Leonard, however, was unfazed. A half-smile yed on his lips. "The Gardners may be the wealthiest family, but they don''t run the country. Not even the head of the Gardner family has the authority to make me leave Aetheria. If the head of the Lerman family were to die here, what do you think people would say about this ce? Wouldn''t the other major families feel their safety isn''t guaranteed? No one likes a person who kills indiscriminately. Perhaps the major families might even decide to band together and eliminate the Gardners, this... malignant tumor."


    He paused, his lips curling slightly.


    "Hmm... or perhaps it would just further solidify the rumor that all Gardners are mad."


    Ste''s expression changed slightly.


    No wonder Leonard had said all those cryptic things yesterday. He already knew Joshua was a Gardner.


    Leonard was right. He was still the head of the Lerman family. Unless he did something dangerous, Joshua couldn''t just attack him without cause. Otherwise, the Lerman family would put out a global warrant for his arrest, and even the Gardner family wouldn''t spare him.


    Ste stood up, positioning herself in front of Joshua.


    She said coldly, "Compared to the Gardners, Mr. Lerman, you seem more like the madman here. The rumors about your own sanity in our circles are just as prevalent as those about the Gardners. Instead of worrying about others, perhaps you should be more concerned with your own mental state. If you have psychological issues, you should get them treated."


    Leonard looked at Ste, who stood protectively in front of Joshua, her expression tense. He pressed his lips together thin.


    "So, you already know." He made a show of pping slowly, his expressionced with mockery. "And you still dare to be with someone so mentally unstable. Ste, your courage is trulymendable."


    Leonard didn''t know why, but every time he saw Ste, he couldn''t resist taunting her.


    Perhaps because of Joshua, Ste hated hearing people talk about the Gardners'' mental instability.


    Ste smiled. "Maybe after dealing with a madman like you, Mr. Lerman, my tolerance has gone up. Anyone else seems perfectly normal byparison."


    Leonard looked down at her. "So you should be thanking me, then."


    Ste was speechless. The man had no shame.


    Seeing Ste defend him so fiercely, the murderous rage in Joshua''s heart gradually dissipated.


    Although it felt a bit strange for a grown man to be protected by a woman so much smaller than him, Joshya enjoyed the feeling. It even made Leonard seem slightly less annoying.


    Joshua spoke up. "Of course, we should thank you, Mr. Lerman. After all, you really


    put things in perspective."


    Leonard''s gaze darkened.


    Ste was genuinely worried that Joshua and Leonard might actually fight. It wasn''t that she feared Joshua would get hurt or lose. With his skitts, he could probably kille Leonard easily. But Leonard was the head of a family; his death would be a major incident. Joshua had nearly died for killing just Stuart Gibson. If he personally killed Leonard, not even she could protect him.


    With that thought, Ste took the initiative and grabbed Joshua''s arm.


    "Joshua, let''s go somewhere else.


    We


    have a chance to


    Let''s ste our time rxe


    not on like him."


    Both Joshua''s and Leonard''s eyes fell on her hand.


    Joshua''s smile deepened. He took her hand in his.


    "Alright. Let''s go have fun somewhere else and not talk to people who don''t know when they''re not wanted."


    With that, he led Ste away, leaving Leonard behind.


    Leonard stood frozen in ce, his gaze fixed on their retreating figures.