"Hey, Tabitha," Ste called out, "Did you bring the documents?"


    Tabitha nodded. "Yep, got them right here." She handed the papers to Ste, who skimmed through them before passing them to Susanna.


    "So, you''re really heading back to Ferrond?" Susanna asked, her voice tinged with reluctance.


    Ste nodded. "Yeah, it''s about time."


    Whether Ronald came to Portis City or not, Ste nned to go back anyway. For the past two years, she had been keeping an eye on developments in Ferrond, constantly searching for a chance to go back. She hadn''t expected Ronald to make the first move.


    Tabitha''s eyes widened. "Boss, you''re leaving? What about the studio?"


    She was about to lose her job? Oh no, that couldn''t happen. This job was so stable, and the benefits were great.


    Ste reassured her. "I''ve already found someone to take over."


    Tabitha nced at Susanna.


    "Don''t worry," Susanna chimed in, "You''ll have the same terms as before. Just keep doing your best."


    Tabitha looked at Ste, her eyes slightly red. She was leaving, yet she still paved the way for them. Where could they ever find another boss as good as her?


    Ste chuckled softly. "Nothingsts forever, but at least we cherished our time together."


    As they were signing the paperwork, Tabitha''s phone rang. She stepped out to take the call, leaving Susanna and Ste alone.


    Susanna suddenly noticed something on Ste''s neck. "What''s that mark?"


    Ste instinctively pulled her sweater cor up. "Huh?"


    "Don''t bother hiding it; I already saw it," Susanna teased with a knowing smirk.


    Ste blushed, conceding, "Okay, okay, you got me."


    Susanna raised an eyebrow. "So, you two are a thing now?"


    Ste nodded, not hiding anything from Susanna. "Yeah, we are."


    Susanna''s eyes held a hint of worry. "Do you know what''s going on over in Ferrond?" "He''ll keep me safe," Ste replied confidently. "Ronald always has my back."


    "You''ve got a lot of faith in him," Susanna remarked, noting the certainty in Ste''s voice. "It''s a trust built over a lifetime," Ste exined.


    Susanna nodded. "Well, I''ll keep the studio running for you, just in case you ever need it."


    If going back to Ferrond worked out well, that''d be the best oue. But if it didn''t, then this was still Ste''s fallback n.


    "I''m just looking out for you, like any friend would."


    A wave of gratitude washed over Ste. "Thank you, Susanna."


    "Don''t get all mushy on me," Susannaughed. "I''m just like Tabitha this country girl feeling sorry for the princess getting wronged."


    At that time, Susanna was really worried that the Larkin family might have done something to Ste But in the end, she had a big shot backing her up.


    Ste yfully scolded, "Stop it, or your mom will pull your ear again."


    Susanna had been there for two hours before leaving with Tabitha.


    Just as they were about to step out, Ronald returned. Apanying him were two unfamiliar men, both exuding an extraordinary presence.


    Though Susanna had seen her fair


    share of bigwigs, she still felt a little


    intimidated by Ronald and his


    undeniable.


    As they tried to slip past unnoticed, Susanna''s foot hit a patch of ice, and she slipped with a yelp, grabbing onto whatever she could.


    Before she knew it, she was on the ground with a thud, the weight of another body on top of her.


    "Ugh," she groaned.


    Finley nced at the scene, baffled. "What just happened?"


    Hull, who had fallen with Susanna, quickly tried to lift himself off her with Finley''s help. But then he noticed something...


    Susanna''s hand was gripping his belt buckle.


    Her eyes widened in horror. "Oh my gosh, I''m so sorry! I didn''t mean to!"


    "Mind letting go?" Hull gritted his teeth, a dangerous glint in his eyes.