chapter1824

Stella knew very well that if Haynes hadn't been watching Foreman so closely, preventing him from making any rash moves, she might have already been moved somewhere else.

Haynes looked at Stella, seeming to want to say something but holding back.

In the end, he remained silent.

Haynes led Stella into the villa.

"Joshua is staying here for now," Haynes said.

Stella's heart clenched painfully.

Haynes knew she was back and was waiting for her at the door, but Joshua hadn't appeared.

That could only mean one thing: Joshua couldn't appear.

As soon as she entered the villa, Stella saw Harold, who had just come downstairs.

Harold seemed to have been informed ahead of time. Seeing her arrive safe and sound, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Ms. Cameron, thank goodness you're all right. Otherwise..."

Stella walked over quickly. "How is Joshua's condition?"

Harold's expression grew heavy. "It's not good. Mr. Gardner hasn't woken up since he collapsed that day."

Harold began to tell Stella what had happened recently. "A few days ago, Jake noticed a change in The Lerman Group's shareholding and went to Solmaris to investigate. This morning, Jake finally got confirmation that you, Ms. Cameron, were the one who signed the share transfer agreement, which finally proved that you weren't dead. Also..."

Harold looked at her with a complex emotion in his eyes.

"Leonard's shares have been temporarily frozen."

Stella raised an eyebrow. "Frozen?"

"Yes," Harold said. "As long as you sign, Ms. Cameron, Leonard's shares cannot be relinquished or transferred for a year. Any attempt to do so will result in them being frozen for six months."

Seeing that Stella was also unaware of this, Harold added, "Leonard must have had

a backup plan. This time, Aurora gained nothing and even exposed the fact that you're still alive."

Even if Stella hadn't escaped, once Harold and the others confirmed she was alive, they would have planned a rescue mission.

Stella's steps faltered for a moment, but she quickly asked, "Didn't Joshua... sense that something was wrong with all this?"

Although the events happened suddenly, they weren't without flaws and suspicious points. With Joshua's sharp mind, he should have seen through it easily.

Before Harold could answer, a clear, cool female voice came from the direction of the stairs.

"It's because Joshua's mind was in turmoil. He lost his usual calm and wisdom, which is why he fell for it so easily. And this is just the beginning. From now on, whenever it involves anything related to you, I'm afraid helf find it very difficult to maintain his former composure other words, he can no longer bear even the slightest risk of losing you."

Stella looked up and saw Laurel Quinn standing at the top of the stairs.

Joshua's condition wasn't promising, so even Harold, who was biased against her,

had no choice but to call Laurel Quinn over.

Arriving at Joshua's room, Stella saw him still unconscious.

Joshua lay peacefully on the medical bed, his eyes tightly closed. His long

eyelashes cast a faint shadow on his face.

He was very pale, his handsome face devoid of any color. He looked hauntingly

fragile, like a man held together by the finest of threads.

Stella had never seen Joshua so vulnerable and weak.

Stella couldn't help but ask, "When will Joshua wake up?"

Laurel Quinn's voice was faint. "I'm not sure. The human brain is incredibly delicate. Joshua's condition was already unstable, and

the news of your death dealt him o

severe blow. I suspect the effects of his hypnosis are weakening, which is why he's been unconscious for so long."

Stella's breath hitched. "If he remembers everything, what will happen?"

Laurel Quinn's voice was flat. "He'd probably go insane."