Oddly, the frantic beating of Ste''s heart began to steady.


    She met his intense stare head-on. "But I can''t live the rest of my life with a man who destroys my friends or muttes himself.


    Your memories matter to you, yes, but do other people''s lives mean absolutely nothing?


    Today, you''re unleashing your ruthless tactics on them.


    What happens tomorrow? The day I do something you don''t like, will you turn those exact same tactics on me?"


    Joshua opened his mouth, but she cut him off before he could get a word in.


    "Don''t even try to deny it. You literally sliced into your own chest tonight. What line won''t you cross?"


    Taking a shuddering breath, sheid out the ultimate ultimatum.


    "It''s either the treatment, or we are done. You choose."


    A sh of pure, unadulterated menace crossed his features, but he ruthlessly crushed it down a secondter.


    Reaching out, he pulled her back into his arms, his tone shifting into one of heartbreaking vulnerability.


    "Star, you just epted my proposal a few days ago.


    We''re supposed to get married in six months. I''ve already designed your wedding dress... you can''t just throw me away."


    Ste instinctively shoved at his chest, but his muscr arms locked around her like


    a steel vice,pletely neutralizing her struggle.


    His words were a desperate plea, but his physical dominance betrayed hismanding nature.


    He knew exactly which buttons to press to shatter her resolve.


    Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he murmured softly.


    "Star, I have people searching the globe for specialists. This isn''t our only option.


    I swear, I will never do anything you hate ever again.


    I''ll listen to whatever you say. I''ll even let you call all the shots in bed."


    A hot flush of embarrassment crept up her neck.


    Having been with him for so long,


    Ste knew his sudden


    Submissi


    was just a calcted move to break


    her defenses.


    He could be an overbearing tyrant one minute and a devoted, begging lover the next.


    When it came to psychological warfare, she waspletely outmatched.


    She turned her head away. "Don''t think you can distract me with sweet talk. I''m not changing my mind."


    Joshua stroked her back, his voice


    thick with persuasion. "I know you''re doing this for my own good,


    sweetheart but we have to explore


    swerst.


    other


    ;


    You can''t just hand down a death sentence without giving us a fighting chance.


    It hasn''t reached the absolute worst-case scenario yet, has it?"


    Once again, to her own shame, her absolute resolve cracked. "But..."


    Sensing her hesitation, he leaned in, his lips brushing her earlobe.


    "Star, your violin music always rxed me. It was the only thing that cured my insomnia.


    It''s the whole reason I tore the world apart looking for you.


    Your hand is healed now. If you y for me every day, it might be the breakthrough we need."


    The reminder hit her like a jolt of electricity.


    Her hand was mostly recovered. As long as she didn''t overexert herself or lift heavy objects, she could y again.


    Her unyielding stance finally copsed into hesitation.


    "But I haven''t picked up a bow in so


    long.


    technique is nowhere near Would it even


    fused to


    what it


    be


    make a difference?"


    Catching the surrender in her voice, a faint smile finally broke through his tense expression.


    "Of course it will. Your technique might be rusty, but my feelings for you arepletely different now.