Cloudia sighed, "It''s time for a change."


    She knew Yorick had been dedicating all his time and energy to sorting things out on that front.


    "Don''t worry. Yorick''s heart belongs to you. And you should try not to dwell on negative thoughts too much. It''s not good for your health."


    Recalling what the specialists had told her, Cloudia couldn''t help but feel a knot in her stomach. She was even uncertain if Urs would be able to pull through this time. Urs said, "I couldn''t help it. Mom, I just can''t shake off this feeling that this time I might..."


    "Stop," Cloudia cut her off before she could finish.


    Sometimes, that intuition was the most terrifying thing.


    "The doctors said your condition has been well-managed these past few days. Don''t let your imagination run wild."


    Urs looked up at her, eyes brimming with tears, "Is that so?"


    "Absolutely," Cloudia nodded firmly.


    Hearing this, Urs felt slightly better.


    ...


    After finally getting Urs to sleep, Cloudia stepped into the hospital corridor to call Jaxon.


    But Jaxon didn''t pick up. After a few attempts, all she got were natural hang-ups.


    Little did she know that Jaxon had been summoned by ise to thepany and had been in meetings non-stop, even now at 3 AM in the conference room.


    Cloudia, feeling a sense of emptiness andck of support, nced back at the closed door of the hospital room.


    ...


    Jaxon and ise''s meeting stretched till 7 AM, both looking worse for wear as they left the conference room for the office. It was then ise noticed the bruising on Jaxon''s face. "What happened to your face?"


    Jaxon''s expression darkened at his words. He reflexively touched his face, wincing at the pain from the swelling.


    "Ran into something."


    "Both sides?" ise knitted his brows. The marks didn''t seem like the result of a simple ident.


    Jaxon remained silent, thoughts drifting to the altercation with Ste and the call from his mother before heading to thepany.


    Seeing Jaxon''s silence, ise didn''t press further, rubbing his forehead in frustration, "Do you think there''s someone behind all this, trying to mess with us?"


    It was unusual how so many partners were suddenly keen on terminating contracts, some even cutting off resources outright.


    Jaxon frowned, ncing at ise.


    "Could it be the Quarry family?" ise spected.


    "It''s unlikely the Quarry family. Yorick wouldn''t allow it," Jaxon responded without hesitation.


    Even though there was discontent within the Quarry family towards the Larkins, they wouldn''t make a move now. And if they did, it wouldn''t cause such an immediate and significant impact. "Who could it be then?" ise wondered aloud, his expression grim.


    Jaxon''s mind raced, images of Ste and that man in her office shing through his thoughts. Could it be him?


    ...


    Back at the Wave Residence.


    Ste stared at the bruises adorning her neck, her heart tightening. She had been hiding in her room, too scared to face anyone, listening intently for any sound of a car outside. However, until 9 AM, there was no sign of Ronald leaving.


    Instead, he knocked on her door, "Star, time to get up."


    "Ah, I''m a bit tired. Think I''ll sleep in a bit more."


    With the bruises so visible and even her lips injured, she dreaded having to exin if Ronald saw them.


    What a mess she''d gotten into.