In the end, Skyler was provoked beyond reason and thrown out of the house.


    Ste''sshes trembled violently.


    A sharp, icy light flickered in her eyes. "Where did you hear all this?"


    Leonard looked down at her, his gaze unreadable. "Why? Curious about who did it? nning to team up with your ex-husband or yourtest admirer to get revenge?"


    Ste replied coolly, "I just thought I should remind you, Mr. Lerman. Just because someone tells you something doesn''t make it true."


    Leonard arched an eyebrow. "Are you trying to suggest Aurora''s lying to me?"


    Ste met his gaze. "Aurora? Mr. Lerman, I never once said Aurora was the one who told you."


    She doubted Aurora would ever have said such things to him. Not that Aurora was too virtuous-hardly that but because it would be all too easy to expose her.


    Outsiders might not know the truth, but Skyler knew the whole story from start to finish. If he found out about all this through Leonard, what would he think of Aurora?


    Other than Aurora, no one would have gone so far to smear Nora''s name. While this might not shatter the bond between father and daughter, it would certainly drive a wedge between them and Aurora.


    Of course, Leonard wasn''t a fool. He might say these things to Ste''s face, but he''d never say them in front of Skyler.


    After all, he''d only learned about this years ago-by ident-overhearing a conversation between Aurora and her uncle. He had no idea if it was even true.


    Leonard looked down at her, exuding authority. “What''s this? Trying to y word games with me?"


    Ste replied, “Would you only be satisfied if I med everything on Aurora?"


    Leonard fell silent.


    He studied Ste intently for a long while, searching her face.


    Finally, he exhaled slowly, his words clipped. "You''re very cunning."


    He still didn''t believe her. He thought Ste was simply too good at hiding her true


    self.


    Any ordinary woman, in this


    situation, would be hurling


    usations at Aurora, or trying to tear away Aurora''s "mask." But Ste hadn''t said a single bad word about her. That made her all the more dangerous in Leonard''s


    eyes-someone with a mind as sharp as a serpent''s.


    Leonard''s expression grew cold. This woman dared to y games with him.


    Without warning, he tossed the Nocturne Ste violin in his hand onto the floor.


    The violin hit the hardwood with a dull, heavy thud.


    Ste''s heart clenched at the sound.


    Nocturne Ste was her


    treasure she never brought it out except for the most important asions. Whenever she handled it, she was careful, treating it as if it might break from the faintest touch.


    Now, Leonard had just flung it to the ground as if it were nothing.


    Ste''s fists tightened at her sides. She stared helplessly at the violin on the floor, her heart aching.


    Nocturne Ste had been crafted


    from the finest materials of its era-a world-famous instrument, not so fragile that one drop would destroy it. At least, the body hadn''t


    cracked and the strings real. ne


    intact.


    But before Ste could even breathe a sigh of relief, a polished ck dress shoe came crashing down on the violin.


    She froze.


    Her mouth opened in shock. "Don''t-!"


    Leonard pressed down hard. The violin let out a pitiful wail as one of the strings snapped.


    Tears sprang to Ste''s eyes, her vision blurring with pain.


    She jerked her head up, staring at Leonard''s cold, merciless face.


    "Leonard, if you''re angry at me, take it out on me. Why-" Her voice trembled,


    "Why take it out on something left behind by the dead?"


    But her words were met only by the relentless grind of his shoe.


    Leonard pressed down again, the violin''s wood groaning and splintering beneath his heel.