Joshua also noticed a book on medicinal cuisine on the coffee table. It was clearly a book that Ste had once read.


    Just then, a low, cool voice came from the doorway.


    "I''m surprised you came here."


    Joshua turned to see Haynes standing at the entrance.


    "Dad, you''re back!" Keen said when he saw Haynes.


    Haynes nodded at Keen. "Go find your mom. I need to talk with Mr. Joshua for a moment."


    Keen, ever the sensible child, left the room.


    Once Keen was gone, Haynes entered.


    "Seeing all this," he asked, "what are your thoughts?"


    Joshua spoke. "I''m grateful for your blindness, Mr. O''Brien."


    After a moment of stunned silence, Haynes said, "I haven''t let anyone touch a thing in here since she left. If she ever wants toe back, she can, anytime."


    Joshua''s lips curved into a faint smile. "Mr. O''Brien, you had the chance to be the one and now you''re content to be the backup n. But you''re destined for disappointment. As long as I''m around, you will never see her return."


    As Joshua prepared to leave, Haynes''s voice, smooth yet chilling, cut through the air from behind him.


    "I won''t try to break you two up, but I won''t give up any opportunity either. Since you''ve toured this ce, you should know that some marks aren''t easily erased. I''m notpletely without a chance."


    Joshua''s thin lips curled into a sinister smile. "I wouldn''t be so sure."


    With that, Joshua said no more and turned to leave.


    Haynes watched him go, a frown creasing his brow. Joshua''s final nce had been strange.


    After Haynes returned, Ste and Joshua stayed for a little while longer before leaving.


    As they left, Keen reminded Ste, "Mom, don''t forget the parent-child activity this weekend."


    Ste smiled. "I won''t."


    The phone on the nightstand buzzed incessantly.


    Ste forced her eyes open and instinctively reached for it.


    "Hello?" Her voice was raspy and her tone a bit hazy.


    "Star." On the other end of the line was Haynes''s deep voice. "Where are you?"


    Ste''s mind was still sluggish. "What do you mean, where am I?"


    Haynes was quiet for a moment, then said, "Star, did you forget? You promised to attend the parent-child activity with Keen today."


    The words instantly jolted Ste from her drowsy state.


    She quickly said, "I''m so sorry, I overslept. I''m on my way now."


    After hanging up, Ste checked the time. The activity started at 2:00 PM, and it was already 1:30.


    She didn''t know what had gotten into Joshuately. Joshua had been relentlesstely, his hunger for her keeping them both awake until the first light of dawn every day. Joshua had to go out for something today. ? but when he woke up, he had pulled her back in twice more.


    Ste''s energy was already depleted, and she had fallen asleep


    immediately afterward. Now she had woken up to find it was already half past one.


    Joshua was long gone from the room.


    Ste quickly washed up and rushed out the door.


    But by the time she got to the school, she was stillte.


    The parent-childpetition was already over.


    From a distance, Ste could see Keen standing beside Haynes, his small head


    hanging in disappointment.


    Ste ran over. "I''m sorry, Keen. Mom iste."


    Seeing Ste, Keen managed a small smile.


    "It''s okay. Dad participated with me, and we even got a good ce..."


    Despite his words, his disappointment was undeniable.


    Ste was wracked with guilt. The time she could spend with Keen was already so limited, and she had


    missed the one event shee


    to attend because she waste.


    Thinking this, Ste said, "Keen, how about I take you to the amusement park tomorrow to make up for it?"


    Keen''s eyes lit up, and he was happy again.


    "Okay!"


    As Haynes''s gaze swept over Ste, it lingered for a moment on the scarf wrapped around her neck.