Not sure if it was her imagination, Ste felt Ronald''s voice turn frostier as he mentioned Yorick.


    Ste shrugged, "Those people have nothing to do with me."


    Sure, Mr. and Mrs. Larkin were her biological parents, but at that time, she was entangled with Regina''s drama. Returning to the Larkin family and even getting engaged to Yorick had been her way out of Regina''s clutches.


    After her engagement to Yorick, Regina never contacted her again.


    Ronald raised an eyebrow, "Nothing to do with you?"


    Ste admitted, "Regina was ckmailing me. My engagement to Yorick was a ploy to get her and Xander off my back."


    Facing Ronald''s icy interrogation, Ste spilled everything. After all, Regina was behind bars now. It was time toy all her cards on the table.


    Sure enough, Ronald''s expression softened.


    ...


    Meanwhile at the hospital, Yorick watched as Urs battled agonizing pain. Just yesterday, she was able to visit his office, but now, she was confined to a hospital bed. Cloudia''s heart ached.


    "Rick, we need to sort out Professor James'' matter ASAP. The consulting team says Urs''s liver and uterus are the priorities right now."


    Surgery was unavoidable for her liver, and her heart wasn''t in great shape either. So when they heard Tegan could help alleviate some of Urs''s suffering in the uterus, they all hoped it could spare her the pain of another surgery. Yorick was visibly exhausted.


    It was three in the morning. Urs had finally fallen asleep after hours of torment.


    Her body was battered by illness, and those by her side suffered emotionally.


    Cloudia was distraught, and Yorick even more so.


    "Alright, I got it."


    Even if Cloudia hadn''t mentioned it, Yorick was aware that Tegan needed to return soon. He borrowed an unfamiliar phone to call Ste.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at Silk-River Residences, Ste was undergoing a rigorous interrogation by Ronald. Just as Ronald was about to press further, Ste''s phone rang.


    At the sight of an unknown number, her instinct was to ignore it, promptly to hang up. But the caller was persistent.


    Ronald''s tone was stern, "Why not answer it?"


    "It''s nothing important," Ste replied without a second thought.


    With her and Yorick''s divorce scandal blowing up, she had block-listed Yorick and all calls from the Larkins.


    Given the circumstances, they''d call her if something upset them. Hence, the one using an unknown number to make calls, Ste reckoned, was either Yorick or Cloudia. She didn''t want to answer, especially in front of Ronald.


    She hung up. But the call came through again.


    Ste was about to dismiss it once more when Ronald extended his hand towards her.


    Ste''s eyelids twitched, "W-What are you doing?"


    "Shall I answer for you, or will you answer yourself?"


    Ste''s lips twitched, "It''s not an important call."


    Ronald raised an eyebrow, "Not important, and yet they keep calling?"


    Ste was rendered speechless.


    Under Ronald''s stern gaze, she reluctantly answered the call.


    As soon as the call connected, Yorick''s weary voice came through.


    "Tell me what you want, I''ll give it to your."


    His tone was tired, conceding. Even with the speaker off, Ste heard him clearly, and so did Ronald.


    She knew it had to be Yorick or someone from the Larkins. Unconsciously, Ste nced up at Ronald, whose eyes were left only frigidity as expected.


    Ste''s hand, holding her phone, trembled slightly, "Wait, you..."


    "You like money, right? I''ve unlocked that card for you. Buy whatever you want."


    The condition was for Tegan to return!


    Before Yorick could finish, Ronald snatched the phone from Ste and ended the call. Their eyes met.


    Confronted with Ronald''s icy stare, Ste looked down unwittingly, unable to meet his gaze.


    Ronald asked, "He treats you well, doesn''t he?"


    Ste forced augh, "Not really."


    Ronald continued, "He''s willing to give you anything."


    Ste remained silent.


    Through fragments of the conversation, Yorick''s words over the phone seemed to suggest as much.


    "This alles with strings attached, definitely not out of deep affection for me!"


    Somehow, whenever the topic of rtionships came up, she felt incredibly guilty in front of Ronald. Perhaps because back in their school days, Ronald always reminded her: No dating while studying!