After all, they had been busy dealing with the aftermath of past troubles all these years.


    Otherwise they would have whisked Ste away from the grasp of the Larkin family a long time ago. Compared to the real dangers out there, the Larkins'' petty tricks were child''s y.


    This time, though, things hadn''t been fully resolved. But when Ste used the ck card Ronald had given her, it raised a few eyebrows back home.


    Sure, there were still some loose ends to tie up, but the thought of Ste being in trouble in Portis City was enough to keep them on edge.


    "Let''s not worry about that right now. First things first, let''s get some food in our bellies," Lottie said, cing a juicy piece of steak onto Ste''s te. This was a ssic beef stew, a dish Ste had always adored.


    But ever since moving to Portis City, she found the local renditioncking, so she''d stopped ordering it.


    Lottie''s warm gesture made Ste feel at ease.


    Just as she was savoring her meal, Yvonne burst through the door, fuming. "Those Yoder bastards! One day I''ll make them pay double for what they did.


    And Skye and Finley? They''re just a pair of scumbags.


    And Xander, that jerk. I''ll deal with him too. I''m going to end him soon orter."


    Ste and Ronald were momentarily speechless.


    Lottie couldn''t help but twitch at Yvonne''s choice of words,menting how indecent her own daughter could be. She wondered who Yvonne took a resemnce to as for the character, given how much time she''d remind her of not hurling foul remarks, and yet to no avail.


    As she turned around, Yvonne was entering from the foyer.


    "Enough with the curses. Try acting like ady, will you?"


    Lottie felt helpless when it came to this daughter, baffled about why Yvonne was into guy stuff considering the fact that she and Ste were raised under the same roof. She would reject wearing decent dresses, designed high heels, jewelry or carrying purses.


    Her Star was so much better!


    As Yvonne saw them dining, she walked over and sat at the table, still simmering with anger.


    She countered, "Who needs act like ady when we have Star to charm everyone with her sweetness?"


    Ste was at loss for words.


    Lottie felt a headacheing on. "And just who do you think will want to marry you with that attitude?"


    Thement somehow hit Yvonne in a sore spot, and for a moment, her hand grasping the tableware halted mid-air, a pang of distress creeping on her. "If no one wants me, so be it. If I''m not married, at least I can keep an eye on Star. Who''s gonna protect her if I am?"


    Ste felt a pang in her heart, and Ronald scowled deeply.


    Lottie retorted, "And you think you''re the one to do it?"


    Yvonne replied, "I''m just being honest. Three years ago, I was distracted for a moment, and Star was gone."


    Back when they all lived in


    Ferrond Yvonne had been the one to mete out justice to those who


    dared wrong Ste, often before ne


    Ronaldeven had a chance to


    intervene. Attempts to sow discord between the sisters were futile; Yvonne''s fierce loyalty to Ste was unshakeable.


    Lottie rubbed her temples, trying to stave off a headache. "Yvonne, you really are


    a..."


    "Mom. This one''s really good too."


    Ste, realizing what Lottie was about to utter, interrupted quickly.


    She had caught a glimpse of the fleeting sadness in Yvonne''s eyes, which implied


    her trip to Sands City was far from satisfactory.


    Memories hit her; Yvonne had once been inconsble over Dan Murray''s death, drowning in sorrow for what felt like an eternity. Though the world had moved on, Yvonne''s heart was still trapped in that moment.


    Ste knew that though Yvonne appeared strong ostensibly, she had buried the agony deep within her heart. The moment her guard slipped, that anguish woulde flooding back, drowning her anew.


    Was it true that nobody wanted to marry her?


    No, she just preferred to be with one man and dismissed others.


    Over the years, Lottie had made few attempts at arranging blind dates just to help her move on, with the result of them never reaching out after the first meeting.


    Lottie shot Yvonne a re as she heard Ste''s words. "We''ll talkter, Yvonne."


    With Ste around, she decided to drop the topic about Yvonne.


    Yvonne replied, “Pick on me or not, I''m still going after Xander. He had the audacity to drive my Star away three years ago, and I won''t let that go."


    Her repeated use of "my Star" was starting to irritate Ronald, but Yvonne paid him


    no mind. Lottie''s expression grewplicated at her determination of avenging on Xander.


    She was torn as she recalled


    Xander''s visit the other day as well


    as his revtion. Turned out he had endured unimaginably. Back then, everyone believed Xander was someone ungrateful, kicking his best buddy when he was down.


    Little did they know if it weren''t for his drastic moves, the Quinn family would have


    suffered even greater damage.


    ...


    After dinner, Yvonne whisked Ste away to her room, while Ronald and Lottie retreated to the study.