Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 311 to 320)

Chapter 311

Cloudia was gone. She had desperately wanted to help Ursula. But seeing Stella’s ruthless decision to cut off Jaxon’s medical care left her too afraid to continue.

If Blaise ever found out she had approached Stella and Jaxon was harmed as a result, it would be the end for both her and Blaise.

Stella turned to her butler. “Take care of it.”

The butler nodded. “Yes, Miss.”

As for Jaxon, Stella had wanted to deal with him for some time. With Ronald making his move, this was the perfect opportunity for her to act decisively.

The Larkin family had blamed their downfall entirely on her, showing no sign of self-reflection. Since they refused to take responsibility, she saw no reason to hold back.

…

Cloudia had just driven out of Mist Bay when her phone rang.

It was Ursula, her voice weak and frail. “Mom.”

Hearing that fragile voice made Cloudia’s heart twist with pain.

In no time at all, the entire Larkin family had become vulnerable and powerless, unable to stand up to someone like Stella.

“Mom, please help me. It hurts so much,” Ursula pleaded.

Lying alone in her room at the Larkin estate, with only the maids for company, Ursula was suffering terribly. Her illness had taken her hair, and relentless pain consumed her body, leaving her twitching and unable to sleep. Each passing moment was a fresh agony.

“Did Star agree to let me go abroad?” Ursula asked, feeling a level of despair she had never known before. She could feel her life slipping away. Last night had been unbearable. Sleep evaded her, leaving her trapped in a haze of nightmares.

Stella—everything came back to Stella. She had left her sick and untreated, and now…

Cloudia whispered, “Ursula…”

“Mom, I can’t take it anymore. I didn’t sleep a wink last night. It hurts so much. Please, speak to Star. Beg her to let me go. I’ll admit to whatever she wants,” Ursula sobbed.

Cloudia was silent.

“Let her spare me this time. Once I recover, she can do whatever she wants with me,” Ursula pleaded desperately.

Trapped in an endless cycle of pain and darkness, Ursula was losing hope. She wasn’t sure she’d ever see another sunrise.

Mom, please talk to Star. I beg you, Ursula broke down in tears.

The basic relief of sleep was beyond her reach and the unrelenting pain left her gasping for reprieve. She had never imagined that illness could cut this deeply.

“My poor child,” Cloudia murmured, feeling utterly hopeless herself. She was heartbroken by Ursula’s suffering and furious at her own helplessness.

In the coffee bar of the Wave Residence, Tabitha sat in a state of disbelief. It started the moment Stella or perhaps even earlier when she first entered Mist Bay and caught sight of the grand Wave Residence. The sight of the mansion standing majestically against the snowy landscape had made her heart race.

Back when their studio was first established before it had turned into a profit, their boss had been incredibly generous. At that time, Tabitha had assumed the funds were coming from the Larkin family.

But now, seeing the Larkin family’s attitude toward Stella, it seemed unlikely. She had no idea where Stella had gotten her wealth from.

Could it be that Stella was secretly the little princess of Mist Bay? Was it connected to the man who came to pick her up?

It certainly didn’t seem like it was the Larkin family’s doing. If they had such connections, they wouldn’t be struggling so much now.

What are you staring at? Cat got your tongue? Stella placed a cup of coffee in front of Tabitha.

Chapter 312

“Hey, Tabitha,” Stella called out, “Did you bring the documents?”

Tabitha nodded. “Yep, got them right here.” She handed the papers to Stella, who skimmed through them before passing them to Susanna.

“So, you’re really heading back to Ferrowland?” Susanna asked, her voice tinged with reluctance.

Stella nodded. “Yeah, it’s about time.”

Whether Ronald came to Portis City or not, Stella planned to go back anyway. For the past two years, she had been keeping an eye on developments in Ferrowland, constantly searching for a chance to go back.

She hadn’t expected Ronald to make the first move.

Tabitha’s eyes widened. “Boss, you’re leaving? What about the studio?”

She was about to lose her job? Oh no, that couldn’t happen. This job was so stable, and the benefits were great.

Stella reassured her. “I’ve already found someone to take over.”

