Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 421 to 430)

Chapter 421

“Put the phone down. The ice cream’s here,” Tegan announced, sliding the sundae across the table to Stella.

It had been ages since Stella indulged in a scoop of ice cream. Ronald, ever the worrywart, would usually let her have just a couple of spoons before taking it away, fretting over her health.

As she savored a spoonful, she asked, “So, what was Susie going on about earlier?”

Tegan leaned in conspiratorially. “Oh, she said that Lola took off with all the money. The whole Larkin family is in a complete uproar.”

Stella nearly choked on her ice cream. “Lola ran off with the money? Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” Tegan confirmed with a nod.

Stella’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No way!”

“She cleared out Jaxon’s accounts, and Blaise pulled the remaining funds out of the company,” Tegan continued, her voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.

Stella was left speechless, spoon hovering mid-air.

Tegan smirked. “Now, the Larkin family is left with a mess. One’s incapacitated, another’s constantly ill, and the last one can’t earn a dime. It’s like the sky is falling for them.”

“I used to think I could squeeze a few million out of them, but now, it looks like there’s nothing left,” Tegan sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. “I even went to the trouble of spinning a whole web around them.”

Stella shook her head, still processing the news. “Are they really that broke?”

It was hard to believe. The Larkin family had always been one of the old-money families in Portis City. How could they suddenly not have a dime to their name?

Tegan shrugged. “Lola’s a firecracker. She must’ve seen something she didn’t like and decided to bail, taking everything with her.”

Stella let out a low whistle. “That Lola, she’s something else. She married Jaxon with the intention of snagging a wealthy life, and when it didn’t pan out, she grabbed what she could and bolted.”

“Ursula’s not going to survive this,” Stella mused aloud.

Tegan nodded in agreement. “Karma’s a real kicker.”

The two of them reminisced about Ursula’s past arrogance. She’d almost caused Stella serious harm with her reckless antics.

Tegan chuckled with satisfaction. The Larkin family is the talk of Portis City now. You should’ve seen Cloudia strutting around like she owned the place. Now, all the ladies she used to look down on are having a field day.”

Stella just shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, life sure has a way of turning the tables.”

After they finished eating, Ronald hadn’t called back yet, so Tegan suggested they hit the shops.

Stella glanced at her watch. It was getting close to eight.

“Uriah letting you stay out this late?” she asked with a teasing lilt.

She knew how protective Uriah was of Tegan, always wanting her by his side, even trying to convince her to quit her hospital job just to be with him more.

They’d been out for a couple of hours now, and normally Uriah would’ve called incessantly.

Tegan’s expression turned a bit guarded. “The Horner family’s having a big dinner tonight.”

Stella’s eyebrows shot up. “Ah, I see.”

The Horner family was a complicated bunch, and Tegan wasn’t exactly their favorite, despite being practically raised by them after her father, the family’s chauffeur, died saving Uriah’s father.

Stella reached over, giving Tegan a comforting hug. “Are you okay?”

Tegan shrugged it off. “I’m fine.”

But Stella could hear the undercurrent of hurt in her voice. “Since Uriah’s dad passed, Mrs. Horner doesn’t even bother pretending to like you anymore.”

Tegan shook her head. “I couldn’t care less. I owe them nothing.”

Stella nodded, understanding all too well. Tegan had always been a bit of an outsider in the Horner family, tolerated for Uriah’s sake but never truly embraced.

Tegan had never been one to take things lying down, always meeting cold shoulders with her own brand of fierce independence.

“Oh, by the way, bought a house,” Tegan said suddenly, shifting topics like flipping a switch. Stella blinked in surprise. “Wait, What? You and Uriah live together already. Why another place?”

The change in conversation left Stella momentarily off-balance, but she quickly adjusted, curious about her new venture.

Chapter 422

The Horner family never really warmed up to Tegan, so Uriah decided not to live in the family mansion. Instead, he bought a quaint little estate on the outskirts, where he and Tegan had been staying.

Tegan glanced at Stella without saying a word.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Where did you buy?”

Tegan replied, “Silk-River Residences.”

