Ste''s heart fluttered with a sudden spike of dread.


    The horrific nightmare from the night before shed in her mind.


    If Joshua truly erased her from his existence and moved on to marry someone else... could she genuinely endure that agony?


    But what was the alternative?


    Watch him slowly lose his grip on reality until he waspletely consumed by madness?


    Her throat was bone-dry as she spoke. "If he''s going to forget everything, then... all traces of my life with him must be scrubbed clean as well?"


    Laurel nodded grimly. "Yes. But that''s the easy part. Beckett Torres and I can handle the clean-up. The real problem is you."


    She leveled a heavy,plex look at Ste.


    "You have to convince him to willingly undergo the procedure.


    Since he''s already endured this once, a secondary block is exponentially more difficult to establish.


    You are the literal center of his universe. Sneaking a hypnotic trigger on him while his guard is down or while he''s sedated is impossible.


    He has to consent.


    If he violently rejects the mental intrusion, no professional in the world can force it. The hardest burden in this n rests squarely on your shoulders, Ms. Cameron." Ste met her gaze. "Who''s going to perform the session?"


    "I don''t have the expertise for a secondary wipe," Laurel admitted, turning to Mr. Burton. "Perhaps you could do it, sir?"


    The older man waved off the suggestion immediately. "Hypnosis isn''t my specialty. I can design a recovery protocol and analyze his neurological state, but I can''t scramble a man''s brain.


    However, that kid Colby Hunt is genuinely gifted.


    He''s an expert in this exact field. That''s why Old Mr. Wyatt endorsed him.


    He might be a bit of a greedy opportunist, but his core morals aren''t rotten.


    He''sying low at my estate for the time being. Just say the word when you''re ready for him."


    Ste looked at Mr. Burton, a mix of profound gratitude and overwhelming guilt swimming in her eyes.


    "Thank you for everything, sir."


    He didn''t offer empty titudes, merely patting her shoulder to show he understood the hell she was going through.


    "I''ll leave youdies to it," he said, rising from his chair. "I need to go check on Dr. Hunt."


    The study door clicked shut, leaving the two women in heavy privacy.


    With the older man gone, an oppressive silence nketed the room.


    Neither of them knew how to bridge the gap.


    Finally, Laurel broke the tension. "If you need my help executing this, call me anytime.


    I''ll do whatever it takes to see this through."


    Laurel knew the cruel truth: the one forced to carry the memories was the one who suffered the most.


    She couldn''t begin to fathom the sheer agony Ste had endured to reach this decision.


    This wasn''t unrequited devotion.


    Ste and Joshua''s love was deeply


    mutual, making the sacrifice


    million times more agonizing.


    Laurel studied the younger woman. "It doesn''t have to be a permanent goodbye, you know.


    This illness is cyclic. If... and I mean a big if his memories break


    through down the line or if he not


    ask


    for you at the bitter end, would you still want to see him?"


    Ste stared nkly into her tea. "He needs walk away and build a


    life. be the one we l?ete


    past."


    A brittle smile touched her lips.


    "If everything goes perfectly, I pray I nevery eyes on him again for the rest of my


    life."


    Laurel visibly shuddered.


    It was then she truly understood the staggering depths of Ste''s devotion to the


    man.


    Later that afternoon, Ste drove to the airport to pick up Haynes O''Brien and Keen.


    Keen hadn''t seen his mother in quite some time and threw himself into her arms the moment he spotted her.