After a period of surveince, Leonard discovered that Ste was, in fact, an


    excellent caretaker. She wasn''t as clinically professional as a nurse, but she was incredibly attentive. She seemed to anticipate Joshua''s needs before he even had to ask.


    At first, Leonard refused to believe that these small kindnesses could win over a ruthless man like Joshua. He figured a woman who had so many men wrapped around her finger must have some master seduction techniques. But after days of watching, he saw no overtly intimate gestures. For tasks she couldn''t handle, she called on Harold, Jake, or a nurse. The most intimate thing she did was feed Joshua his meals for a few days.


    Leonard was even more baffled. Could feeding someone really inspire that much devotion?


    Aside from that, Ste often cooked for Joshua, preparing special meals and medicinal broths suited for his recovery. And Joshua always ate with genuine relish. Leonard couldn''t fathom it. No matter how good a cook she was, she couldn''t possibly be better than a five-star chef. He thought of the soup Aurora had made for him. It wasn''t bad, but it was hardly memorable. Even with the added filter of his affection for her, it had been just... average.


    One day, Leonard watched through his binocrs as Ste peeled an apple for Joshua. He''d seen this many times. She would always arrange the slices on a te, creating a colorful disy with other fruits.


    "She could just have a nurse do that," Leonard scoffed. "No wonder Israel always says she''s making a martyr of herself."


    He was about to continue his observation when his doorbell rang. Besides his assistant, only Aurora knew he was here. He opened the door to find her standing there with a thermos.


    "Leonard," she said with a smile, "I brought you some soup. How has your recovery been?"


    Aurora had been texting and calling him over the past few days, but his replies had been terse. He would cut her off before she could get to the point, or end calls abruptly, iming he was busy. The news about Israel was still spreading, getting worse by the day. Israel had been pressuring her constantly to ask Leonard if he had found Violet and if he could silence her.


    So, with no other choice, Aurora hade in person, soup in hand.


    Leonard nced at her and stepped aside to let her in.


    "Leonard, have you eaten?" she asked, her voice soft as water. "Let me get you something. I made a few side dishes as well."


    She opened the thermos and arranged the small dishes she had prepared. Leonard didn''t refuse. "You''re too kind."


    He picked up his chopsticks and


    tried a dish


    phis


    was still just average.


    He couldn''t understand what was so


    appealing about such in,


    homemade food. Weren''t the nutritionally bnced mealso prepared by professional dietitians with the freshest ingredients better?


    Aurora watched his face, trying to read his expression, but he remained


    a mystery. Deciding to get to the point she said, "Leonard, is there any news on Miss Yancey?


    "My assistant called earlier," he said tly. "It seems Ste has her hidden away."


    Aurora waited for him to continue,


    but he said nothing more. That was


    it? The old Leonard would have had


    the problem solved before she even had to ask.


    She opened her mouth to press him, but he suddenly asked, "Aurora, do you know how to peel an apple?"


    "Peel an apple?" she repeated, taken aback. "Do you want some fruit, Leonard?"


    "Yes," he said.