Yeah, for three whole months!


    During those three months, Ronald was like a man possessed, searching high and low for Ste, terrified she''d be suffering somehow. Turned out, she was being put through her paces by Yvonne, hidden away and training hard. After that, there weren''t any real dangers,


    but her physical strength had definitely improved.


    Helping Ronald lean against her, she fed him the hangover cure.


    "Star," his voice was a soft murmur, tender even through his drunken haze.


    Ste answered, "Yeah, I''m here."


    "You better not run off, or I''ll break your legs."


    Ste was like, "..."


    Even drunk, he didn''t forget to make threats.


    It took some doing, but Ste managed to get the hangover cure into Ronald. Trying to get him back to his room was another story - she just didn''t have the strength.


    By now it was 2 AM, and most of the mansion''s staff were off to bed.


    No choice, she let him crash on the couch of her room and found him a thick nket. Only then did she turn in for the night herself.


    After such a hectic day, Ste was exhausted. She fell asleep quickly.


    ...


    Morning sunlight peeked through the curtains,nding on Ronald''s face. He looked at the nket covering him, slightly dazed.


    It took a moment, but then he realized he was in Ste''s room. Memories from the night before flooded back.


    A tightness gripped his chest as he nced over at Ste, still deep in sleep on the bed. She must have been really tired, he thought, as she hadn''t woken up yet. The phone started buzzing.


    It was Ronald''s phone, he took a nce and found it was Idris calling.


    He picked up, "Yeah."


    "Boss, Yorick Quarry has been trying to schedule a meeting with you."


    "Ignore him."


    To see him? Ha!


    Ronald''s gaze softened as he looked at the small form curled up on the bed, "He''s still after Wave Residence?"


    Idris replied, "Yes."


    Ronald chuckled sarcastically, "He seems quite attentive to his first love. Tell him straight we''re not interested in any partnership."


    Dashing his hopes now was much better than dragging it out.


    The state of the Quarry family?


    lovels


    Ronald knew all too well. Without a solid afternative, it would be a massive blow to the Quarry business.


    Mocking the Larkin family while they were down? The Quarrys weren''t in much better shape themselves. All in the same boat, really.


    So if Ronald made it clear to Yorick that a partnership was off the table, it would throw the entire Quarry family into disarray.


    The Larkin family was already a mess, and the Quarrys couldn''t be allowed to rest easy.


    Life was more interesting with a little chaos.


    ...


    When Ste woke up, Ronald was


    yelmet


    already gone. Brushing her teeth


    the bathroom, she noticed


    something rming - her lips were swollen!


    The memory of being bitten by Ronald the night before made her gasp.


    "Ouch..."


    That was brutal.


    How was she supposed to face anyone like this?


    She hadn''t felt much pain at that time, but now? She couldn''t go out without a mask. After getting ready, Ste headed downstairs, only to find Ronald in the dining room. Seeing her with a mask on, Ronald frowned, "Why are you wearing that thing at home?" Ste chuckled nervously, "I''m not hungry, I''m just going to head to the studio."


    "Stop right there."


    She had barely turned when his lowmand stopped her in her tracks.


    With a nearly tearful look, Ste turned back and whispered, "Ronald."


    "Come here, eat."


    Ste really didn''t want to go over. Eating meant taking off the mask, and then Ronald would see her swollen lips.


    Since she was little, even a mosquito bite would get the servants


    questioned by him. If he asked\.ne?


    about it today, she honestly didn''t know what she''d say.