Ronald effortlessly scooped Ste into his arms and made his way downstairs.


    ncing at her nightgown, he quickly offered her his jacket that had been resting on the sofa.


    Ste wrapped herself in it, feeling the warmth Ronald had left behind.


    "What''s got you wandering downstairs thiste?" Ronald inquired.


    Ste hesitated, her stomach rumbling. She wanted to confess her hunger but was unsure of Ronald''s stance onte-night snacks. He had always been strict about meal times and snacking habits. But she couldn''t bear it any longer.


    "I''m hungry," she admitted, her eyes pleading.


    Ronald raised an eyebrow. "You had a pretty hearty dinner, though."


    Despite having a full te at dinner, Ste''s wide, watery eyes were hard for Ronald to resist. They made him want to tease her.


    "Really hungry?"


    "Very," Ste nodded earnestly.


    Idris couldn''t stand it any longer. "Maybe we should whip up a little something in the kitchen."


    He knew how strictly Ronald monitored Ste''s diet, almost to the point where Idris wondered if Ste had ever had her fill.


    As expected, when he said that, Ronald gave him a look.


    Idris backed down, "Ms. Quinn is really hungry."


    Seeing Idris defend her, Ste cast him a grateful nce, but that didn''t escape Ronald''s notice.


    Pulling her close, he conceded. "Alright, but no crash diets."


    He recalled Yvonne''s ordeal with a poorly nned diet, which had led to severe nutrient deficiencies. The thought of Ste going through something simr always loomed over him. "I won''t," she promised.


    "Ms. Quinn doesn''t gain weight easily anyway," Idris added, as if stating the obvious. Ste had always maintained the same figure.


    Ronald pinched Ste''s cheek. "Let''s see what the kitchen can do."


    Relieved, Ste hurried off to request a bowl of beef chili from the kitchen staff. She noticed a few new faces among them but didn''t linger on the thought.


    When she returned, she caught Ronald and Idris mid-discussion about the Quarry family''stest move.


    Ronald scoffed. "Thane''s understanding, huh!"


    Send Urs to him, the sick one? What''s he thinking?


    Idris shared his surprise, especially after hearing about the Quarry family''s threat to keep Yorick away from Urs.


    Ronald''s expression hardened.


    "No need to send her my way."


    Idris agreed. Urs, ill or not, was far from meeting their standards.


    "However, keeping Yorick from seeing her is an intriguing idea," Ronald mused.


    Idris nodded. "It might make the Quarry family think there''s something between you and Urs."


    "Let them think what they want. But putting Yorick on the spot could be interesting."


    Ronald hadn''t expected Thane to y it this way, but the opportunity to unsettle Yorick was too good to pass up. With Yorick''s attention wholly on Urs, being barred from seeing her would be an exquisite torture.