"How..."

Stella gripped the phone, struggling for a long moment before she found her voice.

"How is he?"

"He seems fine," Laurel replied evenly.

Stella's throat felt tight and raw.

"Did he say anything?"

Knowing exactly what she was really asking, Laurel didn't sugarcoat it. "He asked why we did the hypnosis. Beckett and I told him his condition was deteriorating.

Jake and Harold had already rehearsed their stories, so there weren't any slip-ups."

Laurel paused before continuing. "We told him point-blank that since he just finished the sessions, he shouldn't try to force any past memories, or the suggestion might break. He accepted it and didn't push.

As for covering up the tracks, Beckett, Harold, and Jake handled it completely.

It's not their first rodeo with crisis management, so... there shouldn't be any loose ends."

Stella understood the subtext perfectly.

Barring a miracle, Joshua would never think of her again.

"Beckett and I are going to stay in Aetheria for a while," Laurel added, "just to help him transition and cover any blank spots in his memory."

"Good," Stella breathed out. "Take care of him."

"If you ever want an update on him, just call me," Laurel offered.

Stella didn't accept the invitation. Instead, she just said, "Safe travels."

Laurel knew then that, unless it was a matter of life or death, Stella would never call her again.

As the line clicked dead, a single tear slipped loose, splashing onto the back of Stella's hand.

...

A week later, just as Stella predicted, Foreman Richards was captured.

She had exploited his paranoid, obsessive need to confirm things with his own eyes. Abby had played her part perfectly.

Everyone knew Abby was a terrible liar who couldn't keep a secret to save her life.

All she had to do was go shopping, loudly browse for maternity and newborn items, and chat up a few sales clerks about "hopeful news."

It planted the perfect seed of doubt in Foreman's mind.

Even though the poison was catastrophic, Mr. Burton and Old Mr. Wyatt were legendary physicians.

Since the poisoning happened right on the estate, what if they had managed a miracle and saved the baby?

He had to know for sure.

Stella's people had watched him

from the shadows for a solid week,

ensuri

they had him dead to rights

before springing the trap. He wasn't getting away this time

Despite a week of intensive care, Stella stilooked frail. Her radiant complexion was gone, replaced by an ashen pallor, and she had lost a termiying amount of weight making her look incredibly fragile.

A miscarriage inflicted devastating trauma on a woman's body.

Standard medical advice dictated a month of strict bed rest.

Abby had tried to convince her to wait a month before dealing with Foreman.

But Stella was fueled by pure, unadulterated rage. With her baby's murderer breathing free air, she couldn't rest.

Abby couldn't blame her.

To Abby, Foreman was ten times worse than Leonard.

Leonard had always been a straightforward enemy, but Foreman had started out as

a friend.

Stella had even saved his life back in their school days.

When Leonard had nearly

Stella had bailed him out, inject net bankrupted The Richards Group et

millions of deflars to keep his

company afloat.

In return, Foreman had brutally betrayed her at every critical turn.

A monster who smiled to your face was infinitely more terrifying than an enemy in the shadows.