Right now, Yvonne really wanted to break Ste''s legs. Running off so quickly three years ago was bad enough, but she even had the audacity to hide.


    Ste, ever the timid one, barely managed a whisper, "I didn''t dare."


    Oh, the terror of facing Yvonne was real.


    "Hmph, you better not have," Yvonne retorted sharply. "Just wait and see how I deal with you this time, you sneaky brat. Hiding all the way out here. Why not just run off to Mars? Would''ve served you right to starve out there." Ste remained silent, a lump forming in her throat.


    "See you in three hours," Yvonne dered before hanging up with a sharp click.


    In Yvonne''s mind, Ste was the weakest of them all. During the past two years when she couldn''t find her, she even suspected Ste had starved to death somewhere out there.


    Hearing the "beep-beep" sound of the disconnected call, Ste endured the pain and got out of bed. There was no way she could keep this from Ronald.


    With Yvonneing, how was she supposed to exin her injuries?


    Putting on a coat, Ste stepped out of her room.


    The study was empty, and so was the living room.


    The butler, spotting Ste, approached respectfully. "Miss."


    "Has Ronald stepped out?" Ste inquired.


    "He is in the billiard room," he informed her.


    Billiard room? They had one?


    Having recently moved in, Ste hadn''t had the chance to explore much.


    "Where is it?"


    "Just straight down this way, Miss. Allow me to show you," the butler offered.


    "No need. I''ll find it myself," she said, turning towards the living room''s left passageway.


    Outside, the snow in Portis City piled high, the lights casting a serene glow on the thick white nket. The warmth of the ss corridor contrasted sharply with the chilly scene outside.


    As Ste reached the billiard room, she paused at the door, startled by a loud thud followed by a man''s pained cry.


    Inside, Idris stood with his foot pressed on the back of a bloodied man- clearly a member of the Ferrond gang.


    Ronald lounged on a nearby sofa, a cigar in hand, exuding a dangerous butzy aura.


    The man on the floor pleaded, "Mr. Quinn, please, I swear I don''t know where our boss is. Spare me."


    With another forceful step, Idris intensified the man''s agony, the wound on his back oozing blood.


    "Kaku, do you really want to die here tonight?" Idris menacingly asked, his hand already drawing a gun and pressing it to the man''s head. The man, Kaku, trembled, "Mr. Quinn, I really don''t know..."


    A gunshot silenced him.


    The sound startled Ste, her inadvertent movement at the door drawing the immediate attention of Ronald, Idris, and their bodyguards.


    Idris, realizing Ste''s presence, paused, "Miss?"


    Ronald''s eyes deepened as he lifted his gaze to Ste, the lingering coldness in his expression not yet concealed.


    This wasn''t the first time Ste had seen Ronald like this, but it had been so many years since thest time. However, seeing him like this again after years brought back a flood of memories of his menacing presence.


    "Star," Ronald called out softly, his voice losing its earlier edge.


    Ste''s eyes lingered on the bloodied man before finally meeting Ronald''s. "Ronald," her voice barely above a whisper. Ronald''s stern demeanor melted away. "Come here," he said gently, no longer the fearsome figure from moments before. This time, she didn''t run away, and he didn''t have to rush after her likest time to console her.


    She was going to stay by his side for


    a lifetime Scenes like this were bound to be witnessed sooner orter. She needed to understand, deep in her heart, what kind of person Ronald truly was.


    As Ste approached, Ronald pulled her into an embrace, asking softly, "Were you scared?"