"Stop demanding this and that from me-you don''t deserve it."


    Israel''s face twisted with rage. He opened his mouth to retort, but Ste cut him off in that cool, dismissive tone of hers.


    "Maybe you should take a good look in the mirror. See for yourselves—are you treating me like family, or like an enemy?"


    Israel was left speechless, his words dying in his throat.


    Coleman and Jonathan looked equally grim, their expressions dark and stormy.


    Skyler hurried to smooth things over. "Star, don''t listen to your brothers'' nonsense. They''re just anxious, that''s why they''re saying things they don''t mean. Come on, bring Keen and sit over here. Let''s talk about how to rescue Aurora, and figure out our next steps together."


    Just then, Ste''s phone rang.


    Every eye in the room turned to her.


    Israel shot her a look of open annoyance.


    He said coldly, "Ste, don''t let me find out you''re colluding with the kidnappers. Or else—"


    He didn''t get to finish his threat. Ste had already answered the call and switched it to speaker.


    A woman''s gentle voice floated into the room.


    "Star, it''s Lauretta. I finished looking into what you asked. The people hunting you down..."


    Lauretta Chapman paused, then let out a soft sigh.


    "They''re from the Williams family-or else, they''re working for your third brother, Coleman."


    "I understand. Thank you, Lauretta," Ste replied.


    "Oh,e on affectionateugh. "You don''t have to thank me! After everything you''ve been through in Novaris, I always wshed could do more I''m d could finally help for once. If you ever need anything else, promise you''ll call me."


    Lauretta said with an


    "I will."


    They exchanged a few more words before Ste ended the call.


    She lifted her gaze, meeting theplicated expressions of everyone in the


    room.


    "Seems like the oil tycoon and the financier here won''t rest until they get what they want. I was worried they''d stir up more trouble with the Williams family. Since Dad''s been too swamped to find out who''s behind the attempts on my life, figured I''d lighten his load and asked Lauretta to help me investigate. Who''d have thought? Turns out the people trying to kill me... are family."


    She nced around, her eyes lingering on each of them in turn, feigning confusion.


    "So tell me, were you hoping I''d die in that car crash?"


    Being exposed in front of everyone, even Coleman looked ufortable for


    once.


    Hating Ste was one thing. Actually trying to kill their own sister—that was another matter entirely. If word got out about this, it wouldn''t just be a scandal; they''d be utterly condemned.


    At that moment, Jonathan stepped forward.


    "Star, this wasn''t Coleman''s fault. I heard you were at the airport and thought you


    were trying to run. It was a misunderstanding. I''m sorry."


    Joshua''s voice was cool, almost


    mocking. "A misunderstanding, huh?


    Someone nearly loses their life because of you, and all you have to say is sorry. Having family really pain. You get used as bait, nearly kiffed by your own Blood, and all you get is an apology."


    He turned to Leonard, his tone biting.


    "And when your enemy is friends with your family, you''re expected to forgive and forget. With family like this, you never catch a break-every messnds on your shoulders, and you''re the one left cleaning it up.


    Star, you''re lucky Rachel came along when she did, or Haynes would have never been the one at fault for the divorce."