"Haynie, are you not even going to see me anymore?"


    Rachel swept into the room, carrying a thermos in her hand, her posture elegant as always.


    Haynes''s eyes darkened. "Rachel, what are you doing here?"


    She spoke softly. "I heard your stomach''s been acting up again. I made you


    something soothing-thought you could use it."


    Some of the coldness faded from Haynes''s striking, austere features.


    "You didn''t have to go through all that trouble."


    Rachel smiled gently and unscrewed the lid, letting the steam curl up between them.


    "Keen told me your stomach''s always been a problem, and that Ms. Cameron used to cook for you. I spent a while at Mr. Burton''s ce, too, and learned some of those recipes. They''re supposed to help."


    She looked at Haynes, her eyes luminous with tenderness.


    "Haynie, I can make these for you and Keen from now on, if you''d like."


    If Ste could do it, so could she. Rachel never thought herself any less capable.


    Haynes''s gaze was as unreadable as ever. "Rachel, you should focus on your own health first. Don''t worry about all this."


    Rachel paused, biting her lip unconsciously. Ever since Haynes''s divorce from Ste, he''d grown distant. He still showed up when she needed him, but the special way he used to favor her was gone.


    Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile. "Haynie, do you remember, back in the garden, when I was practicing ''Starlight Serenade''? You said you''d never heard anything so beautiful. I had no idea it was your birthday that day—if I''d known, I would''ve yed you another piece."


    The mention of old times stirred something in Haynes''s eyes.


    His voice was low, nearly cool. "Back then, I didn''t realize you were the one who saved Jasper."


    Rachel''s smile softened. "Jasper said he


    bet


    hted to introduce me t


    his best friend. When I first


    I was a little int


    you,


    Those had been the most carefree days for all of them. Even Haynes, usually so guarded, let a trace of nostalgia flicker in his expression.


    Rachel caught the look and, lowering her voice, asked, "Haynie, did you ever find out who was behind what happened at my studio?"


    Haynes''s tone was neutral. "Yes. It was a few of your online haters-they put someone up to it."


    Rachel met his gaze evenly. "And... weren''t some of them Ste''s fans, too?"


    He fell silent for a moment. "Yes."


    A faint, wordless smile touched Rachel''s lips. "Haynie, do you still believe Ste had nothing to do with it?"


    Haynes''s expression gave nothing away. "Right now, there''s no evidence linking her to any of it."


    "But it was definitely her fans, wasn''t it?" Rachel pressed, voice quiet but insistent.


    Haynes''s eyes were dark, almost fathomless. "Rachel, you know as well as I do- suspicions aren''t proof."


    Rachel held his gaze. "So what, then? Do we just let the real culprit walk free?" He swallowed hard, but said nothing.


    Rachel''s longshes fluttered, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.


    "Haynie, I get it. She''s your ex-wife, Keen''s mother. Of course you want to protect her. If it were just the


    usual if she wanted to humiliate usual-if me again-I''d keep my mouth shut, like always."


    She looked up at him suddenly, her gentle eyes aze.


    "But you should know this. Even after years of illness, I never gave up performing. I''ve sacrificed


    everything for the violin-my<pfort, my health, even my life, if it<pes to that. But I will never let anyone insult what I love."