"Aren''t you all about efficiency? I''m not asking you to kidnap Ste, but surely you can handle stuffing her in a sack and giving her a good beating, can''t you?


    If you can''t do it, just say the word. My uncle and I can make the arrangements.


    I know you still can''t get over Aurora Williams. This is your best chance to patch things up with her..."


    To Leonard, Sherman''s voice was an incessant, buzzing annoyance, like a fly he couldn''t swat.


    Leonard was already on edge, torn over whether Ste was truly Summer, and Sherman''s call was thest straw. He''d walked right into the line of fire.


    His voice was tight with cold, brutal restraint. "A simple beatdown is boring. We should hit her so hard she can''t get out of bed."


    Seeing Leonard so cooperative, Sherman finally smiled.


    "Alright, you handle it. Just make sure it''s clean.


    At the very least, Aurora can''t take the fall for this."


    Leonard didn''t reply, simply hanging up the phone with a cold finality.


    Sherman lowered his phone and gave Sellers Burton an "OK" sign.


    "Leonard is certainly a sharp tool," Sherman said. "No wonder the Williams family despises him but can''t bring themselves to let him go.


    This kind of dirty work is perfect for someone like him. His reputation is already terrible, so doing this for Aurora is an honor for him.


    If he had no value at all, what right would he have to be Aurora''s friend?"


    Sellers smiled but said nothing.


    Leonard was missing a hand. In his current state, Aurora would never choose him.


    Once, Sellers had considered Leonard a worthy rival, a formidable opponent.


    Now...


    He didn''t even see Leonard as a threat.


    In fact, he was happy for Aurora to continue spending time with Leonard.


    In the end, she would never choose him anyway.


    And having a sharp tool like that on hand would be convenient for future tasks.


    ...


    Ste had just stepped off the ne when she received a call from Jonathan.


    "Star, where are you right now? Did you hear that Israel was beaten and hospitalized?"


    Ste was stunned.


    "Israel was beaten up, too?" she asked, incredulous.


    What was going on with the Williams familytely?


    Why was someone getting beaten up every other day?


    Jonathan''s voice was heavy. "You didn''t know?"


    Ste could easily read between the lines. "Why would I know?"


    Jonathan didn''t beat around the bush. "It wasn''t you?"


    Ste shot back, "What would I possibly gain from that?"


    Jonathan was silent for a moment before


    eaving. "Israel kidnapped ·


    Gardner. I thought you might


    Joshua Gardner. I thought


    want revenge.


    "I already got my revenge a long time ago," Ste cut him off coolly.


    "Jonathan, you know my personality. Don''t bother asking me about such pointless acts of malice in the future.


    You have a million things on your te; your time is precious, isn''t it?"


    Jonathan was quiet for a few seconds, then his tone softened.


    "Star, I was just asking. Don''t misunderstand."


    Seemingly trying to ease the tension,


    Jonathan voluntarily shared more


    information. "The day before


    yesterday Aurora was randomly attacked.


    Then yesterday, Israel was beaten up too.


    His injuries are much worse than Aurora''s. He was beaten so badly can gigt out of red and in the hospital now


    And I ran into Sherman at the hospital. It seems he was also attacked and is hospitalized with Israel."


    Hearing that both of them were hospitalized, Ste asked, "...Is it serious?"