"We gave it to a young girl who used to buy my paintings," Ste replied.


    "The young girl who bought your paintings?" Joshua''s gaze was profound as he looked at her. "The same person you delivered a painting tost time?"


    Ste was surprised by his sharp memory. She nodded slightly. "Yes, that''s her."


    "How are you so sure this person is a young girl?" Joshua pressed. "Have you met her? Or spoken on the phone?"


    His question made Ste and Abby exchange a look. Joshua''s reminder made Ste realize that L had never actually said they were a girl. But when she asionally referred to L as a young girl, L never denied it. So, she had just assumed.


    But not correcting her didn''t necessarily mean agreement, did it?


    Ste suddenly felt uncertain. "...We''ve never spoken on the phone or met. We haven''t even exchanged names. Does it matter if the person is a man or a woman?"


    Joshua watched Ste, a subtle curve on his lips. "Star, you remember how he found you, right? Since he could find Lauretta, it wouldn''t be hard for him to find out your identity."


    Abby didn''t quite understand. "Star''s identity was exposed a while ago. Since this person was buying her paintings, they probably already knew that Summer was Star."


    "What if he knew who Star was long before that?" Joshua countered.


    "So what if he knew?" Abby said. "He''s just an online acquaintance we''ll never meet and only chat with asionally."


    Joshua looked at Abby. "So, neither of you wants to know who this person is?"


    "I''m a little curious, but Star doesn''t seem to care that much about his identity... Joshua, do you think he''s a man?" Abby asked.


    Ste also looked at Joshua, not quite understanding why he had suddenly brought this up.


    Just then, her phone vibrated. She nced at the screen. Coincidentally, it was a message from L, who had sent another picture of the tabby cat.


    Seeing it, Abbymented, "Oh, L sent another picture of the little tabby."


    Joshua''s gaze flickered. "L?"


    Abby, oblivious, answered naturally, "Yeah, L is the young girl who buys Star''s paintings. That''s her screen name."


    Joshua repeated the name meaningfully, almost to himself. "L... his name is L."


    It was as if something clicked in


    Ste''s mind, and a bad feeling.


    settled in the pit of her stomach. She looked up and met Joshua so


    knowing gaze content


    "L likes to collect paintings and adopted your cat... Star, don''t you think that''s quite a coincidence?" Joshua asked.


    Ste''s breath caught in her throat The thought of Leonard owning a cat was surprising but not bizarre. Who was to say someone like him couldnt like cats? Maybe he just did.


    But when so many coincidences were piled together, it was hard not to overthink it.


    Also, she had always assumed L was a girl. She had never once considered. Leonard. To her, L could have been anyone but him. Leonard was the man who had ruined her hand; he despised her. He could never chat with her so calmly, like a kindred spirit and an old friend.


    Ste didn''t want to believe it. She couldn''t ept it.


    Abby, however, was stillpletely lost.