Rachel flinched, the realization hitting her like a cold draft.


    She''d burned her hand, hoping Haynes O''Brien would be moved to pity, but she''d forgotten-Joshua Gardner''s kindness toward her had always been about her violin. Nothing more.


    He was cold. Detached. Sometimes cruel.


    That was why she''d chosen Haynes over Joshua, why she''d never let herself consider the alternative. She knew, deep down, that if she ever asked Joshua to marry her, he''d ept without hesitation. But the day her lies unraveled would destroy her—she''d rather die than live through that humiliation.


    Joshua might be helping her now, but there was never any real affection between them. Not romantic. Not even friendly. To be precise, he seemed incapable of feeling anything at all. Every favor he did for her was measured, mechanical, utterly devoid of warmth.


    She never doubted his words.


    Today, he could give her everything she asked for. Tomorrow, he could just as easily turn his back and pretend she didn''t exist.


    To him, she was nothing. Her only valuey in the music she yed, the fleeting emotions he experienced when she performed.


    Rachel lowered her gaze. "I understand. It won''t happen again.”


    But after a moment, she raised her head, her eyes shining with quiet desperation.


    "Haynie''s been so distanttely. I-I didn''t know what else to do. After the concert, he said he wouldn''t care about me anymore. I even pretended to be sick, but he hasn''t bothered to visit."


    So she''d resorted to burning her own hand, desperate for Haynes'' sympathy, hoping somehow to win back his heart.


    Joshua listened, expression nk. "Rachel, do you know why you keep losing?"


    She hesitated. "Because I wasn''t born a Cameron, and I don''t have enough people on my side?"


    Ste might not have officially returned to the Williams family, but she was already living like a true heiress. No wonder Lauretta Chapman refused to help her own fiancé was a Williams. Why would she risk it?


    Joshua''s reply was brutally honest. "You''re simply not as clever as Ste. As for Jasper Wilkinson, the only person you rely on... he''s an absolute fool."


    Rachel pressed her lips together, saying nothing. It was true—Jasper''s attempts to help had only made things worse. But he was all she had.


    She could take an illness to get Haynes to check in on her, even feign vulnerability for a little attention. But getting him to take on Ste for her? That was out of the question.


    And Joshua... he was beyond her control. She couldn''t manipte him, couldn''t even predict his next move.


    The thought made her uneasy. She looked him straight in the eye. "Joshua, why are you suddenly so close to Ste? Is this your so-called surprise? Because honestly, it feels more like a threat."


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Isn''t it a good thing? If I''m near her, I can feed you information."


    Rachel''s breath caught. "It''s too risky. If she finds out—"


    He cut her off, utterly unconcerned. "And what if she does? She''s not going to kill me, is she?"


    He was right, What could Ste possibly do? Joshua was head of


    the Gardner family-untouchable,


    really. No one outside the familyet


    even knew what he looked like, and those who did would never dare breathe a word without his


    permission.


    If Joshua managed to get her information, she''d benefit. If not, she''d lose nothing.


    Still, Rachel couldn''t shake her unease. She didn''t want Joshua anywhere near Ste.


    Just then, Joshua''s tone shifted.


    "Actually, sticking by her side hasn''t been a total waste. I did find out something interesting."


    Rachel leaned forward, anxious. "What is it?"


    Joshua nced at her, half-amused. "Rachel, haven''t you noticed? Foreman Richards has been secretly helping Ste all along."


    Rachel froze, surprise flickering in her eyes before her expression clouded over, growing dark and unreadable.