Chapter 1070
[ 884 words ]
“I really have to ask, how did the Horner family raise you all these years? They owe their lives to your father, and this is how they repay you? Look at you-have they been skimping on your food and clothes, letting you grow up like this?”
Uriah’s hands curled into fists, knuckles blanching.
His eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint. Without a word, he pulled his wallet from his overcoat, slid out a credit card, and tossed it onto the table right in front of Finley.
Finley’s eyes widened in mock outrage.
“This should be enough to cover Dr. Yoder’s meals for a lifetime,” Uriah said, his tone icy. “Do us all a favor, Dr. Yoder, and give eating a rest for a while, would you?” Finley scoffed. Was this supposed to be some pathetic attempt at humiliating him? He calmly set down his fork and knife, reached into his jacket, and pulled out his own wallet. With a flourish, he splayed out a stack of cards across the table. “This,” he said, with a sly smile, “could feed me for several lifetimes.”
Uriah said nothing.
Tegan sat silently between them, the tension mounting in the air like a drawn bow.
Finley shot Uriah a derisive glance. “You think you’re the only one with a high limit? Uriah, throwing money around to flash your ego is pathetic. But using it to chase away every man around Tegan-well, it’s almost funny the way you act like you still stand a chance. Shouldn’t you know by now that anything you buy with money isn’t worth having?”
In other words, Finley wasn’t budging an inch.
Uriah’s face was thunderous, anger simmering just beneath the surface. The veins on the backs of his hands stood out as he glared at Finley, looking ready to snap. But Finley didn’t so much as blink.
He idly tapped his forehead. “No need to look at me like that.”
“Sure, I’m just a doctor. But, funnily enough, I’ve got a sister-temper like a powder keg.”
Earlier, Stella had invoked Mr. Quinn’s name. Was this Finley’s way of playing the family card now?
When Tegan heard him mention his sister, her expression turned oddly complicated.
Uriah’s voice was arctic: “Oh? Is that a threat?”
“Hardly,” Finley drawled, grinning. “But since you brought it up, you’ve got a sister too—and guess who landed her in trouble? Right. My sister.”
Uriah’s jaw clenched.
Helena stiffened.
Suddenly, the whole restaurant seemed to hold its breath.
Uriah leveled a stormy glare at Finley, tension crackling in every sinew. He looked about ready to leap across the table.
Tegan quickly stood up, trying to defuse the crisis. “Dr. Yoder, perhaps you should go.”
Finley met Uriah’s eyes, utterly unafraid. “Relax, would you? My sister didn’t frame yours, if that’s what’s got you so worked up. Honestly, it
s just an argument
Between two girls. No need for their brothers to throw punches over it, is there?” Not that he seemed bothered by that prospect either.
“Your sister’s responsible for this?” Uriah growled.
“Exactly,” Finley said without a hint of shame. “Yesterday’s mess? Stella and Skye both had a hand in it. If you’re looking for the one who really pulled the strings, that’d be Skye-though Stella was the one on the ground. She’s more civilized about these things.”
He shook his head with half a laugh. “No, not even Stella, really. My sister doesn’t do things halfway. If she wants to send a warning, people end up in the hospital. After what Leslie didnt shed run afoul of Skye, she might not be walking now. Star handled this one. She’s the gentle type.”
He paused, then added bluntly, “Still, if Skye had been involved yesterday, Leslie would probably be in traction now Stella was the one who called the cops, otherwise who knows” va what shape Leslie would be in. The point is, if you want answers, Tegan can’t help you. Star’s the one who called the shots. Take it up with her.”
Finley turned to Tegan as Uriah’s expression grew even darker. “This place is kind
of a dump. Want to grab a bite somewhere else?”
“Huh? Go somewhere else?” Tegan blinked, startled from her thoughts.
Finley nodded. “Yeah, food’s awful here. Let’s move on.” He was ready to go-and clearly, he expected Tegan to go with him.
Tegan hesitated only a moment, then rose, shouldering her purse.
Every time Finley said her name, Uriah felt something inside him curdle. Watching Tegan and Finley leave together, chatting like old friends, made his blood boil.
As Tegan passed, Uriah shot out his hand and grabbed her by the wrist. “We need to talk.”
“Dr. Yoder’s right,” Tegan said evenly. “You should talk to Star. I can’t make those decisions.”
But Uriah’s hand had closed around her injured wrist. Tegan winced, pain creasing her brow, but he either didn’t notice or didn’t care, the pressure of his grip only tightening.
“Tegan, this whole thing started because of you. And now you’re telling me to go talk to Star?”
“That’s right,” she replied, her voice light but perfectly clear. The casual certainty in her answer only stoked his frustration.
He fixed her with an intense, serious gaze. “Enough with this nonsense, okay?”
“Nonsense?” Tegan asked, her eyes sharp with irony. Even now, Uriah refused to believe this was anything more than child’s play to her.
“Do you really think I’m so immature that I’d drag my friends into helping me pull a stunt just to mess with you?”
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