As Susanna kept talking, her emotions spiraled out of control until she finally broke down into tears.


    Ste sighed, "Is this what you call being clear? You''ve gone and done everything you shouldn''t have."


    Honestly, she couldn''t me anyone for not believing Susanna.


    Right now, Ste was suspicious... "Sis, just be straight with me. Do you have a thing for Hull? Was all of this on purpose?"


    Ste couldn''t help but wonder if Susanna had developed feelings for Hull and if all her actions were intentional.


    That one question, "Was it on purpose?" sent Susanna on the other end of the call into a fit, her voice rising in protest.


    "By all that''s holy, I swear it wasn''t on purpose!"


    Ste was left speechless.


    She figured Susanna probably hadn''t done it on purpose, but still...


    "Weren''t you told? Don''t do anything, just chill."


    Ste was exasperated, feeling utterly defeated. Back in Portis City, Susanna never seemed this reckless. But now? Her level of carelessness was off the charts.


    Susanna protested, "I really didn''t do anything."


    "If you did nothing, why were you tearing Hull''s shirt off?"


    "I wasn''t tearing, I was ripping."


    "Is there a difference?" Ste snapped, getting more frustrated.


    To her, there was no difference whatsoever.


    Susanna, sounding a bit sheepish, replied, "Well, there is..."


    Ste was left at a loss for words.


    She suddenly realized how difficultmunication with Susanna was.


    "Just avoid him, okay? If you don''t like him, don''t see him. Unless, of course, you do like him..."


    "I don''t like him, I''m terrified!"


    With those three intimidating men around, who would like that? It was downright frightening.


    Ste sighed, "Then just don''t see him, please. If you really piss him off, I can''t guarantee your safety."


    After all, Hull was someone important to Ronald and held a certain status in Ferrond.


    Ste feared that if Susanna pushed Hull too far, things could get... well, scary.


    Even though Ronald had mentioned that Hull might like Susanna, Ste found it hard to believe.


    After giving Susanna a good talking-to, Susanna sounded pitiful, "I didn''t want to see him, either."


    Ste was at a loss for words again.


    If she didn''t want to see him, then how did she end up in a situation where she tore his clothes?


    Rubbing her forehead, Ste felt a headacheing on.


    "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore."


    Ste was always on edge whenever she discussed Susanna and Hull''s situation.


    Just as she was about to ask Susanna if she needed someone to fetch her, ready to do so herself if necessary, Susanna spoke up first, "Let''s talk about my mom."


    Ste paused.


    "Have you confirmed anything for me?" Susanna asked, clearly anxious about news of her mother.


    Ste replied, "We''re still working on it. Let me make a call and check."


    "Okay, please do," Susanna said before ending the call.


    Yvonne, who was nearby, looked at Ste and asked, "Your friend?"


    Ste nodded, "Yeah."


    It was always the same. Over the phone, Susanna sounded scared to death, yet when Ste went to get her, she refused to leave.


    Yvonne gave a knowing smile, "No wonder you''ve been away so much these past years. You''ve got some confidante out there."


    Ste defended herself, "Didn''t you


    tell me before to make more friends when I''m out? That way, when things get tough, I can find someone to help."


    Yvonne shrugged, "I meant at school."


    "It''s all the same," Ste retorted before quickly dialing to check on Lacey''s situation.


    As expected, things weren''t progressing smoothly, especially since it involved the notorious ck Gate. Nothing was ever simple with them.


    As the conversation continued, several racks of wedding dresses arrived, each filled with a variety of styles.


    Yvonne''s eyes widened at the sheer number of dresses, "What''s wrong with the wedding dress I made?"


    l.ne


    Ste replied, "Mom said a girl only gets married once, so I should choose the one I love most. She me to take my time and look


    Wand."  te


    "I used to believe a girl only got married once," Yvonne said with a skeptical


    chuckle. "But now, who knows?"


    Ste was taken aback. "What do you mean?"


    Lottie and Xander descended the stairs at that moment, overhearing Yvonne''sment. Lottie''s face darkened.


    Ste and Yvonne turned to face them, with Ste greeting, "Mom."


    Yvonne pursed her lips, "I''m just stating a fact. Didn''t Xander''s cousin, Daisy Schultz, just get divorced recently?"


    "You..." Lottie was visibly upset.


    She didn''t want to continue this line


    tired


    of conversation. It was and inappropriate, especially especially whene


    someone was about to get married.


    Lottie turned to Yvonne and dered, "You, go and get your marriage license with


    Xander right away."


    Both Ste and Yvonne were stunned.


    Yvonne couldn''t believe her ears. She wondered if she had misunderstood her mom.


    "Mom, what do you mean by that?"


    Get a marriage license with Xander?


    For goodness'' sake, that''s a marriage license! You don''t just get one on a whim.


    Especially with Xander acting so strangely yesterday, Yvonne was beginning to suspect he had ulterior motives.


    Now, more than ever, she felt she shouldn''t rush into anything with him. It might turn out to be a huge mistake.


    Ste, too, was taken aback by Lottie''s sudden decision. "Mom, I don''t think that''s


    a good idea."


    She had spoken out of anger before, suggesting she''d marry Xander, but she hadn''t meant it.


    And yesterday, when her mom heard she wanted to use marriage to get back at Xander, she had been furious.


    So why was she agreeing to it now...?