Now, Avery and Cable were out of the picture too.


    Ronald was truly ruthless. He used to cause a ruckus over Ste; now, he''s quietly losing his mind for her.


    ...


    The group quickly made their way back to the airport. Hull had already arrived and sessfully rendezvoused with Ronald.


    Ronald was on a call, and whatever was said on the other end made his face harden. He hung up and turned to Hull. "You need to head back to Ferrond right away."


    Hull raised an eyebrow. "Something up?"


    Ronald replied, "Doyne''s been acting sketchy. They''ve smuggled in some weapons from Cyris Isle, and it''s already in Ferrond."


    A sharp glint shed in Hull''s eyes. Standing up, his tall frame exuded a silent intimidation, especially with the tattoo peeking from his shirt cor, marking him as someone not to be trifled with. Handsome as hell, but just as dangerous. Though he had a thing for women with hourss figures, you''d never catch him being soft for any of them.


    No wonder Susie had been so terrified back then.


    With that kind of presence, who wouldn''t be?


    Hull adjusted his suit. "I''ll go and seize the whole lot."


    If they''re not ying nice, he''ll make sure they do.


    Ronald shared the sentiment but threw in a token, "Try not to go full pirate on them."


    Ste rolled her eyes. Finley couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Telling him not to go full pirate while ordering a raid? Sounded a bit fake, didn''t it?


    Barely had Hull left when Ste got a call from Susanna.


    As soon as she picked up, Ste asked, "Did L kick Urs out of the Larkin family?"


    With Susanna calling, Ste''s first thought was always gossip-either about the Quarry family or the Larkin family.


    But this time, Ste was off the mark.


    Susanna''s voice came through the line, full of woe. "Neither."


    "Why so down? Still hung up on your first kiss?"


    When Ste said "first kiss," she lowered her voice to a whisper.


    "I''m telling you, just forget about it."


    Knowing Susanna, if she kept


    dwelling on it, she''d definitely stirup some drama. But considering Hull''s intimidating presence, it was best not to tangle with him. The guy was trouble incarnate.


    Susanna sighed. "I can''t even think about that right now."


    "So, what''s up?"


    "I''m heading to Ferrond soon. Are you back yet?"


    Ste was caught off guard. "Huh?"


    "My mom, for some unknown reason, is insisting I fly to Ferrond immediately. Didn''t even let me pack. I''m already on the ne. Are you in Ferrond? I''d feel a lot better if you were."


    Even though Susanna had traveled abroad before, she didn''t like being alone in unfamiliar ces. Having Ste around would definitely ease her nerves.


    Ste assured her, "I''ll be back in two or three days. Did something happen with your mom?"


    Ste hadn''t met Lacey many times, but she really liked her. Whenever Susanna mentioned her troubles, Lacey always lent a hand.


    Susanna confessed, "I have no idea. I''ll find out once I get to Ferrond."


    The urgency was palpable. She hadn''t even managed a proper conversation, so how could she know what was going on?


    Ste asked, "You''re already on the ne?"


    "Yeah! I gotta go; they''re telling us to turn off our phones. I''ll call you when I get there."


    With that, Susanna hung up.


    Ste sighed and nced at Ronald.


    Ronald mused, "Given the timing, there''s a good chance they''ll run into each other."


    He meant Susanna and Hull.


    Ste''s eyes widened in realization.


    Could it be that these two have some inexplicable connection?