Chapter 201

Stella had slept peacefully through it all. No matter the turmoil the Quarry and Larkin families had found themselves in, she remained untouched by the mayhem.

She was up at the crack of dawn, planning to head to her studio. But instead, Ronald took her to the hospital.

Stella was puzzled. “Why does Old Mrs. Zeller want to see me?”

Old Mrs. Zeller, the elderly lady who had previously helped Ronald at the hospital had called him last night, expressing a desire to meet Stella.

And so, bright and early, Ronald had brought Stella over.

Ronald said, “Probably because she’s taken a liking to you.”

“Huh? But we’ve only met twice. Does she have a grandson or something?”

It’s often the case that when elderly women take a special interest in a young woman, matchmaking is usually their intention.

Ronald chuckled.

Affectionately pinching Stella’s cheek, he said, “If that was the reason, do you think I’d bring you here?”

Stella was left speechless.

Well, no, of course not.

She remembered back in Ferrowland, when she was just fifteen or sixteen, how the noble families had nearly broken down the Quinn family’s door, all in hopes of securing a marriage alliance with her.

The Quinn family heir and their biological daughter were out of reach, so many had set their sights on Stella. Unfortunately, all were turned away by Ronald on the grounds that she was still too young!

Back then, she had indeed been young, but what about now?

Thinking this, Stella couldn’t help but give Ronald a few extra glances.

The car came to a stop.

Ronald said, “Let Idris accompany you.”

“Oh.”

Knowing Idris was there for additional plans besides driving, Stella hadn’t expected it was to accompany her to see Old Mrs. Zeller.

Idris got out of the car and respectfully opened the door for Stella.

She glanced at Ronald. “Then off I go.”

“Wait.”

Just as Stella was about to step out of the car, Ronald suddenly called out to her, his voice tinged with a restrained desire.

Ronald pulled her back in, her back against the car door as he reached towards her chest.

“Ron… Ronald….”

However, Ronald was merely adjusting her clothing.

Stella was at a loss for words.

Stella’s face turned even redder.

Looking up, Ronald saw Stella’s flushed face and stiffened. “Why are you blushing?”

Shoot! His sudden move had made her think he was about to do something else.

Catching on, a hint of amusement appeared in Ronald’s eyes. “Did you think I was about to do something to you?”

Stella’s already red face turned a deeper shade at Ronald’s words.

“Stop it.” She quickly turned to leave the car.

But as she did, Ronald caught her wrist, pulling gently, and Stella found herself crashing into his embrace.

“You…”

A low chuckle escaped Ronald, his voice coming from above.

“So you’ve grown up, even learned to be shy.”

“Stop talking.”

Ronald pinched her cheek. “Tell me, what did you think I was going to do?”

“I don’t know, stop asking.”

The embarrassing thoughts that had flashed through her mind in that instant, she couldn’t let Ronald know.

Chapter 202

If he wasn’t into her, she’d be the butt of the joke forever.

Being a joke or things falling into place naturally, Stella feared becoming the former and didn’t dare gamble on the latter.

“I’ll go see Old Mrs. Zeller myself. Why don’t you have Idris keep you company?”

Right now, Stella couldn’t face anyone familiar. Breaking free from Ronald’s embrace, she jumped out of the car like a bat out of hell, not daring to look back, and ran off as fast as she could.

Watching her lively departure, Ronald’s smile deepened.

Idris glanced in the direction Stella had gone. “Ms. Quinn is all grown up now.”

“Grown up? She’s still a little goofball,” Ronald’s tone was full of indulgence.

Idris couldn’t help but give him a look, thinking that teasing Stella like this might backfire on him someday.

But then he thought better of it; as long as his boss is happy.

“Go after her,” Ronald said. “Don’t let those Larkin folks bully her.”

“Roger that.”

Idris nodded and followed.

He figured, who in the Larkin family could bully Stella? She’d probably be the death of them.

That kick she gave Yorick? He’d probably need another hospital run.

Yorick was a mess, with a broken hand, a leg injury, and his face turning blue. Probably internal injuries too, basically bruised from head to toe.

…

Stella didn’t really want to come to the hospital, especially since visiting Old Mrs. Zeller meant walking past Ursula’s room. What that old lady saw in her, she didn’t know.

Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she heard a commotion not far away.

“Let me out! I want to leave, move!”

“Yeah, what right do you have to keep us here? Let us go.”

Stella was tempted to turn back.

From a distance, Stella saw several suited bodyguards outside Ursula’s door. Judging by their reaction, they weren’t sent by Blaise Larkin for protection.

It made sense, given the Quarry family’s current disdain for Yorick and Ursula’s association, not just Yorick’s parents, but four other elders were against it too.

The elevator next to Stella dinged, and Idris stepped out. “Miss, let’s go.”

She walked past without sparing Cloudia and Ursula a second glance. In her mind, the Larkin family was already history, since the disownment letters had been sent.

Blocking Stella’s path, she said, “I have something to ask you.”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me, ma’am, do I know you?”

Cloudia was taken aback.

Ma’am? Is that how she referred to her now?

Thinking of the public disownment and the ongoing uproar, with the whole Larkin family becoming the laughingstock of Portis City, Cloudia was seething.

“Stella, I agreed to your disownment, but why make it such a public spectacle?”

Now the whole city knew, turning the entire Larkin family into a joke in Portis City. From last night until now, Blaise had called her three times, pressing her to sort this out. Even the Larkin Group was affected.

These bodyguards by the Quarry family were undoubtedly because of this mess.

Stella smirked. “Didn’t I say? I was just saving you all from leeching off me in the future.”

Chapter 203

She already stated this in the phone call—how many times did she have to repeat it for her to understand?

At that, Cloudia’s breath hitched! She was visibly struggling to keep her composure. “You, you…”

Right, she had used the same excuse over the phone, and here she was, using it again.

Stella was done engaging in this pointless conversation and attempted to walk past her.

However, Ursula blocked her way. “Star, what exactly did you say to the Quarry family? Why are they treating me like this?”

Stella remained silent. Idris didn’t say a word either.

As soon as Ursula voiced her concern, Cloudia’s gaze sharpened as she turned to Stella. “Yeah, what did you tell the Quarry family? Why did they send so many bodyguards over here?”

All these bodyguards were here to keep an eye on Ursula.

Stella glanced at them briefly before her gaze settled on Ursula. “You really think too highly of yourself.”

What did she say to the Quarry family? Please!

“Ursula, you don’t still believe that your precious Yorick and the Quarry family are something I’d covet, do you?”

“You…”

Ursula was at a loss for words. Facing Stella’s gaze, she clenched her teeth. “If not you, then who?”

Cloudia was livid upon hearing this.

Though the Quarry family had previously had their reservations about Ursula, the current situation was directly orchestrated by Thane himself – a man who rarely meddled in the younger generation’s affairs.

If Stella hadn’t escalated the matter to Thane, shaking him to his core, none of this would have happened.

Thinking about how Stella had made their estrangement public throughout Portis City, Cloudia was struggling to breathe. She choked up looking at Stella. “What exactly did you tell the Quarry family? Are you still hung up on Yorick?”

Stella remained silent.

Idris could hardly believe what he was hearing. He stared at Cloudia and Ursula as if they were fools.

Still hung up on Yorick? Impossible! What were these people even thinking?

“Get your hands off me!”

Ursula stumbled and fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

“Ursula! Ursula!”

Cloudia, heartbroken, attempted to help Ursula up, but Ursula looked as pale as a ghost.

Stella was speechless.

Idris just shook his head.

What kind of drama was this? As for Ursula’s current act, Stella was genuinely baffled. Whether she cared for Yorick or the Larkin family was beside the point. Hadn’t she cleanly cut off her engagement with Yorick and severed ties with the Larkin family?

So why was she putting on such a dramatic display now?

Stella crossed her arms. “If you don’t want me to hit you, you’d better drop this act right now.”

Seeing Ursula’s pale face, Cloudia’s anger flared. She turned to Stella. “Just leave. Get out of Portis City!”

She had never regretted anything as much as bringing Stella back.

In a fit of rage, Cloudia whipped out her phone and dialed Jaxon Larkin.

He answered quickly, his voice tired. “Mom?”

Chapter 204

“I don’t care how you do it, but I want Stella out of Portis City. Make her leave.”

Stella was left speechless. Was that what they wanted?

It dawned on her that Ursula’s antics were all about getting her out of Portis City.

So, cutting ties with Yorick and the Larkins wasn’t enough; they wanted her gone from Portis City too?

Hmph.

The memory of Ursula’s mysterious ten-thousand expenditure that she had Idris investigate flashed through her mind.

That must be it, right?

There was more to her leaving Portis City than met the eye.

Jaxon rubbed his temples, exasperated. “What’s the problem now?”

Business had been hectic these past few days, and pulling an all-nighter at the office had only added to his frustration. Just hearing Stella’s name made him irritable.

Cloudia’s voice was shrill with hysteria. “If she stays in Portis City, it’s curtains for Ursula. She’ll be the death of her, mark my words.”

That did nothing but amplify Jaxon’s headache.

“Why is she stirring up trouble with Ursula again? I thought she was done with the Larkins?”

Once ties were cut, they should have remained that way.

“I don’t care. Just get her out,” Cloudia demanded, her voice seething with the desire to see Stella banished from Portis City forever.

Jaxon was livid. Thinking back to the debacle with Stella’s studio, he hesitated to make any promises.

Closing down a studio was one thing, but exiling her from Portis City? After the last time, he was well aware that the man backing Stella was no small fry.

“Are you even listening?” Cloudia’s rising temper was evident. She pressed on, “Do you want to see Ursula dead?”

That statement hit Jaxon hard, making him take a deep breath.

“I’ll handle it,” he finally mustered.

“Wait? I thought with all the influence the Larkins wield, I’d be out of Portis City by now.”

Idris couldn’t help but give Stella an admiring glance as she arched an eyebrow toward a visibly shaken Ursula in Cloudia’s arms, her lips curling into a smirk. “Idris.”

“How’s the investigation into that ten thousand going?”

As she locked eyes with Stella, fear flashed across her face, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Was Ursula panicking over the very ten thousand she had secretly funneled away?

Cloudia, catching on to the mention of the money, looked puzzled. “What ten thousand?”

What was Stella implying? And why was Ursula shaking like a leaf?

Cloudia’s gaze shifted to Ursula, who was as pale as a ghost, trying desperately to compose herself but failing miserably.

Stella’s smile deepened. “Well, that’s a question for Ms. Larkin, isn’t it?”

Ursula was petrified, her face losing any color it had left. She knew Stella was referring to the money she gave away.

But how?

How did Stella find out?

Questions raced through Ursula’s mind as her breathing grew labored and her heart pounded uncontrollably.

Chapter 205

Cloudia’s gaze darkened with suspicion. Baffled, she turned to Ursula. “Ursula, what’s she talking about? Who did you give that money to before?”

Even if she had been clueless before, Cloudia now realized Stella was referring to the mysterious disappearance of ten thousand from Ursula’s account.

But how did Stella know?

Caught off guard, Ursula stared back blankly. “Oh, that? Got scammed by a con artist.”

Cloudia chimed in, “Did you hear that? She was scammed!”

Stella sneered. “Really? Are you sure she didn’t give it to a murderer?”

The mention of ‘murderer’ made Ursula’s breath hitch!

Stella tilted her head slightly. “Idris, didn’t your digging reveal it actually went to a murderer?”

“Yes, to a top-tier fugitive!” Idris confirmed.

Stella gasped, “A top-tier fugitive? What did you give him that money for? Was there some sort of deal?”

Ursula was speechless. Hearing this made her mind spin in panic, her complexion turning even paler, fear flickering in her eyes.

She knew—Stella knew everything!

Cloudia, utterly confounded, looked from Stella to Ursula. “Wait, Ursula, how did you end up mixed up with a top-tier fugitive? Why were you giving him money?”

“I…I…”

“Yeah, why were you giving a fugitive money?”

Barraged by questions from Cloudia and Stella, Ursula’s mind went blank.

All she could think was: It’s over!

Looking at Stella, her heartbeat skyrocketed, until she couldn’t take it anymore and fainted into Cloudia’s arms.

Cloudia, initially puzzled, panicked when she saw Ursula faint.

Especially when Ursula’s lips turned purple, she screamed, “Ursula, oh, Ursula! Someone call a doctor, quick!”

Cloudia’s cries were frantic.

Seeing Ursula’s lips turn purple and her collapse made Stella lose interest.

She turned away. “Let’s go.”

“Right,” Idris followed.

Idris glanced at Stella, concerned.

The money had ended up with a murderer, but it wasn’t a direct transaction from Ursula’s account. It had passed through several hands, likely laundered along the way.

Seeing Ursula’s condition, Stella recalled Tegan’s assessment that her illness wasn’t faked. If Ursula were in good health, she would’ve been on Stella’s hit list.

Ursula had always prided herself on her looks. Now, the race against time for her life was torture enough.

“You really scared her earlier.”

This light-hearted mood was infectious, making Idris understand why Ronald was so drawn to Stella. She had a way of making even those shadowed by darkness feel alive.

“Buzz, buzz”

Her phone buzzed. It was Ronald.

Stella answered, “Hey.”

“Don’t cause trouble, and don’t linger.”

Stella was at a loss for words. At that, she glanced at Idris trailing behind her.

Idris pretended to be absorbed in his thoughts, looking away.

Well, Mr. Quinn was worried about her being bullied by the Larkin family, so he recorded her scaring off the Larkin family members and sent it to Ronald.

Stella muttered, “I wasn’t causing trouble.”

Ronald said, “Good girl.”

The man seemed genuinely busy and hung up after a few words.

Stella eyed Idris. “Did you send him the clip where I was the fiercest?”

Chapter 206

Idris didn’t know how to respond.

“Let me tell you, next time you wanna catch me on camera behind his back, catch me when I’m the underdog, will ya?”

Idris was left speechless.

But that never happens! Whenever he’s tagging along with her, she hardly ever gets picked on. That little firecracker of hers, was way too fierce.

Besides, if he really did catch her getting bullied on video for Ronald, there’d be hell to pay in Portis City.

…

When Cloudia saw Ursula surrounded by a medical team, fighting for her life, she panicked.

First, she called Jaxon, and the moment he heard Stella had knocked Ursula out cold, he said he was on his way to the hospital.

After hanging up, she dialed Yorick. Barely had she said “Rick” when someone from behind snatched the phone right out of her hands.

Cloudia, already on edge, spun around in anger, only to find Imogen standing there.

Seeing her, Cloudia’s breath hitched. “Mrs. Quarry?”

Imogen glanced at the caller ID, her expression darkening, and promptly ended the call.

Faced with Imogen’s grim demeanor, Cloudia stiffened involuntarily.

Imogen gave her a stern look and tossed the phone back to her. Cloudia failed to catch it, and it crashed to the floor.

Imogen snapped, “Didn’t I tell you not to contact Rick these days?”

Cloudia stammered, “But Ursula, she…”

“Who do you think she is, that you always drag Rick into her mess?”

Before Cloudia could finish, Imogen’s words pierced through her.

The words hit Cloudia like a punch to the gut, and she choked up, unable to respond.

Ursula was still in critical condition, yet Imogen, who had watched her grow up, spoke so coldly.

“Mrs. Quarry, before Stella returned, Ursula was always close to Rick, even a frequent visitor at your home. You watched her grow up. How can you be so indifferent?”

She scoffed. “Indifferent? Cloudia, what kind of person have you raised? Do you even know? Or are you truly unaware of how she lived abroad these past two years?”

The Larkin family might trust Ursula, but Imogen was skeptical. With Ursula suffering from multiple conditions and her own son so deeply attached, she had every reason to investigate Ursula’s past abroad.

Cloudia, picking up on Imogen’s sarcasm, grew even more distressed. “What are you implying, Mrs. Quarry? Are you trying to tarnish Ursula’s reputation?”

“You’re out of line!”

Returning from a chess game with Old Mrs. Zeller, Stella stumbled upon Cloudia and Imogen in the middle of a heated exchange.

Imogen was livid. “She could well be leftovers from the Lugar family, playing the innocent in front of Rick. You’ve taught her so well that she learned how to snatch her sister’s fiancé. You’ve truly opened my eyes!”

Cloudia was nearly knocked off her feet by the anger.

“How could you say such things? Ursula has been nothing but decent abroad. She…”

“Decent? Should I remind you why she left Portis City two years ago? Wasn’t it because her attempt on Stella’s life came to light, forcing you to send her away?”

Imogen cut her off sharply.

Cloudia’s breathing faltered once again.

But Imogen continued, “Your adopted daughter nearly kills your own, and yet you shield the former. Cloudia, having you as a mother, Stella really hit the jackpot of bad luck.

No wonder she disowns you. If she acknowledged you, that’d be the real insanity.”

“You… you…”

Chapter 207

Suddenly, Stella passed by.

Upon seeing her, Cloudia’s expression hardened even further.

Stella’s face was set in a mask of cold indifference, sparing not a single glance for anyone deemed unworthy of her attention.

Following closely behind her, Idris’ expression was stormy, a clear sign that not all was well.

Stella breezed past Cloudia without a word, leaving Imogen momentarily speechless, her lips parting as if to say something but finding herself at a loss for words.

Stella was gone.

Imogen turned to Cloudia with a chilling tone. “You think you’ve struck gold, but it’s merely fool’s gold. The real treasure, its value beyond measure, remains unrecognized. Mark my words: if you dare involve Ursula with Rick again, I’ll ensure it’s the end of her.”

