Just then, Foreman suddenly stepped in front of Ste.


    The de drove straight into his chest.


    Ste gasped in horror. "Foreman!"


    Seizing the moment, one of the bodyguards pinned the assassin to the ground.


    Foreman, as if numb to the pain, turned his head and looked at Ste.


    "Star, are you alright?"


    Ste stared at the knife jutting from his chest, her voice trembling uncontrobly.


    "I''m fine, but you..."


    Foreman''s face had drained of all color, yet he still tried to reassure her.


    "As long as you''re safe, that''s all that matters. I''ll be okay..."


    The would-be killers were quickly subdued by both Foreman''s and Neville''s security teams.


    Only when the danger had finally passed did Foreman''s strength seem to leave him-he copsed, unconscious.


    The harsh red glow above the operating room door burned into Ste''s vision as she waited outside, her face pale and drawn.


    No matter how many times Abby tried tofort her-insisting Foreman was tough and would pull through-Ste''s nerves were wound tight as a drum.


    Her voice was hoarse. "He''s already been hurt once for me. Hisst wounds aren''t even healed, and now he''s been stabbed again-because of me..." She trailed off, unable to continue.


    The image of the knife plunging into Foreman''s chest, right before her eyes, haunted her. She couldn''t shake it.


    Abby opened her mouth, as if to say something, but in the end, she too fell silent.


    The way Foreman had thrown himself in front of Ste, without a second thought, was nothing short of astonishing.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Abby said quietly, "Maybe we should call Neville. Let hime back."


    There had been far too many assassins this time.


    If it hadn''t been for Foreman, both she and Ste might have died right there. Leonard''s people were ruthless-first Haynes, now Ste. Did they really think this ce was their personal yground?


    Ste said softly, "And what if Neville ends up like Haynes... or Foreman?"


    She lowered her eyes. "I already owe both of them so much. I can''t drag anyone else into this."


    Her voice was barely above a whisper. "If Leonard really wants me dead, then let him do it. Just one life-mine-should be enough for him."


    Abby let out a long, quiet sigh.


    She had a point. This was Sandford, and even Foreman''s men hadn''t been able to sniff out the assassins.


    If Neville came, he might just be throwing his life away too.


    Time ticked by, minute after excruciating minute, until finally the light above the operating room flicked off and the surgeon emerged.


    "Mr. Richards didn''t suffer any critical injuries," he reported. "There''s no immediate threat to his life. He lost a lot of blood and will need plenty of rest."


    Only then did Ste and Abby allow themselves to breathe again.


    Ste turned to Abby. "Abby, help me move my things to the room next to


    Foreman''s. I''m going to take care of him for a while."


    Abby nodded immediately. "I''ll help you."


    Suddenly, Ste reached out and squeezed Abby''s hand. "Thank you, Abby."


    Abby just grinned. "Come on, what


    are friends for? You don''t need to


    thank me If anything, I''ve caused you plenty of trouble over the years, and you''ve always been there to bail me out. I don''t thank you every single time, do I?"


    She gave Ste a gentle nudge. "Star, you need some rest. I''ll watch over Foreman tonight. Tomorrow, we''ll switch. If you copse from exhaustion, I won''t be able t@handle everything on my own."


    The assassins had been after Ste, so Abby hade through e


    unscathed. But while Foreman had shielded Ste from harm, the


    emotional toll ofing so close to death had left her shaken and spent.


    Ste didn''t argue. "Alright."


    Foreman''s life wasn''t in danger, but his injuries were serious enough to keep him bedridden.


    He was luckier than Haynes, at least he hadn''t slipped into aa.