Tabitha glanced at Susanna.

“Don’t worry,” Susanna chimed in, “You’ll have the same terms as before. Just keep doing your best.”

Tabitha looked at Stella, her eyes slightly red. She was leaving, yet she still paved the way for them. Where could they ever find another boss as good as her?

Stella chuckled softly. “Nothing lasts forever, but at least we cherished our time together.”

As they were signing the paperwork, Tabitha’s phone rang. She stepped out to take the call, leaving Susanna and Stella alone.

Susanna suddenly noticed something on Stella’s neck. “What’s that mark?”

Stella instinctively pulled her sweater collar up. “Huh?”

“Don’t bother hiding it; I already saw it,” Susanna teased with a knowing smirk.

Stella blushed, conceding, “Okay, okay, you got me.”

Susanna raised an eyebrow. “So, you two are a thing now?”

Stella nodded, not hiding anything from Susanna. “Yeah, we are.”

Susanna’s eyes held a hint of worry. “Do you know what’s going on over in Ferrowland?”

“He’ll keep me safe,” Stella replied confidently. “Ronald always has my back.”

“It’s a trust built over a lifetime,” Stella explained.

If going back to Ferrowland worked out well, that’d be the best outcome. But if it didn’t, then this was still Stella’s fallback plan.

A wave of gratitude washed over Stella. “Thank you, Susanna.”

Don’t get all mushy on me, Susanna laughed. I’m just like Tabitha. This country girl feels sorry for the princess getting wrong.

At the time, Susanna was really worried that the Larkin family might have done something with Stella. But in the end, she had a big shot backing her up.

Stella playfully scolded, stop it, or your mom will pull your ear again.

Susanna had been there for two hours before leaving with Tabitha.

Chapter 313

Hull had a perfectly chiseled face, his features sharp and defined. His glasses had fallen off, making the icy chill in his deep eyes even more pronounced.

It was especially intimidating considering that the people who dealt with Ronald were rarely simple or kind-hearted.

The tattoo peeking from his neck only added to the aura of danger around him.

Susanna was so startled she forgot to react.

Hull narrowed his eyes slightly.

Finley grabbed Susanna’s wrist, chuckling. “Whoa there, girl! Not exactly playing hard to get, are we? Who goes for a guy’s belt on a first meeting? Might as well skip the formalities and get straight to it.”

“I…I didn’t mean to.”

Susanna was still gripping tightly, seemingly oblivious to the chaos she was creating.

Tabitha was shocked too, especially seeing Susanna clutching onto Hull’s belt. She was just as dumbfounded.

Susanna looked at Hull in panic. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to, I really didn’t.”

Finley chimed in, “Then why don’t you let go already?”

Was this girl out of her mind? Claiming it was an accident but refusing to let go — what was up with that?

Susanna locked eyes with Hull’s intense gaze, her mind freezing under the weight of his piercing stare.

“I’m sorry.”

Tabitha finally snapped out of her shock and rushed forward, tugging at Susanna’s hand. “Alright, alright, you’ve apologized like a million times. Let go now.”

Susanna was bewildered.

Meanwhile, Stella came out to check what was keeping Ronald. She froze at the sight of Hull kneeling on the slippery ground, Susanna’s pale hand still gripping his belt.

Stella was baffled.

“Susie, what on earth?”

Stella’s sudden appearance finally jolted Susanna back to her senses. She quickly retracted her hand like it was on fire, her face flushing bright red. What a mess she’d gotten herself into today.

“I really didn’t mean it.”

Hull stood up, calmly tidying up his slightly disheveled clothes. His expression was cold as he turned to walk inside.

Ronald noticed Stella and frowned. “Why are you out here in so little clothing?”

Stella replied, “You were taking so long, I came to check on you.”

She turned her attention to Susanna. “Susie, are you okay?”

Susanna’s face was flushed red with embarrassment. She scrambled to her feet, mumbling, “I… I’ll be leaving now. Bye!”

She couldn’t meet Stella’s eyes and practically fled the scene.

Tabitha quickly followed muttering to herself about how dangerous the people here seemed. That man’s gaze had been downright murderous.