Her words were laced with a dangerous edge, no trace of jest.

Cloudia, visibly shaken, was rendered speechless by Imogen’s threat. Leaning against the cold wall, she trembled uncontrollably.

…

Over at the Larkin Group, news of Ursula fainting from an argument with Stella had Jaxon rushing to the hospital to check on the situation.

However, no sooner had he stepped out of his office than he was intercepted by Blaise.

“You heading out?”

Jaxon nodded. “Mom said Stella got into an argument with Ursula at the hospital and made Ursula faint. She’s being resuscitated now.”

Blaise’s expression darkened.

“Do you not see the pile of urgent matters needing attention here at the company?” Blaise chided, alluding to the myriad of challenges they were currently facing, none of which were minor or easy to handle.

For two days, they’d been grappling with an unknown adversary targeting the Larkin family business, with partners abruptly seeking to terminate their collaborations.

“Head to TrueVision Inc. right now and meet with their CEO. We need to understand why they’re pulling out of the partnership,” Blaise instructed, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Blaise instructed, “Make it quick.”

Once Jaxon left, Blaise dialed Cloudia, his tone harsh as he immediately questioned, “How many people do you plan to send to the hospital for Ursula?”

To him, if someone in the family was sick and hospitalized, the Larkin family could easily afford the medical expenses. Why did it have to throw the whole family into chaos?

Blaise had been particularly dissatisfied with Cloudia’s behavior lately. His abrupt question made Cloudia freeze for a moment, her breathing faltering. “What do you mean?”

Blaise continued, “If Ursula’s sick, treat her. Why are you constantly dragging Jaxon into it? Is he a doctor?”

Cloudia was speechless, her breathing growing heavier.

Blaise pressed on, “And about Stella, what on earth are you doing? How are you even acting like a mother?”

The recent public fallout with Stella, especially with Cloudia’s signed statement, had been magnified across all of Portis City. It was impossible for this not to impact the Larkin Group. Thus, Blaise was particularly angry about this.

Cloudia, feeling cornered and blamed for everything, retorted, “How am I supposed to manage as a mother? You know exactly what Stella is like. Haven’t you also found her impossible to handle?”

Chapter 208

“I just can’t, okay? I’ve been swamped! You’re the one at home, raising the kids, nurturing them. But when she came back, did you ever really sit down and patiently teach her?”

Cloudia was at a loss for words.

Patience? She wanted to be patient, but was she ever given the chance?

Blaise was visibly frustrated. “Forget it. You handle the home front for now. The company’s in a real mess.”

“How bad is it?”

The moment Cloudia heard the company was in trouble, her concern grew.

Blaise sighed. “We’re on the brink of bankruptcy- that’s how bad.”

“Is it really that serious?”

Cloudia felt her heart skip a beat.

Blaise continued, “We’ve hit a major snag. Looks like someone’s got it in for us.”

At this point, Blaise was convinced this wasn’t just a stroke of bad luck.

“Someone’s targeting Larkin Group? Could it be Quarry Group?”

“It doesn’t look like it.”

Blaise was exasperated; some of their partners had no ties to Quarry Group at all.

Hearing it wasn’t Quarry Group made Cloudia even more anxious. “Could it be something to do with Stella?”

Blaise was taken aback. “What did you say?”

Cloudia speculated, “She must have some powerful figure behind her. You know her studio made over seven hundred thousand last year. How could she pull that off without some big shot backing her?”

Blaise frowned deeply at the suggestion.

Could Stella really be involved?

…

Meanwhile, Stella had just arrived at her studio when her phone rang. It was Ronald, his voice as gentle as ever.

“Get ready, I’m coming to pick you up.”

“To the hot springs.”

“I’m busy. Are you trying to distract me?”

Ronald chuckled. “Busy with what?”

“What client?”

Stella was taking this project very seriously, especially since the fee was several times the market rate, not to mention the reasonable demands.

Stella was surprised. “You know the CEO of StarRiver Corp.?”

It seemed Ronald had connections she hadn’t anticipated.

Ronald confirmed, “Yeah, we’re close.”

Stella opened her mouth to object, but he cut her short. “Just get ready.”

Stella sighed. “Okay, fine.”

She closed her laptop, packed it, and prepared to leave.

Considering the distance to Spring Hill, if they went today, they probably wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

…

In the car, Idris looked over at Ronald. “Ms. Quinn’s leg should be much better by now.”

After the accident years ago, doctors recommended regular hot spring baths to alleviate the pain, especially during winter. When they were in Ferrowland, Ronald made sure to take her several times each season.

Ronald gazed out the window. “She had trouble sleeping last night; her leg was hurting again. The bad weather often made her pain worse.”

Idris sighed, realizing the severity of lingering injuries.

Chapter 209

When Stella was ready to step out the door, Tabitha couldn’t help but notice her limp.

“Boss, isn’t there anything you can do about that leg? Have you seen a doctor?”

Stella shrugged it off. “Old injury. It’s nothing serious.”

It really only troubled her when the weather changed. Most of the time, she barely noticed it.

Doctors? Of course, she’d seen them. Whenever the pain became unbearable, she’d end up in a clinic.

But aside from some physical therapy, the medications never seemed to help much. Probably just how her body is wired.

Last night, the pain had jolted her awake, leaving her groggy and disoriented. Yet at some point, it had eased, giving way to warmth that lulled her back to sleep.

Thinking back, she recalled a strange sensation- cozy, slightly damp, and oddly comforting.

…

Just after giving Tabitha a quick rundown of some work matters, her phone buzzed again.

Stella assumed it was Ronald calling and answered without looking.

Before she could even speak, Cloudia’s voice rang out, sharp and accusatory.

“Stella, it’s you, isn’t it?”

Stella was baffled. “What are you on about?”

Cloudia was on the warpath. “The mess at Larkin Group… you’re behind it, aren’t you?”

Stella sighed, realizing what this was about.

If the Larkin Group was in turmoil, the Quarry family would naturally be the first to fall under suspicion. And now, with them apparently cleared, Cloudia had turned her focus on her.

Cloudia continued her tirade without waiting for an answer.

Her voice quivered with a mix of anger and desperation.

Stella scoffed. “What do they want in return? They certainly don’t want your scraps.”

Cloudia was so infuriated that she wanted to tear her lips off.

Cloudia’s breath hitched at the accusation, leaving her momentarily speechless.

“Shut up!”

Cloudia lost it. She couldn’t stand hearing that the Larkin family was just a pawn to the Quarry, despite their families’ longstanding relationship.

Stella seemed to understand Cloudia’s naive hopes. “The Quarry family is the top dog in Portis City. You Larkins held valuable mines, yet why is it that you hold no sway here? Ever wondered?”

Cloudia couldn’t breathe, her anger boiling over. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Since when had they lacked stature in Portis City?

Stella pointed out the painful truth. “If you truly held any real standing in Portis City, then why have you spent years sucking up to those ladies? If you were their equals, shouldn’t they be the ones courting you instead?”

Cloudia was livid, her pride wounded by the undeniable truth Stella laid bare.

Stella didn’t let up. “Or are you going to tell me those were just friendly get-togethers? If the Larkins were truly on par with the Quarry family, wouldn’t those ladies be flocking to you instead?

Look at you, all these years trying to break into their circle, and they barely give you the time of day.”

Cloudia was at a loss for words, her frustration boiling over into silence.

Chapter 210

Stella’s laughter was tinged with sarcasm. “Oh, please, don’t pretend it’s nothing major.”

Her sharp words, dripping with irony, hit like daggers.

“Stop babbling. Just admit it- are you the one stirring up trouble for the Larkin Group?”

Cloudia was done arguing with Stella; every exchange left her fuming.

She had to admit, Stella’s tongue was lethal, reminiscent of a no-nonsense country girl.

Stella teased, “Why don’t you guess?”

Cloudia seethed. “You…”

But Stella cut her off. “We’re done here. Stop calling me over every little thing. People might think you miss me or something.”

Cloudia felt her blood pressure spike, but before she could retort, the call was abruptly ended. It was always like this with Stella, Cloudia never managed to gain the upper hand. She couldn’t help but wonder who had taught Stella to wield her words so fiercely.

…

At the studio, Ronald arrived just in time to see Stella limping toward the elevator.

Without a word, he strode over and effortlessly scooped her into his arms.

And because of it, the office crowd collectively sighed, charmed by the romantic gesture.

Stella clung to Ronald’s neck. “What are you doing? Put me down. I can walk just fine.”

The weather in Portis City had been dreadful lately, making her days particularly challenging.

Ronald ignored her protests, carrying her into the elevator.

…

Inside the office.

A young designer whispered to Tabitha, “The boss’s brother is such a dreamboat. That aloof charm, ugh, absolutely irresistible!”

Tabitha rolled her eyes. “Dream on.”

” What’s wrong with a little fantasy? It’s not like I can have him.”

Tabitha shot back, “Be careful or the boss will have your head!”

…

Ronald placed Stella in the car, covering her with a blanket even though the car was already warm. Stella always struggled with the changing weather.

Stella replied, “I’m used to it.”

Stella avoided his gaze. “Well, you know, it hurts.”

Ronald instructed Idris, “Ask Finley to bring the supplies.”

“Ronald.”

Ronald’s tone was gentle, having an excellent calming effect on Stella.

Idris called Finley, then took another call.

“Mr. Patel is on his way to Spring Hill,” he informed Ronald.

Today was the day they were supposed to go over the contract. Jeremy had no choice but to follow Ronald’s schedule.

Ronald hummed in acknowledgment, then said, “You and Yates handle it.”

“Got it,” Idris nodded.

By the time they arrived at Spring Hill, it was nearly noon.

As Ronald moved to carry her again, Stella caught his hand. “I can walk.”

“Oh? Grown up now and don’t want to be carried?” Ronald teased.

Stella was speechless.

Did he finally realize she had grown up?

Indeed, she had, and it wasn’t fitting to be carried anymore.

Seeing her dazed expression, Ronald chuckled softly and effortlessly lifted her, striding towards the wooden building.

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Chapter 191

Yorick was on the edge of losing his mind.

The moment he saw that man’s car pull into the driveway, everything from the past month crashed over him like a wave.

“When did this house finally find an owner?”

“Not too long ago, maybe just this past month,” Orion mused aloud.

Everyone knew that the place had been vacant for ages.

Yorick snorted. “Just this past month, huh!”

That month had been a roller coaster. Ever since he and Stella decided to postpone their wedding, it felt like one thing after another.

But he couldn’t shake that day at Stella’s place when he bumped into that man.

Since then, Stella had become a ghost in her own home.

And now, he ran into the guy here again!

So, he was the owner, huh?

Yorick shivered, a cold dread washing over him.

Stella, why couldn’t she just leave him be? The mess with Finley and Tegan had been bad enough. And now, she’s tied to this place too? Was she doing this on purpose?

Yorick’s blood boiled the more he thought about it!

After a moment’s thought, Orion suggested, “Maybe we should ask Ms. Quinn?”

It seemed Stella was living here now. And if Yorick wanted to buy this place for Ursula’s treatment, he’d have to go through Stella.

The thought soured Yorick’s mood even further.

“Ask her what? To humiliate Ursula?”

Orion fell silent.

From their perspective, both Yorick and Ursula had been played by Stella all this time.

Thinking about how they had exhausted themselves trying to buy this place, only to find Stella living here, Yorick felt a fire ignite in his chest.

His phone buzzed insistently with a call from his father, Thane.

Yorick didn’t want to answer, but when Thane called Orion instead, Orion couldn’t ignore it.

“Sir,” he answered respectfully.

Thane’s voice came through, stern and tinged with danger. “Give the phone to Yorick.”

Handing the phone over, Orion relayed, “It’s your father.”

Yorick took the call, “Dad.”

“You went to Wave Residence again?”

Thane’s voice was icy.

Yorick had been obsessed with acquiring the place for Ursula’s sake, a grand gesture.

His tone was now threatening.

“Forget it.”

Upon hearing the click on the other end, Yorick was caught off-guard by Thane’s unusual lack of persistence.

…

Upon waking, she saw numerous missed calls from unknown numbers. Just as she was about to check her messages, another unknown call came through.

“Stella.” Yorick’s voice, barely containing his anger, came from the other end.

The barrage of calls must have been his doing.

“Is that man the owner of the house?” Yorick’s words were clipped, seething with frustration.

Stella, now fully awake, replied, “What do you mean?”

“Tell him to sell it to me. Name his price.”

Stella paused, sensing Yorick’s desperation through the phone.

She smirked. “Sell it to you?”

“Yes, whatever it takes!”

Stella laughed. “You really think you can buy everything, don’t you? He just secured a huge deal at Mist Bay, and you think he’d be interested in your offer?”

Yorick’s fury was palpable even through the phone.

“What did you say?”

Was she looking down on him?

Stella retorted, “Yorick, let’s not beat around the bush. Sure, your family is top in Portis City, but what can you really offer?”

Yorick fell silent, the brutal reality of his situation laid bare.

Stella’s words were sharp, a clear mockery of Yorick’s predicament.

As the silence lingered, Stella scoffed, “Portis City hails you as the Quarry family’s finest heir. But that’s only because you’re the only son your mother had. Not much of a choice, was there?”

Chapter 192

“Everyone’s just blowing smoke up your ass, and you’re buying it hook, line, and sinker.”

Yorick nearly passed out from sheer frustration. “You!”

Stella retorted, “Sure, you’re the CEO of Quarry Group, but need I remind you who really pulls the strings?”

“Shut up!” Yorick snapped.

“Your dad might not be showing his face around the office these days, but let’s talk numbers, shall we? Anything over 100 million needs his signature, doesn’t it? And how much are you planning to shell out? Do you think you can afford it? If your dad hears you’re draining the account for that sickly lover of yours, you think he’d approve?”

Stella’s words were like nails on a chalkboard to Yorick, making his head nearly explode with irritation.

This woman is always ready with a snappy comeback or a sharp retort.

Now, Yorick found himself wishing she’d just hit him physically instead; anything was better than her venomous words.

But he couldn’t deny the truth in Stella’s words. Ever since Ursula returned, the Quarry Group’s financial protocols have been revised. Significant expenditures no longer just needed the CEO’s approval but the chairman’s signature as well.

Stella wasn’t entirely correct, though. It wasn’t 100 million, but ten million that required Thane’s signature!

Fuming, Yorick’s vision blurred with anger. “Then what do you propose?”

“You can’t afford it, yet here you are asking for terms? What’s the plan, strong-arm me?”

That remark hit him like a punch to the gut.

Yorick was on the verge of hanging up, but considering how hard it had been to get Stella on the phone, he managed to hold back.

“Trying to bully your way through with me? You’ve got some nerve.”

“I’m not!” Yorick protested.

“Then can you afford it? Mist Bay alone would set you back, what, five hundred million?”

Five hundred million!

Hearing that figure made Yorick’s face turn grim.

He instinctively wanted to accuse Stella of extortion, but he couldn’t deny the current market value of the place.

Taking a deep breath, Yorick admitted, “I don’t have that kind of money right now.”

Damn this woman, he thought. How had he never noticed her shrewdness before? She had dissected the inner workings of Quarry Group with alarming accuracy. She was right; the power had indeed shifted back to his father since Ursula’s return.

“Oh, no money? So you’re begging now? With that attitude?” Stella taunted.

Yorick’s face went from grim to downright thunderous.

Begging Stella? Who did she think she was?

“I just wanted you to introduce me to him.”

“So, you’re still begging, huh? Is this how you ask for help?” Stella pressed.

Stella picked up a cup of water by the bed and took a sip. When Ronald pushed the door open, he saw the mischievous gleam in her eyes.

With that, she hung up the phone.

Stella rolled out of bed to grab a bite.

“You think I’m like you, getting drunk and having a fever.”

“Yorick.”

At the mention of ‘Yorick,’ Ronald’s gentle gaze momentarily froze.

“What does he want now?”

Stella popped a fruit into her mouth. “He’s caught wind you’re the man in charge here. Wants me to set up a meeting.”

She bit down, and the hard seed inside caught her by surprise.

Ronald instinctively reached out, ready to help her spit it out, just like when she was a child.

But when she saw his hand, Stella paused and quickly headed to the bathroom.

When she returned, she complained, “Why do you even like these? The seeds are too hard. They hurt.”

These were red heart guavas. Every time Stella ate them, her teeth couldn’t handle it, but unfortunately, Ronald really enjoyed them.

Ronald chuckled softly. “Don’t be picky.”

Stella frowned. “This isn’t about being picky. They’re just hard to eat.”

Ronald, ever indulgent, pinched her nose. “Did you give him a piece of your mind?”

He always admired her fiery spirit, like a tigress, ensuring she never got the short end of the stick, even when he wasn’t around.

Chapter 193

During dinner, Stella barely finished a plate of food before Ronald signaled for someone to clear her plate and cutlery.

Stella looked at him with big, pleading eyes, the very picture of misery. “Ronald,” she whimpered.

“What’s the problem? You weren’t this keen on breakfast.”

Stella’s eating habits were far from typical. Conventional wisdom suggests eating the most in the morning and a balanced amount throughout the day.

But her breakfasts were always scant, her lunches manageable. Come evening, however, her appetite would surge, unusually voracious compared to her earlier meals.

“But I…” Stella started.

