Jonathan spoke coldly. "Ste, was it you who hit Aurora with your car?"


    At the sight of Jonathan, Ste''s brows knit together, but she quickly schooled her expression back to indifference.


    "No."


    She hadn''t rammed into Aurora''s car-her target was Sellers.


    Of course, she hadn''t realized Aurora was in the car with him.


    If she had known...


    Well, she had always lived by the rule: don''t start a fight, but don''t back down either.


    Jonathan''s handsome face seemed carved in ice. "I''ve already sent someone to investigate. Ste, lying won''t get you anywhere this time.


    Sellers has already called the police. If youe clean now, I might still be able to help you."


    Ste let out a cold, mockingugh. "Since you''ve already decided I''m guilty, why bother investigating at all? Isn''t it a waste of time?"


    Haynes watched the exchange, an odd sense of déjà vu settling over him.


    A flicker of annoyance streaked through Jonathan''s eyes. "Ste, do you understand what it means if Aurora gets hurt? She''s not someone you can push around.


    If anything happens to her-even for our mother''s sake-there''s nothing I can do to save you."


    Ste scoffed. "Don''t make it sound so noble. Even if I did nothing, it''s not as if any of you would actually protect me.


    Back when Sherman framed me, did I see any of you try to uncover the truth?"


    Jonathan''s gaze darkened. "My father and I went through that case again and again.


    That year, you and Sherman were inseparable. You say he set you up, but Ste, usations need evidence."


    Ste''s eyes glinted with subtle mockery. "Yet here you are, interrogating me with nothing to go on.


    You standing here, pointing fingers, only proves that deep down, you already believe I''m guilty."


    Jonathan faltered, his expression stiffening for a split second.


    Just then, Haynes, who''d been silent all along, finally spoke up.


    "Mr. Williams, Star had nothing to do with it."


    Only now did Jonathan seem to realize Haynes was even in the room.


    Haynes continued, "Sellers'' car lost control. He crashed into us."


    Jonathan nced at Haynes, then at Ste.


    "I''ll get to the bottom of this."


    With that, he strode out of the hospital room.


    Not once did his eyes so much as flicker to Ste''s swollen wrist.


    Watching Jonathan''s retreating figure, Haynes frowned. "Has he always treated you like this?"


    "What of it?" Ste replied coolly.


    Haynes shook his head. "No wonder you never talk about your family."


    Ste''s expression remained calm.


    "Aurora''s lived with them for years, and they ve raised her to be perfect It''s only natural he''d take her side."


    She nced at Haynes.


    "To be honest, I always thought you and Jonathan would get along.


    After all, you''re not so different-he sides with Aurora, you with Rachel."


    Only now did Haynes realize why the scene felt so familiar.


    He''d once done the same-taken Jasper and Rachel''s word for it and confronted Ste without a second thought.


    After leaving Ste''s room, Jonathan went to see Sellers. Sellers had gotten the worst of it out of everyone.


    Though "worst" was rtive-he''d only been cut across the face by


    some flying ss. The wound


    looked frightening, but they weren'' life threatening.


    When Jonathan entered, Sellers didn''t look particrly surprised. Instead, he asked, "How''s Aurora?"


    "Broken her finger, but otherwise she''s fine."


    Sellers'' eyes tightened. "Will it affect her career?"


    "I checked with the doctor," Jonathan replied. “She''ll recover, but she''ll need to


    rest for a while."