"Looks like you haven''t done a great job training him over the years. It''s been ages, and he''s still got no backbone," Ronald remarked with a dry chuckle.


    Hull just sighed.


    Barnaby couldn''t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth. No backbone?


    Wait a minute. Barnaby begged Ronald to take him in the first time they met. When Ronald refused, he had knelt right there before him. And despite that desperate plea, Ronald hadn''t budged. Why would he want to keep someone without a spine around?


    Then, just as Hull was walking by, he paused and said, "From now on, you stick with me."


    That''s how Barnaby managed to stay. And that''s why Barnaby would risk his life for Hull every time since then.


    Lowering his head, Barnaby mumbled, "I only wanted to convince you to let Ms. Tucker stay."


    Hull gritted his teeth. "Get out."


    Watching Barnaby''s pathetic disy, Hull couldn''t reconcile this cowardly behavior with Barnaby''sbat prowess. When facing enemies, he was a different person. How could he kneel like that? Was he even a man?


    Barnaby pleaded, "Boss-"


    "Out." Hull''s voice was a low, threatening growl.


    Barnaby wanted to say more, but seeing Hull''s menacing look, he didn''t dare utter another word.


    He slowly got to his feet and turned to Ronald, adding, "Mr. Quinn, please. My boss hasn''t been with a woman in years. You should-"


    Hull roared, "Get out!"


    The longer he talked, the worse it got.


    Hull wished he could seal Barnaby''s mouth shut himself.


    This time, Barnaby finally took the hint, mming up and slinking out of the room.


    Hull noticed the cross ne that had suddenly appeared in Ronald''s hand. He frowned, "When did you start liking those things, Ronald?"


    Ronald, known for his skepticism, never cared for such superstitions.


    Upon hearing that, Ronald nced at the ne with a tender smile. "Ste bought it at the airport. What do you think?"


    Hull was momentarily speechless. Who else but Ste could get Ronald to wear something symbolizingpassion?


    "Yeah. Ste''s got a good eye," Hull agreed.


    If picked by Ste, it was perfect. There was no doubt about that.


    He then asked, "Is this the first gift she gave you?"


    Ronald shook his head. "Not really, but it''s the first time I saw her so invested in choosing something."


    Ste had given him things before, but he had never been there to see how she chose them. This time, he was there, witnessing her thoughtful selection.


    Hull felt like the odd man out, feeling as if watching a sappy romance unfold.


    Ronald descended the stairs, catching Snippets of a lively conversation between Ste and Susanna. To him, Susanna was in high spirits, gesturing wildly as she spoke.


    Suddenly, a wave of discontent washed over him. Susanna had been crying over


    the phone, making Ste worried sick. Yet now, she seemed perfectly carefree.


    Susanna said. If things go south,


    the Quarry family could be like the Larkin family. Just watch. Imogen isn''t one to mess with. If Yorick can''t im the Quarry family, she''ll destroy it rather than leave it to Thane''s illegitimate son."


    For years, Thane and Imogen seemed rock solid.


    And now? A son older than Yorick and Frost shows up out of nowhere. What a p in the face, right?


    Ste nodded. "Yeah. It could get messier than the Larkin family."


    The Larkin family was a mess, with Cloudia having no real standing against ise. So in any confrontation, Cloudia barely had a chance to fight back.


    But Imogen, was another story. She had a lot of influence in both thepany and the family. If it came to a showdown, it would be far more dramatic than anything the Larkin Group had seen.


    As Susanna was about to add something, Ronald''s voice cut in, "Star, it''s time to


    go."


    Both Ste and Susanna turned to look at him.


    Ste asked, "Did Hull agree to let Susie go with us?"


    Susanna perked up at this. "Wait. I need to check with Hull about my mom."


    Barnaby had mentioned something earlier, but before she could follow up, Ronald had arrived.


    "Hold on a sec," Susanna said before bolting upstairs, her footsteps echoing in the hallway.