chapter1830

Joshua glanced at her. "It has nothing to do with you."

Laurel let out a breath of relief, but a faint sense of disappointment welled up inside her.

"Joshua, your condition isn't good," she said. "Traditional treatments probably won't be very effective anymore. I suggest you undergo hypnosis. Otherwise, things will only get worse..."

Before Laurel could finish, Joshua's icy voice cut her off.

"I won't undergo hypnosis."

A flash of crimson seemed to flicker in his dark eyes. "Laurel Quinn, stay out of my business. And don't let me find out you've been going behind my back, filling Star's head with nonsense. If you get in my way, I'll kill you too."

The color drained from Laurel's face, and her heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

Her eyelashes trembled. "So, you're not going to get treatment?"

Laurel gritted her teeth. "Joshua, don't you realize that this incident has made a lot of people notice your abnormal behavior? Your weakness has been exposed. They'll use Stella against you, keep provoking you..."

Before she could finish, Joshua cut her off again, his voice cold. "You don't need to worry about that. I've already found the best treatment for my condition."

Laurel asked blankly, "What treatment?"

"That's not your concern." Joshua stood up and faced her. "Considering you helped look for Star, I'll let it slide this time. I don't want there to be a next time."

With that, he slowly walked out of the room.

Laurel stared at his cold, intimidating back, suddenly remembering how, many years ago, he had walked step by step into the abyss, just as he was doing now.

"Joshua," Laurel called out suddenly, "Stella won't like the person you're becoming." Joshua stopped and turned to look at her.

Thinking she had gotten through to him, a flicker of light appeared in Laurel's eyes.

However, Joshua's next words were...

"I don't like outsiders disturbing my time alone with Star. You should leave today." Laurel's heart sank, bit by bit.

She wanted to say more. "Joshua, don't..."

Her only answer was the cold sound of the door closing.

It felt as if all the strength had drained from Laurel's body in an instant.

Stella was awakened by the buzzing of her phone.

Haynes's assistant, Ryder, was remarkably efficient. On the way to meet Joshua, Ryder had already arranged for a new SIM card for her, and had it delivered before she even arrived, ensuring she wouldn't miss any important matters.

Stella groggily answered the call, and Haynes's cool, pleasant voice came through the line.

"Star, I went to Foreman's place, but I was a step too late."

His voice was low and heavy. "The place was burned to ashes. There must have been some kind of- chemical in his villa because there was an explosion it's a complete ruin now."

While Joshua had been talking with Harold, Stella had briefly explained the situation with Foreman to Haynes. After leaving Haynes had gone straight there. Foreman was responsible for Deanna's death, and Haynes had no intention of letting him off easy.

But when he arrived, he found the place had been torched.

Stella's drowsiness vanished instantly.

She asked, "Did they find Foreman?"

"No," Haynes replied. "But according to nearby security footage, only the staff were

seen running out of the villa."

"Foreman..."

He paused. "There's likely nothing left of him."

Stella was silent for a moment before saying, "He got what he deserved."