"What happens after I do that?" Tegan was curious about how Ste nned to deal with Urs.


    Ste said, "Well, of course, we hammer out some terms."


    Tegan was surprised. Terms?


    "Asking for money?"


    Ste uttered, "Come on, you''re not running a charity here. You make demands, and you make them sky-high."


    "But the Larkin family doesn''t have that kind of money right now, do they?"


    Tegan''d heard about the mess the Larkin family was in. It was all a big jumble of chaos. In a word, no one living in the Larkin family mansion could cough up half a million just like that. Ste said, "I know."


    "Huh? Then why..."


    "Precisely because they''re broke, you push them to make outrageous offers."


    Realization dawned on Tegan.


    Oh... So that was it. Pushing them over the edge, huh? To give them a glimmer of hope, only to shove them into the abyss.


    "Did you pick up this trick from Susie? Only Susanna would delight in such mischief."


    Not only would she enjoy the spectacle, but she could alsoe up with all sorts of devilish schemes.


    Ste uttered, "Just go on, do your thing."


    "Alright, I''ll go. I''ll go full throttle at every turn."


    Tegan hung up the phone.


    As for Urs, never mind her feud with Ste - it wasn''t like she and Tegan were on good terms either.


    Back when Urs wasn''t sure about Yorick''s feelings, she cast a wide. And when someone like her casts a wide, she doesn''t waste it on the unworthy.


    Naturally, Uriah Horner was caught in that too, leading to a grudge with Tegan.


    There were so many debutantes in Portis City who''d love to crush her, but thanks to the Larkin family''s protection, no one could touch her.


    But now? She fell right into Ste''s hands and even had toe begging to Tegan.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Ronald looked down at.


    Meaning in her triumphant


    swnowl


    expression. "Feeling pleased, are we?


    "Of course, you wouldn''t get it."


    Urs getting hereuppance brought joy to countless people in Portis City, not just her.


    Ronald chuckled softly. "Why not just shoot her at once? Why the hassle?"


    Ste shot him a look. "With her health right now, would it even make a difference?"


    Sending her a death sentence by shooting would be a waste of ammunition. Ronald gently ruffled her soft hair, letting her do as she pleased.


    After all, as she said, the state the Larkin family was in didn''t really require any intervention. They were already falling apart, each person living in their own torment. Whether they intervened or not, it hardly mattered.


    Suddenly, Ste wrapped her arms around Ronald''s. "Do you think I''m being bad?"


    Ronald raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"


    "Back in Ferrond, I wasn''t like this."


    Ronald nodded. Indeed, back when she was with him, she was carefree, kind-hearted, and pure.


    But ever since the Quinn family''s troubles, and Xander forced her to leave Ferrond, she''d changed. The innocence was gone, reced by a fierce determination to hold grudges.


    en


    Ronald affectionately pinched her little nose. "You''re doing just fine."


    Instantly, Ste felt warmth bubbling inside her.


    She recalled snippets of her time with the Larkin family.


    "Why''d you go quiet, hmm?"


    Ste replied, "Just thinking, no matter how I am, in your eyes, I''m always okay."


    Ronald hummed in agreement.


    Ste beamed, wrapping her arms around Ronald''s neck and nting a quick kiss on his cheek.