ise red at Cloudia, his thoughts racing. "You, you..."


    What he wanted to say was that she should cut all ties with Urs from now on. Ste was clearly upset because of Urs''s actions.


    But then his gaze fell on Yorick, who was still standing nearby, and he swallowed his words. He couldn''t ignore Yorick''s feelings for Urs. Even though Thane was currently giving the Larkin family the cold shoulder, Yorick might still represent an opportunity for continued coboration. Cloudia was fuming. "What exactly is her deal?"


    "It''s you. If only you''d treated Ste better after bringing her back, none of this would have happened."


    Cloudia, already on edge, bristled at his rebuke. "How have I not treated her well? Wasn''t I kind to her in the beginning? Did she deserve my kindness?"


    The tension between them crackled as their argument escted.


    Nearby, Yorick, feeling a chill settle over him, silently turned and walked away.


    Orion noticed and hurried to follow him, leaving ise and Cloudia alone in their spiraling discord.


    "Sir, what should we do now?"


    Thane had given Yorick strict orders to handle Mr. Quinn''s matter. Yet considering how Ronald had disregarded Yorick, dismissing a significant partnership just because Ste said she was tired and leaving the scene... Yorick stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes. "What can we do? And about Ste..."


    As he mentioned Ste, Yorick found himself at a loss for words. Clearly, Ste was the key issue here.


    His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was an email from Max.


    As Yorick read the message, his eyes narrowed, and his breath hitched.


    Orion noticed his sudden stiffness and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Yorick''s knuckles turned white as he gripped his phone. "Ste... she grew up in the Lugar family?" Orion was stunned. "What?"


    That revtion hit them like a


    thunderbolt. Weren''t they always et


    told she'' ''d been raised in the countryside, rough and unrefined due to her upbringing?


    "Is this information reliable?" Orion asked instinctively.


    Growing up in the Lugar family meant something monumental. Could she actually be Mr. Quinn''s sister?


    Orion''s mind was reeling.


    Yorick''s gaze was cold and unwavering. "My father''s right-hand man sent it."


    Orion drew a sharp breath. If Thane had investigated, the information was undoubtedly true.


    Suddenly, the weight of their past interactions with Ronald and Ste came crashing down.


    Orion hesitated, then ventured cautiously, "Sir... about the


    and things you said to


    Quinn..."  flie


    He trailed off, unable to finish.


    So, after all this, Mr. Quinn was Ste''s brother?


    Yorick''s breathing quickened. "Stop."


    His mood, already grim, deepened further.


    What had he done? His mind


    reyed the scenes at Silk-River et


    Residences and her studio - the usations he''d hurled at Ste, the assumptions of indecency


    Yorick ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident.


    What foolishness had he engaged in?


    In the wooden house, Ronald immediately pulled Ste close, grasping her slender shoulders a bit too firmly.


    Her heart skipped a beat under his intense gaze. "What''s wrong?"


    "Did you have a car ident when you came to Portis City?"