Upstairs.

Lola handed the medicine to Jaxon. "Guess it's just me who's still helpful to think of a solution for you. Your mom, huh..."

Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

Jaxon listened, furrowing his brows as he stared into the bowl. "Was that car crash really her doing?" Her, meaning Ursula.

At that moment, Jaxon's voice was devoid of any discernible emotion.

Lola chuckled darkly. "Even Yorick hasn't bothered to see her. Can't you see the writing on the wall?" Jaxon felt his breath catch.noveldrama

Images of Yorick flashed through his mind - storming past his doorstep, emanating a fierce, intimidating energy - a side of Yorick he'd never seen when he was around Ursula.

Something had felt off even back then. And Yorick, who used to visit Ursula almost daily, hadn't shown up in over three days.

Seeing Jaxon remain silent, Lola pressed on, "Jaxon, you're just blind. Now drink up, my kid's future depends on you."

"You using me as a pawn?"

Lola shrugged, "What else? You think I'm into your blindness?"

With a guy this blind, what else could she want if not money? Certainly not love.

Jaxon's breathing was heavy, and he shot Lola a fierce glare.

Lola admired her freshly manicured nails. "You Larkin folks, really, you've got possessed."

"Shut up."

"Shut up? You two all want me to be silent, but how about you guys say something useful for once?"

It was not like they had something under their sleeves. They'd managed to tick off all people of Portis City. Even Stella's fed up with them, her own family.

...

In another room, Ursula saw Cloudia come in, her face swollen and red. She was momentarily taken aback. "Mom, what happened to you?"

Cloudia was trembling.

"Ursula..."

"What did Star say? Is she willing to lend you the money?"

Before Cloudia could finish, Ursula cut her off, her voice tense. She was running out of options.

The cost of the medication was astronomical. With the Larkin family in shambles and the Larkin Group

almost bankrupt, Stella was the only one with the resources to help. Stella, the little princess of the Lugar family. She had money to spare.

Ursula was both envious of Stella's charmed life and desperate for her aid.

Cloudia's face was tight with distress. "She wouldn't lend us a dime."

She'd known this would be the outcome even before she went.

But

She'd tried borrowing from every one of her socialite friends, who she'd once been so close with., now, the moment they heard it was Cloudia on the phone, they would hang up. Borrowing was simply out of the question.

She never imagined that one day she'd be so blocked from seeing her own daughter. Ursula's face fell when she saw her mother return empty-handed.

This useless old cow, she couldn't even borrow money from her own daughter.

Frustration boiling over, she put on a pitiful face. "What am I supposed to do, just wait to die? Tegan said with my condition, it's best to start the

medication within a we

Within one week was crucial. Even speaking was a struggle for Ursula now, not knowing if she could endure this ordeal.

Cloudia sighed, "We can't ask her for money. You know that."

Her words trailed off. She, too, regretted how they'd treated Stella. If only they hadn't been so awful to her, maybe things wouldn't be this dire now.

She must have lost her mind to think Stella would lend them money. How could that possibly happen? Realizing something, Cloudia turned to Ursula. "Tell me honestly, did you frame Stella before? And about the car crash..."

Mention of the crash brought back images of Yorick's departure. A flicker of guilt crossed Ursula's eyes. "It wasn't me, I didn't do it."

"Then why did Rick leave like that? And why hasn't he been around these past few days?"

Talking about Yorick, Cloudia remembered she should call him. But the thought of Imogen's face made her hesitate.

But at the moment, saving Ursula was more pressing.

With that in mind, Cloudia quickly pulled out her phone to dial Yorick's number.

Seeing her mother about to call Yorick, Ursula panicked, "Mom, why are you calling Rick?"

"Who else can fork over that kind of cash to save you?"

Ursula was speechless.

Would Yorick still help her? She'd been calling him nonstop, but he hadn't picked up once. He was done with her. Knowing full well how dire her situation was, yet he still ignored her calls.

If that wasn't abandonment, then what was?

Finally, after a long while of ringing, Yorick answered, "Hello."

His voice was deep and icy, gone were the warmth and courtesy.

"Rick, Ursula's really sick. Why haven't you come by?"

Cloudia tried to ignore the scene from the day he left. Not waiting for Yorick to respond, she continued,

"We've found the medicine Ursula needs.

"Is that so? That's good news for you."

Cloudia was taken aback. Good news for them? Wasn't it good news for him as well?

"We need money for it, and the medicine's very expensive."