Ste looked into Joshua''s eyes and said softly, "If it were you... I would."


    Joshua froze for a moment, then let out a gentleugh.


    He knew, deep down, that this was probably just a well-meaning lie.


    Yet in that instant, he realized he''d never heard a lie sound quite so beautiful.


    No wonder some people wee sweet lies, savoring them as if they were honey.


    Now, for the first time, he understood that feeling.


    That night, even though he was sleeping in a drafty, ufortable cave, Joshua slept more soundly than he had in years.


    A strange thought urred to him: If only he could stay in this moment forever— how wonderful would that be?


    The next morning, when Ste woke, the sunlight outside was painfully bright.


    She shifted slightly, noticing the dizziness had faded quite a bit, though her body still felt weak and limp.


    Joshua walked in carrying a pitcher of water. When he saw she was awake, he said, "Your fever''s gone, but you''re still very weak."


    Ste looked at him warily. "We''re not staying here another day, are we?"


    Joshua''s dark eyes were as deep as a midnightke. "And what if I said yes?"


    Ste blurted out, "No way. We have to leave today."


    Two days and a night was already pushing it. She''d been missing too long-by now, the world outside was probably erupting into chaos.


    Joshua looked at her. "So, you don''t want to stay here with me?"


    Ste''sshes fluttered as she met his gaze-so dark, so fathomless, as if it held all the stars in the sky.


    Her heart skipped. "What?"


    Joshua''s voice dropped low as he repeated, "Is it so bad being with me?"


    Ste stared at him, a strange feeling stirring inside her.


    She opened her mouth to answer, but Joshua shed a bright, teasing grin.


    "Alright, I''m just kidding. Let''s eat something and get moving."


    Relief flooded through her. "Okay."


    After eating a little to regain some strength, they left the cave together.


    Even though her fever was gone and her mind was clearer, Ste''s body was still drained of energy.


    After just a few yards, she was already out of breath and struggling to keep up.


    Joshua nced over, noticing her pale


    Without a word, he moved towel Withe and furrowed brow.


    side and turned his back to her  s


    "Hop on."


    Ste stared at his broad shoulders, not moving.


    "You''re going to carry me?"<fn8194> Get full chapters from find{n}ovel</fn8194>


    Joshua looked over his shoulder. "If you''d rather, I can carry you in my arms. Your call."


    Ste hesitated. He was her


    bodyguard, after all. Carrying her was just part of the job-nothing unusual.  s


    So why did her heart suddenly feel so unsteady?


    His voice interrupted her thoughts. "Star, if you don''t get on, we might just end up spending another night


    s


    A few secondster, Ste relented and let Joshua carry her.


    Right now, she could barely walk-she''d need a whole day and night just to get out on her own.


    Joshua hoisted her effortlessly, barely seeming to notice her weight.


    His stride was steady and quick, nothing like her painful crawl.


    The woods were quiet around them, and conversation faded. The silence pressed in, making Ste uneasy.


    Finally, she broke it. "Who do you think sent those hitmen? Leonard Lerman? Or Sellers Burton?"


    She''d been too sick to think straight these past few days, but now the questions started crowding in.


    Joshua replied, "I don''t think it was either of them."