Everyone was stunned.

    Coleman Williams and Aurora Williams exchanged uneasy nces.

    In a hushed tone, Aurora said, "Ste Cameron''s been in Solmaris all this time. She hasn''te back to Novaris. Sellers, could there be a misunderstanding?"

    Sellers Burton shook his head. "She''d never be so reckless as to do it herself. She just needed her loyalpdog to do the dirty work. The reason I went missing in Sandford this time? It was all Foreman Richards'' doing—herpdog again!"

    Aurora and Coleman fell silent, unsure what to say. In the past, Coleman would have stormed off immediately to confront Ste and demand answers. But now... things had changed. He had his own doubts about Ste.

    After a long pause, Coleman finally spoke. "Sellers, do you have any proof?"

    Sellers paused for a moment, suddenly aware that Aurora and Coleman''s attitude toward Ste was different now-more cautious, less certain.

    Aurora nced over at Queenie Burton. "Queenie, would you mind giving us a moment alone with Sellers?"

    This had to do with Ste, and by extension, the Williams family.

    Queenie nodded, said a few words to the others, and left the hospital room with the rest of the Burtons.

    Now only Aurora and Coleman remained with Sellers.

    Aurora quietly recounted everything that had happened since Ste returned to the Williams family-the broadcasted scandal involving Leonard Lerman and all the fallout.

    Sellers listened, his eyes growing dark. "That''s ruthless."

    From Aurora''s ount, he realized the kidnapping was out in the open now. But none of it was his doing-he hadn''tid a finger on Ste.

    Coleman added, “Sellers, Ste''s not someone to mess with these days. If you use her without solid evidence, she''ll turn it back on you in a heartbeat."

    f.n

    Sellers replied, "After I escaped, Foreman had people hunting me nonstop. was on the run for nearly a month. Even if we went to the basement hideout now, I''m sure it''s already been wiped clean. Foreman wouldn''t leave any loose ends for me to use against him."

    Coleman pressed, "So, is there any proof against Ste herself? Anything at all?"

    Sellers fell silent for a few seconds, then shook his head. "Not yet."

    Aurora sighed softly. "In that case, Sellers, I''m afraid you''ll have toy low for a while longer—at least until we find something concrete."

    Sellers hadn'' dn''t expected so much to happen during his disappearance. Ste had actually dared to go up against Leonard in public. But

    thinking about it, maybe it wasel

    so

    surprising-after all, Leonard was the one who''d ruined Ste''s hand in the first ce.

    Thankfully, Sellers had nned ahead and had his men record the incident. He wasn''t sure how Ste got her hands on that evidence, but in the end it hadn''t affected him or the Burton Group.

    Sellers was still recovering, and Aurora and Coleman didn''t linger in the hospital. Aurora, wanting to catch up with Queenie after so long apart, stayed behind to talk, while Coleman took his leave early.

    Aurora and Queenie found a quiet corner in a nearby café, where the conversation turned to Simone Lerman.

    Queenie''s brows furrowed. "Aurora, aren''t you going to tell your father and brothers that Joshua Gardner is the head of the Gardner family?"

    Aurora shook her head. "Leonard and Simone both asked me to keep it to myself."

    Queenie gave a knowing look. "Of course they did because it''s in their interest. They''re worried that if your father and brothers find out Joshua''s true identity, they might try to win him over for their own benefit."

    Aurora, however, saw things

    differently. "Ive been watching him. Right now, he''s doing everything he can to drive a wedge between Ste and the Williams family. His real goat must be the Williams'' original shares-or the family itself. If he wants to stay by Ste''s side, so be it. Maybe we can use that to our advantage."