bChapter /bb196 /b

    bThough /bbKevin /bbwas /ba bdecent /bbguy/bb, /bbMary /bbhad /bbalways /bpreferred Jordan. To bput /bit bluntly, Jordan had bno /bfamily leftb, /band bthe /bbso/bb–/bbcalled /bfamily stalls. bhad /bbmight /bbas /bwell bnot /bbexist/bb. /bAt least that meant fewerplications in their rtionship,

    b“/bbBut /bbthe /bCarvers? Everyst one of them is rotten. Even if Ste ends up with Kevin, how long can he really protect her? bA /bdayb? /bbTwoT /b30oner bor /b/divter, they’ll find a way to hurt her again,‘ Mary thought.

    Still, Mary politely bid Kevin goodbye, reminding him to drive safely. Once he was gone, she turned to Ste with a pained expressionb. /bb“/bbI’d /bhoped marrying Jordan would finally put an end to all this. But I was wrong.”

    Mary was the only family Ste had left in this world. “Don’t worry about me,” Ste said, forcing a tired smile. “I’ve endured worse. bAnd /bthis time, Anna’s the one suffering.

    “Jordan had her arrested. She’s going through exactly what they put me through in prison. Trust me, she’s not having a good time.”

    Mary sighed. “If only they could lock her up for good.”

    A thought suddenly struck Ste. “Mary, listen. If Anna ever calls you, don’t answer. Don’t believe a word she says. Don’t engage with her at all. Understand?”

    “You think she’d try to kill me?” Mary asked, eyes widening.

    “Anna’s far more twisted than I ever realized,” Ste said darkly. “After what I just did to her, she won’t let it go. If she can’t get to me directly, she’ll go after the people I care about. And you’re the only one left.”

    Mary’s face hardened with resolve. “I’ll be careful. I won’t even leave the house unless I have to.”

    “Please,” Ste whispered, gripping her hands. “I can’t lose anyone else.”

    Mary nodded, then hesitated. “Ms. Hayes, do you think your grandmother found out what Anna had done? Is that why Anna killed her?b” /b

    “It had to be part of it,” Ste said bitterly. “But even if you identally cross paths with Anna, act like you know nothing. She’s ruthless.”

    Ste couldn’t fathom it. They’d grown up together. After everything she’d suffered, she could have turned her rage against the world. But she hadn’t. Instead, it was Anna–the spoiled, doted–on favorite–who’d be the monster.

    ‘Why?‘ Ste would never understand.

    Jordan slept straight through the evening, his phone buzzing multiple times without rousing him, proof of just how exhausted he was. Thankfully, Ste handled everything in his stead.

    By the time he woke, Ste had regained enough strength to stand and walk to the bathroom on her ownb. /bJordan, still groggy, bolted upright

    in rm when he noticed her absence.

    Mary intercepted him with a knowing smile. “Rx, Mr. Erwin. She’s much better now, thanks to you taking such good care of her.”

    Jordan exhaled in relief. “What time is it?”

    “A little past six.” Summer sunlight still streamed through the windows despite thete hour.

    Jordan was surprised. “I slept that long? Why didn’t anyone wake me?” ollibHayes’s /bborders/b” bMary /bbsaid/b. “She binsisted /bbyou /bbneeded /bbthe /bbrest /bafter bforty /bbeight /bbhours /bbwithout /bdeep said only manner can binterrupting /bbyou/bb. /bbShe /bbadded /bthat Ste bhad /bmanaged his affairs bseamlessly /bin f babsence/b. /li/ol

    bfaint /bbsmirk /bbtugged /bbat /bbJordan’s /bblips/b. “bMary/bb… /bdon’t you think Ste’s grown more protective of metelyb?/bb” /b

    bHe’d /bbonce /bconfessed his unchecked feelings for Ste only to Mary and herte grandmother. Now, with the old bwoman /bbgone/b, bMary /bhad bbe /bhis sole confidante. She was the family he’d adopted through loving Ste.

    b“/bbShe’s /bnever cared for anyone like this,” Mary mused. “Not even Lionel. Oh, and Andrew’s been located.”

    bNo /bmore Mr. Hayes. The title died when he’d betrayed his own daughter. Some sins stripped a man of dignity, of the right to breathe bthe /bbsame /bair as decent people.

    Jordan wasn’t surprised his men had found Andrew. Their efficiency was unquestionable. But Ste’s prolonged absence in the bathroom nagged at him.

    “Ste-?” He approached the door just as it swung open.

    “What’s wrong?” She stood there adjusting the wig Mary had brought earlier, synthetic strands falling neatly over her shoulders.

    Jordan’s gaze swept over her, lingering until he confirmed she was unharmed.

    Mary chuckled. “And here you were, thinking she was the clingy one. Look who’s hovering now.”

    Jordan met Ste’s eyes. Of course he hovered. She was his everything.

    Ste suddenly stepped aside. “You need the bathroom? Go ahead.”

    As she and Mary settled on the bed, Mary checked her watch. “It’s gettingte. You two must be starving. I’ll grab dinner.”

    “Just enough for the three of us,” Ste reminded her.

    “Got it.” Mary headed out.

    Jordan stepped out of the bathroom just as his phone buzzed. When he nced at the screen, a smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

    “You look pleased,” Ste remarked, raising an eyebrow.

    “Oh, I am,” Jordan said, handing her the phone. “Take a look.”

    Ste’s eyes flickered over the screen. There was a video of Andrew, beaten and broken, begging for mercy.

    “I’ll do anything. Just stop! Please, no more!” Andrew sobbed, his voice cracking. He even copsed to the ground, groveling like a coward. Pathetic.

    Ste’s lips thinned. Men like him were spineless until they got a taste iof /ipower again. Then they’d turn vicious in a heartbeat.

    In the video, a cold voice responded, “Rx, Mr. Hayes. This is just the beginning. Our boss said you’ll endure triple what you put St through in prison. Consider it… payback.”

    Andrew feigned unconsciousness, a weak attempt to escape. But it was useless. A bucket of ice water sshed over him, jolting him back bto /breality. There was no running from this.

    She might be called ungrateful and cruel by people, but watching her own father suffer like this? It sent a dark, satisfied thrill bthrough /bbSte’s /b

    veins.

    chanter 196

    in

    Jordan’s phone buzzed again, real, Got It bthe /bbanswered /bbriskly before hanging up More good news. Kevin just card there confirmed bthe /bdector’s death bwasn’t /blinked bto /byou.” He bpaused/b. “Bad news? They still bcan’t /bbpin /bit on Anna