Stella’s eyes widened.

Apparently, Silk River Residences is the go-to spot whenever a girl decides to move out. Stella herself was a fan, mainly because the place had such amazing amenities.

“Does Uriah know about this?” Stella asked.

Tegan shook her head. “He doesn’t.”

Stella was stunned. “Uriah doesn’t know? Wait. What’s going on between you two?”

In Stella’s mind, Tegan and Uriah always seemed like the perfect couple. Uriah was always so devoted to her, even if his family wasn’t.

But now… something seemed off.

Tegan shook her head again and glanced at Stella, but ultimately kept quiet.

Before they could say anything else, a mocking voice called out from nearby, “Well, isn’t it Jaxon’s little sister, Stella?”

Turning towards the voice, Stella and Tegan saw Sirena Patel with a girl in a tan coat, who turned out to be Vivian Warner.

Sirena was known to be close with Ursula, so naturally, her friends were usually in the same circle.

Seeing Vivian made Stella and Tegan’s expressions sour.

Sirena wasn’t too pleased either, but remembering her brother Jeremy, she held her tongue.

Stella glared at Vivian. “What’s with that tone?”

Vivian sneered, “What tone do you want? Your mother doesn’t care for you, and your brother is indifferent. So, what if you’re the Larkin family’s heiress? You still lost to Ursula.”

Thinking back to how Stella got her grounded and had no allowance for half a year, Vivian was seething.

Stella raised an eyebrow, ready to retort, but Tegan said first. “The Larkin family, huh? Is Ursula still considered the heiress after they went bankrupt? Maybe she jinxed them into it.

The Larkin family is so washed up that even if they gave themselves us, we’d pass. Only someone like Ursula would find that appealing.”

Stella shot Tegan a sideways glance. When did she get such a sharp tongue? The once gentle and protected Tegan was now standing her ground.

Vivian was furious. “You think you have a place in the Horner family? You’re just a dog; they feed it with leftovers.”

That made Tegan freeze. It was exactly how Mrs. Horner had described her over the years. Her father lost his life-saving Mr. Horner, yet Mrs. Horner never showed Tegan the slightest respect. If it weren’t for Mrs. Horner’s attitude, would these people dare speak to Tegan like this?

“You are a dog fed with scraps and a beggar with no home. What’s there to be proud of?” Vivian finally found an outlet for her anger, and she wasn’t holding back.

Stella’s eyes narrowed. She stepped forward and slapped Vivian across the face.

“Smack!”

Vivian’s head whipped to the side from the force of the slap.

Already holding a grudge against Stella for ruining her chance with Finley, whom she’d liked for ages, Vivian was furious. Stella’s actions only added fuel to the fire.

Vivian lunged at Stella, her anger boiling over. “You’re only a foster child of the Lugar family. What makes you any different from Ursula?”

She was clawing at Stella, enraged. The date with Finley was something she had fought hard for, only for Stella to ruin it.

Stella wasn’t having any of it. At the mention of the Lugar family, she slapped Vivian again, hard.

“Smack!”

That second slap sent the scene into chaos.

Sirena stood there, stunned, trying to break them up. “Vivian, stop!”

Despite her own issues with Stella Sirena was wary of Stella’s connections, especially with Ronald in the picture. She knew Vivian was in deep trouble.

Chapter 423

Vivian was out of pocket money, and she saw it as a monumental betrayal.

And after a disastrous blind date with Finley, she blamed the whole fiasco on Stella.

Whatever her father had warned her about the consequences of crossing Stella? That was ancient history to her. When she spotted Stella, rage consumed her, and she lunged at her like a woman possessed.

But Stella wasn’t a pushover.

To make matters worse, Sirena wasn’t the best at breaking up fights.

Sirena clung to Vivian, pleading, “Vivian, let it go. Stop fighting.”

Vivian struggled in Sirena’s grip, unable to land a decent punch.

Stella seized the opportunity to scratch Vivian’s face several times and even managed a few kicks.

Vivian was desperate to hit Stella back, but Sirena held on too tight. “Sirena, let go!” she yelled.

