If she messed up her performance tonight, there''d be no denying Ste simply


    wasn''t good enough.


    But...


    It seemed the Williams family would also be attending the g.


    Mr. Burton still had no idea that Ste was actually the Williams family''s long-lost daughter.


    And how would the Williamses react, seeing the daughter they''d cast out of their home-not only not living in disgrace, but thriving, stealing the spotlight? She wondered what kind of expressions would cross their faces.


    Unlike Ste and Abby Murphy, who were in the dark about the details of tonight''s performance, Neville knew exactly what was going on. As soon as he learned the performance schedule, he''d asked Mr. Burton for an invitation-making sure there''d be no repeat of the awkward scene from earlier.


    Just as Neville left the group, someone spotted him, eyes lighting up with recognition. The man strode over, full of enthusiasm.


    "Mr. Connolly! I didn''t expect to run into you here!"


    Ste nced over and immediately recognized one of Neville''s business partners.


    She excused herself. "Mr. Connolly, go ahead and handle your business. I need to get backstage and prepare."


    Neville nodded lightly. "I''lle find you all in a bit. If anythinges up, call me."


    "Will do."


    Ste headed down the hallway leading backstage.


    She checked the time-barely half an hour left until the curtain rose.


    Since only their group was performing tonight, the corridor was quiet and almost eerily peaceful.


    Somewhere nearby, she could faintly hear Marvin Connolly practicing his violin.


    Thinking of her senior, Ste felt a stab of worry. Antoney Watson had seemed distractedtely, and she doubted it was all because of what happenedst time. No, something else was clearly weighing on him.


    Ste and Antoney had grown up together-she''d always seen him as an older brother, someone far dearer to her than her own three blood brothers.


    Lost in her thoughts, Ste rounded a corner and identally bumped into someone.


    She instinctively apologized. "Sorry."


    But the person didn''t say a word.


    An odd tension settled in the air.


    Sensing something was off, Ste slowly looked up.


    She was met with the sharp, striking features of a man of mixed heritage. His eyes were dark and deep-set, his nose straight and prominent. A. diamond stud gleamed in his ear under the corridor lights, adding a sh of wild, roguish energy to his already striking face.


    Ste''s pupils contracted sharply.


    She''d know that face anywhere—even if it were reduced to ashes.


    The man standing before her was Sherman Burton, the one who''d


    de sought her out only to


    e her endlessly.


    Ste''s gaze hardened, growing colder by the second.


    Sherman, too, looked surprised to see her.


    "What are you doing here?" he asked, ncing toward the backstage dressing rooms. Realization dawned on his face.


    His eyes narrowed slightly. "Don''t tell me... you''re the one my grandfather asked to perform tonight?"


    Ste''s voice was cool and clear as crystal. "So, you''re Mr. Burton''s grandson."


    Sherman''s ga?e lingered on Ste''s exquisitely beautiful features. If Aurora Williams hadn''t told him that Ste was already married with a child, he would never have believed that the woman standing before him was anyone''s mother. Whatever else could be said, there was no denying Ste''s looks-she was every bit as stunning as Aurora, and her poise was anything but ordinary.


    Even standing beside Aurora, Ste wouldn''t have been outshone in the slightest.


    Her beauty was deceivingly disarming.


    He remembered how, back then, he''d almost let himself be fooled by her


    innocent, dazzling face.


    Sherman''s lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.


    "So, you''re trying to get back at me is that why you cozied up to my


    grandfather?"