowered his head, unwilling to meet William¡¯s eyes as the man kept his position by the window.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 801

    ?Chapter 801:

    ¡°We had eyes on Ms. Russell, but we didn¡¯t anticipate that Amon would reach her through Ms. Mitchell. That¡¯s where we slipped.¡±

    After William¡¯s sh with Amon at the Briggs Mansion, he had quietly ordered Luca to arrange discreet protection for Ste. Yet Ste¡¯s keen instincts left little room for close surveince. To avoid raising her suspicion, the team had stayed in the background, watching from afar.

    No one thought Amon would make contact through Sharon. Ste¡¯s phone hadn¡¯t been monitored, leaving them blind to the setup.

    William remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the city lights beyond the ss. Between his fingers, a cigarette burned slowly, the trail of smoke curling around him like a shroud.

    Only after the silence stretched thin did he break it. ¡°What about the robbers? Have you found them yet?¡±

    Luca stepped forward without hesitation. ¡°We identified them as low-level criminals from the outskirts. They¡¯ve got a long record of robbery. ording to their statement, someone wired them a hefty sum to show up at the cafe, iming there would be something worth taking. The payment came through an offshore ount, and all signs point to Amon.¡±

    No one else came to mind. In Luca¡¯s judgment, Amon was the only one with those kinds of resources.

    William narrowed his eyes, repeating a few of Luca¡¯s words under his breath. A faint, icy curve appeared on his lips. ¡°So tell me. Is Amon trying to pose as the hero, or does he just want to fan the mes while everything is already unstable? Can you say for certain?¡±

    The question froze Luca in ce. He kept silent, unwilling to risk a careless answer.

    The image of Ste cornered by those three robbers shed through William¡¯s mind, and his anger swelled.

    With sudden force, he crushed the cigarette in his fingers, not even registering the sting as the ember bit into his skin.

    ¡°There¡¯s news from Curtis¡¯ hometown, Mr. Briggs.¡± Sensing the storm building in William, Luca hurried to speak again. ¡°Our team found the wooden box from the address we were given. Inside, they discovered the vintage film reel.¡±

    William stepped forward and set down a half-palm-sized ck case, wrapped securely in a protective bag. Under the glow of the office light, the small box gleamed faintly, still warm from being carried.

    Exclusive updates g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s.c?m

    William¡¯s gaze locked onto it, and the fury in his expression shifted into sharp concentration. He reached out with deliberate care, lifting the box as though a single misstep could break it.<fn9056> Content originallyes from find?novel</fn9056>

    ¡°Have it authenticated right away,¡± William ordered, his tone heavy withmand. ¡°Bring in the most credible restoration expert you can find. Record every step and report back as soon as the results are in. The markings and letters must be verified with absolute uracy.¡±

    Luca bowed his head in agreement. ¡°Everything¡¯s already in motion. I¡¯ve secured the leading authority in image restoration. I¡¯ll personally deliver the reel and remain on-site to guarantee nothing goes wrong.¡±

    William gave a faint nod, his eyes drifting back to the small reel, his features shadowed with conflicted thoughts.

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 Chapter 802

    ?Chapter 802:

    A flicker of unease ran through him, the thought striking that the reel¡¯s contents might confirm his darkest suspicions. If that happened, handing it over to Ste could drive her away for good.

    He pressed his fingertips to his temples, his tone dropping into something quieter. ¡°How are things on Curtis¡¯ end?¡±

    The hesitation vanished as quickly as it came, hisposure snapping back into ce.

    ¡°He¡¯s enrolled at a private tutoring center under a false name,¡± Luca reported. ¡°The payment convinced him toply, though he¡¯s uneasy that Amon might retaliate.¡±

    William dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand. ¡°Noted. Keep an eye on him, but deal with the reel first.¡±

    Curtis hadn¡¯t flinched when he demanded money, but now that he was back in school, the thought of Amon¡¯s revenge made him uneasy. The irony drew a quiet chuckle from William.

    Luca slipped out soon after, leaving the office heavy with silence.

    William turned back to the window, staring into the night sky that mirrored his tangled mood.

    Afternoon sunlight spilled into theboratory, where Ste carefully adjusted the readings on her experiment. A spotless white coat framed her figure, and her long hair was pulled neatly back, baring her smooth forehead. Only the clicking of instruments and the scratch of her pen filled the otherwise hushed room.

