Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Cloudia and Ursula's voices grew fainter, clearly signaling that Susanna was distancing herself from the heart of the commotion. Regarding Stella's question, Susanna chuckled, a hint of schadenfreude in her voice.

"How would I know what went down? Maybe the hospital couldn't do squat for her and didn't want to bleed them dry?"

Stella was at a loss for words.

Who'd buy that excuse? Certainly not her.

Susanna clicked her tongue twice. "I mean, Ursula had the backing of the Larkin family and the Quarry folks, right? So how come the hospital shoved her out the door like that? You didn't see the scene; it was like they couldn't wait to get rid of her. Such a 'conscientious' hospital, first time I'm laying my eyes on one."

Susanna continued, "For someone with her ticking clock, why waste the dough, right?"

Stella's drowsiness was effectively chased away by Susanna's gloating.

She turned over. "Why do I get the feeling you're not exactly fretting over the Larkin's finances here?"

"I'm fretting over money, just not the Larkin family's money."

That statement seemed alright at face value, but something felt off.

why are you snatching my phone? Yorick Quarry,

Stella was confused.

Yorick's voice came through the phone. "Stella, was

the phone, Stella could feel

voice, Stella muttered,

on at the hospital, and now here was Yorick, pinning

a loser, she thought, silently wishing for him and Ursula to be out of the

through her thoughts. "Being wronged? Are you saying you

You're nothing but a foster child to the Lugar family. If you keep abusing your power, beware they might all turn

sharp, each one delivering a

infuriated, retorted, "Damn it, Yorick,

wished she could knock some

every accusation landed on her? Was he cursing her

Yorick said, "That's my advice to you, don't misuse your power." Misuse power? Oh, now he was getting on his high

you forgotten how you

me with nowhere to