Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Chapter 16

Early next morning, Tegan flew off for a medical conference abroad.

As Stella got a ring from Susanna, she said on the phone, "Looks like your cousin's gonna pack on pounds for a bit longer. Tegan's out of the country, mentioned something about being away for a month." "How'd you know? Tegan rang you up?"

Stella replied, "Yeah, got a call around one in the morning."

"One in the morning? To share travel plans? Has she lost her marbles?"

It wasn't like everyone could just flip their sleep schedules upside down because Tegan decided to.

Stella sighed, "It was about Ursula."

"Ursula? What about her?"

Stella said, "Ursula ended up in the hospital last night, hit with a bunch of illnesses."

"A bunch? How many? Like what?"

Susanna was shocked at the news.

Just yesterday, spotting Ursula with Yorick near the maternity ward had them betting on a baby bump, not a bout of illnesses.

Stella shared, "Uterine cancer, heart disease, and seemingly liver cancer too."

The news made Susanna gasp, "All, all that? And she has uterine cancer?"

was well-versed in medical knowledge, their reaction to the uterine

heard the uterine

I know? Tegan said she's not one to spread rumors. She won't gossip, let's not add to the

a bind. Which family would accept someone with such health issues

Ursula's background as a maid's daughter. Her

Quarry elders will push for you and Yorick

someone else, so they would hold onto Stella at all cost, especially given her Larkin family ties. This would, in the Quarry's eyes,

Susanna's remind was right.

being in the hospital last night had already been noticed by them. Besides, they'd learned of Ursula's illnesses; among them, what they couldn't accept the most

...

mother, "Star, come to the manor this noon, will you? I'll

things to attend to

tied up. The project StarRiver offered this time was grand; she determined to take

busy, Imogen signed, "You don't

Stella was speechless.

"Or I go to

swing by this

Imogen insisted on meeting her, thinking it was better to clear things up in person. After all, people's attitude was palpable when talking face to face. Shortly after hanging up, Stella

She picked up, "Hello."

"It's me."

from

was also irked by calling her, because each time she got Yorick's call, he'd be

now this number was unknown, yet unexpectedly, she'd block-list the

mom asked me to pick you up. Did you say you'll come