When Yorick heard about his entanglement with Ste, his face instantly darkened. Without needing to ponder, he knew exactly why his mother, Imogen, had called him back home - and it was to discuss that damn Ste. A wench who had somehow managed to charm the elders of his family.


    ...


    An hourter.


    Yorick returned to the Quarry Manor, only to be met with Imogen''s livid face, "What did you promise me yesterday? You said you wouldn''t see Urs again!"


    Imogen''s words were delivered through gritted teeth. Just thinking about the array of illnesses Urs had contracted was enough to infuriate her. How does a decent woman end up with so many ailments?


    It was one thing for the elderly, but Urs was far too young to be suffering from so many health issues.


    Yorick, his expression dark and foreboding, retorted, "Forget about me and Ste."


    "What did you say? Are you really considering a future with Urs?"


    "It''s not about Urs," Yorick cut Imogen off sharply.


    Beforest night, perhaps Urs was a reason he couldn''t progress with Ste. As Yorick recalled the man who showed up at Silk-River Residences, his scowl deepened even further. "Then why?"


    Imogen refused to believe Urs wasn''t involved.


    Yorick stated, "Anyway, it''s not about Urs."


    "Urs, Urs, Yorick, let me tell you, even if Ste isn''t in the picture, you can forget about being with Urs unless we''re all six feet under."


    She was referring to the family''s six elders, each a formidable presence. Yorick''s grandparents on both sides, along with Imogen and his father.


    With wordsid out so inly, the possibility between Yorick and Urs seemed to vanish. Exasperation gave Yorick a headache, "There''s no future for me and Urs, and I won''t marry Ste either." "You..."


    Both stood their ground, unyielding.


    Imogen, visibly agitated, red at Yorick viciously, "Fine, don''t marry her. But you''re well aware of why our family sought an alliance with the Larkin family."


    Yorick remained silent, understanding all too well. It was because the Larkin family owned a rare mine, one of fewer than five worldwide!


    The Larkin family was also acutely aware that without the Quarry family, they couldn''t protect that mine. And the resource extracted from that mine was precisely what the Quarry family desired most.


    If the Quarry family could find that mine elsewhere, they wouldn''t give the Larkin family a second nce. Moreover, the mine was nearly depleted, leaving very little behind.


    The Quarry family was in dire need of a recement, rendering the Larkin family practically disposable in Imogen''s eyes.


    Imogen closed her eyes for a while, "Your uncle just received news that the heir from Ferrond has arrived in Portis City."


    The heir from Ferrond?


    Like the Larkin family, they controlled the same mine but in a quantity tenfold greater!


    Yorick''s pupils contracted at this, "You mean, that heir?"


    Imogen nodded, "The heir of the Lugar family. You need to find a way to connect with them."


    Securing this connection would ensure the Quarry family''s survival, even if the Larkin family''s mine ran dry.