    A sharp knock at the door cut through the stillness.

    Ste¡¯sshes flickered, though she didn¡¯t lift her head. ¡°You maye in.¡±

    The door creaked open, and a low voice carried across the room. ¡°Sylvia, allow me to introduce Mr. Amon Briggs from Radiance Group. He¡¯s here to visit the institute and has taken great interest in your project.¡±

    Paul stood in the doorway, with Amon a step behind him. A familiar smile tugged at Amon¡¯s lips, calm yet edged with something sharper.

    Ste¡¯s fingers clenched around her pen, pressing it so firmly that it carved into the page. Only then did she raise her head, her gaze colliding with theirs. Amon¡¯s smile¡­

    Amon¡¯s smile lingered, touched with quiet arrogance, as his eyes swept over Ste before locking onto her stern expression.<fn1b54> Latest content published on find?novel</fn1b54>

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    ¡°Ms. Gilbert, what a pleasure to cross paths again.¡± Amon spoke with practiced ease,yering his words with the kind of false warmth reserved for old acquaintances. ¡°You¡¯re even more striking when you¡¯re absorbed in your work. It¡¯s no wonder William can¡¯t take his eyes off you.¡±

    Amonpletely ignored Ste¡¯s frosty re and barely spared Paul a nce. Without waiting to be invited, he sauntered into theb as if he owned the ce.

    Ste¡¯s frown deepened the second he entered. His presence was clearly unwee.

    Unbothered, Amon gave Paul azy wave, his focus locked on Ste. ¡°Mr. Hoffman, thanks for bringing me in. I need a private word with Ms. Gilbert about the project. You can go back to your work.¡±

    Paul hesitated but nodded, slipping out and shutting the door carefully behind him. His expression was conflicted as he left. After all, Amon was William¡¯s cousin. When he¡¯d shown up unannounced, Paul hadn¡¯t been in a position to turn him away. Still, the whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth. Maybe he ought to give William a heads-up.

    Once the door closed, the room¡¯s atmosphere tightened.

    .

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 Chapter 803

    ?Chapter 803:

    Ste put her pen aside, slid her hands into her coat pockets, and fixed Amon with a cold look. ¡°Mr. Briggs, if this is about funding, talk to the director. I¡¯m here for research, not entertaining visitors.¡±

    Amon didn¡¯t so much as flinch. He strolled right up to her bench, leaning in just enough to blur the line between casual and invasive. ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re always so distant, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    He reached out, trailing a finger across a piece ofb equipment she¡¯d just finished arranging. The scrape of his nail against metal grated in the quiet room.

    ¡°Groundbreaking research doesn¡¯t run on passion alone,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°It needs serious backing.¡±

    He tilted his head, keeping his eyes fixed on her as his voice dropped lower. ¡°And yours¡­ yours has real promise. Tremendous potential. I¡¯d love to see it grow.¡±

    He let the word potential drag a little, giving it a strange weight.

    ¡°Radiance Group has the power and connections to take your work further, as long as you¡¯re willing to¡­ be friends with me.¡±

    Amon was standing too close, and his heavy cologne mixing with theb¡¯s chemical smell made Ste feel sick.

    She caught the mocking look in his eyes, and her face turned cold.

    Taking half a step back, Ste put some space between them. ¡°Mr. Briggs, my project already has full funding. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±

    She paused, then added, ¡°This is ab. We keep things sterile here. If you don¡¯t have real business, please leave.¡±

    Amon gave a lowugh at her firm tone. ¡°Ms. Russell, you¡¯re always so eager to kick me out. That hurts, you know? I only came with good intentions.¡±

    Amon¡¯s eyes moved to a stack of project files on Ste¡¯s bench, where a photo of her in ab coat caught his attention. In the picture, she looked calm and confident, her gaze sharp and focused.

    He reached out and let his finger trace over her face in the picture, stopping at her cheek.<fn1964> Find the newest release on FindN0vel</fn1964>

    ¡°My cousin¡¯s got good taste. But women like you always draw attention. Tell me, Ms. Russell, what do you think would happen if something went wrong with you, your data, or your samples? Wouldn¡¯t that crush William?¡±

    Feel the thrill at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©q??o??

    Amon looked up, his eyes full of threat.

    He was pushing her, and she could feel it without question.

    A shiver ran through her as disgust and caution rose all at once. Ste was certain a man like Amon was capable of anything, and now he was using her research as leverage.

