Was she scared?


    Truth be told, after countless encounters of this sort within the Quinn family, Ste no longer felt the raw fear that had gripped her the first time she witnessed Ronald take a life. Her gaze casually drifted to the lifeless body on the floor. "Was he one of Lancelot''s guys?"


    Lancelot - a name she''d heard Ronald and Hull mention back in Spring Hill.


    Ronald hummed in acknowledgment before leaning in to press a kiss to her cold lips- tender, lingering, and entirely unexpected.


    Ste''s mind buzzed as she instinctively pushed at Ronald. "There''s- there''s a body right there."


    Seriously, big guy, there''s a dead man just feet away.


    And Idris and the others were right there, too.


    What was he thinking? Making it tantly obvious that the girl he''d been raising for years had now be his woman?


    Even Idris, who usually kept his emotions under wraps, felt his brain short-circuit.


    Despite having an inkling about what had transpired the previous night, this outright show of affection...


    Idris, along with the bodyguards, discreetly turned away.


    It wasn''t just Idris, Ste was equally flustered.


    Considering the less-than-glorious events ofst night, she thought she and Ronald needed time to sort things out.


    But he was leaving no room to breathe. Not for her, not for anyone.


    As Ste attempted to wriggle free, Ronald caught her hand. His voice, now tinged with desire, broke the silence. "Trying to escape, huh?" Ste stammered, "No, it''s just..."


    She couldn''t muster aplete sentence.


    After a moment, when Ste was nearly out of breath, Ronald finally released her.


    She gasped for air, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.


    Ronald rested his forehead against hers. "Why did youe here, hmm?"


    She always needed extra sleep and plenty of food to recover from a fever, and he had just fed her some fruit.


    He thought she''d take a good long nap, which was why he had Idris bring Kaku over.


    Ste nuzzled into his chest, her muffled voice emerging, "Yvonne''sing."


    Ronald paused, a heaviness settling in his chest.


    "She called you?"


    Ste hummed a yes. "She wants me to pick her up at the airport in three hours."


    Yvonne had threatened her over the phone nott tell Ronald about her visit. Yet, Ste turned around and spilled the beans without hesitation.


    A sh of displeasure crossed Ronald''s eyes. "Idris."


    His voice was icy as he called out.


    AUMS


    Idris, having turned his back on them, pivoted respectfully at the sound of his name. "Yes, sir."


    Ronald ordered, "Find out where that little runaway is right now."


    For years, Yvonne had turned the world upside down looking for Ste. Her frustration...


    Ronald and Idris both knew that if Yvonne found Ste, there''d be hell to pay. That girl was too cunning for her own good. Idris nodded. "Understood."


    "Once you find her, make sure she''s sent straight back. Keep a close eye on her, and the person in charge this time can face the penalties themselves."


    Ronald''s tone was especially stern.


    Yvonne had been relentless, insisting oning to Portis City to get Ste''s number, pestering them day and night.


    Sneak out like this, she was truly pushing her luck.


    With a nod, Idris left to carry out the order.


    Meanwhile, Ronald, carrying Ste in his arms, strode out of the billiards room.


    They passed the lifeless Kaku


    without a nce, but Ronald instinctively tightened his hold on Ste, drawing her closer into his embrace.


    Feeling the pressure on the back of her head, Ste stayed still.


    Ronald carried her through the ss corridor, all the way back to her room. "What do you want for dinner?" he asked softly. Ste replied, "Anything''s fine."


    She was still shaken from the earlier scene, herpliance a clear sign of her lingering unease.


    Ronald suggested, "With the snowing down like this, how about..."