Susan had just seen the news from Oak Falls and was instantly gripped by fear. She bolted to Ronan''s ce for safety.


    When Ronan learned the whole story, he didn''t hold back. He gave her an earful, and not without reason. He wasn''t so much worried about Susan as he was about himself.


    Casper wasn''t just any guy. The woman Susan had wronged wasn''t merely his ex-wife; she was also the mother of his son.


    "How could you be so reckless? If someone had died, how would you make it right? Have you lost your mind? The Torres and the Welton families just started doing business together, and you''re already losing your cool..." Ronan fumed, pacing with his hands on his hips, nearly forgetting the half-eaten steak on his te. Wasn''t this ruining his big opportunity?ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "...So what if he still has ties to his ex-wife? To climb to the top, to be thedy of a leading household, you need to turn a blind eye. And you couldn''t even manage that, resorting to drugging? Where did you even get such a substance?" Susan hadn''t wanted to resort to drugging herself. But Casper had pushed her too far. She''d lost her temper in the moment.


    "Someone gave it to me."


    "Someone gave it to you? Who would give you such a thing?" Ronan eyed his daughter skeptically. "Have you gotten involved with some shady characters?"


    "No," Susan murmured, her lips tight, barely daring to breathe. "It was Aaron who gave me the drug. He used to be a doctor, said the drug wouldn''t show up in any tests. Little did I know he was deceiving me."


    If she ever saw him again, she swore she''d p him hard.


    Ronan, looking at his foolish and impulsive daughter, didn''t know what to say. All he could hope for was that Casper wouldn''t be too unforgiving.


    *Ding dong.*


    The doorbell rang.


    Susan shrank back, scared. "Dad, is that Casper?"


    "Now you''re scared? Where was your brain when you did it?" Ronan, calming himself slightly, got up to open the door.


    Dillon stood outside, bowing respectfully. "Mr. Ronan, Mr. Casper sent me to escort Ms. Susan back to the Welton Estate. Is she here?"


    "She''s not feeling well, already asleep. Maybe another time," Ronan replied evasively.


    "Is that so?" Dillon didn''t seem to take the hint to leave. "Would you mind waking her up, then? It wouldn''t be good to keep Mr. Casper waiting."


    Ronan frowned in displeasure,


    having already tried to decline


    politely. Clearly, Dillon wasn''t taking no for an answer. Without wanting to be rude by sending him away directly, Ronan asked, "Is there


    something urgent?"


    "Mr. Casper indeed has some important matters to discuss with Ms. Susan. If you could please fetch her." Dillon''s polite yet insistent smile left no room for refusal.


    With a grunt, Ronan went back inside. "Susan, Casper is here to take you back to the Welton family. Will you go?"


    "I''m sick. I don''t want to go back," Susan said, feigning a nasal voice.


    Dillon, hearing clearly, cleared his throat and raised his voice. "Ms. Susan, it would be unfortunate to make Mr. Caspere up himself. You know his temper."


    "Even if I''m sick, it''s no good?"


    "I''m afraid not." Dillon''s tone was firm and unwavering.


    Whether Susan wanted to go or not wasn''t up to her, nor Ronan.


    "Why not?" Susan''s temper red, unwilling to listen to anyone. "Why does he get tomand, and I must obey?"


    "Mr. Casper mentioned that if Ms.


    Susan cannot be persuaded, he would simply halt the project Mr. Ronan is working on. I believe, Mr. Ronam." Dillon purposefully fixed his gaze on Ronan, "...would agree if necessary."


    "Susan, go back with Mr. Casper. Whatever it is, you can talk it over," Ronan reasoned, unwilling to let a multi-million dor project fall


    through because of his daughtel


    stubbornness. "I believe Mr. Casper


    is reasonable."


    "Dad..." Susan looked at her father in disbelief.