Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his expression remained icy, his demeanor grave.


    "Ms. Cameron, Mr. Williams would like you to return home."


    Ste smiled politely. "Of course. As it happens, our car''s out of gas, so I''ll trouble you to give us a lift."


    The assistant blinked in surprise.


    He hadn''t expected Ste—who''d just caused a citywidemotion, toppling their cars and making headlines-to be so agreeable.


    He shot a look at the burly bodyguards standing behind him.


    They understood instantly, moving in to nk Ste and herpanions, ready to keep her from making a run for it.


    Ste acted as though she hadn''t noticed a thing and slipped into the car.


    Abby climbed in after her, taking a seat in the back, while Joshua settled into the front passenger seat.


    As soon as the car started, a convoy of vehicles closed in around them, boxing them in and making sure Ste had no chance of escaping this time.


    Yet all the way back, Ste didn''t make a single move. Her cooperation was almost unsettling.


    The morepliant she appeared, the more on edge the assistant became, half- convinced she was nning another outrageous stunt at any moment.


    Only when they finally pulled up in front of the Williams family estate did he dare to breathe a sigh of relief.


    When Ste, Abby, and Joshua stepped into the foyer, they found not only the Williams family assembled in the living room, but also Leonard and his sister, seatedfortably among them.


    The moment Ste entered, Leonard shed her a mocking smile.


    He lounged back in his chair, sipping tea as if he were settling in to watch a show.


    On the ride home, Israel had already received updates from his assistant.


    At first, everyone suspected Ste''s easypliance was a ruse-that she must be plotting to catch them off guard and stir up more trouble.


    But, to everyone''s astonishment, Ste had returned quietly and without incident.


    As soon as Israel saw her, he shot to his feet, striding toward Ste with every intention of pping her across the face.


    But before he could even raise his hand, Ste spoke.


    "Father, brothers, I ask you to stand up for me.


    Just after we dropped a friend off at


    the airport, a swarm of WD Et


    vehicles began tailing us. They


    rammed right at us, like they wanted me dead.


    We tried everything to shake them, speeding through half the city, but


    t let up. At one p


    they


    even sent a helicopter u


    Eventually, we ran out of gas and had no choice but to stop.


    us.


    Thank goodness my brother sent his assistant to rescue us, or I might not have made it out alive.


    Father, brothers, I''ve only just arrived in Solmaris. Who could possibly hate me


    enough to gather such a force and try to kill me?"


    She paused, then dered, her tone


    unwavering, "Please, Father,


    brothers, I beg you to find out.


    l.ne


    Who


    orchestrated this attack and help me


    get justice!


    We''re the Williams family—we can''t allow ourselves to be bullied by some petty criminals."


    Her words sucked all the air out of the room.


    Even Israel froze in ce, his footsteps halting mid-stride.


    Everyone stared at Ste in utter disbelief, as if they''d misheard herpletely.


    It was Leonard who finally broke the stunned silence, his voiceced with amusement.


    "Ms. Cameron, you''ve got some nerve, turning yourself into the victim here. Don''t tell me you honestly have no idea who was after you."


    Ste met Leonard''s gaze, her voice calm andposed. "I truly don''t know who was behind it.


    I''ve done nothing illegal sinceing to Solmaris-no crimes, nothing of the sort.


    Yet they set up roadblocks, sent a helicopter, and came after me as if I were some kind of fugitive.


    Mr. Lerman, perhaps you know who was after me?


    I''d love to hear it myself. Who in the world would go to such lengths just to catch me?"