Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)
Chapter 38

When Yorick heard about his entanglement with Stella, his face instantly darkened. Without needing to ponder, he knew exactly why his mother, Imogen, had called him back home - and it was to discuss that damn Stella. A wench who had somehow managed to charm the elders of his family.

...

An hour later.

Yorick returned to the Quarry Manor, only to be met with Imogen's livid face, "What did you promise me yesterday? You said you wouldn't see Ursula again!"

Imogen's words were delivered through gritted teeth. Just thinking about the array of illnesses Ursula had contracted was enough to infuriate her. How does a decent woman end up with so many ailments?

It was one thing for the elderly, but Ursula was far too young to be suffering from so many health issues.

Yorick, his expression dark and foreboding, retorted, "Forget about me and Stella."

"What did you say? Are you really considering a future with Ursula?"

"It's not about Ursula," Yorick cut Imogen off sharply.

Before last night, perhaps Ursula was a reason he couldn't progress with Stella. As Yorick recalled the man who showed up at Silk-River Residences, his scowl deepened even further. "Then why?"

Imogen refused to believe Ursula wasn't involved.

Yorick stated, "Anyway, it's not about Ursula."

"Ursula, Ursula, Yorick, let me tell you, even if Stella isn't in the picture, you can forget about being with Ursula unless we're all six feet under."

She was referring to the family's six elders, each a formidable presence. Yorick's grandparents on both sides, along with Imogen and his father.

With words laid out so plainly, the possibility between Yorick and Ursula seemed to vanish. Exasperation gave Yorick a headache, "There's no future for me and Ursula, and I won't marry Stella either." "You..."

Both stood their ground, unyielding.

Imogen, visibly agitated, glared at Yorick viciously, "Fine, don't marry her. But you're well aware of why our family sought an alliance with the Larkin family."

Yorick remained silent, understanding all too well. It was because the Larkin family owned a rare mine, one of fewer than five worldwide!

The Larkin family was also acutely aware that without the Quarry family, they couldn't protect that mine. And the resource extracted from that mine was precisely what the Quarry family desired most.

If the Quarry family could find that mine elsewhere, they wouldn't give the Larkin family a second glance. Moreover, the mine was nearly depleted, leaving very little behind.

The Quarry family was in dire need of a replacement, rendering the Larkin family practically disposable in Imogen's eyes.

Imogen closed her eyes for a while, "Your uncle just received news that the heir from Ferrowland has arrived in Portis City."

The heir from Ferrowland?

Like the Larkin family, they controlled the same mine but in a quantity tenfold greater!

Yorick's pupils contracted at this, "You mean, that heir?"

Imogen nodded, "The heir of the Lugar family. You need to find a way to connect with them."

Securing this connection would ensure the Quarry family's survival, even if the Larkin family's mine ran dry.