He spoke in a leisurely manner, “Our family—the Lermans—are the Williams family''s partners. How could we possibly be absent from an event like this?"


    He cast a sidelong nce at Joshua, who sat calmly nearby.


    Leonard was certain Joshua was the one who''d snuck into the hospital that night. What he didn''t know was why Joshua had helped Ste. Judging by the way Ste acted around Joshua, she seemedpletely unaware of who he really was. Leonard certainly wasn''t foolish enough to tip her off. If Ste ever learned Joshua''s true identity, a woman as calcting as her would never let go of such a powerful ally.


    Ste''s expression slowly grew cold and distant.


    She said nothing, simply gazing at Leonard in silence.


    Leonard stepped closer, leaned down so only the two of them could hear, and whispered, "Ste, even if I ruin your hand, so what? The Williams family won''t me me in fact, they''ll treat me as an honored guest. No one will stand up for you. No one will even see it as a big deal. No matter how far I go, they won''ty a finger on me. In their eyes, maybe... they''ll even think you deserved it."


    His voice was soft, but every wordnded sharp and precise, like a de pressed right to Ste''s heart.


    Suddenly, Leonard smiled. "Ste, I honestly didn''t expect you''d dare show your face to me again. Looks like the lesson I gave youst time wasn''t nearly painful enough. So, next time... what game should we y?"


    His gaze lingered on Ste''s face, his tone deceptively gentle.


    "How about a little game of disfigurement? What do you think?"


    Before he could finish, a loud p cracked across his face.


    Smack!


    The sound drew everyone''s attention, and the nearby guests paused their conversations to stare at the scene unfolding before them.


    Ste''s voice was as cool and clear as ice water. "Mr. Lerman, you barely escaped deathst time, and clearly, you haven''t learned a thing. Are you really that eager to die?"


    Leonard hadn''t expected this at all. He''d thought Ste would cower or run the instant she saw him-instead, she''d pped him.


    The onlookers watched in stunned silence. That was Leonard Lerman-the head of the Lerman family! Had Ste lost her mind?


    Leonard recovered quickly, icy anger shing in his eyes. He was about to step toward Ste when a tall, lean figure slipped between them.


    "Mr. Lerman," Joshua said, his tone courteous but firm, "getting too close to ady is rather inappropriate, don''t you think?"


    Leonard stared at Joshua, a flicker of unease in his eyes.


    But before he could react, a ss of red wine sshed across his face. The


    hair son liquid dripped from his


    ir and down his suit, leaving him utterly humiliated.  fo


    For a moment, the room fellpletely silent.


    Then, a startled cry shattered the hush.


    "Leonard, what happened?!"


    Simone rushed over, pressing a handkerchief into Leonard''s hand Trailing behind her were Aurora Coleman, and Israel. The three of them froze at the sight before them.


    Israel''s brow furrowed in anger. Striding up to Ste, he spoke in a voice cold as


    steel. "Ste, was this your doing?"


    Ste calmly set down her wine ss, her red lips curving into a faint, unapologetic smile. "Yes."


    "Apologize," Israel ordered, his tone icy. "Apologize to Leonard. Now."