When Ronald brought Ste into the cozy room, they found Levi fiddling with the pot Ste had brought him from her trip. The grin on his face was so wide it could have split his cheeks.


    Ste shot Ronald a nce, and he snickered under his breath. "Someone''s pretending not to care."


    Ste had just told Ronald over the phone that Levi seemed less than thrilled with her gift. But looking at that happy grin now-disappointed? Seriously?


    Ronald cleared his throat, and Levi snapped out of his reverie, turning around to face them. The moment he spotted Ste, he wiped the smile off his face and put the pot down, all business.


    "Don''t you think that just because you brought me this thing, I''ll forgive you for disappearing for three years," Levi huffed, arms crossed.


    "Three years! Do you even realize how long that is? You think that''s something you can just say sorry for and move on?"


    Ste pouted. “But you literally just said we were good, not even five minutes ago!"


    How could he switch up so quickly?


    Levi grumbled, "That was just so your grandma wouldn''t get upset. I haven''t forgiven you."


    "What if I get you another pot? Maybe a bigger one?" Ste offered, only half joking.


    Levi just snorted and turned his back to them.


    Ste, undeterred, held up three fingers. "How about three pots? That''s my final offer!"


    She''d never bought anyone that many presents at once-except Ronald, of course. For him, it was always hard to resist picking up little things she thought he''d like.


    "Order them now," Levi said, not turning around.


    Ste couldn''t help butugh. "Deal, I''ll get right on it."


    She''d actually already messaged the shop owner to send over a few more just in


    case.


    With Levi pacified, the mood lightened. The group headed to The Lugar Castle for lunch, lingering until well after two before finally heading out.


    Lydia, even though she clearly favored Yvonne, still treated Ste warmly, shoving extra goodies into her hands as they were leaving.


    In the Car


    Yvonne sat up front, scrolling through her phone. "Wow. Mom really handles everything, huh?"


    Ste looked up. "Handles what?"


    "You and my brother," Yvonne replied, ncing back. "I was kinda worried people would talk behind your backs about the whole thing. But now? It''s all handled. Mom fixed it."


    Ste blinked. "People talking...?"


    Beforeing back from Portis City, she''d been nervous about gossip. But after seeing her mom and grandma''s reactions, she realized-why should she care about what outsiders think? The only opinions that mattered were those of the people she loved. If her mom and grandma disapproved... Well, that would actually hurt.


    But now, hearing Yvonne say her mom had smoothed things over, Ste couldn''t help but ask, "How''d she do that?"


    "You didn''t hear this morning?" Ronald ruffled Ste''s hair fondly.


    Ste''s mind shed back to that morning,ing downstairs and catching her mom on the phone, saying something about, "My daughter-inw is all grown up


    now..."


    That was her mom''s way of dealing with things-making a public statement so nobody dared to say a word against Ste.


    Ste felt a lump in her throat and snuggled closer to Ronald. He brushed her cheek gently. "Touched?"


    "Yeah," she whispered, genuinely moved.


    Back in Portis City, the Larkin family had shown her just how cold blood ties could be. Family by name, but nothing more. But with the Quinns and the Lugars, she felt nothing but warmth. That''s why she''d never called Cloudia Lawson "Mom" or Jaxon Larkin "Brother." Mom, Dad, brother-those titles belonged to Ronald''s family, not the Larkins.


    She wanted nothing to do with them.


    Buzz, buzz. Yvonne''s phone vibrated, snapping Ste out of her thoughts.


    "Hello?" Yvonne answered.


    "Ms. Quinn, it''s Manny."


    Yvonne nearly hung up-she''d promised her brother she wouldn''t get mixed up


    with Dan''s people. But Manny seemed to sense her hesitation.


    "Our boss got beat up. Again."


    Yvonne''s jaw dropped. "Seriously?!"


    Ste and Ronald exchanged looks.


    The way Manny said "again," you could hear the exasperation in his voice. Clearly, this wasn''t the first time.


    Yvonne sighed. "What, do you want me to pay for his hospital bills? I''ll say it now —if it wasn''t me who hit him, I''m not paying a dime."