A sweet smile bloomed on Simone''s face, and her voice softened unconsciously. She pushed the menu toward him. "Joshua, what would you like to drink?"


    Joshua didn''t take the menu. "Aurora mentioned thette here is their specialty. I''ll have that."


    Simone''s smile froze. "Aurora... how would she know to tell you that?" This cafe was, in fact, a ce Aurora used to frequent.


    "She mentioned itst time we had dinner together," Joshua said casually. He wasn''t lying; during their meal, they had made a lot of meaningless small talk, much of it about rmending restaurants and cafes.


    Simone''s mind shed back to a picture she''d seen on social media, and the sharp sting of betrayal grew more intense. "Joshua, why were you having dinner with Aurora?" she asked before she could stop herself.


    Realizing how presumptuous the question sounded, she quickly backtracked, afraid of annoying him. "I just mean, Ms. Cameron and Aurora don''t seem to get along. Are you sure it''s okay for you to be seen with Aurora? Won''t Ms. Cameron mind?"


    "Whatever issues they have, Ste and Aurora are still sisters," Joshua said lightly. "Sisters don''t hold grudges forever. Aurora told me it''s all just a misunderstanding that will be cleared up soon."


    Simone couldn''t force a smile any longer. "Aurora told you that? She even told you about her family issues?"


    Joshua smiled. "I admit, I didn''t know Aurora well before, but after meeting with her a few times, I


    think... may have misjudged heret


    She''s actually a wonderful


    person-intelligent, well-read and


    very kind. She not only treated me to dinner but also let me borrow her Dawnlight. And even though I Even though L identally crashed it, she wasn''t angry at all. She even said I didn''t have to pay for the damages."


    He paused, a look of apology on his face. "But it was my fault, so even if she says I don''t have to pay, I can''t just let it go."


    Joshua looked at Simone earnestly. "Miss Lerman, I heard your brother Leonard built the Dawnlight himself. He has the rare materials and the original blueprints, right? You''re Aurora''s friend, so you


    Know a cartes


    like that can''t be easily rebuilt. I was hoping you could do me a favor. Could you ask your brother if he would be willing to lend me the blueprints?"


    Simone''s heart sank, piece by piece. So that was it. After ignoring her for so long, the only reason Joshua had agreed to meet her today was for Aurora.


    And the dinner he''d had with Aurora... it had happened while Leonard was in the hospital and the Lerman family was in chaos. While she and her brother were at their lowest, Aurora was busy making a move on Joshua.


    Simone clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms so hard they broke, but she felt no pain. All she could hear was Joshua''s crisp, clear voice.


    "Miss Lerman, you''ve known Aurora for years. Could you tell me what she likes? want to buy her a gift to car By


    apologize for wrecking he


    the way, are you freeter? Maybe you coulde with me and help me pick something out?"


    He called her Miss Lerman. But he called Aurora by her first name.


    The difference in intimacy was painfully obvious. Simone bit her lip, tasting blood.


    She had been the first to fall for Joshua. Aurora knew it; she had even given her advice on how to win him over.