She was worried that Joshua might identally ruin her ns.


    Joshua nodded. "Understood."


    Then he added, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be heading out."


    "Go on, take care of your business."


    Once Joshua left, Abby, who''d been frozen in ce, finally snapped back to herself.


    "Oh my god, I can''t believe I actually let Joshua intimidate me just now... His presence is intense."


    The feeling she got from Joshua reminded her of the way Sellers made her feelst time unnerved and a little shaky.


    Ste withdrew her gaze. "Everyone has a temper. It''s normal."


    Abby gradually regained herposure. Rather than being angry at Joshua, she actually found herself admiring him more.


    "He keeps his word. Not bad at all—a hell of a lot better than that lying jerk Haynes ever was."


    Abby''s resentment for Haynes ran deep. Whenever she got the chance, she''d drag him through the mud again.


    Ste said, “Alright, I''m heading out now. I''ll leave the studio in your hands for the time being."


    Abby shed an "OK" sign. "Don''t worry, I''ve got it covered."


    Hospital.


    Rachely on the hospital bed, her eyes brimming with tears, gasping softly from the pain.


    When the door swung open, she looked up, hope flickering in her eyes.


    But when she saw who it was, disappointment washed over her face.


    "Joshua. It''s you."


    Joshua wasn''t surprised by her reaction.


    "Waiting for Haynes?"


    Rachel pressed her lips together, a shadow crossing her face.


    She nced at her burned hand. "Looks like Haynes isn''ting."


    She quickly looked up, meeting the sharp, pale features of the man before her.


    "Joshua, Haynes saw the video of me pushing Ste! What happened? Didn''t you say you deleted that recording? How did they get it back? And why is there a video now, too?"


    Joshua lowered his gaze, watching the agitation in Rachel''s eyes. His voice was cool and steady. "Getting that video deleted, even temporarily, was already pushing the limit. Do you really think Neville is just sitting around doing nothing? If I can find a skilled hacker, so can heAs for the extra footage..."


    He gave a faint, knowing smile. "Rachel, is sabotage really the best you can do against Ste? You''re too careless. You knew there was a risk of being found out, so why go through with something that only hurts others—and yourself? They''re already divorced. What''s the point in framing her now? Do you want


    Haynes to hate her even more? She


    doesn''t care about him anymore.


    Whether he hates her or not—it


    makes no difference to her."


    Rachel blurted out, "No! That''s impossible! Ste would never just walk away from Haynes―"


    Joshua cut her off. "She''s the eldest


    daughter of the Williams family.


    Antoney is the Watson family''s future heir. She has Neville watching over her. Leaving Haynes didn''t ruin her if anything, she''s doing better than ever."


    His tone was gentle, his obsidian eyes cold and emotionless, almost like a machine.


    "If you were in her shoes, would you really want to go back to a husband who doesn''t care, a son who doesn''t love you, and a mother-inw who treats you like trash?"


    Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out.


    Joshua''s clear, cutting words were like cold spring water seeping into her bones. "People only romanticize the past when their present is miserable. If life is better now than it ever was, who has time for empty nostalgia or regret?"


    He nced meaningfully at Rachel''s injured hand.


    "A smart person would never hurt herself just to win a man''s pity. I don''t want to see you ruin your hand. If you lose your ability to y the violin, you lose all your value to me. Do you understand what I''m saying, Rachel?"


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