With her face scratched and temper flaring, Vivian decided to claw back at Stella. But with Sirena holding her back, she couldn’t get near.

Sirena kept holding her tightly, urging, “Seriously, it’s not worth it.”

If it kept up, things could really get out of hand.

Tegan stood by, stunned by the scene, especially Sirena’s attempt at breaking up the fight.

Stella landed a few more kicks before Tegan finally stepped in to help, proving more effective at separating them.

She grabbed Vivian’s wrist, saying, “Vivian, remember you’re a Warner. You have to keep your composure.”

Vivian was already immobilized by Sirena, and with Tegan joining in, she was completely restrained.

To anyone watching, it might have seemed like a proper intervention. But by the time they were done, Stella looked pristine, while Vivian was a mess, her face scratched up.

Alerted by the commotion, security from the mall hurried over to finally separate the two.

Vivian’s hair was messy, looking like she’d just rolled out of bed. She pointed a trembling finger at Stella, struggling to find the words. “You, you…”

“Come on, Vivian. Let it go,” Sirena said, trying to lower her hand, worried she’d break a finger.

Vivian glared at Sirena, her fury reaching a boiling point. “Let it go? Whose side are you on?”

Tegan stood there, speechless. She wasn’t sure whose side Sirena was on, but she was certainly skilled at restraining Vivian.

Caught off-guard by Vivian’s outburst, Sirena’s expression shifted from shock to anger. “Vivian, that’s enough.”

“Enough? Are you siding with Stella? Let me tell you. Even if you do, it won’t help. Jaxon doesn’t even like her, and he’s got a kid now.” Vivian fumed. “You and Jaxon? That will never happen.”

What is the meaning of going wild, making frivolous accusations, and biting recklessly? This is what’s happening right now!

It would have been fine if Jaxon hadn’t been mentioned, but the moment he was, Sirena’s face darkened as well. She directly threw the napkin she had used to wipe Vivian’s mouth, bloody from the bite earlier, right back onto Vivian’s face. Vivian glared at Sirena fiercely. Then, she turned her eyes to Tegan and Stella, “You two wait and see; I won’t let this go.” Stella and Tegan exchanged glances, their minds buzzing. Without a word, they both whipped out their phones. Stella called Ronald, and Tegan dialed Uriah.

Ronald picked up first. “Hey, Star.”

Stella launched into her tale. “Ronald, someone called me a dog for the Lugar family.”

Uriah answered Tegan’s call next.

Tegan wasted no time. “Uriah, someone said I was a dog fed scraps by the Horner family.”

Vivian was flabbergasted.

Sirena glanced at Stella and Tegan with disbelief.

Wait, what? Were they tattling? And why? They weren’t even the ones who got hit.

Vivian was incredulous. “Hey! I’m the one who got beat up here, and you two are whining?”

She was on the brink of losing it.

Look at her! She got the bruises and scratches, while Stella and Tegan were untouched and still tattling?

Stella began to sob theatrically into the phone, “It was Finley’s blind date. She hit me.”

Vivian was speechless, utterly flabbergasted.

Chapter 424

Tegan sniffled, her voice sharp, “I’m moving out of the Horner family. I don’t want anything to do with you again.” Vivian was stunned. “What?”

Sirena just stared at them, eyes wide. Were they trying to give Vivian a heart attack?

As for Stella, after what happened last time, she finally understood her position in Ronald’s heart. And Tegan, no matter how the Horner family elders treated her, was always cherished by Uriah.

Sirena glanced at Vivian, her mind screaming two words: It’s over!

Clearly, Vivian had poked a hornet’s nest today. What was she thinking, going out with her?

Without saying a word, Sirena got up and left. She wanted no part in this drama.

“Sirena,” Vivian called after her. Even though she was annoyed by Sirena’s earlier attempts to mediate, she couldn’t handle this alone.

But Sirena pretended not to hear and quickly left the scene.

Vivian watched Sirena leave, her chest heaving with frustration as she turned to Stella and Tegan.

“You two, do you even realize I’m the one getting beaten here? What are you even pretending for?” She shouted, anger rising.

