Just as she hung up, there was a knock on the door.


    Joshua''s voice came from the other side. "Star, it''s time for dinner."


    Ste answered and got up to open the study door. Joshua was standing right outside.


    As they walked downstairs together, Ste asked, "Joshua, did you catch Melody?"


    "No, I just sent Harold to look for her. Why, is she missing?" Joshua replied.


    Ste ryed what Wilbur had just reported.


    Joshua thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps someone is hiding her."


    Ste looked at him. "Are you suggesting... there''s a mastermind behind this?"


    "For someone who hasn''t been around for years to suddenly show up and cause trouble for you two-it''s a bit too coincidental," Joshua said.


    Ste frowned slightly. "Who could this mastermind be?"


    She had made quite a few enemies, so it was hard to guess who might be behind it.


    Joshua took her hand. "I''ve already had Harold investigate. I''ll let you know what he finds."


    Ste trusted Joshuapletely, so she didn''t press the matter further.


    The night was as dark as ink. Ste was sound asleep.


    Once he was certain she was truly asleep, Joshua silently slipped out of bed. He got dressed and stepped out of the room, where Harold was already waiting respectfully.


    "Where is she?" Joshua''s tone was t. "Take me there."


    Harold opened the car door for him and drove Joshua to their destination.


    In a dimly lit basement, Melody was tied to a chair, cursing nonstop. "Who?! Who dares to kidnap me?! Do you have any idea whom?! You, have some nerve! I''m warning you, let me go right now, and I can pretend this never happened. Otherwise, you will regret this!"


    The ck-d bodyguards stood around her, their faces impassive, ignoring her


    words as if they hadn''t heard a thing.


    Seeing this, Melody grew even more


    furious. "Are you trying to get yourselves killed? If you don''t release me, I''ll have my father tear you to pieces! in Novaris, no one dares to disrespect the Vasquez family! Even Haynes O''Brien has to respect the Vasquez name..."


    Just then, the door to the dark room creaked open. A handsome man in ck


    bowed respectfully. "Mr. Gardner, this way, please."


    Melody instinctively looked toward the door.


    A young man walked in slowly. His handsome face seemed to glow like a pearlin the night, bright enough to illuminate the entire basement. Yet, he exuded a aura that was


    deeply unnerving:


    to''


    He was breathtakingly good-looking, but for some reason, a bone-deep fear made Melody tremble uncontrobly.


    "Who... who are you?"


    Joshua''s voice was indifferent, half his face shrouded in darkness, which made him appear inexplicably frightening.


    "Who I am doesn''t matter. What matters is... tell me who''s pulling the strings, and I can give you a quick end."


    Melody''s eyes darted around. "I... I don''t know what you''re talking about..."


    Joshua smiled, his voice gentle. "It''s alright. You will soon."


    He turned to a nearby bodyguard and ordered, "Start by cutting off her fingers, one


    by one. Then, chop off her hands. If she still won''t talk..."


    Before Joshua could finish, Melody''s face turned white.


    "You can''t touch me! My father is Ah!"


    As the words left her mouth, a bodyguard swiftly chopped off one of her fingers.