Joshua''s dark, probing gaze settled on Ste.


    "You were preparing for your concert back then-practicing the violin every day. Whenever I heard you ying, it was the only time I could sleep."


    Ste had already begun to suspect the truth, but hearing Joshua say it aloud still cast a shadow over her face.


    After a pause, she asked gently, "If someone else yed for you, would it help? Would their music ease your symptoms?"


    Joshua shook his head. "No one else ys like you. Their music doesn''t help."


    Ste had defeated Harry, earning recognition as a master violinist. There were only a handful of violinists in the world who could surpass her, and most of them were notoriously proud-none would agree to y for Joshua every day, much less to help treat his illness.


    "It''s a kind of psychological therapy," Ste said thoughtfully. "But there are other approaches we could try. Have you tried anything besides music?"


    He shook his head. "No."


    Ste nodded. "Alright. Let''s see if something else works."


    Suddenly, she remembered how she used to help Keen fall asleep-reading him stories every night. Maybe Joshua could benefit from something simr.


    She looked at him, considering. Joshua was watching her too, silent and intent. Ever since that night in the woods, when they''d been attacked, his gaze sometimes felt different-strange, almost unnerving. She wasn''t sure if it was just her imagination, but it left her on edge.


    Ste broke eye contact, stood up, and poured him a ss of water.


    Behind her, Joshua''s voice came low and a little rough. "Do I scare you?"


    She paused, then turned to face him. "You''re sick. Acting out is normal in your condition. And as for Stuart... he got what he deserved. But―"


    Her eyes met his, clear and unwavering-free of fear or disgust.


    "But it was still a person''s life, Joshua. And with so many people around Sometimes, teaching someone a lesson they''ll never forget is more effective than ending their life."


    s


    Joshua''s eyes flickered. He murmured, "So making him wish he were dead


    would''ve been even worse than letting him die quickly?"


    He''d never been one for


    psychological games-he preferred action over words. Years in the Gardner family had only reinforced his habit of cutting problems off at the root, hey ever


    Serving his enemies a


    second chance.  s


    In Stuart''s case, Joshua knew his own loss of control had yed a part. But he<fn0ffe> Discover more novels at find·novel</fn0ffe>


    didn''t regret it. A man like Stuart-he could never have let him live.


    Ste''s voice was soft. "There are plenty of ways to make someone suffer besides killing them."


    Joshua nodded in agreement. "You''re right."


    She smiled, handing him the ss of water. "Here, have some."


    He took it from her. His head still


    throbbed, but the pain was


    bearable not the result of a blow,


    but the old familiar ache in the past, he''d tried all kinds of desperate


    measures to keep himself under control, but nothing had worked for long.


    s


    After finishing the water, his mind cleared a little.


    He asked, "What''s the situation with Gibson now?"


    Ste replied, “The city''s still on lockdown, but don''t worry. We''ll be out of here in


    three days."