After signing the agreement, Ste left the room with Joshua in tow.


    This time, no one from the Williams family-or Leonard''s side-tried to stop them.


    The hallway was silent, the only sound the muffled thud of Ste''s heels on the crimson carpet.


    Joshua walked by her side. "Were they always like this to you?" he asked quietly.


    Ste knew exactly who he meant: the Williams family.


    "More or less," she replied.


    Back then, whether it was her, or Coleman, or Israel, they''d all been younger. People said what they meant, sometimes bluntly, often cruelly. Things were out in


    the open.


    Now, their attitude hadn''t changed, but the cruelty wore a mask of politeness. The malice was just dressed up in false concern.


    They walked in silence for a while before Ste finally asked, "Joshua, do you really have any proof?"


    He shot her a sidelong nce. "You''re only asking me now? Don''t you think it''s a bitte for that?"


    "It''s not toote," she said calmly.


    Joshua regarded her. "And what if I lied? What if I just bluffed and never had proof


    at all? Would you have actually sold your original shares to them?"


    Ste''s lips curled into a small smile. "Of course not. If you didn''t have any


    evidence, I''d simply back out of the deal."


    He stared at her, surprised. "Back out?"


    She nodded, unbothered. "That''s right. You don''t need to y by the rules with someone like Leonard. He''s never cared about principles or keeping his word-why should I? I''m just learning from the best


    A cool, mocking smile yed on her lips.


    "He loves nothing more than putting on a show-loves seeing people fall apart in desperation. If he''s so desperate to help Aurora get my shares, why shouldn''t I toy with him a little?"


    Ste couldn''t be sure whether


    Joshua actually had evidence; they hadn''t discussed it in advance. The reason she''d agreed so readily to the Williams family''s demand wasn''t blind trust in Joshua. She''d always intended to y a little game of her own with Leonard and the rest.


    "Transferring Shares is aplicated process," she exined, "As long as I don''t sign, as long as don''t cooperate, there''s nothing they can do. Besides, this kind of one-sided agreement would never hold up in court. I can''t prove Leonard kidnapped me, so I''m supposed to hand over my shares? It''s a joke. This isn''t a sale. It''s not even a negotiation. There''s no legal system in the world that would support something this unfair."


    She nced over at Joshua. "Now that I''m back in the Williams family, Leonard can''t threaten me the way he used to."


    She had never been the type to put all her hopes in someone else''s hands. The moment she agreed to Leonard''s proposal, she''d already decided she''d take responsibility for whatever happened next.


    She turned to Joshua, ready to ask what he''d really been after with his earlier words.


    But Joshua was already looking at her, a faint, gentle smile lighting up his eyes, their expression shimmering like sunlight on water.


    She paused, caught off guard. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    He smiled. "I thought you''d stick to your principles, no matter what."


    Ste looked away, her own smile tinged with irony. "Principles depend on the person. With someone like Leonard-someone without a shred of decency- holding onto your principles is just in foolish."


    Joshua said softly, "I was worried you''d still be weighed down by the past."


    "I''m not," Ste replied. Ever since Leonard destroyed her hand, she hadn''t carried any burdens.


    "But..." Joshua''s tone shifted, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "I do have evidence."