Ste was plotting to whisk Ronald off to a five-star hotel.


    However, Ronald had her pinned on hisp the whole ride, leaving her no chance to whisper their destination to Idris.


    By the time Ronald let her go, they had already arrived at the underground parking of Silk-River Residences.


    Ste was astounded, "You know where I live?"


    She had used his card yesterday, and today he showed up here. It seemed he had dug through the past three years of her life in no time.


    Ronald stepped out of the car first, and Idris, who had been driving, remarked, "It''s not hard for Mr. Quinn to find out anything. But you''ve been quite the hider these past three years. We never expected you''d go abroad." Ste went silent.


    Idris continued, "And to think, you even found your family... Anyway, Mr. Quinn is furious!"


    Hearing "furious" made Ste''s heart lurch violently.


    She cast a cautious nce at the man standing outside the car and hurried out without dy.


    Back at home, Ste wanted to fetch him slippers, but the moment she opened the shoe cab, she found, aside from her slippers, a pair of men''s slippers that had been worn.


    Feeling the chill from behind, she quickly picked a pair she hadn''t worn and offered them to Ronald, "Maybe you can wear mine for now."


    The pink slippers with a cute bunny on them wereid before Ronald, whose eyes were narrowed, the chill around him intensifying.


    "Learned to serve, have you?"


    Ste was at loss for words. Her face stiffened at it, and the bitterness in her heart grew stronger.


    She straightened up, looking at Ronald with grievance, "You know everything?"


    Ronald chuckled, slipping into her tiny slippers, which clearly didn''t fit.


    The man, always particr about everything, didn''tment further and proceeded to survey the ce. The more he looked, the darker his expression became.


    "The Larkin family has quite the reputation in Portis City, and they put you up in this tiny room?"


    Mentioning the Larkin family soured Ste''s mood further. She pouted, "This isn''t from the Larkin family."


    Ronald''s gaze sharpened, turning back to her.


    Ste confessed, "I bought this with your money."


    Ronald was speechless. Somehow, the revtion seemed to thaw his icy demeanor slightly.


    He moved to the couch, casually draping his coat over its armrest and removing his scarf.


    "Why not buy something bigger, then?"


    Ste defended, "It''s not small, over 1500 square feet. It''s plenty for me alone."


    Ronald still found itcking, recalling that even her modest vi in Ferrond was no less than 5000 square feet.


    Not to mention her years with their Quinn family, where she could roam their castle-sized estate for hours without seeing it all.


    "Come here."


    Ronald gazed at her sharply.


    Ste approached cautiously, stopping a meter away, not daring to get closer.


    Yet, with a stretch of his arm, she found herself in his embrace, just like in the car. "Ronald!"


    Ste protested, but the man''s deep voice resonated above her, "You have five minutes."


    Ste was taken aback, her heart hammering. She knew all too well what he meant by five minutes.


    Three years ago, she left without a word, at a tumultuous time for the Quinn family. Though she had physically departed, a saying among the Ferrond elite lingered, "If not of your blood, they won''t grow close." That saying originated from her, Ste Quinn. It was said when she left the Quinn family during Ronald''s toughest period.


    "The Schultz family, how are they?" Ste redirected the question.


    Throughout these three years, she closely monitored every move in Ferrond! Especially the Schultz family, the very ones who held a grip on her life back then.


    For the past year, she hadn''t seen any news of the Schultz family. Even her contacts couldn''t provide any information.


    Now, she directly asked Ronald, but as she did, a chill passed through his eyes. His grip on her chin tightened, bringing their faces dangerously close; his breath spread on Ste''s face, warm yet threatening. Ste swallowed nervously, "Ronald!"


    Ronald questioned, "Are you worried about the Schultz family, or Xander Schultz?"


    Hearing "Xander" made Ste''s heart tremble, "I..."


    As Ronald sensed her instant stiffness, his gaze sharpened further.


    Ste said, "No."


    "The Schultz family became history in Ferrond a year ago. Is that satisfactory, Star?"


    Ste didn''t utter a word.


    History? Had hepletely crushed them?


    This news rxed Ste, who had been tense until now.


    "And now the people of the Schultz family..."


    "Do you really want to know?" Ronald''s tone grew even more dangerous.


    Ste shook her head, "No, as long as they can no longer threaten you."


    At that moment, the weight Ste had carried for three years seemed to lift.