When Ste returned to the Larkin family, her life was pure chaos. She worried constantly about the Quinns back in Ferrond, all while having to deal with Urs Larkin''s constant scheming. And at that time, Yorick-her fiancé couldn''t even muster the simplest kindness toward her. If he''d been just a little bit better, maybe she would have married him during those three years. But unfortunately, Yorick had been thoroughly hoodwinked by Urs.


    Yorick let out a dry, self-deprecatingugh. “You think I ruined any chance I had with her?"


    It always felt to him as if fate had never given him and Ste a real chance. Deep down, he knew that no matter how well he treated her, Ste never truly belonged to him. He''d witnessed firsthand, during Ronald''s stay in Portis City, the way she looked at Ronald-he saw the depth of her feelings long before anyone else.


    "Does any of that really matter now?" Susanna replied coolly. It was rare for her to even give him the time of day—Ste herself had long since frozen him out, breaking every tie they''d ever had.


    "We''re basically strangers now," she added curtly.


    He hesitated before asking, "Did you tell her it was me who gave you the news about Berry?"


    Susanna caught his meaning and replied, matter-of-fact, "I did."


    She''d told Ste. But even after hearing it all, Ste hadn''t called to confirm or ask him anything. She''d organized her own investigation without reaching out, as if he no longer existed in her world. Between them, there was now a chasm-clean and final.


    "She acts like I was never even in her life," Yorick murmured.


    He hesitated, then went on, "My mother... she''s seriously ill in prison."


    "Excuse me?" Susanna frowned in surprise. His mother-Cloudia Lawson. The woman who''d given birth to Ste, yet hadn''t shown her an ounce of motherly affection when Ste returned to Portis City.


    "I don''t think that''s anything Ste needs to know about," Susanna said tly. “She''s never treated Ste like her daughter-not for one second. Why should Ste care now?"


    Even if Ste found out, it wasn''t like she''d reach out. No one in the Larkin family deserved her concern.


    An awkward silence fell.


    Susanna broke it: “Look, I know the Quarrys are going through a rough patch right now, but Yorick-don''t you dare me Ste for that."


    Before he could answer, she hung up.


    "What''s the use of regret and concern now?" she muttered as she set her phone down. "None at all."


    Hull came home just as she grumbled, He caught her grumpy little frown.


    He walked over, gently pressing his palm to her warm forehead. "What are you fussing about now? What''s so pointless?"


    "You''re back!" Susanna sighed. "You wouldn''t believe half the things I had to deal with today. It''s just-impossible to put into words."


    "Is it really that bad?" Hull had to smile at the sight of her still-pouting face as he brushed a hand over her forehead again. Th? fever had passed, but her cough lingered.


    "What''s such a mess?"


    "Ste, of course! And Yorick-he still hasn''t given up on her, you know." Susanna''s distaste was clear. Yorick had made such a mess of things for Ste all for Urs-and nowhe expected, sympathy for his heartbreak? As if his regret meant anything now. She wasn''t about to feel sorry for him; not when Ste had moved on, surrounded by love and happiness in the Quinn family. She was married now. Pregnant, too.


    "Oh, that reminds me something else happened today!" Susanna suddenly remembered.


    Hull raised an eyebrow. "What is it?”


    "Do you remember a woman named Berry? She used to work closely with Ronald Susanna shook her head in disbelief. There''s more to that story than you''d expect..."