Stella had just hung up Ronald’s call. “Weren’t you always the one who loved playing the victim like Ursula, even using it to hurt others?”

Tegan nodded. “Exactly.”

What was it now? They were just giving her a taste of her own medicine, and she couldn’t handle it, huh?

Vivian almost fainted from rage. Those two were driving her insane!

……

Meanwhile, Ronald was fuming in the car. The tension was palpable, and Finley, sitting beside him, was sweating bullets, especially after hearing Stella mention “Finley’s blind date” on the phone.

The car was speeding like there was no tomorrow.

Ronald took a drag from his cigarette, glancing fiercely at Finley.

Even Finley, who was used to Ronald’s moods, couldn’t help but swallow hard.

“Let’s be real here. Do you think a defenseless woman could really take down Star? Sometimes, you need to look at the facts, right?

That girl had escaped Xander’s fortress-like security. Her stamina and strength were definitely unmatched by any blind date.

Ronald’s eyes narrowed. “She cried.”

Finley winced. “So, whoever cries is right?”

Ronald’s glare grew colder, looking as if threatening to toss him out of the car.

Finley quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, Star got hit, and she cried.”

Fine, if he had to say the little princess got hit, then she got hit. But when did she learn to play the victim first?

He knew Stella well enough to know she wouldn’t back down from anyone, let alone this so-called date.

Feeling Ronald’s icy tension, Finley swallowed again. “It has nothing to do with me, okay?”

Ronald took another drag of his cigarette as they stopped at the mall where Stella had sent her location.

Ronald stepped out first. “That was your date.”

Finley followed quickly. “We only went out twice, and I wasn’t even interested. It’s just a date, not my wife. I’m not taking the blame for this!”

Why was he so unlucky? Maybe he was cursed in his past life. How else could a simple date lead to such chaos?

When exiting the car behind them, Idris gave Finley’s shoulder a reassuring pat.

Finley looked at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Idris shrugged. You better hope your date didn’t do anything to Miss Stella.”

If She did, things could get really messy.

Finley grimaced. “Even if something really happened, it’s not my fault, right?”

Besides, there was no way Stella would let anything happen to her! He trusted that his date wasn’t capable of causing such trouble.

Chapter 425

When Ronald finally arrived, he stepped into a peculiar scene.

Uriah had already whisked away Tegan, and Sirena had vanished long before anyone could notice. Vivian had wrapped up a phone call and made a swift exit, too.

So, when Ronald reached the scene, only Stella was alone there. She sat on a rainbow-colored bench in the mall corridor, sipping on a milkshake.

Ronald walked straight over and plopped down beside her.

Off to the side, Finley noticed Stella sitting by herself and instinctively wanted to approach her, wanting to ask what was up. But Idris grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

“What gives?” Finley asked, puzzled.

That little princess had everyone running around, and then she was all alone? And she didn’t even look like she’d been in a fight, so what was all the fuss about?

Idris pointed out, “Can’t you see her eyes are red? What are you gonna ask her?”

Finley squinted, taking a closer look, and sure enough, Stella’s eyes were a bit puffy from crying. He had assumed she was faking it, but no, she had actually shed some tears.

“Maybe you should call your blind date and see what’s up?” Idris suggested.

The whole mess was far from over. Even though Ronald hadn’t said much in the car, Idris felt sure that there was no sweeping this under the rug.

Finley looked at Idris, bewildered. “I don’t even remember her number.”

“Didn’t you go on a date with her?”

Finley shrugged. “Yeah, but it didn’t click. Why remember a number if it didn’t work out?”

Now everyone seemed to think he was in the wrong. What a situation to be in!

Ronald gently tousled Stella’s soft hair. “Did it get out of hand?”

His voice was gentle, full of warmth.

Stella looked at him with her reddened eyes, staying silent. Ronald sighed, “You.”

Ronald pulled her into a comforting embrace, and Stella froze. “We’re in a mall.”

He simply replied, “It’s your mall.

Stella was stunned. “What?”

“Yes,” Ronald continued casually, “I bought it in your name a year ago.

