Ste offered only three curt words: "I don''t know her."


    Haynes waited a few seconds, expecting more. When she didn''t borate, he frowned slightly.


    "Then why would Rachel say you two know each other?"


    Ste shot Rachel a frosty nce, her tone icy and dismissive.


    “Ask Rachel. What''s the point of asking me? I have no idea what goes on in her head."


    Her attitude was so hostile, Haynes found himself at a loss for words.


    Sensing the tension, Rachel put on her most pitiful act. "Ms. Cameron, I know you despise me—maybe you even wish I''d just disappear. But no matter how much you hate me, Keen is innocent. He''s your own son-"


    Ste cut her off coldly, her voice sharp as a de. "If you know I hate you, then do us both a favor and keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, I can''t promise I won''t do something you''ll regret."


    Rachel opened her mouth, as if to protest, but the dangerous glint in Ste''s eyes made her breath catch. For a moment, it seemed Ste really wasn''t bluffing.


    Rachel''s eyes darted as she considered her options. If she could provoke Ste into hitting her in front of Haynes, maybe that would prove Ste had orchestrated the kidnapping after all.


    But before Rachel could act, Ste''s chilling voice sliced through the silence.


    "Rachel, are you wondering right now how to push my buttons? Hoping I''ll lose it and hurt you in front of Haynes, just to prove how much I loathe you? Wishing I''d make your usationse true?"


    Rachel blinked rapidly, but managed to say, "Ms. Cameron, I''ve never wronged you. Why do you insist on assuming the worst of me?"


    Ste didn''t bother to soften her tone. "Ms. Pearce, if you''re going to keep ying the victim and stirring the pot, then there''s really no reason for this conversation to go on any longer. It''s a waste of everyone''s time."


    She turned to Haynes. "Kidnapping is a crime. If you really care, you should be calling the police-not bothering with me."


    Haynes'' expression was unreadable. "Rachel says you''re Keen''s mother. She doesn''t want this to blow up and be a public scandal. Frankly, I''d prefer to settle this privately too."


    "Settle privately?" Ste could hear the implication in his words and met his gaze evenly. "So you''ve already decided I''m the one behind all this?"


    Haynes sounded almost weary. "If I was sure it was you, I wouldn''t have asked you here."


    Ste''s gaze didn''t waver. "Then why am I here, Haynes?"


    He sighed. When ites to Keen''s safety, I think it''s only right to be thorough. If it isn''t you, all the better. But if it is, whatever grudge you have against Rachel, I hope you wouldn''t risk your own son''s life for it."


    Ste''s brow furrowed. "So tell me: if it really were me, how exactly did you n to ''settle'' this privately?"


    Haynes was silent for a moment.


    "Whoever''s to me, Rachel did get


    hurt trying to save Keen. Her concert ising up, and she''s not in the ... would


    best shape because of it. So... would


    you consider lending her the


    Nocturne Ste for her


    w no v


    performance?"


    Ste''s eyes shed with understanding, though her face remained impassive. Rachel had coveted her Nocturne Ste for


    ages ever since she found


    Ste owned it, she must have been dying to get her hands on it, just waiting for the right opportunity.


    Ste''s answer was final. "You can believe whatever you want, but I''m not lending


    that violin to either of you. Not now, not ever."


    Haynes tried to reason with her. "If you''re worried it might affect your own concert,


    I can make sure Rachel''s performance is scheduled after yours. That way, your ns won''t be disrupted at all."