“No more,” Ronald cut her off before she could finish.

Stella pouted, but Ronald’s gaze on her remained indulgent. He stood up, taking her hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“Okay,” she agreed, albeit reluctantly. She’d been hoping to sneak in a bit more food.

It wasn’t entirely her fault; evenings always made her hungrier, and what she’d eaten felt far from sufficient.

As they approached the door, Idris appeared, his expression serious.

Ronald released Stella’s hand. “Check out the back of the villa.”

“Something there?”

“Yeah, something fun.”

“Fun?” Stella doubted.

Ronald’s idea of fun—like the fishing trip that afternoon—rarely aligned with hers.

But noticing Idris’s urgent demeanor, Stella tactfully excused herself.

Once Stella was out of earshot, Ronald spoke. “Is it about Thane?”

“Yes, his butler reached out, requesting a meeting with you.”

“Did you relay my message?”

So, the Quarry family was in for a tumultuous night.

It wasn’t just unresolved- it was unresolvable.

If only they’d shown Stella even half the consideration, things might not have come to this. Instead of support, they’d bullied her.

As they walked, Ronald added, “Be firm with Thane.”

Thane was obviously anxious since they had chosen a partner on their side, so he personally stepped in. Once he had taken action himself and found out it was related to his son, he must have been itching to beat Yorick to a pulp

….

In the vast backyard, Stella’s face lit up with delight as she discovered a group of bunnies. She immediately scooped one up, cuddling it. “Oh wow, you’re so soft and fluffy!”

She adored furry pets but doubted her ability to care for them properly. This fear had kept her from owning any during her years in Portis City, though she did have a fox back in Ferrowland.

Ronald approached, his expression softening as he watched Stella with the bunnies. “You like them?”

“Yes! They’re so soft and cuddly! Can we take them back to Ferrowland?”

“Of course, we can,” Ronald assured her. He knew Stella’s principle well; if she couldn’t commit to their care, she wouldn’t take them on. Telling her no would only break her heart.

Hearing they could come with, Stella beamed. “They’re adorable, so doe-eyed and fluffy.”

“And how’s my Snow doing?” she inquired.

Snow, her pristine white fox, was a gift from Ronald on her fifteenth birthday, one she cherished deeply. Amidst the turmoil in the Quinn family, when Regina forced her to leave, Stella wanted to bring nothing but Snow.

Chapter 194

Leaving Ferrowland behind, she wasn’t sure what the road ahead would look like, and she couldn’t bear the thought of dragging the little one along on her uncertain journey.

“It’s all good,” Ronald said, affectionately ruffling her soft hair.

Mist Bay was a picture of tranquility. But elsewhere in Portis City, chaos reigned- especially for Thane.

After much effort, he finally managed to get the contact details of an assistant close to the heir of the Lugar family. Yet, when he made the call, the response left him utterly speechless.

Even for Thane, it took a moment to process.

Imogen was equally baffled. “Did they really say that?”

“Yeah, just dropped the line on me after saying, ‘Your son’s education comes first!'”

And with that, the call ended.

What did that mean?

Imogen was irritated. “How does Rick fit into all this? What did he do to tick them off?”

They hadn’t even met face-to-face. How did it come to ‘your son’s education’? What did his education have to do with any of this?

Though annoyed, Imogen knew they were in no position to make demands. The other party held exactly what they needed most.

Thane’s face hardened. “Call Yorick now. Tell him to get his ass back here.”

No wonder he’d been avoiding meeting the heir of the Lugar family. So Yorick had offended them? If that was the case, he was going to have a word with that brat tonight.

“Quick, call the young master,” Imogen said.

It was crucial to get Yorick back immediately and sort things out. The other party might sign the contract with their chosen partner tomorrow. If they didn’t resolve this tonight, the potential risk to the Quarry Group was undeniable.

Even Imogen, biased towards her son, felt particularly vexed at this moment.

Over at Yorick’s end.

His response was terse. “I’m not coming back.”

“Mom…”

The priority now was this matter.

Yorick, feeling the threat in her tone, gripped his phone tighter.

After hanging up, Yorick felt a throbbing headache. He wanted to continue calling Stella, but now he couldn’t get through.

It never occurred to him that a day would come when he wouldn’t be able to reach Stella.

As they approached the Quarry family home, Yorick, who had been silent the whole ride, finally spoke up. “How long do you think she’s known that guy?”

Orion replied, “Probably just met. Ms. Quinn hadn’t been much for socializing before.”

Even as Orion spoke, his uncertainty lingered. They’d always thought of Stella as a simple person – someone living off the Larkin family’s support, with nothing else to her name.

But owning a studio that turned a profit of seven hundred thousand a year? She couldn’t have been without any social connections.

“Given that the guy is the owner of Wave Residence, his status is naturally not simple. Maybe Ms. Quinn had a professional relationship with him before,” Orion suggested.

“So from a ‘professional relationship’ to a romantic one?” Yorick’s tone was icy.

Orion winced slightly. “Could it be possible that they were lovers all along?”

Chapter 195

Hearing the term “lovers”, Yorick’s face hardened once more.

“You think someone of that stature would fancy her?”

Orion remained silent.

Well, maybe not! But looking at how well Stella’s studio was doing, she wasn’t exactly slacking off.

In Orion’s eyes, Stella was quite impressive. At her young age, she had already achieved so much. And that studio? The Larkin family didn’t even know about it, let alone finance it. Orion knew exactly how much the Larkin family had been paying Stella every month for the past couple of years.

Yorick’s tone was icy. “But you need to figure out that guy’s identity quickly.”

Everyone knew the owner of Mist Bay was someone of no simple standing, yet no one knew who they were.

And now, Stella had somehow gotten involved with him. She really had some tricks up her sleeve.

They soon arrived at the Quarry family estate.

Yorick went in alone, and as soon as he entered, a flying object came hurling at him.

‘Boom!’

With a loud thud, it hit him right where he had been injured earlier that day.

The re-injury made the swelling and pain unbearable.

Thane was furious.

Imogen, always protective of her son, was also livid, glaring fiercely at him.

Yorick took a deep breath. “I told you, I’ll meet the heir of the Lugar family before they sign the contract tomorrow.”

His tone was grim, clearly dissatisfied with Thane’s aggression – twice in one day.

Thane retorted, “You’re meeting him? After you’ve practically offended him, you’re still going?”

“When have I ever offended him?”

Yorick was indignant. He hadn’t even met the man yet; how could he have possibly offended him?

Thane countered, “You’re saying you haven’t offended him? Then why did he ask me to educate you?”

Yorick’s face fell even further.

What was this heir of the Lugar family playing at, meddling in other families’ affairs?

“I got in touch with his assistant. The assistant said it was his boss’s orders to tell us to educate you.”

In a fit of rage, Thane grabbed the nearest ashtray and hurled it at Yorick.

Had it hit him, it would have surely been another bloody scene.

Facing Thane’s fury, Yorick felt wronged. “I honestly haven’t met him.”

This was turning into a real headache. He hadn’t met the man. Finding him had been challenging enough.

Thinking of challenges made Yorick feel that everything recently had been particularly taxing. In a nutshell, he was frustrated!

Thane, breathing heavily with anger, insisted, “You’re still denying it.”

“I truly haven’t met him!” Yorick was also frustrated.

Imogen, who had been silent until now, couldn’t stand the escalating tension and finally interjected, “Alright, you really haven’t met him?”

Yorick nodded. “No.”

Thane pressed on, “No? Then how on earth did you manage to offend him?”

Yorick remained silent.

Imogen was silent too.

And so, the question circled back to where it started: indeed, if Yorick had never met the heir of the Lugar family, how had he managed to offend him?

Chapter 196

Imogen and Thane exchanged a glance, and in that moment, a shadow crossed Imogen’s eyes.

“Could it be because of Ursula?”

Yorick and Thane both fell silent, their gazes turning toward Imogen.

Yorick’s expression hardened significantly.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Imogen continued, “the heir to the Lugar family and Ursula arrived in Portis City one after the other.”

Ursula hadn’t been in Portis City long before the Lugar heir made his appearance. Could there really be a connection between the two?

Yorick’s face tightened at the suggestion.

Thane looked at him, barely concealing his disapproval.

Yorick blurted out defensively, “Ursula has nothing to do with this.”

“Shut it!”

Thane’s cold glare silenced him immediately.

Yorick attempted to continue, “It really has nothing to do with Ursula…”

“Go, get in touch with that assistant,” Thane said, cutting him off.

Imogen’s reminder had made him consider the possibility of Ursula being involved in this whole affair. The Larkin family seemed to have nurtured a genuine femme fatale, and a doomed one at that.

Turning to the butler, he said, “Tell him I’ll personally deliver Ursula.”

The butler nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Dad!” Yorick was frantic.

Thane didn’t want to argue with Yorick any further, giving him a cold, warning look before heading upstairs.

Yorick impulsively followed, but Imogen stopped him. “If you care about Ursula’s well-being, you’d best stay out of it.”

It was a critical moment for the Quarry family, a matter of life and death, so to speak. They would never have accepted Ursula in the first place.

Yorick had grown too close to her lately, and Imogen was on the brink of exploding.

Now, with Thane stepping in like this, if it really was related to Ursula, it was time to sever ties completely.

Yorick called out, “Mom.”

The implication was clear; they couldn’t afford to offend him.

Imogen didn’t respond, seemingly too tired to engage further, and walked away with her dog.

…

By 10:30 PM, she was tossing and turning in bed, too hungry to sleep.

Unexpectedly, Ronald was in the living room.

Idris was there too.

“I just got a call from Thane’s butler,” Idris was saying. “He said they’re planning to deliver Ursula to you.”

Stella was halfway down the stairs when she heard this and nearly lost her footing, sliding down two steps. Had she not grabbed the railing in time, she would’ve fallen.

Hearing the noise, Ronald turned and saw Stella clutching the railing in terror.

His gaze darkened as he set aside his laptop and walked over to her. He scooped her up effortlessly. “How old are you, still tripping over your own feet?”

Stella pouted.

Idris’s words had been too shocking.

What were they thinking, delivering Ursula to Ronald like that?

Were they after something of Ronald’s, using a beauty to sneak their way in?

But to send someone ailing? What were they thinking?

Chapter 197

Ronald effortlessly scooped Stella into his arms and made his way downstairs.

Glancing at her nightgown, he quickly offered her his jacket that had been resting on the sofa.

Stella wrapped herself in it, feeling the warmth Ronald had left behind.

“What’s got you wandering downstairs this late?” Ronald inquired.

Stella hesitated, her stomach rumbling. She wanted to confess her hunger but was unsure of Ronald’s stance on late-night snacks. He had always been strict about meal times and snacking habits.

But she couldn’t bear it any longer.

“I’m hungry,” she admitted, her eyes pleading.

Ronald raised an eyebrow. “You had a pretty hearty dinner, though.”

Despite having a full plate at dinner, Stella’s wide, watery eyes were hard for Ronald to resist. They made him want to tease her.

“Really hungry?”

“Very,” Stella nodded earnestly.

Idris couldn’t stand it any longer. “Maybe we should whip up a little something in the kitchen.”

He knew how strictly Ronald monitored Stella’s diet, almost to the point where Idris wondered if Stella had ever had her fill.

As expected, when he said that, Ronald gave him a look.

Idris backed down, “Ms. Quinn is really hungry.”

Seeing Idris defend her, Stella cast him a grateful glance, but that didn’t escape Ronald’s notice.

He recalled Yvonne’s ordeal with a poorly planned diet, which had led to severe nutrient deficiencies. The thought of Stella going through something similar always loomed over him.

“Ms. Quinn doesn’t gain weight easily anyway,” Idris added, as if stating the obvious. Stella had always maintained the same figure.

Relieved, Stella hurried off to request a bowl of beef chili from the kitchen staff. She noticed a few new faces among them but didn’t linger on the thought.

Ronald scoffed. “Thane’s understanding, huh!”

Idris shared his surprise, especially after hearing about the Quarry family’s threat to keep Yorick away from Ursula.

Ronald’s expression hardened.

“No need to send her my way.”

Idris agreed. Ursula, ill or not, was far from meeting their standards.

“However, keeping Yorick from seeing her is an intriguing idea,” Ronald mused.

Idris nodded. “It might make the Quarry family think there’s something between you and Ursula.”

“Let them think what they want. But putting Yorick on the spot could be interesting.”

Ronald hadn’t expected Thane to play it this way, but the opportunity to unsettle Yorick was too good to pass up. With Yorick’s attention wholly on Ursula, being barred from seeing her would be an exquisite torture.

Chapter 198

Idris nodded with a smile. “Alright, I’ll go reply right now.”

“Off you go then.”

After Idris left, Ronald turned to see Stella lingering at the kitchen doorway. “Why are you standing there?”

Stella moved towards him.

“Are you trying to play Cupid’s antagonist here?”

Preventing Yorick from seeing Ursula, wasn’t that just like sending Yorick to his doom?

Ronald pulled her into his lap with a swift motion. “Nonsense. I’m doing a good deed.”

Stella was speechless.

Did he even hear himself? How could this possibly count as a good deed?

“The Quarry family now despises Ursula like she’s the plague. How is keeping Yorick away from her, not a good deed?”

Stella fell silent again.

Well, when put that way, it did seem like a good deed.

But while it might be a good deed for the Quarry family. But for Yorick? It was like throwing him into the fire.

“Alright, maybe you are doing a good deed.”

Still, this “good deed” spelled trouble for both Yorick and the Larkin family.

Although the Larkin family appeared to be allied with the Quarry family through marriage, the reality was one of dependency. The Larkins had always relied on the Quarries for support.

Thanks to Ursula, tensions between the two families had already strained the relationship. To put it bluntly, Yorick was now the Larkins’ only remaining link to the Quarry family.

If the Quarry family forbade Yorick from seeing Ursula, the Larkins would undoubtedly be thrown into a state of panic.

Ronald squeezed Stella’s hand. “Star, haven’t you had any happy moments here over the years?”

Stella thought about it seriously before answering, “I have.”

Ronald frowned. “Who’s responsible for them?”

The information about Stella Idris had gathered was suffocating just to read through.

“Oh?”

“Why?”

Leaving Ronald’s side had made her strive to improve her life and take her work seriously.

“Big client?”

A satisfied smile spread across Stella’s face as she mentioned StarRiver Corp. She wondered what kind of good soul was behind it all, providing her with so many projects. And each one came with a hefty design fee.

Having StarRiver Corp. on her side filled Stella with a newfound sense of empowerment.

She shared this proudly, completely unaware of the fleeting tenderness in Ronald’s eyes when she mentioned ‘StarRiver Corp.’

Seeing her glowing with pride, Ronald chuckled. “That impressive?”

“It’s all thanks to the boss of StarRiver Corp. for recognizing a diamond like me in the rough.”

Otherwise, how could her relatively unknown design studio earn so much in a year?

Stella looked at Ronald curiously, “Hey, how did Thane think of sending Ursula to you?”

What a hilarious turn of events!

Ronald shrugged. “Probably losing his edge. Getting senile, maybe.”

Stella blinked in confusion. “Senile? But Thane isn’t old, is he?”

The mention of Yorick’s father made Stella pause. Thane was, after all, quite the catch – handsome, dignified, and of good character, the kind of man who rarely stepped out of line.

And yet, how did someone like him end up with a son like Yorick? These days, Thane must be on the verge of exploding with frustration.

Chapter 199

Indeed, when the news reached Thane, he was livid.

“Still claiming it’s got nothing to do with Ursula?”

Upon hearing the butler’s message, Imogen’s expression darkened as well.

Thane glanced at her and said, “You’re heading to the hospital tomorrow yourself.”

“What about the meeting with the Lugar heirs? They’re finalizing the contract with their chosen partners tomorrow.”

Thane was silent, his face growing darker with the urge to drag Yorick back and give him a piece of his mind.

Imogen was harboring similar thoughts.

…

After leaving Quarry Manor, Yorick had Orion look into the whereabouts of the Lugar heirs.

Before they could uncover anything, Imogen’s call came through.

“Just stop seeing Ursula,” she said, each word heavy with a menacing tone.

Yorick frowned. “This has nothing to do with Ursula.”

He was adamant in his belief.

Imogen pressed on. “He’s made his stance clear, and you’re still defending her?”

Yorick was taken aback. “What?”

“Yorick, Ursula’s trouble. Who knows what she’s been up to abroad, coming back with all sorts of illnesses. Don’t be naive.”

Imogen’s harsh tone carried an unmistakable insinuation.

Yorick’s lips tightened, displeasure flashing in his eyes. “Don’t speak of Ursula like that.”

“And how did she contract uterine cancer?”

Yorick was clearly upset.

Rumors about Ursula’s illness had been cruel. It was one thing for strangers to speculate, but his own mother to join in was disappointing.

“Mother, you know what kind of person Ursula is!”

Otherwise, why would she have taken a liking to Stella while she was still lying in the hospital bed?

“Now, Yorick, until the deal with the Lugars is sealed, stay away from Ursula. We can’t afford to cross the Lugar family right now.”

“Did you hear me?”

“I heard you.”

Imogen hung up, satisfied.

Hearing from Yorick, Ursula was elated. “Rick, I’ve packed my things.”

Her voice was weak but filled with rare excitement. It was clear she was in good spirits, despite Thane’s men still at her door. She didn’t believe Thane would actually escalate things with his own son.

Yorick’s heart sank at her words, his brow furrowed, a headache starting to throb.

