"And you agreed?" Joshua asked, his gaze steady.


    "No, I used Neville as an excuse for now," Ste exined. "But I don''t think Mr. Vance was convinced. He wants me to bring Neville to his birthday party.<fn5f03> This content belongs to find(?)ovel</fn5f03>


    Thankfully, Neville and I already have an understanding, so he should be able to help me handle it."


    Joshua''s eyes darkened slightly. After a moment of silence, he said, "Star, I might need to take tomorrow off."


    He had barely taken a day of rest since they arrived in Solmaris. Ste was surprised but knew he must have an important reason. "Do you need any help?" "Actually, I''ve asked Aurora to go racing with me," he said directly.


    Ste paused. "You and Aurora are going racing?"


    It was strange. Her rtionship with her three half-brothers was openly hostile, but she and Aurora had never truly shed. They weren''t close, but they had never had a direct confrontation. Yet, so much of her misfortune had stemmed from Aurora. Sellers despised her because of Aurora. Leonard had destroyed her hand because of Aurora. While she didn''t hate Aurora, she certainly couldn''t bring herself to like her.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she said, "Joshua, whatever your motives are... please don''t y with a woman''s feelings."


    Ste could stomach almost any kind of scheming, but emotional maniption was a line she couldn''t cross. After all, Sherman had once used that tactic on her for Aurora''s sake, only to stab her in the back.


    Joshua''s deep gaze met hers, and a faint smile touched his lips. "Don''t worry. She''s not worth the effort of seduction."


    "As long as you know what you''re doing," Ste said, trusting himpletely.


    At the Williams estate, Israel and Coleman Williams burst outughing when Aurora told them Joshua had invited her to go racing.


    "I thought Joshua was some tough nut to crack, always hovering around Ste," Coleman said. "Turns out he''s just like any other guy."


    Israel sneered. "The way he was always defending Ste and confronting us, you''d think he was her loyal guard dog. Now it looks like he was just trying to get your attention, Aurora. He turned to his sister. "Did he even hesitate when you invited him to lunch?


    "No," Aurora replied, "but he said some rather pointed things." She recounted Joshua''s warning to them.


    "He was just trying to make you jealous," Israel concluded. "It''s a ssic move. Some guys think that by acting tough and saying mean things they''ll get a girl''s attention. I bet he took down Leonard not for Ste, but to eliminate a rival for your affection."


    "His behavior is contradictory," Coleman mused, more cautious. "We can''t be sure. We should keep an eye on him. What if this is a trick to get close to you and spy for Ste?"


    Israel scoffed. "Ste wasn''t smart


    enough to beat Rachel. You think


    she can y us? If Joshua really has We have to do


    feelings for her all we


    tell Ste that he was the one who helped Rachel ruin her marriage. You think she''d still trust him then?"