Their eyes met, the man''s gaze deep and unnervingly calm.


    Ste no longer felt the panic of being caught; all that remained was a chilling numbness after learning the entire truth.


    "Why?" she asked, looking at Joshua. "Why did you do it?"


    Joshua met her gaze, his voice as smooth and cold as a winter stream.


    "I hated how they were constantly hovering around you, stealing your attention."


    "Just because of that, you orchestrated all of this against them?" Ste demanded.


    "It was nothing more than a few minor lessons and warnings," Joshua replied smoothly.


    Ste stared at his handsome, familiar features, feeling a sudden wave of disorientation wash over her.


    Even after being exposed, he showed no guilt, no anxiety, not even a shred of remorse or regret.


    He genuinely didn''t believe he had done anything wrong.


    For a moment, Ste''s mind spun in absolute chaos.


    Her only previous suspicion about Joshua was that he had been hiding the true extent of his illness.


    Even when she sensed something was off about what happened to Antoney and Lauretta, she had never once suspected Joshua.


    Even as the people around her ran into trouble one by one, she had never pointed the finger at him.


    From the very beginning, Joshua had always been there to help her.


    And his devotion to her went far beyond simple assistance.


    Likewise, Ste''s feelings for Joshua had long transcended ordinary love.


    It was no exaggeration to say that Joshua now held the absolute first ce in her heart.


    Even Keen took a back seat to him.


    Ste simply couldn''t believe that Joshua, the man who always put her needs first, could be capable of such ruthless maniption.


    It felt as if she had entrusted her back to the person she trusted most, only to be ruthlessly stabbed.


    Watching him slowly approach her Ste looked up and asked, "So what happens next? If they continue to get close to me, what else will you de to them?"


    Joshua reached out to pull her into his arms, but Ste sidestepped to avoid his touch.


    He didn''t press forward, choosing instead to speak with eerie calmness.


    "Star, you have family, friends, and so many people and things you care about. They all take pieces of your affection, your concem, and your


    focus.


    But I have nothing else. I only have you.


    I just wanted you to care about me a little more, and I don''t see anything wrong with


    that."


    Ste parted her lips, about to argue, but Joshua cut her off.


    His gaze turned predatory and dark. "I know you love me, but human nature is greedy. I will only ever want more.


    I know the affection you''ve given me is already the absolute limit of what you can offer.


    Since you can''t give me the rest, I''ll just have to take it myself.


    Star, I told you I would never put you in a difficult position."


    Ste''s breath hitched, a trace of bewildered disbelief shing in her eyes.


    The Joshua in her memories wasn''t supposed to be like this.


    He was considerate, thoughtful, and deeply understanding.


    Try as she might, Ste couldn''t reconcile the devoted, loving Joshua she knew with


    the dangerous man standing right in front of her.


    "Joshua, you were never like this before."


    Joshua Selfless or forgiving as y


    Joshua simply replied, "Star, I was


    never


    thought. The truth is I struggl


    кой


    every single day to hold myself back.


    I knew you wouldn''t love this side of me, so I did everything I could to hide it from


    you.


    Buttely, you clearly started to suspect something.


    You''re too smart. I might be able to fool you for a while, but I could never hide it from you forever.


    Since you wanted to know the truth so badly, then here it is.


    We''re going to spend the rest of our lives together anyway. You were bound to find out sooner orter."