    Her expression grew darker as the weight of it sank in.

    Just as she narrowed her eyes, ready to snatch up a test tube and throw it at him, theb door burst open with a sharp bang.

    William stood in the doorway, a rush of icy air from outside sweeping in with him.

    William stormed into theb, his breathing uneven, every step radiating suppressed fury. His sharp eyes locked instantly onto Amon, who was leaning against theb bench as if he owned the ce.

    The air went cold in an instant.

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 Chapter 804

    ?Chapter 804:

    Amon¡¯s fingers, which had been restingzily on a photo, froze for the briefest moment. Surprise flickered in his gaze¡ªthen vanished, reced by the smug gleam of a man who thrived on provocation.

    He withdrew his hand slowly, dusting off his sleeve with exaggerated nonchnce. A mocking smile tugged at his lips.

    ¡°Hey, cousin. You¡¯ve got plenty of time on your hands, huh? What brings you here to Ms. Russell¡¯s littleb? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you¡¯re checking up on her?¡±

    The deliberate word choice¡ªchecking up¡ªmade Ste stiffen.

    Her brows knitted. How had William even known Amon was here? She hadn¡¯t expected Amon¡¯s sudden appearance herself.

    William ignored the jabpletely. His gaze slid to Ste, standing behind him, her body trembling ever so slightly.

    The faint anger lingering in her eyes only fueled the storm in his chest. Without a word, William strode forward and nted himself in front of her, his tall frame shielding her from Amon¡¯s view like an unyielding wall.

    His voice was low, controlled, but every word vibrated with restrained rage. ¡°Amon, this is yourst warning. Keep your dirty tricks to yourself. Stay away from her.¡±

    Then William leaned in close, his voice dropping to a cial whisper only the two of them could hear. ¡°Or tomorrow morning, the police will be holding every shred of evidence on your father¡¯s moneyundering. Tell me¡ªdo you think your old man will ever step foot outside prison again? And without him propping you up¡­ what are you worth?¡±

    Amon¡¯s smirk faltered. His pupils shrank, and for the first time, that smug mask cracked. Panic shed across his face before he could stop it.

    If Alonzo weren¡¯t William¡¯s uncle, William wouldn¡¯t have stopped at just warning. He might not have liked Alonzo, but blood was blood, and for that alone, he showed restraint.

    William preferred to keep Briggs family matters behind closed doors. Letting outsiders catch wind of their dirt would be disgraceful.

    But if Amon kept testing his limits, William wouldn¡¯t hesitate to rip that facade apart.

    Amon¡¯s smile slipped. His pupils shrank, the cocky mask he wore shattering for the first time under William¡¯s gaze. Panic bled through, raw and unguarded.<fna38c> Find the newest release on fin?novel</fna38c>

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    He snapped his head toward William, eyes zing with resentment. He hadn¡¯t expected William to dig so deep¡ªor to wield his father¡¯s crimes like a de at his throat. ¡°You¡ª¡±

    The word caught, his voice breaking off as if the rest had been strangled in his throat.

    William straightened, his tone colder than ice. ¡°Get out. Before I totally lose it.¡±

    Amon¡¯s face went from red to pale, his jaw clenched so hard it looked painful. He shot Ste a look¡ªsharp, poisonous. Then he spat through gritted teeth, ¡°William, you¡¯re ruthless. But Ms. Russell¡¯s business is her own. You can¡¯t guard her every second of the day¡­ can you? We¡¯ll see.¡±

    He shoved past Paul, who had appeared at the door, and stormed out without another nce.

    Theb fell into heavy silence.

    Paul nced between William¡¯s thunderous expression and Ste¡¯s pale face, clearly ufortable. He cleared his throat. ¡°Well¡­ as long as everything¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll just¡­ head back.¡±

    .

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 Chapter 805

    ?Chapter 805:

    Without waiting for a reply, he slipped away, leaving William and Ste standing there.

    The oppressive silence made the steady hum of the machines unbearably loud. Ste leaned against the cold metal bench, lowering her gaze, her mind still reying Amon¡¯s words and veiled threats.

    But behind William¡¯s broad shoulders, shielding her so firmly, she felt¡­ safe. Safer than she wanted to admit.

    That sense of security, however, only twisted the knot of helplessness in her chest tighter.

