After picking up a call, Ronald headed straight to his study.


    The butler looked at Ste respectfully. "Miss, are you sure you don''t want the grilled salmon for lunch?" She used to love her fish.


    Ever since moving in here, there was almost always a fish dish on the table.


    Ste waved her hand dismissively. "No, I can''t stand the taste today."


    Something about the fish seemed off. But since the butler assured it was fresh when it arrived, she didn''t bother arguing further.


    The butler nodded, "Understood."


    Just as Ste settled onto the couch, her phone rang. It was Tegan.


    "I just heard from Uriah that Cloudia has been desperately borrowing money from the wealthydies in town," Tegan said.


    "Borrowing money?" Ste queried, raising an eyebrow.


    It seemed Cloudia had hit rock bottom if she was willing to swallow her pride and ask those societydies for money.


    Cloudia was all about appearances. When the Larkin family was well-off, she would give Urs


    everything best. But with Urs needing medical expenses and the family ruined financially, she had no choice but to humble herself before the very people she once disdained.


    "Yeah, can you believe the Larkin family is so broke that they can''t even scrape together a few hundred thousand?" Tegan scoffed.


    Ste sighed. "Looks like it."


    She was more aware than anyone of the Larkin family''s recent troubles.


    "That''s quite a downfall," Tegan remarked.


    Ste didn''t respond. It was no joke; a single word from Ronald could bring a world of trouble. If only they knew the kind of people he dealt with in Ferrond, the Larkins would realize their current woes were just


    a drizzle before a storm. Yet, even that drizzle was enough to shatter them.


    Tegan continued, "Hey, there''s something else I heard."


    "What is it?" Ste asked, intrigued.


    "I overheard Urs is quite close with the Larkin Group''s financial director," Tegan revealed.


    Ste''s eyes widened. "Really? The one who had kids with ise?"


    "Yeah, that''s what I heard."


    "Are you sure?" Ste pressed.


    Urs was on good terms with the woman who had borne ise''s children. That was a twist.


    "Not 100% sure, but pretty close. Urs and the woman dine and shop together all the time," Tegan replied.


    Ste smirked. It was getting interesting.


    The woman had twins with ise, yet Urs was friends with her, huh? What was Cloudia protecting all these years?


    "And Urs got her into the Larkin Group. She secretly helped her climb thedder," Tegan added.


    Ste was stunned. If that were true, things were about to get really entertaining.


    "It is explosive," Ste remarked.


    "Right? How blind could Cloudia be, treating Urs like a prized possession all these years?" Tegan said, “All her efforts went to a traitor. If the truth came out, it might just kill her"


    "Are these rumors verified?" Ste asked.


    Tegan shook her head. "It''s all hearsay, but there''s usually some truth to gossip. Even if it wasn''t entirely urate, where there was smoke, there was fire."


    "Exactly," Ste agreed.


    "Poor Cloudia. She''s still out there begging for money to save Urs," Teganmented.


    "Urs''s got quite the talent, huh? But do those meds even work?" Ste mused.


    Tegan chuckled. "They have some effect, but saving her life? That''s a long shot. Her health''s in shambles."


    "True," Ste conceded.


    "You can''t fight fate. Urs''s just marked for disaster," Tegan remarked.


    Ste raised her eyebrows. Tegan''s sharp tongue was on par with Susanna''s.


    If the meds didn''t work, they''d be out millions. Pretty harsh!


    "Whether she lives or not, it''s a no-win situation," Tegan continued.


    If Urs survived, Ste wouldn''t let her off easily. Her life would be a living hell.


    "Why don''t you verify those rumors?" Ste suggested, feeling a wicked hope that they were true.


    If it were true, Cloudia would be livid,


    probably tearing Urs apart herself. After all, her entire life''s work would''ve been for naught. ise had taken off with whatever was left, and Urs was at the heart of it all.


    "Susanna''s the one for that job. She''s got the connections," Tegan noted.


    "True," Ste agreed.


    Tegan spent most of her time with Uriah, who kept her sheltered. She didn''t have much of awork


    outside the hospital.


    After a few more exchanges, they ended the call.


    When Ronald came down, he saw Ste on the phone, clutching her chest.