When Ronald left, he practically dragged Finley out with him. Honestly, sometimes Ronald felt like stitching Finley''s mouth shut and sealing it with super glue.


    After lunch, Ste was waiting for Susanna in the cozy warmth of the sunroom. The sunroom was toasty, with three walls made of floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the fluffy white snow outside, and the tree branches wrapped in glistening icicles. The butler entered the sunroom. "Miss."


    "What''s up?"


    "There''s ady with the surname Lawson at the security gate asking to see you."


    Lawson? Could it be Cloudia Lawson?


    Ste raised an eyebrow. "Cloudia?"


    "Yes."


    The butler nodded.


    Ste''s eyebrows arched.


    She''s here now? I was obvious she was here because of Jaxon.


    Or maybe she came because of Jaxon and Urs.


    Ste dismissed it with a wave. "I''m not seeing her."


    She had changed her phone number, so no matter how many phones Cloudia borrowed, none would reach her. After changing her numberst night, only Tabitha and Susanna had it. And those two would never share it with anyone from the Larkin family. "Understood," said the butler.


    Hearing Ste''s refusal, the butler was about to call security when Ste''s phone rang. It was Susanna.


    "Star, Cloudia is literally on her knees in front of my car."


    Ste was taken aback. "What?"


    Susanna continued, "She kept crying and making a fuss. My goodness! Before this, she always said you were raised in the countryside and were shrew."


    "Looking at it now, who''s the real shrew, then?"


    Ste could already hear Cloudia''s wailing from the phone, a grating sound that made her eyes narrow.


    "Bring her in," Ste sighed.


    "Alright."


    Before hanging up, Ste heard Susanna disdainfully tell Cloudia, "Only a mother like you would have to beg to see her own daughter. Honestly, it''s your own doing."


    ...


    A short whileter, Susanna and Tabitha arrived with Cloudia in tow.


    Ste nced at Susanna and Tabitha. "Give me a moment." Susanna nodded. "Sure."


    The butler instructed the staff to lead them to the conservatory, not intending to leave himself. Ronald had strictly instructed him to be present if Ste met anyone from the Larkin family.


    Ronald was right; the Larkin family would stop at nothing to see Ste. The current situation showed no signs of them reflecting on their actions; instead, they seemed desperate.


    Ste sipped her coffee, not sparing Cloudia a nce.


    After Jaxon''s injury, Cloudia looked visibly older and more worn. She sat opposite her, seething at Ste''s indifference.


    Unable to bear the oppressive silence, she spoke first. "I know what happened."


    Ste remained nonchnt. "Oh? And?"


    Her casual response only fueled Cloudia''s anger. Her voice trembled with barely suppressed rage. "He''s your brother, no matter his mistakes. And you let an outsider hurt him? Do you even know? His hand is ruined, he might never regain its strength?"


    As she spoke, Cloudia''s voice rose, despite her earlier resolve to stay calm.


    Urs urgently needed medical resources, Jaxon was injured, theirpany was in turmoil, and her marriage to ise was on the rocks.


    And themon denominator in all this chaos? Ste.


    No matter what, Cloudia needed to talk to Ste- the only one who could calm the storm. But seeing Ste''s unbothered demeanor ignited Cloudia''s frustration beyond control. Her choice of the word ''outsider'' struck a nerve with Ste.


    With a loud thud, Ste mmed her cup onto the wooden table.


    Coffee sshed across the surface as her icy gaze locked onto Cloudia''s. "Are you here to lecture me, Mrs. Larkin? Or to interrogate me?"


    Her tone matched her frosty stare.


    Cloudia''s pent-up frustration finally erupted. "Ste, tell me, what do you want?"