    She had promised herself she didn¡¯t need William¡¯s protection. She had sworn she wouldn¡¯t let the Briggs family drag her down again. She¡¯d heard William¡¯s threat to Amon¡ªespecially the mention of Alonzo¡¯s moneyundering. The words still echoed in her head.

    The Briggs family was rotten to the core.

    The Briggs n resembled a pit of snakes slithering through decay, always striking at one another. In that poisonous struggle, Ste was nothing more than a disposable piece on their board.

    To William, she might have been no different from a coveted treasure he refused to see in anyone else¡¯s hands.

    When William turned toward her, the turmoil swimming in her gaze stopped him cold. In that single nce, he realized she had twisted his intent once again. His chest ached, dragged down by a helpless weight he could no longer shake. William tried to remember how many times he had attempted to make her understand¡ªwhether about his tangled past or the chaos stirred up by Amon and the Briggs family¡ªbut every effort blurred into the next.

    For Ste, his voice carried no substance.

    Every exnation sounded empty to her ears, stripped of meaning.<fn4b1b> Official source is find¡¤novel</fn4b1b>

    The rift left William uncertain how to stitch their trust back together.

    ¡°You¡¯ve certainly got gall, Mr. Briggs, tossing your uncle¡¯s filth around just to control your cousin. Your family never fails to impress. Seems I¡¯m not only the spark that ignited your little feud but also a convenient pawn in your game. How ttering,¡± Ste scoffed, her tone biting like acid.

    Her venom didn¡¯t spare herself. The sharpness of those words cut into both of them, leaving wounds neither could ignore.

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    William¡¯s expression darkened, and he nearly spoke. He wanted to tell her the truth¡ªthat everything he did was to shield her from Amon, the reckless storm who would swallow her whole.

    Alonzo¡¯s old sins clung like stains that no amount of scrubbing could erase, each one woven tightly into the corruption of the Briggs Group. There was no way William couldy that truth bare for Ste now, and dragging her into that pit would only destroy her.

    Keeping her away from the Briggs family¡¯s shadows seemed the only way to keep her safe.

    William drew in a ragged breath, his voice roughened by strain as he forced the words out. ¡°The Briggs family isn¡¯t what you imagine. Amon¡¯s reckless. He¡¯ll stop at nothing. I only¡ª¡±

    .

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 Chapter 806

    ?Chapter 806:

    ¡°Only what?¡± Ste snapped, her lips curling into a cutting smile. ¡°Only decided to show up at just the right time? Or only used your power as another excuse to control me? William, if you¡¯d simply stayed away, none of your family¡¯s poison would have ever touched me.¡±

    Every syble struck William like ash, slicing through thest fragile threads between them.<fnb359> Read full story at find?novel</fnb359>

    Her eyes burned with loathing, and William felt the weight of her rejection squeeze his chest until breathing itself became a punishment.

    Paul¡¯s warning had sent him running the moment he heard Amon was with her. Even knowing she wanted nothing to do with him, he hade anyway, hoping to shield her from danger. Amon had spent years abroad, living without restraint, and William couldn¡¯t shake the fear that his recklessness might spill over onto Ste.

    William¡¯s voice cracked as though strangled by his own grief, the rest copsing into a stifled sigh.

    His gaze lingered on Ste, heavy with words he could no longer bring himself to say.

    When silence finally won, he turned away. His broad shoulders carried the loneliness of a man walking out of her life, yet still unwilling to let go of his need to protect her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve uncovered a few threads from the past. Give me a little more time, and I¡¯ll bring you the truth,¡± William promised.

    The tension in Ste¡¯s shoulders loosened at his vow, though her face remained hard and unyielding.

    Without adding another word, William pivoted and strode away, each step clipped and resolute.

    After his departure, Ste leaned back against the icy surface of theb bench and slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor.

    She drew her knees close, pressing her face into her arms. Around her, the silent machines seemed to echo her sorrow, like unfeeling witnesses to her copse.

    No matter how often Ste told herself not to falter, her resolve was slipping through her grasp.

    Time crawled, and eventually Ste pushed herself up and wandered onto the institute¡¯s terrace, desperate for air before Sandra and the others returned. There was no way Sandra could allow them to find her shattered like this.

    Every story starts at g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,

    To her colleagues, Ste had always been the model of brilliance, the tireless figure who never wavered.

    If they caught even a glimpse of this broken version of her, their respect would crumble.

