Ste frowned.


    "What''s wrong? Did someone actually say something to you?" Ronald asked.


    "She''s Mona''s daughter," Ste replied, her voice soft but steady. "That whole mess with Regina three years ago... I don''t think we ever truly uncovered what was behind it."


    She remembered it vividly. Three years ago, Regina had appeared out of nowhere and announced she was going to marry Ronald. She hadn''t just said it either—she''de armed with a string of threats, even going so far as to target Ste''s mother. At that time, no one could reach her mother, and every possible force seemed lined up to drive Ste out of Ferrond. It all happened so fast, chaos swirling in every direction.


    Ste hadn''t dared risk her mother''s safety. In the midst of the turmoil, she''d been forced to leave Ferrond behind. Even now, thinking back on that journey sent a chill through her. It hadn''t been easy. She''d nearly died along the way.


    Later, when the Quinn family''s scandal finally settled, Ronald had retaliated against the Schultzes. The family was all but crushed, and Regina ended up behind bars. The Schultzes might have looked impressive from the outside now, but inside, they were hollowed out. Xander had grabbed up most of their assets, and from the way things were going, he had no ns to let even the scraps slip away.


    During all those years, Mona had kept her distance from Regina, who was rotting in prison. Evenst time she''de to plead for her daughter, her words were halfhearted and insincere.


    And now Berry turned out to be Mona''s daughter.


    Only then did Ste realize: The Schultz family''s long silence hadn''t been defeat-it was the calm before an all-out counterattack.


    "What?" Ronald''s tone was sharp, every nerve on edge.


    "She''s been going to Novaderma for cosmetic surgery. She''s even copying my tastes—my clothes, my habits, everything." Steid it all out for Ronald, sparing him nothing, even though she was conducting her own private investigation. With him, there were no secrets.


    She picked up a stack of photographs from the coffee table and handed them over.


    As Ronald looked at the photo of Berry, anger zed through him. The image wasn''t sharp—taken from a distance, her features were blurred. But she''d captured Ste''s presence, almost perfectly. Just one look, and if you didn''t know better, you''d think you were looking at Ste herself.


    Instantly, Ronald looked as if he could explode. His eyes narrowed, dark and dangerous.


    "A counterattack, huh." He scoffed, voice full of threat.


    Clearly, Ronald had drawn the same conclusion as Ste. The Schultz family had been ying the long game, and now theireback was in motion. They''d been keeping to the shadows for years, but under the surface... Sending Berry to get cosmetic surgery? No one could possibly believe there wasn''t a


    sinister plot in the works.


    Ste handed Ronald her phone. "These are Mona''s travel records for Novaderma over the past few years. I checked-she''s been visiting more and more frequently, especially in thest two years."


    In those two years-back before Ste had returned-Berry must have been undergoing surgery all


    P


    along. And facial recode


    takes time; they couldn''t have made her a perfect double overnight. They must have figured Ste was nevering back, or maybe...maybe they never meant for her toe back alive.


    Or maybe... maybe all those years Ste spent hiding in Portis City, the family had been sending people after her, trying to wipe her out. But she''d hidden too well. With the


    Quays and the Larkins feel


    cover


    She''d eluded more than a few close calls. Plus, Ronald''s vengeance had squarely targeted the Schultz family; Mona hadn''t had the time or the means to finish Ste off.


    On the surface, Ste and Ronald had gone their separate ways—but in truth, they''d worked together, silently and seamlessly.


    But now Ste was back, and judging by the most recent photo of Berry leaving the stic surgery clinic, it looked like the transformation was still underway. Their n, it seemed, hadn''t been abandoned—just adjusted.


    Ste caught Ronald''s eye across the room. There was nothing but fire burning in his.


    “Melissa thinks,” Ste said quietly, “they''re nning to make their move right when the baby is born."