“Rick? Rick?”

Ursula called out when he didn’t respond, wondering why he was silent.

At that moment, Yorick was at a loss for words. Just a week ago, he had promised to let her move to Wave Residence to recuperate, never anticipating he’d be powerless to fulfill his promise.

For once in his life, Yorick faced a dilemma that money couldn’t solve.

“I need to ask you something,” Yorick finally spoke, his voice heavy.

He didn’t pick up where Ursula left off but instead diverted the conversation.

Ursula, puzzled, responded, “What’s up?”

“Do you know the heir to the Lugar family?”

Chapter 200

“The Lugar family? You mean the Lugar family from Ferrowland?”

Yorick replied, “Yes.”

On the other end of the phone, Ursula denied it. “No, I don’t know them. What’s up?”

The heir to the Lugar family? How could she possibly know them? When she was in Ferrowland, she had fancied the idea of making their acquaintance. But she never had the chance.

Yorick frowned. “You don’t know them?”

“Nope, don’t know them.”

“Really?”

“Of course, it’s true. What’s with all the sudden questions?”

The Lugar family. If only she really knew them. In Ferrowland, they were practically nobility. Many of the elite there sought alliances with them, a pity she never had the chance.

Yorick explained, “My family is planning a major collaboration with the Lugar family.”

“Oh, is that so? Sorry, can’t help you there.”

Hearing Yorick, Ursula thought he was enlisting her help.

Yorick sighed, “It’s okay.”

Ursula couldn’t care less about whom the Quarry family wanted to collaborate with, only asking, “Are you coming to pick me up tomorrow in person?”

She hoped Yorick would come himself. After all, Thane’s men were still lurking outside, and she feared they might intercept her.

Yorick felt a pang in his heart as Ursula steered the conversation back.

Seeing Yorick fall silent, Ursula grew anxious. “What’s wrong?”

Usually, Yorick would respond quickly to anything she said. What was happening now?

Yorick finally spoke, his tone heavier than usual. “Ursula, you might not be able to leave the hospital tomorrow.”

“What?”

Ursula’s face froze. Her breath hitched at the thought of not being discharged. What did it mean?

Was it because of the Larkin family or Stella?

Ursula panicked. “No, Rick, you said I could leave tomorrow. You promised.”

He had promised, so why was he now saying she couldn’t? She had even made a bet with Stella, a 100,000-dollar bet! If she could move to Mist Bay tomorrow as planned, she’d win the money from Stella.

Why was it all falling apart now?

Yorick hesitated. “I’m sorry, but the situation at Mist Bay isn’t settled yet.”

“The owner doesn’t want to sell.”

Not selling?

Was the promise of letting her recuperate there just empty words?

Yorick fell silent again.

Of course, but…

Ursula couldn’t help but repeat, “My family?”

Ursula couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Yorick had promised to discharge her tomorrow, and now he was saying she could be discharged but had to recuperate on a property owned by the Larkin family?

“Ursula, let’s not see each other for a few days. Let’s leave it at that.”

With that, Yorick hung up the phone, his manner more that of a man fleeing than anything else.

Ursula felt a cold chill run through her. For a long time, she couldn’t feel any warmth in her body.

When Cloudia returned, she found her daughter looking lost and despondent. “Ursula, what’s the matter? Why aren’t you asleep? It was already late.”

Ursula looked at Cloudia with a choked voice, “Mom, Rick just said we shouldn’t see each other for a few days.”

Cloudia stiffened at the words, then her expression softened with realization. “He did mention that the Quarry family has a big collaboration coming up. He’s busy.”

“No, it’s not just about being busy. He didn’t actually buy Wave Residence.”

A week had passed, and in that week, he hadn’t done anything for her?

Hearing that Wave Residence wasn’t actually bought, Cloudia was taken aback. “Not bought? But he said it was. He even talked about changing the curtains to your liking?”

Ursula fell silent, her thoughts racing.

Yes, wasn’t it supposed to have been bought? And the curtains changed to her liking?

So what was going on?

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Chapter 181

Ronald reached out and scooped her into his arms, settling her comfortably against his chest.

He fondly ruffled her soft hair. “Not bad, you do have a conscience after all.”

Stella’s lips twitched in response.

Ronald’s warm fingertips gently traced the ‘love bites’ on Stella’s neck. “Wow, those bugs really went to town on you, didn’t they?”

Stella’s mind went blank. As if something exploded within her, her blood heated up instantly. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as she grabbed Ronald’s wrist. “Stop it, will you?”

“Oh? Should I not mention it?”

Stella was at a loss for words, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.

Ronald lifted her chin with his long fingers, their eyes meeting in a moment filled with unspoken depths.

Stella’s already tense nerves frayed even more under his intense gaze. “You…”

“Why are your cheeks so red?”

Stella was speechless. The memories of the previous night flashed through her mind, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

Resting her chin on his shoulder, she mumbled, “Just pretend I have a fever.”

She wanted to end the conversation. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to navigate. Moreover, his questioning implied that he didn’t remember anything that happened after he got drunk last night.

This realization made Stella somewhat upset.

“Feeling feverish? Let me feel your forehead,” Ronald said with concern.

Stella’s grip tightened around his neck, his words unexpectedly stirring a flutter in her heart.

“Don’t touch me. I’m not feverish,” she protested more forcefully than intended.

“Why is your face so red, then?”

Stella was at her wit’s end. Could he not keep asking?

Feeling cornered, she quickly changed the subject. “Didn’t you say you were taking me somewhere fun to eat?”

The mention of food made Ronald chuckle softly. “You’ll see when we get there.”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Mysterious, aren’t you?”

After a half-hour drive filled with sporadic conversation, they arrived at their destination.

Stella made sure to wrap her scarf tightly around her neck, hiding the marks that could lead to awkward questions. Could she ever live it down if someone noticed?

Feeling her gaze, Ronald asked, “What are you looking at?”

If there hadn’t been, then his ignorance about the marks would make sense.

Stella stammered, “I…I was just asking. Can’t I even ask?”

His laughter made Stella involuntarily swallow hard.

“Star, do you hope I’ve had someone, or not?”

Trying to wriggle free, Stella realized there was nowhere to run while in Ronald’s embrace.

His voice, deep and probing, made her heart skip a beat. “Do you hope I’ve been with someone, or not?”

Could she admit she hoped not?

They were so close that she could almost feel the warmth of his breath. Stella swallowed hard, “I, um…”

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

As Stella struggled to find a response, Ronald’s phone began to vibrate. He let go of her, took out his phone, and glanced at the number.

Stella seized the opportunity to move away as she was free. That was really terrifying!

Ronald answered the call. “Hello?”

“How’s my darling doing?”

It was the voice of a middle-aged woman- Lottie Lugar, Ronald’s mother.

She had always held Stella dear, never wanting her to face any hardship. Back in the day, when Yvonne decided it was time to take Stella for some real training, she had been the most vocal in her disagreement.

Chapter 182

Watching Stella hop and skip away with a joy that reminded Ronald of her childhood days, he couldn’t help but smile.

“She’s in good spirits,” he assured.

“Bring her back soon, or Yvonne will come after you,” Mrs. Lugar said from the other end of the line.

Ronald couldn’t help but reply, “Tell her not to bother.”

Yvonne was a tough cookie. If she knew Stella had slipped out of Ferrowland, she’d definitely have it in for her. And Stella might not be able to handle Yvonne’s tactics.

“I’m on it. Otherwise, it won’t just be just a three-month training; it could turn into three years.”

The mention of three years made Ronald’s face fall. He was determined to keep a close eye on Stella this time, not giving Yvonne any chance to exploit the situation.

After a bit more chat over the phone, Mrs. Lugar added, “Keep a close eye on her for me, will you? We can’t afford to lose her again.”

Her words were a testament to how much Stella’s absence from the Quinn family had affected everyone.

“Got it,” Ronald replied before hanging up.

Idris caught up after parking the car, remarking, “Seems like Ms. Quinn really isn’t into Yorick.”

Given how fiercely Stella had fought back earlier, Idris was convinced she might have taken Yorick down if Ronald hadn’t intervened.

Ronald chuckled. “She’s not blind.”

Not to mention Yorick was still hung up on Ursula. Even without Ursula in the picture, Stella probably wouldn’t give Yorick a second glance.

Idris then mentioned, “Yorick is still trying to buy Wave Residence.”

“Why doesn’t he just pitch a tent by the beach?” Ronald retorted sarcastically.

He wondered if Yorick was so obsessed with Wave Residence that he didn’t even worry about Ursula running out of time.

Idris agreed, “Exactly, why obsess over Ms. Quinn’s place?”

“Not a clue.”

“Send out the disownment agreement Star signed with the Larkin family. Let everyone know.”

Idris nodded, understanding Ronald’s intent. The Larkin family’s coldness towards Stella was evident from their willingness to sign such an agreement.

Susanna got the message loud and clear. This was more about severing ties with the Larkin family in the most public and undeniable way possible.

“You’re rushing this to prevent the Larkin family from coming after you in the future, aren’t you?” Susanna guessed.

Stella confirmed it. She knew all too well the kind of people the Larkin family were. If they found out about her upbringing with the Quinns, they’d be all over her.

Though the Larkin family probably wouldn’t get a penny out of them, Stella was determined to protect Ronald’s interests at all costs.

“Alright, that’s it for now,” Stella said.

She hung up the phone, staring at a pool of water nearby, feeling a bit bewildered. What did Ronald bring her here to eat? To do?

She turned around to look for Ronald, only to bump into him with a ‘thud,’ landing right in his arms.

Rubbing her head, she looked up at him, slightly aggrieved. “Why were you standing right behind me? Now look, I’ve got a bump.”

Ronald, with a smile tugging at his lips, tenderly touched her forehead, clearly amused and endeared by how in sync their thoughts were. He heard everything she said to Susanna on the phone.

Chapter 183

Jeremy had just settled into a cozy dinner with Caius at their favorite local bistro when his phone buzzed with a call from Idris, lighting up his face with anticipation.

Idris had news: they were set to review a contract tomorrow with their lawyer in tow.

Jeremy couldn’t hide his excitement. “Absolutely, thanks a ton, Idris. You’re a lifesaver.”

As soon as the call ended, Jeremy was all smiles when looking at Caius, who was equally intrigued. “What’s the scoop?”

Jeremy leaned back, swirling his glass of red wine. “We’ve got a meeting with Mr. Quinn about the contract tomorrow.”

Caius nearly choked on his drink. “Seriously? That’s big news!”

Indeed, Mr. Quinn had been the talk of Portis City, scouting for a local collaboration. Everyone wanted a slice of the pie he was offering.

Jeremy nodded. “Looks like we’re almost there.”

Caius, now thoroughly impressed, couldn’t help but add, “Just make sure to keep an eye on Sirena. We don’t want to upset Mr. Quinn’s sister again.”

Jeremy’s excitement waned at the mention of Sirena, a thorn in his side he planned to deal with once this deal was through.

“Didn’t the Quarry family also want to collaborate with Mr. Quinn? Now that Mr. Quinn has chosen you, the Quarry family is completely out of the picture, right?”

Jeremy replied, “They’ve always had no chance.”

With the relationship between Yorick and Stella, if Ronald had chosen his family, it would have been a miracle.

“Wait and see, the Quarry family’s drama is far from over. Right now, he’s still buying Wave Residence desperately for Ursula.”

Caius asked, “Is that a problem?”

Jeremy replied, “Ronald and Stella are living there now. Do you think there’s no problem?”

“Are you saying that’s Ronald’s turf? Didn’t Orion go over there before? How come he doesn’t know about this?”

Jeremy smiled. “If he knew, do you think he’d still be messing with this mess?”

Caius fell silent.

Yeah, if he knew, he’d definitely not be involved in this mess.

Caius looked at Jeremy in shock, thinking that if Yorick was truly this clueless, he was doomed.

“Unless something unexpected happens, right now, Stella and Ronald are probably treating Yorick and the Larkin family like clowns.”

Caius laughed. “They’re definitely being treated like clowns. Just look at what Yorick’s doing right now, totally clueless. Who knows, the Quarry family might even implode next!”

Jeremy was feeling pleased. He made a call to his family, instructing them to keep Sirena under tight surveillance these next few days and make sure she didn’t cause any more trouble.

Meanwhile, Stella, gazing at the calm surface of the lake and then glancing at Ronald beside her casually swinging his fishing rod, voiced her complaint, “Ronald.”

“Mm.”

“Is this fun?”

She had given up lunch with Susanna, only to be brought here for fishing?

Ronald glanced at her. “Isn’t it fun?”

Stella was at a loss for words.

Fun?

She knew Ronald was an expert in fishing, and he really enjoyed it.

Back in Ferrowland, he would often make plans with his friends to go out on the sea for fishing.

Stella wasn’t keen on joining—seasickness was one thing, but more importantly, it was boring. And she didn’t like the smell of raw fish either.

Chapter 184

Stella glanced at Ronald and then back at the tranquil pond. “Are there any fish in here?”

“Don’t underestimate this place, Star. There are some big fish in here that I’ve been taking care of.”

When Finley and Hull arrived, they found Stella staring at the pond with a despondent look.

Finley noticed the swelling on Stella’s lips and let out a surprised, “Whoa, what happened to your lip? Did something bite you?”

Stella remained silent, her eyes darting away, filled with evasion. She coughed awkwardly and turned her face away.

However, Finley, either genuinely clueless or pretending to be, remarked to Ronald, “How did she get hurt on your watch? Not exactly the protective brother, are you?”

Ronald shot him a cold stare.

Finley continued, “Did I say something wrong? The Wave Residence is by the sea; didn’t you take care of pest control?”

Hull, noticing Ronald’s displeasure, nudged Finley. “Dude, zip it.”

Wasn’t it obvious to anyone how she got that wound?

Finley, still confused, looked at Hull.

Hull, seeing his cluelessness, whispered, “Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

Finley’s eyelid twitched. “What’s that got to do with me having a girlfriend?”

Hull just shook his head. He really felt like pushing him into the pond; maybe a good soaking would clear his head.

Seeing Hull unwilling to engage further, it finally dawned on Finley.

He looked at Stella, then back at Ronald.

Stella, feeling uneasy under his gaze, worried he might say something shocking, quickly excused herself. “I’m going to check out the flower field.”

She needed an escape.

As Stella hurried away, Finley’s curiosity was piqued. He turned to Ronald and asked, “Did you…”

At that moment, Ronald gave Finley a chilling stare, causing him to swallow his words.

If it had been any other guy, Ronald would have probably dealt with him harshly! His calmness now was a definite giveaway.

Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his shin, Finley nearly collapsed.

Hull stepped forward, patting Finley on the shoulder. “She’s of age.”

Considering how patient Ronald had been with her over the years, it was a miracle he hadn’t been more forceful when he finally found her.

Fish on the hook, and a big one at that!

“Ronald, don’t you think you’re going too far?” Finley tossed the fish into a bucket, grinding his teeth in anger.

Ronald warned, “Don’t talk nonsense in front of her. If you scare her, you’ll have me to answer to.”

Finley shivered at the thought.

“You’re worried about me scaring her? You should be more concerned about what she might do to me.”

The wolf king doesn’t raise a cub without a bite. Just look at how Stella’s been with Yorick and the Larkin family lately?

Yorick’s injuries were all because of Stella.

Before coming here, Finley heard that Yorick was rushed to the hospital with severe fractures.

To say Stella had nothing to do with those injuries? Finley wouldn’t buy it for a second.

And the Larkin family? They’ve been practically begging on their knees lately.

Chapter 185

At the hospital.

When they announced that Yorick’s arm was shattered, he was so mad, that his heart nearly burst!

He told Orion to dig up everything he could on that guy, no matter what it took.

In a place like Portis City, for someone to pull a stunt like this was bold.

Orion had already put in a ton of effort looking into this guy. If it was easy, they’d have had something by now.

Just after Yorick was patched up, his phone buzzed.

It was Thane.

“Get your ass over to the office now.”

“You’re at the office?”

Hearing that Thane was at the office, Yorick’s face hardened. Ever since Thane had handed over the reins of the company, he hadn’t set foot in the office for ages.

Half an hour later.

Yorick arrived at the company, and the employees of Quarry Group couldn’t even breathe easy seeing him so banged up. The CEO in this state didn’t look like he just had a fall.

Yorick stormed toward his office, and as soon as he opened the door, something flew at him.

A water glass hit him square on the forehead!

Yorick was dazed, water splashing all over his face, instantly looking like a mess.

Orion, who had followed him, tensed at the sight.

Thane was furious, indicating the situation was serious.

“Get in here!” Thane roared.

Not giving Yorick any slack in front of the company just showed how genuinely pissed he was.

Yorick, with a grim face, entered, and Orion quickly shut the door behind them.

Not that anyone dared to rubberneck. Who’d want to catch Yorick’s bad side?

Thane’s face was stormy. “What the hell are you playing at? Getting involved with the Larkin family’s adopted daughter?”

Yorick’s tone was equally frosty as he wiped the water off his face, he words cold and sharp.

Yorick was taken aback, “What?”

“You had no clue about something this big?”

Seeing Yorick’s silence, Thane realized he was completely out of the loop.

Yorick asked, “Who is it?”

“The Lugar family’s choice for the Portis City project, who are they?” Yorick asked coldly.

At that question, Thane felt a lump in his throat.

