From the moment Ste walked in, she didn''t spare Yorick a single nce.


    Yorick, who had been engaged to her for two years, suddenly realized that Ste wasn''t exactly as the outside world portrayed her. At least when it came to their rtionship, she wasn''t as the rumors suggested. Jaxon noticed Yorick''s hesitation and grew anxious. "Rick," he urged. He couldn''t stand Ste''s attitude. In his eyes, she wasn''t worth a dime.


    Ignoring Jaxon, Yorick met Ste''s gaze. "If I give you the money, will you help Urs leave Portis City?"


    Sincest night, they had been racking their brains to find a way to get Urs out of the city. It was clear that Mr. Quinn hadid down a strict order against the Larkins and Quarries in regard to Urs''s situation. Right now, Ste held some influence within the Quinn family. Yorick didn''t want to antagonize her, especially since Urs couldn''t afford any further dys.


    Ste replied, "Give me the money first."


    Yorick shook his head. "No way."


    After being deceived by her before, he knew her tricks all too well. He had found out that she once used his credit card to buy expensive gifts for her entire studio. Each set of cosmetics cost over a thousand. Clearly, she wasn''t concerned about spending money that wasn''t hers.


    Ste shrugged. "Fine, don''t give it then."


    She didn''t really care. She was just toying with them.


    Jaxon interjected, "State your conditions for letting Urs leave the country."


    Jaxon was in no mood for games. He just wanted to resolve Urs''s issue as quickly as possible.


    Ste chuckled. "You won''t fork over one hundred thousand, and you want me to name a price? I''m afraid it might scare you."


    Jaxon and Yorick were both speechless. This woman was something else.


    Jaxon was fuming. "You''re crossing a line, Ste. I''m telling you, Urs must leave the country."


    Ste replied nonchntly, "Oh, I''m not the one in charge of that."


    Jaxon was taken aback. "Then who is?"


    Ste casually mentioned, "You''ll have to talk to my brother."


    That word "brother" hit Jaxon like a


    punch. It took him a moment to


    realize she was referring to Ronald,


    not him. For some reason,


    him


    feeling unsettled.


    Ste stepped closer, adjusting Jaxon''s tie with a casual air. "If L finds out you''ve been neglecting her and your son for Urs, do you really think she''d just let it slide? Do you think she''d take the kid and jump off the Larkin Group building?"


    Jaxon''s breath hitched at the mention of his secret. He grabbed Ste''s wrist tightly. "What do you know?"


    He''d gone to great lengths to keep his other family hidden from prying eyes.


    Ste''s smile was gentle but knowing. "You''ve got guts, juggling Sirena Patel while your son is already over two years old."


    Jaxon nced back at Yorick, who had heard everything.


    Yorick''s eyes were wide with shock.


    "You''ve been investigating me?" Jaxon demanded.


    Ste continued, "L doesn''t know, does she? You dote on this stepsister of yours more than your own son. Do you think any mother would stand for that?" Ste knew L''s temperament well. If she found out, it would be chaos.


    Jaxon felt trapped. He never wanted the world to know about the woman from the bar who had be his mistress and the mother of his child.


    Ste freed her wrist from his grip, rubbing the red mark he''d left. After dropping her bombshell, she turned to leave, uninterested in engaging further. "If you let L know, I''ll make sure you regret it," Jaxon threatened vehemently.


    At that moment, Ronald appeared at the door of the security room. His gaze was icy as he looked at Jaxon. "And just how do you n to do that?"


    Ste had already reached Ronald''s


    side. He pulled her closer, inspecting


    her wrist where the mark was still


    visible. His eyes, already cold, tumed dangerously sharp as he faced


    Jaxon. "Was this your doing?


    Jaxon, still simmering with anger, felt a chill under Ronald''s intense stare. He gulped, feeling like a wilting nt under a harsh sun.