Joshua''s expression softened when he saw her. "Star."


    Ste turned, the ice in her eyes melting away. "Are your wounds all dressed?"<fn6aba> Official source is find?novel</fn6aba>


    "Yeah, all done. It''s nothing serious." Joshua''s gaze swept over to Leonard in the hospital bed. He feigned surprise. "Mr. Lerman, what a coincidence. Are you staying here too?"


    "You have a real talent for ying dumb," Leonard said coldly. Joshua was the one who had caused the ident; he knew perfectly well why he was here.


    Joshua maintained his innocent facade. "I don''t know what you mean, Mr. Lerman."


    "It''s a shame you''re not an actor. You''d win an Oscar for Best Actor at a record- breaking age."


    "Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Lerman, but I''m not interested in a Hollywood career," Joshua replied smoothly. "However, you might want to consider it. When you''re eventually kicked out as head of your family, it would be a decent way to make a living. Though I''m not sure the industry would wee someone with your... image."


    A murderous glint shed in Leonard''s eyes.


    Feeling the atmosphere grow cold, Ste grew anxious that Joshua might push him too far and cause a scene in the hospital.


    "Joshua, let''s go home," she said, intervening. "Didn''t you say you were craving my cooking? I''ll make you somethingter."


    The mention of her cooking immediately diverted Joshua''s attention from Leonard. "Okay."


    As they turned to leave, he couldn''t resist a final jab at Leonard. "Poor Mr. Lerman, stuck here all alone with hospital food."


    Leonard sneered. "Poor? If I wanted, I could have world-renowned chefs prepare anything I desire. One word from me, and the rarest ingredients would be flown in instantly."


    Joshuaughed. "Is using money to get what you want something to be proud of? When the dayes that you lose your power and influence, what will you have left?"


    With that, he dismissed Leonard and turned to Ste. "Star, let''s go."


    "Alright."


    As they left, Leonard watched their retreating figures, his eyes dark and cold.


    Half an hourter, there was another knock on the door. Aurora entered, carrying a fruit basket, with her brother, Israel Williams, in tow.


    "Leonard," Aurora''s voice was as gentle and pleasant as ever. "I just heard about your ident. Are you feeling any better?"


    A cryptic smile yed on Leonard''s lips. "I''m not dead yet."


    "It''s not that Aurora didn''t want toe see you, Leonard," Israel interjected. "It''s just that so much has been happeningtely. You have no idea how awful Ste has been! She''s been walking all over Aurora!"


    Aurora turned to him. "Israel, don''t talk nonsense. Star hasn''t been giving me a hard time."


    "Are you kidding me? Aurora, you''re just too kind!" Israelunched into a tirade, listing Ste''s supposed crimes. "Leonard, you don''t know how devious Ste is. She actually sent that pretty boy Joshua of hers to seduce Aurora!"


    Leonard''s eyes flickered toward Israel. "Oh? Seduce Aurora? How did he do that?"


    Israel hesitated for a moment. "What do you think? He used his looks, of course. He deliberately asked Aurora to lunch and then had pictures taken to spread rumors. Then he borrowed Aurora''s Dawnlight and intentionally crashed it, bet they''re holding a grudge because you ruined Ste''s hand, and now they''re taking it out on Aurora!"


    Israel''sint was skillfully crafted to shift all the me onto Leonard. He was implying that Aurora''s recent troubles were a direct result of the enemies Leonard


    had made. If it weren''t for him, Ste and Joshua would have never targeted her.


    Leonard found it amusing. He looked at Aurora. "Is that what you think, too?"


    Aurora''s eyes darted away for a


    second before she said softly, "Leonard, don''t listen to my brother That''s not what I meant. I ran into Joshua outside the office the other day, and we just chatted for a bit. It was lunchtime so out of politeness, I asked if he wanted to eat together. I never thought he''d actually agree. But I''d already offered, so I couldn''t take it back."


    Her exnation did nothing to change the look on Leonard''s face. Lunch could be exined away, but the Dawnlight was another matter entirely.


    Sensing this, Aurora continued, sighing softly, "As for lending him the Dawnlight... you know who Joshua is, Leonard. He''s always by Ste''s side, and his motives are unclear. I wanted to use this as an opportunity to gauge his attitude."


    Leonard''s eyelids lifted slightly. "And did you find out anything?"


    Aurora shook her head. "No. He''s hostile and guarded around me. He seems to believe I''m the cause of all of Ste''s suffering." She paused. "It looks like he''s genuinelymitted to helping her."