If he knew who it was, he wouldn’t be wasting time arguing with Yorick here; he’d have gone straight to meet the Lugar family’s heir.

So far, that person had only shown interest in meeting their potential partners, turning everyone else away.

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be here wasting my breath. You’d better figure it out fast. Yorick, let me tell you, if we can’t find a replacement, you know the kind of loss we’re facing.”

That ore was critical for them; without it, many operations would grind to a halt.

Thinking of the current predicament, and Yorick wasting time on that sickly girl, Thane’s anger flared.

“If the company doesn’t get through this, then forget about Ursula making it.”

Thane’s icy glare bore into Yorick, his tone laden with threats.

And Yorick, upon hearing this, his already cold demeanor felt a jolt at his core. He knew his father well; threats weren’t made lightly. And he understood just how vital that alternative ore was!

“I understand,” Yorick barely managed to respond.

Thane took a drag of his cigarette. “Your mom was right, she’s nothing but trouble.”

Chapter 186

By “trouble,” Thane meant Ursula.

Over the years, Imogen had seen through the Larkin family’s charade crystal clear. The Larkins were no saints. And Ursula, their pride and joy, was a whole other story.

It’s just too bad Yorick was blindfolded and brainwashed.

Yorick announced, “I’m off to meet the heir of the Lugar family. Don’t worry, the ores we need aren’t going anywhere.”

“Oh, for that woman, you do seem genuinely concerned.”

Now realizing the urgency, Thane could see that Yorick was anxious for Ursula.

The moment Yorick turned, Thane’s tone grew colder. “If tomorrow they really do sign a contract with our competitor, as for Ursula…”

Thane paused, letting the unspoken words hang in the air, but they were enough to convey endless danger to Yorick.

He looked back at Thane, “Don’t touch her.”

Thane flicked ash from his cigarette. “That’s up to you.”

…

Yorick had no idea how he made it out of the office.

Orion, ever respectful, followed closely behind. As they got into the car, he handed Yorick a jacket.

Yorick’s shirt was still drenched from the cup of water.

“Should we head to the hospital first to take care of that wound on your head?”

His old man had really thrown a punch as if he wasn’t hitting his own son.

Yorick’s face was a storm. “Find out where the Lugar family heir is. Now.”

Orion hesitated.

The Lugar family heir!

Hearing this, Orion couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. That person was as difficult to deal with as the guy orbiting Stella.

“I got a call earlier,” Orion said with a nervous tone.

Yorick raised an eyebrow. “What call?”

Orion replied, “The Lugar family’s chosen partner for the deal might be the Patel family.”

Yorick questioned, “The Patel family? Jeremy Patel?”

It seemed likely, though the news wasn’t completely confirmed yet.

Jeremy, always competing with him over the years, never changed.

“You’re partnering with the Lugar family?”

Still brimming with frustration, he retorted without a hint of pleasantry, “Got a problem with that?”

“Neurotic as ever. If you want it, go get it yourself. Let’s see you try,” Jeremy snapped back.

Jeremy scoffed. “But let me make it clear, whatever you try, you won’t get the deal.”

Because Stella wouldn’t allow it.

Ronald treated Stella like a treasure. If he allowed Yorick to compete, it would be a cold day in hell.

…

Meanwhile, Stella was at the manor.

The moment she saw Ronald lifting his wine glass, her body tensed.

Just as Ronald was about to drink the red wine, Stella grabbed his wrist.

Ronald looked at her, puzzled. “Star?”

“Let me drink it for you.”

Saying so, Stella tried to take the wine glass from Ronald’s hand. She couldn’t let him drink anymore. Dealing with someone who forgot everything when drunk was infuriating.

Twice already, his drinking had led to him crossing the line.

Chapter 187

Ronald’s lips curled into an indulgent smile.

Nearby, Finley joked, “Wow, someone’s getting protective of their brother? All that upbringing’s paying off.”

Stella rolled her eyes. “Focus on your food, will you?”

Finley pouted.

Was she always this prickly? She seemed extra feisty today.

Stella was adamant about Ronald not drinking any alcohol today, and ironically, she wasn’t great at holding her liquor either.

After two glasses, she started to feel tipsy.

By the end of the evening, Finley and Hull were off to play some basketball.

Stella, her vision blurry, turned to Ronald and called out in a soft, slurred voice, “Ronald.”

Her voice carried a hint of discomfort.

Ronald swiftly pulled her into his arms. As he leaned in, the sweet aroma of red wine lingered between them.

With a warm tone, he asked, “Feeling sick?”

Stella nodded. “Yeah, I wanna go home.”

That phrase, ‘go home,’ unexpectedly struck a chord in Ronald’s heart.

He grabbed his coat from a nearby chair and gently wrapped it around her. “Alright, let’s head home.”

Ronald lifted her in his arms.

Stella rubbed her face against his chest, mumbling discontentedly, “You lied. You said it would be fun.”

“What do you want to do?”

Stella mumbled, “Something fun, something tasty.”

But there was nothing fun.

Her misty, water-like eyes gazed up at Ronald, who chuckled softly. “You need to calm down.”

Feeling even more wronged, Stella squirmed unhappily in his arms.

Outside, the wind was strong and cold. Yet wrapped in Ronald’s coat, Stella didn’t feel the chill at all.

Ronald carried her to the car.

From the rearview mirror, Idris glanced back at them. “Ms. Quinn had too much to drink?”

Ronald looked down at Stella, her cheeks flushed a deep red.

Who knew she’d get this drunk from just two glasses of wine.

Ronald snorted with a laugh. “Good. Let them panic. The more they do, the more they’ll suffer.”

Ronald smirked. “Looks like their people really are useless!”

Seems that’s not the case.

Idris pondered for a moment before adding, “Thane hasn’t reached out to me yet. He probably doesn’t know you’re the one behind this.”

Once Thane contacts Idris, he’ll convey Ronald’s original intentions to Thane.

…

Meanwhile, Yorick had barely ended his call with Jeremy when his phone buzzed again. Cloudia’s voice came through, fraught with tension.

“Rick, what’s with your family? Do they want Ursula to die?”

Yorick frowned. “What’s going on?”

“Your dad! He’s stationed ten men outside Ursula’s hospital room. What’s he trying to do?”

Cloudia’s tone was nearing hysteria. Ursula was already gravely ill, and the behavior of his family was only worsening her condition.

Cloudia was deeply upset. “Rick, Ursula can’t handle this kind of stress right now. Please, get your dad to call them off. What’s he trying to achieve?”

Just seeing Thane’s men had made Ursula faint.

She was supposed to be discharged in two days. She was looking forward to moving to Mist Bay’s Wave Residence after getting discharged, but instead of being released, she was greeted by Thane’s men!

What was Thane thinking? With the entire Quarry family against Ursula, it was clear these men weren’t there for her protection.

They were there to monitor her!

Hearing that his father had stationed ten men outside Ursula’s hospital room also gave Yorick a headache.

“I’ll handle it.”

Cloudia’s voice was heavy. “Rick, I know your family doesn’t support you and Ursula right now, but she’s sick. How can she rest and recover with them pulling stunts like this?”

Chapter 188

Yorick massaged the bridge of his nose, wincing as a tension headache took hold. “I know.”

Cloudia, her voice tinged with concern, replied, “We should get Ursula discharged. Is everything set up at Wave Residence? If it is, she should go there to recuperate.”

Now that the Quarry family had done something like this, it was clear they couldn’t stay at the hospital a moment longer.

At the mention of Wave Residence, Yorick’s expression turned grim.

He quickly said into the phone, “Still arranging. Tell her to stay calm and not overthink things.”

“Still arranging? What do you mean? Isn’t everything ready yet?” Cloudia’s tone sharpened, a note of unease creeping in.

Yorick frowned. “That’s it for now. I’ve got to go.”

Unable to provide a solid answer and pressed by Cloudia’s probing, Yorick ended the call hastily.

The car was enveloped in a heavy silence.

After a moment, Yorick spoke in a cold voice, “To Wave Residence.”

Orion, who was driving, hesitated.

“But we just got word that the Lugar family heir is fishing near the Butterfly Garden.”

It hadn’t been easy tracking down his whereabouts. Shouldn’t they head to the Butterfly Garden first?

Yorick insisted, “To Wave Residence!”

His words carried an unmistakable weight.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Orion nodded. “Alright.”

Approaching a crossroads, Orion didn’t dare go against Yorick’s wishes and swiftly turned the car around.

However, he couldn’t help but remind Yorick, “Tomorrow, they’re going over the contract with Jeremy. If everything checks out, they’ll sign it on the spot.”

If Jeremy secured those mining rights, it would be impossible for Yorick to get a piece of the action, especially since Jeremy and Yorick were known rivals.

Yorick remained silent.

Clearly, news of Thane stationing bodyguards outside Ursula’s hospital room had rattled him.

His phone buzzed again. This time, it was Ursula calling.

Even through the phone, Ursula’s distress and fear were palpable.

Yorick reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Her plea was desperate, especially after witnessing the Quarry family’s intimidating stance.

“Can I leave tomorrow?” Ursula asked, hope lacing her words.

Yorick, feeling a throb of pain at her words, conceded, “Fine, tomorrow.”

Just as he ended the call with Ursula, Thane called. Yorick glanced at the phone and silently declined the call.

…

Predictably, they were stopped upon reaching Wave Residence.

Orion looked to Yorick, who commanded with an icy tone, “Negotiate. I need to see the owner.”

His voice held an unyielding resolve.

As Orion prepared to step out, another car passed them and entered the estate smoothly.

Was that Wave Residence’s owner?

Why did the car seem so familiar?

Realization dawned on Orion.

“Sir, isn’t that the car Ms. Quinn got into at the Orient Nexus Building?”

They had just seen it at noon.

Chapter 189

When Yorick heard the news, he was visibly shaken.

Instinctively, he glanced over at the car, catching only a glimpse of its tail. But that was enough for him to recognize it as the same car Stella and that man had gotten into at noon.

“Does that guy live here too?”

Orion hesitated before replying, “Probably.”

If he wasn’t a resident, how had he gotten past the tight security so easily?

Yorick’s breathing became erratic, his expression hardening.

“Could this man be the owner of this place?”

Orion didn’t know for sure, but considering how respectfully the security had treated the car, he concluded, “Seems like it.”

The atmosphere in the car turned icy.

“I thought you said he was a 66-year-old geezer?” Yorick nearly roared the question.

Orion felt a chill run down his spine at Yorick’s fury. Indeed, their earlier investigation had pointed to a 58-year-old man completing the paperwork eight years ago.

Fuming, Yorick pulled out his phone and dialed Stella’s number, only to be met with a cold voicemail. She had already blocked him.

Yorick was livid, with no outlet for his anger!

…

Meanwhile, in Portis City, a scandal was unfolding.

By 3 p.m., several trending topics had taken over social media:

#The Larkin Family Disowns Daughter Over Lack of Merit#

#Stella No Longer a Daughter of The Larkin Family#

#Between Adopted and Biological, The Larkin Family Chooses Adopted#

The Larkin family’s controversy swept through Portis City like a storm.

With the news spreading like wildfire, several of her friends called, their words feigning concern but dripping with sarcasm.

“Stella, how could you do this? You wanted to sever ties, and now it looks like we’re the villains. Clearly, it was you who used Finley and Tegan to tempt me into signing. You deceived me, and now I’m the one facing infamy.”

On the other end, Stella, groggy, pondered for a moment before asking, “Are you not the villain?”

“You…”

Cloudia was on the verge of fainting from anger.

“What exactly do you want? Where have I wronged you for you to treat me this way?”

Now, she truly regretted bringing Stella back into her life. Had she known Stella would turn out this way, she wouldn’t have bothered, regardless of whether Stella lived or died.

“You want money, is that it?” Cloudia choked out the words. She assumed Stella’s dramatics were a desperate cry for financial help.

That had to be it.

Cloudia grew more infuriated by the thought. “Just say you need money. Or is it that new family of yours after the Larkin family’s wealth?”

In her rage, Cloudia completely lost her composure, forgetting that Stella owned a lucrative studio, earning millions annually.

Chapter 190

And just like that, she had forgotten about the necklace around her neck, worth millions. At that moment, she was convinced that Stella’s antics were all about getting her hands on the Larkin family fortune.

“You must be desperate for cash!”

Stella listened quietly as Cloudia vented her frustration.

Lazily turning over in bed, she responded, “Oh really? Going back to the Larkins nearly drove me to the poorhouse.”

Poor? She threw that word right back at the Larkins.

Two thousand a month, and even that wasn’t guaranteed. Thank goodness she hadn’t relied on that money to live. If she had, she’d have starved to death.

“You…”

Hearing Stella’s words, Cloudia was so angry she saw spots.

Stella retorted, “After your wealth? Do you even have any wealth?”

And to think of including the Quinns in this bloodsucking scheme?

“Stella, you’re way out of line! Then tell me, what’s the meaning of this stunt you’re pulling?”

Stella remained silent.

What did she mean? She hadn’t even seen the content of what was released yet.

“It’s obviously because I feared you’d leech off me.”

Even though she disdained the little wealth the Larkins had, what if they found out she’d been raised by the Quinns and decided to leech off them?

So, making a big scene to cut ties was naturally for the best.

Upon hearing this, Cloudia was livid. “Us, leech off you? Your measly seven bucks? You’re underestimating us, the Larkins. Your little bit of cash isn’t something we would fuss over.”

Stella concluded, “Then Mrs. Larkin, remember what you said today.”

“It’s you who should remember it!”

Cloudia was so angry she hung up.

Stella, hearing the dial tone, pouted. “Remember it then. Whoever forgets isn’t worth a dime.”

Hmph!

The maids had just dressed her in a nightgown, and her rolling about had exposed her calves.

“What’s got you so upset?” he asked, stepping closer with a bowl of hangover soup.

She was all grown up now. What if she had been changing?

“What part of you haven’t I seen, huh?”

She snatched the covers back, intending to hide.

The neckline of her nightgown was loose, giving Ronald a glimpse of how much she had grown.

He cleared his throat, adjusting the blanket to wrap her more securely, before handing her the soup. “Drink up.”

Stella struggled to free herself. “I can drink it myself.”

Ronald insisted. “Be good!”

He held her waist with one hand, his tone gentle but carrying an undeniable command.

He knew she disliked the taste of hangover soup. If he let her go now, she’d come up with all sorts of excuses not to drink it.

Stella sniffed the soup. “Can it cool for a bit before I drink it?”

“How about I feed you?”

Stella was speechless.

Feed her? How?

She cautiously glanced at Ronald. Meeting his serious, earnest gaze, Stella’s heart skipped a beat.

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Chapter 141

At that moment, Yorick’s mind went completely blank.

His eyes seething with rage, he glared at Stella, his lips quivering as if he was about to say something. However, words failed him entirely.

Stella glanced at Yorick and then at the large diamond ring in the box. For a second, she thought she had seen it wrong.

A ring, really?

Wait, Jeremy…

His idea of making amends was a gift for a marriage proposal? Was he too naive to understand the significance of a ring?

Or…

No way he fell for her and was proposing. That was off the table!

Even the most clueless person wouldn’t gift a ring. So, was it because of Jeremy’s brain rot that he didn’t grasp the meaning of a ring?

“Stella!” Yorick roared, his voice thick with fury.

“Are you nuts? Why are you shouting? So what if he proposes to me? What’s it to you?” Stella snapped.

His voice almost shattered her eardrums. Truly, he was beyond help at this point!

She and Jeremy barely had any connection, and it wasn’t like Yorick didn’t know that. To even link that to a proposal was beyond her.

Yorick’s breathing grew erratic, “Well, excellent, so you have that much backing you up! No wonder you dared to break off our engagement, and even cut ties with the Larkin family.”

“Yes, I have that much support. So what? Does that inconvenience your plans to oppress me?”

Indeed, Yorick and the Larkin family were infuriated, and that was exactly why.

They had tried every trick in the book, hoping to see Stella come crawling back to them in misery. But what did they get? Not even a whimper of surrender.

Instead, they saw the formidable force backing her.

Right, she had a powerful force behind her.

While Yorick was busy digging into her past, there was this mysterious force thwarting his efforts.

And then there were all these men around her.

Just how much about Stella did Yorick not know?

Stella stood up and walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the street below, where the traffic flowed like ants.

Her smile looked even more scornful, “Planning to cancel my cards, shut down my studio, huh? What’s your plan? To make me unable to pay my rent, to make me apologize to Ursula, to beg you on my knees to reactivate my cards, or to keep me from starving to death?”

Even though these were their plans all along, hearing Stella spell it out made him uncomfortably aware of their pettiness.

“Don’t put Ursula into this. It’s your own actions and now you want to drag her down?”

The moment Yorick finished, Stella’s sarcastic retort was ready.

Yorick was speechless.

Yorick was furious now.

Yorick struggled for breath, “Enough with your words!”

Yorick was momentarily speechless.

What was he here for? In the heat of the moment, he had actually forgotten.

This damned woman, she always had a way of infuriating him to the point of oblivion at the worst possible times.

Stella raised an eyebrow, “You’re here about Wave Residence, aren’t you?”

At the mention of that place, Yorick felt a sharp pang in his chest.

Indeed, he was there for that reason. He had promised Ursula he would have her discharged within a week and move into Wave Residence.

He had told her about the room where one could see the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening and hear the sound of the ocean.

Now, on the third day, if he couldn’t secure Wave Residence…

The thought made Yorick feel suffocated.

