"You... you actuallyid a hand on me? Do you have any idea who I am?!" Seymour''s eyes went bloodshot with rage. "I swear, I''ll destroy you!"


    Joshua''s lips curled into a faint, icy smile. His words were just as cold as his expression.


    "Let''s see if you''ve got what it takes."


    His contempt cut sharper than any de, stripping Seymour of every ounce of dignity.


    All his life, Seymour had never suffered humiliation like this-never once had anyone dared to treat him with such tant disdain.


    Ignoring the pain from his fractured arm, Seymour swung his other fist at Joshua in a blind fury.


    Joshua sidestepped easily and then, with one swift kick, caught Seymour just below the knee, striking his weakest point.


    "Ah!"


    Seymour copsed hard onto the ground, sprawled in a pitiful heap. Thest traces of his privileged upbringing vanished; now, he looked more like a criminal caught in the act than a golden boy.


    "Tell me your name if you dare!" Seymour spat, his voice squeezed through clenched teeth.


    His face was contorted with rage as he red up at Joshua.


    Joshua looked down at him, impassive. "And what makes you think you deserve to know?"


    Seymour''s eyes went wide with disbelief, as if he couldn''t process what he was seeing.


    He''d never met anyone so brash-no, it wasn''t just arrogance. This man acted as if the world revolved around him, as if nobody else even mattered.


    He didn''t just ignore Seymour''s status; he treated him as if he were invisible.


    Not far away, Simone stood frozen, staring at the striking, cool-faced man. She didn''te back to herself for a long time.


    The moonlight washed over Joshua''s sharply defined features, lending him an almost unearthly beauty-sopelling, it was nearly impossible to look straight at him.


    This was supposed to be her test for Joshua-a trial to see if he was truly worth her time and effort. She wanted to know if he''d risk his own safety, or cower in fear at someone else''s power, when a stranger was in danger.


    But even knowing it was all staged, Simone couldn''t stop her heart from pounding wildly in her chest.


    Joshua checked his watch, ready to leave, when suddenly Simone reached out and grabbed his sleeve.


    "Joshua, where are you going?"


    He nced at her. "I''m going to find Star. She''s still waiting for me."


    Star...


    The way he said her name, so naturally, made Simone''s breath catch. Jealousy red, sharp and unwee.


    She tried, Joshua, could you stay


    with me for a bit? I''m worried that if


    you leave, he..." She nced at


    Seymour. "He might try something again."


    "He won''t," Joshua replied. "I''ve already taken care of him. He''s not going to bother you anymore."


    Simone


    "But...


    heretated, her voice small. shows up, what am Ale


    still scared. If you leave me


    someone else like him


    do?"


    A flicker of impatience crossed Joshua''s eyes, but the night hid it well.


    "Miss Lerman, I told you-Star is waiting for me.


    If you''re afraid to be here alone, don''t you think she might be, too?


    If something happened to her, none of us could bear that responsibility."


    Simone opened her mouth to argue, but the words died on her tongue.


    If she pushed any further, she''d only make herself look selfish.


    Joshua didn''t spare her another nce. He turned and started to walk away.


    He''d only taken a few steps when the soft sound of footsteps followed behind him.


    He stopped, turned back, and frowned.


    "Is there something else?"


    Simone smiled awkwardly. "No, I just... I


    Don''t want to be left alone


    Joshua, I promise?


    won''t get in the way of your work."


    Star was Joshua''s boss, after all. No matter what, it wouldn''t be right to leave her


    alone in the garden.


    Joshua gave her a fleeting look, then said nothing more.


    He started walking again.


    Behind him, Simone''s lips curled in a secret, triumphant smile.