Ste turned and fixed her gaze on Foreman.


    The look in her eyes made his heart sink. She had never looked at him like that before-cool, distant, utterly devoid of emotion. Any further arguments died in his throat.


    She looked away, turning back to Haynes. "If this is a problem for you, I can make my own arrangements."


    Without waiting for a response, she spun around to leave.


    Haynes grabbed her wrist, his eyes locking with hers. "No. I''m with you."<fn9054> Checktest chapters at find{n}ovel</fn9054>


    "Thank you," she said, then wasted no more words and returned to her room to prepare.


    Watching her leave, Foreman could no longer contain his frustration.


    "Haynes, what kind of spell has that man cast on her?" he burst out. "Why does she trust him so much? He sneaks off on his own-couldn''t it be that he''s running away, scared we''ll hand him over? Why does she automatically assume he''s gone to save Keen? Is she overestimating him that much? If he really had any backbone, he would have stood up like a man the moment he knew Keen was taken because of him, not cowered behind Star!"


    Haynes was silent for a moment before replying, "Foreman, if Star chooses to trust him, she has her reasons."


    Foreman, still fuming, was stunned by the response. "Haynes, you can''t possibly trust that maniptive bastard too?"


    Haynes''s gaze was distant. "Keen adores him. I trust Keen''s judgment."


    "He''s a child! What does he know?" Foreman retorted. "Keen used to adore Rachel, and look how she turned out!"


    Haynes turned to face him fully. "Foreman, you''re losing yourposure."


    Foreman''s breath hitched, and he instantly reined himself in. "I''m sorry, Haynes. Im just so worried about


    Keen." A look of guilt crossed hisne


    face. Dwas there when he was taken failed to protect himd''m half responsible for this. Haynes, let me go negotiate with Gibson? I''ll go in your and Star''s ce."


    Haynes pped a hand on his shoulder. "Joshua''s already there. Let''s see how


    things develop before we make any new ns. Right now, providing support is the priority."


    Foreman took a deep breath. "Alright."


    ***


    When Gibson saw the handsome man appear in the doorway, his pupils


    contracted sharply. The beer bottle in his hand slipped, shattering on the floor with


    a loud crack.


    "You... How did you get in here so fast?"


    It had only been a short while since Joshua''s phone call. The road here was treacherous, with a long stretch inessible by vehicle that required a thirty minute walk. More


    vet


    importantly, he had rigged the entrance with a series of deadly traps, designed to ensure Joshua would be severely injured before he ever reached him. With bad luck, he might have even died in them.


    Gibson had calcted it would take Joshua the better part of a day just to bypass the traps.


    But now...


    Gibson nced at the time, his eye twitching. It had barely been an hour.


    Seeing Gibson''s stunned expression, Joshua''s lips curved into a faint smile.


    "Mr. Gibson, did you set up a little escape room for me? Just a fun way to rx before we met? He casually tossed a bear trap at Gibson''s feet. "Even hide-and-seek is more entertaining than this childish stuff."