Chapter 243 

Cloudia’s breath hitched, a sign of her unease. 

Seeing Stella about to leave, Blaise panicked. “Star.” 

“What are you still standing there for?” Noticing Cloudia frozen in place, Blaise shot her an exasperated look. 

That snapped Cloudia out of her daže, and she hurried after Stella. 

Stella and Ronald were already at the doorstep. 

Cloudia rushed forward, grabbing Stella’s other hand, “Star, Mom and Dad want to talk to you.” 

Stella glanced sideways, a hint of sarcasm in her tone. “Mom and Dad?” 

In the chilly air, her words seemed laced with irony. 

Cloudia felt a tightness in her chest. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the man beside Stella, sensing the dangerous aura surrounding him. 

Holding onto Stella’s hand, Cloudia instinctively tightened her grip. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you that way.” 

Stella looked at her mockingly and tried to pull her hand away, but Cloudia refused to let go. 

Stella raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about?” 

Cloudia pleaded, “Can we talk, please?” 

She was frustrated. She couldn’t believe Stella could cause such a stir. 

Blaise and Jaxon had said the company’s troubles were her doing, but how could she have such influence? 

Cloudia suppressed her discomfort. Trying to appear patient, she asked, “Is the company’s situation really because of you?” 

Even though everyone said so, Cloudia found it hard to believe Stella wielded that much power. 

Stella replied, “What do you think?” 

Cloudia was at a loss for words. 

She thought… 

Regardless, she couldn’t let Stella continue wreaking havoc. 

“Tell me, what do you want me to do to make you stop?” 

Blaise had scolded her several times today, and she was desperate to resolve things quickly. 

But unfortunately the situation had spiraled far beyond her control. 

Stella said, “What to do? Two years ago, when I told you that car accident, the one that nearly killed me, was Ursula’s doing, you asked me the same thing. You wanted to know what you could do to convince me it wasn’t her. It seems you’re repaying her debts.” 

Stella’s innocent smile contrasted with her despairing words. 

Ursula, clinging to life in the hospital, wasn’t even worth Stella’s effort anymore. But Stella was determined to reclaim what she had lost. 

Since the Larkin family cherished Ursula so deeply, helping to “repay” a few debts seemed only fair, didn’t it? 

Cloudia gasped, “You mean…” 

Stella scoffed, shaking off Cloudia’s grip, and glanced at Ronald, who was visibly colder. 

12:13 

apter 243 

Stella announced, “Let’s go.” 

Cloudia instinctively reached for Stella again, but two bodyguards stepped in, holding her back. Her any attempts to approach Stella was now futile. 

As Ronald and Stella’s figures disappeared into the night, Cloudia’s desperation spilled over. “Star, you can’t do this. I know her presence bothers you. We promise, once she’s better, we’d send her away.” 

Her anxious voice echoed into the darkness, swallowed by the cold night air. Stella’s only response was her resolute, silent departure. 

*Not until Stella and Ronald had completely vanished did Idris and the bodyguards finally released Cloudia and 

Blaise. 

Yorick stood frozen, chilled to the bone. He watched the drama unfold, especially struck by Stella’s icy demeanor. 

He was completely immobilized now! 

The group had gone, leaving Blaise and Cloudia in complete disarray. Especially Blaise, whose usually immaculate hair now seemed disheveled.