Haynes had once heard Ste mention that her rtionship with the Williams family was strained, but seeing it firsthand was another matter entirely. The ugly truth of who they really were stood before him now, impossible to ignore.


    No wonder Ste never wanted toe back. No wonder she barely spoke of them. The Williams family wasn''t a safe haven—it was a den of vipers.


    Haynes nced toward the emergency room, then back at the Williams family members in the hallway. A dull ache settled in his chest. The Williams family was a snake pit—but truthfully, had the O''Briens been much better?


    All these years, he''d grown used to Ste''s quiet sacrifices, barely noticing how much he overlooked her, how often her needs went unspoken and unmet. Only now, standing in this corridor, did the realization finally hit him.


    Ste never asked for much. All she wanted was a warm, normal family.


    And yet, because of Rachel, he''d forced her to endure andpromise, time and time again.


    Was he really any different from the Williams family?


    Sensing the tension, Aurora quickly stepped in, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Mr. O''Brien, this was truly Jonathan''s mistake. But he never meant to set Ste up. He only heard that Ste had been mistreated by Shawn and wanted to help her get justice. That''s the only reason he vouched for this."


    She sighed, shaking her head. "No one expected Shawn would dare take things so far. We''ll make sure the Pearce family gives us an exnation. We won''t let Star suffer for nothing."


    Haynes lowered his gaze, silent.


    Aurora had a point-Jonathan probably had no idea what Shawn was nning. ording to Foreman and Joshua, when Jonathan came to find Ste, the three of them-Foreman, Joshua, and Keen-were all present. If Jonathan intended to coborate with Shawn, he wouldn''t have been so public about it.


    Which meant Shawn likely acted on his own.


    Haynes''s eyes narrowed in thought. "I heard the Pearce and Williams families have been close for generations. For all Shawn''s vices, he''s never dared target anyone from the Williams family before."


    He swept his gaze across the room. "But this time, he lied to Mr. Williams and drugged Star. That''s a huge departure from his usual behavior."


    Everyone''s expression shifted as the implication sank in.


    Haynes continued, his voice low and measured." suspect someone put him up to it. And whoever could


    convince Shaw to ris.


    and attack Star must have


    considerable influence-andmust have promised him enough to make it worth the risk."  s


    His analysis left the group visibly unsettled.


    Not only had Shawn drugged Ste, he''d tried to record the whole thing to use as leverage—and then nned to marry her, which would give him control over the Williams Group. His ambitions were staggering.


    Haynes pressed on. "There are only


    two people who stand to gain from this: Sellers Burton or Leonard. Sellers is still recovering from his injuries and has a mountain. of trouble to deal with at hispany. He probably doesn''t have the time or energy for something like this right now."


    s


    He paused, his gaze darkening. "That leaves Leonard. He has plenty of motive- especially after the way Star embarrassed him recently."<fn25c9> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find_Novel(.</fn25c9>


    A heavy silence fell.


    This kind of underhanded scheming was just Leonard''s style.


    Israel finally broke the quiet. "That''s all spection. If you don''t have proof, don''t


    go around using people."


    were ice cold as he


    Haynes''s eyes w


    looked at Israel. "Funny. When you were so quick to suspect Star just now, I didn''t see you demanding evidence. You''d rather believe a man who hurt your own sister than trust your own flesh and blood."  s


    His voice was frosty. "And now you''re rushing to defend Leonard. Makes me


    wonder-were you involved in Star''s kidnapping too, Mr. Israel?"


    Israel''s eyes widened in outrage. "Haynes, that''s a filthy usation!"