After three long years of running, Ste knew she was in for a stern talking-to.


    Levi stared at her, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and concern, as if he could chew her out just with his gaze alone.


    Everyone had been worried sick about her all those years she was away, scared she''d run into trouble.


    Even though theyter found out that she held her own against the folks in Portis City, the anxiety had gnawed at their hearts.


    Facing her grandfather''s icy stare, Ste quickly averted her eyes. "Grandpa, I know I messed up."


    He huffed, “Hiding away, were you? Scared of just one Xander? Where''s your backbone?"


    Ste stayed silent, but it hadn''t been just Xander''s trouble she was dealing with. There were forces lurking, eyeing the Quinn family like wolves.


    With Ronald just one distraction away from disaster, she''d been genuinely terrified.


    Levi snorted, "What''s thest name of that family in Portis City?"


    "Larkin," she ventured.


    "Not them," he snapped, ring. The Larkins were nothing.


    The way they had treated Ste was appalling, and if any child they taught turned


    out that way, it was a collective failure.


    "The Quarry family?" Ste tried again.


    "Exactly," Levi''s voice was sharp. "If his precious one hadn''te back, you wouldn''t have really married him, would you?"


    Just thinking about how close the wedding had been made Levi''s chest tighten with anger.


    Ste mumbled, "She''de back."


    Levi raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know that?"


    "She can''t stand seeing me happy."


    Lydia, who had been listening quietly, eximed, "What?"


    Levi was speechless. Was that really the exnation she was giving them?


    But Ste was telling the truth. She''d been sure Urs would dash back to Portis City to stop the wedding.


    Even if Urs hadn''t made it, Ste had backup ns. She''d ensured the tide of public opinion turned against the Quarrys and the Larkins.


    During that time, all the gossip and scandal had drowned Urs and Yorick, leaving Ste''s name unscathed.


    She''d yed her cards perfectly.


    "Then why''d you try on the wedding dress?" Levi demanded.


    To him and Lydia, trying on a


    feelings for that


    dress meant she had


    for that blond-haired


    boy, which was in nd-hairedet


    Lydia chimed in, "Yeah, Star, why did you try on the dress? Exin it to us."


    The moment Yorick and the wedding dress were mentioned, Lydia''s demeanor turned serious.


    Ste pouted, "The dress was designed by my sister, I just wanted to try it on."


    Stuck far from home in Portis City, unable to return, she couldn''t resi


    connection to family. Conteling a Yvonne''s creations


    O family.


    Levi''s eyes widened. "Yvonne?"


    "Yeah, Yvonne designed it. I just wanted to see how it looked," Ste exined.


    Why did everyone assume she tried it on for Yorick?


    With the wedding a week away, anyone would think so.


    Lydia and Levi exchanged a nce. "Not for that blond guy?"


    Ste quickly denied, "No, no way."


    Yorick wasn''t even blond.


    The thought still made her angry. She''d torn the dress to shreds in a fit of rage when Urs was mentioned


    even asked for


    tion.


    Since that car ident, her disdain for Urs was deep-seated and vicious.


    Hearing Ste''s exnation, her grandparents seemed a bit relieved.


    "Fine. But if I find out otherwise, you''re in big trouble," Lydia warned.


    Levi added sternly, "No lying."


    "It''s the truth," Ste insisted.


    Honestly, with Yorick being such a goofball, only Urs would want to put on a wedding dress for him.


    Now, who in Portis City would want to marry him?