Rachel shot Ste a sharp, steely nce, her eyes glinting with cold determination.


    "I''d rather have nothing at all than let a murderer walk away free!"


    Haynes''s brow furrowed involuntarily.


    "Rachel, you need to calm down."


    "How am I supposed to calm down when you''re the one who got hurt?" Rachel''s eyes were rimmed red, her voice trembling with raw emotion.


    "Rachel..." Haynes parted his lips as if to say more, but Rachel, overtaken by her feelings, cut him off.


    She fixed him with a grave look. "Haynie, we can always find another studio. If we need a newposer, we''ll ask your old mentor for help. I can endure whateveres my way—but the one thing I''ll never ept is you getting hurt."


    Ste stood a few paces away, watching the deeply emotional exchange between the two. A sly smile curled on her lips, her tone icy as she interjected.


    "Ms. Pearce, if you give up on everything now, doesn''t that make all of Haynes''s sacrifices for you meaningless? Even that knife wound-just for nothing. Are you really willing to throw it all away?"


    Rachel red at her coolly. "None of it will be for nothing. I''ll make sure you pay for what you''ve done. And for Haynie''s sake, I''d rather lose everything."


    Rachel''s words sounded noble, but Ste could tell she was simply stung by her earlier taunt—she''d rather risk it all, just to one-up Ste.


    Ste let out a softugh. "Too bad what you want doesn''t really matter. What matters is what Mr. O''Brien wants."


    Rachel instinctively nced at Haynes, only to find his dark, unreadable gaze fixed on Ste.


    A knot tightened in Rachel''s chest. "Haynie, you don''t actually want to let Ste off the hook, do you?"


    Haynes''s eyes flickered. "Rachel, the concert is just around the cornery and we don''t even know if you''re healthy enough to make it through. We don''t have any more time to waste."


    Ste shed Rachel a faint, triumphant smile.


    "Ms. Pearce, see how devoted Haynes is to you? He''s even willing to put up with being stabbed by me, all for your sake. Normally, he''d never let me off this easily."


    Rachel bit her lip hard, tasting blood-Ste was unting her victory. Once, Rachel''s "illness" had won her so many advantages. Now, it was tying her hands.


    She drew a deep breath, her face set with resolve.


    "I won''t ept this."


    Haynes''s voice was low and steady "Rachel, don''t be stubborn. I


    volne


    remember you once said that


    love for music was above


    verything


    else. You''d sacrifice anything for it."


    Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came. She knew Haynes fell for her because of her unwavering passion for music. If she gave all that up just to spite Ste, she''d be betraying everything she stood for.


    Haynes''s tone softened a little. "Rachel, go wait outside. I need to speak with Ste in private."


    Disappointment clouded Rachel''s eyes, but she didn''t dare defy him. She turned and walked out, leaving the room in heavy silence.


    Once, she''d always had something to say to Haynes. Now, she couldn''t find a single word.


    It was Haynes who finally broke the quiet.


    "So, you''re that sure I won''t do anything to you?"


    Ste''s answer was light, almost careless. "Yes."