This was what it truly meant to love someone, to care for someone, to cherish someone. It didn''t matter what they became. Just as Ste was about to settle back into her seat, Ronald pulled her in for a deeper kiss.


    Ste was taken aback. Turns out, you can''t just mess with a lion.


    In the front, Idris wisely raised the divider. Ste squirmed in Ronald''s embrace, feeling a wave of fear wash over her.


    "Let''s not do it today."


    If they kept with it, she worried he might lose control.


    Her fear was evident to him, and Ronald chuckled softly as he released her. "I wouldn''t dream of eating you up right now."


    Ste''s mind buzzed, and her cheeks flushed a bright red.


    With his forehead against hers, he asked, "Were you thinking about the Larkin family?"


    Ste replied, "Not intentionally."


    That crowd didn''t deserve the effort of intentional thought. But the past few years had left some scars, memories that lingered. "Ronald, will you always be on my side?" she asked.


    "On your side?"


    "Yeah, like if I did something to hurt Yvonne, would you still stand by me?"


    Ronald''s grip tightened at her words, understanding the reason behind her question.


    The Larkins had always favored their adopted daughter. And in the Quinn family, wasn''t Ste in the same position as Urs?


    Ronald withdrew a little, putting some space between them, and yfully flicked her forehead. Ste winced, rubbing the spot. "Ouch."


    Her eyes were wide and innocent, like a doe''s, making Ronald''s heart skip a beat as he thought, "Little enchantress. How could any man resist such gaze?"


    "Do you really think the Quinn family is blind or incapable of raising you to be like Urs?"


    Ste paused.


    He was right. Thinking back, Ronald and their mother had never shown favoritism between her and Yvonne. They were truly doted on, but when wrong, they were equally reprimanded. Even with all the love and care, real mistakes were never swept under the rug. Ste understood now. She hugged Ronald''s lean waist, snuggling into him. "Why are people so different?"


    The Larkins had almost unconditionally supported Urs these past two years.


    Those who knew called it love because Urs was their adopted daughter. Others might have thought Urs had some hold over them.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Tegan arrived at the Larkin household.


    L was lounging in the living room, munching on peanuts like she owned the ce, much to Cloudia''s annoyance.


    A stranger had suddenly appeared in her home, trying to overshadow her role as thedy of the house. How could she not be upset?


    Knowing that Urs''s condition had worsened since she was hit by L, Cloudia felt even more exasperated.


    Seeing the peanut shells scattered everywhere, if not for Tegan''s presence, Cloudia would have given L a piece of her mind. "Ms. James, this way please," Cloudia said, tearing her gaze away from L.


    If she looked any longer, she might actually explode. She hurried to lead Tegan to Urs''s room. But just as they reached the stairs, L, who had been pretending not to see them, spoke up, "So, are you having the doctor see your son first or the adopted daughter?"


    Clearly, L knew Cloudia had brought a doctor.


    Who would''ve thought she would still care about Urs at this point?


    Cloudia was left speechless. She red at L upon hearing it. "Dr. James is a specialist in obstetrics."


    L smirked. "Oh, so you''ve already found an excuse to see the adopted daughter first, huh? Tsk, tsk." "You..."


    Cloudia was fuming. Facing L, nothing she said seemed right.


    If she didn''t agree with L, she''d get mocked. If she did, she''d still get mocked. In L''s eyes, everything Cloudia did or said was wrong.


    "You''re quite the mother, aren''t you? Ignoring your own son''s plight to fuss over the adopted daughter. If she were decent, I wouldn''t say anything, but you''ve seen her attitude." Cloudia snapped, "Shut up, will you?"


    Her breath came in short, angry bursts.


    L didn''t relent. "Why should I?


    Everyone knows Urs is the most prestigious adopted daughter in Portis City. Anyone who doesn''t know might think she''s your love child, the way you fuss over her."


    Cloudia felt faint with fury.


    L crossed her arms, unfazed. "Anyway, if you don''t let the doctor see Jaxon first, I''ll keep stirring things up. Let''s see how long Urs can endure."


    "You... The misfortune of this family, truly. If I''d known..."


    Cloudia stopped herself from finishing the thought.


    But L knew her mind. "What?


    Regret not getting rid of me earlier? No surprise there. Urs turned out the way she did because of how you raised her. You used the same tactics on your own daughte


    and


    you still see no problem. Then again, what would someone like you know


    about familial love?"