The butler tried to reassure her, "You know, the old man''s just worried about you. He cares, that''s all."


    Everyone had been looking for her all these years. The longer they couldn''t find her, the more anxious they became.


    Old Mrs. Lugar, Lydia, chimed in, "Alright, alright, she''s back now. Let''s not scare her off again."


    "Hmph," grumbled Levi.


    Lydia was concerned that if he kept talking, he might scare Ste. In her mind, Ste was quite timid. If she got frightened again...


    Levi sternly asked, "Whose baby is she carrying?"


    "I''m telling you, if she''se back with someone else''s child, she can forget about dinner."


    Talking about pregnancies just seemed to fuel his irritation.


    Lydia quickly added, "Lottie said it''s Ronald''s."


    Levi''s demeanor instantly softened, "Oh, well, that''s alright then."


    Ste remained silent.


    Once he heard it was Ronald''s, Levi''s anger subsided, his expression rxed.


    "That''s better. Seems like the girl hasn''t gonepletely off the rails." Lydia remained silent, rolling her eyes at her husband''s change of heart. Ste peeked her little head out from the hallway, her eyes searching for Lydia.


    That morning, Ronald had styled her hair into a neat little bun. With her head peeking out like that, she looked utterly adorable.


    Facing the door, Lydia was the first to notice Ste. She paused, then smiled warmly, "Star?"


    Levi turned around at the sound of her voice.


    Though he had been quite angry, seeing Ste''s small head with her bangs held up by a pink barrette melted his heart.


    Ste sweetly called out, "Nana, Grandpa."


    Her soft, sweet voice was enough to melt anyone''s heart.


    Lydia responded with a delighted "Oh!" and hurried over, the grace of her floral dress trailing behind her.


    "When did you get here, darling?" she asked, pulling Ste''s small hand into her own. "And why are you alone? Where''s Ronald?"


    Weren''t they supposed toe together?


    Ste replied, "Something came up with my sister, so he went to handle it."


    "Still calling him brother?" Lydia teased affectionately.


    Ste bit her lip, looking down, saying nothing.


    Lydia continued, "You know, you can''t call him that anymore, right?"


    Ste lowered her head further, mumbling, "I''m just used to it."


    "Well, you''ll have to change that habit. He''s soon going to be your husband," Lydia advised kindly.


    Ste and Ronald hadn''t even returned to Portis City yet, but Lottie was already nning the wedding.


    For both the Quinn family and the Lugar family, their status in Ferrond didn''t rely on arranged marriages to strengthen their standing.


    Ste had been raised under the guidance of both families since she was little.


    Initially, they may not have had any specific intentions, but as Ste grew, her dependence on Ronald and his feelings for her became clear to all the elders.


    So eventually, the way they guided her shifted.


    Originally treated like any child, she waster raised to be the future matriarch of the Quinn family.


    Hearing Lydia''s words, Ste murmured, "I know, Nana."


    "You''re such a darling. But remember, no matter how strong a woman is, it''s okay


    to show some softness with her husband," Lydia reassured her.


    They had looked into her life in Portis City once Ronald found her and they were pleased. She was tough and never let anyone take advantage of her, which was exactly the direction they''d hoped for.


    When Lydia felt how cold Ste''s hands were, she couldn''t help but exim, "Why are your hands so cold? Ronald should''ve made sure you wore moreyers. You can''t afford to catch a cold now."


    During pregnancy, catching a cold could mean avoiding many medications, and


    that would be tough.


    Ste replied, "I''m wearing enough."