Without warning, a sharp pnded hard across Israel''s face.


    Smack!


    Joshua hadn''t even seemed to use much force, yet Israel went sprawling to the floor,nding awkwardly at Ste''s feet.


    With feigned surprise, Joshua remarked, "Weren''t you about to teach Star a lesson, Israel? Why the sudden show of respect? Are you feeling guilty about yourte mother and decided to kneel in her memory first?"


    Jonathan and Coleman''s faces stayed stony, neither saying a word.


    Why did Israel never seem to learn his lesson?


    Didn''t he realize that every time he tried toy a hand on Ste, it ended badly for him?


    And with Joshua around—well, everyone knew he was no ordinary bodyguard. Thest time Skyler had recounted the incident with an oil tycoon shing a gun, he couldn''t stop marveling at how skilled Joshua was. Not just anyone, even trained fighters, could stand a chance against him.


    The pain burning on his cheek finally snapped Israel out of his rage, if only a little. His eyes were bloodshot as he red up at Ste, seething with hatred.


    Coleman quickly stepped forward and helped him up. "Israel, you''re exhausted. Go get some rest. We''ll handle things here. When Aurora wakes up, I''ll let you know."


    Joshua''s p had left one side of Israel''s face swollen and red, but no one said a word against Ste. They all knew that if they dared speak, Ste would have plenty to say in return. Besides, this time it was clearly Israel who started it.


    Lately, Israel had been reckless and hot-tempered, nothing like his usual sharp andposed self. Maybe a little time alone would help him regain his senses. Skyler spoke up as well. "Israel, you should go home. There are too many people in the room-Aurora needs peace and quiet to recover."


    Touching his burning cheek, Israel realized howpletely he''d lost control. Shooting Ste a cold, resentful look, he turned and left without another word.


    Skyler acted as though nothing had happened, his tone gentle. "Star, did Keene here with you? Aurora woke up for a little while earlier-when she heard Keen was nearby, she said she missed him terribly."


    Ste replied, "Haynes has taken Keen for now."


    With Aurora''s kidnapping, Skyler probably wasn''t in the mood for cozy family moments. The Williams family might not be monsters, but who could say what might happen to a small child in this mess So Ste had called Haynes in the middle of the night and asked him to take Keen away, just to be safe.  s


    Off to the side, Queenie caught Ste''s name and gave her an appraising look. She''d seen photos and videos of Ste online


    before she''d always known Ste was beautiful otherwise Haynes wouldn''t have married her. But in person, Ste was even more striking than any picture. There was no trace that she''d ever been through a divorce, let alone had a child.  s


    Queenie''s eyes shifted to Joshua, standing quietly behind Ste. He was impossible not to notice-tall, poised, almost intimidatingly handsome. Sensing her gaze, he looked back at her. His eyes were fathomless, dark as a midnight sea, impossible to read and radiating a quiet menace.


    So this was the head of the Gardner family, the man Simone was interested in? Simone had always had high standards, especially after spending so much time with Aurora. Queenie knew that anyone who caught Simone''s eye couldn''t be ordinary. But just a nce at Joshua, and Queenie could tell-Simone was nowhere near capable of handling a man like this.  s


    She quickly looked away, refocusing her attention on Aurora.<fn7b9e> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find?Novel</fn7b9e>


    Coleman turned to Queenie. "Are you sure it was the oil tycoon and the financier who kidnapped Aurora?"