Did she think Lottie was running a charity or something?


    When Lottie mentioned Dan, a flicker of concern crossed Ste''s eyes.


    That man had upied a space in Yvonne''s heart for so many years.


    Back then, she nearly lost her mind over him...


    Yvonne seemed fine now, but who knew what she was really going through inside?


    Maybe the more you pretend everything''s okay, the more you''re hiding.


    ...


    Ronald came back from his errands to find Ste exhausted, sitting on the couch still in her wedding dress.


    A maid handed her a freshly squeezed ss of orange juice. "Miss, have some juice and take a break."


    Ste nodded. "Thanks."


    She usually liked the taste of orange juice, but today it tasted off.


    After a couple of sips, she handed it back.


    "What''s wrong, miss? Did we make it too strong today?" the maid inquired.


    Ste shook her head. "I just don''t feel like drinking it. It tastes weird."


    Pregnant women often have heightened senses of taste and smell. What used to be a perfectly fine ss of juice now had a strange vor to her.


    When Ronald returned, the maid greeted him with respect, "Sir."


    Ronald waved her away, signaling everyone else who''d been helping Ste with her dress to leave as well.


    Left alone with Ste, he sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms.


    "Tired?" he asked.


    Nestling into him, Ste found afortable spot. "Yeah. Howe you''re back so soon?"


    "Finished up early. Where''s Mom?" he replied.


    "Got a call and left in a hurry. She was supposed to help me with the dress but got busy."


    Everyone in the family seemed so busy all the time, except her. She felt like she was just there to eat and rx.


    She had been, and still was.


    Ronald ruffled her hair, and Ste


    closer. "Do we really havet


    marry that scoundrel,


    "Why?" she questioned, still puzzled by the change of ns.


    To her, Xander was nothing but trouble.


    Ronald sighed. "He''s got some issues right now, and Yvonne''s helping out."


    "What kind of issues?"


    Ste didn''t quite get it. Forced


    marriages were unheard of in the Schultz family. After all, three years ago, the Quinn family had a major fallout, which affected the Schultz family too.


    During that time, Xander almost severed ties with the Schultz family. To this day, he hadn''t visited once, and Qld Mr. Schultz, Samuel, acted like he didn''t have a son named Xander.


    So, the idea of rushing into marriage seemed out of the question for the Schultz family.


    "Enough questions," Ronald said. "Let them handle it."


    Ste pouted. "What do you mean ''enough''? I''m not a kid anymore, and I''m having your baby!"


    He still treated her like a child.


    Well, three years ago when she left, she might have been one in his eyes.


    Her whole life, the Lugar family had shielded her so well.


    Everyone still saw her as a kid, so naturally, she wasn''t involved in important decisions.


    Listening to her yful grumbling, Ronald chuckled. "Alright, alright, you''re all grown up, soon-to-be mom."


    "Then stop calling me a kid," Ste retorted with a huff.


    Amused by her pouty face, Ronald affectionately pinched her nose. "Want to keep trying on dresses?"


    She shook her head. "No way, I''m exhausted."


    Trying on dresses could wear a person out!


    "Then change out of it. Let''s head over to Grandma''s for dinner," Ronald suggested.


    "Back to the Lugar family house?"


    "Yep," he nodded.


    A smile spread across Ste''s face. She missed her grandma and grandpa.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!