The speakerphone was on. Jeremy could clearly hear the affection in the man''s voice as he spoke to Ste.


    "Jeremy? Why do you ask about him?"


    Ste replied, "Just wondering, do you think he''s a good guy?"


    There was a moment of silence on the other end.


    When Ronald spoke again, his tone had notably shifted.


    With a cold voice, he asked, "Star, do you like him?"


    Both Ste and Jeremy were like, "..."


    Wait...


    She was just inquiring about Jeremy''s character, and suddenly Ronald escted it to liking? And what was with his displeasure in his tone? Ste''s lips twitched, "No, I was just asking."


    "Those people like him can''t manage their own family affairs; they''re not trustworthy. Drop whatever you''re thinking."


    His tone had turned colder.


    Ste said, "I really don''t like him like that."


    "I''ll pick you up for lunch, be good, bye now."


    Ronald hung up before Ste could say another word.


    Jeremy, left without a clear answer, was puzzled. Why did he have this looming sense of an impending storm?


    Ste looked at him, "Mr. Patel, you heard that? In my brother''s eyes, you''re not at all trustworthy."


    "It''s all because of you."


    "Not because of me, but because of Sirena. Through Sirena, my brother has seen a lot."


    Jeremy was even more anxious, "Our business has nothing to do with Sirena. She has no connection to thepany."


    Ste replied, "In my brother''s eyes, failing to manage personal matters signifies ack of integrity."


    So, a partnership would be challenging. Jeremy felt like he was about to explode.


    It made sense, though. If someone couldn''t even manage their own family, how could they possibly manage argepany? Sirena was driving him insane.


    And Ste, constantly calling Ronald


    "brother". He had heard that since


    Ste returned to the Larkins, she


    hadn''t even considered Jaxon as her brother, let alone address Mr. and


    Mrs. Larkin as "Dad" and "Mom".


    But that was understandable. People naturally confided in those who treated them well.


    The Larkins focused all their


    attention on their foster daughter hardly giving Ste the time of day. Given Ste''s personality, it was only natural for her to reciprocate in kind.


    en


    She was raised in the Quinn family. The Quinn family, a power that walked in the shadows of Ferrond''s underworld.


    In such a family, the dynamics were anything but ordinary. Living among wolves, there was no room for any sheep.


    Jeremy asked, "The Quinn family... are they like the Larkins too?"


    "What?"


    Jeremy remarked, "You''re a foster child in the Quinn family. They seem to treat you well, but how do they treat their own daughter?" As soon as he said this, Ste''s expression darkened.


    "You''reparing them to the Larkins?"


    The Larkins weren''t even in the same league. How could such people, unable to see the basic facts, bepared to the Quinn family?


    The Larkins might have had a small


    fortune, but their pettiness knew no bounds. When Urs yed her games, the Larkins took her side,


    the detriment of theiDown


    en


    The Quinns, whether by blood or not, were united. The interests and safety of the family were always their top priority.


    Seeing Ste''s mood turn, Jeremy felt a twinge in his chest, "My apologies."