Stella was confused.

Finley turned to her with a mischievous grin. “Star, your friend’s got some guts.”

Stella asked, what do you mean?

Finley laughed. “She nearly stripped Hull’s pants off!”

Not too far away, Susanna stumbled at Finley’s words, almost falling again.

Hull shot Finley a sharp, warning glare, his eyes cold and threatening.

It was the first time his expression had been so menacing. He was usually just as laid back as Finley.

Stella twitched her lips, glancing between Susanna’s retreating figure and Ronald.

She’s definitely not like that.

Ronald ruffled her hair. “You believe Finley?”

Stella shot Finley a glare. With a mouth like yours, you’ll stay single forever.

She had never met anyone as blunt as Finley. It was something else.

Chapter 314

When they stepped out of the car, Ronald had noticed the icy patch on the driveway.

The butler’s face went pale with worry. “Sir…”

Stella tugged at Ronald’s sleeve. “They did clear it earlier, but the temperature’s just too low.”

Hearing Stella’s explanation, the butler looked at her with gratitude.

She was right. They had cleared the ice just half an hour ago. In fact, they’d been at it all day. But with the constant snowfall and chilly weather, it was a losing battle.

Ronald glanced down at Stella’s shoes. “Change into something more appropriate.”

“Okay,” Stella nodded obediently.

A maid quickly fetched a pair of warm slippers for her.

Ronald had business to discuss with Hull, so he headed straight to the study.

Stella was about to go upstairs when her phone buzzed. It was Susanna, practically hyperventilating on the other end.

Stella sighed, “I know you didn’t mean it, but I can’t say Hull thinks the same.”

“What do you mean?” Susanna sounded desperate. She was on the verge of a meltdown. Nothing had ever embarrassed her this much before.

“Just steer clear of him in the future,” Stella advised. “Hull was not as harmless as he seemed.”

Susanna groaned, “I didn’t mean to upset him! Star, you’ve got to put in a good word for me.”

Stella chuckled. It was true; the men around her these days were not the forgiving type. “I’ll see what I can do. But honestly, you probably won’t run into each other again.”

Good words were always worth extending. Besides, she and Ronald were heading back to Ferrowland soon. Ronald’s absence meant Hull would likely leave Portis City as well.

“Oh my God, you have no idea. I slipped and grabbed the first thing I could! It just happened to be his belt buckle. Good thing his pants stayed up, or it would’ve been a whole different disaster.”

Stella teased, “And you’re still talking about it now?”

“Don’t remind me,” Susanna groaned again. “I swear, it was an accident.”

Stella laughed, “I know it was.”

Even she was stunned by the whole scene. Anyone watching would have been equally speechless.

They chatted for a while, and the conversation naturally shifted to Cloudia.

Susanna asked Stella, What did Cloudia want this time? Still about Ursula? Her own son is lying in the hospital right now, isn’t he?

If she keeps this up, doesn’t Blaise have anything to say about it? She’s going to tear the family apart and still find a way to blame you for it.”

Stella had already walked into the coffee bar. The coffee in the pot is still warm. She poured herself a cup and said calmly, let her blame me. I don’t care. Jaxon’s about to be discharged anyway.

“What?” Susanna blinked, caught off guard.

Stella took a sip of coffee and continued, you know what kind of person I am? Their little finger-pointing isn’t going to change me.

“True,” Susanna said with a small nod.

Over the past few weeks, things had been chaotic, with arguments flying left and right and Susanna had seen firsthand how Stella never backed down. So if Cloudia came to confront Stella today, it was easy to guess she must have hurled accusations again. And if Cloudia dared to accuse, Stella would undoubtedly push back even harder.

Wasn’t that exactly what had happened? This time, it was Jaxon who got caught in the crossfire… Even with Blaise’s usually good temper, there was no way he wouldn’t lose his temper at this point.

Honestly, if the Larkin family falls apart, it’s not really your fault.

