The following morning, right after she finished washing up, a gentle knock rapped against the door.


    "Star, breakfast is ready."


    She swung the door open to find Joshua waiting.


    Before she could utter a single word, he smoothly intervened.


    Grabbing her hand, he said, "Let''s eat first. Whatever you want to say can wait until you''ve had a proper meal."


    Down in the dining room, avish spread of her favorite dishes adorned the table.


    The exquisite ting was an immediate giveaway—Joshua had cooked everything himself.


    Taking her seat, she picked at the food,pletely distracted.


    A choice piece of meat suddenlynded on her te.


    "Isn''t this your favorite, Star?" his crisp voice chimed. "Eat up."


    She lifted her head.


    Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching the striking angles of his handsome face. The soft glow made him look ethereal, like an untouchable work of art.


    Catching her stare, he looked back. A devastatingly tender smile touched his eyes, dissolving the tension in the room.


    Panic red in her chest. She couldn''t let this drag on.


    He was boiling the frog slowly, chipping away at her fragile defenses with relentless affection.


    Joshua was far too brilliant. Screaming, threatening, or demanding a breakup simply didn''t register with him.


    Abby, Leonard, Neville Connolly, and even Aurora Williams and Sellers Burton had all warned her of how utterly impossible Joshua could be when cornered.


    But she had never felt it before.


    Because up until now, his dangerous obsession had always been aimed at her enemies, never at her.


    Only now did she truly grasp the terrifying extent of his unyielding control.


    If she actually managed to enrage him, what extreme lengths would he go to in order to keep her?


    Forcing down thest of her breakfast, she said, "I need to visit Mr. Burton today. I haven''t apologized for the scene we made yesterday."


    Relieved that she wasn''t bringing up a breakup again, Joshua visibly rxed.


    "I''ll go with you," he offered.


    She shook her head. "No need."


    Not wanting to smother her and trigger another argument, he conceded.


    "I''ll drive you there, then."


    This time, she didn''t fight him on it.


    ...


    When Ste arrived at Mr. Burton''s study, she found Laurel Quinn seated beside the older man, sipping tea.


    "I''m sorry I''mte," she apologized, stepping into the room.


    Mr. Burton had already brought Laurel up to speed. Noting the dark circles under Ste''s eyes, Laurel asked gently "Ms Cameron Care you absolutely sure about this?


    Ste had texted Laureltest night to arrange the meeting.


    Whenever it concerned Joshua''s health, Laurel dropped every other patient on her roster to prioritize him.


    Ste nodded. "You mentioned the memory block before, but I need the specifies. How exactly is it done? How long does it take And what do need to do?


    You''ve worked alongside him for years, Ms. Quinn. You were the one who hypnotized him the first time You know his mind better than anyone."


    Laurel poured Ste a steaming cup of tea.


    A woman of science, she skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point.


    Pulling several documents from a folder, she handed copies to both Mr. Burton and Ste.


    "I''ve analyzed the trajectory of his memories over the past few years. Your presence has deeply anchored his psyche.


    Because of this... I rmend setting the erasure point to right before he started searching for Rachel Pearce.


    It was his debilitating migraines that prompted him to seek her out in the first ce.


    Once the mental block is established, the headaches will vanish.


    Knowing him, if the pain is gone and no one prompts him, he''ll abandon the search entirely.


    Rachel is an unstable variable, and she is inextricably linked to you.


    Since she served as the bridge that brought the two of you together, she must be entirely wiped from his consciousness."