The phone finally connected, and Yorick strained to make his voice sound patient. "Urs."


    "Rick, where are you?"


    Yorick replied, "Got something going on here, I''ll call you backter," and he was about to hang up.


    But before he could, Urs cut in. "You''re in Spring Hill, aren''t you?"


    Yorick''s breath hitched at her words, his grip on the phone tightening. "What about it?"


    "Why do you have to be in Spring Hill for a meeting?"


    Wasn''t work supposed to be at the office? What sort of meeting required him to be at a spa?


    Urs couldn''t control her rising emotions, her tone clearly usatory.


    Yorick''s eyes narrowed, his aura turning distinctly frosty.


    Before he could respond, Urs pressed on. "Is Ste there too? You went to see her, didn''t you?"


    The thought of Ste shing with Vivian, and Yorick being there to defend her, crossed her mind. How was Ste always in the picture? What did these men see in her?


    The more Urs thought about it, the angrier she became, especially with Yorick''s current attitude toward her. Not securing Wave Residence was embarrassing enough, and now knowing both Yorick and Ste were in Spring Hill, her frustration was nearing its breaking point.


    Hearing the slight usation in Urs''s tone, Yorick frowned. "Urs."


    His voice was colder as he began to speak, sending a chill down Urs''s spine on the other end of the line. The sharpness in her voice quickly gave way to a sense of vulnerability. "Rick, I''m scared."


    Yorick closed his eyes momentarily. "I know."


    Urs hesitated before asking, "So, you went to see Ste?"


    "No."


    "Then you..."


    Yorick rubbed his temples, feeling the onset of a headache. "I''ve got real business here. Gotta hang up now."


    Usually, he would take the time to exin things to Urs, but he was pressed for time. If he didn''t handle the Lugar family''s situation properly, both he and Urs would be in trouble.


    He quickly ended the call.


    At the hospital, Urs, upon hearing the dial tone, was left dazed.


    Rick hung up on her?


    Cloudia entered the ward to find Urs in a state of shock. Trying to manage her own emotions, she stepped forward. "Urs, what''s wrong?" Urs, eyes red, looked up at Cloudia. "Mom, Rick and Star are both in Spring Hill."


    "What?"


    Cloudia was shocked. She couldn''t help but think back to when Yorick and Ste were almost married.


    Sniffling, Urs said, "Mom, maybe Rick and I were never meant to be. He belongs with Star. It''s me who came between them."


    "Now, don''t talk nonsense. The most


    important thing for you now is to get better. Rick is waiting for you," Cloudia tried to reassure her though


    her heart ached.


    In her eyes, Urs and Yorick were perfect for each other. It was her own daughter, Ste, who hade between them.


    Now, Cloudia regretted bringing


    Ste back into their lives. If it


    weren''t for the quest to find her biological daughter - which made Urs the adopted child-the Quarry family elders wouldn''t have


    objected.


    If they hadn''t brought Ste back, Urs and Yorick might have had children by now.


    It was their selfishness back then!


    "But I can see Star hasn''t let go of Rick either," Urs sobbed.


    The name Ste had be a constant headache for Cloudia.


    "Why would they go to Spring Hill?"


    Urs shook her head. "I don''t know. Vivian told me she saw Star and Rick in Spring Hill. When I called Rick, he even hung up on me. They must be together." "Rick hung up on you?" Cloudia could hardly believe it.


    Not securing Mist Bay was bad enough, but now, hanging up her daughter''s phone?