“Have you been staying at Wave Residence these past few days?”

He had checked. She hadn’t been living at Silk River Residences and hadn’t returned there in days.

Chapter 142

Plus he and Orion had bumped into Stella at the Wave Residence earlier. So now, Yorick was convinced – Stella was definitely living there!

Stella replied, “Yeah, I live there. What’s the big deal?”

Hearing Stella admit it in person made Yorick’s heart tighten again. The place Ursula dreamt of visiting was now Stella’s home.

“Who owns the place?”

At this moment, Yorick was a whirlwind of emotions, barely able to hear his own voice.

Stella uttered, “Why are you asking me? Thought you were Mr. Big Shot who found out it’s owned by some sixty-six-year-old geezer?”

Not this line again!

Every time Wave Residence came up, she’d throw that line at him.

Yorick growled, “Tell me, who is it!”

He asked again, grinding his teeth in frustration.

Stella, seeing him all worked up, sarcastically laughed, “So, Mr. Quarry, you’re admitting to my face you’re not so capable after all?”

Yorick was livid. She had this knack – her words could spark a fire in anyone’s chest.

Stella kept on, “Admit it, and I’ll tell you. Will you?”

Yorick couldn’t answer it. Asking him to admit his incapability in front of her, this infuriating woman was boldly humiliating him.

Yorick took a couple of deep breaths, but it did little to calm the storm inside him. His gaze towards Stella turned colder.

“You’re something else.”

Stella turned around, arms crossed, “Indeed, I am. Ready for your next move, or shall we see what you’ve got?”

Before Yorick could retort with a “Just you wait”, Stella beat him to it.

Such brazen defiance was unheard of in Portis City, especially towards Yorick.

But Stella, she just did!

…

In the end, Yorick stormed off.

Tabitha entered.

Stella put down her water glass, “He left?”

He was nothing like the man who carried the boss away last time, kind to both the boss and her staff.

Stella laughed, “He’s never in a good mood!”

After leaving the documents, Tabitha exited.

Stella was baffled. Why did he bring this up all of a sudden?

“That pittance…”

Truth be told, since returning to the Larkin family, Ursula had been at her throat non-stop. Especially when Cloudia bought something for her, Ursula would flaunt her purchases. Little did she know, Stella never cared for it. In Ferrowland, she had more and far better things than she could count.

Ronald said, “It might be peanuts to you, but to them, it’s a feast.”

When they lost what they valued most, it was torture. Despite being Stella’s blood relatives, their treatment of her wouldn’t pass Ronald’s test.

Stella caught on to Ronald’s hint, “So, Ronald, you say I should take it?”

She wouldn’t mind. Without Ronald, she’d fend for herself. With him, she’d follow his lead.

“How about it? I give, you take, deal?”

His voice, magnetic and indulgent, was impossible for Stella to ignore, filled with an irresistible blend of dominance and power.

“Your call,” Stella replied sweetly.

Regardless of her interest, the Larkin family was bound to suffer without their assets! Just as Stella thought Ronald was about to hang up, he suddenly asked, “Miss me?”

As Stella heard that, her heart fluttered, her cheeks involuntarily blushing.

Chapter 143

Ronald’s sudden question sent a shiver down Stella’s spine, prompting an instinctive response from her lips, “Yes.”

The moment she spoke, she felt her body temperature rise, her cheeks burning hot.

The man on the phone chuckled low, “Good girl.”

“Then, may I have hot wings tonight?”

“Hmm?”

Ungrateful girl, linking him with wanting hot wings?

Stella carefully added, “It’s been a while since I’ve had one.”

Ever since she moved to Portis City, hot wings had become her favorite. Initially, it was the fiery, spicy sensation that briefly numbed her longing and pain for everything back in Ferrowland.

Over time, she grew to genuinely enjoy it.

Back in Ferrowland, Ronald always kept spicy foods away from her, fearing they’d upset her stomach.

Having never really indulged before, she didn’t miss it, but once she acquired the taste, she was hooked.

The man on the phone, hearing her pitiful tone, relented, “Alright, but you’re not going out for it. I’ll have the chef prepare it.”

This was a significant concession from Ronald, given his high standards for food quality. Stella had been under his care and had been hospitalized twice as a child due to food-related issues, so Ronald was particularly strict about her diet.

As Stella heard Ronald’s agreement, her voice lightened instantly, “You’re the best, Ronald.”

“What about the Larkin family? How do you plan to deal with them, Star?”

Even though their assets were pittances, the Larkin family and their adopted daughter had caused Stella enough trouble over the years just for that. Ronald’s anger couldn’t simmer quietly if they weren’t punished.

When Stella heard Ronald mention the people of the Larkin family, she could sense a hint of testing in his voice. After a moment of thought, she said, “Every minute they face me now is torture.”

That was the truth.

Ursula’s illness urgently needed the attention of Finley and Tegan, yet in their eyes, both of their consent was controlled by Stella, causing them endless agony.

“Haven’t had enough of tormenting them?” Ronald probed.

“There’s no need for me to torment them further.”

They were tormenting themselves enough.

Plus, Ronald’s mention of taking away the Larkin family’s assets clearly meant they were already on target. Without a shred of doubt, the Larkin family was about to turn into a complete mess.

Hearing Stella not utter a single word in defense of the Larkin family, Ronald laughed indulgently, “Good girl, I’ll have the chef prepare hot wings for you tonight.”

“Great.”

…

Every time he thought of Stella’s attitude towards him, he couldn’t stop lighting one cigarette after another as soon as he got into the car.

These last few days, with the issues at Mist Bay, had been especially trying for them. Wave Residence had indeed become a source of endless frustration.

Where was this old man now? Who was he? They had no clues!

“Do you think she ever truly had feelings for me over the years?”

Yorick’s question was so unexpected; Orion was completely confused about the point of him saying that.

Yorick closed his eyes, an aura of darkness enveloping him, “It’s too cold.”

“Should I get you a blanket?”

Orion had misunderstood Yorick’s reference to Stella’s cold heart and her cold demeanor towards him, thinking he was physically cold instead.

“Why do you think she agreed to our engagement?” Yorick asked.

Orion was speechless for a moment, his breath hitching, finally grasping that Yorick was referring to Stella’s icy attitude.

Indeed, Stella had always been distant towards him. Especially now that Ursula was back, her coldness seemed even more pronounced.

From her behavior, it was clear Stella had never truly fell for Yorick.

Why, then, had she agreed to their engagement?

Orion pondered for a moment, “Ms. Quinn might not be as simple as we think.”

His perspective differed from Yorick’s and the Larkin family’s. In his view, Stella’s success in earning over seven hundred thousand last year with her studio was indicative of her significant abilities. If Stella were truly powerless, not even a hundred men behind her could have elevated her status.

Hearing Orion’s thoughts, Yorick scoffed, “She’s definitely not simple, managing to bewitch so many men is a skill in itself.”

Orion was at a loss for words, finding it hard to reply.

Was it merely her ability to enchant men? There were many women who could do that, yet not many could stand as tall as she did. He still believed there was more to Stella than just her allure to men.

Chapter 144

“Did Ms. Quinn spill the beans on who’s behind Wave Residence?!”

Lately, Yorick’d been hounding Stella about it, showing up every day, but Stella’d been MIA. Now, the word on the street was Yorick’d been working on getting Ursula moved into Wave Residence for some recuperation.

The Larkin family was already packing Ursula’s bags.

Yorick remained silent. Orion’s question made his expression darkened once more.

Seeing Yorick clammed up, Orion got his answer – nothing squeezed out of Stella.

Stella’s lips were sealed tighter than Fort Knox’s.

…

Yorick had been trying to figure out why Stella agreed to their engagement in the first place. Though it was the Larkin family’s decision, Stella’s fiery spirit didn’t seem the type to just roll over.

And now, off to the hospital, he still couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Seeing Yorick, Ursula greeted him with a gentle smile, “Rick, you finally made it.”

Yorick nodded.

Cloudia couldn’t help but beam at Yorick, over the moon about him buying Wave Residence for Ursula.

Let the Quarry clan kick up a fuss; Yorick’s heart was what mattered most!

“Y’all chat.”

With that, she turned and left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Ursula tenderly tugged on Yorick’s sleeve. Noticing his troubled look, she asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Her tone was gentle. Yorick could see Ursula’s spirits had lifted ever since they talked about moving into Wave Residence, seemingly improving her health too.

The thought of telling her Wave Residence might be off the table now, Yorick couldn’t bear it.

“Nothing much, been eating well?”

Yorick affectionately tousled Ursula’s soft hair.

She seemed perkier, but Yorick could still hear the frailty in her voice due to her health conditions. Thinking of Stella’s vibrant energy made him wonder, why couldn’t Ursula catch a break health-wise?

“Rick, Rick?”

“Hmm?”

Yorick snapped back to reality, his gaze at Ursula filled with even more tenderness.

“Work stuff, what’s up?”

Yorick was speechless, his brow twitching violently at her words.

They hadn’t figured out who the real owner was, but even if they did, Stella was living there, potentially bad-mouthing them to the mysterious man behind it all.

“If I could just live there, even dying there would be enough for me.”

Yorick’s voice dropped, a mix of frustration and panic.

Ursula spoke of her fears unceasingly; she was genuinely terrified.

“Enough, I won’t let you die, okay?” Yorick choked out.

Death was a topic too heavy for them now, once distant but painfully real and heavy at the moment, especially with Ursula’s frail health on the line.

Ursula had intended to talk more, but then, Yorick’s phone rang – it was Imogen.

“Get back here now, your dad’s waiting for you.”

Imogen sounded off on the other end, and knowing Thane Quarry, Yorick’s father, rarely interfered after he handed over their business to Yorick.

Over these few days, he’d asked to see Yorick for the second time, which obviously signaled trouble.

“I’m kinda…”

“Don’t push me, Yorick. You know Ursula can’t handle any more stress!” Imogen cut Yorick off with an impassive tone before the latter could finish his words.

Glancing at Ursula, who was grabbing his sleeve, he eventually compromised, “Got it.”

Hanging up, he faced Ursula, who had heard enough to let go of his sleeve, “You’d better go now.”

A furious Imogen was no joke, and just as she said, her fragile state couldn’t withstand any shock.

Chapter 145

On Stella’s side.

She got a message from Ursula, “Rick mentioned that once I move into Wave Residence, he’s planning to put up sunflower curtains in my room.”

Stella wrote, “Guess you can start shopping for those curtains now.”

Such a show-off!

Hmph!

Just four more days, then she’d see how Yorick managed to wrap this up. The reputation of Portis City’s foremost heir would be tarnished just like that, hilarious.

…

At the hospital.

At the sight of Stella’s indifferent response, a hint of malice flashed in Ursula’s eyes.

Just as she was about to send another message, Cloudia walked in.

Ursula quickly deleted the message she was typing and handed her phone to the nurse, “Thanks a lot.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The nurse took the phone, gave Cloudia a respectful nod, and left.

Cloudia’s smile didn’t wane, “So, everything set with Wave Residence?”

Just thinking about Ursula moving into Wave Residence made her uncontrollably happy.

Lately, she’d been the butt of jokes among those high-society ladies, calling her daughter a burden. As if, Cloudia’s foster daughter, is a burden? That was a laugh. She was going to marry Yorick and live in Wave Residence.

Hearing Cloudia bring up it, Ursula nodded, “Yeah, he even said he’d change my curtains to sunflower ones once I move in.”

Cloudia’s smile grew even wider.

“He really does care about you. You better cherish him later.”

At the mention of the future by Cloudia, Ursula felt a flutter in her heart. Could there really be a future between her and Yorick?

“These past few days, the lawyer has been looking for you, Mom. You still can’t let go of Stella, can you?” Ursula asked softly.

But instead, she’d been avoiding the lawyer. What was that about? Couldn’t let go of that rebellious bitch?

“Alas…She’s still my daughter, Ursula. Let me deal with her once you’re better.”

One shouldn’t make any decisions in a fit of rage.

If that was the case, she…

Well, then! It seemed she underestimated Stella.

She had wanted the Larkin family to personally kick her out of Portis City.

Now, look how things turned out: the financial support remains, the studio isn’t shut down, and Stella isn’t going anywhere?

So, what was the point of all her previous efforts? All for nothing?

Cloudia sighed, “Ursula, it truly breaks my heart. How could they raise her to be like this? What does that tell us? That they don’t care about her! Must be their negligence leading to her becoming this way, right?”

Talking about Stella’s foster family boiled Cloudia’s blood.

In her view, if they had raised Stella right, she would be as gentle as Ursula.

Not the hellion she was now, trading insults and even coming to blows.

The mere thought that her foster family might have mistreated Stella pained Cloudia as a mother.

Yet, whenever Stella infuriated her, she regretted ever bringing her back.

Chapter 146

Ursula sighed, “Alright, Mom. Really, you should spend more time with her. It’s okay with me.”

“You’re always so understanding.”

Lately, having been avoiding Stella, Cloudia had thought some things through.

Blaise was right. After all, Stella wasn’t by her side as she grew up. If she approached the situation with a lecturing tone, Stella would definitely resist.

Well, everything would have to wait until Ursula got better.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Ursula screamed in pain, doubling over and clutching her stomach on the hospital bed.

Cloudia was immediately snapped out of her reverie.

Seeing Ursula in such agony, she panicked, “Ursula, what’s wrong?”

“It hurts…so much.”

“Doctor! Doctor!”

Ursula’s complexion had turned ghostly pale, and Cloudia frantically called for medical assistance.

The doctor arrived swiftly, and the hospital room turned into a scene of chaos.

Cloudia stood outside the room, her heart in knots as she watched doctors rush in and out, Ursula’s cries of pain echoing from within. Her heart ached unbearably.

An hour later two specialists reached Cloudia and mentioned Finley and Tegan again.

“To save Ms. Larkin’s uterus, we need Tegan back as soon as possible.”

Cloudia felt her heart leap to her throat. Ursula’s uterus, of course, had to be preserved.

Considering Yorick’s feelings for her, they were bound to end up together. The Quarry family had never been fond of Ursula, and if she couldn’t bear children for them… Even though Yorick adored her, trouble would loom in their future.

With that thought, Cloudia choked out, “We must…we must save it!”

No matter what, Ursula’s uterus had to be preserved.

“Then we need to get Tegan back immediately.”

“Finley must join the effort too!” the senior professor added.

Cloudia felt her heart being squeezed tight.

Finley, Tegan…

They had tried various ways to get the two back over the past few days. But no matter what they offered, neither of them seemed interested.

…

Susanna came over, suggesting they have lunch together, but really, she was there to gossip. Portis City had been buzzing with drama, especially concerning the Quarry family’s reaction to Ursula and what the Larkin family, along with Yorick, wanted to do for her.

Stella chuckled, “More like a doomed one.”

Susanna snorted, “Well, that’s her karma!”

Stella mused, “Exactly. So, what do you feel like eating for lunch?”

Stella shot it down, “No way!”

If she went ahead with that, she’d never hear the end of it from Ronald. Besides, Ronald had already promised to have the family chef prepare it for her that evening.

When Susanna had arrived, Stella had already messaged Ronald about their lunch plans, and his response was clear, “No hot wings outside!”

Even through the screen, she could sense his determined attitude.

Susanna grimaced, “Is your brother some kind of overprotective guardian? He’s so strict with you.”

“There’s someone even stricter.”

“Who?”

“My sister!”

Susanna’s mouth twitched, “You have a sister in that household?”

Stella nodded, “Yes.”

And in that household, she also had a sister, Yvonne Quinn.

Oh, how she missed her.

Chapter 147

Over the past few years, she couldn’t stop thinking about every member of the Quinn family. She was always lurking in the shadows, meticulously following their lives.

Susanna commented, “You and that family, you seem to be living the good life.”

On the other hand, ever since the Larkins found Stella, Ursula had been stirring up trouble non-stop. Talking about favoritism.

But Stella was also an adopted daughter in the Quinn household, and she got along just fine with them, didn’t she?

Stella replied, “I guess it’s different, I was with them since I was a baby.”

Susanna nodded, “Makes sense. Babies are so soft and adorable, who could ever have bad intentions towards a baby?”

But there was another thing.

Susanna felt, “Kindness begets kindness. You must have been really good to them too.”

The bad blood between Stella and Ursula stemmed from Ursula’s initial attempts on her life. The Larkins’ baseless accusations had soured relationships, leading to frequent clashes and bias against Stella, their own flesh and blood.

After bringing her back, the Larkins never showed much genuine affection towards Stella. And Stella, who was pampered by the Quinns since childhood, naturally lacked the patience to deal with them.

“Let’s go, time for lunch.”

Stella didn’t want to discuss the Larkins anymore. Getting up, she grabbed her bag and left.

Susanna didn’t make further comment on the topic, but couldn’t help mentioning, “Yorick has been turning heaven and earth to find the owner of Wave Residence. I’m curious to see his reaction when he finds out it’s you.”

Ignorance was bliss.

Now, those in the know couldn’t help but laugh at the antics of Yorick and the Larkins.

Stella remarked, “Don’t tell him, let him be clueless.”

Susanna chuckled, “You’re right. Yorick does act like a complete fool sometimes.”

Together, they headed out for lunch.

They had barely left when Cloudia arrived, and Tabitha tried to call Stella to warn her. But Stella had her phone on silent, making it impossible to reach her.

…

At the restaurant.

