"I''m quite happy to make that trade."


    The world was never fair.


    Ste had worked so hard, yet it couldn''tpare to what was simply handed to others.


    It was always the favorites who were given what the rest of us had to bleed for and might never obtain.


    Seeing that Joshua had calmed down, Ste led him to the sofa and got him a ss of water.


    "If Aurora hadn''t disappeared, my only option would have been to work with foreign families who have no business ties to the Williams family," she said. "But her disappearance at this exact moment has given me an opportunity."


    Often, Ste didn''t have many choicesid out before her.


    She couldn''t afford to make a single wrong move.


    One mistake, and there would be noing back.


    Fortunately, fate seemed to be on her side.


    By some twist of fate, Aurora had disappeared.


    Joshua looked at Ste with a hint of a smile in his eyes.


    "Star, have you made up your mind?" he asked.


    Ste nodded. "Yes, I have. I''m going to take Aurora''s resources.


    "I want to see for myself just what''s so special about the deals the Williams family handpicked for her."


    At the hospital.


    Leonard''s surgery was finally over.


    Simone stood by his bedside, looking rather guilty.


    Yesterday, Joshua had found out that Leonard was talking to Ste. Today, Leonard got shot.


    Even someone as dense as Simone could put two and two together.


    Leonard soon regained consciousness.


    His gaze swept the room andnded on Simone.


    When he looked at her, Simone couldn''t meet his eyes.


    Her gaze darted around nervously. "Leonard, you''re awake? How are you feeling? The doctor said... the bullet only hit your shoulder, so your life isn''t in danger."


    Leonard could see her guilt at a nce. "You told Joshua, didn''t you?"


    Simone''s first instinct was to deny it, but she knew she couldn''t fool a man like Leonard.


    Just as she was about to confess, there was a knock on the door.


    Leonard''s assistant, Rhett, walked in.


    A thinyer of sweat beaded on Rhett''s forehead; he had clearly rushed over.


    "Mr. Lerman, someone figured out our shipping route. The cargo was stolen."


    Leonard had just woken up, and this wasn''t the kind of news he should be hearing right now.


    But the stolen cargo was a serious matter, so Rhett had no choice but to bite the bullet and report it.


    Leonard''s expression turned cold. "Who has the nerve to steal from me?"


    Rhett was quiet for a few seconds before he said, his voice trembling slightly, "It... it was Ste."


    At the mention of her name, Leonard froze.


    After a moment, he murmured, almost to himself, "Is this what she wants..."


    Rhett asked cautiously, "Mr. Lerman, that shipment is very important t I gather some men


    us. Should


    retrieve it?"


    SV


    Leonard''s expression gradually returned to normal.


    "Since she wants it, just let her have it." A flicker of admiration appeared in Leonard''s eyes. "To be able to figure out my shipping routes and steal my cargo... she''s certainly capable."


    Hearing Leonard''s words, not just Rhett, but even Simone stared at him in disbelief.


    Simone was baffled.


    Was that how someone was supposed to react to having their cargo stolen?


    Rhett''s expression wasplicated.


    He knew that Leonard had been


    acting strangely obsessed with


    Ste recently.


    He reminded him, "Even if you give it to her, she''ll have a hard time finding a buyer


    to take that shipment..."


    Before Rhett could finish, Leonard cut him off.


    "Then we''ll be the ones to buy it."


    Rhett was speechless.


    Buying back his own stolen goods? Had Leonard lost his mind?