MainNovelHaynes could only keep bailing people out, running himself ragged thanks to Jasper's nonstop troublemaking.
Joshua said, “But Foreman and Haynes-they've been friends since childhood, right? Can you really trust someone
who'd turn on his own best friend?"
Abby replied, "Foreman's put up with them for a long time. But honestly? They crossed way too many lines.
Eventually, you just can't look the other way anymore. Besides, for Keen's sake, he doesn't want things spiraling
out of control."
She paused, then added, "Foreman helped Star out, but it didn't actually hurt Jasper in any real way. And
remember, when Sellers was targeting Jasper a while back, it was Foreman who stepped in to help-he even
talked Haynes into helping too. He's loyal to his friends, even if they don't always deserve it."
Joshua fell silent, having nothing more to say.
Out in the hallway, Stella answered Foreman's call.
"Star," Foreman said, "are you free today? There's something | need to tell you."
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His voice dropped to a low, serious tone. "It's about Joshua."
Stella was quiet for a few seconds. "Alright. The scafé as before?"
"Yeah. See you there," Foreman replied.
After letting Abby and Joshua know where she was headed, Stella made her way
to the café. She arrived early, only to find Foreman was already there waiting.
He stood up as she approached, pulling out her chair with gentlemanly grace.
"Star, | haven't congratulated you yet for beating Harry and taking first place in the competition."
He handed her a beautifully wrapped gift box that had been sitting on the table. "This is for you—a little
something to celebrate your win."
Stella and Foreman knew each other well by now, so she accepted the gift without hesitation. "Thank you."
"Aren't you going to open it?" Foreman prompted, a smile tugging at his lips.
Stella obliged, unwrapping the box to reveal an exquisitely crafted crystal music box. Inside, a delicate figurine
of a young woman stood poised with a violin, ready to play.
She twisted the key, and the familiar melody of "Moonlight" drifted softly from within. As the music played, the
figurine moved, bowing the violin in perfect twith the tune.
The details were striking-the woman's face was so finely carved, Stella recognized herself immediately.
"This is..."
Foreman's gaze softened, his eyes dark and earnest. "I met a master sculptor while | was away on business not
long ago. | asked him to make it for you. Do you like it, Star?"
No woman could resist something this beautiful and sparkling. Stella was clearly smitten.
She picked up the music box, marveling at the tiny violin in the figurine's hands-it was an exact replica of the
Nocturne Stella. Even at that scale, every detail was perfectly reproduced.
It was obvious how much care had gone into it.
Unable to hide her delight, Stella said, "Thank you. I love it."
Seeing the genuine pleasure in her eyes, Foreman's expression softened into a gentle smile.
"I'm glad," he said simply.
In truth, he hadn't commissioned the
sculptor at all. The music box was something Foreman had
painstakingly carved himself,
project that had taken him an entire year to complete.
He even had another music box at home-a pair of bride and groom figurines, modeled after the two of them in
wedding attire. But that one would remain hidden, at least for now. Maybe someday, when he and Stella were
together and had a family of their own, he'd carve another-one with the three of them—and give it to her then.
After admiring the music box for a while, Stella carefully set it back in its box.
She got to the point. "Foreman, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
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