"Okay."


    Ste was just about to hang up when Neville suddenly called out to her.


    "Star."


    Ste asked, "Neville, is there something else?"


    Neville seemed to hesitate, as if struggling to find the right words.


    Finally, he let out a long sigh.


    "Star, thank you."


    After ending the call, Ste turned to Joshua. "Neville agreed."


    A few minutester, the front doors of the Connolly residence opened.


    Neville walked out.


    However, his first nce was directed straight at Joshua.


    Then, he said coolly, "Follow me."


    The group followed Neville inside.


    Marvin was waiting on the couch in the living room.


    His eyes lit up the moment he saw Ste.


    He jumped up and threw himself into her arms. "Ste!"


    Ste smiled and greeted him, "Hey, Marvin."


    Noticing Joshua standing nearby, Marvin greeted him as well.


    "Mr. Joshua."


    Joshua gently ruffled Marvin''s hair. "It''s been a while, Marvin."


    Then, Marvin''s gazended on Old Mrs. Gardner.


    He instinctively hid behind Ste and shouted, "I don''t want to go back with you! I want to stay with my dad!"


    Ste spoke softly, "Marvin, you don''t have to go back with them. She is just here to see you for a little bit, and then she''s leaving."


    Marvin looked at her, his eyes full of doubt. "Really?"


    Ste said gently, "When have I ever lied to you?"


    Marvin instinctively looked over at Neville, Seeing his father give a.


    slight mod, the little boy finale


    guard down.


    Old Mrs. Gardner looked at Marvin with aplex expression, her eyes unconsciously filing with deep affection. She reached out, wanting to touch his cheek.  fo


    But, as if afraid of scaring him, she froze, her hand hovering in midair.


    Eventually, she lowered her hand and asked softly, "Marvin, can Grandma give you a hug?"


    Marvin looked up at Ste, who offered him an encouraging smile.


    Marvin looked back and forth between Old Mrs. Gardner and Ste before finally, reluctantly, agreeing.


    "Okay."


    Old Mrs. Gardner gently wrapped her arms around Marvin, her eyes growing teary. "Such a good boy."


    Sensing Marvin start to squirm, she quickly let him go.


    She turned to Neville. "I''m sorry for intruding. I''ve seen Marvin now, so we should get going."


    Neville had absolutely no fondness for the Gardners; letting them see Marvin at all was purely a favor to Ste.


    "I won''t see you out," Neville said coldly.


    Old Mrs. Gardner took onest look at Marvin before turning and leaving.


    Knowing he didn''t have to leave his


    dad and Ste, Marvin was thrilled


    fonto Ste''s hand and


    ing away non-stop.


    Seeing this, Neville chimed in, "Marvin, didn''t you just paint a picture a few days ago


    that you wanted to give to Ste?"


    Marvin suddenly remembered. "Oh, right! I have a present for you, Ste!"


    He tugged on her hand.


    "Let''s go upstairs and get it!"


    "Okay," Ste agreed.


    She excused herself to Joshua and followed Marvin upstairs.


    The moment the two of them disappeared from sight, the soft expression on


    Neville''s facepletely vanished.


    He turned to Joshua, cold disgust swimming in his eyes.


    "You''re the one who brought them here, aren''t you?"


    Though phrased as a question, his tone left no room for doubt.


    Neville sneered. "Have you really sunk so low that you''re using a child as a pawn?"