If he wasn''t into her, she''d be the butt of the joke forever.


    Being a joke or things falling into ce naturally, Ste feared bing the former, and didn''t dare gamble on thetter.


    "I''ll go see Old Mrs. Zeller myself. Why don''t you have Idris keep youpany?"


    Right now, Ste couldn''t face anyone familiar. Breaking free from Ronald''s embrace, she jumped out of the car like a bat out of hell, not daring to look back, and ran off as fast as she could. Watching her lively departure, Ronald''s smile deepened.


    Idris nced in the direction Ste had gone. "Ms. Quinn is all grown up now."


    "Grown up? She''s still a little goofball," Ronald''s tone was full of indulgence.


    Idris couldn''t help but give him a look, thinking that teasing Ste like this might backfire on him someday.


    But then he thought better of it; as long as his boss is happy.


    "Go after her," Ronald said. "Don''t let those Larkin folks bully her."


    "Roger that."


    Idris nodded and followed.


    He figured, who in the Larkin family could bully Ste? She''d probably be the death of them.


    That kick she gave Yorick? He''d probably need another hospital run.


    Yorick was a mess, with a broken hand, a leg injury, and his face turning blue. Probably internal injuries too, basically bruised from head to toe.


    ...


    Ste didn''t really want toe to the hospital, especially since visiting Old Mrs. Zeller meant walking past Urs''s room. What that olddy saw in her, she didn''t know.


    Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she heard amotion not far away.


    "Let me out! I want to leave, move!"


    "Yeah, what right do you have to keep us here? Let us go."


    Great. Just what she needed first thing in the morning, such bad luck.


    Ste was tempted to turn back.


    Urs''s hysterical shouting and Cloudia''s rage echoed down the hall.


    From a distance, Ste saw several suited bodyguards outside Urs''s door. Judging by their reaction, they weren''t sent by ise Larkin for protection. So, were they sent by the Quarry family?


    It made sense, given the Quarry family''s current disdain for Yorick and Urs''s association, not just Yorick''s parents, but four other elders were against it too. Yorick''s constant pestering of Urs must have driven those eager grandparents-to-be up the wall. When people are pushed to the edge, they can go to extremes! The elevator next to Ste dinged, and Idris stepped out. "Miss, let''s go."


    Ste nodded. "Okay."


    She walked past without sparing Cloudia and Urs a second nce. In her mind, the Larkin family was already history, since the disownment letters had been sent. Cloudia''s face stiffened at the sight of Ste. Then, almost instinctively, she let go of Urs''s hand and marched straight toward her.


    Blocking Ste''s path, she said, "I have something to ask you."


    Ste raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, ma''am, do I know you?"


    Cloudia was taken aback.


    Ma''am? Is that how she referred to her now?


    Thinking of the public disownment and the ongoing uproar, with the whole Larkin family bing theughingstock of Portis City, Cloudia was seething.


    "Ste, I agreed to your disownment, but why make it such a public spectacle?"


    Now the whole city knew, turning the entire Larkin family into a joke in Portis City. Fromst night until now, ise had called her three times, pressing her to sort this out. Even the Larkin Group was affected. These bodyguards by the Quarry family were undoubtedly because of this mess.


    Ste smirked. "Didn''t I say? I was just saving you all from leeching off me in the future."