A deeply conflicted expression appeared on Keen''s handsome little face.


    He thought about it seriously for a moment before finally arriving at an answer.


    "I like Mr. Joshua a little more. He''s saved me so many times, he always ys with me, and he''s super amazing at everything..."


    He began rattling off Joshua''s virtues as if counting his own treasures.


    Then, as if remembering something crucial, he quickly added, "But I really love Dad, too.


    I only like Mr. Joshua a tiny bit more than Dad."


    He held up his pinky finger to demonstrate just how minuscule the difference was.


    Although Haynes was his biological father, he was always too busy and rarely spent quality time with his son.


    In the past, Ste had been the one raising him. After she left, Haynes still hadn''t managed to carve out much time for him.


    Coupled with the fact that Haynes was inherently aloof and strict, Keen was always a little intimidated by him. He was nowhere near as approachable as Joshua.


    Ste crouched down to meet her son at eye level.


    "Keen, Mr. Joshua is sick, and he needs to go get treatment. But he can''t bear to leave you and me, so he refuses to go.


    Next time he tries to contact you, could you say no to him?"


    Keen looked confused. "Mr. Joshua is sick? Is it really bad?"


    Ste nodded. "Yes, it''s very serious, and he absolutely has to go away for a while to get better."


    Understanding dawned on Keen''s face. "Oh, so Mr. Joshua is scared of getting shots and taking medicine too... Okay, I promise! I won''t ask him to y anymore.


    If he tries to call me, I''ll tell him no."


    A look of relief washed over Ste''s eyes.


    Ste didn''t linger at Haynes''s ce for long before heading out.


    However, she didn''t return home. Instead, she drove straight to Abby''s ce.


    "Abby, I''m going to crash here for a few days," she announced.


    Abby had stayed in constant contact with her and was well aware of her ns.


    Noticing the exhaustion etched into Ste''s features, she poured her a ss of water.


    Knowing how much pain her friend had to be in, she asked softly, "Star, be`in,


    why don''t we try to think of a set


    way?"


    Taking the ss, Ste replied, "Haynes got into a car crash today."


    Abby froze for a moment before the realization hit her.


    "...Did Joshua do it?"


    Gripping the warm ss, Ste gave a small nod.


    Whatever words of persuasion Abby had prepared were immediately swallowed back down.


    As long as Keen was involved, it was impossible for Ste to avoid seeing Haynes. Even if shepletely cut off contact with him, what about Neville and Antoney? Neither of them had any romantic involvement with her.


    Then there was Wilbur and Gideon.


    Simply keeping her distance from the opposite sex was merely treating the symptoms, not the disease.


    Joshua desperately needed professional help.


    If his enemies ever caught wind of this fatal weakness, he would be in unimaginable danger.


    ...


    Knowing she was staying at Abby''s, Joshua didn''t push his luck or show up at the door demanding she return.


    Since


    i was injured, she didn''t


    go


    neither, deciding to let him rest and recover for a few


    days.


    Gontent


    However, over the next few days, the calls from Keen rolled in daily.


    "Mom, Auntie told me the old family estate caught on fire..."


    "Mom, Maisie called! Our house in Neo-Vespèra got robbed. Everything inside was totally wiped out... they even took the beds, the TVs, and the paintings on the walls!"


    "Mom, Aunt Callie might have been kidnapped!"