Antoney and Lauretta''s situation had finally been resolved, and it seemed like a happy ending for everyone involved.


    However, Ste just couldn''t bring herself to feel happy about it.


    Abby noticed Ste''s gloomy mood and asked softly, "Star, aren''t you happy? I thought you wanted to set them up in the first ce. Now that they''re together, isn''t it a good thing?"


    Ste said quietly, "If they got together because they genuinely had feelings for each other, then maybe it would be. But they were basically forced into this corner. No matter how you look at it, it doesn''t feel like a good thing."


    Abby knew Ste was thinking about her own past with Haynes O''Brien.


    After all, Ste and Haynes had originally gotten together because they were forced into it, with absolutely no emotional foundation.


    Abby said, "Antoney and Lauretta are both good friends of ours. We know they have solid character. Plus, neither of them has any messy pasts-there won''t be another Haynes and Rachel Pearce situation. For Lauretta, marrying Antoney is honestly her best option.


    Don''t forget, Aurora is Lauretta''s sister-inw now, and she''s pregnant.


    If Aurora starts whispering poison in McCoy''s ear, Lauretta could end up in serious trouble.


    I actually think this is a blessing in disguise."


    Ste nodded, but her brow remained tightly furrowed.


    "I don''t know why, but I just have this nagging feeling that something isn''t right."


    "What feels off?" Abby asked.


    Ste shook her head. "I can''t put my finger on it right now... it''s just this inexplicable feeling."


    Abby smiled and offered somefort. "Alright, Star. Right now, you shouldn''t be worrying about other people''s business. You need to focus on your wedding with Joshua."


    At the mention of Joshua, Ste''s mood sank even lower.


    Abby had been Ste''s best friend for years. Seeing that bringing up the wedding didn''t even spark a hint of joy, she immediately realized what was truly bothering her.


    She asked cautiously, "Star, is it Joshua''s condition? Has something changed?"


    Ste looked at Abby. "How did you know?"


    Abby analyzed the situation


    perfectly. "Jonathan is in a


    Aurora is only relying on her


    ovel?


    and


    pregnancy to secure her spot, and Sellers ispletely off the grid.


    All the threats against you are practically gone.


    Lauretta and Antoney getting together is a positive. If you''re still this depressed, it has to be about Joshua.


    Your rtionship with him is rock solid, so the only thing that could possibly be stressing you out is his health."


    Ste smiled faintly. "It''s rare to see you so sharp."


    "I''ve learned a lot from hanging out


    with you for so long," Abby said yfully "But seriously, if you''re really struggling with this, why don''t you sit down and have a realtalk with Joshua?


    He''s so smart, and he treats you so well. No matter what you decide, he''ll understand and support you."


    Ste wasn''t as optimistic as Abby. She asked with a trace of doubt, "Will he?"


    Abby didn''t hesitate. "Of course he will! If you can''t even trust Joshua, who can you trust?"


    Ste froze for a second.


    She was right. If she couldn''t even trust Joshua, who else was there?


    "Okay," Ste said. "I''ll find a chance to talk to him."


    Abby smiled. "That''s the spirit. When two people are together, you have to be honest andmunicate.


    Especially you and Joshua. You guys have been through hell and back-this is just


    a bump in the road."


    Encouraged by Abby''s words, Ste finally made up her mind.


    Later that day, while Joshua was out working, Ste went to the grocery


    store herself. She


    Picked out some,


    fresh ingredients, nning tocook


    dinner for him.