Chapter 85

[ 492 words ]

The message couldn’t have been clearer. If Cloudia kept seeing Yorick for Ursula, she wouldn’t hold back.

With that, Imogen ended the call abruptly.

On the other end, Cloudia was fuming after the call, with Jaxon right by her side. They were outside the hospital room. “Can you believe the Quarry family’s nerve? Do they really think we’re pushovers?” she was livid.

Jaxon frowned, remembering a conversation about the state of their mine development a month ago with his father.

“We can’t let Ursula find out about this,” Cloudia managed to say through gritted teeth.

“Understood,” Jaxon nodded.

The last thing they needed was for Ursula to worry about family drama in her condition. Yorick was her rock.

Cloudia closed her eyes, “We still need to figure out how to get both Tegan and Finley on board.”

They had just finalized Ursula’s surgery plan today, and just hearing about it was enough to make Cloudia’s heart pound. How was one person supposed to bear all this?

“I’ll reach out to Stella again,” Jaxon offered.

“Your dad already tried. Didn’t you hear he couldn’t find her? I suspect she’s not staying at Silk-River Residences anymore.”

“Not there? Then where could she be?”

Where indeed, Cloudia wondered, feeling a headache coming on. She was familiar with Stella’s circle of friends, and she shouldn’t have any that would hang out and play together so late at night. So, Cloudia suspected she wasn’t at Silk-River Residences anymore. “I don’t know, just look into it discreetly.”

“Mom,” Ursula’s voice came from the room, prompting Cloudia to signal Jaxon to be quiet.

Jaxon nodded, understanding the gesture.

Whoever was backing Stella’s studio, they needed to figure it out quickly.

Cloudia went inside. Seeing Ursula sweating and pale broke her heart, “What’s wrong? Are you in pain again?”

Ursula spoke, “Star…please, care for her more. Don’t let her ruin herself.”

Hearing Ursula’s words filled with sorrow, Cloudia felt even more pain, “Silly girl, you’re still worried about her?”

“I unintentionally heard Rick and Orion saying he met with that man at Silk-River Residences.”

“What?”

“Mom, she’s your daughter after all Please don’t let her get involved with random men. Even if she and Rick are over, she shouldn’t be with just any old guy.”

The term “old guy” ignited Cloudia’s fury, her chest heaving with anger.

Seeing her mother speechless, Ursula’s eyes gleamed with a fierce satisfaction.

…

Over at Wave Residence.

Stella’s phone lit up and dimmed

down, a constant cycle over the

past

few nights. She had the foresight to

put her phone on silent.

Half-asleep, she was startled by a noise at the door, and groggily saw Ronald, clearly drunk, standing at the entrance. “Ronald.”

Stella rubbed her eyes.

Then, Ronald came in, shutting the door behind him, shedding his mid-length coat and the smoky grey scarf around his neck.

He was devastatingly handsome,

making it impossible for Stella toz

keep her composure. She was totally awake, and got down from the bed, “You’ve been drinking?”

Every time Ronald had alcohol, his cheeks would turn flushed.

As her voice trailed off, the man strode over without giving her a chance to respond.

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