The atmosphere in Mist Bay remained undisturbed by the whirlwind visit from Jaxon and Yorick. However, over at the hospital, Cloudia and ise felt like their world was crashing down. Jaxon had injured his hand in such a peculiar way that the doctors feared it might never be the same again.


    Upon hearing this, Cloudia nearly fainted again.


    ise, on the other hand, was furious. "Why on earth did he go looking for her? And to Mist Bay of all ces, over something rted to Urs?"


    Everyone knew how touchy Ste was about Urs. Yet, here they were, with Jaxon having gone to Mist Bay because of Urs, and it had ended in disaster.


    Cloudia clutched her chest, feeling the pain sharply. "I was desperate too! Urs ran out of her medication today."


    She was at her wit''s end. The previous night, Urs had been in so much pain that she overdosed on her meds, and now, with none left, she was struggling. They couldn''t get her treatment abroad, so Jaxon went to Mist Bay. Hearing that it was all because of Urs again only intensified ise''s anger. "I swear, you''re going to let Urs ruin our family."


    Seeing ise so enraged, Cloudia''s face went pale. "What do you mean by that?"


    ise snapped, "Cloudia, are you really that clueless? Why do you think the Larkin Group is in such a messtely? Do you really not know?"


    Cloudia stammered, "W-why? Isn''t it because of Ste? She hates us; she''s out for revenge. I shouldn''t have had her. I should never have given birth to her."


    ise was momentarily speechless, his expression hardening, before he erupted in fury, "Everything started with the fallout between Star and Urs. Mr. Quinn has been targeting the Larkin Group because we haven''t cared for Star in over two years. Do you not get that?"


    Yet here Cloudia was, still worried about Urs, driving Jaxon to Mist Bay to confront Ste. And now it had ended in Mr. Quinn''s wrath, and Jaxon returning in this state.


    Cloudia''s face paled. "Didn''t I tell her everything I needed to about that ident? She''s the one who won''t let it go. Am I supposed to just watch Urs die?"


    Cloudia was on the verge of breaking down.


    Hearing her still defend Urs sent ise over the edge. He raised his hand and pped her across the face.


    The smack echoed through the hallway, and Yorick instinctively turned his eyes toward them.


    Cloudia stood frozen in ce, stunned, her pupils dted as she stared at ise. "You... you hit me?"


    ise seethed. "Do you not understand the role Jaxon ys in this family? You''re willing to ignore your own daughter for Urs, fine. But now you''ve ruined your son too." Cloudia was at a loss. "You... but Ste... didn''t we all fail her?"


    Thinking of Ste made Cloudia''s


    mind go nk. Yes, she couldn''t stand Ste''s sharp tongue and defiant temperament. Maybe she hadn''t treated her well, even though she was her daughter. But ise and Jaxon hadn''t treated her any better. Was it really all her fault? Weren''t they all to me?


    ise cut her off, "I''m done talking to you. Get out of my sight."


    He couldn''t bear to look at Cloudia anymore. Jaxon was supposed to be his sessor, the most promising one. Now, because of Cloudia''s obsession with Urs, Jaxon was left in shambles.


    Cloudia tried to speak, "But..."


    "Leave. I don''t want to see you again. You want to dote on Urs? Then go be with her," ise shouted, each word dripping with frustration. He was utterly disillusioned with Cloudia.


    He had warned her countless times not to provoke Ste, not to make things worse, but she never listened.


    And now Jaxon was hurt because of it.