Joshua''s phone buzzed not long after. He''d finally replied.


    His message was blunt: "?"


    Simone typed back:


    "Joshua, my older brother is Leonard. I''m sure you''ve heard-he was shot at the contract signing in Lythania a few days ago.


    He just woke up, and he says you were the one who tried to kill him."


    Joshua responded almost instantly:


    "Are you sure you haven''t got the wrong guy? Why would I, an ordinary person, go after the head of the Lerman family?


    Miss Lerman, your brother must think much more highly of me than I deserve."


    A faint smile tugged at the corner of Simone''s lips as she read his message.


    So Joshua still didn''t realize that she already knew the truth about him.


    This game was getting interesting-like a redemption quest in her favorite video games.


    Simone loved this kind of challenge.


    The more kindness she showed a so-called "ordinary man" like Joshua, the more moved he''d be by her. In the end, she was determined to make herself indispensable to him.


    Joshua had climbed so far, so young; that alone proved his skill and cunning were at least a match for Leonard''s. If the debutantes outside ever learned who Joshua really was, they''d be falling over themselves to win him over.


    The thought made Simone''s expression tense.


    If Aurora had known the truth about Joshua earlier, she never would have helped Simone get close to him.


    Simone knew Aurora''s standards all too well.


    There was no shortage of wealthy young men chasing after Aurora, but only a select few could ever hope to be her friends.


    Anyone who wanted a shot had to have the right pedigree, first and foremost.


    Second came looks.


    Young, handsome, single-that was Aurora''s checklist.


    No one wanted to date a greasy old man old enough to be her father, after all.


    The Williams family was one of the most powerful in the country; their circle was flooded with eligible bachelors.


    Aurora herself was aplished enough that no clueless old man would dare try his luck-her three brothers would scare them off long before they got close.


    And Joshua? He checked every box on Aurora''s list.


    A prickle of anxiety twisted in


    Simone''s


    gut. If Aurora ever decidet


    to go after


    Joshua, there was


    Simone couldpete.


    Just as she was about to type a reply, Joshua sent another message:


    "Besides, you''re the one I''ve been looking for. Why would I go after your brother?


    Look, if you really suspect me, maybe we shouldn''t talk for now. Reach out again if you ever clear my name."


    Simone''s smile lingered through the


    first


    rest


    but faded as she read t


    expression darkened, she


    to type a respos ace


    hurried to type a response.


    Just then, someone knocked on the hospital room door. Aurora stepped in.


    "Simone, how''s Leonard? Is he awake?"


    Simone looked up instinctively, her face stricken and lost.


    Aurora''s eyes narrowed. "What happened? Is Leonard''s condition worse?"


    Simone''s lips parted, faltering. "It''s not my brother... It''s Joshua-or, well, it''s both, really."


    Aurora, seeing Simone''s distress, quickly moved tofort her.


    "Simone, take a deep breath. Tell me what''s going on, and I''ll help you figure it out."


    Under Aurora''s soothing words, Simone gradually regained herposure. She recounted everything that had happened, step by step.


    Aurora listened, but didn''t answer right away. Instead, she fell silent, deep in thought.


    Seeing her friend''s serious expression, Simone''s anxiety only grew.


    "Aurora, do you think... do you think Joshua could''ve really done it?"


    Aurora asked quietly, "Simone, did Leonard say exactly how Joshua attacked him?"