It sounded like purchasing the mall was akin to buying Stella a piece of jewelry.

Stella was completely unaware that she had such assets in Portis City. Mist Bay, and now, the top luxury mall in Portis City too.

Finley, who overheard that this mall had been bought for Stella, was equally astounded. He exchanged a look with Idris. “I mean, who can compete with that kind of grand gesture?”

How much had Ronald bought for Stella? That was beyond ensuring she never went hungry. She could live extravagantly for several lifetimes!

Idris remarked, “It seems like you still don’t understand why Miss Stella never fell for Yorick Quarry.”

Yorick was one of the most eligible bachelors in Portis City, handsome and reserved. Despite knowing he had a past love, Ursula, many women still tried to catch his eye. Yet Stella, as his fiancée, had remained utterly indifferent.

“Why’s that?” Finley asked.

Idris glanced at him, and suddenly, Finley felt that Idris’s gaze carried a hint of sympathy.

Sympathy? For him? Why?

Unbeknownst to him, Idris’s look was more of a ‘poor fool’ expression.

“Ronald has spoiled her so much that no one out there could ever capture her attention. That’s why.”

Finley nodded. “That’s true.”

Ronald had doted on Stella, giving her the finest things since she was young. With Ronald by her side, she’d seen the world, and met people with looks, wealth, and power hadn’t she experienced?

So, when you thought about it, even if the Quarry family was the wealthiest in Portis City, it didn’t seem to matter much to Stella.

The mall’s CEO, Hugo Cobb, rushed over upon hearing Ronald was there.

Seeing him, Stella tensed up, “Mr. Cobb”

Back when StarRiver Corp. was collaborating with her, Stella was always grateful to Hugo.

Chapter 426

She thought of him as her great benefactor.

But at that moment, Hugo nodded respectfully at Stella. “Ms. Quinn.”

Then he turned to Ronald. “Mr. Quinn”

Ronald gently placed Stella from his arms onto a nearby chair, casting a disinterested glance at Hugo. “Ban the Warner family. They’re not welcome at this mall anymore.”

Upon hearing that, Hugo instinctively glanced at Stella.

He had already been on his way when he heard Ronald was visiting the mall. Before this, he had received word that Vivian, the Warner family heiress, had gotten into a scuffle with Stella.

Vivian fought with Ms. Quinn in this place, huh?

Hugo understood it was Ronald’s way of expressing his anger over the incident with Stella.

Hugo nodded. “Understood.”

Upon hearing this, Stella immediately protested, “Wait a second.”

How could they bar the Warner family from the mall? It was the fanciest luxury mall in Portis City. People usually couldn’t leave without dropping a hefty sum.

Despite her seemingly good relationship with Ursula, Vivian had silently competed with her. If Ursula flaunted a $10,000 necklace, Vivian would show up the following day with a $20,000 one. If Ursula carried a $20,000 bag, Vivian would have a $50,000 one within a week.

In a word, she was undoubtedly a big spender!

Ronald and Hugo both looked at Stella.

Stella, clutching her oversized milkshake, walked over to Hugo. “Not only should you let her in, but you should also have the top sales associate greet her.”

How could she miss out on such a lucrative customer? That was no foresight.

Hugo was speechless.

Finley was astonished. She’s already plotting on how to milk that Vivian for all she’s worth, isn’t she?

Ronald gave Stella an indulgent look. “But she only spends…”

“We need to think bigger.” Stella interrupted Ronald, knowing exactly what he was about to say.

She turned back to Hugo again. “Not only should the best sales associate greet her, but every store should call her once a week.”

Top salespeople knew exactly how to spark a person’s desire to purchase, especially someone like Vivian, who loved to flaunt her wealth.

Every luxury store’s top associates meticulously kept track of their clients’ preferences. Ther ere plenty of ways to encourage Vivian to spend.

Finley’s lips twitched. “Stella, are you sure she’ll still have money left to spend here?”

After today’s incident, things had already escalated. Finley doubted Ronald would let the Warner family off so easily.

Stella glanced at Ronald, who pulled her back into his embrace and said “We’ll do as you say. Think big.”

