Quinn Castle

Ste was sitting on the edge of the couch, nervously nibbling on her sleeve, her eyes red from crying. When Lottie walked in and heard the full story from the butler, her temper red instantly.

“Find that witch,” she snapped, her voice sharp as a whip. “I want her name on my desk, and I want it fast."

The butler nodded, already halfway out the door. "We''ve got folks looking into it as we speak."

"When you find her, don''t bother bringing her here for tea. Take care of it," Lottie growled, her jaw clenched tight.

He nodded again and hurried away.

Ste, still sniffling, nced up at Lottie with anxious eyes. "She''s pregnant," she whispered.

Lottie rolled her eyes, not missing a beat. "Who cares? You don''t screw around with my family and expect me to care if you''re knocked up. I''ll deal with her myself."

Ste just stared at her, momentarily speechless.

Lottie was so furious she grabbed the positive pregnancy test sitting on the table and smashed it against the marble countertop.

"In three days, I want that woman dragged in front of Star. Let her exin herself," Lottie spat, pacing the room like a lioness.

Ste shrank back, startled by the outburst.fn8b36 ?????? ???? Find?Novel/fn8b36

Lottie caught herself and softened, hurrying over to sit beside Ste. She reached for her hand, voice gentler. "Honey, you''re pregnant. Your hormones are all over the ce. Do you really think your husband would do something like this?"

"You''ve known him since you were both kids," Lottie added.

Ste''s voice was small. "He''s not picking up my calls."

Lottie raised an eyebrow. "And that''s got you all worked up, huh?”

Ste hesitated, chewing her lip. Was she worried? Did she trust him?

She did trust Ronald, deep down. But there had always been women trying to get close to him. Justst month at that charity g, Melissa Norton had been a little too friendly with Ronald for Ste''s liking.

Lottie saw her daughter-inw''s

silence and sighed. "It''s normal,

sweetheart. When I was pregnant I sweart thought your father was

cheating every time he waste for te for dinner. It''s the hormones, trust me."  s

She knew Ronald wouldn''t do something so stupid. Lottie was furious mostly because someone had dared to pull this kind of stunt right under her nose. If this was happening now, with Ste safely at home, what had her poor daughter-inw endured all those years living alone abroad?  s

Her heart ached at the thought.

"Even if something happened, I''m here for you. I''ll always have your back, okay?"

Ste took a shaky breath, feeling herself calm down under Lottie''s reassuring presence. "Mom, I don''t know what''s wrong with metely. I

can''t sto

cry at everything. And I thinking about the worst-case scenario."

s

Lottie pulled her into a hug. "That''s pregnancy, honey. It''s a wild ride. But you''re doing great, I promise."

With Lottie''sfort, Ste finally began to settle down.

Not long after, Ste''s phone buzzed. Ronald''s name shed on the screen.

She reached for it, but Lottie snatched it up first. "You got some nerve, young man. How could you let this mess happen?"

On the other end, Ronald sounded tense. "Put Star on the phone."

"She just stopped crying. I finally got her calmed down. When are youing home?" Lottie demanded.

"I''m already on my way to the airport. Give her the phone."

Hearing that, Lottie rxed a little and handed the phone to Ste. "Here, your husband''sing home."

She''d been hoping that with Ste pregnant with triplets, she and Ronald wouldn''t be attached at the hip all day. She knew her son-he''d waited years for Ste, and now he was making up for lost time.

She hadn''t expected that the moment he left for a business trip, chaos would erupt at home.

Ste took the phone, pressing it to her ear. Her lips quivered. “Honey,” she said, her voice breaking.

Ronald''s voice was gentle. "Why are you crying? Did someone upset you?"