The car had barely hit the airport highway when Susanna''s phone started buzzing. She nced at the screen and saw it was an unfamiliar number. Assuming it was the airport courier, she answered nonchntly, "Hello?"


    "It''s me," came the voice of Yorick on the other end.


    Susanna sighed inwardly. Was he serious? Without a second thought, she was ready to hang up.


    But Yorick spoke again, "You can reach Ste, right?"


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" she snapped back.


    Was he expecting her to speak on Urs''s behalf again? Did these people think she, Susanna, was some kind of pushover?


    Yorick''s voice carried a hint of desperation through the line. "Is sheing back to Portis City? Or will she ever?"


    "I don''t know," Susanna replied curtly. Even if she did, she wouldn''t tell him.


    "If she doese back, please tell her I want to see her," Yorick pleaded.


    Susanna scoffed, "Yorick, who do you think you are? You want to see her? You''re nowhere near important enough for that now."


    Ste was practically untouchable these days, cherished by both the Lugar and Quinn families. Yorick didn''t stand a chance anymore.


    The line went silent, save for Yorick''s heavy, strained breathing. Susanna''s words had struck him where it hurt, shattering whatever illusions of superiority he''d clung to. For the first time, he seemed to realize he had never been worthy. Susanna briefly wondered what had transpired at the Larkin family gathering today. But then again, it wasn''t her business, and Ste probably had no interest in Yorick''s drama anymore.


    Without another word, she ended the call.


    It wasn''t until she reached the airport that Susanna started to ponder. Yorick''s tone had seemed a bit... mncholic? Maybe his desire to see Ste wasn''t about Urs at all. What was it then? Could it be that this jerk was having second thoughts? Even if he was, it was toote for him now.


    "Ah, my dear sweet lord, what an idiot," she muttered to herself.


    ...


    Meanwhile, on the ne, Ronald rested his arm casually on the back of Ste''s seat, creating a protective barrier around her. From across the aisle, Finley watched with a growing sense of difort.


    Ronald was fiercely protective; he''d snap at anyone who dared joke about Ste.


    "I didn''t even say anything bad!" Finley protested, feeling unjustly used.


    Ronald shot him a cold nce, and Finley gulped, sensing the tension.


    Ste, oblivious—or maybe just pretending to be-focused solely on her meal, entirely ignoring Finley.


    Hull sipped his wine while observing the scene with mild amusement.


    Ronald watched Ste eat with a fond smile. "Take it easy, no one''s going to steal your food."


    Her cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk''s with all the food she''d stuffed in.


    Seeing her like this stirred something in Ronald, a thought that flickered in his mind before he dismissed it immediately.


    Whatever it was, he knew Ste wouldn''t go along with it.


    Ste had already polished off a steak, a te of spaghetti, and a bowl of corn chowder, but her appetite showed no signs of waning. Her eyes drifted to the untouch ice cream sitting in front of Ronald.


    Finley couldn''t hold it in any longer. "Did Xander starve you or something?"


    "Mmph!" Ste made a noise, too busy chewing to respond.


    Finley looked at Ronald, perplexed. Was he wrong again for just asking if she was hungry?


    Hull drained his ss of red wine in one go and nced at Finley, hisz gaze tinged with sympathy for hisck of tact. "Why bring up Xander? oftact.


    Just ask what you want to ask."


    "Well, wasn''t Star practically starved by Xander? Oh, by the way, Star, is Xander broke now?"


    So broke he couldn''t even afford food? Otherwise, how could Ste end up looking so famished?


    Ste paused, recalling the images of Xander''svish homes.


    "If you''re looking for trouble, don''t drag me into it, thanks." She rolled her eyes at Finley''s ridiculousness.


    "I''m just curious, okay? He''s been


    dodging your brother''s attempts to


    cost a fortune," Finley said, oblivious to the pain he was causing


    m for years. That must''ve


    Ste''s head was beginning to throb. She buried her face in her hands, pretending she hadn''t heard anything.


    Some people never learn, she thought, shaking her head.


    Finley''s bruises must have healed, judging by his reckless banter.