Due to Aurora''s disappearance, Ste''s birthday was a low-key affair this year.


    Instead of inviting arge group of friends, she had a quiet candlelight dinner with Joshua. As was her tradition, she gave Joshua the gift she had prepared for him the previous year.


    Abby, Antoney, and the others all sent Ste their birthday wishes and had Abby deliver their presents to her.


    At the restaurant, just as Joshua gave Ste her birthday gift, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Ste''s gaze deepened. It was Skyler.


    Ste answered the phone. "Father."


    Skyler''s gentle voice came from the other end. "Star, are you still out celebrating with your friends?"


    "Yes, Father. Is there a reason for your sudden call?" Ste asked.


    "We''ve found Aurora," Skyler said. "When you have a moment, could youe back to the house?"


    Ste wasn''t surprised to hear that Aurora had been found; in fact, she felt it had taken them longer than she''d expected. "I understand. I''ll be back shortly," she said.


    After hanging up, Ste turned to Joshua. "Joshua, they''ve found Aurora."


    Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Finally?"


    Ste nodded slightly. "I''m afraid I have to go back."


    Under these circumstances, Ste would not give the Williams family any ammunition to use against her.


    "Finish your dinner first," Joshua said. "I''ll go back with you."


    "Okay," Ste agreed.


    After they finished their meal, they went to the Williams family home together. Upon arriving, Ste had expected to see Sellers Burton and others waiting there. To her surprise, aside from the Williams family, there were no outsiders present.


    Israel was slouched on the sofa, yawning, looking like he had just sobered up. Jonathan was speaking grimly with the family doctor. Skyler saw Ste and sighed. "Star, you''re back When he saw Joshua behind her, his gaze paused for a moment before he gave a slight n?d in greeting.


    Coleman nced at Ste, then coldly looked away, turning his attention to Aurora.


    Ste blinked in surprise. In the past, Coleman would have immediately started ming her without a second thought. But today, he hadn''t said a word. Did this mean their n was beginning to work?


    Ste also turned her gaze to Aurora, who was lying asleep on a bed. She was thinner than before, and a hint of weariness was visible between her brows.


    From Skyler and Jonathan''s conversation, Ste pieced together what had happened. Because they had missed the optimal window for the search, it had taken the William''s family a full three months to get a lead on Aurora''s whereabouts. They traced her to the Delta and discovered she had fallen into the hands of the Fordham Group brothers.


    The Delta was a ce of tangled allegiances, and the Fordham brothers controlled more than half of it. Rescuing Aurora from their grasp was next to impossible. To save her, Jonathan had personally negotiated with the two brothers, offering them significant benefits. The offer was incredibly tempting,


    yet, surprisingly, the Fordham


    brothers refused to release her Even


    when Jonathan increased the


    stakes, they wouldn''t budge. No


    matter what conditions he offered,


    or even when he resorted to threats and coercion, the brothers remained unmoved.