Ste snorted. "Why isn''t it broken? It should''ve been."


    Shawn stammered, "Y-you... it wasn''t enough that you nearly broke my leg, now you''re trying to get Xander killed? If your brother finds out you''re in his hands, it''s over for all of us." Ste rolled her eyes. "It''s not like I walked into his hands willingly. If anyone''s to me, it''s him."


    Trying to manipte her? Not a chance.


    Shawn was seething, seeing stars from his rage.


    Xander stepped forward, grabbed Shawn by the cor, and dragged him to the door, tossing him out with a loud bang.


    The door mmed shut, leaving only Ste and Xander in the room.


    Xander took long strides toward her, his eyes catching the increasingly visible red marks on her neck. In an instant, his demeanor turned dangerous. His eyes narrowed slightly. "I told you before, didn''t I? You''re my fiancée," Xander said.


    Ste scoffed. "Just because you say so? What kind of nerve does it take to say something like that without even considering the word ''consent"?"


    "You..." Xander was infuriated, grabbing her and dragging her towards the bathroom.


    "What are you doing? Let go of me, you jerk!" Ste yelled, hitting and wing at him in anger.


    Xander tossed her into the bathtub, aimed the showerhead at her, and reached for the faucet.


    "You wouldn''t dare, Xander!"


    Xander chuckled. "Dare to threaten me, huh? You''ve got guts."


    With that, he turned on the water, soaking Ste as he roughly scrubbed at the marks on her neck with his thumb.


    Ste was livid. In a desperate move, she grabbed the showerhead from him and swung it at Xander''s head with all her might.


    Xander felt a sharp ''ng'' as it struck his skull, the pain reverberating through his head.


    Gritting his teeth, he spat, "You crazy woman..."


    This woman must have eaten too much jpe?o growing up- she was fiery enough to give anyone a run for their money.


    Xander, his head ringing, lunged to grab Ste again. But Ste wasn''t one to back down. The two of them soon found themselves grappling in the bathroom. Suddenly, the buzzing of Ste''s phone broke through the chaos.


    Ste locked eyes with Xander''s piercing gaze, defensively clutching the phone to her chest. She shot him a fierce re.


    Xander demanded, "Who''s calling?"


    "None of your business!" Ste snapped.


    Xander was momentarily speechless. This girl really had no fear! Had he been too gentle, too amodating when they were back in Ferrond?


    He decided it was time she saw his tougher side.


    Xander moved forward, pulling her wet form into his arms. Instantly, Ste went wild, struggling against him.


    "Let me go, you bastard! Let go!"


    In the next moment, Xander snatched her phone from her grip.


    It was a video call from Ronald.


    Xander nced at Ste before answering the call, positioning his face close to the screen.


    "Hey, Ronald."


    The line went silent for a moment.


    Then Ronald''s voice came through, cold and sharp. "Where''s Star?"


    Xander flipped the camera, revealing Ste, aked and disheveled, with


    the barrel of his gun resting against her forehead.


    Ste reached to swat it away, but Xander shot her a warning look.


    When Ronald saw Ste on the screen, wet and bedraggled, the tension in his voice escted.


    "What did you do to her?"


    The deadly warning in Ronald''s tone was all aimed at Xander.


    Xander chuckled. "Ronald, I want what''s mine."


    "Alright."


    Ste blinked in disbelief.


    Xander was equally surprised. This was too easy. It seemed this girl really was important to Ronald now.


    His gaze lingered on the marks on Ste''s neck. He spoke again, his tone now icy. "When can I expect it?"


    "It''s with Bernie. Haven''t you already heard?"


    Ste fused. Didn''t Lancelot


    steal the thing from Ronald? Home??


    had it be something Xander was seeking?


    Could it be that this was what Xander had been asking Ronald


    foet


    all along? Ste was starting to get a


    little curious about what it was.


    Xander pressed on, "Then I''ll need you to retrieve it for me, Ronald. Until then, I''ll take good care of Star."


    He emphasized his point by nudging the gun against Ste''s head.


    Ronald''s voice turned even more dangerous. "Move that gun away from her head. This is yourst warning."


    "Ronald, it seems you still don''t realize the upper hand isn''t yours in this chase."


    Xander smirked, leaning back.


    Ronald''s voice came through, "Is that so?"


    The screen shifted, revealing Shawn, crying and pleading for help.


    "Help me! Help me!"


    Xander''s eyes widened in shock.


    How did that useless guy end up in Ronald''s hands so quickly?