Jaxon turned around, locking eyes with Ronald in a stare sharp as an eagle''s talon.


    Feeling the aura emanating from the man, Jaxon felt his heart shudder involuntarily.


    The man''s presence was overwhelming. Even a single nce from him sent waves of danger coursing through Jaxon''s veins. Ronald narrowed his eyes perilously, "Threatening her?"


    Jaxon swallowed hard, his gaze shifting between Ronald and Ste.


    Ste crossed her arms, "Threatening me?"


    Their tones matched perfectly.


    Jaxon felt not only oppressed but also realized how much of a stranger Ste was to him, as if he had never truly known her.


    The already frosty atmosphere of the office plummeted into an unprecedented danger.


    Jaxon clenched his fists, his breathing unsteady, "I..."


    Out of the corner of his eye, he nced towards the door, sensing the immense aura of the man standing there. Who was he? He had never seen him around Portis City. Ronald strode over Ste with long strides, pulling her close, "He just said he''s who to you?"


    "He said he''s my brother."


    Those words seemed to drop the temperature even further. Despite the heating, Jaxon felt a chill down his spine.


    Why did this man''s aura be even more menacing upon hearing Ste call Jaxon her brother?


    Ronald fixed him with a dangerous look, "You really want to be her brother?"


    Jaxon was at a loss for words.


    He was her brother! Or at least he had been until Ste mentioned their mom signing the disownment agreement.


    With that, Jaxon was no longer her brother in any capacity, regardless of whether she ended up begging on the streets or vanished without a trace, she would have nothing to do with the Larkin family. Jaxon scoffed, "As if I could ever deserve such a sister."


    With those words, he stormed out, his anger palpable.


    Severing the ties, then? Fine, so be it. He was curious to see what Ste would amount to without the Larkin family''s backing.


    ...


    Jaxon left the office fuming, his anger not subsiding until he stepped into the elevator, realizing only then that his back was soaked with sweat.


    The man''s aura had been too menacing, likely the same one who had injured Yorick, Ste''s true pir of strength. This man''s presence dwarfed that of Finley and any other man Jaxon had encountered in the hospital corridors.


    The thought of f someone so formidable taking an interest in Ste infuriated Jaxon even more. Just as he exited the elevator, his


    phone buzzed. ncing at the caller ID, he answered, "What''s up?


    "Jaxon, you''re marrying another woman?" the woman''s voice on the line was hysterical with rage.


    Jaxon''s heart skipped a beat.


    Did she know about his affair with Sirena?


    Before he could respond, she continued her tirade, "You lied to me? You told me to wait for you, promised that before our child started school, you''d legitimize him!


    Did you even tell your family about


    us?


    Jaxon was speechless.


    The woman''s bombardment of questions only frustrated Jaxon even more, making his head throb with pain.


    Of course, he had told them, but not a single family member had epted her. He rubbed his throbbing temples, "Are you at home? I''lle over now." "Fine,e here and exin yourself properly."


    After the snarl, the woman hung up, leaving Jaxon by his car; eyes close, he gripped his phone tightly.


    Before he could drive off, Cloudia''s call came through, "Jaxon, what are we going to do?"


    Pain was evident in Cloudia''s voice.


    Despite his headache, Jaxon tried to sound soothing, "You''re awake?"


    "Yeah."


    Cloudia was still furious about Ste''s role in her fainting spell.


    "Urs''s doctor just told me, if Finley and Tegan don''t get involved in her treatment soon, she might only have three months left."