"What about the others? Did they try to make a move?" Ste asked.


    "Israel Williams has his hands full with Violet Yancey and has lost all will to fight. He couldn''t care less that you were missing," Abby said. "As for Coleman Williams... not a peep out of him. Jonathan Williams, on the other hand, seemed to be constantly plotting something. He tried to rally his supporting shareholders to stir up trouble, but it failed for some unknown reason. Then he settled for second best and teamed up with Sellers Burton to try and steal your contracts. For some reason, that didn''t work out either."


    Ste''s expression shifted slightly before she fell silent.


    Ste thought that after so long without proper rest, Joshua would sleep for a very long time. He bolted upright barely an hourter, his muscles corded and trembling with unspent tension.


    Ste looked over at him and said softly, "Joshua, did you have a nightmare?"


    Hearing her voice, Joshua turned his head. The moment he saw her, he pulled her into a tight embrace. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes were filled with a chaotic light.


    "Star, I''m not dreaming, am I? I really found you, right?"


    Ste gently patted his back. "You''re not dreaming, Joshua. I''m really back," she said warmly.


    Joshua''s body was trembling slightly. "So many times, I dreamed that you came back. I thought you were really here... but when I went to look for you, I''d realize it was all just a dream. I''m so afraid that everything that just happened was another dream. I was afraid to talk to you, afraid that if I did, the dream would end."


    He hadn''t slept much during this period, but on the few asions he had, he''d dreamt of finding Ste. He wanted to find her so badly, wanted her back by his side more than anything. But the crushing disappointment of realizing it was all fake, just a dream, had nearly driven him mad. Eventually, he grew afraid to sleep at all, terrified that one day he wouldn''t be able to tell the difference between dream and reality.


    Ste''s heart ached for him. So that was why he hadn''t spoken to her earlier-he thought he was still dreaming.


    She felt a wave of sadness, wanting


    tofort him but not knowing where to begin All she could do was hold him silently offering him quiet reassurance.


    After a while, seeing his emotions gradually calm, Ste said, "Joshua, you haven''t had a proper rest in so long Why don''t you go to the room and get some sleep?"


    "I''d rather not," he replied. "If I wake up and it''s all a dream again, I''d rather just stay


    in this one."


    Ste felt both heartbroken and helpless.


    "Joshua, you''re not dreaming. I''m really back."


    She stood up. "I''m a little tired myself. I think I''ll take a nap."


    Joshua could go without sleep, but he wouldn''t stop Ste from resting. He looked


    at her, seeming to want to say something but holding back.


    Ste guessed what he was thinking. "You can sleep on the bed. I''ll just rest on the sofa for a bit."


    She paused, her voice softening. "I''m not going anywhere. I''ll stay right here with you. Please, Joshua, get some rest first. I have a lot of things


    need your help with when we get back."


    Joshua''s dark eyes shone with a clear, bright light. "Star, will you really stay with me?"


    Ste nodded. "Yes, I''ll always be with you."


    His gaze was quiet and intense, his voice a whisper.


    "I''ll remember what you said, Star. You can''t go back on your word. Otherwise..."