Foreman casually looked away. "No."


    After what had happened, neither Neville nor Ste was in a good mood. Neville said his goodbyes and left.


    "Star, I''m heading your way. Let me give you a ride home," Foreman offered.


    Ste nodded, her mind elsewhere. She was still trying to piece together what had happened. Why would someone target Neville? Was it really just to drive a wedge between them? Something about it felt off.


    In the car, Ste and Joshua sat in the back. Foreman nced at them in the rearview mirror, his lips tightening, but he said nothing, driving them back to the estate in silence.


    When they arrived, Foreman turned to Ste. "Star, can we talk for a minute? In private."


    Ste looked at Joshua. "You can go on ahead and get some rest. Don''t wait up for me."


    "Alright," Joshua replied, leaving without another word.


    Once he was gone, Foreman asked, "Star, are you and Neville just pretending to be a couple?"


    It wasn''t a secret worth hiding. "Yes," Ste admitted. "Neville needed my help with something, and I was tired of being set up on dates. So we agreed to pretend for a while."


    "Well, after what happened tonight, you can''t keep up the act anymore," Foreman said.


    A flicker of worry crossed Ste''s face. "The whole thing was so strange. I need to help him get to the bottom of it."


    Foreman hesitated. "Star, are you sure you can trust him? What if he really did do something to Miss Vance and is just refusing to admit it?"


    "Neville isn''t like that," Ste said, her voice firm.<fnefd2> Fresh chapters posted on Find★Novel</fnefd2>


    Seeing her unwavering faith in Neville, a pang of jealousy shot through Foreman. "Star, you can''t always judge a book by its cover. How can you be so sure about him?"


    "Foreman, you don''t know him as well as I do," Ste replied. "If he had actually done it, he would have taken responsibility for Miss Vance without hesitation."


    At that moment, Foreman was immensely d he had taken Neville out of the running. With that level of trust, if it hade down to a choice between him and Neville, Ste would have chosen Neville in a heartbeat.


    He changed the subject. "Star, if you need a boyfriend to fend off dates and marriage proposals, I can help you."


    But Ste shook her head. "Thank you, Foreman, but no. If Neville could be targeted, you could be next."


    "Don''t worry about me. I can handle a little scheming," he insisted.


    "I just ''broke up with my boyfriend," Ste said, still refusing. "It would


    look bad if started dating someone


    new staides. She


    new right awa


    paused. "I don''t want my problems to affect your rtionship with Haynes."


    Foreman''s hands tightened into fists. Haynes. It was always Haynes. He knew pushing further would only annoy her. "I understand," he said gently. "But if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."


    "I will. It''s gettingte. You should head home and get some rest."


    After Foreman''s car drove away, Ste stood there for a long time, a thoughtful expression on her face.


    Ste''s birthday was a month away. A message from Abby popped up on her phone, and a sense of surrealism washed over her.


    "Star, your birthday''s next month! How do you want to celebrate?"


    Last year at this time, she had been agonizing over Rachel and Haynes. Now, only a yearter, looking back on that peri?d felt like recalling a distant memory from another life. The pain was gone, leaving only a catm emptiness.


    Using Ste''s birthday as an excuse, Haynes wrapped up his work at Novaris and flew to Solmaris with Keen O''Brien. A dark look crossed his face when he learned that Foreman was also in town.


    Skyler Williams hadn''t seen his grandson in a while and missed him dearly, so he sent someone to pick Keen up directly from the airport and bring him to the Williams Mansion. Haynes, of course, came along.


    When Ste heard Keen had arrived, she left work early and went to the supermarket to buy ingredients for a special dinner. Although they lived far apart, she and Keen video-called frequently. In the past, Keen bad been dismissive of her cooking, but now that he couldn''t have it, he found himself craving it. It was a lessomlearne even with your own


    child, you couldnt give everything


    away and lose yourself. A little


    distance could sometimes make the


    heart grow fonder.


    When she arrived back at the estate, Keen ran to greet her. "Mom, you''re finally home!"


    "You''ve gotten taller, Keen," Ste said, smiling as she ruffled his hair.


    Just then, Keen''s eyes looked past her andnded on Joshua, who was carrying the grocery bags. "Mr. Joshua!"