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 Stella 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 Stella.”
Marc’s pride took the hit like a blade. 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 fancy last 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 glare. Thoughts of Stella being the Carter heiress, her distance from him, and William’s commanding 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. Stella 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 collar and slammed 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. Stella 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.
“William, stop! This is a hospital!” Stella’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 Stella and said in a raspy voice, “Stella, I’m fine. Don’t be upset.”
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“Enough!” Stella’s sharp voice cut through the air, her eyes cold as they fixed on Marc. She had no patience left for his manipulations, and no trust remained for him. His deliberate provocation only filled her with disgust.
Without sparing William a glance, she grabbed Marc by the sleeve and yanked him back. Her voice was firm, laced 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 place, fists clenched tightly, his face hidden in shadow. The image of Stella 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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