Millions of dollars were at stake...

Jaxon couldn't shake the memory of Stella spending months in the hospital two years ago, all because of Ursula. That memory placed a wedge between him and Ursula.

Sensing something off about Jaxon, Cloudia glanced at him with concern. "Jaxon, I..."

"Mom, Stella is your real daughter. We've been siding with Ursula all these years because we thought Stella's return was making her miserable, that Stella was bullying her."

Cloudia fell silent.

Jaxon continued, "But if Stella's grievances all stem from that car accident, what does that make Ursula?" Stella had been at odds with Ursula for the last two years. They had always accused Stella of losing her mind, believing she was unjustly targeting Ursula.

But what if Stella's actions were because Ursula had started it all, which almost cost Stella's life?

Cloudia's breath hitched, her entire body going rigid.

"Rick has distanced himself from her because of this, too, right?" Jaxon asked, recalling the scene when Yorick left that day.

As Jaxon posed the question, his demeanor grew more intense.noveldrama

Already struggling to breathe, Cloudia trembled at Jaxon's words. "I, she..."

Suddenly, she was at a loss for words, staring at Jaxon with sorrow-filled eyes.

Jaxon, too, was visibly shaking with anger.

Stella had planned to have dinner with Ronald that evening, but Ronald didn't make it back. So, she met Tegan instead.

When she arrived, Tegan was on the phone with Susanna, who was freaking out over in Ferrowland. She called every one, trying to gossip her way through her fears.

Upon seeing Stella, Tegan said, "Okay, you should tell Stella about it."

Susanna replied, "Stella hasn't picked up her phone."

"Oh, I see." Tegan realized why Susanna had been dragging her into all this gossip. It was because she couldn't reach Stella.

Stella had never been one for gossip, but over time, Susanna had rubbed off on her. Sometimes, a bit of gossip wasn't bad.

"Was that Susanna on the phone?" Stella asked, sipping from her water glass.

Tegan nodded, spooning some ice

cream into her mouth. "Yeah, she's scared out of her wits over in

Ferrowland. Can you save her?"

swn yel

Stella replied, "My brother said the situation with Susanna is

complicated. Hull is helping with

the

investigation, so being by his side is the safest place for her."

"The guy taking her through a hail of bullets? Are you sure that's safer for her?" Tegan teased.

Stella paused, realizing how overwhelming it must be for Susanna.

Stella was about to order the same

ice cream

Tegan, but Tegan

stopped her. "I already ordered.ne

you. Didn't want it to melt since you weren't here yet."

"Oh," Stella said, grateful for the thought. She craved ice cream, but Ronald was usually strict about her

diet.

As she was thinking about her serious brother, her phone rang.

"Hey, Ronald," she answered.

"Are you out?" Ronald asked.

"Yeah. Since you said you wouldn't be back for dinner, I'm out with Tegan."

"Send me your location."

"Hmm?"

"I'll pick you up when I finish work," Ronald insisted.

"Okay."

Hearing Ronald was coming to get her filled Stella with warmth. She hung up and quickly sent him her location.

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