Stella smiled.

Finley watched the two exchange a knowing smile, feeling that things were far from simple, especially with Ronald’s scheming nature, and Stella’s talk of “thinking big.”

Was it really about foresight?

For Vivian, it seemed more like a financial trap.

Ronald and Hugo headed to the study, with Finley trailing behind. He saw Stella still holding a milkshake cup as large as her face.

He instinctively commented, “You should cut back on those.”

Stella looked puzzled.

“What?” She gave Finley a confused glance, clearly not understanding what he meant.

Finley brushed off the topic and leaned closer to Stella. “So today, between you and Vivian, who hit who?”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Are you taking sides?”

Finley was stunned. “Taking sides? Taking sides for whom?”

He suddenly realized, “Don’t say that. I’m not taking Vivian’s side.”

They’d only been on a blind date. Ronald nearly ripped him apart over it in the car earlier. How could he dare take sides?

“Be honest,” Finley insisted.

Stella gave him a look as if he were an idiot. “What do you think?”

“I think you definitely gave her smack.”

Stella just huffed and stayed silent. Her lack of response made it crystal clear to Finley.

Chapter 427

In the study.

Ronald pulled out a cigarette, lit it up, and tossed the pack over to Hugo, who caught it and fished out a cigarette for himself.

Taking a drag, Ronald said, “The Warner family… they’re doomed.”

Hugo paused mid-lighting. He had a hunch that Ronald was only indulging Stella back at the mall, hence why he hadn’t made a fuss.

Who would need big clients when they could strip them of their power of consumption? Stella’s entire empire in Portis City, from StarRiver Corp. to the luxury mall, was under Hugo’s management. Even the future plans for her studio had been in his hands.

At first, Stella wanted Susanna to take over her studio, but Susanna moved to Ferrowland. Stella couldn’t bring herself to trust others with her employees, so she left it all for Ronald to handle.

“Understood,” Hugo nodded.

Thinking it over, he glanced at Ronald and added, “Miss Stella hasn’t faced too much trouble these past few years in Portis City.”

Hugo had arrived after Stella’s discharge from the hospital. And the Larkin family had gone into a tailspin since then. Ursula was practically begging for mercy after Stella was done with her. If Ursula hadn’t left Portis City back then, things could’ve gotten ugly.

Ronald flicked his cigarette ash, eyes narrowing slightly. “Their existence is an insult to her.”

Hugo widened his eyes. “Them? You mean the Larkin family?”

In a way, that made sense. Knowing your own family is that kind of person would be disheartening for anyone.

The Warner family didn’t stand a chance. They’d already been warned at Spring Hill but clearly hadn’t learned their lesson.

This time, the outcome was inevitable. Especially since they’d upset not just Stella, but Tegan as well, whom the entire Horner family didn’t care for, yet Uriah had cherished for so long.

Meanwhile, in the car.

Uriah made a phone call, the purpose of which was clear. Just before hanging up, he said, “In a week, I want to hear that the Warner family is bankrupt.”

Tegan was stunned.

He hung up and pulled Tegan into his arms with ease, leaving her a bit dizzy.

“What are you doing? Can you stop doing that out of the blue?” Tegan protested.

Uriah’s eyes glinted mischievously as he tilted her chin up with his fingers, capturing her lips in a commanding kiss.

Tegan tried to pull away but couldn’t escape. Their warm breaths mingled as Uriah murmured in a rough, low voice, “Still not used to it after all these years, huh?”

Tegan squirmed in his grip, only to be firmly held in place by Uriah.

“Don’t move.”

Tegan was exasperated.

Relenting, Uriah rested his chin on her petite shoulder. “Tegan, I got some news.”

Tegan’s breath hitched, tension creeping into her frame.

Uriah straightened, holding her chin to meet her eyes with his intense gaze.

“What news?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You met Forrest,” Uriah stated flatly.

Tegan froze, her breath catching.

Sensing her sudden tension, Uriah’s grip on her chin tightened. “What did he say to you?” Forrest was someone Uriah had no desire to see again. There were matters from the past that seemed resolved but still held secrets.

