Ronald pulled open the door with a swift motion, and Idris stood there with an air of urgency.
"There''s something you need to know," he said respectfully.
Ronald frowned, ncing back at Ste before he stepped out with Idris.
Ste got up, slipped into her jeans and socks, and nced at the dresser. Therey a brand-new smartphone, likely arranged by Ronald for her.
She picked it up and dialed Susanna.
As soon as Susanna answered, her voice was fraught with worry. "Ste, are you okay?"
Once assured of her friend''s safety, she shifted into gossip mode without missing a beat.
"Listen, Star, Mrs. Larkin knows everything now. She''s already stirring up trouble over the division of assets. And L, she''s making a fuss about moving into the Larkin estate. She''s not too thrilled about Jaxon and Urs''s... connection. If she moves in, it''ll be chaos. Urs might just lose her mind with all the drama."
Ste could practically see it- the sh between L''s fiery temper and Urs''s maniptive tendencies.
Urs and Jaxon needed a doctor, and with Cloudia now aware of the twins, L''s antics were just the cherry on top.
"They really need a doctor, huh?" Ste mused.
Susanna chimed in, "Speaking of doctors, Yorick defied his mother yesterday. He tried to get the family doctor to check on Urs and Jaxon. Guess what happened today?" "What?"
"Yorick visited the Larkin estate and, get this, on his way out, he kicked over a potted nt at the entrance."
Ste blinked in surprise. "What? Really?"
"Yeah, smashed it to bits. He looked like he was ready to demolish the whole estate."
"What on earth got him that riled up?"
Yorick losing his temper at the Larkin estate? That didn''t add up.
"No idea what happened inside, but he was furious. You know how much he cares for Urs."
This sort of behavior was unusual for Yorick, especially in front of the Larkins.
Ste spected, "Did he and Urs have a fight?"
"Unlikely. Urs''s barely hanging on. There''s nothing to argue about. If there was a disagreement, it had to be something Yorick couldn''t stomach. What could push him over the edge?"
en
"Maybe Urs had some overseas flings, and Yorick found out?"
Susanna hesitated. "Well... that''s a possibility."
Men usually want their partners to be squeaky clean, after all.
"Wasn''t Yorick always defending Urs?"
"Maybe he caught her cheating?"
"Does she even have the energy for that right now? Even if she wanted to, her health wouldn''t allow it."
"True. So we have no clue what set him off. But one thing''s clear- he''s acting like he''s done with her. Urs''s really in a tough spot now."
The Larkin estate was in shambles, and they couldn''t care less about her. Yorick had been her only hope, but somehow, she''d crossed him. "Let''s not dwell on them. You''ve already gotten back at them enough."
Ste hadn''t done anything directly,
but seeing the family in such turmoil felt like justice served. Especially Urs- she didn''t need Ste''s intervention. Karma had taken care of it, as if the universe was siding with Ste.
"But how do you know all this?" Ste asked, puzzled.
The Larkin estate was miles away from where Susanna lived.
"I was busy heading to an interview, scheduled at one of the vis in the Larkin estate, and I happened to see Yoricke out and kick a potted nt flying."
Ste was amazed. "You really have a knack for catching gossip wherever you go."
"Oh, and guess what, Tegan ising back. Are you heading back to Portis City? If you do, Mrs. Larkin will definitely find a way to bother you."
"Then again," Susanna added with a chuckle, "with her husband''s twin surprise, she might not have the time."
After a few more exchanges, Ste hung up just as Ronald returned.
"Looks like we won''t be having those hot wings after all," he said.
Ste looked up in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Ronald stepped forward, gently ruffling her hair before reaching to help her take off her heavy coat.