Damn it, what was he doing questioning the Quinns here? Hadn''t he figured out why Ste left the Quinns years ago?!


    It was because of the Schultzes, threatening Ste with Mrs. Quinn and Ronald. She left to buy Ronald some breathing room, a far cry from Urs, that vulture eyeing the Larkin fortune. The Quinns had another daughter, tight with Ste since they were kids, practically inseparable.


    Bottom line, Ste was Ronald''s treasure, and Yvonne''s cherished sister. And the Quinns, they were Ste''s to protect with her life.


    "My fault, don''t be mad," Jeremy felt his head aching.


    Ste huffed, "Mr. Patel, instead of wasting time here, you should be getting my brother to trust you. All the schemes in the world and you choose looking for connections?"


    Jeremy scratched his head, "But from what I''ve gathered, your brother...he cares about you a lot."


    "You went digging into our family?"


    Jeremy remained silent. Great, in his panic, he''d spilled the beans.


    "Not at all, I was just trying to figure things out, you know, working with your brother is crucial."


    "Our family don''t do backdoor."


    There it was again, "our family", making it crystal clear to Jeremy the chasm between the Quinns and the Larkins.


    Portis City was buzzing these days. The Larkins and Yorick plotting to shut down Ste''s studio, Jeremy was well aware.


    He''d been waiting for theireuppance, especially Yorick''s.


    "Yorick wants to work with your brother too," Jeremy mentioned.


    Upon hearing it, Ste raised an eyebrow at him.


    Jeremy went on, "No offense, just saying, the Quinn family''s mines, we and the Quarrys are all eyeing them."


    "You won''t get them," Ste cut in.


    Tough to hear, but factual.


    What Ronald held, he could keep with a word; no one else stood a chance.


    Jeremy was rendered speechless.


    "But if your brother worked with Yorick, wouldn''t that irk you?"


    Straightforward didn''t work, so he went for a different path.


    Ste replied, "Even if they did, it wouldn''t bother me."


    Plus, Yorick working with Ronald? Unlikely.


    Ste was sure of it!


    "Could you, then, point me in the right direction?"


    Now, with Ronald avoiding him, Jeremy was beside himself.


    Ste said, This isn''t personal,


    must


    contractething off with here


    Jeremy repeated, "The contract?"


    Ste nodded, "You and Yorick aren''t the same, there''s no personal angle here."


    "Really?"


    "Why would I lie?"


    Wait....


    Ste''s hint made Jeremy recall a specific use!


    The Patel Group''s contracts were standard, unchangeable. Was it that use meant to bind the other party that Ronald objected to?


    Realizing this, Jeremy stood up, "Ah, what a blunder."


    "Thanks, I''ll have it sorted immediately...and, uh..."


    \re ex


    He nced at Ste and then added, "Yorick and Urs''s past isn''t coincidental. Urs once saved Yorick''s life. This savior-to-lover plot, best stay out of it, it''s a no-entry zone!"


    As a token of gratitude for Ste''s insight, Jeremy shared Yorick''s past with her.