“Hmm?”
“Well, you know…”
Susanna hesitated, unsure how to phrase it delicately. The Larkin family had always been a hotbed for drama.
“Come on, what did you see?” Stella pressed.
“You know me, I don’t seek out gossip. But sometimes it just finds me.”
“What did you see?”
Stella had a feeling whatever Susanna saw wasn’t good.
“Okay, so I was on my way over and passed by Cherry Galleria. I saw Blaise.
He was with a woman. She was pushing a stroller, and there were bodyguards and a nanny with them.”
Stella took a slow sip of her coffee, processing this new bit of information.

Chapter 315

Cherry Galleria, is a well-known luxury mall in Portis City.

Stella’s eye twitched. “Shouldn’t he be in the hospital right now?”

“Exactly! Jaxon was seriously injured, Blaise should be at his side.”

So why was he at Cherry Galleria?

Susanna chimed in, “I think there’s something more to Blaise and that woman. They seemed quite cozy.”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “A woman with a stroller? And they looked cozy?”

That didn’t sound right. Blaise was no spring chicken.

“Yeah,” Susanna confirmed.

“Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?”

Stella found it hard to believe. Over the years, Blaise had never shown interest in that kind of thing. Could Susanna have been mistaken?

Susanna insisted, “No mistake. I made sure to take several good looks because it was Blaise. A quick glance might be wrong, but every glance? No way.”

Stella was silent. That was a fair point.

If Blaise was getting close to another woman, Susanna would definitely have looked a few times.

Stella asked, “Whose kid is it?”

“Girl, I only looked a few times because they seemed close. I didn’t exactly have x-ray vision.”

Stella fell into thought. What did she think of Blaise? Stern, was upright, always formal, and polite with Claudia. Not the type to get all lovey-dovey.

And then there was Jaxon, the future heir of the Larkin Group. Over the years, he’d taken on a lot of responsibilities. To Blaise, he was special.

Yet here Jaxon was in the hospital, and Blaise was off with some other woman… and a baby?

 Stella asked, “How cozy were they?”

Susanna replied, “Practically shoulder to shoulder. Nearly cheek to cheek. Friends don’t do that, right?” Stella fell silent. This didn’t sound like an ordinary relationship.

In the Larkin family, even Blaise and Cloudia looked awkward just sitting together.

Seeing Stella’s silence, Susanna offered, “Want your gal pal her dig deeper? Make the Larkin family even messier?”

In Stella’s mind, the Larkin family was already a circus. And by now, Lola Zeller was probably at the hospital too.

Stella said, “Do we need more? Lola’s enough to handle.”

Then there was Ursula, who couldn’t go abroad for treatment, and Jaxon about to be discharged. The Larkin family was a whirlwind already.

“Oh right, there’s Lola,” Susanna recalled, almost forgetting her. “Is Lola that much trouble?”

Stella replied, “Failing to climb up the ladder would make anyone anxious. It might even drag the Patel family into the mess.”

After all, Sirena Patel had truly fallen for Jaxon.

Susanna was surprised. “Huh? That bold?”

“Mm.” She had investigated Lola and knew the situation. “Lola didn’t know about Jaxon and Sirena before, but now she does. She’ll surely see Sirena as the roadblock to her ambitions. What do you think will happen?”

Susanna replied, “She’ll go after Sirena, putting the whole Larkin family under fire. With Ursula, the Larkin and Quarry families were already on thin ice. If Lola stirs things up with Sirena now, it might completely implode the Larkin family.”

This could very well lead to the Larkin family’s downfall.

Stella said, “So, about that woman, we don’t…”

Susanna cut her off, “Mrs. Larkin has to know about that woman. She needs to protect her rights. You really don’t think about your own birth mother at all”

Stella was taken aback???..

Susanna continued, “I’m serious. I’ll help you get to the bottom of this woman’s deal. Star, they always say you can’t tell who is close or distant. This time you’ve got to stand up for your mom.”

Stella stared, dumbfounded. Was this really about helping Cloudia?

“Alright,” Stella conceded. “You’re right. I need to be clear about my loyalties. We can’t let outsiders take advantage.”

“Exactly,” Susanna agreed. “Leave it to me. I’ll make sure your mom has solid proof to throw in Blaise’s smug face.”

