If she hadn''t shown up, the O''Briens would probably still be calling you a brother- chaser.


    No, scratch that a brother-obsessed freak.


    With inws like that, even an ordinary family wouldn''t be able to stomach it.


    The Williams family was seething with anger after Joshua''s blunt words, but couldn''te up with any rebuttal.


    Skyler spoke apologetically, "Star, this really is Dad''s fault..."


    Joshua smiled. “It''s easy to apologize with words, but shouldn''t there be some real action to back it up?"


    Jonathan was already fed up with Joshua''s incessant needling. But the truth was, they were in the wrong this time. Any more excuses would only make them look all the more hypocritical.


    He turned to Ste. "Star, what do you want to do?"


    Ste said, "Two conditions. First, Leonard leaves the Williams family. He''s never to set foot here again."


    Jonathan agreed immediately. "Fine."


    He called to the butler, "Show Leonard out. Now."


    The butler walked politely over to Leonard. "Mr. Lerman, if you''de with me, please."


    Leonard''s eyes were sharp as knives. "Ste, I''ll remember what you did today."


    Ste smiled as she met his gaze, light and unbothered. "By all means, remember it. You''ll have plenty more to keep track of in the future."


    She straightened, her smile bright and fearless, even as Leonard''s eyes turned cold and venomous.


    "So what if you''re the head of the Lerman family? So what if the Lermans and the Williams Group have all those business ties? If I tell you to get out, you leave- like a stray dog, tail between your legs. You''ll never step foot in this house again." "Oh, and didn''t you mention earlier that Simone''s been kidnapped too?"


    She raised an eyebrow, voice light. "I''m dying to know, Mr. Lerman-which will you choose to save first? Your beloved sister, or your precious sweetheart?"


    Aurora jolted awake, drenched by a bucket of cold water.


    She blinked, taking in the circle of towering foreign men looming over her.


    But she kept herposure. "Who are you people?"


    The men ignored her, murmuring among themselves as they nced over at Queenie.


    "She''s with the Burtons," one man muttered. "Boss said this has nothing to do with the Burtons. We''re not toy a finger on her."


    Another man frowned. "The Burtons? You mean that Burton family? If we nabbed the wrong one, we should let her go. I don''t want any trouble with them."


    "Can''t let her go now," a third said. "She''ll give away our location. Keep her locked up for now."


    After some debate, their attention shifted back to Aurora.


    A few of them looked her over, eyes raking across her figure.


    né


    "I hear she''s the most sought-after socialite in town," one of them leered she does look gorgeous artd that body damn. Do you think we''ll get a taste?"


    The man who looked like their leader cut him off sharply. "She''s off-limits. I''ve done my homework-her admirers are no joke. If wey a hand on her, her family and those men will have every oil tycoon and banker in the city out for our blood. We''re just here to rough her up a bit for the client. Anything more and we''ll be hunted to the ends of the earth."


    The others looked disappointed but knew better than to argue. As tempting as she


    was, their own skins mattered more.


    Besides, the money from the oil magnate and the financier was more than


    enough. After this job, they could disappear for good.


    The leader barked, "Set up the camera. Get ready to record."


    Queenie came to, jarred awake by the sound of piercing screams and men''s cruelughter.


    She opened her eyes-and saw a sight she would never forget.


    Aurora''s fingernails were being slowly pried up, one by one, with needles by several of the foreign men.