bChapter 201 /b

    Ste took the phone, scrolling with the detached efficiency of someone transferring funds. But after a moment, she bsimply /bhanded it bback /b

    Lionel grinned, sweat still beading on his forehead. “D–did it go through? I know a transfer of that amount might take a few minutes bto /b

    Ste let out a soft, humorlessugh, “Lionel, are you serious? Did you actually think I’d give you money?”

    She leaned in, her voice a razor’s edge. “Or did you forget what I just said? I told you I’d let you feel what it’s like to have yourst bhope /bbripped /baway. I’m not transferring a single cent.”

    His smile froze. For a heartbeat, he just gaped at her, pupils dting in dawning horror.

    N reacted first, signaling security. Two men seized Lionel, wrenching him back before he could lunge at Ste.

    “You bitch!” Lionel thrashed against their grip, voice cracking. “Just loan it to me. I’ll pay you back, every penny, I swear!”

    “Pay me back?” Ste arched a brow, as if he’d told a joke. “Let’s be real. You’re millions in debt. Your family’s empire is a sinking ship. What part of that screams ‘good investment‘?”

    She adjusted her zer, her voice dropping to a dangerous calm. “Why should help you, Lionel? After everything you’ve done? If you’d shown me even an ounce of human decency when I returned, maybe things would be different. But this?b” /b

    She gestured to his groveling form. “This is all on you.”

    As she turned toward the corporate tower’s revolving doors, Lionel scrambled forward on his knees. “Ste, please!” His nails scraped against concrete. “They’ll harvest my kidneys… and my liver. I’ll die in some back–alley clinic.”

    The security team intercepted him as Ste stepped inside without a backward nce. The soundproof ss swallowed his screams whole.

    For a moment, Ste paused in the lobby. She’d never imagined herself capable of such icy detachment. The girl who was once so kind now walked away from a man begging for his life.

    But survival had taught her this: indifference wasn’t cruelty, it was body armor forged by every betrayal.

    Her thoughts shattered when N approached, phone in hand. “The stores just called. You’ve received over three hundred floral arrangements already. Mr. Erwin sent fifty to each location.”

    Ste rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched. “Of course he did. The man’s ridiculous. If it weren’t for his espresso machine this morning, I wouldn’t even be vertical.”

    N grinned. “That’s true love right there.”

    “I never thought I’d meet him. Sometimes I wonder…” Ste’s fingers brushed against her wedding band. “If this is all some beautiful dream.”

    “Trust me, ma’am,” N said, “no one dreams about that. Mr. Erwin’s devotion is very real.”

    Ste arched an eyebrow. “Speaking of real rtionships, when are you getting one?”

    N surprised her with a yful wink. “Whenever you decide to y matchmaker, boss.”

    “Consider it done,” Steughed as the elevator doors opened. “I know bexactly /bthe type to handle byou/bb./bb” /b

    As N hurried offb, /bSte’s smile fadedb. /b

    b1523 /bThu 14 bAug /bbCO /b

    The first day’s financial report for the supermarket arrived past 11 PM. Ste couldn’t make much sense of the numbersb, /bbso /bshe bhanded /bthem! to Jordan.

    Jordan scanned the figures and smiled. “Not bad at all. Day one went way better than I expected. The key is consistency. Let’s see bhow /btomorrow goes.”

    “As long as the numbers aren’t disastro

    I’ll keep pushing forward,” Ste said, rubbing her temples. “I’ve assigned bmy /bentire bcorporate /bteam as store managers across the new locations, and none of them have retail experience. They’re all flying blind.”

    Jordan already knew why Ste hadn’t poached seasoned managers frompetitors. She’d exined it before: hiring established bpros /bmeant inheriting rigid, old–school methods, and she refused to engage in cutthroat tactics that could leave others jobless.

    Besides, retaliatory strikes from rivals could crush her fledgling chain before it gained footing.

    “Don’t rush it,” Jordan said, squeezing her shoulder. “Slow and steady.”

    Ste nodded.

    Ste arrived homete, but Mary was still awake, waiting in the dim kitchen light.

    Mary exhaled sharply when Ste walked in. “Every time you leavetely, I get this awful feeling you might note back. I can’t rx buntil /bI see you safe inside this house.”

    Ste pulled Mary into a hug. The housekeeper’s worry lines deepened, but she returned the embrace fiercely. “I’m being careful,” Ste murmured into her shoulder.

    “It’s Andrew and Anna I don’t trust,” Mary muttered. “You watch your back out there.”

    “Always.” Ste nuzzled against her briefly. Though Mary was a few years younger than Ste’ste grandmother, she still carried thatforting grandmotherly presence–a warm reminder that softened the ache of loss.

    Ste hurried back to her room, a sudden difort pulling her toward the bathroom. When she saw the red stain on her underwear, her breath caught. Her period hade.

    For most women, a monthly cycle might be an inconvenience, but for Ste, it was a triumph. Her body was finally healing. Two years had passed without a single period, and now, here it was.

    She rushed out, her excitement loud enough to draw both Mary and Jordan from their rooms. They appeared in the hallway, tense until they saw the smile on her face.

    “What’s wrong?” Jordan asked first.

    “I–I got my period.”

    Mary’s eyes instantly welled up. She hurried forward, hands trembling. “Are you serious?”

    “Yes, I just went to the bathroom and noticed something different. When I checked, there bit /bwas.b” /b

    Mary pulled her into a tight embrace. “This is good. So good. It means your body is finally recovering.”

    “It might not be much yet, but it’s a start.”

    712

    Jordan suddenly straightened. “Wait, we don’t have any pads or tampons, do we? Hold on, I’ll go get some

    Before Ste could ask if he even knew what kind she used, he was already out the door, car keys in hand.

    She hadn’t needed supplies in so long that the house had none stocked. The doctors had said her cycle might return eventuallyb, /bbut they couldn’t predict when. Now that it had, it was proof. Her body was finally nearing normal againi. /i

    After everything, even her time in prison, she’d assumed the damage might be permanent. But here was hope.

    Mary studied her, a knowing smile forming. “Ste… this might mean you could have a baby someday.”

    ‘A baby?‘ The idea had always felt impossible. Without a regr cycle, her ovtion had been erratic at best. ‘But now… is it something! could actually consider?‘

    Mary’s mind was already racing ahead. “When the doctores tomorrow, we’ll have him check you again.”

    Ste’s heart swelled with anticipation.