With Finley gone, Ste felt the weight in her heart finally lift.


    However, Finley, in his infinite wisdom, decided to turn back to Ronald and ask, "Anything else feeling off with you?"


    Ste could only think, "Great, the rock''s been put back in ce."


    At this moment, she was seriously considering whether it would be possible to unscrew Finley''s head from his shoulders.


    "What else could he possibly feel? I''ve already given him some meds."


    Her tone was sharp, as if she might physically attack Finley if he uttered another word.


    Undeterred, Finley responded, "Come on, I''m a doctor. Isn''t it my job to ask? That''s no ordinary medicine. There could be side effects. What''s the harm in asking?" Ste sighed deeply.


    Was it really just a simple question? The insinuation in his voice was hard to miss.


    Finley''s gaze then briefly lingered on the scarf wrapped around Ste''s neck.


    "I was saying..."


    "Finley." Ronald''s cold voice cut him off before he could finish.


    Finley met Ronald''s deep gaze, and in that instant, a light bulb went off in his mind - he understood!


    He was going to scold the kid again.


    With that, Finley left.


    Now it was just Ste and Ronald. Ste felt incredibly nervous, as if her heart could leap out of her throat at any moment.


    "Do you feel difort anywhere else?" she stammered, trying to mask her anxiety.


    Ronald''s gaze was piercing.


    When he didn''t respond, Ste cautiously lifted her eyes to meet his. The depth in them made her heart skip a beat once again. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.


    His seriousness was intimidating. Even though Ste had grown up around Ronald, she couldn''t help but feel a bit scared of him. "Come here," Ronald said sternly.


    Ste felt a wave of fear but moved toward the bed, obeying hismand.


    The closer she got, the more she could feel the imposing aura emanating from him.


    She didn''t dare to move any closer, cautiously ncing at Ronald. "Is there any difort?"


    Before she could react, Ronald''s warm hand sped around her wrist, pulling her down onto the bed.


    Her breathing hitched.


    "What are you..."


    "Star, how did I get these injuries?" Ronald asked, pulling open his shirt cor to reveal several scratch marks across his chest. Ste''s blood ran cold!


    No...


    She hadn''t scratched him at all. How could there be scratch marks? "Yeah, how did you get those?" She looked at Ronald, utterly bewildered.


    Ronald examined her nails as if looking for clues. Even though she hadn''t done anything, Ste felta pang of guilt and reflexively pulled her hand back.


    "Maybe from a fall?"


    "Scratches like these from a fall? And so many?"


    Ste felt her face flush with embarrassment.


    ncing at the marks on Ronald''s chest, it was clear they looked like scratch marks. The excuse of seemed even less usible to her now.


    She felt like crying. "So, how did you get hurt?"


    Swnoy fall


    She had been so careful; she hadn''t scratched him. Even in a moment of pain, she hadn''tshed out. So how did those marks appear on his chest?


    Ronald then asked, "Why was I in your room?"


    Ste''s heart skipped a beat. That was an even harder question to answer.


    Wait a minute, why was he asking this?


    Could it be... he had forgotten again?


    This thought made Ste feel even more unsettled.