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?"

knowledge,

as Susanna heard the uterine cancer, her tone unwittingly

not one to spread rumors. She won't gossip, let's not add to the

agreed, "Fair, not gossiping. But, this puts Ursula and Yorick's future in a bind.

already frowned upon Ursula's background as a maid's daughter. Her illnesses only added fuel to

the Quarry elders will push for you and Yorick to tie the knot sooner

all cost, especially given her Larkin family ties. This would,

Susanna's remind was right.

eye on Ursula; her 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

...

from Yorick's mother, "Star, come to the manor this noon, will you? I'll personally cook your favorite, I'll tell Yorick to pick you

have some things to attend to

offered this time was grand; she

busy, Imogen signed, "You don't want to

Stella was speechless.

pressed, "Or I

I'll swing by

agree for Imogen insisted on meeting her, thinking it was better to clear things up in person. After all, people's

She picked up, "Hello."

"It's me."

voice came from the

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

now this number

to pick you up. Did you say