    The thought of seeing that disappointment in their eyes was more than Ste could bear.

    After a week that left herpletely drained, Ste finally copsed onto her bed. She slept straight through the weekend, her body refusing to move, her mind drifting in a haze.

    When Monday came, she didn¡¯t see William. She didn¡¯t see Amon either. For a moment, it almost felt like Amon¡¯s so-called ¡°partnership¡± had been nothing more than a bad dream.

    .

    .

    .

 Chapter 807

    ?Chapter 807:

    But Ste knew better. Amon was waiting¡ªwatching¡ªfor the right moment. She couldn¡¯t afford to let her guard down.

    That evening, just as she wrapped up an experiment, her phone buzzed. A message from the Carter family¡¯s butler lit up her screen¡ªpolite, formal. ¡°Ms. Russell, your grandfather requests your presence at dinner tomorrow night. He says it concerns an important family matter.¡±

    Ste stared at the screen, frowning slightly.

    A Carter family dinner?

    She had only just reunited with the Carters. Other than Lance and Karson, she hardly knew anyone there.

    Something about the invitation felt off, as if trouble were waiting for her at the table.

    She remembered how Karson had once questioned her about William. Was this dinner just another way to drag her into the Briggs family mess?

    Ste wasn¡¯t thrilled, but she didn¡¯t have a choice. She was a Carter now.

    Dinners like that were unavoidable.

    She sent back a quick ¡°okay¡± and dropped her phone into her bag.

    Lately, it felt like she was cursed¡ªtrouble just kept stacking up, smothering her.

    Meanwhile, across town, the high-security forensic bureau buzzed with a different kind of tension.

    Inside a brightly lit, restrictedboratory, Professor Ritchie¡ªwell into his seventies but still sharp as a de¡ªwas hunched over a set of cutting-edge machines.

    On the enormous monitor before him, waveforms and data points flickered like a storm, shifting faster than most people could follow.

    To an untrained eye, it was pure chaos.

    Outside the bulletproof ss, Luca stood rigid, his gaze locked on Professor Ritchie¡¯s every move.

    His palms were damp, his body stiff from hours of waiting, but he didn¡¯t dare rx.<fn0f5d> Follow current nov?ls on Find[?]ovel</fn0f5d>

    Not when everything hinged on the results of that reel. Earlier, Professor Ritchie had carefully loaded an old film reel into a high-precision scanner. Since then, Luca had lost track of time. His legs were numb, but his nerves kept him standing.

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    Suddenly, Professor Ritchie¡¯s hands stilled. He adjusted his sses, zooming in on one magnified section of the film. His brows furrowed, his expression darkening with confusion.

    Luca¡¯s pulse quickened. He mmed the inte. ¡°Sir, did you find something?¡±

    Professor Ritchie didn¡¯t answer right away. He kept tweaking the settings, muttering under his breath. ¡°Strange¡­ the scratches here, they don¡¯t look natural. And this letter¡ªblurred¡­ is that an O? Or a D? Or¡­¡±

    His voice carried a rare professional skepticism, unusual for him to be so stumped by an old piece of evidence. Luca¡¯s heart sank. Had the film been damaged?

    If this crucial piece of evidence couldn¡¯t be restored, if the culprit¡¯s identity stayed hidden, then how was he supposed to face William?

    ¡°Professor Ritchie, please,¡± Luca pressed, desperation seeping into his voice. ¡°You have to make the image clearer!¡±

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 Chapter 808

    ?Chapter 808:

    Just then, Professor Ritchie¡¯s cell phone vibrated sharply on the console. His focus shattered. Annoyed, he reached for it¡ªbut the moment he saw the caller ID, his entire body froze. His eyes went wide with shock.

    Luca¡¯s chest tightened as he watched through the ss. Professor Ritchie¡¯s face drained of color. His hand trembled as he answered the call, lips pressed into a thin line. From where he stood, Luca couldn¡¯t hear the words. But he could see the fear¡ªthe disbelief¡ªetched into Professor Ritchie¡¯s expression.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luca called, panic rising in his throat.

    The film was so close to being developed. Yet one phone call had rattled Professor Ritchie to his very core. Who could be on the other end of that line?

    Inside the room, Professor Ritchie¡¯s body went rigid. All strength seemed to drain from him as his phone slipped from his trembling hand, hitting the cold workbench with a sharp tter.

