Night had fallen, and the brilliant city lights pierced the darkness of the sky, shimmering like a flowing river of stars.


    Joshua stood there in a ck suit, a figure as profound and striking as the deepest stroke in a rich painting. The inky night behind him seemed to serve as his


    backdrop.


    The man''s handsome features were faintly clouded by ayer of gloom.


    It wasn''t until he saw Ste that his expression softened slightly.


    Although he had already received news that she was safe on his way over, he couldn''t feel at ease until he saw her with his own eyes.


    Joshua walked up to Ste and, seeing that she was uninjured and herplexion was normal, finally let out a sigh of relief.


    Ste took the initiative to take his hand. "I was just in a meeting and had my phone on silent, that''s why I missed your calls. Joshua, you worry too much."


    Ste had a habit of silencing her phone during meetings or business negotiations as a sign of respect for her partners.


    It was a habit she''d had even back when Joshua was her bodyguard.


    Her exnation was wless.


    Joshua gently pulled her into a hug, feeling the frantic beating of his heart finally settle back into its rhythm.


    "Too many people have their eyes on you. I''m afraid someone will take you from me."


    The words were spoken casually, but they struck a chord with the listener.


    A strange look flickered in Ste''s eyes.


    Fortunately, Joshua was hugging her and couldn''t see her expression. Otherwise, he would have certainly noticed something was amiss.


    Leonard was truly a menace.


    While his confession hadn''t convinced Ste, she couldn''t deny that a seed of doubt had been nted in her mind.


    It was a small seed, but it was enough to affect her.


    Worried that Joshua might pick up on something if they continued this topic, Ste changed the subject. "Josh, you''re dressed so formally today. Were you in a business meeting?"


    "Yes, handling some business," Joshua replied.


    "You were always by my side as a bodyguard," Ste said. "I thought you didn''t have any work to do."


    Joshua held her, unwilling to let go.


    "You spend most of your time in your office. I use that time, or the evenings when I go back, to handle important matters.


    Before, the Gardner family rarely coborated with outsiders, so the work was rtively simple.


    Besides, The Gardner Group has plenty of highly-paid staff. If thepany couldn''t function unless I did everything myself, we might as well just dere bankruptcy."


    Ste asked another question, "If the Gardner family doesn''t work with outsiders, how did it be the wealthiest in the world?"


    Without any hesitation, Joshua told Ste a secret that the Gardner family strictly forbade from being revealed.


    "The Gardner family''s territory is in a


    special geographical location with


    unique and presious natural


    resources. We can sustain o


    internal operations just by casually


    mining them.


    The reason the family kept such a low profile in the past and didn''t cooperate with anyone was to keep this secret from getting out.


    However..."


    He looked down at Ste. "If you decide to settle down and build your career here in Solmaris, then The


    Gardner Group should also shift its


    industrial focus to Solmaris.


    That way, I can better support you."


    Ste looked up at the man''s strikingly handsome face, and her eyes unexpectedly began to sting.


    No matter what, Joshua''s first thought was always about helping her.


    "Joshua, you''ve helped me so much. If... and I''m just saying if..... I don''t end up with you, wouldn''t all of your help have been for nothing?"