Only Foreman couldn''t hold back and stood up.


    "Star, you just got back. You should rest for a few days. Why are you going to stay somewhere else?"


    Abby, ever direct, retorted, "Exactly. Star just got back, so she should be resting and enjoying some private time as a couple. It''s so annoying to have someone constantly buzzing in your ear, isn''t it?"


    Foreman nced at Joshua, his lips pressed into a tight line. "If we all live together, we can discuss any issues and figure out solutions as a group."


    "Thank you for your offer to help, Mr. Richards," Abby said, "but Star has Joshua, and that''s enough. If anythinges up, Joshua will take care of it for her."


    Foreman said coldly, "What can he take care of? If he had protected Star properly, would she have been kidnapped by Leonard—"


    Before he could finish, a cold voice cut him off.


    "That''s enough."


    Ste''s face was icy. "Mr. Richards, if you don''t want to be here, you can leave at


    any time. As for my private affairs, please refrain from meddling."


    Foreman''s face went pale, his gaze on Ste filled with disbelief.


    After the incident where he had backstabbed Joshua, Ste had been cold and distant, but she had never spoken to him so harshly.


    But now, in front of everyone, she hadpletely humiliated him.


    Ste paid no mind to Foreman''s thoughts. She stood up and said, "It''s gettingte. We''re going to head back now."


    She nced at Abby, who gave a slight nod.


    "You go ahead, Star," Abby said to her. "I''ll handle things here."


    Ste said her goodbyes to the group and left.


    ***


    Back at Joshua''s ce, when he saw the redecorated room, a flicker of light finally appeared in his eyes.


    After Ste disappeared, everyone had been so busy searching for her that there was little time for anything else, and Joshua hadn''t returned here once. The room was originally a surprise Ste had nned for him, and Abby hadn''t told him she had already finished decorating it.


    Joshua turned to look at Ste, a faint curve gracing his lips.


    "Star, the room looks great. I love it."


    Looking at the decor, however, Ste had mixed feelings.


    She had lived in an identical room for a month. Seeing this one, with the same furnishings, she couldn''t


    help but be reminded of her time on the ind.


    She desperately wanted to change everything in the room.


    Ste didn''t know if she should tell Joshua the truth. But when she saw the rare smile on his face, she forced herself to hold back. Neither dampening his spirits nor dropping a bombshell seemed like a good choice right now Considering his repent low mood, she decided to let him be happy for a while. It would be easier for him to ept if she told him after his treatment had started


    his


    and he had recovered a bit.


    When Ste came out of the bathroom after her shower, she found Joshua making a pallet on the floor.


    She stopped in her tracks.


    When she suggested moving in, she had already decided to be intimate with him. Why was he sleeping on the floor?


    After watching him finish, she finally couldn''t resist asking, "Joshua, aren''t you going to sleep on the bed?"


    Joshua''s hands paused for a moment, then he said, "Yeah. I''m fine on the floor." Ste was speechless.


    The hint had been so obvious, she couldn''t bring herself to be any more direct.


    Thest time she had suggested they move in together, Joshua''s kiss had been a desperate, hungry thing, as if he couldn''t get close enough.


    Now, his coldness felt like a physical p.