It was all because of Ste—that troublemaker. She''d ruined everything between Regina and Ronald.


    And now, Regina was paying the price.


    Regina''s heart ached as she watched. From the moment Ronald walked in, she couldn''t take her eyes off him. But he didn''t look her way, not even once.


    Instead, Ronald went straight over to Ste, pulling her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin like she was something precious. It was as if Regina was nothing more than dirt on his shoes-something that would taint Ste if she even nced her way.


    "Hurry up and get her out of here!" the butler barked, not daring to hesitate. He signaled for the staff to drag Regina away.


    Regina knew all too well what would happen once they got her out of here. If Ronald wouldn''t even look at her now, there was no hope for her.


    "No! Don''t make me go back there! Ronald, please, let me go home!" Regina pleaded desperately, her voice trembling.


    Ronald stood with his back to her. She couldn''t see his face, couldn''t read his expression.


    Regina''s tears spilled over. "Are you really going to just forget everything we had? We grew up together! How could you do this to me?"


    Her voice grew wild, echoing off the marble floors. But Ronald never so much as flinched. He didn''t say a word.


    The staff started dragging her away. Regina struggled, her legs barely working, her arms useless. "Don''t touch me! Let me go-let go of me!"


    But she was helpless. Years of bitterness and pain seethed inside her. Why had Xander betrayed the whole Schultz family for Ste? Regina had nned everything so perfectly. If things had gone her way, Ste would have been out of the picture a long time ago, and no one would''ve been the wiser.


    Hatred twisted inside her as she was forced out, leaving only Ste and Ronald behind.


    Atst, Ronald loosened his grip on Ste. He looked down at her scrunched-up face. "What''s wrong? You look upset."


    Ste nced up at him. "Seeing her like that... I thought I''d feel something. But honestly? I don''t feel a bit sorry for her."


    Ronald nodded. Regina had fallen so far-she was a mess, nothing like the polished heiress she used to be.


    "My heart''s cold, especially towards people who''ve hurt me," Ste said quietly, gripping Ronald''s sleeve. Her voice wasplicated,yered with old pai, She''d felt the same way about the Larkin family. Now it was Regina. No trace of pity left.  s


    Ronald ruffled her hair gently. "That''s exactly how it should be."


    "You really think so?" she asked, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.


    He nodded, sure and steady. "Absolutely."


    He pulled her into his arms again, making her giggle as her head bumped against his chest.<fn8e95> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn8e95>


    There was a time when he worried she might be too soft for moments like this.


    Ste snuggled into him, her voice muffled. "They''re nothing alike, you know?"


    Ronald raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"


    She nodded. "Yeah, I''m sure."


    She''d watched Melissa and Regina closely the whole time. Melissa''s reaction to the pregnancy test was genuine—she wasn''t pretending.


    And as for Regina... Sure, she hated


    Ste, but you could see it in her


    eyes. These past years hadn''t been kind to her. If Regina really had any tricks left up her sleeve, she would''ve used them to make her


    ''e''


    own life easier by now. The way she looked-ragged, desperate-she clearly didn''t.  s


    Ronald shrugged. "Fine. We''ll keep looking."


    Ste didn''t say anything, just pressed closer to him, a thoughtful frown on her face. Something about all this still didnt sit right, but she just couldn''t put her finger on it...  s