Cloudia and Urs''s voices grew fainter, clearly signaling that Susanna was distancing herself from the heart of themotion. Regarding Ste''s question, Susanna chuckled, a hint of schadenfreude in her voice.


    "How would I know what went down? Maybe the hospital couldn''t do squat for her and didn''t want to bleed them dry?"


    Ste was at a loss for words.


    Who''d buy that excuse? Certainly not her.


    Susanna clicked her tongue twice. "I mean, Urs had the backing of the Larkin family and the Quarry folks, right? So howe the hospital shoved her out the door like that? You didn''t see the scene; it was like they couldn''t wait to get rid of her. Such a ''conscientious'' hospital, first time I''mying my eyes on one."


    Susanna continued, "For someone with her ticking clock, why waste the dough, right?"


    Ste''s drowsiness was effectively chased away by Susanna''s gloating.


    She turned over. "Why do I get the feeling you''re not exactly fretting over the Larkin''s finances here?"


    "I''m fretting over money, just not the Larkin family''s money."


    That statement seemed alright at face value, but something felt off.


    Before Ste could respond, Susanna eximed, "Hey, why are you snatching my phone? Yorick Quarry, hand it back."


    Ste was confused.


    Then, Yorick''s voice came through the phone. "Ste, was it you?"


    His tone wasced with venom, and even through the phone, Ste could feel the animosity radiating from him.


    Hearing his voice, Ste muttered, "Talk about being wronged."


    She waspletely clueless about what was going on at the hospital, and now here was Yorick, pinning it all on her.


    Such a loser, she thought, silently wishing for him and Urs to be out of the picture. Any girl who got close to him would end up riddled with heartache.


    Yorick''s voice cut through her thoughts. "Being wronged? Are you saying you weren''t out for blood?


    Ste, I know you grew up with the Lugars, but get this straight: how are you any different from Urs? You''re nothing but a foster child to the Lugar family. If you keep abusing your power, beware they might all turn their backs on you. What will you stand on then?"


    His words were sharp, each one delivering a sting.


    Ste, infuriated, retorted, "Damn it, Yorick,e say that to my face."


    Right then, she wished she could knock some sense into Yorick.


    Howe every usationnded on her? Was he cursing her or what?


    Ste was fuming, wanting nothing more than to wring Yorick''s neck. Yorick said, "That''s my advice to you, don''t misuse your power." Misuse power? Oh, now he was getting on his high horse.


    Ste, losing patience, fired back, "Look who''s talking. As if you''ve never pulled strings for Urs. Have you forgotten how you tried to crush me for her? You wanted to shut down my studio, cut off my


    allowance, leave me with nowhere to turn.


    And now? When you misuse your influence to ruin my life, I''m just supposed to take it. But the moment I push back, you''re all about giving advice? Do I look like I need your advice? What are you even worth? Look in the mirror before you preach, will you?


    Jerk, got your head up your ass."


    Ste let it all out.


    Yorick, seething. "Enough with your nonsense, Ste. Just tell me, what will it take to leave Urs alone?"


    "But did you ever consider, even once, how to leave me be?"


    The air went still over the phone.


    Listening to his heavy breathing, Ste let out a mockingugh. "Back then, none of you thought about leaving me alone. So naturally, I haven''t considered sparing a thought for you two now." "You, you..." Yorick, struggled for words, "Now the Larkin and Quarry families are suffering because of you. Isn''t that enough?"