Because of the surgery on her hand, it had been a long time since Ste had personally cooked a meal for Joshua.


    She skillfully washed, chopped, and sautéed the vegetables.


    Soon, the entire house was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of home-cooked food.


    After the final dish was set on the table, Ste checked the time.


    Joshua should be walking through the door any minute now.


    Right on cue, the sound of the front door opening echoed from the hallway.


    Joshua walked in.


    Seeing the table full of food, he didn''t look surprised at all. Instead, he smiled, walked over to the dining table, and took in the spread.


    "Smells amazing. What delicious feast did Star prepare for me today?"


    Joshua was never one to ruin a good moment.


    Normally, if he was home, he would absolutely forbid her from cooking, worried that it might strain her recovering hand.


    But since Ste had already made the effort, he would never say anything to spoil her mood or dismiss her hard work, even if it was out of concern for her.


    Seeing that he wasn''t shocked in the slightest, Ste couldn''t help but ask, "Joshua, did you get my location from the bodyguards again?"


    "No," Joshua replied. "I saw it on the GPS tracker in your ring."


    Ste: "..."


    Wasn''t that basically the same thing?


    She muttered softly, "I guess I''ll never be able to surprise you ever again."


    Joshua stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. "Just seeing you every day is all the surprise I need."


    Ste decided not to dwell on it. She told him, "Let''s eat before the food gets cold." "Okay."


    During dinner, Ste intentionally avoided bringing up his illness. The two of them enjoyed a very pleasant meal together.


    After they finished eating, Ste said, "Joshua,e with me for a second. I have something I want to show you."


    Joshua followed her into the study.


    Ste opened a desk drawer and pulled out a long, rectangr velvet box.


    She handed it to him. "Open it."


    Joshua did as she asked, and his eyes fell upon two exquisitely designed rings nestled inside.


    He picked one up, examining the intricate details carefully, before looking back at her.


    "Did you... design these?"


    Ste nodded. "These are our


    wedding rings. See if you like them.


    overet


    If there''s anything you''d like


    Lean still make,


    ents


    To Joshua, there was no universe in which he wouldn''t love something she made with her own hands.


    He gazed at Ste, his deep, dark eyes shing with an indescribable rush of emotion.


    His voice dropped an octave, turning husky. "Star, I love them."


    Ste picked up the men''s ring and gently slid it onto Joshua''s ring finger.


    "Try it on first. Let''s make sure the size is right."


    Joshua''s fingers were long, pale, and elegant, like those of an artist Save for the faint rough calluses on his fingertips.


    The ring fit perfectly—not too tight, not too loose.


    Ste had nailed the measurements.


    Then, she slipped her own ring onto her finger.


    It was a perfect fit, too.


    Joshua took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. The matching bands caught the light, sparkling brilliantly.


    He pulled her into an embrace and whispered against her ear, "Star, thank you. I truly love it."


    Ste knew his gratitude wasn''t just polite ttery. It was a genuine acknowledgment of the effort she had put in.


    No matter what she did for him, he never took her for granted. In that regard, he was a million times the


    Sen Haynes had ever been.


    >