Haynes didn''t say much more. After telling Ste the news, he hung up.


    As for who had set the fire...


    Both Ste and Haynes tacitly avoided mentioning it. After all, there weren''t many people with both the means and the motive.


    When Joshua returned and found Ste awake, a flicker of light shed in his eyes.


    He walked over to her. "Star, when did you wake up?"


    "Just now." Ste looked at Joshua. "Where did you go?"


    Joshua said, "I told Laurel Quinn to move out early. I don''t want her here being an eyesore and disturbing us."


    Joshua''s attitude toward Laurel was hardly that of a man toward his ex-wife. Of course, Ste''s own treatment of Haynes had arguably been worse.


    "I''m nning to visit Keen tomorrow," Ste said. "Joshua, will youe with me?"


    Joshua didn''t refuse. "Of course."


    The next day, Joshua did as he promised and had someonee to melt the ring off Ste''s finger.


    When the ring was removed, it left a clear indentation around her finger. Though the mark would fade over time, it was still unsettling to look at.


    Laurel Quinn had already left. She hadn''te to say goodbye to Ste, only sending a text before she departed.


    [You can call me anytime you need help.]


    Joshua''s eyes darkened as he stared at the mark on Ste''s finger, his expression unreadable.


    Ste opened her mouth, about to say something, but Joshua had already taken her hand.


    "Next time, I''ll design a ring that won''t be so easily melted by high temperatures, or so easily taken off."


    Ste squeezed his hand in return. "Okay."


    Once the matter of the ring was settled, Ste and Joshua went to visit Keen.


    Keen was still living in the house where Ste and Haynes had lived for five years. Standing in front of the familiar vi, Ste felt a surreal sense of dislocation. She hadn''t been back here since she decided to divorce Haynes.


    Beside her, Joshua was also studying the vi.


    "Is this where you used to live?"


    Ste came back to her senses. "Yes."


    "Let''s go in," Joshua said.


    But Ste hesitated.


    She called Keen often and knew that nothing in the vi had been changed; it was preserved exactly as it was when she left. When she moved out, she was so focused on making a clean break with her past that she hadn''t taken much with her.


    She had lived here for five years, and the house was filled with traces of her life. Was it really a good idea to bring Joshua to tour the ce she once shared with another man?


    If the roles were reversed and she had to tour the home he had shared with Laurel


    Quinn, she would definitely feel a little bothered by it.


    Sensing her thoughts, Joshua said, "Star, I want to know about your past."


    Ste turned to look at him and saw that his eyes were pure and clear.


    Thinking about how Joshua was always straightforward, telling her whenever something displeased him, Ste said softly, you feel ufortable at any point just tell me."


    Joshua tightened his grip on her hand. "I will."


    Ste walked to the door and rang the bell.


    The video inte was quickly answered, and Maisie''s familiar voice came through.


    "Mrs. O''Brien, the code hasn''t changed. You can juste right in."


    Ste entered Keen''s birthday, and the main gate swung open.