Everyone''s eyes were fixed anxiously on Ste.


    No one had anticipated Leonard would go this far.


    Ste stood with a gun aimed at her. Aside from a noticeable pallor, she stayed remarkablyposed her expression calm, not a trace of terror in her features.


    She spoke up, her voice steady. "No, it isn''t."


    Leonard narrowed his eyes. "Ms. Cameron, I told you I can''t stand liars."


    Ste''s reply was cool. "And I can''t stand having a gun pointed at me."


    Leonard''s gaze was cial. "If you don''t want to be threatened, you''d better answer my question."


    Her tone didn''t waver. "I already have. Perhaps Mr. Lerman has a hearing problem? Or-"


    She lifted her chin, meeting Leonard''s cold, murderous stare.


    "Or maybe my answer just isn''t what you wanted to hear? If that''s the case, Mr. Lerman, why don''t you tell me exactly what you want to hear? I''ll answer ordingly. Or, you could just go ahead and shoot me now-save us both the trouble."


    As her words faded, Haynes, Skyler, and Jonathan all turned pale, shouting in unison.


    "Star!"


    Leonard was already notorious for being unhinged, and Ste was only provoking him further-did she have a death wish?


    Leonard''s pupils contracted, a sh of icy malice in his eyes.


    This woman dared to challenge him?


    He spoke with a chilling calm. "Don''t think I wouldn''t pull the trigger."


    Ste smiled ever so slightly,pletely unafraid.


    "Then do it."


    Leonard''s grip tightened, cold light flickering in his eyes as he slowly squeezed the trigger. The click was loud in the tense silence.


    Skyler snapped, "Leonard, that''s enough! This is the Williams estate, not your personal yground!"


    Leonard ignored him, the gun still aimed squarely at Ste.


    Heughed softly. "Since you''re so eager to die, I''ll oblige."


    His finger twitched, ready to pull the trigger for real.


    Haynes'' eyes narrowed, just about to intervene, when suddenly a woman''s frail, sickly voice


    down from the staircase et


    "Leonard, stop."


    Leonard froze and looked over.


    In that split second, Haynes seized the opportunity, snatching the gun from Leonard''s hand.


    Leonard didn''t try to get it back; instead, his attention shifted to Aurora, who had just appeared.


    "Aurora, you''re supposed to be resting. Why are you out of bed?"


    He strode over, slipping his suit jacket around her shoulders.


    "You''ll catch a chill dressed like that."


    Aurora had been summoned by the housekeeper. When the


    housekeeper came downstairs, she''d caught sight of Leonard brandishing the gun at Aurora Skyler had shot her a look, urging her to fetch Aurora immediately.


    Leonard was a maniac-he respected no one, not even Skyler. Only Aurora had any sway over him.


    "Leonard," Aurora''s delicate face


    was set in grim determination. "What


    O you think you''re doing


    nning tomit murder


    home?"


    He gave a faint, careless smile. "Of course not. I was just having a little fun with Ms. Cameron."


    Haynes'' voice was sharp. "Is that what you call fun?"


    The murderous edge faded from Leonard''s face, reced by a hint of


    sheepishness.


    "It was just a joke. The gun''s a replica."


    Haynes frowned, examining the weapon in his hand.


    It looked and felt just like a real gun. But there were no bullets-it was, in fact, a fake.


    Leonard nced at Haynes. "Mr. O''Brien, see? I wasn''t lying. It''s only a prop."


    He spread his hands, sounding almost sincere. "I just wanted to scare Ms. Cameron a little."