Chapter 316

Stella felt her eye twitch involuntarily. “You can stop with the ‘mom’ thing now.”

Talking about family ties always made her head spin like a merry-go-round.

Susanna sighed. “Think of it as the last bit of kindness you owe her. Just help her out this one last time.”

Stella was speechless. Kindness? She hadn’t realized the word could be twisted into something like this.

They continued chatting on the phone for a while longer before finally hanging up.

…

When Stella walked out of the coffee bar, she saw Finley still lingering around. Just the sight of him made her head throb, and she wanted nothing more than to avoid another word from him.

She tried to sidestep, but Finley caught on. “Hey, Star, I need to talk to you!”

Stella picked up her pace. Listening to Finley was the last thing she wanted to do.

But Finley was persistent and caught up with her. “Listen, you stubborn girl, I’m doing this for your own good.”

Stella’s eye twitched again. Really, buddy? Wasn’t he just trying to throw her under the bus?

Finley shoved a box into her hands. “Here, take this.”

“What is this?”

Stella glanced at the box. She hadn’t seen anything like it before, but reading the description made her brain explode with embarrassment.

Finley had given her… condoms?

Stella was flustered. “Seriously, what are you thinking?”

Wasn’t he worried Ronald would have his hide for this?

Finley shrugged. “No need to thank me. Just doing my duty as a doctor. You and Ronald should take things slow when you get back to Ferrowland. You wouldn’t want to use having a child as a tactic to get ahead, right? Let me tell you, Mrs. Lugar treats you like her own daughter, so don’t go messing things up with something reckless.”

Stella was at a loss for words.

Someone, please save her from this nightmare.

“You’re a doctor, but you’re also a man, for heaven’s sake.”

Finley was puzzled.

“If you had to give this to someone, shouldn’t it be Ronald?”

Why was he giving her this?

Stella finally understood why girls back in Ferrowland steered clear of him. Handsome and a skilled doctor, sure. But with that mouth and emotional intelligence?

Finley said, “Give it to Ronald? Are you trying to get me killed? Stella, don’t be ungrateful. I’m doing this for you.”

Finley pressed on, “Uh? Does that mean you’re planning to ignore my good intentions?”

“No need to thank me. I’ve known you for years, and I’m just looking out for you.”

“By the way, have you taken any contraception?”

Seeing her confused look, Finley asked, “You haven’t?”

She barely left the house since returning from Spring Hill. Could her luck really be that bad?

Stella waved him off. “Who hits the jackpot on the first try?”

Finley chuckled. “More than you’d think. If it’s meant to happen, it usually does on the first go.”

Stella felt a headache forming. How could Finley be so utterly infuriating?

“What are you talking about?”

Ronald’s voice came from the stairs, deep and slightly annoyed.

Stella was startled, instinctively hiding the box behind her back. Finley saw Ronald at the foot of the stairs, and his face twitched as well.

“I, uh, didn’t say anything!” Finley blurted out before making a quick exit.

Stella watched him flee, her brain turning to mush. She wished she could drag him back to take the box with him.

With just her and Ronald now, he walked down the stairs and stopped next to her, holding out his hand. “Hand it over.”

“Huh? Hand what over?”

Ronald looked at her, unimpressed. “The thing you’re hiding behind your back.”

Stella was at a loss for words once more.

Chapter 317

Stella felt like she wanted to curl up and disappear.

“Dear God, if you could just strike me with lightning right now, that’d be great,” she thought, mortified.

Ronald raised an eyebrow. “Star?”

Stella let out an awkward laugh, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. She was seriously embarrassed.

Finley… that troublemaker.

Would Ronald be mad at Finley? Stella wasn’t sure, but she was tempted to strangle him herself.

Seeing her frozen in place, Ronald pulled her into his arms. His long arms wrapped around her effortlessly as he grabbed the item she was clutching.

Stella panicked and tried to hold on, struggling to keep it from him.

“No, don’t look,” she pleaded, her face scrunched up in embarrassment.

Ronald chuckled softly, easily taking the item from her grasp.

Stella buried her head into his chest, utterly embarrassed.

From above, Ronald’s amused voice reached her ears. “Star, are you trying to tell me something?”

