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—love didn’t stand a chance against something that deep.
Stella 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, Stella had only ever truly loved two people—Marc, who betrayed her… and William. And neither had ended well.
“Stel,” Sharon wanted to say something, to offer comfort—but no words came. What could she possibly say? If she were in Stella’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 clarity.
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.”
Stella’s eyes stung. The tears slipped down silently, soaking into her collar.
An hour later, Stella 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—the 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?”
Stella 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?
Stella’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 accept your proposal. From now on, whether at the lab or at Nebula 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—stunned, 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—meant as a small gift for her—and 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 explanation. 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—but it felt like an entire world.
.
.
.