Those words of "something seriously wrong with your brain" were like a sharp sting to Cloudia''s nerves.


    Cloudia fumed, "That woman has already paid the price. She''s dead. Isn''t that enough?"


    Ste''s responded, "Not enough!"


    Her cold demeanor seemed utterly merciless in Cloudia''s eyes.


    "She died to atone for taking me away from you back then. The price Urs should pay is her own debts she''s made."


    "She didn''t do it. Why can''t you believe that was just an ident?"


    Cloudia was on the verge of losing it. What she despised the most was Ste''s relentless grudge against Urs, always clinging to that incident from the past.


    Ste scoffed, "You don''t want to cut ties with me, do you? Fine."


    Whenever they got into it, Ste had no interest in dredging up all those old stories from back in the day. She had no patience for it.


    Getting up, she grabbed her purse, ready to leave.


    Cloudia, seeing her about to walk out, protested, "Where do you think you''re going? We haven''t settled this yet."


    Ste turned, "And how exactly do you want to settle this? What right do you have to demand anything from me now?"


    At this point, she still required an answer? If she had that demand, she''d fulfill her wish.


    With that, Ste dialed Idris''s number, and he picked up immediately. Before Idris could even speak, Ste cut in, "I need you to handle my so-called rtionship with the Larkin family." "Will do."


    Cloudia, overhearing the conversation, felt a sudden tightness in her chest, "Who are you calling? Who did you ask to handle? Handle what?"


    A bad feeling washed over her.


    Ste didn''t bother to exin, shooting Cloudia a look before heading out with her purse.


    As she opened the door, she called out, "Tabitha, show the guest out. And don''t be too polite about it."


    Cloudia''s temper red even more at those words. This was her own daughter treating her this way, clearly showing theck of bond from not being raised by her side.


    Tabitha stepped in, "Ms. Lawson, would you prefer to leave with your dignity intact, or shall I escort you out less kindly?"


    Cloudia, ncing at Tabitha, felt her head pounding with anger.


    And soon, she would feel the repercussions of her stern stance towards Ste.


    ...


    Leaving the Orient Nexus Building, as she was still on her way to the hospital, ise''s call came through.


    "Did you go to Ste again?"


    Cloudia replied, "Yes, and let me tell


    you, she''s not as simple as we thought. She made seven hundred thousand Hast year; no wonder she didn''t care when I tried cutting off her financial support. Her scheming knows no bounds."


    Listening to Cloudia''s constantints, ise felt a headacheing on, barely listening. All he knew was the bacsh they were facing now because of Ste


    "I''m telling you, whatever she asks for now, just agree to it."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    ise''s sudden interjection left Cloudia, still in a rage,pletely baffled.


    Ste had infuriated her to this extent, and she was supposed to give in to whatever Ste wanted?


    Impossible!


    ise exined, "Half an hour ago, I got a call saying if we don''t meet her demands, we can kiss thepany goodbye." "And you believe that?"


    In Portis City, who could threaten them so easily? And more importantly, who made that call?


    It had been just half an hour since she left Ste''s.


    ise retorted, "You think I''d believe it? But in this half hour, I''ve received calls from two partners canceling their contracts."


    Those partners were crucial to


    Larkin Group. To lose two


    projects in such a short time


    indicated the power of the person behind it all.


    Cloudia was shocked.


    "So you''re saying, it''s because I confronted Ste and didn''t agree to her demands?"