While cutting into her steak, Susanna mentioned, “Sirena has been grounded by his bro. He’s not letting her out of the house.”

When Jeremy mentioned it, Stella thought he was joking, given Sirena was his sister.

Susanna nodded, “Yep, grounded for real. She used to be out shopping with someone or the other all the time, haven’t seen her out for days now.”

Stella commented, “It’s for the best, otherwise if some huge trouble comes up, it’d be a scandal for the Patel family.”

A scandal

At the mention of Jaxon, Susanna remembered something. She glanced around, ensuring no one was close by, before leaning in towards Stella.

Stella paused with her utensils in hand as she heard the words.

“Yesterday, my niece had a fever, and my mom asked me to check on her at the hospital. Guess what I saw?” Susanna continued.

“What is it?”

“Jaxon with a woman, holding a child around two or three years old.”

Stella remained silent.

A two or three-year-old child?

Jaxon’s kid was also around that age.

Susanna added, “The child looked somewhat similar to Jaxon, could very well be his.”

“And you actually took a closer look?”

“How could I? It was the child’s resemblance that caught my eye from afar,” Susanna expressed her thought wryly.

Chapter 148

Stella was genuinely surprised.

The union between the Larkin family and the Patel family had always been a matter of concern for Cloudia and Blaise. Logically, Jaxon shouldn’t be seen in public with that woman.

Seeing Stella silent, Susanna asks, “Do you know something?”

“Yeah, I know,” Stella nodded.

Susanna gasped, “Is the child really his? Then what’s the deal with him and Sirena?”

Could the Patel family really overlook something like this?

Jaxon was bold, alright. Wasn’t he afraid the Patels would skin him alive for pulling something like this?

Stella shared, “It’s a long story. Apparently, that woman was a barmaid at Nocturne Hues.”

Susanna, who was about to take a sip of water, choked and spat it out.

A barmaid at Nocturne Hues?

Jaxon actually…

Stella handed her a tissue, “That’s why the Larkins have never accepted that woman or the child.”

Susanna pondered, “So Jaxon didn’t fight for her?”

“What could he fight for? Do you think he’s the type to be sincere?”

True, Jaxon might have just been playing around and ended up with a bigger situation on his hands.

“That woman wanted to climb the social ladder by using the child. She waited until the kid was one year old before approaching Jaxon, but it didn’t work out.”

Hearing all this, Susanna was astounded, “This is explosive news. I can’t believe you never told me.”

“Why would I? You know I don’t gossip without good reason.”

Susanna had to agree. Stella was not one to show off or gossip unnecessarily. Otherwise, how could she not know about Stella’s studio making seven hundred thousand last year?

She’d never reveal what she wasn’t asked about.

Just the thought of Jeremy made Susanna believe Jaxon had a death wish. Of all the trouble in the world he had to stir up this kind.

Stella remarked, “That barmaid is no easy target.”

Susanna nodded, “She’s definitely scheming. If she learns about the Larkin and Patel alliance, she might just cause trouble.”

Susanna replied, “If she was truly selfless, she’d have kept the child hidden and never approached Jaxon.”

Seeing Stella silent, Susanna asked, “What are you planning?”

Stella retorted, “So, they get to mess with me, but I can’t retaliate?”

Susanna got the message. The Larkins had been too bold in Stella’s world, and she wasn’t one to sit back passively.

Searching chaos?

Let them all dive into the madness together; the more, the merrier.

The more Stella thought about it, the more excited she became, and she immediately called Idris, “Dig up everything on Jaxon’s woman. I’m going big.”

Ronald had already made his move, and now it was her turn to step up.

As Susanna heard Stella talk about going big, her lips couldn’t help but twitch.

After hanging up, Stella said, “I’ve been so busy these days, hadn’t even thought of using that woman.”

Stella only regretted she hadn’t taken advantage of that woman earlier as a way to retaliate.

Chapter 149

After parting ways with Susanna, Stella had barely set foot in her studio when Idris sent over all the details on Jaxon’s mystery woman.

Turned out she was indeed from Nocturne Hues. Back there, she claimed to be serving the VIP rooms, complete with an address and phone number.

Just as she was about to head back to her office, Tabitha stopped her in her tracks, “Boss, I called you three times. Why didn’t you pick up?”

“The phone was on silent. What’s up?”

Stella was notoriously averse to overtime, a trait she maintained since the inception of her studio. Tabitha was well aware that their boss was, in fact, quite the slacker. Her instances of staying late were few and far between.

“That Cloudia stopped by.”

Stella was speechless.

Cloudia? Again?

Seemed like she needed to stir up trouble for the Larkin family, or else Cloudia would be constantly bugging her.

And she still refused to sign the disownment agreement.

How utterly annoying!

“How long has she been here?”

Tabitha responded, “Been waiting for you for two hours.”

That she had the patience to wait this long must be due to Ursula’s antics. Recalling Ursula’s taunts over the phone, Stella couldn’t help but snicker!

Just as she was about to make her way to the office, her phone buzzed in her hand.

Stella answered, and Ronald’s tender, indulgent voice came through, “What did you have for lunch?”

“Steak!”

Wasn’t great, so she didn’t eat much. She wasn’t a fan of that stuff, but since her favorite wasn’t available, nothing else really mattered.

Ronald asked, “I’m downstairs. You coming down, or should I come up?”

Stella said, “You’re here to see me now?”

“Yeah, got something for you.”

“Then wait a sec.”

Stepping out of the building, Stella spotted Ronald’s custom ride from a distance. She strode over, and Idris respectfully opened the car door for her.

Meeting the man’s profound and noble gaze, Stella felt her heart flutter uncontrollably! It was as if she was being drawn into his world.

“Is that the ‘Aurora’?”

Now, Ronald had turned it into a necklace and presented it to her.

Stella asked, “Is this for me?”

Stella was at a loss for words. Wasn’t this a bit too pricey?

But facing Ronald’s intense gaze, she dared not utter a word of refusal; knowing his temperament, she reckoned he might just toss it out of the car right then and there.

She quickly swept her hair aside.

As the man leaned in, his breath on her nape was warm, contrasting with the coolness of the necklace, causing Stella’s heartbeat to nearly stop.

Especially with his presence enveloping her, she felt a profound sense of being protected under his wings. This feeling was so familiar, so much so, that Stella almost felt moved to tears.

Ronald secured the necklace and admired it, “Beautiful.”

Stella sniffed, “Why suddenly give me this? And it’s so expensive.”

“Consider it a belated birthday gift.”

At that, Stella’s heart skipped a beat again.

Birthday Gift.

Her mind flashed back to how lonely her birthday was this year at the Silk River Residences. The Larkins and Yorick had all flown overseas to be with Ursula.

Chapter 150

And for her? Not even a single phone call.

Had they forgotten their own birthdays? No, how could they forget when she shared her birthday with Ursula?

In the end, it boiled down to simple apathy.

But that was okay, she hadn’t cared about them for the longest time either.

Yet, why was Cloudia now hesitating to sign the agreement?

“What’s on your mind?”

Ronald caught her being quiet and drifting further into her thoughts; he decided to pull her back to reality.

Stella confessed, “Nothing much, just that it’s been years since I last received a birthday present.”

Ever since she stepped out of Ronald’s life, birthday presents had become a thing of the past.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ronald pulled her into an embrace. She could instantly feel his uneven breath against her, his magnetic voice tinged with a certain depth, “Promise me you won’t wander off again?”

Tears unbiddenly welled up in Stella’s eyes.

“I promise, never again.”

Damn the Schultz family for being decimated; now, she had no reason to stray from Ronald’s side anymore.

Ronald’s embrace tightened.

“Ronald, I’m sorry.” Stella wrapped her arms around his lean waist, nuzzling her head against his chest.

Ronald responded by gently rubbing the top of her head, an unspoken forgiveness.

Apologies were unnecessary; back then, he was swamped managing the family’s assets, leaving him unable to protect her from the clutches of the Schultz scum.

…

When Stella returned to her office, it was already half an hour later.

Tabitha noticed the striking necklace adorning her boss’s neck.

“Wow, Boss, that necklace is stunning. Looks familiar…wasn’t it featured on the cover of…”

“Aurora,” Stella cut in.

Aurora, of all things…

The value of this diamond was overhyped to over ten million! Even the Larkin family might not afford it. Could it have been that man?

Tabitha nodded, “It’s pretty, truly.”

“Is Cloudia still around?”

The brief joy at mentioning Cloudia quickly faded from Stella’s face.

In Stella’s office.

Cloudia’s impatience at waiting for Stella for too long was evident on her face, and as the door opened, she was unable to mask it quickly enough.

She forced a smile, “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for a while. People in the studio have been trying to reach you but you didn’t answer.”

The matter of phone calls irked Cloudia. To reach her, they had borrowed dozens of phones from the hospital, all to be blocked by Stella.

Such cold-heartedness was rare.

Once Ursula’s health improved, she resolved to have a stern talk with the family that raised Stella. How had they nurtured her to be this way? Did they even know how to raise a child?

Stella tossed her bag onto the desk, “Out with it. What do you want?”

It had to be about Ursula; what else could it be?

As she sat down, the Aurora caught the sunlight coming through the window, incredibly stunning, dazzling enough to draw Cloudia’s attention, “Your necklace, is it…”

Aurora, it had to be!

Cloudia remembered seeing it at an auction once. But how could such an astronomically priced piece end up around Stella’s neck?

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Chapter 111

Verbal sparring was Stella’s forte. And sure, if it came down to a fistfight, Jaxon wouldn’t stand a chance against her either.

The moment she dropped that bomb, Jaxon on the other end of the call felt his heart throbbing in frustration.

Hearing that Stella was even aware of his secret only made Jaxon double down on his resolve to get her out of the city. She was trouble, for him and for Ursula alike.

“You, you, I’m not gonna mince words here. Mom said you need to leave Portis City, pronto. Are you gonna go yourself, or do I have to make you?”

Jaxon’s words, “make you”, were spoken through clenched teeth, and Stella could tell he meant business.

But if it was a showdown he wanted, she was done playing nice. The truth was bound to come out sooner or later, so why bother hiding it?

“Oh, you’re gonna make me? Really? And just how do you plan on doing that?” she scoffed.

Jaxon was speechless.

Stella went on, “If that guy tonight could pull me out of that mess, he’s definitely got the means to keep me safe. Tell Ursula, I’m not going anywhere.”

The events of the evening had unfolded like a series of calculated moves. Between the verbal jabs and the sneaky tricks, it was clear Ursula was desperate to have her out of Portis City.

But Stella was no fool. There had to be a reason behind it all, and she was determined to find out why Ursula was so eager to see her go.

Stella’s tone was dripping with sarcasm, her attitude defiant. This only served to infuriate Jaxon even further, “You, you…”

“What about me? If you’re so capable, why waste time arguing? I doubt you’ll show me any mercy.

If you think you can get rid of me, by all means, try. I’ll be waiting. If not, don’t bother trying to win a war of words. You won’t win anyway.”

Jaxon hung up the phone in a fury. Continuing this conversation with Stella was going to be the death of him.

After chatting with Ursula for quite a while, Cloudia came out to find Jaxon fuming.

Jaxon shot Cloudia a look and sighed, “We might not be able to send her away after all.”

“She was taken by a man, someone with influence. And she’s not staying at Silk-River Residences anymore.”

“I don’t know,” Jaxon admitted, feeling a headache surging on.

But the events of the past few days, along with the people she knew, suggested otherwise. Finley, Tegan, the man who rescued her…

Cloudia was furious at the thought of being unable to send Stella away.

Jaxon replied, “Maybe we need to dig a little deeper into her background first.”

“To dig what? What could possibly be in her background? She’s just a country girl.”

“But the people she knows are anything but simple. Yorick mentioned the man at Silk-River Residences was clearly someone of status, and his relationship with Stella didn’t seem new. Then there’s Finley and her studio.”

These were all individuals of notable standing. For a young girl to run such a large studio, where did the startup capital come from?

Hearing Jaxon lay it out, Cloudia too began to harbor doubts. It seemed she had never truly known her own daughter.

“Then let’s get to the bottom of this, and quickly,” Cloudia said.

After tonight’s close call with Ursula, they couldn’t afford to let Stella stay in Portis City any longer than necessary.

Chapter 112

Jaxon nodded, “I know.”

Just as they were about to say something else, alarms from the hospital room’s machines started blaring urgently.

Jaxon and Cloudia exchanged a glance, their faces all changing drastically, before rushing into the room.

Ursula was lying on the bed, her face pale as she kept her eyes shut.

The machines beeped frantically, scaring Cloudia, “Ursula, Ursula! Call a doctor!”

Ursula weakly opened her eyes, feebly grabbing Cloudia’s hand, “Mom, it hurts so much.”

Those words shattered Cloudia’s heart.

…

Over at Wave Residence.

Stella found herself wrapped in Ronald’s arms, his hand gripping her waist. The other hand played with a strand of her hair. He seemed to enjoy having her sit on his lap, a preference he’s had since they were kids.

But Stella was feeling uneasy now, “Ronald, it…”

What to say? She had lost count of how many times they had this conversation in recent days.

Yet, Ronald seemed to automatically filter it out, not listening or something.

Stella felt her heart might just jump out of her chest.

Ronald asked, “The one you love? Who is it?”

His fingers curled a lock of Stella’s hair, his tone laced with a trace of tease.

Stella’s mind buzzed, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably.

How could there be such a coincidence? Ronald had just walked in to hear those words.

Now, Stella’s face was all red, “Let go of me first.”

“You’ve really grown up, even have someone you love,” Ronald’s voice was soft, filled with his unique indulgence towards Stella.

Stella faced his tenderness, her heart tightening to its limit.

“Ummm…” she stuttered, completely at a loss for words.

“Tell me, who are you in love with, hmm?”

“Can I not say?”

“No, Star, tell me who you love, and I’ll take care of it.”

Stella felt helpless.

The things in her heart, if spoken, were too risky; she couldn’t take the chance.

“No?”

“But why do I feel like there is.”

Stella shook her head, not daring to continue.

His mention of “playing” referred to her interactions with the Larkin family and Yorick.

Those guys were definitely suffering inside, but even if she loved to play, she shouldn’t stay up late.

Ronald left the room, and Stella, seeing he didn’t press further, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

…

Idris saw Ronald come out and approached respectfully, “Sir.”

As they walked, Ronald lit a cigarette, “Kids grow up, start keeping secrets.”

His words carried depth.

But Idris understood exactly what he meant.

“Ms. Quinn only thinks about you. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Ronald exhaled smoke, “Is that so?”

Idris nodded, “Yes.”

As Ronald heard this, his lips curved into a pleased smile.

“Speed up that thing. The air in Portis City isn’t too good.”

Idris replied, “Understood.”

Chapter 113

That night, Stella slept soundly at Wave Residence, but the folks at the hospital weren’t so lucky; they spent the night tossing and turning. Ursula was suffering terribly.

Early the next morning, a cardiologist sought out Cloudia, “Mrs. Larkin, there are some things we need to discuss. Could you step outside with me?”

Seeing the grave look on the doctor’s face, Cloudia felt a wave of foreboding. She glanced at Ursula, lying on the hospital bed, then nodded and followed the doctor into the hallway.

Cloudia, her face etched with worry, gazed at the cardiologist, “Is there something wrong with Ursula’s health?”

The doctor nodded solemnly.

“We’ve been carefully examining her heart condition, and the surgery she requires is quite complex. I’m afraid we’re not very confident in our ability to handle it.”

Cloudia’s heart lurched at those words.

“What do you mean you’re not very confident? You’re the experts. If you don’t have confidence, then who does?”

Cloudia was immediately alarmed by the doctor’s lack of confidence. The ordeal of Ursula’s illness had already been a nightmare for her, tormenting them with the constant fear that Ursula might never wake up.

Now, hearing the doctor’s words, Cloudia turned pale.

The doctor continued, “I just want to make sure you understand the risks involved. However, there is one doctor who could significantly increase the success rate of the surgery if you could persuade him to take the case.”

“Which doctor?”

Hope sparked in Cloudia’s eyes at the mention of someone who could potentially save Ursula. But when the doctor mentioned the name, her hope plummeted.

“Finley Yoder. A young doctor, but exceptionally talented in these matters. He’s handled many complex surgeries without a single failure.”

Why him? The man connected to Stella, whom they had already approached once before.

With the world’s vast medical resources, she couldn’t believe that only Finley had that extent of success.

Given Ursula’s prominent position in the Larkin family, the doctor felt compelled to make the situation clear, to avoid any blame should complications arise.

Numbly, she nodded, “Okay, I understand.”

The doctor handed her Finley’s contact information, “Here’s his info. We’ve already reached out to him, but he refused. Maybe you can give it a try.”

Left alone, Cloudia leaned against the cold hospital wall, feeling an intense turmoil inside.

What was she going to do?

She hadn’t yet figured out how to approach Finley again.

Then, the leading OB-GYN approached her, “Ms. Larkin’s uterine condition is quite precarious. After our analysis, we believe surgery would necessitate the removal of her uterus.”

Chapter 114

Claudia gasped, her voice tight with shock and disbelief, “What did you say?”

Anger flashed in her eyes, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

“Remove her uterus? We paid a fortune for your expertise, and you’re telling me that it’s to strip her of her future as a mother?”

Her fury was palpable as she glared at the doctor.

The Quarry family already had their reservations about Ursula, and if they found out she could no longer bear children, then it was curtains for her and Yorick.

