Abby''s expression didn''t change at Ste''s reveal - no surprise, no shock.


    "I figured as much. That he might have been feeding me information on purpose. The reason I chose to go undercover with him in the first ce was because I knew he had a grudge against Leonard. Even if he wouldn''t help me, he definitely wouldn''t help Leonard. If he saw an opportunity, he''d want to take Leonard down. Even if he didn''t trust me to seed, doing nothing meant zero chance. Giving me a chance, even a one percent possibility, was better than nothing. If I were him, I''d take that gamble. If I was exposed, he could just throw me to the wolves with no loss to himself. Whether he found me out or not wasn''t my concern. I went to him seeking one thing: an opportunity to get to Leonard."


    Ste had assumed Abby was the one being kept in the dark, but it turned out she had seen things just as clearly. And she had seeded. It was the opportunity Abby provided that had allowed them to cripple Leonard.


    Noticing Ste''s exhaustion, Abby said, "Star, let''s get you inside to rest. By the way, the room you kept for me should still be there, right? Starting today, I''ll be taking Joshua''s ce by your side."


    Ste looked at her, slightly taken aback.


    "I know I might not do as good a job as Joshua," Abby added, "but I''ll try my best."


    Ste didn''t speak, but she gave a small nod.


    As they entered the main hall, the sounds of a man and a woman arguing echoed clearly through the quiet space.


    Abby paused. "Star, is someone fighting?"


    Ste briefly exined the situation with Israel and Violet Yancey.


    Abby grinned with satisfaction. "Brilliant! Let the monsters tear each other apart."


    Joshua''s departure had been so sudden that the others in the Williams family didn''t know yet, and Ste had no intention of telling them.


    Leading Abby upstairs, Ste''s steps faltered for a moment outside Joshua''s room.


    Abby noticed immediately. "Let''s


    check Joshua''s room," she


    suggested lightly. "In case he forgat anything important, we can mail it to him."


    Ste remained rooted to the spot.


    Abby''s eyes darted around as she came up with a new n. "I remember you have the spare keys for my room and Joshua''s right Star?was in such a hurry today that forgot mine. Could you grab the spare for me?"


    Ste couldn''t refuse such a simple request. A momentter, she returned with the keys.


    Instead of opening her own door, Abby went straight to Joshua''s and unlocked it.


    The room was as neat and


    was a


    minimalist as ever. Everything was exactly as it had been before he left. The nts he had brought back from Novaris were thriving on the windowsill. On the coffee table sat a ss of water, still half full.


    Abby went into the bedroom and saw that he hadn''t taken a single thing. His clothes were still hanging neatly in the closet.


    After checking the entire suite, Abby couldn''t help but murmur, "Did Joshua really own so few things?"


    Ste''s voice came from behind her. "Perhaps, from the very beginning, he never nned on staying long."


    Abby let out a soft sigh. She knew, deep down, that Joshua wouldn''t be back.


    Even if Ste could find it in her heart to forgive him, the wounds of the past would forever form a chasm between them.