Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)
Chapter 206

Idris didn't know how to respond.

"Let me tell you, next time you wanna catch me on camera behind his back, catch me when I'm the underdog, will ya?"

Idris was left speechless.

But that never happens! Whenever he's tagging along with her, she hardly ever gets picked on. That little firecracker of hers, way too fierce. Besides, if he really did catch her getting bullied on video for Ronald, there'd be hell to pay in Portis City.

...

When Cloudia saw Ursula surrounded by a medical team, fighting for her life, she panicked.

First, she called Jaxon, and the moment he heard Stella had knocked Ursula out cold, he said he was on his way to the hospital.

After hanging up, she dialed Yorick. Barely had she said "Rick" when someone from behind snatched the phone right out of her hands.

Cloudia, already on edge, spun around in anger, only to find Imogen standing there.

Seeing her, Cloudia's breath hitched. "Mrs. Quarry?"

Imogen glanced at the caller ID, her expression darkening, and promptly ended the call.

Faced with Imogen's grim demeanor, Cloudia stiffened involuntarily.

Imogen gave her a stern look and tossed the phone back to her. Cloudia failed to catch it, and it crashed to the floor.

Imogen snapped, "Didn't I tell you not to contact Rick these days?"

Cloudia stammered, "But Ursula, she..."

"Who do you think she is, that you always drag Rick into her mess?"

Before Cloudia could finish, Imogen's words pierced through her.

The words hit Cloudia like a punch to the gut, and she choked up, unable to respond.

Ursula was still in critical condition, yet Imogen, who had watched her grow up, spoke so coldly.

Cloudia felt a chill in her heart.

"Mrs. Quarry, before Stella returned, Ursula was always close to Rick, even a frequent visitor at your home. You watched her grow up. How can you be so indifferent?" The word 'indifferent' seemed to strike a nerve with Imogen, making her eyes to narrow dangerously.

She scoffed. "Indifferent? Cloudia, what kind of person have you raised? Do you even know? Or are you truly unaware of how she lived abroad these past two years?" Imogen's sarcasm was biting.

The Larkin family might trust Ursula, but Imogen was skeptical. With Ursula suffering from multiple conditions and her own son so deeply attached, she had every reason to investigate Ursula's past abroad. During her years in Portis City, she had always found Ursula to be pretentious. Her investigations had confirmed that Ursula was no saint.

Cloudia, picking up on Imogen's sarcasm, grew even more distressed. "What are you implying, Mrs. Quarry? Are you trying to tarnish Ursula's reputation?"

Imogen replied coldly, "Tarnish? She's already covered in filth. Does she need me to add more? Mrs. Larkin, have you ever directly asked her about her boyfriends abroad? How many she's had?" "You're out of line!"

That phrase 'how many' hit Cloudia like an electric shock. The two women immediately began arguing in the hospital corridor.

Returning from a chess game with Old Mrs. Zeller, Stella stumbled upon Cloudia and Imogen in the middle of a heated exchange.

Imogen was livid. "She could well be leftovers from the Lugar family, playing the innocent in front of Rick. You've taught her so well that she learned how to snatch her sister's fiancé. You've truly opened my eyes!" Cloudia was nearly knocked off her feet by the anger.

"How could you say such things? Ursula has been nothing but decent abroad. She..."

"Decent? Should I remind you why she left Portis City two years ago? Wasn't it because her attempt on Stella's life came to light, forcing you to send her away?"

Imogen cut her off sharply.

Cloudia's breathing faltered once again.

But Imogen continued, "Your adopted daughter nearly kills your own, and yet you shield the former. Cloudia, having you as a mother, Stella really hit the jackpot of bad luck. No wonder she disowns you. If she acknowledged you, that'd be the real insanity."

"You... you..."