Idris hurried out of the lounge.


    Ronald gently patted Ste''s back,forting her like a child. "There, there, it''s all over now. I''ve also punished Harvey, okay?"


    "Harvey? Who''s Harvey?"


    She didn''t recognize the name.


    Ronald exined, "He''s in charge of security at Mist Bay."


    Ste was taken aback. "Oh..."


    "No, really, it''s Xander who''s the tricky one. You don''t have to be so hard on your own people, do you? Xander, with his conniving ways, must have had a n all along."


    Ronald chuckled. Even though they had only been apart for a short while, Ste was still shaken. But she had tried desperately to reach Ronald, fearing another long separation like before. Ronald leaned down and kissed her gently. Ste traced her finger along his palm. "Did you hear what I said?"


    "Yeah." He responded softly, pulling her closer as the room seemed to grow warmer.


    Just as Ronald was about to lose himself in the moment, a knock came at the door. "Sir."


    The temperature in the room seemed to plummet instantly.


    Startled, Ste, like a startled rabbit, immediately nestled closer into Ronald''s arms. Ronald didn''t look too pleased either.


    "What''s up?"


    Idris replied, "There''s a situation."


    Ronald frowned and nced at Ste in his arms.


    The mention of a "situation" made Ste tense. What could possibly be happening in a ce like Patrina? Could Xander be up to something again?


    Ronald gently ced her on the small couch. "Why don''t you take a nap? Or maybe a shower?"


    After traveling non-stop for over a day, Ste had been on edge the whole time.


    But when Ronald suggested a shower, she paused for a moment, her face turning a shade of pink she couldn''t hide.


    Ronald stood up and left the room.


    Ste nced down at her clothes. She had never felt so disheveled. The escape through the woods had left her attire in tatters.


    She hurried to the lounge bathroom to freshen up.


    The "situation" Idris had mentioned still remained a mystery, but for now, she pushed it aside.


    By the time Ste emerged from the bathroom, Ronald had already returned.


    She had thought he''d be dyed, so she had hurried. Assuming he wasn''t back yet, she walked out as she was.


    The moment she saw Ronald, Ste froze.


    Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she instinctively wanted to dart back.


    Ronald was taken aback for a second before a sly smile crept onto his face. "Where do you think you''re going? Come here."


    Ste, feeling vulnerable, quickly wrapped herself in two towels, covering every inch she could.


    Ronald couldn''t help but smile at the sight of her pale, slender legs and the way her toes had turned a rosy pink from the warmth of the shower.


    "If I really wanted to do something, do you think you could hide, Star?"


    Clutching the towels as though they were her only shield, Ste stammered, "I''m still hurt, you know. And it''s all your fault."


    Ronald raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Are you nning to use that as an excuse forever?"


    He took two steps forward, pulling her into his arms.


    Ste protested, "No, I mean, it still hurts. I can''t..."


    Flustered, her words tumbled out incoherently. "This is Patrina. We''re still on Xander''s turf. We should get


    out of here before that get


    causes more trouble."


    Scoundrel? So that''s what she thought of Xander?


    Ronald''s grin widened. "Is that really how you see him?"


    Ste huffed, "He''s no good."


    If it wasn''t for him, she and Ronald wouldn''t have been separated for so long. That jerk had taken advantage of the Quinn family''s turmoil to kick Ronald while he was down.


    Ronald pulled her into his arms, and she didn''t know when, but he had a towel in his hand, carefully drying her hair.


    Ste rxed into his embrace,


    feeling asfortable as she did


    when she was little, back when


    Ronald would dry her hair and she''d


    sit still, trusting himpletely.