"Ronald, I was really upset before," Ste confessed, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and vulnerability. Holding onto those feelings for years had been tough. Really tough.


    But now, with just a few words from him, everything seemed to fall into ce.


    Ronald raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile ying on his lips. "Oh? What were you upset about before?" Ste''s eyes welled up, tears spilling over as she yfully pinched his side. "You''re teasing me again."


    Before, he had pretended to be oblivious to her feelings, and now he was doing it again.


    "You knew all along, didn''t you? Tell me, did you always know how I felt?"


    He caught her mischievous hand, chuckling softly. "How old were you back then, huh?"


    She froze, her cheeks flushing crimson. She had been just a young girl, lost in the whirlwind of confusing teenage emotions. Who could predict how long a girl''s curiosity mightst? Ronald cupped her face tenderly, brushing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "You''ve only just grown up, and now you''re questioning me about the past?"


    She huffed, her protest half-hearted.


    In their yful struggle, the pink box slipped from Ronald''s grip and ttered to the floor.


    Ste nced at it. "You dropped it."


    Ronald chuckled. "Do you want me to use it?"


    Her face turned impossibly red, heat radiating off her cheeks. "I mean... Is that really something to ask so casually?"


    Mumbling incoherently, she snuggled into his chest, seeking refuge in his embrace.


    Just then, Idris entered the room, stopping abruptly as his eyesnded on the pair, still entwined, with the small box lying conspicuously on the floor beside them.


    Idris''s mind went nk for a moment before he quickly retreated down another hallway.


    Ste pinched Ronald''s side. "Idris."


    Ronald turned to see Idris''s retreating figure. "See? No need to hide."


    Ste protested, "But not in front of everyone. There were so many eyes around."


    Ronald chuckled, lifting Ste effortlessly into his arms and carrying her to their room.


    As he leaned in, Ste pushed him yfully. "But that is still out there."


    "That can''t be used," Ronald murmured.


    "What?" Ste asked, puzzled.


    "The size is wrong," he grinned mischievously.


    Ste''s face turned a deeper shade


    of red,


    d, and she tried to bury herself covers, but Ronald wasn''t


    t to let her escape.  en..


    He gently held her face, his voice a soft whisper. "Does it still hurt?"


    "Not so much today," Ste admitted, grateful for the medication Finley had provided.


    Ronaldughed softly.


    Seeing his amusement, Ste quickly added, "But it''s still a wound, you know."


    "Do you not want to?" Ronald teased.


    Ste groaned, "You sound just like Finley with his bluntness."


    She was on the brink of tears from embarrassment.


    Ronald''sughter deepened, and he kissed her again. "Don''t worry, not now."


    Ste shot him a mock re, her fingers twitching as if ready to pinch him again. Before she could follow through, the sharp trill of Ronald''s phone cut through the moment.


    "The phone," she pointed out.


    Ronald shrugged. "Ignore it."


    "You should answer it," Ste urged, hoping for a brief reprieve.


    Ronald got up, nced at the caller ID, and answered.


    The moment he did, Mrs. Lugar''s stern voice boomed through the line. "You little rascal." Both Ronald and Ste fell silent.


    Mrs. Lugar''s voice was sharp with concern. Tell me, Ronald, is Star with you because she wants to be? Or did you force her into this?