Forrest harbored animosity toward Uriah, and Uriah couldn’t believe he’d meet Tegan without ulterior motives, let alone say anything positive.

It was evident from Tegan’s expression that Forrest had indeed said something.

Tegan’s eyes glistened as she looked up, her voice trembling, “Why are you worried?”

Chapter 428

Uriah was silent, his mind racing. Was he worried?

Tegan sniffled, her voice small and uncertain. “Why does your mother hate me so much?”

She continued, her eyes shimmering with confusion and hurt. “My father gave his life to save yours, yet your mother treats me like I’m her worst enemy. Why?”

Uriah’s eyes widened in shock, but Tegan grabbed his wrist before he could respond. With a gentle but firm grip, she pulled his hand away from her chin.

Sitting back, she turned to gaze out the window, her thoughts heavy with unspoken emotions. “I’ve tried to figure this out for years, but now…”

“Did Forrest give you an answer?” Uriah interrupted sharply.

Tegan hesitated.

An answer? Not exactly. Forrest hadn’t provided answers, but he had certainly stirred up a storm inside her, leaving her with more questions than before.

Uriah leaned in, his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the tense air.

“Forrest isn’t a good guy. Whatever he told you, forget it, okay?” His voice was cold, almost commanding.

Tegan placed her hands on his chest, trying to push him away, but his grip on her neck only tightened.

“Be a good girl, Tegan. Don’t see him again, okay?”

She struggled to catch her breath, glancing up at Uriah. They were so close, that she couldn’t read his expression, but she could sense the danger he felt Forrest posed.

……

Meanwhile, halfway across the world in Ferrowland, Susanna desperately tried to distract herself with gossip. But after hanging up with Stella and Tegan, her mind kept drifting back to the morning she woke up in a state of undress.

Hull had been out alI day. She had tried to leave, but the place was swarming with security. She could have grown wings and still not escaped.

When Hull finally returned that evening, they sat across each other at the dining table. The spread was a classic feast, dishes from all over Portis City, but Susanna barely touched her food, poking at it with little interest.

Hull glanced at her untouched plate. “I thought you were a big eater. Why are you picking at your food like a cat?”

Susanna bristled. Big eater? That was a bit harsh. She never claimed to be one.

She looked at Hull, her lips parting to speak, but the words got stuck.

Noticing her hesitation, Hull asked coldly, “What is it?”

His tone was brimming with impatience, making her swallow nervously.

How was she supposed to bring it up? Should she just ask straight out why she’d woken up without clothes?

Worse, she’d noticed some blood on the sheets.

What if Hull shrugged and said, “Yeah, I undressed you. So what?”

Her heart raced at the thought. This was a nightmare.

Hull continued, “Not hungry?”

Susanna shook her head. “No, that’s not it.”

She wanted to eat, but nothing tasted right with so many questions hanging over her, especially not with this intimidating man across from her.

The staff seemed to follow his lead, refusing to serve dinner until he returned, and now it was well past eight. She was starving, but Hull’s presence made her lose her appetite.

“Um, can I ask about… my clothes last night?” she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart pounded in her chest.

She had to know. It was too big of a question to ignore.

She swallowed hard, avoiding Hull’s piercing gaze and the dangerous aura he exuded.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself and asked, “Did you undress me?”

Chapter 429

With those words, the entire diner fell into an uneasy silence.

Susanna kept her head down, feeling Hull’s oppressive aura. She didn’t dare to meet his gaze.

Just the thought of the incident gnawed at her insides. It wasn’t just about the missing clothes. It was the haunting question of what might have happened afterward. She needed answers, or it would eat away at her.

Time ticked by, second by agonizing second. The tension in the diner remained palpable.

When Hull didn’t respond, Susanna’s anxiety spiked, and she hesitantly lifted her gaze. Timidly, she met Hull’s eyes. When their eyes locked, she quickly looked away, her heart pounding.

Hull’s stare was intimidating. Especially with that tattoo on his neck, he exuded a sense of danger.

Susanna swallowed hard. “Um, I just want to know who undressed me.”

Hull’s response was curt. “Is it that important?”

