At the same time, Ste sensed a distinct air of dislike from the woman standing before her.


    Harold and Jake exchanged uneasy nces.


    Having weathered so many storms, Ste wasn''t about to be flustered by a simple slight. She withdrew her hand with a calm smile, showing no sign of embarrassment.


    Ms. Quinn watched her, a strange light flickering in her eyes. Not bad. She could keep herposure.


    "Ms. Quinn," Ste asked, "may I ask what illness Joshua had before?"


    Given her attitude, Ste half-expected to be ignored. But to her surprise, the woman answered, her reply as crisp and direct as ever.


    "Insomnia-induced psychiatric disorders. When triggered, he would lose control of his actions."


    She paused, as if remembering something, then added, "I believe you''ve witnessed it, Ms. Cameron. But you were lucky. What you saw was the best possible oue of his treatment."


    *The best possible oue?*


    Ste''s heart clenched. If that was him at his best, what was he like at his worst?


    "Now that Joshua is out of danger, I''ll be leaving," Ms. Quinn said, turning to Harold and Jake. "Take good care of him. Contact me if you need anything."


    With a polite nod in Ste''s direction, she swept out of the room.


    Ste watched her go, a strange feeling stirring within her. "Was she Joshua''s psychiatrist?" she asked.


    "Sort of, but not really," Harold said. "Joshua used to get into a lot of fights and was often injured. She was the one who treated his wounds."


    "Her medical skills are exceptional," Jake exined quickly. "She''s just... a bit of a loner, with a difficult personality. Please don''t mind her rudeness, Ms. Cameron."


    Ste shook her head. Dr. Burton had been far stranger when they first met; she wasn''t bothered by this sort of thing. Besides, she was surrounded by peculiar people. Ms. Quinn almost seemed normal byparison.


    Seeing no offense on Ste''s face, Harold and Jake both breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Harold''s gaze fell on the bag in her hand. "You bought art supplies, Ms. Cameron. Are you nning on painting?"


    Ste nodded. "Yes. I haven''t been busytely, and a friend asked me to paint a few pieces."


    After a few more words, Harold and Jake left the room.


    Ste nned to gift the anonymous buyer three paintings. She already had one she''d finished recently at home, which meant she just needed to create two more. As she contemted what to paint, she


    sunset through the window,


    saw the horizon a brant


    staining


    crimson and casting a warm, fading glow over the city.


    She decided that would be her subject.


    Ste set up her easel, mixed her colors, and began to paint. The sun was sinking fast, and the scene ourside was already changing but the image from moments before was etched perfectly in her mind. Recreating it wouldn''t be a problem. Cóntent


    She becamepletely absorbed in her work, losing all track of time as the sky outside darkened to ck. A nce at her watch showed that over three hours had passed. She had even forgotten to eat dinner.


    As Ste stood up to stretch, she remembered Joshua, still lying in the hospital bed. She instinctively looked over at him—and met a pair of clear, dark eyes.


    She froze, unable to believe it for a few seconds. She thought she must be seeing things.


    Holding her breath, she whispered his name, afraid it was all just a dream. "Joshua?"


    A slow smile curved the man''s lips. "That painting you just made," he said, his voice raspy but clear, "it''s beautiful."