Though it was phrased as a question, her tone was one of absolute certainty.


    It all made sense. After Simone''s scheme, she had suspected that the true mastermind wasn''t her, but Joshua. Simonecked the cunning and foresight for such a plot. Someone had to have been manipting her.


    At first, she had suspected Leonard, thinking he was making a desperate y to save his family. But based on what happened that night, she had ruled him out. If not Leonard, then it had to be Joshua. She hadn''t forgotten that Simone had chosen that ''gift'' on Joshua''s behalf.


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. He didn''t y dumb or try to deflect. Instead, he


    admitted it outright.


    "Yes, it was me."


    Aurora stared into his eyes. "Why? Why are you targeting me? What did I ever do to you?"


    Joshua countered with a question of his own. "What did Star ever do to your suitors? Why did they target her?"


    A moment passed before the realization dawned on her.


    "You''re getting revenge for Ste?" A bitter, incredulousugh escaped her, her voice trembling. "So, your n is to make me go through everything that happened to Ste?"


    "Something like that," Joshua said coolly.


    Aurora''s fists clenched, her voice rising uncontrobly. "On what grounds? What gives you the right to do this to me?! I never targeted Ste! Why are you ming me for what they did?"


    By the end, a note of raw vulnerability had crept into her voice.


    "Why? Because you couldn''t control your followers, allowing them to hurt Star time and time again?" Joshua''s voice was devoid of emotion. "What they did had nothing to do with you, you say. And what I''m doing has nothing to do with Star. Isn''t that fair? Your suitors can go after Star, but I can''t go after you? When it''s your turn, you feel wronged? When Star was suffering, why didn''t your step up and defend her? I destroyed your Dawnlight project, something that had nothing to do with Star, yet she still came topensate you on my behalf. When Star''s hand and her Nocturne Ste project were destroyed, what did the Williams family do besidesment your


    financial losses?"


    "That''s twisted logic!" Aurora shot back, incensed. "You''re ming the victim!"


    "And? Do I look like someone who


    cares about ying fair? Besides,


    Ms. Williams, don''t pretend you''re pretend you''re so innocent Maybe you didn''t know.


    what they were doing at first. But


    vel


    Joshua gave her a dismissive nce. "If you''re going to live by a ''business is business'' philosophy, then you have to ept the consequences when you lose. You can''t y the game of interests and then cry about feelings. You can''t have it both ways."


    Aurora enunciated each word with cold fury. "Joshua, you''ll go to hell for this."


    A faint, unconcerned smile touched Joshua''s lips. "I don''t mind. Not everyone wants to go to heaven."


    Aurora flinched as if struck, her pupils dting in shock. It took her a long moment to find her voice.


    "So, you''re determined to see this through to the end?"


    "Not necessarily," Joshua replied. "Given that you haven''t yet reached the point of no return, I can offer you a way out. If you agree, I promise that no matter what happens from now on, I will never target you again."


    Aurora had once underestimated Joshua, but in this moment, she finally understood how dangerous he truly was. Leonard, Sellers, Joshua-none of the men who rose to lead their families were simple.