    He turned slowly toward the ss window, eyes wide with terror as he looked at Luca. His lips quivered. ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s still alive¡­¡±

    Luca¡¯s brows knitted. Who was still alive? What did it have to do with the evidence?

    ¡°Professor Ritchie, the most important thing right now is to finish analyzing that film and develop the photos!¡± Luca urged firmly.

    But Professor Ritchie didn¡¯t seem to hear him. His raspy voice trembled as he forced the words out. ¡°Harold¡­ Harold Ellsworth¡­ he called me¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Luca froze in disbelief. His eyes locked onto Professor Ritchie¡¯s pale face.

    Harold Ellsworth? Curtis¡¯ father? The man everyone believed had died years ago. Curtis himself had attended his funeral¡ªhow could this be possible?

    Luca steadied himself and asked, voice low and urgent, ¡°What did he say to you?¡±

    Professor Ritchie¡¯s eyes were ssy, still trapped in shock. He lifted a trembling finger and pointed at the erged image glowing on the screen. ¡°He said¡­ don¡¯t touch the pattern on the film. Once it gets on your skin, it can¡¯t be erased. He said he¡¯s been hiding for more than ten years, and even now, he still can¡¯t get rid of it.¡±

    ¡°The pattern?¡± Luca¡¯s expression shifted, his eyes turning razor-sharp in an instant as he snapped his gaze toward the small film canister in the operating room, every muscle in his body going rigid.<fn985a> Latest content published on Find~Novel</fn985a>

    William had mentioned that the strange symbols and letters were tied to Alonzo.

    If the caller really was Harold, and if his words were true, did that mean Harold had been hunted by Alonzo¡¯s men all these years, forced to fake his death just to survive?

    But why appear now? Why leave such a clue?

    And how did he even know about the film in their possession?

    The mystery only deepened. Luca knew he couldn¡¯t figure it out on his own. The only choice was to tell William everything¡ªand wait for his instruction.

    The next evening, the Carter mansion was aglow.

    The hall bustled with dinner preparations. Ste, in a pearl-white knee-length dress, stood quietly at the edge of the room, detached from the lively scene around her.

    She held a full ss of champagne, her expression distant, already weary of the event and silently plotting an excuse to slip away early.

    Since it was a family gathering, the number of guests was small. Despite that, every minute there felt suffocating.

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 Chapter 809

    ?Chapter 809:

    Just then, a familiar voice rang out behind her,ced with mock surprise and casual arrogance. ¡°What a coincidence! Isn¡¯t this the lovely Ms. Russell? Ah, no¡ªI should call you Ms. Carter now.¡±

    Ste froze, her grip on the ss tightening. Slowly, she turned. Amon.

    As frivolous and mboyant as ever, he strolled toward her in a striking dark green suit. A ckce shirty beneath, its cor carelessly undone, a diamond ne glittering at his throat under the chandelier¡¯s glow. A yful smile tugged at his lips as he raised his ss of red wine, each step deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.

    A group of equally shy friends trailed behind him,ughing and chatting without a care.<fn302c> Updates are released by F¦ÉndNovel</fn302c>

    Ste blinked in surprise. Amon here?

    Was William here, too?

    Her heart tightened. She instinctively scanned the room, searching for his familiar figure.

    Noticing, Amon chuckled softly. He leaned closer, his breath brushing against her ear. ¡°Looking for William?¡± His tone was teasing, deliberate. ¡°Save yourself the trouble¡ªhe¡¯s noting tonight.¡±

    His eyes never left her face, studying every flicker of emotion as though she were a rare, fascinating painting¡ªone he couldn¡¯t look away from.

    Amon caught the flicker of disappointment in Ste¡¯s eyes. His lips curved faintly as he reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Ms. Russell, are you really that let down? Am I so unworthypared to William?¡±

    Ste brushed his hand away, her gaze sharp and cold. ¡°Mr. Briggs, get a grip on yourself. Show some respect.¡±

    Amon chuckled, tilting his head, his voice loud enough for people nearby to hear. ¡°Respect? I only wanted a few words with you. How is that disrespectful? On the contrary, you¡¯re the one snubbing your guests. Isn¡¯t that poor manners?¡±

    The friends lingering behind him all turned to re at Ste, their eyes shing with scorn.

    At the head table, Karson paused mid-conversation. His brow creased slightly when he saw Ste cornered by Amon, but he didn¡¯t step in right away.

