Leonard''s brow furrowed in frustration.


    If he''d gone there himself, maybe he would have seen straight through their scheme. But he''d chosen to rescue Aurora first and left Simone''s situation in the hands of his most trusted assistant.


    He''d deliberately told the kidnappers he would arrange for a man to go, but that was just a ruse—another way to throw them off. In reality, his own team had already surrounded the vi, moving in silently, preparing every detail.<fn74c0> Official source is F?ndNovel</fn74c0>


    Leonard asked, "What''s Simone''s situation now?"


    His assistant replied, "We followed the leads and found another vi far from here, but it waspletely deserted by the time we arrived. The security cameras along the way had all been disabled, so there''s no way to track where they went. We have no idea where Miss Simone is now."


    Leonard couldn''t help but curse. "Useless! We''re in our own city, and you can''t even find a lowlife kidnapper?"


    The assistant sounded defensive. "Mr. Lerman, you sent all the best men to search for Miss Aurora. The ones left behind... they just aren''t as capable."


    Aurora had only been missing for a few hours before she was rescued. That was entirely thanks to the elite teams sent out by both the Lerman and Williams families.


    Leonard was silent for a few seconds. "Keep searching. Update me the moment you find anything."


    "Yes, sir."


    Leonard had barely hung up when someone knocked at the hospital room door.


    Ste and Joshua walked in.


    Everyone turned to look at Ste, their eyes cold and unweing.


    Yesterday, after Ste had sent Leonard away, she''d tly refused to act as bait no matter what anyone said. The only conditions she''d agreed to involved not holding Coleman ountable for trying to kill her.


    In the end, it was the Williams family, together with the Lermans and Burtons, who organized the search that finally found Aurora. But by the time they did, Aurora was already at death''s door.


    Coleman red at Ste. "Ste, did youe here to gloat over Aurora''s misery?"


    Israel snapped, "Is this what you wanted, Ste? Are you happy now that Aurora''s like this? Seeing her hand destroyed—she''ll never y the violin again just like you. Does? that make you feel better?  s


    Ste''s voice was calm. "Even if I can''t y anymore and she still could, Aurora


    would never reach my level."


    Israel''s face twisted with rage.


    "Are you enjoying her suffering?


    Would it make you happiest if


    Aurora had just died in that


    abandoned house? Don''t think that with Aurora gone, you''ll suddenly, be the Williams family''s darling! I''m telling you, Aurora is the only sister I recognize!"  s


    Ste looked at her brother''s furious face. "Second brother, when did you get so paranoid? Maybe you should take this chance to get your head checked at the hospital. Whether Aurora is here or not, I''m still the Williams'' daughter. Whether you admit it or not, my father is Sky and my mother is Nora. The real


    question is... about you."


    belongs to s


    She smiled at Israel, cool andposed. "Or are you suggesting you''re not really


    their son? Is that why you hate me so much?"


    In the past weeks, Israel had already lost face to Ste more than once. His resentment had reached its breaking point. Now, with her daring to joke about their parents, he snapped.


    Grinding his teeth, Israel snarled, "Don''t think that just because Dad favors you, you can do whatever you want! Today I''m going to teach you a lesson—for our parents!"


    With that, he raised his hand and swung hard at Ste''s face.


    Jonathan and Coleman''s faces changed instantly. In unison, they shouted, "Israel!"


    Ste didn''t panic. She simply took two steps back, unhurried and poised.


    A slender, pale hand shot out and caught Israel''s wrist in midair.