Joshua had replied coolly, "If he dies, then so be it."


    At that moment, Jake''s voice broke Harold out of his thoughts.


    "Harold, ever since you and Mr. Gardner got back from Novaris, you''ve both been acting a little strange. You''re not... hiding something from me, are you?"


    Harold''s eyes darted away for a second. "No. You know everything I know. What could I possibly hide from you?"


    Jake looked like he wanted to say more, but Harold cut him off.


    "Alright, let''s just say we sessfully executed the n. Make sure all traces arepletely wiped. Even if the Williams family gets suspicious, they won''t have any proof. Ms. Cameron can handle a little suspicion."


    Watching Harold''s retreating back, Jake''s expression grew thoughtful.


    ***


    Ste left the hospital with Lauretta Chapman before Skyler regained


    consciousness.


    As they were about to part ways, Lauretta looked at Ste, seeming to struggle with her words.


    In the end, she only managed two.


    "Thank you."


    Ste blinked, but she didn''t deny it.


    When she got home, Joshua was already there. He seemed to be very busytely, no longer shadowing her every move as he once had. But Ste knew that the men Joshua had assigned were still following and protecting her from the shadows.


    Seeing Ste, Joshua walked over and gently pulled her into a hug. "Star, you''re back."


    Ste asked in a low voice, "Joshua, what have you been so busy withtely?" "Nothing much," Joshua said. "Just some family business."


    Sensing that Joshua didn''t want to borate, Ste didn''t press the issue. Instead, she brought up Jonathan. "Joshua, Jonathan was in a car ident. He''ll likely be in a vegetative state."


    Joshua showed no surprise. He


    rested his head on Ste''s shoulder, his voice unreadable. "Yes. Jonathan won''t be an obstacle for you


    anymore. However, the Burton and Chapman families are still a bit of nuisance."


    Held in Joshua''s embrace, Ste couldn''t see his expression. Hearing him mention


    the Burton and Chapman families, her heart skipped a beat.


    Ste said, "Joshua, I have an appointment with Mr. Burton tomorrow to have my hand examined."


    "Okay," Joshua said. "I''ll go with you."


    Ste said, "Mr. Burton has been good to me. He genuinely treats me like one of his own..."


    Before she could finish, Joshua interrupted her. "Star, I have it under control."


    Despite his words, a faint sense of unease settled over Ste. In the past, she would have believed him without question. But now... she had a feeling things wouldn''t be as simple as Joshua made them out to be. Being with him day in and day out, Ste had keenly sensed that since thest incident, something about Joshua had changed. His methods for dealing with Jonathan seemed far more ruthless.


    ***


    The next day, Ste and Joshua arrived at Mr. Burton''s residence.


    Mr. Burton was delighted to see Ste, though his words were gruff. "Hmph, so you finally remembered this old man?"


    Ste smiled and handed him the gift she''d brought. "Mr. Burton, I knitted these


    gloves myself. I hope you like them."


    Mr. Burton''s stern expression


    immediately broke into a wide,


    gia


    happy grin. He took the


    praised, "Ste, your handiwork is as exceptional as ever."


    Then, his gaze swept over to Joshua.


    Joshua smiled and greeted him. "Mr. Burton, it''s been a while."


    Seeing Joshua, however, Mr. Burton''s eyebrows rose. He nced at Ste before giving a slight, polite nod.


    He said to them, "Wait here for a moment. I''ve already sent for Old Mr. Wyatt."


    About ten minutester, an elderly man about Mr. Burton''s age was led in by a servant.


    After exchanging a few pleasantries with Mr. Burton, he turned to Ste. "Come with me for the examination."


    Ste and Joshua stood up, ready to follow, but Old Mr. Wyatt suddenly said, "I don''t like to be disturbed by outsiders when I''m making a diagnosis."


    Joshua''s dark eyes narrowed. "Oh? And why is that?"