Questions came at Jeremy like a machine gun.

Jeremy's mood immediately took a nosedive. "Is that what you've been learning from hanging out with Ursula all these years? How to talk trash about others?"

Sirena stammered, "No, I didn't mean..."

"She's Ronald's foster sister."

"What?"

At Jeremy's revelation, Sirena's mouth formed a perfect O of surprise.

But Jeremy was in no mood to elaborate. Ever since Sirena had grown close to Ursula because of Jaxon, every word out of her mouth seemed to give him a headache.

It probably started when she became a regular at the Larkin household, and now it felt as if her tongue had developed a mind of its own.

Jeremy had been in a good mood earlier, but thanks to Sirena, irritation was quickly replacing it.

"Stay locked up!" he snapped.

With her tendency to stir trouble, he was convinced she needed to be kept out of the loop until Mr. Quinn and Stella left Portis City.

Even though the contract had already been signed. If Ronald changed his mind, he couldn't do anything!

To play it safe, Sirena had to be kept out of the picture.

After ending the call, Jeremy immediately dialed the butler. "If she gets her hands on her phone again, you're fired."

"Yes, sir," came the flustered but respectful reply.

Jeremy hung up and turned to Harper. "Forget about picking out a gift. A girl raised by Mr. Quinn? She's seen it all. If we don't impress her, it'll just irritate Mr. Quinn." Better safe than sorry.

Harper nodded. "Okay."

Finally, she let out a relieved sigh.

...

Over in Spring Hill, Stella was tossing and turning in her sleep.

Her restless sleeping habits, combined with her recent drunken state, had Ronald on edge. Concerned for her well-being, he decided to keep watch in her room. Sitting on the sofa with his laptop in hand, he busied himself with work.

As Stella turned, she kicked the blanket aside, exposing her slender legs under her nightgown. Her ankles, pink and delicately shaped, caught Ronald's eye, stirring a faint warmth inside him.

Setting his laptop on the coffee table, Ronald got up and moved to cover her up. But Stella had the blanket firmly pinned under her,

blking it impossible to pull back

over her!

it

Resigned, he gently lifted her to free the blanket. The movement, however, roused her from sleep.

Blinking groggily, her eyes met his as she murmured softly, "Ronald."

Her voice was still laced with the scent of wine, despite having been fed a sobering soup earlier, which seemed ineffective.

Ronald let out a quiet hum in acknowledgment and carefully tucked the blanket back over her.

Just as he was about to stand up, Stella suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck.

Ronald paused. "Hmm?"

"Do you like me?"

There was a brief silence in Ronald's gaze. "Still drunk?"

"Do you like me or not?"

Ronald finally said, "I do."

"How much?"

Ronald found himself at a loss for words.

Drunk Stella was particularly clingy, especially now.

He leaned in closer, his warm breath brushed against her neck, touching her flushed cheeks with a hint of huskiness in his voice, "How much do you like me, Star?"

"So much, so very much."

Stella's soft reply, still laced with a hint of drunken haze, melted the last of Ronald's resolve.

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