“I’m not, I swear,” Stella mumbled, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, too embarrassed to face him.

Finley, that jerk! She silently cursed him to a lifetime of being single.

Ronald asked, “If not, then why did you get this? Who gave it to you? Susanna?”

Stella was at a loss for words.

So he didn’t see the whole scene at the stairway?

She shook her head frantically. “No, no, it wasn’t Susanna. It was Finley who gave it to me.”

Fine, if Finley wanted to stir up trouble, she wouldn’t hesitate to throw him under the bus!

It wasn’t her fault. In front of Ronald, she couldn’t handle the pressure. If she dared admit she was signaling him, he’d probably carry her straight to the bedroom.

She was still recovering from an injury. Better let Ronald take out his frustration on Finley.

They stood so close, she could feel some change in him.

Sure enough, upon hearing it was Finley who gave her the item, Ronald’s demeanor turned a bit colder.

“Finley?”

“Yes, it was him.”

Stella decided to keep the rest of what Finley said to herself. Even if she was throwing him under the bus, she wouldn’t go all the way.

Clinging to Ronald, she changed the subject. “I’ve got something else to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t take the pills.”

“What pills? Wasn’t the staff supposed to make sure you took them?”

He was referring to her injury medication. Either he personally fed them to her, or the staff ensured she took them when he wasn’t around.

Realizing he hadn’t caught on to her meaning, Stella blushed, her voice turning shy. “I mean… those pills.”

“Birth control?”

Stella buried her face deeper, nodding. Yeah!

Ronald replied, “You don’t need to take them.”

Stella was surprised. “Huh?”

“Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for us to get a marriage license. We can have the wedding in Ferrowland later, okay?”

He wasn’t going to let her deal with an unplanned pregnancy.

The mention of a marriage license made Stella’s heart skip.

For years, she’d dreamed of marrying him, of holding that piece of paper with his name beside hers. But she’d never dared to voice it, desires buried deep inside.

And now…

“Are you proposing to me right now?” Stella murmured.

Ronald replied, “Not exactly, but we need to get the license first. After that, whatever you want, it’s yours.”

He would make sure she had a girl should have.

Stella felt overwhelmed with emotion. She hugged Ronald, nuzzling her face against his chest.

Chapter 318

“Ronald, I was really upset before,” Stella confessed, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and vulnerability. Holding onto those feelings for years had been tough. Really tough.

But now, with just a few words from him, everything seemed to fall into place.

Ronald raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Oh? What were you upset about before?”

Stella’s eyes welled up, tears spilling over as she playfully pinched his side. “You’re teasing me again.”

Before, he had pretended to be oblivious to her feelings, and now he was doing it again.

“You knew all along, didn’t you? Tell me, did you always know how I felt?”

He caught her mischievous hand, chuckling softly. “How old were you back then, huh?”

She froze, her cheeks flushing crimson. She had been just a young girl, lost in the whirlwind of confusing teenage emotions. Who could predict how long a girl’s curiosity might last?

Ronald cupped her face tenderly, brushing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’ve only just grown up, and now you’re questioning me about the past?”

She huffed, her protest half-hearted.

In their playful struggle, the pink box slipped from Ronald’s grip and clattered to the floor.

Stella glanced at it. “You dropped it.”

Ronald chuckled. “Do you want me to use it?”

Her face turned impossibly red, heat radiating off her cheeks. “I mean… Is that really something to ask so casually?”

Mumbling incoherently, she snuggled into his chest, seeking refuge in his embrace.

Just then, Idris entered the room, stopping abruptly as his eyes landed on the pair, still entwined, with the small box lying conspicuously on the floor beside them.

Idris’s mind went blank for a moment before he quickly retreated down another hallway.

Stella pinched Ronald’s side. “Idris.”

Ronald turned to see Idris’s retreating figure. “See? No need to hide.”

Stella protested, “But not in front of everyone. There were so many eyes around.”

Ronald chuckled, lifting Stella effortlessly into his arms and carrying her to their room.

As he leaned in, Stella pushed him playfully. “But that is still out there.’

