Of course. Why hadn''t she thought of that?


    All Ste could do was y "Moonlight," over and over again.


    She probably just picked that one piece, practiced it obsessively, and learned to imitate it by rote.


    That made sense. How could Ste, a woman who''d spent five years as a


    housewife, possess some extraordinary gift for music?


    And as for Lauretta and the others, boasting that Ste was a member of the Neo- Vespera University Hall of Fame...


    Rachel gave a dismissive littleugh.


    Most likely, it was all because of Mr. Burton. Who would dare refuse him anything?


    The moment Mr. Burton spoke, no one would say otherwise.


    She''d really believed Ste had some real talent. Now, it was clear she was nothing special after all.


    Rachelforted herself with these thoughts, stubbornly refusing to admit that Ste might actually surpass her.


    She clung to her rationalizations, soothed her pride, and gradually felt her mood lighten.


    She nced over at Joshua, only to find him lost in thought, his expression unreadable. Who knew how much he truly believed?


    Joshua''s mind was elsewhere-caught up on the woman ying violin in the garden that night, not on her. He was never easy to fool.


    "If you''d like," Rachel said, “I could always try topose something of my own and imitate it instead. Or perhaps..."


    She paused, her gaze steady. "Are you thinking the person ying violin in the garden that night wasn''t me?"


    With someone like Joshua, it was better toy things out in the open than to y games.


    He looked at her with a faint, almost mocking smile. "I do have my doubts... After all, you don''t have the token."


    Rachel didn''t have the other earring.


    Back then, he''d been desperate to find her. All his investigations pointed to


    Rachel being the only person in the garden at the right time.


    He''d even found witnesses who confirmed she''d been there, practicing "Moonlight" the entire evening.


    When he confronted her, she admitted it.


    So how could there still be doubt?


    Could there really be such coincidences in this world?


    Rachel''s breath quickened, her fingers tightening involuntarily. "I can''t prove I was the one you''re looking for. If you don''t believe me, then..so be it. Thank you, for everything you''ve done for me these past weeks."


    ver


    With that, Rachel lowered her head and moved to brush past him.


    "Rachel." Joshua gently stopped her, his lips curled into a soft, easy smile. "I was only joking. Did you really take me seriously?"


    She forced a smile. "No, I just... I worry. What if you''re searching for the wrong person?"


    "There''s no ''what if."" Joshua''s dark eyes shed with a cold, dangerous glint. "The only ''what if'' is that you''re lying to me."


    He still wore that gentle smile, his tone warm and mild—but in the depths of his eyes, there was nothing but icy indifference.


    "Rachel, do you know what happens to people who lie to me?"


    The man before her was too dangerous. Rachel knew, staying close to him was like making a deal with the devil; one wrong step, and she''d be utterly destroyed.


    But she''d long since passed the point of turning back.


    With that thought, her resolve only hardened.


    She smiled sweetly. "I was only teasing you. You were joking with me, after all-I just thought I''d return the favor. Fair''s fair. You''re not upset, are you, Joshua?"


    Heughed, the darkness fading from his eyes.


    "Rachel, I love it when you go all-in like this. Alright, I''ll let this go."


    "But remember, we''re in


    Neo-Vespèra now. Ste has Met


    Burton''s favor these days, and her mentor is the Watson family''s son. won''t be easy to deal with."