Ronald let out a soft "hmm."


    Ste was puzzled. "I''m not feeling bad or anything. Why did you ask Tegan toe over?"


    "You haven''t had much appetitetely," he replied.


    Ste was stunned. Was he calling Tegan over just because she hadn''t been eating much?


    "So, how''s it going?" Ronald asked.


    "The car ended up in a ditch, but I''ve already called for a tow," Ste exined.


    "Wow, seriously?"


    "Yeah, well, I''ll let you get back to it. Come home soon," Ste said.


    Ronald agreed, "Will do."


    She hung up, her heart still racing.


    Then Tegan called. "Star, what''s going on with you? Tell me your symptoms, and I''ll have someone send over some medicine."


    Ste was confused. "Wait, what about you? Did they get the car out?"


    Tegan sounded flustered. "I''ve got something urgent to handle, so I can''t make it over."


    Ste sighed. She could tell Tegan got caught up in something urgent. "I''m fine. You don''t need to worry about me."


    "But Ronald said "


    Ste cut her off. "Ronald is just worrying for nothing."


    She had eaten a lot and didn''t want to these past days. It wasn''t such a big deal


    to have called the doctor over.


    Tegan hesitated. "Are you sure?"


    Ste was firm. "Yeah, I''m sure. Don''t worry about it."


    Tegan chuckled nervously. "Fine, I''m leaving now if you say so."


    Ste wasn''t feeling unwell, so Tegan didn''t have toe to Mist Bay. After a few more words, they hung up.


    Ste put down her phone as the butler approached. "Miss, Mr. Patel is here."


    "Let him in," she said calmly. What could Jeremy possibly want? They''d already discussed everything necessary.


    Jeremy entered shortly after, and seeing only Ste, he paused. "Isn''t your brother here?"


    "Aren''t you here to see me? What does it matter if he''s around or not?"


    "It matters," Jeremy insisted.


    It did matter. Jeremy knew too well about Ronald''s possessiveness, especially of


    Ste. He wouldn''t have visited if he had known Ronald wasn''t home.


    Ste raised an eyebrow. "Why does it matter?"


    Jeremy looked uneasy. "Because it does."


    So, did Ronald being absent make him nervous? Ste thought that was ridiculous.


    "Well, if it matters that much, you can leave."


    Jeremy hesitated. "Leave? Now?"


    "I came all this way, braving the winter cold," Jeremy remarked, feeling a bit exasperated.


    The road was terrible. Jeremy wouldn''t havee if it weren''t for the Warner family''s trouble. Ronald was too formidable.


    Jeremy heard about the spat


    between Vivian and Ste in the


    mall. What made things worse was that Sirena was also present. He had no idea whether Sirena was involved. But Sirena insisted she had nothing to do with it, no matter how he pressed the issue.


    Jeremy wasn''t at ease and was eager to confirm with Ste. The Larkin family had suffered like hell And the Quarry family, the wealthiest and the most influential family once, was going downhill. And then came the Warner family!


    Jeremy couldn''t help but sigh at how heartless Ronald''s moves could be!


    Therefore, he had to visit and confirm with Ste, no matter what.


    "So, what do you want from me? To be clear, I won''t do favors or backdoor deals," Ste stated firmly. "Besides, you''re the one with the exclusive rights to the ore in Portis City. What more could you possibly want?"


    Jeremy was stunned. "No, no, I''m not here for any favors."


    "Then what is it?" Ste pressed.


    Jeremy was flustered, recalling the past mistake of sending the wrong gift that nearly jeopardized a partnership. He quickly shook his head. "No, no backdoor deals. I just want to talk."