“That can’t be used,” Ronald murmured.

“What?” Stella asked, puzzled.

“The size is wrong,” he grinned mischievously.

Stella’s face turned a deeper shade of red, and she tried to bury herself under the covers, but Ronald wasn’t about to let her escape.

He gently held her face, his voice a soft whisper. “Does it still hurt?”

“Not so much today,” Stella admitted, grateful for the medication Finley had provided.

Ronald laughed softly.

Seeing his amusement, Stella quickly added, “But it’s still a wound, you know.”

“Do you not want to?” Ronald teased.

Stella groaned, “You sound just like Finley with his bluntness.”

She was on the brink of tears from embarrassment.

Ronald’s laughter deepened, and he kissed her again. “Don’t worry, not now.”

Stella shot him a mock glare, her fingers twitching as if ready to pinch him again. Before she could follow through, the sharp trill of Ronald’s phone cut through the moment.

“The phone,” she pointed out.

Ronald shrugged. “Ignore it.”

“You should answer it, Stella urged, hoping for a brief reprieve.

Ronald glanced at the caller and answered.

The moment he did, Mrs. Lugar’s stern voice boomed through the line. “You little rascal.”

Both Ronald and Stella fell silent.

Mrs. Lugar’s voice was sharp with concern. “Tell me, Ronald, is Star with you because she wants to be? Or did you force her into this?”

Chapter 319

After Cloudia finished the call with Ursula, she hurried back. As soon as she entered the house, she heard Ursula’s wailing coming from the second floor.

A maid spotted Cloudia and respectfully greeted her, “Ma’am.”

“What’s going on with Ursula? Did you give her any medication?”

The maid’s voice was strained, “We’ve run out of painkillers, and we called the doctor, but he refused to come.”

Cloudia’s breath caught in her throat upon hearing this, and she hastily made her way upstairs.

Entering Ursula’s room, she found her daughter curled up on the bed, clutching her stomach in agony.

Ursula had always taken great pride in her appearance, especially her long, flowing hair. But now, her scalp was completely bare, not a single strand remaining. Just yesterday, a few strands had clung to her head, but today, even those were gone.

Cloudia’s heart ached at the sight. “Ursula.”

At the sound of her mother’s voice, Ursula looked up, her face twisted in pain. “Mom, it hurts. It really hurts.”

“I know, sweetheart, I know, but…”

What on earth could she do?

Holding Ursula’s hand, Cloudia’s heart shattered into pieces.

They had no medication left at home, and Ursula couldn’t leave the country, or even get out of Portis City for treatment. She had reached a point where her illness seemed untreatable.

“Mom, I need painkillers. Please, I need to go to the hospital for some relief.”

They could still try to get some over-the-counter medication, but with Ursula’s condition, those wouldn’t provide any real relief. They’d be no more effective than candy.

Without proper medical guidance, Ursula had already vomited twice, compounding her misery and making her suffering even worse.

“Is Star really not willing to forgive me? Mom, tell her I’m sorry. I’ve admitted my guilt truly. Tell her that once I recover, I’ll go to prison and serve my time, okay?”

The agony was so severe that Ursula almost thought it would be easier to recover fully and face prison, just to escape the torment she was enduring now.

Cloudia was suffocating in her distress. “Ursula, don’t worry. I’ll figure something out. I promise I will.”

“What can you do? What else is there besides asking Star?”

Ursula was getting desperate. Didn’t this woman understand what she was saying?

“Have you ever tried talking to Star properly?”

She must not have. If she had, Ursula wouldn’t still be stuck in Portis City, unable to get the help she needed.

Cloudia stammered, “I… I… Don’t worry, I’ll think of something, I promise.”

She kept repeating her assurances.

Ursula was growing more frantic. “I can’t wait any longer, Mom. Don’t you understand?”

Just as Cloudia was about to say something more, her phone rang.

It was the maid from the hospital where Jaxon was being cared for.

“Ma’am, the hospital is discharging Mr. Jaxon.”

“What? Where’s Blaise? Is he not there either?”

Cloudia’s breath hitched. Could Blaise have abandoned the hospital, leaving Jaxon all alone in his condition?

