Finley exhaled in disbelief. Don''t want any perks, huh?


    Bernie was notorious on Cyris Isle for his greed-those who came to negotiate with him often left feeling squeezed dry.


    With one man reluctant to give an inch and the other hungry for more, Finley wondered what could possibly result from such an encounter between Bernie and Ronald.


    Seeing the pistol casually ced in front of Ronald''s wine ss, Finley couldn''t help but think to himself, "That''s Ronald for you- never losing an ounce, no matter the situation."


    "Well, if that''s the case, we really have nothing more to discuss."


    With that said, Bernie pushed the beautiful woman on hisp aside and stormed off in a huff. The entourage of women followed suit.


    At the door, Bernie paused and cast a nce back at Ronald. "You know, Mr. Quinn, you''re not the only one interested in that item. You might want to give it some serious thought. A man''s greatest mistake is letting a woman ruin important affairs. As the head of the Lugar family, surely you understand that."


    Thinking himself a good decade older than Ronald, Bernie spoke in a patronizing tone.


    Ronald shot him a cold, unimpressed look.


    Their eyes shed fiercely in the air, until Bernie let out a derisiveugh and left with his entourage.


    Soon enough, only Ronald''s people remained.


    Ste looked at him. "Is that thing really important?"


    Ronald reached out and gently ruffled her soft hair.


    "If I''d known, I wouldn''t havee. I would''ve just stayed sleeping on the ne. Or, you know, you could tell me what it is, and I''ll help you steal it back." Finley, standing nearby, let out a loud chuckle.


    He couldn''t help butugh at Ste''s suggestion. "What are you nning to use to steal it? Your height advantage?"


    Ste froze. Could this man not keep quiet for once?


    Still chuckling, Finley waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, Xander''s also on Cyris Isle. If you were sleeping on the ne, what if someone stole you away?"


    Both Idris and Ste fell silent. Ah, Finley, always managing to hit exactly where it hurts.


    Ronald shot a nce at Finley, but this time he didn''t kick him. Instead, he just gave him a warning look-partly because he was sitting too far away to make it worth the effort to get up.


    After a brief moment, Ronald turned his attention back to Idris standing behind him. "Go toss them all overboard."


    Idris nodded. "Yes."


    Ste blinked in surprise. "Oh? This yacht is yours?"


    Earlier, when she was talking to Susanna, she''d thought the yacht looked familiar. But facing Bernie, who had strutted around as if he owned the ce, she''d assumed it was his turf.


    en


    Ronald''s lips curled into a smile, the earlier displeasure on his face dissipating. "It''s yours."


    Ste was confused.


    Hers?


    Wait a minute... So Bernie had been on her turf, trying to hit on her?


    Ste was stunned.


    "Yeah, tossing them overboard is definitely the right call."


    If she hadn''t thought that "thing" might be important to Ronald, she might have dealt with that creep herself.


    Idris went off to arrange the tossing.


    Finley looked at Ronald, clearly shocked. "How much of what you''ve bought over the years is in her name?" Hearing that, Ste turned to Ronald, her curiosity piqued.


    Portis City''s Mist Bay had been a birthday gift from him. And this yacht...when had he gotten that for her? Ronald nced down at Ste. "I don''t know."


    He genuinely didn''t know. In truth, he''d even forgotten when he''d started the habit-putting everything he bought under her name


    Finley was at a loss for words.


    So Ste didn''t even know her own worth?


    "Aren''t you worried she might change her mind? Run off with everything?"


    Both Ronald and Ste fell silent. They turned to re at Finley, their eyes sharp enough to cut steel, For


    a moment, it seemed as though they might tear him apart on the spot.