Ste''s surgery was already over, and she was awake by the time Skyler and his father finally showed up.


    "We saw the news online that Star was injured and had to withdraw from thepetition," Skyler said, his tone a little too casual, as if he were exining away their absence. "So, we came to check on her."


    Online...


    So the only way they ever found out about Ste was through the inte?


    Were they really her father and brother?


    Abby''s irritation grew. She nced back into the hospital room, then raised her voice deliberately. "Star, you''ve got visitors. Do you want to see them?"


    If the Williams men didn''t treat Ste like family, Abby saw no reason to treat them with any warmth.


    Ste had already recognized Skyler''s voice; she answered calmly, "Let them in." Abby stepped aside, allowing the two men to enter.


    Watching the tall, broad-shouldered pair stride into the room, Abby realized that if trouble started, she''d be no match for both of them alone. She quickly ducked out, intent on finding backup.


    Inside, Skyler and Jonathan stared at Ste in shock when they saw her condition.


    They''d assumed she''d just hurt her hand—a minor injury, nothing more than a sprain that kept her from finishing thepetition.


    They hadn''t expected this.


    She was hurt. Badly.


    Skyler rushed to her bedside, his face painted with sudden concern. "Star, what happened to your hands? How did you get this badly injured?"


    Ste met his worried eyes, her voice steady but cold. "Leonard kidnapped me. That''s how."


    "Leonard?" Skyler''s brow furrowed at the mention of the name. Clearly, he didn''t think much of the man either.


    Jonathan pressed further, "What happened? How did you end up being kidnapped?"


    Ste saw no reason to hide the truth.


    "Leonard thought I was the one who


    exposed that Aurora was an


    illegitimate.child. He med me Aurora''s withdrawal from the


    fel


    She paused, letting her words sink in. "You both saw how he treated mest time, at the Williams house. This time, he went further-he kidnapped me and my friend, and destroyed my hands."


    Abby''s public statement had only mentioned Ste being kidnapped and seriously injured. She''d left Leonard''s name out of it.


    Haynes had been blunt with Abby, "Allegations like that don''t mean anything without proof. Unless you have hard evidence Leonard was behind it, you could be charged with nder."


    As much as Abby wanted to expose


    Leonard''s true colors, she had


    nothing concrete to prove he was responsible. Their phones had been tossedout as soon as the kidnapping began. Other than


    ve


    herself and Ste, everyone present had been loyal to Sellers or Leonard.


    Not a single one would admit to their involvement.


    Ste was a public figure now. They couldn''t use someone without evidence.


    So, all Skyler and Jonathan knew was that Ste had been kidnapped; they had no idea who was behind it.


    They''d assumed it was just some random criminal looking for a ransom. Neither of them had been all that worried. After all, this was Novaris, and with Haynes watching over Ste, they figured she''d be safe from any real harm. They never imagined that Leonard had been the one behind it.


    Skyler''s anger erupted. "That bastard! He''s crossed the line over and over again, treating Star however he wants, as if the Williams family means nothing to him!"


    Jonathan cut in, "Dad, technically, Star hasn''te back to the family yet. She''s not really a Williams. Maybe that''s why Leonard thought he could get away with this."