Leonard''s lips curved into a chilling smile. "Do you really think his energy is infinite, that he can manage everything? Simone, don''t forget, he''s a man, not a god."


    Simone fell silent.


    Joshua was indeed so powerful that she had subconsciously started to believe he had everything under control, no matter the situation.


    Just like Leonard said, she had gotten used to seeing Joshua as wless and unbeatable. It hit her suddenly, how high she''d set the bar for him - as if he wasn''t allowed to make mistakes, to ever lose, as if he had to stay on top forever.


    But she had forgotten that Joshua was human, and his energy was finite.


    "Do you really think the head of a family could be outyed that easily?" Leonard continued. "If he could truly take down me and Sellers so easily, why not just acquire our families and be done with it? Why go through all this trouble? He could just bankrupt us, make us his prisoners, and then he could have his revenge any way he wanted. Especially Sellers-he''s a master of weighing pros and cons, adapting to situations, and using underhanded tactics. One moment of carelessness, and he''ll bite back. Joshua''s handling of the Israel Williams stock situation was wless, but he couldn''t afford a single misstep. You expect him to manage external threats while effortlessly dealing with patriarchs like us..."


    Leonard''s gaze turned mocking. "Forget me and Sellers. It would be faster for him to just eliminate Skyler and Jonathan and put Ste in charge, wouldn''t it?"


    Simone had no reply. The Gardner family was wealthy, it was true, but theirwork and connections were rtively average. Some things could be bought with money, but deeply entrenched rtionships couldn''t be shaken by any amount of cash. If Joshua had an easier way, he wouldn''t be going to such lengths.


    For some reason, hearing Leonard''s analysis made Simone''s heart ache for Joshua. He had truly sacrificed so much for Ste.


    "The time Joshua can spend by Ste''s side is limited," Leonard concluded. "The most he can do is clear as many obstacles from her path as possible. The rest, Ste will have to handle on her own."


    ...


    Seeing Haynes, Ste was genuinely surprised.


    "Where''s Keen? Did hee to Solmaris too?" she asked.


    "No, he''s not with me this time," Haynes replied.


    This struck Ste as even stranger. Haynes almost never came to see her without Keen.


    This time, he was alone. A thought urred to her, and her expression cooled.


    "Don''t tell me you''re here about Foreman''s business too?"


    Seeing the clear shift in her demeanor, Haynes said quickly, "No, I''m here about Rachel."


    Ste raised her eyebrows at the mention of the name.


    "Rachel? Oh, right, I remember. Last time, she said she was pregnant with your child. Is she about to give birth?"


    Haynes''s face darkened. "Star, I told you, nothing ever happened between Even if she is pregnant the child might not be mine..." Conte >


    Ste cut him off. "You don''t need to exin any of that to me. Whether the child is yours arnot has nothing to do with me. Just tell me why you''re here."


    Haynes closed his eyes for a


    moment, deciding not to pursue the topic. He said slowly, "A few days


    ago, Rachel, who had been missing


    for a long time, suddenly


    reappeared."