A muscle in Jonathan''s face twitched. He opened his mouth, his first instinct to deny it. But if Joshua wasn''t the head of the Gardner family, why was he here? How would he dare to impersonate the family leader on their own turf? There was only one possibility... Joshua really was the head of the Gardner family.


    Jonathan felt the air leave his lungs.


    Joshua smiled. "Mr. Williams, do you now understand how you offended me?"


    Remembering all their past encounters, Jonathan''s face turned grim. He stared intently at Joshua. "If you''re the head of the Gardner family, why were you hiding by Star''s side? What was your purpose in staying with the Williams family?!"


    Joshua''s smile wasced with irony. "I heard your family was known for its integrity, with each member being the cream of the crop. I wanted to see it for myself, perhaps learn a thing or two to bring back and improve my own family. I have to say... your family''s so-called ''integrity'' was quite an eye-opener."


    Jonathan''s face flushed red, then pale.


    "You didn''t summon me all the way to Aetheria just for an apology, did you?" Jonathan said.


    "You''re right," Joshua''s voice was casual. "I brought you here to remind you of something. Even though I''m temporarily away from Star, she is not someone any of you in the Williams family can bully."


    Joshua let out a soft chuckle. "What I want you to understand, Mr. Williams, is that Star is kind-hearted and values family, so she''s always reluctant to take things too far. But I''m different. I have nothing holding me back. When I was by her side, I had to see you all day in and day out, which always made me feel constrained. Now, though... I can act purely based on my mood and preferences. You''d better tell your three younger siblings to watch their tone when they speak to Star. Otherwise, they might end up with a broken arm or a shattered leg and not even know why."


    ***


    Jonathan left the Gardner estate with a dark expression. From Joshua''s words, it was clear that Israel, Coleman, and Aurora had likely known his identity for some time.


    He flew back to the Williams estate that same night. Without even taking a moment to rest, he summoned his three siblings to the study.


    Aurora arrived before Israel and Coleman. "Jonathan," she asked softly, "did something serious happen?"


    Jonathan''s face was a cold mask, and he didn''t reply. He was usually stern but had always been gentle with Aurora His current attitude made her sense that something was wrong. Her eyes darkened, and she silently took a seat, asking no more questions.


    Soon after, Israel and Coleman arrived together. Israel''s face was a mess of ck and blue bruises, with a few fresh scratches visible-clearly the work of a woman. The family had grown used to it. Israel''s fights with Violet Yancey had recently escted from arguments to physical altercations. The family couldn''t interfere. Violet had a fiery temper; thest time Coleman had tried to defend Israel, she had given him a vicious tongueshing.


    After closing the study door, Coleman asked, "Jonathan, what''s so urgent that you called us here thiste?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pnded across his face.


    *Smack!*


    Everyone was stunned by the sound. "Jonathan, what''s wrong?" Israel asked, dumbfounded. "Why did you hit Coleman?"


    Jonathan''s cold gaze swept over the three of them. "Did you all know Joshua''s identity?"


    At the question, Israel''s eyes darted around evasively, Coleman fell silent, and Aurora looked like she wanted to speak


    but her back Seeing their


    reactions, Jonathan knew it was


    frue.


    His voice was thick with suppressed fury. "Why didn''t you tell me that Joshua is the


    head of the Gardner family?!"