She was relentless in her verbal assault, leaving Cloudia fuming, "You, you''re driving me insane."


    Their conversation had hit a dead end.


    Cloudia stood up decisively, "You better do some serious thinking. When you stop targeting Urs, that''s when I''ll consider reinstating your card."


    It seemed the only way Cloudia could think of to punish Ste was by cutting her off financially.


    With those harsh words, Cloudia stormed out. She believed that by cutting off Ste''s financial support, Ste would eventuallye crawling back. And when that happened, she''d like to see Ste try to cause any more trouble.


    ...


    After Cloudia left, Ste, unfazed, washed an apple for herself to eat, showing no signs of introspection whatsoever.


    Her phone rang, and Ste answered, "Hello?"


    "Boss, we''ve got a big one, a really big one."


    "How big?" Ste asked.


    "Three times the fee we gotst time."


    Hearing this, the apple in Ste''s hand tasted even sweeter. She took another bite and got up, "I''ll be right there."


    She changed her clothes in record time.


    Half an hourter, she arrived at the studio, where her assistant Tabitha greeted her with an excited face while handing over the project file with eagerness, "Boss, it''s a huge project." Ste flipped through it, "Another one from StarRiver Corp.?"


    It seemed like StarRiver Corp.''s tourism sector was booming. She had alreadynded two major projects from them this year.


    The design fees they offered were nothing to scoff at, reaching into hundreds of thousands, and this time it was even more outrageous.


    Assistant Tabitha nodded, "Yeah, the liaison mentioned that they were extremely pleased with our designs and would like to forward all future projects to us."


    The words "extremely pleased" brought the first smile of the day to Ste''s face.


    "Call a meeting with all the designers."


    "Got it."


    ...


    Meanwhile, after leaving Silk-River Residences, Cloudia headed straight to the hospital.


    Yorick happened to be there as well, along with Cloudia''s son, Jaxon Larkin.


    Before Cloudia''s arrival, Jaxon had been consoling Urs. Having grown up together, Jaxon had always naturally sided with Urs in any dispute between Ste and Urs. Today, after Urs had been hit by Ste, Jaxon was even more infuriated.


    Seeing Cloudia, Urs looked aggrieved and apologetic, "Mom, I''m sorry, I think I made Star upset again."


    Cloudia, feeling sympathetic, approached her, "Silly child, it''s not your fault. I know what her temper is like."


    Mentioning Ste''s temper darkened everyone''s mood further.


    Cloudia sighed, "I wonder what kind of upbringing she had to be so spoiled."


    All they knew about Ste''s adoptive family was their surname, Quinn. Whether they were from the countryside or the city, the Larkin family had no idea. Ste wouldn''t say when asked. Jaxonmented, "What kind of family could it be? With her attitude, she must''ve been raised in the countryside,pletely wild."


    Jaxon had always found Ste''s temper and coarseness unbearable.


    Cloudia sighed again.


    Jaxon added, "You''ve blocked her card; don''t cave and turn it back on so easily this time. Let her feel what it was like to be without money, see if she dared to act so arrogantly again."