She paused, a sudden thought crossing her mind.


    After a moment of contemtion, she dialed Abby''s number.


    "Abby, take some of our people and bring Dr. Hunt here from his apartment."


    Abby hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Should we avoid Zenia and the others?"


    "Yes," Ste replied. "Keep it as quiet as possible."


    Sensing the gravity of the situation, Abby didn''t press for details.


    "Understood. I''ll get it sorted right away."


    The moment Ste hung up, Leonard spoke again.


    "Joshua drove away every capable assistant you had. If you try to investigate


    anything, he''s going to know."


    Ste remained silent, her gaze drifting over the surrounding scenery.


    About twenty minutester, Abby called back.


    "Star, Dr. Hunt isn''t here. His ce... it''spletely cleared out."


    Ste''s expression hardened.


    With Colby Hunt gone, the truth would vanish with him-whether Joshua or Leonard was behind it.


    A heavy, suffocating wave of dread settled over her chest.


    Taking a deep breath, she instructed, "I''m sending you the coordinates from a tracker. Follow it."


    She paused before adding, "Lead the team yourself."


    Hearing the steel in her voice, Abby immediately grasped the severity of the situation.


    Watching the light fade from Ste''s eyes, Leonard felt a strange tightening in his own chest.


    ...


    An hourter, a flurry of footsteps echoed down the corridor.


    Ste sat in the pavilion, staring nkly at the garden as her mind raced.


    At the noise, she turned her head.


    Colby Hunt was marched in, his face drained of all color.


    "Dr. Hunt," Ste began evenly. "Do you work for Leonard, or do you work for Joshua?"


    Colby darted a nervous nce at Leonard on the stone bench, then at Old Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Burton.


    He knew there was no talking his way out of this one.


    Looking back at Ste, he swallowed hard. "If I tell you, can you guarantee my safety?"


    "Yes," she promised.


    Reassured, Colby held nothing back, spilling every detail of the borate deception.


    Ste sat in stunned silence for a long time.


    Finally, she


    should thank you for the clues,


    Surmured, "I suppose I


    Doctor Otherwise, I might still be in the dark.


    Colby gave her a bewildered look.


    In his confession, he hadn''t mentioned intentionally leaving behind any loopholes.


    He hadn''t expected her to figure that part out.


    Furthermore, the fact that she


    tracked him down so quickly meet


    she had nted a bug on him without him noticing


    If she had felt the need to bug him in the first ce...


    A realization hit Colby, and his eyes widened.


    "You were bluffing the other day!"


    Ste didn''t deny it. "That''s right. I just didn''t expect you to fold so easily."


    She shifted her gaze, looking past him.


    "Joshua is here."


    Everyone turned to look.


    Sure enough, Joshua stood just a short distance away.


    One sweeping nce over the group told him everything he needed to know.


    He didn''t offer any exnations or try to make excuses.


    He didn''t even spare a nce for Colby, his failed aplice.


    His unwavering focus was locked entirely on Ste.


    A soft smile touched his lips. you''re getting quite good at


    even managed to fool me


    Ste met his gaze from across the distance. "And yet, you figured it out just as


    fast."