"Star, what is up with Leonard? Has he moved into the Williams family home or something?"


    Seeing him once or twice was a coincidence. Seeing him every time... was a problem.


    "I guess so," Ste said.


    Abby lowered her voice. "Is he just shacking up here with nothing better to do, trying


    to patch things up with Aurora, or is he here to watch us?"


    Ste frowned, deep in thought for a moment, then said to Abby, "Let''s go stay at Joshua''s ce tomorrow."


    Abby blinked. "...Wouldn''t I just be a third wheel?"


    "The Gardners are dealing with some issues right now, so Joshua has to go back to handle things. He''ll probably be gone for about a week," Ste exined. "We can stay there for now. It''s better to avoid any trouble while he''s not around."


    Even with Leonard out of sight, Abby couldn''t shake the creeping unease.


    "Star," Abby whispered, "does Joshua know Leonard is staying at the Williams estate?"


    "Not yet," Ste replied. "Joshua''s been really busytely. Whenever we talk on the phone, Harold interrupts with something he needs to report."


    She and Joshua hadn''t seen each other much,municating mostly through calls and texts.


    "What''s he so busy with?" Abby asked curiously.


    "He''s in the process of transferring assets. Joshua wants to move some of the Gardner family''s key businesses to Solmaris."


    "Oh," Abby said with a knowing smile. "That''s no simple task... Star, Joshua is really going all out for you."


    The main reason Joshua wanted to move his businesses to Solmaris was to support Ste and be her strongest backer. Although Joshua hade out on top several times while helping her, those schemes and maniptions couldn''tst forever. Ultimately, you had to have your own strength to seed.


    Joshua knew that, which was why he needed a real base in Solmaris first.


    With a solid foundation, his influence wouldn''t be constrained, and he could better support Ste.


    "Star," Abby suggested, "didn''t you say you were going to move in with


    Joshua soon? Why not do it now?


    You''re going to move in with himmet


    eventually anyway, so why not make it a surprise? When you''re ina rtionship, you have to create a little romance and surprise now and then."


    The suggestion tempted Ste.


    "Do you really think he''d be surprised?" she asked.


    Abby nodded seriously. "Of course! And if you decorate your room nicely, it would move him more than any gift. You''re always saying he''s dore''so much for


    much for you and you don''t know how to repay him. For bim, this would be the best repayment." Cóntent


    Ste considered it, then nodded gently.


    "Okay, I''ll do it."


    ***


    Ste worked quickly. The next day, she packed a few essential items and asked Wilbur and Gideon to


    move the rest of her things while et


    she was away. She didn''t


    She didn''t want to.


    move her belongings while Leonard


    was watching her every move.


    Abby also took advantage of the situation and temporarily moved into the vi.


    For several days, Ste didn''t return to the Williams estate.


    She took Abby''s advice and decided to decorate her and Joshua''s room. During her


    free time, she went to the mall with Abby to shop for items.


    One day, the two of them were in a home decor store picking out essories when Wilbur approached them, a dark look on his face.


    He whispered, "Ste, Leonard''s here."