    Find new stories on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m

    Ste¡¯s chest tightened. She knew exactly what Amon was doing¡ªflexing his Briggs family name on Carter ground, dragging her down in the process.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit lonely, drinking all by yourself at a party, Ms. Russell?¡± Amon ignored her frosty stare, deliberately raising his voice. ¡°Come, let me introduce you to some friends. They¡¯re all big names in Choria, from powerful families. Making connections could really help with your little science projects.¡±

    His tone was suggestive, drawingughter from his group. To them, her research was nothing more than a joke.

    Ste¡¯s grip on her champagne ss tightened until her knuckles nched. She fought the urge to fling the drink in his face. When she spoke, her voice was ice cold. ¡°Save your breath. We¡¯re strangers, and your entourage is none of my concern. Goodbye.¡±

    She turned to leave, but Amon stepped smoothly into her path, blocking her again.

    The smile stayed on his lips, but his eyes glinted with malice. ¡°So ungracious. Or is it that you only know how to show respect to William?¡±

    His gaze swept across the room with an amused look. ¡°Perhaps some of you don¡¯t know yet, but Ms. Russell and my cousin William have quite the¡­ extraordinary rtionship. For her, hepletely disregards his own family.¡±

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 Chapter 810

    Chapter 810:

    The whispers rose instantly. Curious stares, disdainful nces¡ªevery pair of eyes turned on Ste.

    Her face paled. A crushing wave of humiliation threatened to drown her, but she clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay upright. Shameless. That was all Amon was¡ªshameless and vile.

    ¡°Rx, I¡¯m just messing with you.¡± His smirk deepened, satisfaction glinting in his eyes. He snatched a brightly colored cocktail off a passing tray and tried to shove it into her hand.

    ¡°Here, have a drink. Give me some face.¡± He leaned closer, practically forcing the ss on her.

    Just as Amon¡¯s fingers were about to brush against Ste¡¯s hand, a sharp crack split the air. The cocktail ss slipped from his grasp, crashing to the floor and shattering into glittering shards. Sticky liquid sshed across Ste¡¯s dress. He had unconsciously dropped the ss as Ste¡¯s palmnded hard across his face.

    Ste flexed her stinging palm, her cold gaze locked on him. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for fun, you picked the wrong person. I don¡¯t care who you are¡ªwatch your mouth, or you¡¯ll pay the price.¡±

    For a heartbeat, time froze. The chatter in the hall died instantly. Amon¡¯s friends gawked, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief, staring at Ste.<fn1b32> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn1b32>

    Amon himself stood stunned, clutching his swelling cheek, disbelief etched across his face. ¡°You¡­ you dare hit me?¡±

    Never in his life had anyoneid a hand on him. Not even William¡ªWilliam only ever warned him with words.

    He was a Briggs. His family stood on equal footing with the Carters. In Choria, he was untouchable. And yet Ste dared p him in public.

    ¡°Speaking so rudely and acting so full of yourself deserves more than a p. Consider this the lightest punishment for your arrogance.¡± Ste¡¯s training with Rita had given her strength beyond the average girl, and Amon¡¯s cheek still stung from the blow.

    The onlookers shifted from shock to amusement, curious to see how Amon would respond to a woman bold enough to strike him.

    Surrounded by his friends, Amon refused to appear weak, and he lifted his hand to strike back.

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    Right before the p couldnd, a firm grip mped around his wrist, halting him mid-motion.

    The instant his wrist was caught, darkness flickered in Amon¡¯s eyes. He swung his gaze toward the one bold enough to stop him, and there stood Lance, shielding Ste with his broad frame.

    Lance stood tall, his presence like an unshakable wall that hid Stepletely from sight.

    ring down at the arrogant Amon, he shoved the man¡¯s hand aside. ¡°Mr. Briggs, we invited you here out of courtesy. If that means nothing to you, then feel free to leave.¡±

    Amon arched a brow and cast a nce at Ste from behind Lance¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, Mr. Carter, you¡¯re willing to challenge the Briggs family on behalf of Ms. Russell?¡±

    A sharp snort escaped Lance. ¡°Ste may not have reimed her surname yet, but she¡¯s my cousin and part of the Carter family. More importantly, you were the one who showed disrespect first. And tell me, do you really think you alone are qualified to speak for the Briggs family in negotiations with me?¡±

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