Neville seemed to recall something. He nced around and asked, "Where''s Foreman? Why isn''t he here today?"


    Haynes replied coolly, "He wasn''t invited."


    Neville chuckled knowingly.


    "I don''t see that good friend of yours as the type to give up easily."


    Haynes shot back, "So, have you given up?"


    Neville said, "Star only sees me as a friend. Not giving up would only cause her more trouble. However..."


    His tone shifted, and he chuckled softly. "If Star decides she and Joshua aren''t a good fit and breaks up with him, I wouldn''t mind pursuing her again."


    Haynes retorted, "Even if you pursued her a hundred times, she would only ever see you as a friend. She''ll never fall for you."


    Neville said, "Star seeing me as a friend is still better than your situation, Mr. O''Brien. After all, your marriage was predictable from the start, with no surprises at all."


    They really had nothing to talk about, so they resorted to taking jabs at each other''s weak spots.


    Meanwhile, after a few rounds with Keen and Marvin, Joshua nced back toward Ste.


    His stomach dropped. Ste was gone!


    Joshua''s breathing instantly grew ragged.


    He said to the boys, "Keen, Marvin, you two y here for a bit. I''m going to find Star."


    Keen and Marvin were engrossed in their dartpetition. They were no match for Mr. Joshua, but the game between the two of them was neck and neck.


    They both acknowledged him.


    Just as Joshua reached the doorway, he ran into Abby, who was returning from the restroom.


    He asked with a grim expression, "Abby, where''s Star?"


    Seeing Joshua''s tense face, Abby couldn''t help but smile. "Joshua, don''t be so nervous. Star had a little too much of the fruit wine and got tips Lauretta and i just took hap upstairs to a room to rest.


    She handed a key card to Joshua.


    "From the looks of it, she''ll probably be staying the night. Here''s the key card. Go on up to her."


    Ste had been kidnapped once before, so to prevent anything simr from happening again, they had been extremely strict in, selecting the venue and inspecting


    the surroundings.


    Joshua took the key card and said to Abby, "Keen and Marvin are still ying. I''ll


    leave things here to you."


    Abby gave him an "OK" sign.


    The moment before he opened the door, Joshua''s nerves were still on edge.


    But when he saw the familiar figure leaning on the sofa, he finally rxed.


    Ste''s eyes were closed as she rested against the sofa, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue from the alcohol.


    On the coffee table, the sachet Marvin had given her emitted a faint fragrance. Joshua walked over to her side and asked softly, "Star, are you all right?"


    Ste opened her eyes, her gaze hazy.


    "I''m okay, just a little dizzy."


    Ste could hold her liquor, and though the fruit wine wasn''t strong, she had drunk more than usual because keen had brewed it himself, leaving her head spinning.


    Joshua said, "Hang on. I''ll make you some tea to help settle your stomach."


    The room was well-stocked, and Joshua quickly found the tea.


    After making sure there was nothing wrong with it, he began to brew a cup for Ste.


    He picked up the cup and was about to walk over to Ste when he suddenly froze.