"But the information released so far was just a smokescreen," Ste continued. "Soon enough, those rumors will be fact."


    The file Hand had sent her contained proof of several double-crosses.


    Once that evidence was made public, even if Leonard wasn''t responsible for this particr incident, he wouldn''t be able to clear his name. He was going to have to swallow this loss.


    As she was thinking through her next steps, Ste realized Neville was watching her with a peculiar expression.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, breaking from her thoughts.


    Neville smiled faintly. "It''s been a while, and you seem to have changed a lot."<fnfa9e> ?????? ???? find?novel</fnfa9e>


    It wasn''t the first time someone had said that to her. "And do you think this change is for the better, or for the worse?" she asked.


    "People are always changing," he said, seeming to understand her inner conflict. "Whether for better or worse, it''s all a part of who you are. Don''t dwell on it, Star. You''ve made your decision, so don''t look back. Just keep moving forward."


    His words were like a gentle breeze, clearing the fog from her mind.


    Ste picked up her ss and said softly, "Neville, thank you."


    "There''s no need for thanks between us."


    Neville was the one who had helped


    her most when she was at her


    lowest, and she trusted himpletely. She knew that if he asked she would tell him anything. But he didn''t press for details about Leonard Instead he simply said, "Star, if you ever need anything, I''ll be there for you without question."


    Ste didn''t demur. "The same goes for you. If you need my help with anything, don''t hesitate to ask."


    "Actually, Star," Neville said suddenly. "There is something I was hoping you could help me with."


    Neville had done so much for her over the years, and Ste had always wanted to repay him but hadcked the power and ability. Now, hearing that he needed her help, her expression turned serious.


    "Anything I can do, I''ll do my best."


    For once, Neville seemed hesitant. Seeing this, Marvin chimed in from the side. "Ste, the reason Dad and I were in Aetheria for so long was because Great- Grandma kept setting him up on blind dates."


    Ste looked at Neville in surprise. "Blind dates?"


    Neville let out a low sigh. "Grandma knows she doesn''t have much time left. She''s worried about me and about Marvin. She wants to see me get married before she passes, to find a mother for Marvin."


    Marvin''s cute little face scrunched


    up. "We had to go on blind dates every single day. It was so annoying! I didn''t like any of thosedies. But Great Grandma, said she wont b able to rest in peace unless Dad finds me a mother, so we had to keep meeting different women."


    Marvin adored Ste and couldn''t imagine anyone else as his mother. Neville, too, had his heart set elsewhere, making his mother''s matchmaking efforts doomed from the start. But the daily parade of different women was bing unbearable for both father and son.


    Neville looked at Ste, his gaze intense. "So, I was hoping... before she passes, that you would pretend to be my fiancée. Just to give her some peace of mind in her final days."