When Ronald finally arrived, he stepped into a peculiar scene.


    Uriah had already whisked away Tegan, and Sirena had vanished long before anyone could notice. Vivian had wrapped up a phone call and made a swift exit, too.


    So, when Ronald reached the scene, only Ste was alone there. She sat on a rainbow-colored bench in the mall corridor, sipping on a milkshake.


    Ronald walked straight over and plopped down beside her.


    Off to the side, Finley noticed Ste sitting by herself and instinctively wanted to approach her, wanting to ask what was up. But Idris grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.


    "What gives?" Finley asked, puzzled.


    That little princess had everyone running around, and then she was all alone? And she didn''t even look like she''d been in a fight, so what was all the fuss about?


    Idris pointed out, "Can''t you see her eyes are red? What are you gonna ask her?"


    Finley squinted, taking a closer look, and sure enough, Ste''s eyes were a bit puffy from crying. He had assumed she was faking it, but no, she had actually shed some tears.


    "Maybe you should call your blind date and see what''s up?" Idris suggested.


    The whole mess was far from over. Even though Ronald hadn''t said much in the car, Idris felt sure that there was no sweeping this under the rug.


    Finley looked at Idris, bewildered. "I don''t even remember her number."


    "Didn''t you go on a date with her?"


    Finley shrugged. "Yeah, but it didn''t click. Why remember a number if it didn''t work out?"


    Now everyone seemed to think he was in the wrong. What a situation to be in!


    Ronald gently tousled Ste''s soft hair. "Did it get out of hand?"


    His voice was gentle, full of warmth.


    Ste looked at him with her reddened eyes, staying silent.


    Ronald sighed, "You."


    Ronald pulled her into aforting embrace, and Ste froze. "We''re in a mall."


    He simply replied, "It''s your mall."


    Ste was stunned. "What?"


    "Yes," Ronald continued casually, "I bought it in your name a year ago."


    It sounded like purchasing the mall was akin to buying Ste a piece of jewelry.


    Ste waspletely unaware that she had such assets in Portis City. Mist Bay, and now, the top luxury mall in Portis City too.


    Finley, who overheard that this mall


    had been bought for Ste, was equally astounded. He exchanged a look with Idris. "I mean, who canpete with that kind of grand gesture?"


    en


    How much had Ronald bought for Ste? That was beyond ensuring she never went hungry. She could live extravagantly for several lifetimes!


    Idris remarked, "It seems like you still don''t understand why Miss Ste never fell for Yorick Quarry."


    Yorick was one of the most eligible bachelors in Portis City, handsome and reserved. Despite knowing he had a past love, Urs, many women still tried to catch his


    eye.


    Yet Ste, as his fiancée, had remained utterly indifferent.


    "Why''s that?" Finley asked.


    Idris nced at him, and suddenly, Finley felt that Idris''s gaze carried a hint of sympathy.


    Sympathy? For him? Why?


    Unbeknownst to him, Idris''s look was more of a ''poor fool'' expression.


    "Ronald has spoiled her so much that no one out there could ever capture her attention. That''s why." Finley nodded. "That''s true."


    Ronald had doted on Ste, giving her the finest things since she was young. With Ronald by her side, she''d seen the world, met people with looks, wealth, and power-what hadn''t she experienced?


    So, when you thought about it, even if the Quarry family was the wealthiest in Portis City, it didn''t seem to matter much to Ste.


    The mall''s CEO, Hugo Cobb, rushed over upon hearing Ronald was there.


    Seeing him, Ste tensed up, "Mr. Cobb."


    Back when StarRiver Corp. was coborating with her, Ste was always grateful to Hugo.