Ste let out a sarcasticugh. "Oh, so in your mind, I''m always the one at fault, right? I''m the annoying one, huh?"


    Cloudia hesitated, "I..."


    Hearing Ste''s words made her chest tighten with frustration.


    "I''ve always wanted what''s best for everyone. Why do you have to treat me like this? I''ve been trying so hard to keep the peace between you all.


    Urs can''t get the treatment she needs, your brother has lost the use of both hands, and thepany is on the brink of bankruptcy. Is this the price I pay for bringing you back? Ste, tell me, what more do you want from us?" Even now, Cloudia acted as if it were all her fault.


    Ste let out a disdainful snort. "Wasn''t the one who paid the price me? I''ve nearly been killed by you all more than once."


    There was the incident with Urs, and then Jaxon had tried three times to harm her, only stopping after she broke his hand on the third attempt.


    "I''m not particrly skilled, except in one thing: if someone hurts me, I make sure to even the score. If you truly care about Urs and Jaxon, make sure they steer clear of me. No more pretending to be family. We weren''t close to begin with, and their scheming just ends with me beating them up, yet somehow, I''m still the one in the wrong."


    Ste''s summary of the Larkin family was as clear as day.


    Every time Urs approached her, it seemed friendly, but it was always a calcted move. Even after getting beaten up multiple times, she never seemed to learn.


    "You, you..." Cloudia stammered, unable to form a coherent thought.


    Ste lost all patience, hanging up the phone.


    With the Larkin family, the scales had tipped back to bnce for the most part. But once she was back in Ferrond, they''d surely find all sorts of excuses to reach out to her. Ste had no patience left for them.


    She found Idris.


    Facing Idris, whose icy gaze


    rem the time he had pulled


    reminded her so much of Ronald''s,


    Ste


    a gun-just the thought still sent a shiver down her spine.


    When Idris saw it was Ste, the coldness in his eyes vanished instantly, and he greeted her respectfully, "Miss."


    Ste asked, "Can you do me a favor and swap out my phone number?"


    She realized she needed a new number. The Larkins had managed to call her from countless different phones. Despite blocking numbers, the problem persisted.


    Ste just wanted to block thempletely, to send them off into somemunication ck hole.


    When Ronald walked in, he saw Ste asking Idris, who was there to pick up some documents, to help change her phone. "Grab her a new phone from the study," Ronald instructed.


    Seeing Ronald, Ste released Idris and walked over to him. "Ronald."


    Ronald reached out, tousling her soft hair, and pulled her into a warm hug with his long arm.


    "Finally thought to change your number?" His deep, maic voice carried a teasing note that made Ste''s heart skip a beat. She nodded quickly. "It''s not that I just thought of it. I''ve been busy with work stuff."


    After all, this phone had been her


    work phone. Now that she was transferring all her work, she


    swnovel


    wouldn''t need this number anymore.


    Ronald chuckled softly. "Right, you''re a boss now."


    "Exactly," Ste replied with pride. "I made seven hundred thousandst year."


    Mentioning that made Idris raise an eyebrow.


    His boss was clearly ying along with her as if she were a kitten, and it seemed he had no intention of stopping anytime soon.