The wind and rain outside were absolutely wild-like something straight out of a disaster movie.


    When Ronald walked in, sure enough, he found Ste on the phone. The second he opened the door, he could hear Yvonne''s voice practically exploding out of the speaker, rattling offints so fast and furious it sounded like she was about to tear someone to pieces.


    Ronald''s face darkened. He strode right over, snatched the phone from Ste''s hand, and hung up.


    Yvonne''s tirade was cut off mid-sentence.


    For a moment, the room was dead quiet.


    Ste blinked up at Ronald, looking half-asleep and totally bewildered, like someone who''d been yanked out of bed at dawn on Christmas morning.


    "Told you we couldn''t keep it from her," Ronald said, shaking his head.<fne4ca> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fne4ca>


    Ste''s voice was small and a little pouty. "Did you hear how upset she was? She sounded really worried and hurt."


    She sounded both frustrated and a little guilty. Yvonne had always been protective of her, and Ste honestly worried about Yvonne in return. This time, things had gotten totally out of hand.


    Ronald reached out, gently ruffling her hair. "Don''t overthink it. Yvonne just cares about you."


    Ste just huffed, cheeks puffed out in a sulky pout.


    Ronald could tell she was really upset this time. He sat down on the edge of the bed and pinched her cheek, trying to coax a smile out of her. "Come on, be good, okay?"


    Ste grumbled, "Yvonne literally said if there''s anything you want, she''d help you get it no questions asked!"


    Back when Dan faked his death, there''d been some worry Ste might go easy on him out of old feelings. But now? Not a chance.


    Ronald sighed. "It''s not as simple as just taking ck Gate''s resources."


    Ste perked up. "Wait, it''s not? Then what is it? Is there something bigger going on?"


    She''d grown up in the Quinn family, and as far as she knew, ck Gate and the Quinns had always stayed out of each other''s business. But now Ronald sounded like there was some deep, dark feud she''d never even heard of.


    Ronald looked tired. "You wouldn''t understand, kiddo. You want to try and get some more sleep?"


    Ste shook her head. After Yvonne''s call, any chance of sleep was long gone.


    Ronald brought her a warm washcloth, and after she washed her face, she felt a little better.


    "Ron."


    "Yeah?"


    “Husband—” she blurted out, catching herself and rolling her eyes at her own sleepy brain.


    "What''s up?" Ronald asked, amused.


    "I''m worried about Yvonne," Ste admitted. The fallout from thest


    blow-up with ck Gate had left her with nervous, but Ronald had promised Xanden would keep an eye on her. Now though, she was even more anxious. Yvonne had to be both furious and heartbroken after


    learning the truth.


    "She thinks you used her," Ste said quietly.


    Ronald frowned, smoothing Ste''s hair in an attempt tofort her. "I''ll talk to


    her. I promise."


    "Why didn''t you just tell her from the


    start?" Ste asked, her voice


    trembling a little. "Would''ve saved


    everyone so much trouble Now it just feels like pouring gasoline on a bonfire."


    Yvonne had been worried sick for weeks, just like she''d screamed on the phone. She''d lost sleep over


    this-and after all the chaos with et


    ck Gate, it turned out the person they were all looking for had even


    been in ck Gate''s hands at all.


    "She''s mad now thinking the person was with you this whole time," Ste muttered. "Imagine how she''ll react when she finds out they were with Hull all along..."


    She shuddered. That was going to be a nightmare.


    Yvonne''s biggest fear had been not being able to answer to Hull. Now? Turns out


    the person she was so worried about had been with Hull the entire time.


    Ste shot Ronald a re. He just sighed. “What did she say to you?"


    "She told me to pack my things."


    Ronald''s eyes went wide. "What?!"