Uriah was silent.


    She was standing a short distance away, her back to Ste, but Ste could still hear what Tegan was saying. When she heard the words ''left me standing in the rain,'' she couldn''t believe it.


    To the outside world, Uriah absolutely adored Tegan. Spoiling her rotten was an understatement.


    But now...


    Who knows what was said on the other end, but Tegan''s voice turned to ice.


    "Let''s just leave it at that. I have nothing more to say to you. Uriah, if you have any respect for the years we spent together, then please, don''t bother me again."


    With that, Tegan hung up.


    She returned to the sofa across from Ste and chugged arge gulp of orange juice, trying to push down the turmoil in her heart.


    Seeing the flicker of bitterness in her eyes, Ste began, "Tegan, Uriah... he....."


    Tegan cut her off. "You want to ask how he could?"


    Ste didn''t answer.


    But yeah, how could he?


    Leaving Tegan in the rain? When had things between them gotten this bad?


    For years, Uriah had protected her from the Horner family, who refused to ept her.


    So why now...?


    Tegan lowered her gaze, hiding the sadness she could no longer contain. "It was for his sister. And this isn''t the first time."


    "His sister? I thought the problem was Helena," Ste said, confused.


    Ste knew Uriah had a sister. But back in Portis City, wasn''t the issue that Mrs. Horner wanted Uriah to get with some distant niece, Helena?


    Since they weren''t blood-rted, she thought it was a perfect match. How did his sister get involved?


    Tegan rarely mentioned Uriah''s sister before. The way she was bringing her up now, Ste had a feeling this sister was a real piece of work.


    Tegan sniffled. "Helena? Please. Compared to Leslie, Helena''s little mind games are child''s y."


    Ste was lost.


    Those words, ''mind games,'' just confused her more.


    "Why? Doesn''t Leslie want her own brother to be happy?" she asked.


    If you truly love your family, you want them to be happy. Everyone in Portis City


    knew Uriah was crazy about Tegan. So why would his sister interfere?


    Tegan''s smile grew even more bitter. "Why? I wish I knew."


    Leslie was Uriah''s own flesh and blood.


    As for why Leslie was so hostile towards her, Tegan had never been able to figure it out.


    "Helena showing up was just the spark that lit the fuse," she exined. The real fire, the one that had been smoldering for ages, was Leslie.


    For years, Tegan had tried to put out that fire, but every time she thought she had it under control, Leslie


    would find a way to reignite it it was endingueyche


    a vicious never ending cy


    Ste''s heart ached for her. "Don''t worry. I''ll take care of everything in Yornd."


    As for Uriah... there was no point in asking anymore.


    Looking at Tegan now, it was clear that their rtionship wasn''t as perfect as it seemed Underneath the wless exterior, it was probably rotting from the inside out


    When it came to matters of the heart, Ste never gave unsolicited Only the people caughtan the storm could decide if they could keep sailing together