It was quite a rare asion for Ronald to stay in Portis City for such an extended period. But then again, it was probably because of Ste.


    "Remember to put yourself first," Ronald reminded her with a firm tone.


    "Got it. Is Star with you?" Yvonne''s voice crackled through the phone.


    "She is."


    "Then you better keep a close eye on her. You know what Xander''s intentions are," Yvonne warned, her tone shifting to irritation at the mention of Xander. It was clear she was still upset about Xander''s betrayal towards the Quinn family. Ronald nced at the sweet and innocent Ste beside him, a fond smile ying on his lips. "She''s smarter than you think."


    Yvonne was taken aback. What did he mean by that?


    Before she could question further, Ronald had already ended the call.


    Ste looked up at him, feigning innocence. "Talking about Yvonne like that, aren''t you afraid she''lle after you?"


    "What trouble could she possibly cause?" Ronald scoffed.


    "You''re underestimating her," Ste teased, recalling how Xander had once underestimated her back in Patrina.


    Ronald''s gaze fell on the red mark on Ste''s neck. He gently lifted her chin to inspect it.


    "Did Xander do this?"


    Ste shrugged. "I hit him with a showerhead."


    Ronald paused, then let out a low chuckle. "You knew he wouldn''t really hurt you."


    Xander might have had a ruthless streak, but when it came to Ste, he always held back. Ronald knew it too well, and the thought of Xander''s lingering attachment hardened his expression.


    In one swift motion, he pulled Ste onto hisp.


    Ste let out a startled gasp. "What are you doing?"


    Up front, Finley had already shoved earbuds into his ears, wisely choosing to ignore whatever was happening behind him. He had learned his lesson about running his mouth.


    Ronald squeezed her waist gently. "I can''t let you out of my sight for a second."


    The moment she was out of his sight, Xander had whisked her away.


    Ronald leaned forward and told Idris, "Some ws need trimming."


    Idris, steady at the wheel, nodded. "Understood."


    Ste looked at Ronald, confused. "ws? What, are you talking about cutting off someone''s hand?"


    Before she could press him further, Ronald silenced her with a kiss- possessive, demanding, leaving no room for argument.


    Ste stiffened for a second, but when the partition in the car rose, blocking them from view, she realized resistance was pointless.


    Up front, Idris made a call to put Ronald''s orders into action. "Avery and Cable are to be taken out of the picture."


    "Understood."


    Finley''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He turned to Idris, who had just hung up. "Are you trying to push Xander over the edge?" Avery and Cable had been Xander''s right-hand men for years. Taking them out of the picture would send him into a frenzy.


    Idris tossed his phone onto the dashboard, his tone cold. "He crossed the line with Ste twice. Once more, and it''ll cost him dearly." Finley sucked in a sharp breath. "But Ste was promised to him by the old man and Mr. Schultz."


    As soon as the words escaped his mouth, Idris shot Finley a deadly re.


    Finley winced. "Ah... my big mouth."


    and


    A hand reached from the back and smacked him on the head. It was Ronald, who had somehow lowered the partition without Finley noticing, making him yelp.


    "I was wrong, I admit it!" Finley cried, rubbing his head.


    Seriously, why did his mouth never listen to his brain?


    If he was being honest, he had always thought Ronald had stolen Ste from Xander.


    But Xander? That guy was impossible to figure out. Ste and Ronald were clearly into each other, yet Xander insisted on making thingsplicated, like sheer persistence would somehow change her feelings.


    "Do you prefer the desert or the sea?" Ronald asked out of the blue.


    "Neither," Finley replied without hesitation. He had no desire to provoke Ronald after that exhausting swim in the sea earlier.


    Ste, her lips slightly swollen,


    red at Finley''s head. "The desert


    sounds good. So dry it might keep


    certain people from running their mouths."


    Finley turned in his seat. "Please, I''m begging you!"


    He barely managed to swallow the words "you little brat," recing them with a more respectful plea.