Talking sense into a madman is like trying to reason with a brick wall, and the cops knew better than to waste their breath on an argument that was going nowhere.


    "Mr. O''Brien, we''ll head back now. Make sure to drop by the station to give your statement when you can."


    Not wanting to spend another second in the tense atmosphere of the hospital room, the officers briskly exited.


    Ste, equally uninterested in the melodrama unfolding before her, trailed after them, eager to leave as well.


    As she passed by Haynes, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist and asked, "Where are you going?"


    Her gaze was colder than a winter''s night as she looked at him.


    "I called the cops. As the one who reported this, I need to help with the investigation."


    Haynes'' deep, thoughtful eyes seemed to darken, as if he wanted to say something but held back with others in the room.


    He turned to Benson. "What are you waiting for? Get her out of here."


    Benson, not daring to hesitate any longer, ignored Rachel''s protests and dragged her away.


    Abby, watching the scene unfold, shrugged and left as well. She had thought Haynes had finallye to his senses when he let her off easy with just an apology to Rachel. But then, right in front of Ste, this whole drama yed out. Once everyone else had left, only Ste and Haynes remained.


    Ste stood silent, not bothering to say anything first.


    Haynes studied herposed expression, experiencing a peculiar blend of familiarity and remoteness. It had been a long time since he had seen her look at him in that way.


    Finally, it was Haynes who broke the silence. "How did you find Abby?"


    Ste met his gaze, a slight smile ying on her lips, though it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "Well, Mr. Foreman, a man of your influence couldn''t find Abby. How could a simple housewife like me without some help?"


    "When did you find out?"


    She looked at him, her eyes sharp as a hawk''s. "If I said Rachel told me, would you believe it?"


    Haynes frowned slightly. "Rachel told you?"


    "Why, don''t you believe it?"


    A fleeting silence passed between them, then Haynes finally spoke. "Maybe you misunderstood."


    "Misunderstood?" Ste''s eyes glinted like steel. "Why would I misunderstand her and not someone else?"


    After a pause, Haynes'' voice, cool and calm, like a stream flowing over smooth stones, filled the room.


    "My mother once hired people to kidnap Rachel to make us break up. She''s ustrophobic. I can''t just leave her to deal with that alone."


    "There''s nothing between Rachel and me."


    Ste let out a cynicalugh. "If I had to guess, thosete-night escapades of yours were for her, right?"


    Recalling Rachel''s clingy behavior, Ste''s voice dripped with sarcasm.


    "You im there''s nothing between you two, and you expect me to buy that?"


    Her relentless questioning made Haynes'' expression harden like stone. "Ste, are you interrogating me?"


    Her fists clenched unconsciously.


    Haynes noticed the scab on her cheek, and his taut expression softened a bit.


    "Ste, do you have any direct evidence proving Abby was involved in the kidnapping?"


    Ste pulled out her phone, opening her messages for him to see.


    "These are the messages she sent me."


    Haynes took the phone, his fingers scrolling through the screen.


    Before long, he finished reading through the texts.