After all, looking across the whole Ferrond, no one had ever dared to exploit Ronald.


    Back in the day, when Xander stirred up trouble over his dad''s illegitimate child, he had orchestrated a masterful n.


    Using Ronald''s influence, he''d brought the Schultz family to its knees. If the old man wouldn''t leave the family legacy to him, that illegitimate child wouldn''t get a piece of it either. Xander had yed his hand ruthlessly, which had infuriated Ronald.


    Now, facing Ronald again, Xander let out a mockingugh.


    "You really think you can take her away from my turf? Ronald, this is my territory!" Xander said coldly, enunciating each word.


    With the formidable bodyguards standing behind him, Xander exuded an intimidating presence. If he gave the order, Ronald would have a hard time getting Ste out of there. Ste clung to Ronald, her small hands gripping his shirt tightly.


    "Ronald," she called out anxiously.


    Their recent separation had clearly left her shaken, and now, faced with Xander''s threat, her fear grew. She dared not imagine the confrontation that might unfold.


    Ronald looked down at the frightened little rabbit in his arms, his lips pressed thin. He nced back at Xander.


    "Mervin Burton met with Eberle an hour ago."


    Xander''s face changed instantly at these words.


    Shawn''s expression turned serious as well.


    "What did you do?" Xander asked through gritted teeth.


    Ronald smirked, saying nothing his silence was louder than any retort.


    He carried Ste over to the car.


    Xander narrowed his eyes. "Ronald, you know it''s bad manners to covet your friend''s girl."


    "She''s not yours," Ronald said tly, pausing as his gaze locked with Xander''s through the car window.


    "And you''re certainly not..." A coldugh escaped him, sharp and mocking. "my friend, huh."


    Ste heard Xander''sment about "friend''s girl" and silently cursed him.


    Idris and a few other bodyguards kept a wary eye on Xander and his men as they retreated to the car, step by step.


    The engine growled to life, and with a sharp U-turn, the vehicle sped off into the night.


    Xander stood rooted to the spot, his narrowed eyes fixed on the shrinking taillights. Slowly, he pulled out his phone and made a call.


    Whatever was said on the other end only hardened his expression further.


    He ended the call abruptly and, in a fit of rage, smashed his phone against the ground, shattering it to pieces.


    Shawn asked, "What did Mervin Burton say?"


    Mervin was supposed to be a crucial partner, the first to agree to work with Xander after the Schultz family debacle. "Heh, why do you think he dares to go into danger alone?" Xander asked.


    "Did he hit the other''s stronghold?" Shawn guessed.


    "Not exactly, but it wasn''t pretty," Xander said, his tone tinged with frustration.


    Shawn pieced it together. "Did something change with Mervin Burton?"


    Xander replied, "I was trying to get that thing back."


    Shawn grimaced at the implication, recalling Ste''s cleverness earlier and her proximity to the situation.


    "Wait... why do I feel like we just shot ourselves in the foot?" Shawn muttered.


    He looked toward Xander, only to be met with an icy re.


    Without a word, Xander turned away, got into the car, and drove off,


    leaving Shawn standing there ne


    muttering to himself.


    still


    He wasn''t wrong. Trying to snatch Ste had always been a risky move.


    Xander kept insisting it was about reiming that thing. But who knew if it was the thing that mattered or if he just wanted to see Ste himself?


    Because the moment Xander got word that Ste and Ronald were together, he had left Patrina immediately.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the other car, Ronald held Ste close, her small frame perched on hisp.


    For once, she didn''t resist. She


    stayed nestled against him, her little hands clutching his shirt like frightened kitten.


    Even after they boarded the ne, Ste refused to leave his side.


    Ronald gently held her soft hand. "It''s okay now."


    That was when Ste broke. Her tears came fast and uncontrobly as she clung to him, sobbing against his chest.


    Ronald tried to pry her hands from his shirt, but she only wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tighter.


    "I thought Xander was going to tear us apart again. I thought I''d never see you again," she wailed.