Ste pped Finley''s hand with a swift motion.


    "What are you staring at? Trying to make a move on me? I swear, I''ll tell my brother."


    Finley retorted, "Hey, listen here, missy, let me tell you something..."


    Ste cut him off. "What are you even talking about? Are youing to check him or not? If not, I really need to get some sleep." She was genuinely exhausted, but any trace of sleepiness was now chased away by Finley''s antics.


    Finley nced at her, then toward the stairs, before shooting her a look and heading upstairs.


    Seeing Finley stop pestering her, Ste finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    But the way Finley had looked at her kept echoing in her mind, making her internally scream in horror. It felt like the end of the world. Following Finley upstairs, they entered the room only to find Ronald awake, sitting up in bed with a cigarette between his fingers.


    The nket had slipped from his chest, his robe slightly open, revealing a faint scratch mark.


    Finley''s breathing tightened at the sight.


    Ste''s heart wasn''t faring any better.


    Where did that marke from? She didn''t remember scratching him. How had he gotten hurt?


    Their eyes met, and Ste''s heart skipped a beat.


    Finley swallowed hard, his gaze inadvertently flicking to Ste, making her almost lose her mind.


    "Just check, will you?"


    Weren''t they supposed to check on Ronald''s condition? Why was he looking at her?


    Finley''s mind was in a fog. ncing at Ronald''splexion, which showed no signs of the poison anymore, their eyes met, locking onto the cold glint in Ronald''s gaze. Finley''s mind froze. He didn''t even do anything.


    "Hull mentioned you were drugged?"


    Ronald pressed the cigarette into the ashtray to extinguish it, responding with a nonchnt ''hm''.


    Finley asked, "How do you feel now?"


    "I feel a bit weak, kind of drained."


    Ste felt her heart jump to her throat.


    No way!


    Hearing Ronald mention feeling weak, Finley looked at Ste again.


    Already feeling guilty, Ste''s heart pounded, as if it might leap out of her chest.


    "What are you looking at me for? Maybe the drug was too strong?"


    Finley remained silent.


    Ste quickly added, "Maybe the drug was strong, so the medicine had to be strong too?"


    Could this exnation work?


    Both Finley and Ronald simply looked at Ste without a word.


    Faced with their stares, Ste clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves.


    She stammered, "Since my brother. is fine,


    aybe you should head back, Finley? I''d like to get some more sleep."


    no


    She couldn''t let Finley stay. She could barely handle one person-i there was another, she''d be exposed in minutes.


    Finley raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to kick me out?"


    It was so obvious she was hiding something. He definitely wasn''t buying any excuses.


    Ste started, "It''s not like that, I just..."


    "You should go. There''s nothing to worry about here," Ronald interjected before she could finish. Finley nced at Ronald, wanting to say more, but Ronald shot him a look that clearly said to zip it.


    Finley sighed internally. Why were they being so difficult? And Ste definitely had something up her sleeve.


    After looking between Ronald and Ste, Finley decided to let it go. Whatever he had wanted to


    he


    swallowed back down. Col


    Fine, he was the extra here.


    Grabbing his stuff, Finley turned and headed for the door.