The doctor emerged from the operating room, removing his gloves as he spoke. "The wound missed any of Mr. O''Brien''s vital organs. He''s not in any real danger -he just needs some rest, and he''ll recover."


    As the nurses rolled Haynes O''Brien out, Rachel Pearce wasted no time. She elbowed past Ste Cameron, acting every bit thedy of the house, and rushed to Haynes''s bedside.


    "Haynie, Haynie, are you alright?" she cried, throwing herself at him.


    Jasper Wilkinson forgot all about his argument with Ste; he hurried over to check on Haynes as well.


    Once Haynes was wheeled into his hospital room, Ste hesitated at the door, wanting to see how he was doing. But Jasper blocked her path, grinning smugly.


    "You want to see Haynie, huh? You''ll have to ask me nicely. Who knows, if you beg, maybe I''ll be in a good mood and let you in."


    Foreman Richards had just finished speaking with the doctor when he caught sight of the scene and quickly made his way over.


    He was about to put in a word for Ste when she turned on her heel without the slightest hesitation.


    "In that case, forget it," she said coolly.


    Jasper stood there, stunned.


    Why wasn''t Ste ying by the usual rules?


    "Hey, waite back..." Jasper called after her, but Ste didn''t even pause. She walked away without so much as a backward nce.


    Foreman, seeing this, shot Jasper a quick parting remark. "I''ll go check on her."


    He hurried after Ste, his footsteps brisk.


    Jasper watched Foreman''s retreating figure with a flicker of confusion. Foreman had never been the meddling type—why was he suddenly so invested in Haynie''s affairs?


    Ste had just stepped out of the hospital when Foreman caught up to her.


    "Star, where are you headed? Let me give you a ride."


    She stopped. "I''m going home to shower and get some rest."


    It was only then that Foreman noticed the bloodstains on Ste''s clothes.


    "Let me drive you."


    "Alright," Ste replied, not bothering to refuse.


    Once the car was on the road, Foreman nced at Ste''s pale, exhausted face. Concern flickered in his eyes.


    "Star, why didn''t you wait for me? I could have talked to Haynie, maybe talked some sense into him."


    Ste shook her head. "No. He wouldn''t have listened-not to you, not to anyone."


    Nothing anyone said could change Haynes''s mind when it came to Rachel.


    Foreman fell silent for a moment. "There''s always another way, Star. You shouldn''t have acted so recklessly. What if Haynie "


    Ste cut him off, her voice calm


    and steady. "I wouldn''t have done it


    if I wasn''t absolutely sure.


    Don''t


    worry. He won''t press charges."


    Foreman''s fingers tightened briefly on the steering wheel, a subtle shadow passing through his eyes.


    "Star, how can you be so certain? Did Haynie say something to you?"


    He''d known the O''Brien brothers for years, and sometimes, as an outsider, he saw things more clearly than they did themselves. Haynes didn''tck feelings for Ste-not entirely. That''s why he kept finding reasons to put off the divorce. Foreman had tried half-heartedly to nudge Haynes a few times, but there were some truths he''d never voice aloud.


    Ste stared out the window, her profile cool andposed.


    "He was willing to hurt the people closest to me just for Rachel''s sake. He caused such amotion. But if he sends me to prison, Rachel loses the studio he got her, and she loses her music-everything he''s worked for goes up in smoke. Haynes is a shrewd businessman. He''d never let a moment''s anger destroy months of effort."


    That was her advantage the reason she walked away with her head held high.


    Jasper acted on impulse; Haynes calcted every move.


    Sending her to jail wouldn''t gain him anything—except the satisfaction ofshing out. And Haynes O''Brien didn''t make sacrifices for nothing.