No matter how disappointed Nora was in Jonathan and his two brothers, they were still her sons.


    So she invested a considerable sum to help the three brothers pass the entrance trials, paving their way into The Williams Group and earning them the respect of others.


    Having run her ownpany, Nora knew well that character mattered more than talent.


    If Jonathan and his brothers could establish themselves at The Williams Group, the road ahead would be much smoother.


    Nora''s estate was substantial, but supporting the three brothers had cost her a great deal.


    By the time she left something for Ste, it was enough to keep herfortable, but when Abby Murphy found herself in desperate need of money, Ste gave her everything-leaving almost nothing for herself.


    Joshua said, "You''re just like Mrs. Nora-a wonderful mother."


    "Maybe it''s because she loved you deeply, that you have such a capacity to love others."


    Ste nced at him. "What about you?"


    "Me?"


    "What was your mother like?"


    Joshua''s tone was quiet. "She probably wished I were dead."


    Ste''s expression shifted.


    She hesitated, wanting to say that there isn''t a mother in the world who doesn''t love her child. But the words died on her lips, too absolute to be true.


    There are plenty of mothers who don''t love their children. She couldn''t speak for everyone.


    Joshua continued, "I was never wanted. From the moment I was born, my mother


    saw me as a curse.


    The day I was born, my older brother was in a car ident and needed an emergency transfusion.


    His blood type was rare-only my mother could donate.


    She wanted to help, but she was too emotional, and I was about to be born.


    By the time she delivered me, my brother had already died from blood loss.


    Two yearster, both my grandparents passed away.


    When I was six, my father died in a freak ident.


    Ever since I was born, misfortune kept striking our family.


    My mother believed I brought disaster-she hated me, did everything she could to get rid of me."


    Ste frowned slightly. "How could


    any of


    be your fault? You were


    just a child-you couldn''t have el


    changed any of it


    to s


    Joshua gave a faint smile. "Maybe not, but she wasn''t entirely wrong. It did seem like everyone who got close to me met with some kind of tragedy.  s


    Even my mother eventually lost her mind.


    But I—I was impossible to kill. No matter what she tried, I survived.


    She tried to set the house on fire with me inside, tried to drown me-each time, some ident intervened and I survived.


    Later, she tried to run me down with her car. The brakes failed. She didn''t kill me -instead, she died herself."


    He let out a bitterugh. "Maybe I really am cursed. Maybe anyone who meets me is doomed to bad luck."


    Ste had never imagined that the bright, cheerful Joshua carried such a bleak childhood.


    She said softly, "I don''t think so. Honestly, since I met you, my luck''s only gotten better.


    If you hadn''t been there, I''d have been destroyed by their schemes a long time ago.


    I''m still here, aren''t I? That proves you''re not a curse."<fn266a> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn266a>


    Joshua replied quietly, "Maybe it just hasn''t happened yet."


    Ste smiled. "Could anything possibly be worse than what I''m facing now?"


    Joshua''s eyes darkened.


    Yes-Ste''s situation was dire.


    For the moment, she''d managed to


    seize a bit of control, but she was like a child guarding a mountain of


    treasure with no real way to protects herself.


    s


    Aurora, on the other hand, had her father and brother behind her, and a line of admirers ready to catch her when she fell.


    She never had to worry-she could dance her way to the finish, following the path others cleared for her.