Leonard was nothing short of a legend.


    Despite starting out as an illegitimate son with neither power nor influence, he''d managed to seize the head seat of the Lerman family in record time—a feat that bordered on the unbelievable.


    Of course, he was known for his ruthlessness.


    A rare look of gravity crossed Haynes''s usually calm face.


    "Star, someone has to take the fall for the scandal about Aurora being an illegitimate child. If we can''t find out who leaked the news, you''re the one who''ll be in danger. I''ve thought it through. I''ll go with you to the Williams estate, and, for now, I''ll im responsibility. You''re Keen''s mother. If I speak up for you, it''ll seem logical and justified."


    Ste instinctively shook her head. "No, if Leonard''s that dangerous, and you take the me, all you''re doing is putting yourself in harm''s way instead."


    Haynes''s deep eyes softened with a faint smile. "Star, you''re worried about me. That means a lot."


    Ste opened her mouth to say something, but Haynes quickly grew serious again, cutting her off.


    "Star, if we can''t find the real culprit, everyone will assume it was you. And Abby could be at risk too. With Leonard''s temperament, the fact that she once spoke poorly of Aurora is enough to make her a target, whether she spread the rumor or not. The way this information got out is extremely strange—it spread through outside channels. It''ll take time to trace the source."


    But time was exactly what they didn''t have.


    The longer this dragged on, the worse it would get for Ste.


    For now, Haynes could draw Leonard''s suspicion onto himself, giving Ste some breathing room. Leonard would focus all his energy on dealing with Haynes, leaving Ste out of the crosshairs.


    Abby listened, her expression growing conflicted. As Ste''s best friend, anything she said would be seen asing from Ste herself. Leonard would hold Ste responsible for Abby''s words. She realized she''d only made things harder for Ste.


    Ste turned to Haynes, shaking her head again. "No, I can''t let you take this risk for me."


    Haynes''s voice was calm, tinged with a gentle warmth. "This is Novaris, Star. Leonard''s chances of seeding here aren''t very high. Besides, I''ve been through worse situations before. I''m not doing this to y the hero or shield you from danger. I just want to buy us some time. If we can find the real culprit before then, the crisis will pass."


    Ste had a gut feeling things


    wouldn''t go as smoothly as Haynes


    hoped. She was about to say more


    when Jonathan''s assistant arrived.


    "Ms. Cameron, Mr. Williams sent me to escort you."


    Ste had no choice but to leave with the assistant, her words swallowed by uncertainty.


    ***


    The Williams estate.


    A soft knock sounded at the door. Aurora called, "Come in," and a tall, striking man stepped into the room.


    She set her book aside and looked up. "Leonard, you''re here."


    Leonard''s gaze fell on her delicate, pale face. "How are you feeling, Aurora? Any better?"


    Since that day, Aurora hade


    down with a terrible fever and hadn''t


    fully recovered. She''d dropped out of


    thepetition because of her


    illness, and the swirling public


    rumors didn''t help.


    She nodded. "Much better, thank you. And Leonard, about what happened that day... I really appreciate what you did."


    Leonard said, "Aurora, I came by today because I wanted to give you something."


    He handed her arge, square gift box. It looked heavy, but felt surprisingly light.


    Curious, Aurora opened the box. When she saw what was inside, she instinctively covered her mouth in surprise.


    "This is..."


    Leonard looked at her, his gaze steady and deep. "Simone told me


    the girl in this painting is you, and


    that you loved it. So, after thinking it


    over, I decided it ought to be yours."