"And as the head of the Gardner family, thepetition and pressure he faces are exponentially higher than anyone else''s.


    By the time they w their way to that seat, their mental state is already in ruins.


    Factor in extreme external stress, and the chances of them snapping or being deeply triggered are sky-high.


    Add the gic ws hardwired into the Gardner DNA, and it''s no surprise that every head of the family struggles with madness.


    It also exins why the mediocre members of the family usually live out their lives in peace.


    They don''t have to y the vicious power games, and they don''t have to get their hands dirty."


    A tiny spark of hope red in Ste''s chest.


    "So do you think it''s possible for Joshua to be cured?"


    Neville''s voice was low. "Star, I can''t give you a definitive answer. This is all just my own spection.


    Because of what happened to my sister, I obviously don''t have the highest opinion of the Gardners.


    But I have looked into their family illness.


    And from where I''m sitting, brushing it all off as just a ''sickness'' is too simplistic.


    I lean more toward... it being his baseline."


    Ste repeated softly, "His baseline?"


    "What if this is just who he really is?" Neville asked.


    When she didn''t answer, Neville pressed gently, "Star, if this is his true nature, could you ept it?"


    After theirst meeting, Neville had deliberately kept quiet about the warnings Joshua had thrown his way.


    He hadn''t tried to warn Ste, either.


    He knew his views on Joshua were heavily colored by personal bias and his deep- seated grudge against the Gardners.


    He couldn''t offer herpletely objective advice.


    Sensing Ste''s overwhelming confusion, Neville added, "I do have some confidential research files on the Gardner condition.


    Star, if you want, I can forward them to you."


    Ste didn''tpletely trust Laurel, but she trusted Neville implicitly.


    "Yes, please. Thank you, Neville."


    A few minutester, an encrypted filended in Ste''s inbox.


    She opened it and immediately began to read, absorbing every brutal detail.


    A few dayster, Ste received an unexpected call from Abby Murphy.


    "Star, are you super busy right now?"


    Ste, who was still poring over Neville''s files, was a little surprised. "No, not at all. What''s going on?"


    Abby stammered, sounding


    incredibly stressed Um... Antone et


    Watson get into some trouble and he called me to help him sort it out.


    But... I don''t think I can handle this.


    We really need you down here."


    Ste''s heart skipped a beat. "Did something terrible happen?"


    Abby stumbled over her words, clearly struggling to get them out.


    She finally understood why Antoney had called her instead of Ste.


    But there was no sweeping this under the rug.


    Even if Ste didn''t find out today, she''d find out tomorrow.


    Taking a deep breath, Abby blurted out the


    m. looks like


    Antoney and Lauretta Chapman slept together."


    Ste sat in stunned silence.


    She literally couldn''t believe her ears. "Abby, what did you just say?"


    Abby had reacted the exact same way when she first got the call.


    She practically whispered, "Antoney and Lauretta... hooked up."


    Certain she hadn''t misheard, Ste had to ask Hooked up? Like, bow? Like they in Lik?,


    The identally fell aslee


    same bed?"