As Ronald and Ste stepped off the ne, a weingmittee was already in ce.


    Idris approached them, respectfully opening the car door for Ronald. Ste climbed in first, followed by Ronald, who settled beside her. Finley took the front seat.


    As the car roared to life, Finley turned to Ronald and asked, "Should we head to the hotel first?"


    Ronald nced down. "Let''s go straight there."


    "Huh?" Finley blinked in surprise. He shot a quick nce at Ste sitting beside Ronald, wondering if she was really going along with them. Ronald had always shielded Ste from those kinds of scenes before. What had changed now?


    "Are you sure she won''t be scared speechless?" Finley quipped.


    Ste, puzzled, asked, "Where are we going?"


    Ronald met her eyes, and the memory of the time he had scared her so badly she fell seriously ill shed through his mind.


    In that instant, he hesitated.


    Before he could respond, Idris''s phone rang. He answered with his Bluetooth earpiece, "Hello."


    Whatever was said on the other end made Idris''s expression turn serious.


    "Got it," he replied tersely.


    He ended the call and turned to Ronald. "Sir, Xander is also here on Cyris Isle."


    Ste''s eyebrows shot up. "That heartless scoundrel?"


    Finley couldn''t hold back and burst into a fit of coughing, choking on his own amusement at Ste''s nickname for Xander.


    With Xander''s presence confirmed on Cyris Isle, Ronald was more determined than ever not to leave Ste alone at the hotel. Ignoring Finley''s reaction, Ronald gently ruffled Ste''s soft hair. "Are you scared, Star?"


    ne?


    Ste''s mind drifted back to the first time she witnessed Ronald''s ruthless side. It was a stormy day in Ferrond, and she had seen Ronald brutally dispatch someone, his usually gentle eyes filled with a bloodlust that terrified her. She had run away from home in fear that day.


    Later, when Ronald found her between the two cars and extended his hand to her, he gently said, "Come out."


    To be honest, at that moment, Ste


    was really scared. Back then, she


    vel


    was just a child, and seeing the brother she had always thought as kind turn so vicious was terrifying. For quite some time afterward, Ste had been obedient


    and docile, scared that Ronald might


    harm her.


    But years had passed since then. Looking into Ronald''s gentle eyes now, Ste understood the fierce, dangerous nature hidden beneath that calm exterior. She shook her head. "Not scared."


    Those simple words dissolved the hesitation in Ronald''s eyes. He pulled her into hisp, nting a tender kiss on her cheek. "That''s my brave girl."


    Ste leaned against him, feeling safe.


    "What''s Xander up to here? Does it have to do with what you''re handling?" she asked, concerned.


    Ste preferred Ronald and Xander to keep their distance from each other. Their stay in Patrina had been brief, but Ste was convinced Xander wasn''t as down-and-out as Finley made him out to be. Ronald replied, "It''s unclear right now. Idris will dig into it."


    "I''m telling you, Xander''s got serious clout in Patrina. You saw itst night, didn''t you?"


    "Yeah, I noticed."


    Ronald had indeed seen the signs. In the past few years, Xander had been lurking in Ratrina, and Ronald had suspected as much. After all these years, Ronald knew well enough


    what Xander had been up to back then.


    Ste added, "You should be on guard against him. It might be wise to check his international ties too."