Every family gathering felt like a marathon to Ste. She darted around the room, serving coffee and drinks, working harder than the hired help-yet in Deanna''s eyes, it was never enough.


    No matter what Deanna said, she had to bite her tongue and nod. Any dissent might earn her a reputation as disrespectful or ill-mannered.


    Ste had always respected Deanna, Haynes'' mother. She thought she should keep the peace and spare Haynes any familial drama.


    But she was done ying nice. She wouldn''t stand Deanna''s disdain anymore, especially not after deciding to leave the past behind.


    "I''m not returning," Ste dered, her voice steady and free of the hesitation that used to color her every word. She no longer feared saying the wrong thing and incurring Deanna''s wrath.


    "And by the way, feel free to kick me out of the O''Brien family. Being your daughter-inw is nothing but a disgrace."


    With that, she hung up, leaving Deanna on the silent phone in shock.


    Next to her, Callie O''Brien noticed her mother''s stunned expression and couldn''t help but ask, "Mom, is Steing over today? I was hoping she''d make some scones. They''re way better than anything our chef can whip up."


    Though Callie wasn''t Ste''s biggest fan, she couldn''t deny Ste''s culinary skills.


    Deanna snapped out of her daze, her anger bubbling to the surface. "What''s gotten into Ste today? She''s got the nerve to hang up on me and talk about being kicked out like a badge of honor!"


    "I must''ve been too soft on hertely-now she thinks she has the upper hand!"


    Callie shrugged, unfazed. "Ste is probably putting on a show. She worked so hard to marry Haynes, she won''t walk away so easily. Besides, they have a kid together."


    She sighed, "But then again, with how Haynes has been carrying on with Rachel, it''s no wonder Ste''s upset. Any outsider would think Rachel is the one wearing the ring."


    "It''s probably her way of staking her im. Now the whole world knows she''s Mrs. O''Brien."


    Deanna sneered, "Mrs. O''Brien, my foot. I''ve never acknowledged her as such. And Rachel? She''s no better. I hear she''s not long for this world, so I''m not bothering with her."


    Deanna took a delicate sip of her coffee, a smirk on her lips. "Let her help ruin whatever''s left of Ste''s rtionship with Haynie."


    Callie looked shocked. "Mom, you''re not seriously thinking of..."


    Deanna cut her off, "With Haynie''s standing and prospects, even if he were divorced with a kid, plenty of eligible women are eager to marry him. And even if they weren''t from wealthy backgrounds, they''d at least be well-educated."


    She let out a disdainful snort. "I was willing to be civil for Keen''s sake, and Ste throws it back in my face? She should take a good look in the mirror."


    Callie knew her mother valued social standing above all. If not that, at least a good education would do. With her pretty face and little else, Ste would never meet Deanna''s standards.


    With Ste''s online antics affecting the O''Brien Group''s stock value, it couldn''t be clearer that Ste''s future was anything but smooth sailing.