chapter1172

"Help you?" Leonard let out a mocking laugh. "You're nothing more than a plaything for him-a little amusement when he's bored.

All this so-called 'help' you think you're getting? It's just a few well-chosen words for him. That's all it's ever been.

Rachel, you seriously overestimate yourself.

He knew you were a fraud from the very beginning."

Leonard and Joshua were cut from the same cloth-when it came to manipulating people, Leonard could write the rulebook.

Rachel was never much of a liar. She could fool Simone and Aurora, perhaps, but trying to deceive men like them-men who'd clawed their way out of hell-was laughable.

Leonard looked down at Rachel, his gaze cold and superior. "Tell me, Rachel, did it ever occur to you that a man as ruthless as Joshua wouldn't fall hopelessly in love with you just because you played a pretty tune?

If he were really that easy to handle, do you think you'd have ended up like this?" The truth was becoming crystal clear to Leonard.

All that talk about "the one that got away" or "seeking redemption"-it was nothing more than a story Joshua spun for his own amusement.

Only Rachel and Simone would ever buy into something that naive.

No one absolutely no one-would make a fantasy of a woman they'd never even seen. What if she turned out to be plain, or horribly ugly, or even older than his own mother? Would he just live with that? Not worry about waking up to nightmares?

Joshua called Aurora his "guiding star" because they'd actually talked; she'd encouraged him, offered him genuine comfort.

But what had that violinist ever done?

Saved his life? Stepped in to help him? No-she'd just played a song in the garden, nothing more.

If Joshua had at least seen her face, maybe you could call it love at first sight. But

all he ever saw was her back, all he ever heard was a melody.

And yet Rachel honestly believed that a single song and a fleeting silhouette were enough to ensnare someone like Joshua.

Ignorance truly is bliss.

Leonard watched Rachel's face

drain of color, then added quietly et

"The only reason Joshua kept you around was to use you against amore

s

He shook his head, almost in disbelief. I never thought Simone would actually trip over someone as foolish as you."

Scene after scene flashed through Rachel's mind, all the old mysteries suddenly making sense.

But even now, she refused to accept the truth-that she'd been a pawn in Joshua's game all along.

"If I'm nothing but a joke to Joshua, why did he come to find me in person? Why did he get so close to Stella?"

Leonard leaned back, his tone indifferent. "He stuck close to Stella because she has something he wants. That's all there is to it."

Leonard suspected Joshua had figured out Stella's true identity long ago that's why he never left her side.

As for Joshua helping Rachel plot against Stella, Leonard wasn't the least bit surprised.

Joshua was unpredictable, reckless. If he'd just played the dutiful guardian and done nothing, now that would've been the real shock.

Rachel shook her head wildly, desperate. "No, I don't believe your You're lying! Let me go-I'll find Joshua myself, I'll make him tell me the truthy s

Leonard smiled, but his eyes were icy, merciless.

"Rachel, I call you a fool and you still refuse to see it.

Did it never cross your mind-why am I telling you all this?"

Rachel froze and the realization hit her in an instant.

The blood drained from her face. Panic rushed through her, chilling her to the bone.

"Mr... Mr. Lerman, I-I can help you. can stay close to Joshua, find out what he's planning for you was wrong before... I never should have tried to compete with Ms. Lerman." s

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