Joshua''s handsome face was cold as ice. "Jonathan, don''t tell me you seriously don''t know about Shawn''s reputation as a notorious womanizer."


    He shot Jonathan a piercing look. "You left Star alone with him in a room-didn''t it ever cross your mind something could happen to her?"


    Jonathan froze, genuinely blindsided by the usation. It honestly hadn''t urred to him.


    But he recovered quickly. "This is the Williams family''s banquet. Star is the Williams family''s own daughter. Even if Shawn had a death wish, he wouldn''t darey a finger on her under our roof."


    Joshua''s voice was chillingly soft. "And if he did?"


    Jonathan''s jaw tightened. "If he did, the Williams family would never let him off. We''d make sure he paid."


    Joshua let out a low, mockingugh. "Oh, really? And how exactly? Would you kill him? Ruin him for life? Or would you just sweep it under the rug, like Leonard did, pretending nothing happened?"


    Jonathan was at a loss for words. He couldn''t answer.


    Joshua''s patience had worn thin. His eyes shed, dark and dangerous. "Take me to Star. Now. If anything''s happened to her-anything at all—I''ll show you what ''never letting him off'' really means."


    Not far away, Haynes had caught the whole exchange, and his own expression had grown tense and severe. He stepped forward, voice grave, adding pressure. "Mr. Williams, Star is Keen''s mother. If something happens to her tonight at your family''s banquet, the O''Brien family may not be as powerful as yours, but we won''t sit by and do nothing. Please take us to her. Now."


    Keen, hearing this, looked up at Jonathan, anxiety written all over his young face. "Uncle Jonathan, please, let''s find Mom. Hurry!"


    Jonathan nced around at the chaos that had erupted at the banquet, then at the three anxious faces before him. He pressed his lips together, hesitating, but finally nodded.


    The barrage of questions and usations had shaken his confidence. Could Shawn really be so reckless, even at the Williams family''s own event?


    He''d vouched for Shawn because


    the man had called him personally, apologized, and agreed to sign a new contract. As the Williams family''s eldest son, Jonathan couldn''t afford to just stand by and do nothing helping out this time was as much a favor to Ste as anything else. He certainly wouldn''t have bothered if it had been someone else.  s


    Still, part of him refused to believe Shawn would be so brazen.


    Without another word, Jonathan led Joshua and Haynes upstairs. On the way,


    Joshua tried calling Foreman, but the call went unanswered.


    What happened next, Jonathan knew, was something Keen absolutely shouldn''t see. Haynes agreed, so he took keen aside and settled him in an empty guest room upstairs, kneeling down to look him in the eye. "Keen, stay here. No matter who knocks, don''t open the door unless it''s me, okay?"  s


    Keen nodded, worried sick about his mom but determined not to get in the way. "Got it, Dad. I''ll wait right here."


    Once Keen was safely tucked away, Haynes hurried to catch up with Joshua and Jonathan, who were now standing outside the door of Star''s room, knocking. Ste''s phone kept ringing with no answer, and no one responded from inside.


    Jonathan''s face was grim, nearly ashen. Could Shawn really have lost all sense of reason? If anything


    happened to Star after Jonathan vouched for Shawn, he''d never be able to clear his name.


    belongs to s<fne20e> Official source is Find1Novel</fne20e>


    Seeing no answer, Jonathan muttered, "I''ll go find a staff member to bring a key


    He didn''t get to finish. Joshua pulled out a handgun, aimed at the lock, and fired.


    Bang!


    The lock shattered. Joshua kicked the door open and rushed in.


    Inside, Shawny sprawled on the floor,pletely unconscious.