Now he kinda got why Cloudia blew her top every time. Just like she said, it was like dealing with a debt collector, impervious to reason. Soft approach didn''t work, so ise had no choice but to y hardball. "Fine, forget about the bank ount for now. You ponder on it, and we''ll talk when you''ve thought it through."


    With those harsh words, ise walked away.


    Silence fell.


    Ste mmed the door shut and had barely made it back to the living room when her phone started buzzing.


    It was Orion''s number.


    Today, she had blocked multiple numbers - Yorick''s, Cloudia''s, and even ise''s.


    Now, they were reaching out through someone else''s phone.


    Predictably, Ste didn''t pick up.


    ...


    On the other end of the line, Yorick had just left the Quarry Manor and was using Orion''s phone to call Ste.


    Yet again, the call was disconnected, and when he tried once more, he was informed the number was busy - another block.


    Yorick was seething with frustration, "Where the hell did she pick up this habit of not answering calls?"


    Orion''s lips twitched.


    "Ms. Quinn''s probably not just ignoring your calls."


    Ignoring calls was a sport, and as far as Orion was concerned, today wasn''t just a bad day for Yorick; the Larkin family was also at their wits'' end. Yorick''s headache intensified.


    "Drive to Silk-River Residences."


    This was getting out of hand.


    Orion nodded, "Alright."


    ...


    An hourter.


    When they arrived at Silk-River Residences, it was already midnight, and Ste was asleep.


    Yorick rang the doorbell incessantly, but she didn''te to open the door.


    Receiving a cold shoulder at this ungodly hour made Yorick''s already foul mood even worse. "Call a locksmith."


    Yorick was at the end of his tether.


    Orion was like, "..."


    He was about to pull out his phone to call for help when the door swung open from the inside.


    There stood Ste, in her pajamas, looking groggy and pissed, wielding a baseball bat. Clearly, she had been rudely awakened and was ready to swing at the intruder.


    With twitching lips, Orion swiftly stepped aside.


    As Ste saw Yorick, her temper red, and she swung the bat at him.


    Yorick, quick on his feet, caught it, "You..."


    He was gritting his teeth.


    She just got physical this morning, and now again? Was her temper always this explosive? Just the mention of dying the wedding had her up in arms? Inside the house, Ste tossed the baseball bat aside, "Spit it out already."


    Yorick headed for her fridge, opened it, and found nothing but water.


    "Don''t you cook?"


    Ste looked at him as if he were a nutcase.


    Who, half-asleep and bothered in the middle of the night, would react well to someone inspecting their fridge and questioning their culinary habits? Ste was no exception to feeling irritated.


    Yorick mentioned, "I haven''t eaten."


    After a day of turmoil, skipping lunch and a dinner disrupted by family drama, he was starving.


    Ste''s gaze further confirmed that she was looking at a madman.


    "Do you see anything here that looks like your dinner?"


    Great, he was hinting that he was starving? Even she herself ate outside, now he was asking her to cook for him?


    Was this man out of his mind? After the scene they had earlier, now he expected her to make him dinner?


    Yorick''s jaws clenched in exasperation, "Can''t you cook?"


    Ste retorted, "When have you ever seen me cook?"


    Even if she knew how, she wouldn''t cook for him.


    Yorick was out of words. Upon hearing it, he was momentarily taken aback, realizing that in the two years they had been engaged, Ste had indeed never cooked him a meal. Urs, on the other hand, could do everything - cook, make soup. Back when she hadn''t left Portis City, she''d even bring meals to his office.


    Ste, sensing his thoughts, chuckled sarcastically, "Mixing me up with Urs?"


    She knew her domestic skills paled inparison to Urs''s. Initially, upon her return to the Larkin family, Urs hogged all domestic tasks, highlighting Ste''sck of domestic prowess.


    Naturally, everyonepared her unfavorably to Urs - Urs could do no wrong, and she, Ste, could do no right.


    Yorick''s expression went sour, "Our wedding will proceed as nned. Happy now?"


    He offered this grudgingly, hoping Ste would dial back her temper.


    However, Ste, raising an eyebrow at his words, countered, "In the morning, you said it was postponed, and now, without even a night passing, you say it''s back on. You''re a grown up after all, changing your minds so quickly?" Her hinting at his inconsistency made Yorick feel a sting of embarrassment.


    Ste pressed, "Does Urs know?"


    Judging by Yorick''s demeanor, it was clear he had visited the Quarry Manor.