Under the flickering firelight, the man''s eyes shimmered with a brilliance that reminded Ste of a starlit night-deep and impossibly clear. Even his striking features seemed touched by gold, the mes casting him in an almost unreal glow.


    Joshua spoke quietly. "No need. Even if I tried to sleep, I doubt I''d get any rest." Ste let her gaze linger on his face. "Is your insomnia still that bad?"


    He shook his head. "Hasn''t changed."


    "Is it because you have too much on your mind?"


    Ste herself had rarely suffered sleepless nights—at least, not until her own troubles began piling up.<fn3262> Find the newest release on find?novel</fn3262>


    Joshua didn''t argue. "Maybe."


    She lowered her voice. "Do you want to talk about it?"


    Joshua fell silent.


    Worried she''d overstepped, Ste quickly added, "It''s okay if you don''t want to share..."


    Before she could finish, his crisp, clear voice broke through the quiet. "Would you ever forgive someone who hurt you?"


    Ste thought for a moment. "Depends on the kind of hurt. Not all wounds are the same."


    He looked away, then suddenly asked, "What about Haynes? Could you forgive him?"


    She answered honestly, “I don''t forgive him, but I don''t hate him anymore, either.”


    After Rachel Pearce''s lies were exposed, Haynes had done his best to make amends more than she''d expected. Ste hadn''t pretended to be above epting his help. After all, five years of marriage should have meant something; even a housekeeper wouldn''t have left with nothing.


    Everyone carries their own set of scales in their heart.


    Ste had epted what Haynes offered, but she never expected it as her due.


    His willingness to make up for the past came from his own conscience.


    In the end, love-if it survived-was all about conscience.


    But Ste understood now: trusting in a man''s love, or his guilty conscience was foolish. She could use his guilt to fight for a better future, a better career. But she would never rely on anyone''s charity to survive.  s


    Joshua listened to her quietly. Only after a long pause did he speak: "I... once helped someone, and in doing so hurt a person who meant the world to me. If I hadn''t helped that first person, her life would have turned out differently."  s


    Suddenly, Ste understood why he cared about forgiveness-he was just like Haynes in some ways.


    She said softly, "It''s not always ck and white. If you realized your mistake soon enough, maybe she''d still forgive you."


    Joshua''s lips curled in a sad smile. "I''ve done everything I can to make it right, but


    I don''t know if, once she learns the truth, she''ll ever forgive me."


    Ste''s brow furrowed. "She doesn''t know yet?"


    "No," he admitted quietly, his gaze locked on her. "Do you think I should tell her?"


    Ste hesitated, words caught in her throat. She didn''t know the details-how could she offer advice on something so important? What if herignorance made things worse. between Joshua and this woman? She would never forgive herself.  s


    After a moment she said, "I''m sorry, Joshua. I can''t answer that. I just don''t know enough about the situation."


    She didn''t try to hide her uncertainty or the reason for it.


    Joshua gave a ruefulugh. "Fair enough. I don''t even know what I should do, so how could you?"


    Ste managed a small smile. "If you already know you were wrong, then before you decide to tell her, just do everything you can to make it right."


    Joshua''s next question caught her off guard. "And if it was you? Would you forgive me?"