Just then, Foreman''s angry voice cut in. "Star, don''t listen to his smooth-talking lies! He probably only helped you to get his hands on your founder''s shares. A man like him, built on lies, doesn''t have an honest bone in his body! Even if you won''t think of yourself, think of Keen! He''s just a child! He was kidnapped because of Rachel and Joshua''s scheming and nearly died. He''s your own flesh and blood! How can you just let that go?"


    Foreman knew that Joshua now held a significant ce in Ste''s heart, perhaps more than he and Haynesbined. That''s why he brought up Keen.


    Every mother loves her child, and Ste''s repeatedpromises for Keen''s sake proved his ce was paramount. Foreman was reminding her that Joshua had almost gotten her son killed.


    But Ste seemed not to hear him. Her gaze remained fixed on Joshua. "So all my past suffering... it was just a passing amusement for you? The more miserable I was, the more entertained you were?"


    Joshua was silent for a moment. "Yes."


    The single word made Ste''s breath tremble. Her mind, once so clear after arriving in Solmaris, was now a chaotic mess. Her body swayed dangerously, and if Haynes hadn''t been holding her, she would have copsed.


    She trusted Joshua sopletely, and now, the reality was impossible to ept. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but when she opened her mouth, her mind was aplete nk.


    She vaguely remembered when she first returned to Solmaris, how she had been wary of him, even suspecting he was a nt from the Williams family. Later, after he had helped her time and again, even


    sking his own life to save hers, she had felt guilty for ever entertaining such thoughts. But now, she learned that he was one of the very people who had pushed her into that abyss.


    Ste could never forget that feeling of utter despair. She had tried to expose Rachel so many times, only to find some invisible hand destroying all the evidence just before she could seed. And now she knew. The person destroying the evidence for Rachel was him.


    A hazy film of moisture began to cloud her vision, blurring Joshua''s face.


    Looking at her pale, stricken expression, Joshua said softly, "Star, no matter what, I did hurt you. For that, I''m sorry."


    Foreman''s furious voice rose again. "No wonder there were so many online trolls spreading rumors and ndering Star! And how they found her address so quickly cornering her even attacking her! It was you helping Rachel pull the strings all along! You helped ruin her life, cost her everything, and now you think a simple ''sorry'' makes it all go away? Forget it! Star will never forgive you! The help you gave her doesn''t cancel out the pain you caused!"


    Joshua ignored Foreman''s shouting, his focus solely on Ste. "You don''t have to feel torn or conflicted becausem helping you now but hurt you in the past. You can just consider it a debt I''m repaying. Just like... how I helped Rachel on a whim. It''s all just based on my mood."