Exchanging an apology for a p and a thrown ss of water was a total bargain!


    Zara might have been overbearing, but she wasn''t stupid.


    Before McCoy could even speak, Zara marched right up to Aurora.


    "Ms. Williams, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it earlier. I hope you can forgive me."


    McCoy added, "Aurora, Zara is spoiled by her family, which is why she acts so recklessly. I''ll have a word with her parents when I get back and tell them to keep her in line."


    While McCoy felt bad for Aurora, she wasn''t seriously hurt. The Lowell and Chapman families had been close for generations, and McCoy''s parents absolutely adored Zara. Forcing his parents to ept Aurora had already caused them great dissatisfaction. If he punished Zara severely and she ran home crying, it would eventually reach his parents'' ears. They would probably end up hating Aurora even


    more.


    McCoy''s attempt to smooth things over was genuinely for Aurora''s sake.


    Yet, a lump of frustration remained lodged in Aurora''s throat. She thought of Leonard Lerman. If it had been Leonard, he never would have let Zara off the hook without making her beat her own face swollen and knocking out a few of her teeth- without Aurora even having to ask.


    But now, Leonard not only ignored her, but he had shifted his affections to Ste.


    A sh of venomous resentment crossed Aurora''s eyes, but she quickly hid it. In public, she had always yed the understanding, reasonable woman. She couldn''t act like she was beating a dead horse.


    Taking a deep breath, Aurora forced a stiff smile. "...It''s fine."


    Having thoroughly stirred the pot, Ste left feeling incredibly satisfied.


    Stepping out of The Chapman Group building, Ste turned to Joshua. "In the past, when I went up against Rachel Pearce, I always suffered because I was too rigid and refused to yield verbally. Looking back, I was so stupid. It''s just an apology, it''s not going to kill me. Didn''t they love hearing me apologize? I should have just pped Rachel while saying sorry."


    Silence fell around them. Ste waited a long time but didn''t hear Joshua reply.


    Puzzled, she turned to look at him, only to see that his pitch-ck eyes were dark and heavy, swirling with an indescribable emotion.


    Ste''s heart skipped a beat. "Joshua, what... what''s wrong?"


    His voice was hoarse. "Star, about Rachel... I''m sorry."


    Hearing this, Ste gently took his hand.


    "Joshua, I let go of that past a long time ago. Even if Rachel hadn''t shown up, wouldn''t have been happy. My marriage with Haynes O''Brien already had huge problems, her appearance was just the catalyst. Besides..."


    Ste paused, looking at him with a warm, forgiving gaze.


    "Joshua, I''ve actually never med you."


    Even though she had told him many times that she didn''t me him, Joshua couldn''t let it go.


    Joshua had never been a man with


    high moral boundaries, and he didn''t regret causing her divorce for a


    second. If she hadn''t been divorced


    when he fell in love with her, he would have found a way to make it happen anyway.


    But, had he known he was going to fall in love with her, he perhaps wouldn''t have let her endure so much pain. He had punished everyone whoever hurt herpletely forgetting that he was the original instigator of her suffering.


    ...


    Late at night.


    After making sure Ste was sound asleep, Joshua went to his study.


    He pulled out a knife.


    Holding the de, he slowly pressed it into his own skin.


    The sting of the de gave him a sick, twisted sense of satisfaction.


    He wouldn''t allow anyone to hurt Ste, not even himself.