Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Karl?"


    Thinking he might have forgotten, Ste reminded him, "Candida''s ex-boyfriend. You''ve met him."


    Not only had they met, but Joshua had also driven a knife straight through Karl''s hand. Oh, Joshua remembered Karl. He was just surprised the man had the guts to show his face again.


    "Alright," Joshua said. "Let''s go see what he''s up to now."


    Ste and Joshua stood up to leave. After a few steps, Ste paused as if remembering something. She turned back to the other two. "Mr. Lerman, Ms. Williams, we have an urgent matter to attend to. I''m afraid we can''t see you home."


    With their status, getting a ride was a simple phone call away for Leonard and Aurora.


    Aurora, ever poised and considerate, replied, "Of course. You two go handle your business."


    Leonard remained silent.


    Ste had only addressed them out of courtesy; she couldn''t care less whether Leonard responded.


    The heavy rain had passed as quickly as it came. By the time they stepped out of the restaurant, the storm had ended, and the sky was clear. Ste made a call to track Karl''s location and began coordinating the rescue and extraction teams. Joshua watched her, a faint smile touching his lips as she handled everything with calm efficiency.


    Soon, Ste had Candida''s location. "Joshua, let''s go," she said.


    "Right."


    They found Karl dragging Candida toward a vi. She was struggling fiercely, her face a mask of disgust and revulsion.


    "Karl, let go of me!"


    The loathing in her expression stung Karl. He gripped her chin, his voice a cold sneer. "What, you look down on me now too? Candida, have you forgotten how you used to cling to me, how you wouldn''t leave even when I tried to push you away?"


    "You may have been the one who was physically blind back then, but I was the one who couldn''t see," Candida retorted coldly. "Repaying kindness with such cruelty... Karl, you''re disgusting."


    Karl''s eyes darkened, but his voice became eerily soft. "You think this is disgusting? The worst is yet toe Candida I''m what I am today because of Ste. it weren''t for


    her, we would never have broken up. Don''t you think she''s the one who deserves to die?"


    Candida''s face paled. "Karl, whatever you have a problem with, direct it at me. What happened between us has nothing to do with Star!"


    Karl ignored her, instead caressing her cheek. "I heard Ste ruined her own hand


    for Abby. Today, I want to see if she''s willing to do the same for you."


    "Karl, you—" Candida gasped.


    He pressed a finger to her lips. "Don''t worry, he murmured. "I''m not a lunatic like Leonard who''d arrange for other men to be with you. We''ll just give Ste a choice. If she''s willing to destroy her hand for you, I''ll never bother you again. Il set you frée. If she refuses, then you''ll cut all ties with her ande back to me. How does that sound?"


    Candida took a deep breath, about to say something to cate him when a clear, captivating voice cut through the air.


    "Mr. Burton, you''ve got quite the nerve."


    Karl froze. He hadn''t even contacted Ste yet. How had she found them so quickly? Seeing her, Ste was also a bit surprised. While Karl''s character was questionable, he had always been known in their cirete as a handsome, debonair gentleman. But the man before her now looked even more haggard and sinister than Leonard.


    "Karl, let Candida go," Ste said evenly. "For Mr. Burton and Candida''s sake, I''ll


    let bygones be bygones."


    At the sight of Ste, a visceral hatred red in Karl''s eyes, a look so intense it was as if he wanted to tear her limb from limb.