The maid’s voice was urgent. “They’re being very insistent. What should we do? Neither you nor Mr. Blaise are here.”

Cloudia’s mind raced as she froze. Images flashed in her mind of Stella instructing the butler.

It was her doing, again. First, she’d left Ursula without treatment, and now, she was abandoning her own brother in such a dire situation.

“Ma’am? Ma’am?” The maid’s voice on the phone grew more desperate when Cloudia didn’t respond.

Cloudia took a shuddering breath. “I…I’ll be right there.”

She felt as if she were being driven insane.

On one hand, Ursula was in unbearable pain, and on the other, Jaxon was about to be forcibly discharged. Both were her beloved children.

In that instant, the entire Larkin family was thrown into utter chaos.

Chapter 320

Stella sat on her bed, clutching her phone, while Ronald lounged on the nearby couch, sipping from a mug.

On the other end of the line, Mrs. Lugar’s concerned voice crackled through, “That little rascal, I always suspected he didn’t have the best intentions with you. Oh, honey, are you okay? Are you scared?”

“Mom, I…”

“Wait till you come back to Ferrowland. I’ll give him a piece of my mind. I swear I’ll set him straight.”

Stella blinked, puzzled, glancing over at Ronald, whose presence was both calming and a little intimidating.

Mrs. Lugar continued speaking, but Stella’s heart was already filled with warmth. Ronald had mentioned he’d already spoken to her mother, yet Stella had still been on edge. Her mom’s opinion meant the world to her.

After all, Ronald wasn’t just anyone- he was the heir to the prestigious Lugar family and the head of the Quinn family. His wife had to be someone from an equally prominent lineage.

Back in Ferrowland, her mother had often nudged her towards various eligible heiresses, likely in preparation for a future alliance.

Yet now, her attitude…

“Mom, aren’t you upset with me?” Stella asked softly, her voice quivering with emotion, tears threatening to spill over. “Oh, sweetie, you must be so frightened, talking all sorts of nonsense.”

Stella blinked, caught off guard.

What? This wasn’t…

“He said he’s sorting out the marriage certificate tomorrow,” she added quickly, seizing the moment to mention their plans.

Ronald raised an eyebrow at her.

There was a brief pause on the line before Mrs. Lugar’s voice erupted, “What? He said he’s getting the certificate. Just like that?”

Stella was taken aback.

“You agreed to it?” Mrs. Lugar’s tone shot up, nearly a shout.

Stella’s heart skipped a beat.

“Can’t…can’t I agree?”

“Of course not! No way should you let that scoundrel get away so easily. He’s clearly trying to take advantage, of that rascal. I’m telling you…’

Ronald had already stood and walked over to Stella. Before Mrs. Lugar could continue, he gently took the phone from Stella’s hand and ended the call.

Stella looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Mom said I shouldn’t just agree to the marriage certificate thing.”

With that, Ronald’s strong hands cradled her head, pulling her into a kiss, both commanding and tender.

At first, Stella instinctively pushed against him, but soon she melted into his embrace, her earlier worries about her mother’s reaction fading in the warmth of his affection.

The room seemed to grow warmer as time passed, and about ten minutes later, Ronald finally released her. His voice was husky as he teased, “You little minx.”

Stella giggled. “Mom seemed more upset with you than with me.”

Ronald smirked, playfully nibbling her earlobe.

It was typical of Mrs. Lugar to be caught off guard by Ronald’s sudden actions. Despite raising him, she had never noticed his feelings for Stella. She had spent years trying to pair him with someone from a similar background, but Ronald never agreed. Picky with no reason, rejecting every option.

Turns out, he had been waiting all along.

“She’s always cared for you,” Ronald chuckled, “You adorable little fool.”

Stella pouted. Foolish, am I?”

She pinched Ronald’s side, her defiance clear.

Ronald grinned. “Keep teasing me like this, and I might not be able to hold back.”

With her soft hands in his grasp, he was struck by a new thought.

お金金

SEND GIFT or GCASH: +63.936.139.8714

COMMENT

Subscribe

♡
Prev | Next