Finding that person would no doubt make him happy, but truth be told, she served more as a kind of anchor for his spirit than anything else.


    His so-called ''savior'' was a term he used almost mockingly.


    The more Ste got to know Joshua, the more she understood that a man as rational and clear-headed as him would be difficult to move by a single chance encounter. In other words, it was unlikely he would fall in love at first sight. He considered that person important only because he had never had anyone important in his life before. He was simply trying to give himself a reason to keep going, to keep living.


    At this thought, a pang of sympathy went through Ste''s heart. She had so many friends who cared for and helped her, yet even she had nearly given up when things got desperate. Joshua had no one to care about. It was hard to imagine how he had managed to endure.


    Just then, Haynes''s voice pulled her from her thoughts.


    "After that, Joshua also helped her find the witness for the car ident she staged, and he handled all the cleanup. And..."


    Haynes stared into Ste''s eyes, speaking each word with deliberate weight. "Do you remember when Rachel and Keen were kidnapped together? That was staged by Rachel. Her real goal was to create an ''ident'' to get rid of you. But the kidnapper was afraid of the trouble he''d be in if something happened to you and Keen, so he didn''t go through with it.


    By all ounts, Rachel''s kidnapping


    plot was full of holes. If Joshua


    hadn''t cleaned up her mess, she would have been exposed long ago. Star, Kadmit I wasn''t thinking clearly back then, and I hurt you. But if Joshua hadn''t been helping Rachel cover her tracks, row could I have femained blind to her true nature for so long? Rachel also said that initially, Joshua suggested just getting rid of you, once and for all. But at the time, Rachel didn''t want a death on her conscience, so she refused. Star, have you ever thought about what would have happened if she had agreed? Would you even be standing here today?"


    By this point, Haynes''s eyes were filled with cold loathing.


    "He''s the head of the Gardner family, yet he''s hiding by your side as a bodyguard Rachel said he


    approached you for two reason


    one, to pass information to her and two to find some amusement for himself. Joshua is just using you as a diversion in his boring life. Star, you know me. I wouldn''t lie to you about something this serious."


    Ste remained silent. Foreman might lie, but Haynes never did. Even when he was being a scoundrel, he was an honest one. When he went to see Rachel, he never made excuses; he just told the truth.


    But...


    "Haynes, it''s not that I don''t believe you. You may not be a liar, but that doesn''t mean Rachel isn''t. And she was delivered to you by Foreman, Who knows what he did or said in the process? Setting aside what kind of person Foreman is, what about Ráchel? Hasn''t she lied to you enough? How many of her words can actually be trusted?"


    Haynes looked at Ste, his gaze filled with an unreadable emotion.


    "I brought Rachel with me to Solmaris. I believe that, as you are now, you''ll be able


    to tell if she''s lying. Star, why don''t youe with me and ask her yourself? Then you''ll know the truth."