udia was floored, her eyes wide as she stared at Yorick in disbelief. She couldn''t fathom that Ste would go to such lengths against Yorick as well.


    "So, you didn''t see her today either?"


    Orion shook his head. "We saw her, but barely exchanged a couple of words."


    udia was shocked anew!


    Barely spoke?


    She had always imagined Ste clinging to Yorick, thinking the whole break-up drama was just her throwing a tantrum. It was about getting Urs out of the picture, but now this... udia nced at Yorick with tightened gaze, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something. But at that moment, she found herself speechless.


    It was nine in the evening, and the entire Larkin Group building was still buzzing with activity. ise and Jaxon looked utterly exhausted.


    They hadn''t been home for days.


    ise lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag, while Jaxon also had one in hand.


    "I''m heading over to Spring Hill," ise finally said, standing up and grabbing his suit jacket.


    Jaxon said, "I''ming too."


    He wanted answers from Ste, to find out what she was up to, siding with outsiders against the Larkin Group. She sure had grown bold.


    ise''s expression hardened. "And what? You gonna confront her?"


    Jaxon hesitated, "I..."


    ise cut him off. "Since she''s been back, have you acted like a brother to her? And now you want to question her!"


    Jaxon''s face fell even more.


    Was it his fault for not being the good brother? Ste never gave him a chance. Look at all the chaos she brought upon the Larkin family since her return. Who could remain patient with her? ise left, and Jaxon instinctively followed, but then his phone buzzed.


    He pulled it out, the name "L Zeller" shed on the screen, making his temple throb.


    He rejected the call.


    Immediately after, a text came through: [If you don''t answer now, I''ll be at Larkin Group first thing in the morning.] Seeing the message, Jaxon had no choice but to call back.


    "What''s up? I''m at work."


    "Weren''t you supposed to exin yourself to me? Now you can''t even pick up the phone. What''s that about?"


    The woman''s voice came through sharp and hysterical over the phone.


    "Jaxon, do you really want me and


    your son to live in disgrace? He''s starting


    kindergarten next yeare


    Where''s he supposedler?"


    Her tone was angry and piercing, only adding to Jaxon''s headache.


    He took a deep breath. "Thepany''s facing some issues. Let''s talk about this in a few days."


    "A few days? In a few days you''ll be married off to some other woman! Jaxon, have you forgotten your promises?"


    Jaxon was already on edge from not resting well these past days, and her nagging only made his temper boil over.


    "You believe in a man''s promises?


    Come on, L, don''t be naive. You know very well how this child came to be I''m telling you now, I''ll never marry you!"


    "Jaxon!"


    L yelled back, her voice cutting through the call.


    Jaxon, frustrated beyond belief, was about to hang up.


    But L''sst words still reached him, "So, this is who you really are? You''ll regret this!"


    Jaxon, unimpressed, hung up.


    Unlike Yorick, for Jaxon, it was always business before women, to him, women were just for a bit of fun when times were good. Those who didn''t fall in line were simply not worth the trouble.


    Thinking about the current mess at thepany, Jaxon was at his wit''s end.


    "Ste!" He chewed on her name as if he wanted to crush it.