Uriah was practically sick with anger.

"I'm not really sure," Stella said, her voice deceptively innocent. She couldn't do it, and she didn't know who could. It was clear she was giving him the runaround.

Because of Ronald's involvement, Uriah couldn't afford to be too aggressive with Stella. In the end, he hung up in a fit of rage.

When Ronald returned home, he found Stella pouting and muttering to herself. “If he's so capable, why is he calling everyone? With all the time he's wasting nagging people, he could have already figured out what kind of person Leslie truly is!" she grumbled.

Thinking about how Tegan had said Uriah always sided with Leslie, no matter the circumstances or how much Tegan was hurt, made her fume. That kind of unconditional trust was infuriating.

Ronald handed his coat to the butler and sat down beside Stella, taking her soft hand in his. "What are you so angry about now, hmm?"

“It's Uriah! He still has no clue what kind of person Leslie really is,” Stella complained. "That blind faith... You have to choose who you give it to! Does he really not know how much Leslie has hurt Tegan over the years, or does he just refuse to believe it?"

Ronald stroked her soft hair affectionately. "Didn't we agree you wouldn't get angry while you're pregnant?"

Stella pouted. "I can't help it." Anyone dealing with a person like that would find it hard to control their temper.

"So, how did you handle him?" Ronald asked.

"I just told him I couldn't do it, I didn't know, and I wasn't sure."

Ronald paused. The classic 'I don't know, I don't care' routine? A slow chuckle escaped him, and his gaze on Stella softened even more.

"What are you laughing at?" she grumbled.

"That's an excellent response," he said with a grin.

Stella fell silent.

Ronald pulled her into his arms, squeezing her hand gently and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. "You've already driven Uriah half-mad with worry, so don't torment yourself, alright?”

Stella raised an eyebrow. "He's worried?"

"Not just worried, he's desperate," Ronald confirmed. "Skye Yoder was ruthless with Leslie. She's definitely seriously injured, and you know how much Uriah dotes on her. He must be frantic right now."

Upon hearing this, Stella's resolve hardened. "Then you absolutely cannot let him see her. He needs to learn that when you spoil someone rotten and refuse to discipline them, someone else will eventually do it for you!"

If Leslie was this malicious, it was because the entire Horner family had enabled her for years. They all seemed to believe they could protect her from any trouble she caused. Well, this time, they would get a taste of what it felt like to be powerless.

Listening to Stella's indignant words, Ronald pinched her cheek. "Are you sure about this? Once you go down this path, it's truly over between Tegan and Uriah."

“Let it be over. Why keep someone like that around?"

"Is that what Tegan thinks too?"

"It must be. If she didn't, she

wouldn't have gone to Yoreland and

taken a job at the hospital there." Tegan's actions spoke louder than

words. If she still had any hope for Uriah, she would never have deft Portis City.

“Just make sure you don't let Uriah find any loopholes," Stella insisted, snuggling

into Ronald's embrace. Seeing her cute, determined expression, he gently

squeezed the back of her neck.

And so, Stella's stance was set in stone: Leslie was not getting out.