The Larkin family household was in turmoil.

Cloudia clung desperately to Susanna's leg, her voice trembling with urgency. "Ms. Tucker, please, just let me say a few words to her. I'm begging you..."

She was completely frantic. Ursula had just coughed up blood, and Jaxon's vacant eyes haunted her constantly. She felt on the brink of madness. She knew that just a word from Stella could solve Ursula and Jaxon's troubles. Susanna chuckled disdainfully. "Mrs. Larkin, isn't this a bit beneath you?"

How much did Cloudia love that adopted daughter of hers, Ursula, to go to such lengths?

"I..."

Cloudia was at her wit's end. Seeing Ursula so frail and coughing up so much blood, she feared Ursula was running out of time.

"Our family really needs a doctor, Ms. Tucker. Could you please put in a good word for us with Stella?"

The mention of "needing a doctor" ignited Susanna's temper. Her eyes flickered with disdain as she kicked Cloudia aside.

Just then, Lola, carrying a child, stepped out of the car and witnessed the scene.

"Mrs. Larkin," Susanna continued, "I just don't get it. Ursula nearly cost Stella her life, and yet you still..."

"No, there's been a misunderstanding," Cloudia interrupted, shaking her head in agony.

"Misunderstanding?" Susanna scoffed. "Then why did Ursula run away?"

"We didn't want Stella to make a fuss, so we forced her to leave. It was all us. Tell Stella Ursula's willing to take responsibility for everything now. Just get her treated, and Stella can decide the punishment later," Cloudia pleaded desperately. "Later?" Susanna retorted. "What are you planning to do then? Cut off her credit card? Shut down her studio? Or kick her out of Portis City?"

Wasn't that what they had done before?

Susanna's disdain deepened as she recalled the lengths the Larkin family had gone to for an adopted daughter.

"A bunch of people who can't tell family from outsiders."noveldrama

With that parting shot, Susanna lost all patience and walked away.

Cloudia, seeing Susanna walk away, grew even more anxious. "Ms. Tucker, Ms. Tucker," she called out.

But before she could chase after Susanna, Lola suddenly appeared, blocking her path.

Cloudia's breath hitched. "You... You need to step aside."

Cradling the child in her arms, Lola smirked mockingly. "She's right, you can't even figure out who's important." "You... Lola, don't be so shameless."

"Shameless? I'm holding your biological grandson here."

Since the child's return, Cloudia had been cold and indifferent, not even sparing him a glance. At least the grandfather had checked on the boy twice bought him toys, and provided a generous amount for child support. But Cloudia?

Lola continued, "Seems that lady was right. Your heart is completely with your adopted daughter. Were you really planning to marry her off to Jaxon? Then why did you mess with Ms. Sirena Patel? Did you think you could keep everything in the family and still ruin a good girl?"

After a heated argument with Sirena, Lola had calmed down and investigated everything. And what she found Jaxon treasured his adopted sister, and so did Cloudia. "You- how dare you mention Sirena, you wretch."

The Patel family was already at odds with the Larkins. And with Lola forcefully moving in, the Larkin family was in chaos. The worst days were upon Cloudia and Ursula.

...

As Susanna left the gated community, her phone rang. It was her mother.

"Mom, it's not time yet, right? It's not time for my allowance."

Susanna had mixed feelings about her mom. They seldom spoke unless it was about money, and her mom only ever called to check if the funds had arrived. "Pick up some documents for me at the airport."

"Huh?"

"I'll text you the number. Just contact him when you get there."

Susanna was about to say she was busy and needed to get back to writing, but the call ended abruptly.

That was her mother for you- straight to the point, no extra words, no room for discussion.

As soon as the call ended, her phone buzzed with the incoming number. Susanna sighed, her initial plan to return to the office slipping away With a reluctant shake of her head, she turned her car toward the airport.