And yet, Ste sat perfectly still, showing not the slightest intention of helping


    Israel up.


    Coleman kept hisposure better than Israel ever could.


    He watched Ste''s transformation, struggling to hide his shock.


    Was this really the same Ste?


    The old Ste would never have been so sharp-edged.


    Simone red daggers at Joshua.


    Joshua was actually taking Ste''s side?!


    Why?


    Shouldn''t he be standing with her right now?


    But Joshua acted as if he hadn''t even noticed Simone''s expression. He stood quietly at Ste''s side, calm and detached.


    Anyone who dared cross an invisible line toward Ste, he was ready to stop them-no hesitation.


    Aurora stepped forward and helped Israel to his feet.


    "Are you alright?" she asked, concern flickering in her voice.


    If Israel had only looked down on Ste before, now all that remained was outright contempt.


    Aurora nced over at Ste, lips parting as if to speak, but in the end, she said nothing.


    She knew Ste had her grievances with her, and anything she said now would only make things worse. Sometimes, silence was safer than adding fuel to the fire.


    Gossip was human nature. Themotion drew more and more onlookers, and some were already whispering into their phones. Word spread quickly, and people started drifting over from the cocktail party, curiosity piqued.


    Skyler and Jonathan noticed something was wrong and hurried over.


    When they caught sight of the crowd, both men paused in surprise.


    Especially Skyler-his expression changed several times as he spotted Leonard among the onlookers.


    Determined not to let things turn into a spectacle, Skyler pushed through the crowd and barked, "Jonathan, go help Mr. Lerman get changed. Star, Aurora, Coleman, Israel-you alle with me."


    Upstairs in the lounge, the atmosphere was thick with tension.


    No one spoke.


    Aurora sensed that something was off, but she held her tongue, wary of making things worse.


    Skyler, unable to find a gentle way in, finally turned to Joshua.


    Simone had taken Leonard to get changed, leaving only the Williams family in the


    room.


    Skyler gave a practiced, genial smile. "Joshua, is it? Would you mind stepping out for a moment? We need a little privacy for a family meeting."


    Skyler had been the family patriarch for years, a fox in a gentleman''s suit. No matter who he was dealing with, he always wore the same approachable mask.


    But Joshua didn''t budge. "Sorry, I''m Star''s bodyguard. I''ll be staying right here to make sure she''s safe."


    He paused, gaze sweeping over every Williams in the room.


    "After all, there are five of you and only one of her. If I leave, who''s to stop you from ganging up on her?"


    Jonathan''s face darkened. "What kind of nonsense is that? We would never hurt Star!"


    Joshua''s voice was even. "If that''s true, then why did you throw her out in the first ce?"


    Jonathan turned to Ste, his eyes dark and heavy. "Ste, should our family business be aired in front of outsiders? And don''t pretend you don''t remember why you left in the first ce."


    Ste smiled, calm and collected. "First, Joshua is my bodyguard, not an outsider. He''ll be privy to a lot more than this in the future. Second, I''ve already exined why I left the


    family. The problem is, a


    would rather believe Sherman, a stranger, than your own kin."


    She looked Jonathan straight in the eye. "And honestly, Joshua has a point. Whether it''s a battle of words or fists, I''d never stand a chance against the five of you on my own."