Ste''s thoughts immediately went to Abby.


    Abby had been shocked to learn they were sharing a room but Joshua was sleeping on the floor.


    "No way. You''ve known each other for so long and you''re still sticking to this whole tonic thing?"


    Ste had said, "Joshua said he doesn''t want to hurt me."


    Abby had been incredulous. "That kind of excuse... doesn''t it sound just like what a man would say to cover up the fact that he can''t perform?"


    As she spoke, Abby felt more and more that something was amiss.


    "I''ve seen people online say some guys, or men who have performance issues, say things like ''I respect you'' or ''I don''t want to hurt you'' to avoid sleeping with their partners before getting married as a cover.


    "And Joshua has been divorced once for some unknown reason.


    "How many women would be willing to divorce a man as intelligent, handsome, and high-status as him? Even if it were a marriage of convenience, they probably wouldn''t want to leave, right?


    "Besides, that Laurel Quinn was clearly still in love with Joshua. Why would she divorce him instead of taking the chance to build a rtionship...?"


    Abby felt she had stumbled upon a secret that could get her silenced. She asked suspiciously, "Star, do you think Joshua... might not be able to, you know?"


    Ste hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don''t think so, right?"


    Seeing her friend''s uncertainty, Abby''s suspicion grew.


    She set aside any awkwardness. "Have you two ever had a close call when you were being intimate? Or..."


    Abby gave Ste a knowing look.


    Ste thought about it. Although she and Joshua had kissed, they had never gotten close to actually sleeping together.


    Thinking about it now, Ste wasn''t so sure either.


    Abby was seriously considering her best friend''s future happiness. "Star, I think you should find out for sure. What if Joshua really can''t..."


    Abby paused.


    If Joshua really couldn''t perform, should she tell Ste to break up with him?


    If they didn''t have much of an emotional connection, she could say that. But after all


    the life-and-death situations Ste and Joshua had been through, just abandoning him seemed too cruel.


    Then again, condemning Ste to a sexless marriage also seemed cruel.


    Abby thought for a moment and said, "That way, you can find the right treatment and help him get better sooner. Mr. Burton is such a brilliant doctor he''s sure to have a solution Contert


    Ste was speechless.


    Abby went on to suggest several ways Ste could test Joshua.


    But Ste didn''t have the time to think about that then.


    After all, Joshua''s headaches were the most important thing.


    Now, with this having happened, Ste couldn''t help but wonder if it was all Abby''s doing.


    Even if Keen hade up with this surprise, he would have needed help from Abby orynes to find many people.


    At this thought, Ste felt a pang of guilt.


    If Joshua found out that she and Abby had been specting behind his back that he couldn''t perform she know what he would think of her.


    Thinking of this, Ste''s gaze drifted away.


    "...I''m going to take a shower first."


    Joshua watched her quietly. "I already washed you."


    Ste still didn''t dare to look at him. "It''s gettingte. We should get to work."


    Joshua said, "Star, have you forgotten? You cleared your entire schedule to rest today. You have no appointments."


    Ste fell silent. She really had forgotten.


    Seeing that Ste was avoiding his gaze, Joshua''s dark eyes deepened.


    "Star, do you regret it?"


    Ste didn''t quite follow. "What?"


    Joshua said, "Do you regret what happened between usst night?"


    Ste instinctively denied it. "No."


    Joshua looked at her earnestly. "Or did you drink so muchst night that you don''t remember anything?"