ise had no idea how he managed to drag himself back to the office. Looking utterly defeated, his face was a portrait of despair.


    The night with Jaxon had been long one, exacerbated by L Zeller''s relentless pursuit. His world was crumbling.


    When Jaxon saw ise return, he hurried over. "Dad, what happened? Did Ste clear things up with Mr. Quinn?" Damn her, siding with outsiders against the Larkin Group.


    The thought of the trouble Ste had caused for the Larkin Group made Jaxon wish he could tear her apart.


    ise nced at Jaxon, his lips moving as if to speak, but his frustration left him speechless.


    Jaxon, sensing his father''s barely contained rage and the veins on his forehead bulging, pressed on, "Did she really, as Urs imed, sell herself to Mr. Quinn out of revenge against us?" This infuriated Jaxon even more.


    "If that''s true, then I, Jaxon, am done considering her my sister."


    A disgrace. To think she''d sell herself out to get back at her own family.


    Even if Mr. Quinn held a high position, so what? She had been nothing more than a ything to him. Once Mr. Quinn grew bored, he would caster her aside. Let''s see how she was dealt with then. Jaxon was livid, wishing he could deal with Ste then and there.


    ise, already pale, grew even angrier at Jaxon''s words.


    "Have you ever treated her like a sister? Do you think she cares about your opinion now? And Urs, what exactly did she tell you?"


    ise suddenly raised his voice, startling Jaxon, making it clear he was displeased.


    ise remembered that every time something went wrong at home, whether it was Cloudia or Jaxon, they would always say, "As Urs said..."


    Whenever it came to matters involving Ste, it was always the same.


    "Did Urs get it wrong? Are you... defending Ste?"


    That traitor who conspired with outsiders against her own family?


    Jaxon was short of breath.


    ise, no less upset, continued, "Ste grew up in the Lugar family, Mr. Quinn''s so-called sister, much like your rtionship with Urs.


    When did she be this vile person in your eyes, subject to baseless insults? Is this how


    has been poisoning you ands


    mother against her?"


    ise''sst words were shouted, full of fury.


    The office was thick with his rage, and in that moment, something clicked in Jaxon''s mind. Hearing this, he could hardly believe it. "What... what did you say?"


    ise reiterated, "She was raised by the Lugar family. Got it? If I hear one more nderous word about her from you, I''ll tear you apart myself."


    ise hadn''t realized until now how Cloudia and Jaxon had been treating Ste- insults, malicious spection. And Urs...


    Thinking of Urs''s pitiful eyes, ise suddenly saw everything clearly.


    His gaze turned icy, his breath shallow.


    Jaxon, in disbelief, questioned, "How? Weren''t we told she was raised in the countryside?"


    Ste too ashamed to mention her foster parents, preferring to hide her origins.


    Now, she was suddenly the youngest daughter of the Lugar family?


    Jaxon was bewildered.


    ise, hearing the mention of a countryside upbringing, was also agitated. "Is that what she told you?" Jaxon was speechless.


    His mind raced again. Reflecting, he realized he never really knew where Ste had been raised or anything about her foster family. Where had this informatione from?


    en


    ise pressed, "Was it Urs?"


    Jaxon fell silent.


    Yes, Urs. He remembered now.


    It was during Ste''s first birthday back with the Larkin family when their mother had prepared a dress for her.


    Because it was strapless, Urs hadmented, "Ste, having grown up in the countryside all these years, would feel shy wearing this."