Ste''s hand trembled, and the water in her ss sshed onto her fingertips.


    Foreman seemed not to notice her reaction and went on, "Jasper told me that, from what Mrs. O''Brien said, it looks like she wants Haynes to marry Rachel."


    "Lately, it''s been Rachel taking care of Keen, and Deanna O''Brien seems to be encouraging Rachel and Keen to bond."


    Seeing Ste keeping her head down in silence, Foreman quickly apologized. "Sorry, I''m talking too much."


    Ste shook her head and looked up, her voice calm. "It''s fine. Their fondness for Rachel isn''t anything new-I''ve gotten used to it by now. It''s just Deanna''s change in attitude that caught me off guard. I always thought she''d pick a wife for Haynes who came from the ''right'' family."


    Foreman replied, "It seems Mrs. O''Brien''s opinion of Rachel has changed. She''s realized how exceptional Rachel is. And she''s worried that a woman who marries Haynes might not treat Keen well, or that Keen wouldn''t like her. That''s why she''s considering Rachel. Jasper told me Mrs. O''Brien has already started pushing Haynes to set a date and marry Rachel."


    Even though Ste was already divorced from Haynes, hearing this still left her with a strange sense of absurdity.


    Back then, Deanna hadn''t tried to break up Haynes and Rachel so what did it have to do with her now? Yet now she was ying matchmaker. The whole thing felt like some kind of twisted joke.


    A server arrived and began setting their meals on the table.


    It wasn''t until all the dishes were served that Foreman finally spoke again. "Star, the real reason I asked you out today is actually something else."


    Ste nced at him. "What is it?"


    Whenever Foreman reached out or called, he always brought her valuable information.


    He looked at her, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.


    "Star, do you know about ''Star''?"


    As she met Foreman''s gaze, Ste understood immediately.


    He knew her secret-she was Star.


    "I am Star,” she admitted without hesitation. "How did you find out?"


    Foreman smiled slightly. "Someone asked me to investigate Star.”


    Ste had a suspicion. "Let me guess... Haynes?"


    Foreman looked at her


    appreciatively. "Exactly. Haynes. Rachel wants to find Star and have her as her exclusiveposer.


    Three-year contract. Ten milline


    dors. No restrictions on participating inpetitions


    othermercial projects. Just one condition: aside from Rachel, you can''t be anyone else''s exclusiveposer."


    So it was Haynes who''d offered Abby such a staggering sum to get in touch with her.


    She couldn''t deny it: when Abby had first told her about the deal, she was sorely tempted. Ten million for three years-anyone would be. Haynes... was nothing if not generous.


    From what Foreman described, Haynes was offering her incredibly favorable terms. She could stillpete, still work on other projects. The only real restriction was exclusivity for Rachel.


    But Star-the person she was-never appeared in public. Just the name alone drew enough attention. If she started showing up at events, it would only bring more buzz to


    Rachel. For Rachel, it was all upside.


    Haynes, as always, was thinking of Rachel first.


    At the O''Brien Group, Benson knocked on the CEO''s door, looking troubled.


    "Mr. O''Brien, no matter what we offer, Star keeps turning us down. Today, she wouldn''t even take my calls..."


    Haynes looked up at him. "Reason?"


    "She keeps saying... she''s not


    we''d go with whatever


    and I said we


    genre Star preferred, but she still


    wouldn''t budge. I even told her she


    could name any terms she wanted,


    but it was pointless..."


    Haynes''s expression was cool. "Those are just excuses. She simply doesn''t want


    the job."


    "Mr. O''Brien, should I start looking for otherposers?"