Ste''s gaze sharpened for a brief second before she turned to Joshua.


    "Joshua, you''re not lying to me, are you?"


    He shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Come on, Ste. Why would I lie about something like this?"


    She was about to press him further when Abby came running up, breathless and worried.


    "Star, are you okay?"


    Ste shook her head. "I''m fine, really."


    Trailing behind Abby were Antoney, Neville, and Haynes. Ste had barely begun


    to rest when she was called over; the group hardly had time to greet her before Neville shed her a grin.


    "Star, you look stunning tonight."


    Ste smiled back. "Thank you."


    Antoney chimed in, his tone earnest. "Star, if anythinges up, you have to tell me. Whatever I can do to help, I will."


    She nodded, her voice soft. "I know, Antoney."


    Haynes stood quietly, looking at the woman he thought he knew-now both familiar and somehow distant. A thousand words crowded his mind, but he couldn''t seem to say any of them.


    Ste met his eyes, nodded politely, and then looked away. Her attitude was neither warm nor cold-just the casual courtesy one might show an ordinary acquaintance.


    But Haynes felt a sudden ache in his chest.


    He remembered something he''d once heard: true indifference isn''t about calcted coldness or refusing to speak a word. It''s when her tone is light, her face calm, as if nothing ever happened.


    Maybe, he realized, she really had moved on.


    Neville handed Ste a small gift bag. "Star, congrattions on rejoining the


    Williams family. I got you a little something to celebrate."


    Everyone there knew what her return to the Williams family meant she was there to im her ce.


    His congrattions were sincere.


    Ste epted the bag. "Thank you."


    Antoney and Haynes also handed over their gifts, each one carefully chosen.


    Neville added, "In a few days, I''ll be done with work at Neo-Vespera and I''ll be based here in Solmaris. If you ever need anything, you can call me. And if you run into trouble with


    business stuff, just ask, se


    you''ll pick it up a lot faster with me teaching you than by reading those boring books."


    Ste didn''t refuse. "Thanks. I''ll take you up on that."


    Antoney wanted to help too, but he was only just starting out himself-he wished he could do more. Still, he''d managed to secure a major contract for her, thanks to his father, Nicolle Watson. It would give Ste a solid footing as she entered The Williams Group.


    Nicolle had always thought highly of Ste, and given her close friendship with Antoney, it was only natural. If Ste could establish herself in The Williams Group, it would be @win for the Watson family too.


    To support Ste—and to thank her mother for looking after Antoney all these years-Nicolle had generously given her a contract that rivaled anything Mr. Burton could offer.


    For Nora and Ste, who had once helped Antoney through his darkest times, it hardly seemed enough.


    Neville and Haynes were no different; both had arranged substantial deals for Ste. Veterans of the business world, they knew exactly what she needed most right now-opportunities and support.


    After chatting with Ste for a while, the group started to take their leave.


    Before he left, Haynes said quietly, "Star, I''ll be staying in Solmaris for a while. If you need anything, you know where to find me."


    Once everyone had gone, Abby finally let her curiosity get the better of her.


    "Star, I overheard some guests saying you pped Leonard and dumped a ss of red wine all over him. Is that true?"


    Ste nodded. "It is."


    Abby''s eyes widened in delight. "That''s brilliant! He totally deserved it. Did


    Leonard try to cause you any trouble afterward?"