Aurora returned to the Williams family home, her face a mask of gravity. As she walked in, Israel and Coleman stood up.


    "Aurora, how''s Leonard?" Israel asked.


    She shook her head. "Not good."


    "What happened?" Coleman demanded. "Why was the Lerman estate bombed? Why was Leonard hurt? And how did their shipment get stolen?"


    Aurora recounted the events. "Someone tried to assassinate him. He''s lost an arm, and his ear was severely damaged."


    Israel was stunned. "Who would be crazy enough to not only hijack Leonard''s cargo but also try to kill him?"


    Though impulsive, Israel wasn''t aplete fool. He immediately saw the connection between the robbery and the assassination attempt.


    Aurora remained silent, hesitating, debating whether to tell her brothers about Joshua.


    Coleman noticed her unusual quietness. "Aurora, you know something, don''t you?"


    She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn''te out, as if weighed down by a terrible secret.


    "Aurora," Coleman said, his voice sharp, "judging by the current situation, the Lerman family is finished. Leonard''s injuries will prevent him from taking charge for a long time, and his rivals and enemies will not miss this opportunity. What''s more..."


    A cold smile touched Coleman''s lips. "The Lermans don''t just have external threats; they have internal ones, too. They''re clearly in decline, and Leonard''s position is no longer secure. Aurora, it''s time to cut him loose."


    Coleman was sharp and insightful. He could see that Leonard''s situation was dire, far more serious than a mere drop in market value. While one lost shipment wouldn''t bankrupt the family, Leonard''s authority would be shaken, perhaps permanently.


    Aurora sighed, finally giving in. "It was Joshua. The one who attacked Leonard... it was Joshua."


    Israel''s eyes went wide. "Joshua?! Shit, that means Ste was behind it! That woman has some nerve, pulling off an assassination and a heist!"


    Coleman, however, was thinking on a deeper level. "Aurora, what''s the full story?"


    Aurora changed the subject. "You''ve heard of the Gardner family, right? The wealthiest family in the world?"


    Coleman''s brow twitched as a realization began to dawn on him.


    "Of course Israel scoffed. "They''re on par with our families, but they''re aplete mess, always caught up in some scandal. No respectable family wants anything to do with them."


    s


    Coleman looked at Aurora. "What does Joshua have to do with the Gardners?"


    Before Aurora could answer, Israel


    ???


    Content originallyes from Find[?]ovel</fn3ae6>


    Aurora shook her head softly. "Joshua... is the head of the Gardner family."


    Coleman''s expression confirmed he''d suspected as much.


    Israel, however, burst outughing.


    "The head of the Gardner family? Hah! That pretty boy? Aurora, do


    tell me you fell for his act too? S that the lie he''s using to trick Ste into keeping him by her side?"  s


    209


    Ignoring Israel, Coleman focused on Aurora. "Does Ste know?"


    "It''s unclear," Aurora replied. "Joshua has hidden his identity very well. If Simone hadn''t heard it from Rachel, we would all still be in the dark."