Foreman knelt numbly, his fingers trembling as he picked up the broken pieces.


    Ste had never seen him like this before, and a wave of guilt washed over her. "Foreman, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.


    He didn''t look up, his expression lost in shadow. After a long moment, he finally managed a hoarse, "I''m fine."


    "Foreman, Joshua didn''t do it on purpose," Ste tried to exin. "Please don''t be angry with him. The music box..."


    Before she could finish, Joshua cut in. "Don''t worry, Mr. Richards. I''ll find a way to have it repaired, or I''ll track down that sculptor andmission an identical one."


    *Identical?* Foreman scoffed inwardly. This music box was one of a kind. There would never be another one like it.


    His gaze drifted to her desk andnded on the preserved rose, the very one he had once thrown to the ground, causing a few petals to fall. It now sat in a ce of honor, the most prominent spot in her office.


    Ste noticed his line of sight and her eyes flickered. She stepped forward, subtly blocking his view.<fn549a> Discover more novels at FindN()vel</fn549a>


    "Foreman, it''s almost lunchtime. Let me treat you."


    He lowered his gaze. "Alright."


    After what had just happened, bringing Joshua along would have beenpletely tone-deaf. She turned to him. "Joshua, you''ll have to get lunch on your own. Foreman and I are going out."


    Joshua didn''t argue. "Okay. Call me if you need anything."


    The casual exchange grated on Foreman. It wasn''t the way a boss spoke to a subordinate; it was the easy intimacy of a long-term couple.


    After Ste and Foreman left, Joshua stared at the scattered fragments on the floor, his eyes dark and unreadable. He carefully swept up the pieces and ced them in a bag.


    Ten minutester, he went downstairs, bag in hand. Harold was waiting in a taxi.


    Joshua handed him the bag. "Have this examined. See if you can find anything unusual about it."


    "Yes, sir," Harold said, taking the bag.


    Just as Harold drove off, a soft, pleasant voice called out from behind him.


    "Joshua."


    He turned to see Aurora Williams gliding toward him, an elegant smile on her face. It''s been a while. Have you been busy? She sounded like an old friend, her tone casual and free of any heiress''s airs.


    Joshua nced at her. "Very."


    "Star''spany is doing well, so it''s natural to be busy," she said with a knowing smile Things should calm down once you get past this initial phase and everything is running smoothly."


    "You''re not going to ask what I''ve been busy with?" he asked.


    Aurora would never ask such a prying, personal question. But since he''d brought


    it up, she replied graciously, "Are you at liberty to say?"


    "There''s nothing to hide," Joshua said, his voice cool. "As I''m sure you''re aware, Ms. Williams, ever since Star and I arrived in Solmaris, all sorts of shady characters have been crawling out of the woodwork to cause trouble. I''ve spent thest while cleaning house. You know what Leonard made clear - nobody messes with you, not even family. Let me make myself just as clear: if anyone dares to hurt Star, blood rtive or not, they''ll have me to deal with."


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