With Stella and Yorick’s relationship already on the rocks, losing the possibility of Ursula and Yorick’s future together meant the end of the road for any alliance between them.

“Are all of you incompetent? With all the resources at your disposal, can none of you save her uterus?”

The doctor replied, “Her condition is quite severe. She also has liver cancer, which severely limits the medications we can use. Her body can’t take much more.”

Cloudia was rendered speechless, her heart tightened at the words.

The doctor continued, “There’s Professor, Tegan James, you know her, right?”

Cloudia looked at the specialist, struggling for breath, “What do you mean?”

“She’s made significant advances in this field. Despite her young age, she’s managed to help many patients over the years.

If you could get her on board, there might still be a chance to save Ms. Larkin’s uterus.”

Tegan, Finley!

Back to them again.

“Are they really that indispensable? All of you, and none can replace them?”

The doctor fell silent, a testament to the unique talents some possess that simply can’t be replicated through effort alone.

The doctor, his expression grim, turned and left. It wasn’t entirely the doctor’s fault; Ursula’s health was a complex puzzle, each condition as urgent as the next.

“Mom, what’s happened?”

Yorick and Jaxon remained silent.

Jaxon admitted, “There’s no way to pressure her.”

“Then we’ll just have to kidnap her!” Cloudia blurted out in desperation.

Stella, who had just turned the corner, overheard Cloudia’s drastic suggestion.

To kidnap her?

A cold shadow passed over her eyes.

Not having noticed her existence, Cloudia kept on, “I have no other choice. We must get Tegan and Finley back no matter what. Since she chose the hard way instead of the easy one, there’s nothing I could do.”

Stella stepped into view, “So, Mrs. Larkin, are you suggesting that if I refuse to take it in an easy way, you’ll resort to kidnapping me?”

Claudia, Yorick, and Jaxon froze, caught in the act.

Chapter 115

Hearing the voice, the group turned their heads in unison to see Stella, clad in a beige trench coat, standing not too far off.

Her hands were buried in her pockets, a playful amusement in her eyes.

At that moment, the trio felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Stella sauntered over with an air of nonchalance, Idris trailing behind her, his expression somewhat grim.

The reports had one story, but seeing it with their own eyes was wholly unexpected. To think they would go to such lengths against their own blood.

Stella stopped in front of Cloudia, “Planning a little kidnapping, are we? For Ursula’s sake?”

Cloudia was on edge, her nerves stretched thin. She hadn’t anticipated Stella overhearing their plot. What rotten luck.

She took a deep breath, “Let Tegan and Finley come back.”

“And if I refuse? What then? You’ll kill me?”

That was the plan, wasn’t it? She’d heard it all.

They were actually contemplating kidnapping her to force her hand in calling Tegan and Finley, all for Ursula’s sake.

What did blood ties even mean, at this point?

Cloudia, now facing Stella’s casual demeanor, found herself at a loss for words.

Jaxon, witnessing Stella’s imposing stance towards Cloudia, stepped forward in a fit of anger and pushed Stella away, “Enough! Is this how a younger should address an elder?”

As Stella stumbled, Idris immediately steadied her before landing a swift kick to Jaxon’s stomach. The pain was sharp and immediate.

Jaxon clutched his abdomen, his face turning pale, “You…”

Seeing Jaxon get hit, Cloudia rushed to support him. Her face, previously dominated by Stella’s intimidation, now crumbled into despair, “What’s the meaning of this?”

Yorick’s gaze shifted to Idris, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

Another man? And who might this be?

Feeling the menacing aura emanating from that man, Yorick squinted, signaling a threat, “Stella, come over here!”

Why were there so many men around her? In just a few days, she seemed to have been accompanied by three different men.

Yorick was speechless.

The rage was boiling over in Yorick.

Stella’s gaze fell on Yorick’s slightly bruised face and the cast on his wrist.

At her words, Yorick’s head buzzed with intense humiliation.

“Alright.”

Stella and Idris strode past Jaxon and Cloudia.

Yorick’s gaze followed her, his eyes colder than ever.

“Stella, stop right there.”

Cloudia had reached her limit. Especially seeing Jaxon lying on the ground, unable to get up, she felt like she was going to explode. The past two years had been nothing but frustration over Stella, and seeing Jaxon beaten only added fuel to the fire.

Stella paused, turning to face her, “What now?”

“Bring back Tegan and Finley. Whatever you want, I’ll agree to.”

“Mrs. Larkin, you sure know how to bend, playing it tough and then soft.”

It came from her own mother. Just moments ago, she was threatening to kidnap her own daughter, and now here she was, softening her tone.

Stella had seen her share of shameless people over the years, but Cloudia was something else entirely.

Chapter 116

Cloudia, meeting Stella’s sarcastic gaze, felt even more suffocated.

“I’m sorry, so sorry, it’s all my fault.”

Stella spoke, “It’s indeed your fault. I’ll have my lawyer get in touch. When he hands you the papers, just sign them.”

Papers to sever ties. Getting entangled with these people was just bad luck.

With those words, Stella turned and left with Idris by her side.

Watching Stella’s retreating figure, Cloudia felt a tightness in her chest that made it hard to breathe.

Jaxon struggled to his feet, the pain in his stomach starting to subside a bit.

The guy with Stella, he had to be some kind of boxing artist. That kick felt like it was going to burst his insides; it hurt so much!

“What papers does she want you to sign?”

Cloudia was silent. Remembering Stella’s words about cutting off all ties made her head throb with anger.

“What else could it be? She wants to sever ties with us completely.”

Jaxon and Yorick exchanged glances at Cloudia’s words.

Cloudia added, “I didn’t know where she got that confidence from before, but now I get it.”

Her words were laced with venom. She hadn’t realized the extent of Stella’s backing when she first mentioned severing ties.

“To think she’d cut ties with us because there are some men she can rely on? She’ll regret it,” Jaxon said fiercely.

He was convinced Stella would come to regret it, and when she did, they wouldn’t give her a chance to make amends.

Cloudia didn’t speak, but she shared Jaxon’s sentiment.

“But what do we do now?”

“Just sign the papers, and let’s get Tegan and Finley to treat Ursula,” Jaxon said without hesitation.

He refused to believe they couldn’t handle Stella. Once he dug up dirt on those men around her, he’d find a way to deal with her.

No matter what, they needed to bring the doctors back.

On their way to see Old Mrs. Zeller, Idris couldn’t help but glance at Stella a few times.

“You’re not someone who takes things lying down. How did you end up getting pushed around by these people for years?”

Given her temperament, she should’ve cut ties at the first sign of trouble, not let these people get close enough to cause problems.

“Still, given your temperament, shouldn’t you have cut all ties long ago?”

The fact that she was once engaged to Yorick was something Idris couldn’t wrap his head around.

Stella looked at him, smiling, “Exactly, according to my temperament, I should’ve cut all ties, right?”

Idris didn’t respond.

“But I remember why I left the Quinn family, and why I stayed away from Ronald.”

Mentioning leaving the Quinn family still brought a pang of sadness, even after all this time. Back then, she was in so much pain, pain that was heart-wrenching…

Those were Ronald’s toughest days, and she wanted to be by his side, to weather the storm together.

But she couldn’t.

Idris asked, “Was it because the Schultz family was always lurking in the shadows, watching you?”

Stella glanced down at an inconspicuous scar in the palm of her hand, and with a heavy heart, she simply murmured, “Yeah.”

Chapter 117

After visiting Old Mrs. Zeller, Stella made her way past Ursula’s hospital room, where Yorick was waiting for her at the door.

Spotting her, Yorick frowned and stepped forward to block her path.

Stella raised an eyebrow, “Looking for another beating today?”

Yorick shot back, “What’s gotten into you lately?”

His tone was icy, his gaze viciously dark as he glanced at the man following Stella.

Idris exuded an air of distinction. Yorick was convinced he was yet another of Stella’s conquests.

Stella snorted, “None of your freaking business.”

“If you really cut ties with the Larkin family, who do you think you will be? You believe those men would still want you?”

Yorick’s eyes drifted to Idris as he mentioned “those men”.

Idris’ aura turned even colder. He took a step forward, “Miss, why don’t you wait in the car?”

Yorick was speechless.

Miss?

Stella wasn’t in the mood for more nonsense with Yorick. She nodded, glancing at Idris.

“Just be careful.”

The Quarry family was a big deal in Portis City after all. With Ronald staying in town for some serious business, upsetting the Quarries could spell trouble for everyone involved.

Idris, knowing Stella was considering Ronald’s position, nodded, “Understood.”

As Stella passed Yorick, he grabbed her wrist, “Explain yourself.”

Before Yorick could ask anything else, he suddenly felt a sense of weightlessness and found his head bumping against the wall with a bang.

Idris couldn’t stand the insult to Stella. If Ronald got the words and found out he did nothing, there’d be hell to pay.

Yorick exploded, “You bastard!”

Stella, uninterested in the spectacle, walked straight away.

He tried to follow, but Idris engaged him again. With only one hand at his disposal and Idris’ superior skill, Yorick quickly found himself at a disadvantage.

“Jaxon, Jaxon…” Cloudia pleaded in desperation.

“Mr. Quarry, keep this up, and you’ll lose another hand. Are you sure you want to continue?”

Idris, on the other hand, calmly adjusted his suit, turned and left.

Jaxon, pale as a ghost, approached Yorick, “Are you okay?”

He glanced worriedly at Yorick’s trembling leg.

Jaxon himself was in pain; Idris’ tackle had not been gentle.

Yorick narrowed his eyes slightly. Before he could respond, Ursula’s pained moans from the room cut through the tension.

Cloudia rushed into the room first.

Jaxon glanced at Yorick, “When it rains, it pours. Ursula used to be so vain, but now she’s losing her hair. Alas…”

Jaxon couldn’t finish his words, his tone dripping with distress towards Ursula.

Yorick glanced at Jaxon, then back at the hospital room door.

Just as Jaxon thought Yorick would go see Ursula, he turned and walked away, his silhouette stern, steps faltering slightly.

Chapter 118

“Wait, what?” Jaxon blinked in confusion.

That was it? Was he just leaving?

The sounds of Ursula’s pain echoed from the hospital room, mixed with Cloudia’s soothing words.

Wasn’t Yorick going to check on her? What did his departure mean?

For a moment, Jaxon couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

…

On Stella’s end, Idris had driven her straight to the Orient Nexus Building. As Stella got out of the car, Idris told her, “Mr. Quinn’s got some business to attend to today, so he can only join you for dinner.”

“Okay, got it,” Stella nodded obediently, then turned and walked away.

Watching her leave, Idris pulled out his phone and called Ronald, “Mr. Quinn.”

“Did you visit Old Mrs. Zeller?”

Idris replied, “Yes, but we also ran into folks from the Larkin family and Yorick.”

The line went silent for a moment.

Even through the phone, Idris could feel Ronald’s icy aura.

“Yorick seems to have a lot of free time, huh?”

“The entire Larkin family seems to have too much time on their hands, always hovering around that woman,” Idris answered.

Indeed, too much free time. Aside from hiring a bunch of specialists, they even personally accompanied her.

Yorick, in particular, visited Ursula at the hospital every day.

“What’s Star’s reaction?”

Ronald’s tone turned even colder as he asked this.

Clearly, he wasn’t really concerned about whether these people were idle or not. He was more worried about whether their actions were affecting Stella’s mood.

The tension in Ronald’s voice eased noticeably upon hearing this.

Idris added, “However, Yorick and the Larkins are planning to kidnap Ms. Quinn.”

…

Seeing him, Stella was far from pleased.

Yorick’s already sour expression darkened further upon hearing Stella’s words, his anger visibly growing.

His words carried a hint of frustration. Apart from him, it seemed like the entire Larkin family and even the Quarry family couldn’t get through to her now.

Facing Yorick’s fury, Stella had little to say. She took a sip from the water glass in front of her, “If you can’t get through, then don’t. It’s not like we need to be in contact anyway.”

“No need to be in contact? Then who do you need to be in contact with? Those men?”

Thinking about how she had blocked everyone. What was she relying on? Those men?

The thought of those men made Yorick’s expression even darker, “What did that guy at the hospital mean by calling you ‘Miss’? He doesn’t even know your last name? You just met him? What kind of ‘Miss’ are you? From a nightclub?”

On his way here, Yorick tried to figure out the situation, but he came to only one conclusion.

“Is this studio funded by doing sleazy business?”

Yorick’s anger reached a boiling point. In a rage, he lost all reason.

Faced with groundless accusation, Stella, with the glass of water in hand, threw it directly at Yorick.

The water was somewhat cold. Splashing onto Yorick’s face, it was chilling, pulling his rationality back from the flames of anger.

Chapter 119

Stella stared at Yorick frostily, “You come to yourself now?”

If not, she’d go fetch a bucket and give him a cold shower right there and then.

Yorick glared at Stella, his chest heaving with anger, “You…”

“A nightclub girl? Yorick, with your brain, I’m starting to question how you’ve been managing the Quarry Group. All sunshine, no rain, huh?”

Yorick retorted, “What do you mean?”

“With your IQ, aside from lying to your parents, how could you possibly run a company properly?”

She didn’t believe it for a second.

Clearly, Stella was calling Yorick an idiot.

Yorick was so furious he nearly passed out.

“You!”

“You don’t even have the right to question me, and now you’re here insulting me? Maybe there are a few things you haven’t quite grasped?”

Yorick was speechless.

This infuriating woman, he really wanted to seal her mouth shut.

“What things?”

At this moment, Yorick was seething with rage. But Stella continued to twist the knife, “First off, I dumped you, and the whole of Portis City knows it!”

Yorick remained silent.

Stella continued, “Second, about Finley and Tegan, you’re still begging me, aren’t you?”

Yorick couldn’t reply. The mention of Finley and Tegan only fueled his anger further.

Two doctors, linking human lives to Stella’s words, what kind of doctors were they?

Stella added, “Begging me on one hand, insulting and threatening me on the other?”

Yorick, furious as he was, found himself at a loss for words, especially with Stella’s serious expression as she metaphorically stabbed him in the chest, making him finally realize that her breaking off their engagement was serious.

That was the question Yorick needed answers to. He wouldn’t leave until he got them today.

Her retort was sharp.

Silence.

Idiot! Such an idiot, how on earth did Yorick manage to run the Quarry Group so well?

In fact, Stella was now seriously doubting whether Yorick had been only reporting the good and hiding the bad.

From the outside, the Quarry Group seemed to be at the pinnacle of success. But internally, who knew what mess he had created.

Yorick stared at her coldly. Seeing her refusal to answer, he decided to ignore Stella’s rhetorical question.

“Then let me ask differently, why are you staying at Wave Residence? And who owns it?”

Stella teased, “So eager to find out who’s behind it, planning to buy it for Ursula’s recuperation, huh?”

Though the thought was laughable, it still irked Stella. Her place, eyed by a sick person – if something bad happened there, it would be a curse.

Yorick pressed, “Is it Finley? Or the man you were with at Silk River Residences? Or maybe, the man from the hospital today?”

Stella faced these humiliating questions, her patience finally reaching its limit.

Chapter 120

She wanted to douse Yorick with another glass of water, only to find the glass was empty.

With a loud bang, she slammed it on the desk and stood up, “Wait here for a second.”

Leaving those words behind, Stella strode confidently towards the office door.

Yorick watched her leave, frowning, puzzled about what she was up to, but he decided to wait as she had asked.

He was curious to see what kind of explanation she would come up with. Yeah, that was what Yorick thought.

He figured his words had been too sharp, too aggressive, and Stella needed a moment to cool off.

After taking a breather, she would come back with a reasonable explanation.

…

As Stella emerged from the office, Tabitha approached her respectfully, “Boss.”

Stella headed straight for the restroom, grabbing the mop bucket commonly used by the janitors. The bucket was still full of dirty water, and Stella carried it towards the office.

Seeing this, Tabitha hurriedly offered to help, “Boss, what do you need the bucket for? Let me carry it for you. That water was just used by the janitor to clean the toilets; it wasn’t meant for hands.”

“No need, keep doing your thing.”

From the tone of her boss’ voice, it seemed like the situation was not great.

Knowing that Yorick was in the office, Tabitha had a pretty good idea of what Stella intended to do with that bucket of water.

…

In the office.

Yorick saw Stella enter so quickly, “Cooled off already?”

As soon as he finished, he noticed the bucket in her hands. A bad feeling washed over him.

The next moment, with a splash, he was drenched, cold water making him shiver.

With a loud thud, Stella slammed the bucket onto the floor.

This damn woman!

And what was that smell? It was awful.

Stella crossed her arms, “Feeling awake now? Anything else you don’t understand?”

If looks could kill, Yorick would have devoured her right then and there.

Questioning her like this? If she didn’t show these people a lesson, would they really think Stella was a pushover?

This woman…

“I’ll see your studio shut down!”

Yorick roared as he stood up. His whole demeanor exuded intimidation, trying to pressure Stella.

But Stella remained unfazed, “We’ll see if you can actually do that.”

Intimidation met with defiance!

Yorick’s eyes could have sparked flames, but facing Stella’s fearlessness, his fire seemed to be doused completely.

“I’ll get you for this!”

With those parting words, Yorick stormed out, full of rage.

Behind him, Stella’s disdainful ‘tsk’ sound made his departure even colder, intensifying his resolve to not rest until he had brought her down.

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