"People like them have a streak of madness etched into their very bones. When they snap, they hurt themselves and others, often leaving a trail of destruction."


    For some reason, hearing Neville''s critique of the Gardners made Ste feel a faint sense of unease. She felt that Joshua was definitely not that kind of person.


    Just then, Neville''s phone rang. He excused himself from Ste and moved to a quiet corner to take the call.


    Seeing Neville walk away, Joshua and Marvin came over. He asked, "What were you and Neville talking about so happily?"


    Ste said, "Nothing much. We were just specting that this exhibition might have been organized by some big shot from the Gardner family. Neville said only the Gardners could pull off something like this."


    Hearing this, Joshua gave her an unreadable look.


    "If you want to know about the Gardner family, why not ask me? How could an outsider possibly know more than I do?"


    Ste thought to herself that her curiosity about the Gardners was really a way to indirectly understand the kind of environment Joshua had grown up in. Besides, hearing him talk about his family felt strange, almost like picking at an old wound. Just as Ste was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye—someone who had no business being there.


    She froze for a moment, thinking she must be mistaken.


    Joshua''s gaze had been fixed on Ste. Noticing her strange expression, he sensed something was wrong.


    "Star, what is it?"


    Ste sounded uncertain. "I think... I just saw Leonard Lerman."


    She wasn''t that familiar with Leonard, so it was possible she was mistaken. Still, Ste turned to look in the direction of the figure.


    The hall wasn''t crowded, and Leonard''s form stood out distinctly among the people there.


    This time, Ste was certain. It was really him.


    What was he doing here?


    Perhaps their stares were too intense.


    Leonard slowly turned, his gaze locking unerringly onto their group.


    Seeing the three of them, he raised an eyebrow. Far from avoiding them, he walked over withplete nonchnce.


    Seeing Leonard approach, Ste instinctively moved to stand in front of Marvin.


    Leonard noticed her small gesture and sneered, "Ste, why is it that every time you see me, you act like a mouse that''s seen a cat?"


    Ste''s expression was cold. "I''m not sure about the cat, but the revulsion of seeing a rat is definitely real."


    Having wed his way from being


    an illegitimate son to the head of his family, Leonard had heard every insultimaginable Ste''s word didn''t faze him in the slightest


    He lifted an eyelid, a half-smile ying on his lips.


    "By your logic, Ms. Cameron, it seems I''m not allowed to be in the same ce as you, What''s the matter? Does your family own this exhibition?"


    As he spoke, his eyes swept meaningfully over Joshua, a slight curl on his lips.


    "But the person who organized this exhibition is certainly generous. To disy their entire collection for one person. it''s quite the grand gesture. If it weren''t for this, I doubt I would ever have the chance to appreciate so many masterpieces in my lifetime. Have you any idea, Ste, what an astronomical sum the paintings in this exhibition are worth altogether?"