He had never once brought Ste to an event like this.


    He''d always assumed Ste just wouldn''t fit in here.


    Her embarrassing mishap at Keen''s birthday party had only seemed to confirm his suspicions.


    But right now, he realized something.


    He''d been wrong again.


    Far from being flustered or uneasy, Ste appeared calm and self-assured, navigating the room with effortless grace.


    Rachel made her way over to Haynes, ready to ask him about his studio.


    But Haynes didn''t even notice her approach; his gaze was locked on Ste.


    A sh of envy and resentment flickered in Rachel''s eyes.


    Just then, a tall, handsome man with striking features strode up to Ste, a warm smile on his face.


    "Star, you made it!"


    Ste turned, and when she saw Noah, she greeted him with a smile as well.


    "Noah, you''re here too."


    She''d already decided to join Noah''s trantion team, and the two had grown much closer because of it.


    Noah made no effort to hide his admiration for Ste.


    "Star, I have a good rtionship with Mr. Walden. Come on, let me introduce you."


    He believed that when you pursued the girl you liked, you should give her the very best.


    Ste hesitated for a moment.


    Antoney, of course, could see right through Noah''s intentions.


    Normally, he would have stepped in.


    But now, instead of stopping them, he said, "Star, this is a great opportunity. Go."


    Antoney knew that with Ste''s talent, she was destined for far more than an ordinary life.


    Getting this far despite the obstacles thrown at her by people like Haynes and Jasper had already been no small feat.


    And in the future, when she finally made a name for herself, there was no telling if the Williams family would try to undermine her again.


    Every opportunity she seized now would be an asset for facing them downter.


    Unless, of course, she chose to settle for mediocrity.


    But that was impossible.


    She was like a brilliant star-never meant to be ordinary.


    Ste gave a small nod. "Alright, I''ll go."


    As he watched her walk away, Antoney clenched his fists in silent determination.


    He, too, needed to work harder-to


    be the strongest support Ste


    could ever have, so that no one!?


    would ever dare hurt her again.


    Remembering all that Sherman Burton and the Williams family had done,


    Antoney''s eyes darkened with cold resolve.


    He wasn''t strong enough yet he had no power to stand up to the Williams family or Sherman.


    But because they''d hurt Star, he would never let them off so easily.


    Ste had been cast out of her family because of a scandal that erupted at her own birthday party.


    Somehow, she and Aurora Williams''s fiancé, Sherman, had ended up in the same bed.


    Ste had told him she felt nothing for Sherman, that she didn''t like him at all.


    Nothing had happened that night, she insisted.


    She tried to exin, but no one believed her.


    When Skyler Williams saw what Ste had done, she pped


    Yan apology.


    across the face in front of


    Then, without hesitation, Skyler decided to switch the engagement, insisting Ste marry Sherman instead.


    Naturally, Ste refused.


    So Skyler gave her two choices: either marry Sherman, or leave the Williams family.


    Ste chose to walk away.


    Not long after, Ste''s mother passed away.


    Those days were a blur for Ste, lost in grief and confusion.


    Antoney couldn''t bear to see Ste suffer like that, so he decided to confront the Williams family and clear things up.


    But before he could see them, he overheard Sherman talking to a friend about Ste.


    That''s when the truth came out: Sherman had orchestrated the whole thing.


    Sherman had sneered, "If she''s


    kicked out of the Williams family and


    married off before she gains a


    foothold, she''ll never be a threat to


    Aurora."