Ste nced at her and then nonchntly looked away.


    "Ms. Cameron, are you here to see Keen and Haynie?" Rachel''s voice was gentle. "They''re not here at the moment. Would you like me to help you find them?"


    Ste replied indifferently, "No need." With that, Ste moved past her, heading downstairs.


    The music room was just below, where she nned to meet Marvin.


    Rachel hurried after her. "Ms. Cameron, could we talk?"


    "I don''t think there''s anything to talk about between you and me, Ms. Pearce," Ste said, her voice calm, not even turning her head.


    "Ms. Cameron, I need to talk to you about Haynie."


    "There''s nothing to discuss," Ste said, turning the corner and heading for the stairs. "Whatever''s between you two, I don''t care."


    "Ms. Cameron," Rachel suddenly grabbed Ste''s wrist, "five minutes. That''s all I''m asking."


    "Ms. Pearce, I''ve made myself clear. There''s nothing for us to talk about." Ste''s expression remained indifferent as she gently withdrew her hand.


    As Ste was about to leave, Rachel instinctively tried to block her path. However, her hurried steps threw her off bnce. She missed it and fell down the stairs! "Ah!"


    Blood began to seep from Rachel, staining the pristine marble floor, a shocking sight.


    Ste hadn''t anticipated this turn of events and paused, slightly startled. "Rachel!"


    At that moment, a small figure rushed to Rachel, looking anxious. "Rachel, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine," Rachel smiled faintly. "Keen, please don''t tell your dad about this."


    Keen''s eyes were brimming with tears as he looked at Rachel lying on the floor. He suddenly lifted his head, ring at Ste at the top of the stairs. "Why did you push Rachel?"


    Ste''s brow furrowed as she slowly descended the stairs. But before she could get close to Rachel, Keen quickly stepped forward, blocking Ste''s path, his face full of suspicion.


    His gaze was as if looking at a notorious viin. "What are you doing? I won''t let you hurt Rachel anymore!"


    Ste halted abruptly.


    A deep, calm voice sounded behind when Ste was about to speak. "Rachel, what happened?"


    A handsome man in a dark suit had just arrived. Seeing Rachel at the bottom of the stairs, Haynes'' eyes narrowed sharply. He stepped forward quickly, scooping Rachel into his arms, his voice firm. "Call an ambnce!"


    ...


    The light above the emergency room glowed a harsh red in the hospital.


    Haynes'' strikingly handsome face was tense, looking grim and resolute.


    Jasper, who had rushed over after hearing the news, wasted no time pointing an usatory finger at Ste. "Ste, you pushed Rachel down the stairs, didn''t you? You vile woman!"


    "You won''t stop until Rachel is truly hurt, will you? How could there be someone as disgusting and cruel as you? Have you no shame?"


    Ste met Jasper''s hate-filled gaze with a cold stare. It might have seemed she was Jasper''s mortal enemy to a stranger. "Talking about shamelessness, Mr. Wilkinson, you''d be second to none. Compared to you, I''m not in the same league."


    Jasper was nearly apoplectic with rage, but Ste remained unfazed, her demeanor serene, which fueled Jasper''s fury.


    He spat out, "Today, you''ll pay for what you did to Rachel!"


    Ste remainedposed, showing not a hint of fear.


    Jasper cursed, "ming others for your failures, like not winning over the person you love, and taking it out on someone else. That''s cowardly and ssless, truly beneath contempt."