Chapter 97 

Stella had been planning to catch some shut–eye after lunch, but her phone had other ideas. There had been one call after another from the studio. 

Switching her phone to silent during the day felt like a taboo she couldn’t commit to. 

But after hanging up from Tabitha’s call, an unknown number flashed on her screen – it was Cloudia, borrowing a phone to reach out. 

Over the phone, Cloudia’s voice came in sobs and gasps, “Stella, for heaven’s sake, I’m begging you, could you please get Tegan and Finley to the hospital?” 

Stella was silent. 

“It’s all my fault, all of it. Don’t hold it against your sister. I just wanted to teach you right from wrong, but you were always so stubborn, and I, I just…” 

st what? Cloudia was too frantic to find the right words to continue. 

Stella uttered, “I’m stubborn?” 

“Stella, I…” 

Cloudia hesitated, unable to continue with the harsh truths, especially now that she was desperate for Tegan and Finley’s support. 

It always came back to Ursula, and Cloudia was willing to swallow her pride for her sake. 

Stella cut in, “Mrs. Larkin, after being found and hospitalized for two months, I barely spent a month with the Larkin family upon my return. In that month, you and Mr. Larkin were almost always out, busy with your socials. So, how exactly did you come to know about my so–called bad temper and stubbornness?” 

Her words were sharp, each one hitting its mark. 

Cloudia was speechless. 

Indeed, how could she have known? 

Stella continued, “Do you remember what started our first conflict?” 

“What indeed?” 

Stella 

after Ursula had a nasty fall and hurt her wrist. Do you remember what she told you?” 

silent. 

on, “She said, ‘It’s got nothing to do with Star. Don’t blame her!‘ And then you unleashed a torrent of accusations on me Even after all these years, Cloudia remembered the incident vividly as Stella talked about the details. But hearing Stella recount it, she felt something w amiss. 

And then, ang 

realization… 

Stella pressed 

on, “Did you see me push her?” 

Cloudia’s breath hitched. No, she hadn’t. 

Stella’s tone was unyielding, colder now, “You never saw it happen. You couldn’t be sure her injury was because of me. So why assume?” Why indeed? Cloudia found herself silently questioning her own judgments. She had never witnessed Stella push Ursula, nor could she be certain Stella was to blame. But for some reason, she had jumped to that conclusion. 

“How many times after that did Ursula say, ‘It’s not Star’s fault. It’s my fault‘? How many times?” Cloudia’s breathing quickened 

Stella added, “You might not remember the exact count, but just remember what you did to me every time after she said those words.” The words was said lightly, yet it landed heavily on Cloudia’s conscience. 

What had she done? The details might be blurry, but the accusations and relentless blame she directed at Stella were crystal clear. 

“Can we not talk about it right now? Stella, she’s in so much pain. You didn’t see her coming out of the ER, throwing up uncontrollably, unable to even sip water.”