Ste''s brow furrowed, just a hint of tension crossing her face.


    She fixed her gaze on Foreman. "Mr. Richards is friends with Haynes, yet he''s the one telling me all this... Should I trust Mr. Richards, or should I be suspicious of you? Is there some hidden agenda behind what you''re telling me?"


    Foreman understood-after what happenedst time, her guard was up.


    A flicker of guilt crossed his face. “After I ran into you at the hospital, I went straight to talk to Haynes. He refused to let Abby Murphy go, so I thought maybe I could help her escape on my own."


    "I had just managed to track Abby down when Haynes finally decided to let her go. But before I knew it, Abby had been taken again."


    "This time, though, it wasn''t Haynes who was behind it. I figured she must''ve crossed the wrong person, and I didn''t want you worrying unnecessarily, so I told you everything I knew."


    "I never expected you''d beat me to it and get Abby out yourself. I''m sorry. I should have done more."


    Ste''s expression softened at his words.


    So, just as Abby had said, when Foreman tried to help find her, Haynes had already let her go. She''d wrongly assumed Foreman was lying to her.


    But still...


    Ste stared at Foreman, unblinking. "You''re his friend. Why are you helping me?"


    Foreman didn''t look away. He simply let out a quiet sigh.


    "I just don''t want to see Haynes keep making the same mistakes. You and Haynes are married. You have a child together. I don''t want him to do something he''ll regret for the rest of his life."


    Ste''s brow creased again. "What exactly is he nning?"


    Foreman hesitated, then took a deep breath and told Ste everything he knew.


    She listened, her expression unreadable-no hint of anger or surprise, impossible to guess what she was thinking.


    Foreman said quietly, "I know you still don''t trust me. Time will tell if I''m telling the truth. In a month, you''ll have your answer. Just... be prepared, that''s all."


    Later, after they returned home, Ste brought up the conversation with Abby, questioning how much of it she could believe.


    Abby propped her chin on her hand. "Foreman has a great reputation-everyone says he''s honest and upright. I doubt he''d lie. It''s just..."


    Ste asked, "Just what?"


    Abby frowned. "It''s just, how does a guy like Foreman-such a gentleman-end up friends with someone like Haynes, or a scumbag like Jasper?"


    "They say birds of a feather flock together, but those three aren''t even from the same, let alone the same circle."


    Ste replied, "They grew up together. Jasper might have questionable morals, but when ites to friends, he''s always got their backs."


    Abby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, he''d take a bullet for his buddies, and stab them in the back over a woman. I mean, just look at Rachel-she''s a trainwreck, and yet he''s still groveling at her feet. Says a lot about his taste."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Foreman returned home and went straight to his study.


    He pressed a hiddentch on the bookshelf. The shelves slid apart, revealing a narrow passage leading to a secret room.


    He stepped inside.


    The room was cold and shadowy, the corners swallowed by darkness. Only the pool of light over the desk provided any relief from the gloom.


    Scattered across the desk were dozens of photographs.


    Foreman picked one up gently, his fingertips lingering over the image of a woman''s face. He took a slow, shuddering breath, and with reverence, pressed a kiss to the photo.


    If Ste were here, she would have recognized the woman instantly it was her.


    All around the room, lining the desk and covering the walls, were hundreds of photos. Every single one was of her.