Ronald looked down, a yful smile in his eyes.


    Ste noticed and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Ronald chuckled, "Figured out how to use your brain now, have you?"


    Ste''s mouth twitched. What was that supposed to mean? Was he implying she was dumb before?


    "Hey, I''ll have you know I''ve been making a cool seven hundred grand a year without you," she retorted, a bit miffed.


    The moment she mentioned "seven hundred grand," the car fell into an eerie silence. It was the kind of quiet that felt off.


    Ste, feeling the tension, nudged. "What? You don''t believe me?"


    Ronald gave a lightugh. "I believe you."


    Three simple words, yet they carried a hidden meaning- especially when Idris coughed awkwardly, and even Finley, who usually couldn''t keep his mouth shut, stayed silent. Something was definitely off, Ste thought. "Are you hiding something from me?"


    Ronald replied, "Nothing at all."


    "Come on, there has to be," she insisted.


    Every time she mentioned her hefty earnings, Ronald never seemed to give her the praise she expected. Instead, there was always this... silence.


    Finley couldn''t hold it in anymore and burst intoughter. Hisughter was infectious, almost wickedly so.


    Ste was bewildered. "What? Is my seven hundred grand that funny?"


    Finleyughed even harder, clutching his stomach as he doubled over.


    Ste was not amused, "What''s wrong with you?"


    Was she not allowed to earn her keep?


    Finley caught his breath long enough to say, "I don''t know if I''m the crazy one, but you''re definitely a bit clueless."


    Ste fumed, wanting to smack that grin off his face.


    With Finley''s uncontrobleughter echoing in the car, Ste couldn''t hold it together any longer. She grabbed Ronald by the cor. "You''ve been hiding something, haven''t you?" "You''re actually asking him?" Finley continuedughing.


    Ste warned, "I''m seriously getting angry now."


    "Your seven hundred grand," Finley gasped betweenughs, "it''s really


    your Brother here making sure you


    didn''t starve out there. He let you win, big time."


    Ste was at a loss for words.


    "Did you seriously think you were making it on your own? Our little sheltered flower, thinking she could take on the storm!"


    Ste was stunned, her mind nk. She looked up at Ronald. "You knew all along where I was?"


    Ronald pulled her close, resting her head against his chest, but remained silent.


    Ste tried to pull away. "Talk to me."


    She was genuinely upset now. She had thought he had no idea where she was, that she''d managed to stay hidden. As soon as she swiped that card, he appeared. She thought he...


    en


    Ronald held her tighter. "I had things to deal with."


    "And the Larkin family? Did you know about them too?"


    Otherwise, how could he have funneled her so much money?


    Ronald shrugged. "I knew a bit, not much."


    Not much? How much was "not much"?


    Ste tried to pull back again, but Ronald wouldn''t let her, keeping her close.


    Idris finally spoke up from the front "Miss, as soon as you had that


    dust-up with the Larkin family''s\


    adopted daughter, he knew exactly where you were."


    Ste was floored.


    He knew back then?


    She looked up at Ronald, her eyes misty with unshed tears.


    Idris continued, "If he wasn''t worried you''d suspect something, he would''ve given you a few billion in design fees." Ste was speechless.


    Finley erupted intoughter again. "Yeah, yeah, I had to stop him from giving you a billion, afraid you''d starve otherwise."