Ste had nned to head downstairs with Yvonne.
She''d just called out for her when her phone rang a number she didn''t recognize.
But since it was from the Ferrond area, Ste picked up. "Hello?"
The moment she answered, Jaxon''s anxious, guilt-ridden voice came through.
"Star, it''s me."
Ste''s face immediately darkened.
She was about to hang up.
Jaxon must''ve sensed it, because he rushed out, "Don''t hang up, Star, please. I''m begging you."
Ste could practically feel his spine melting away, even through the phone. The Jaxon she remembered always looked down his nose at people—especially her. Now, hearing him say "please," she realized even the proudest men could crumble when cornered.
Of course, she knew this was just an act. If he didn''t get what he wanted, he''d go right back to being his old self.
She narrowed her eyes, a coldugh slipping out. "Begging me? Well, isn''t that something. Never thought I''d see someone from the Larkin family stoop so low."
During her two years in Portis City, she''d seen firsthand how the Larkins acted- always looking down on everyone else, like they owned the ce.
But now, here was Jaxon, so humble it was almost pitiful.
Ste made sure to let her sarcasm shine through. After all the ways they''d trampled her before, she figured it was only fair to give them a taste of their own medicine.
Jaxon took a shaky breath. "We know the truth now. I''ve kicked Urs out of the family for what she did to you."
Ste almost snorted. "Oh, really? You did it for me, huh?" She couldn''t help butugh. "Funny,ing from you. Isn''t it more like you''re just trying to save your own skin?"
She knew exactly what games the Larkins yed. "You always knew the truth, didn''t you?"
She cut him off before he could answer, letting the usation hang. The silence on his end was thick, broken only by his heavy breathing.
She continued, her tone icy. "Don''t pretend you''re doing this for me. You''re just trying to clean up your own mess."
Like she''d ever be touched by their sudden change of heart. She never had been, especially not by people who meant nothing to her.
Jaxon''s voice was shaky. "Star, I—"
She cut him off again. “After all, your dad''s little fling with her aunt gave you a set of twins, didn''t it?"
The line went dead quiet.
"Scandalous, isn''t it?" Ste couldn''t help butugh, the sound sharp and unsympathetic.
Jaxon was standing outside the county jail, lookingpletely defeated. He''d just seen Cloudia. The trial was quick-attempted
murder, a long sentence. N
matter
what strings Jaxon tried to pull, he couldn''t get her out.
Hearing Ste''s mockingughter on the line, Jaxon clenched his fists. "That
woman tore your family apart too, you know."
"Oh, my family?" Ste''s voice dripped with irony. "Mr. Larkin, have you forgotten
what you said to me the first time we met?"
Jaxon went silent.
He remembered. That day, Urs was in tears, afraid Ste would resent her for "taking her ce."
Jaxon, ever the knight in shining
armor had told Ste: "Maybe you''re the Larkin''s real daughter, but Urs grew up here. She''ll always be
family. If you just mind your own business, you''ll get what you
deserve. But if you insist on fighting
with Urs, just know she''ll always be closer to us."
He hadn''t said it outright, but the message was clear: when it came down to it,
Ste would always be the outsider.
"Remember now?" Ste asked, her voice cool and measured.
Jaxon felt a mix of guilt and anger at
her attitude. He clenched his jaw then, voice cracking, said, "I''m sorry.
I really am. I''m the one who owes you an apology. But please, don''t make things harder on Mom."
Sorry after sorry rolled down the line, but Ste justughed colder. "Too bad,
Jaxon. Your apologies mean nothing to me."
"And by the way-I''m not the one refusing to let her go. That''s thew now, not me."
Jaxon fell silent.
"I can''t help you," Ste said, and hung up.