Joshua was silent for a few seconds. "I''m not afraid she won''t forgive me. I just don''t want her to refuse my help after she finds out the truth.


    At that point, I''m afraid I won''t be able to stay by her side anymore."


    Harold was slightly taken aback.


    Joshua had always been a man who took responsibility for his actions, yet he had never shown any intention ofing clean about Rachel.


    Harold had assumed it was because his love was so deep that he was gued by the fear of losing her.


    He had never imagined this was the reason.


    Forgiveness and harboring resentment were two different things.


    The more Ste trusted Joshua, the harder it would be for her to ept the truth when that day came.


    It was a double-edged sword.


    Although Ste had endured a great deal of pain and disaster, even when her hand was ruined, she had never been as broken and desperate as when she encountered Rachel.


    When her hand was destroyed, she bounced back quickly because she could see light and hope.


    But Rachel''s appearance was a darkness with no end in sight.


    Back then, if Neville Connolly hadn''t shown up and pulled her out, Ste might very well have plunged into a bottomless abyss.


    If Ste knew the truth, she might choose to forgive Joshua because of how much he had helped her.


    But could she truly have no resentment toward the man who had altered the course of her life?


    If this person were Aurora, she would undoubtedly get along with Joshua without any hard feelings. But she wasn''t Aurora; she was Ste.


    She valued emotions far more than benefits.


    And Joshua wasn''t worried about the loss that woulde after his lies were exposed.


    He just wanted to help Ste as much as he possibly could.


    Harold''s mind was a maelstrom of emotions. He wanted to say something, but he knew all too well that Joshua was right.


    ...


    The Williams Estate.


    Skyler and Jonathan had work to attend to, and they both left shortly after.


    Israel, Coleman, and Aurora gathered in Coleman''s study.


    Israel''s head was bandaged. The doctor who examined him said he had a mild concussion.


    Coleman looked at Israel and sighed helplessly. "Israel, why did you have to provoke Joshua? You know


    perfectly well he''s no mere


    bodyguard, if he had actually killed you, you would have died for nothing."  s?novels


    Israel touched his bandaged head, his face contorted with rage.


    "He wouldn''t dare! If he killed me, Ste would be branded a fratricide for the rest of


    her life, and Father and our older brother would never tolerate her again!"


    No matter how great the conflict between them was, as long as it


    didn''t go too far and no lives were at stake Skyler would turn a blind ey But once a death urred, the


    nature of the situation would change entirely.


    Although Joshua was never particrly polite to Israel, he had always shown restraint, never leaving him with a missing arm or a broken leg.


    Of course, Joshua wasn''t afraid of Israel; he just didn''t want to tarnish Ste''s


    reputation or cause aplete rupture with the Williams family.


    Israel spat viciously, "If he dares toy a hand on me again, I''ll tell Ste that he knew Rachel Let''s see if she


    Still keeps


    keeps a vicious, cold blooded snake like him by her side after she


    finds out the truth!"


    Hearing this, Aurora quickly stopped him.


    "Israel, don''t be impulsive. You absolutely cannot tell Ste about this."


    Israel looked at Aurora, confused. "Why can''t I tell her? If Ste finds out Joshua


    once helped Rachel, they''ll definitely have a falling out. Without Joshua''s help, Ste is no match for us."