When he woke up and found Ste gone, he had been seized by a terrible panic. He had rushed out to find her, not even noticing the note.


    A sense of unease crept into Ste''s heart. She took Joshua''s hand, led him back to her bedroom, and showed him the note on the table.


    "Joshua, I had to go to the study to handle something. When you wake up, you cane find me there."


    Seeing the note, Joshua''s rapid breathing finally began to slow. He lowered his gaze. "Star, I''m sorry. I''m just too on edge."


    Ste looked at Joshua, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just sighed softly.


    This version of Joshua was unfamiliar to her. He was nothing like the calm, collected man who was always in control. Instead, he had be exceptionally anxious. Perhaps her disappearance had truly traumatized him.


    "I''m sorry, Joshua," Ste said gently. "It was thoughtless of me. Next time, if I have to go somewhere, I''ll tell you in person so you won''t worry."


    Joshua mumbled a reply, but Ste wasn''t sure if he had really heard her.


    Though she had just returned, Ste still had many things to deal with. Afterforting Joshua, she found Abby again.


    "Star, now that you''re back, what do we do about Aurora and Simone?" Abby asked. "Are we letting them go?"


    Aurora and Simone were still being held by Joshua.


    Ste thought for a few seconds. "We can''t let them go right away. If I release them


    as soon as I get back, wouldn''t that be a dead giveaway that their kidnapping was connected to us?"


    "But we can''t just keep them locked up forever," Abby said. "If they''re discovered, it be a huge problem. Simone''s fire-she hasn''t been mistreated and gets to see Joshua every day-but Aurora isn''t so lucky."


    "Are her injuries serious?" Ste asked.


    "No major external wounds. It was just shock treatment, after all. She has some marks on her wrists and ankles from the chains, but they''ll heal in a few days."


    Ste nodded "Give her the best


    medicine. We need to get her wounds healed within a week so there are no traces. If possible, give her the best food and drink, try to fatten her up a bit so she doesn''t look so haggard. That way, even if she tries to use Joshua after we release her, she won''t have any proof. Her rtionship with Joshua is already bad, so without evidence, people will just think she''s


    ndering him."


    Abby''s eyes lit up. "That''s a great idea! Let Aurora get a taste of what it''s like to be kidnapped and have no power over your captor! Now that Leonard is dead, it''s her turn to atone for her sins!"


    Abby held a grudge. When Leonard had first kidnapped them, they had no proof to use against him either Aurora had even pretended Leonard wasnt that kind of person acting as if they were the ones ndering him. She knew Ste and Leonard were sworn enemies, yet she continued to associate with him. You never know how much it hurts until it happens to you.


    After this, Abby couldn''t wait to see how Aurora would y the victim.


    Ste turned her head to look at Joshua beside her. "Joshua, do you think that''s a good way to handle it?"


    Although Joshua was sitting right next to her, he seemed to not have been listening to their conversation. He only looked over when Ste said his name.


    "Star, what''s wrong?"


    A chill went down Ste''s spine. Joshua seemed to be zoning out more and moretely.