Ste took a steadying breath. "Tegan has no one left in this world. You were the only family she had." She fixed Uriah with a hard look. “But she isn''t the only family you have. When it came down to it, you chose your blood, not her."


    Uriah said nothing, a heavy silence growing between them.


    "If you can''t even bnce love and family, then Tegan was right to leave you," Ste continued, unflinching in her bluntness.


    Uriah''s breath came faster, betraying his agitation. “Put her on the phone," he demanded.


    Ste''s directness left him with no doubt-Tegan had told her everything, and they were together.


    "Sorry, but she won''t take your call. Right now, she doesn''t want to see you," Ste replied coolly.


    "Ste!" Uriah''s voice sharpened, amanding edge creeping in.


    She scoffed. "Don''t waste your breath threatening me, Uriah. I don''t want this to get ugly, but I don''t lose easily. You remember what happened with the Quarrys and the Larkins? You know how that turned out."


    Uriah''s breath grew heavier at the mention of those families-an unmistakable threat.


    Ste meant business, and he finally understood that Tegan truly wanted out. She would never have run to Ste if she wasn''t serious. Ste''s stance made it clear: she was in Tegan''s corner, no matter what.


    "Keep your mother and sister in check," Ste warned, each word slow and deliberate. "If they even think about sending anyone after Tegan, I won''t hesitate toe after the Horners too. You know how these things end—a real fight, and I guarantee, I won''t be the one left bleeding."


    She was fearless now—Uriah''s influence meant nothing to her at this moment. Tegan had no one else in the world. Without Uriah, Ste was the only shield she had left.


    Furious, Uriah ended the call. Ste listened to the dial tone, then sneered, "A man can''t even keep his own woman from leaving, and he still has the guts to lose his temper. What a joke."


    "Couldn''t have said it better," came a voice from the staircase.


    Ste turned to find Finley standing there, arms folded across his chest.


    "Done chatting with my husband?" she shot back.


    Finley made a face. "The way you call him ''hubby''—it just doesn''t sound right. Still getting used to it."


    Ste rolled her eyes. He always had to be difficult. She remembered how Ronald had drilled it into her to use that pet name, insisting over and over until it stuck. If he knew Finley was mocking her now, Ronald would no doubt teach him a lesson.


    "If you want to avoid another exile to the Muliba Desert, you''d better keep your mouth zipped," she warned.


    Finley just shrugged, unfazed.


    "By the way, Finley, will you call Skye for me?" she asked, switching topics. Despite


    all the drama with Ronald, she hadn''t forgotten her original purpose.


    But Finley just stuck his nose in the air. "Nope!" And with that, he turned and walked away.


    Ste was left ring at his retreating back. Seriously? All she''d asked was for him to call his sister Next time he begged her for help to avoid getting himself shipped off to the moon, she''d keep her mouth shut.


    MS


    A momentter Ronald came down the stairs to find Ste clearly fuming.


    He reached over and gently tousled her hair. "What''s got you in a mood, hmm?”


    "It''s Finley honestly!" she huffed, still


    annoyed. "Honey, could you call Skye for me? She''s way more likely to listen to your than she ever would tome."