"You better watch out if you've done something to her mom. She's not gonna let you off easy." Cloudia tried her best to keep her composure.

Who would have thought, really, who would have thought...

In truth, while Cloudia was furious about what Stella had done to the Larkin family, she was filled with even more regret.

If only she had known from the start that Stella was raised by the Lugar family, and how much they cherished her.

If, back then, she had taken Stella's side just a little bit more in the matters with Ursula, maybe the Larkin family wouldn't be in shambles now.

As she was lost in her thoughts, two maids suddenly lifted her up, and Cloudia panicked. "Hey, what are you doing? Let me go! I'm telling you, I'm Stella's mom. You can't do this to me. Let me go, let me go!" Cloudia struggled frantically. Ironically, mentioning Stella only made the atmosphere more menacing. "Aaaah!"

Her painful scream echoed above Mist Bay as Cloudia clutched her nearly shattered knee, her breath ragged.

They had literally tossed her out of Mist Bay's territory. She couldn't believe they would treat her this way, sitting on the ground clutching her knee, cold sweat dripping from the pain.

One of the maids had already pulled out something cold and menacing, pointing it at her.

Cloudia saw the dark barrel and shook with fear. "Ah! Wha-what are you going to do?"

Her voice trembled, stuttering incoherently.

She had seen Jaxon return from Mist Bay in such a state and knew Stella's entourage was not to be trifled with.

But she was her mom. How could they treat her like this?

Cloudia was dumbfounded, unable to believe it.

"You... you..."

Just then, the butler appeared, stepping out from between the two maids, his hands clasped behind his back.

His gaze was sharp and penetrating as he looked at Cloudia. "Mrs. Larkin, are you aware of why your son left Mist Bay with a broken arm?"

Cloudia stammered, "Wh-why?"

"Because he tried to harm our young lady."

Cloudia protested, "But he's her real brother."

The butler's eyes narrowed. "Real? It seems Mrs. Larkin, you won't be returning to the Larkin family in one piece today either."

Cloudia's breath hitched. "Wh-what do you mean?"

What were they planning to do to her? She was Stella's real mom, after all.

Cloudia's heart pounded fiercely.

The butler adjusted his slightly disheveled cuffs. "The Lugar family and the Quinn family cherish our

young lady like a princess, raised et

personally by Mrs. Lottie Lugar and

just

Mr. Quinn. She isn't so and

anybody can claim kinship with."

Cloudia was speechless.

The butler continued, "You say she is your real daughter? Then what is Mrs. Lottie Lugar to her?" Cloudia was silent again, her heart tightened.

The butler went on, "You've always

claimed she's your real daughter, yet we've seen little kindness from you towards her in the Larkin family these past years. So what's different

T.ne

now? Are you looking to gainerent

something from her?"

"No, I'm not..."

"You're not?" The butler chuckled coldly. The laughter was biting and full of scorn.

Cloudia felt a chill run through her, overwhelmed by shame.

The butler pressed, "If you're not after something, then why the sudden enthusiasm in seeking her out?"

He emphasized the word "enthusiasm", laying bare the ugliest thoughts in Cloudia's heart for all to see. Just then, Stella and Ronald were finishing breakfast and headed out.

As they drove out, Ronald noticed the scene and quickly shielded Stella's face against his chest.

Stella was confused. His action was so sudden that she looked up at him. "What are you doing?" Ronald responded by leaning down and capturing her lips with his, silencing her protests. Stella mumbled, "Mmm..."

What on earth? Instinctively, she

wanted to pullaway, afraid she might provoke this lion into another frenzy, though she hadn't done anything to provoke him. She hadnoveldrama

been happily watching the sea, and then out of nowhere, this happened.

Finally, once they had driven past, Ronald released her, but his breath was still noticeably ragged. Stella instinctively tried to put some distance between them. She had learned that when Ronald was breathing like that, she was in danger.

But just as she moved a foot away, he pulled her back into his arms. "Why are you trying to run, hmm?"