Susanna was shocked. “What do you mean?”

She looked up at Hull again, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She felt so wronged. She’d never been treated this way. The situation was unlike anything she’d ever encountered. Being bullied like this by a man was something she’d never imagined possible.

Hull finally admitted, “I took them off. So what?”

Susanna froze, her tears held in suspension.

“Is there a problem?”

“Isn’t there?” she asked, her voice quivering.

“What do you want to do about it?” Hull’s tone was sharp and dangerous, his presence overpowering her into silence.

Like at the airport, he had taken such liberties, and she hadn’t dared to say anything.

And now, it was the same story.

Feeling utterly defeated, Susanna lowered her head and poked at her bowl of mac and cheese.

“Nothing.” Her voice full of resignation. Her actions seemed more about avenging her dignity than eating.

Hull chuckled softly, “With a figure like yours, I wouldn’t bother even if you were gift-wrapped.”

Susanna was stunned.

Wouldn’t bother?

The gossip Stella had shared flashed through her mind, and when she looked at Hull again, surprise overtook her fear.

Hull set down his whiskey glass, his gaze piercing. “What’s that look for?”

“Nothing, nothing at all!” Susanna shook her head quickly.

So, all those things Stella had mentioned were true, right? At least that meant she was safe. He wasn’t interested in her. Still, that didn’t mean it was okay to strip people’s clothes off. Just because he wasn’t interested didn’t give him the right to undress her. Even if he weren’t, if others found out he’d seen her, it wouldn’t matter whether Hull could get it up.

“Just don’t take my clothes off again,” she said, turning slightly in her seat with her bowl.

Hull raised an eyebrow. “Again?”

Susanna’s face flushed. What had she just said?

Her already frazzled mind was now a complete jumble.

“No. Just don’t do it again,” Susanna mumbled.

Seeing her like a scolded kitten, Hull chuckled softly but said nothing more.

His laughter echoed in Susanna’s ears, carrying a weight of unspoken meaning.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of Cyrus Isle, Xander had put Bernie through hell, leaving him in a state where he could not stand or sit. Eventually, he handed Bernie to Bernie’s brother, Bert.

Over the years, after the Schultz family incident, Shawn believed Xander’s ruthlessness had peaked. But with Bernie’s suffering, Shawn witnessed once more that Xander’s ruthlessness truly knew no bounds.

All because Bernie harbored dirty thoughts about Stella, Xander had nearly taken his life. And that was only because of Bert’s intervention.

Chapter 430

Boarding the private jet back to Patrina, Shawn was still lying on the bed, his leg thankfully saved but still aching like crazy.

Xander was on the phone, his voice cold and calculated as he said, “Yes, follow the plan.”

Shawn’s eyes widened at that.

Plan? What plan?

The only thing that seemed to get Xander riled up was anything concerning Stella.

Watching Xander hang up, Shawn couldn’t help but ask, “You still have plans for that little firecracker?”

Xander shot him a glance.

Shawn gulped. “Dude, Ronald and Stella are together now. He’s finally got what he’s been after for years.”

Xander asked, “Do you remember why Stella ever took an interest in him in the first place?”

Shawn’s heart skipped a beat. Of course, he knew why Stella had developed feelings for Ronald. But did that even matter anymore?

“Look. You should leave Ronald alone. His feelings for Stella…”

“Shawn.” Xander cut him off before he could finish.

Shawn went silent.

Xander sipped his wine, leaving his thoughts unspoken.

Shawn pondered for a moment and continued, “You and Ronald really don’t need to keep this feud going. You should clear those misunderstandings. Or do you plan on staying in Patrina forever?”

Xander raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his lips. “You’re right. We should clear the misunderstandings. And Ferrowland, it’s about time I returned.”

There was something off in how Xander said Ferrowland, which made Shawn uneasy. It seemed like Xander’s return wasn’t only about that illegitimate child.

Thinking of Xander’s father, Shawn felt a pang of injustice for Xander.

Xander’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, musing over the word ‘misunderstanding’ with sarcasm and intrigue in his expression.

……

Stella had a late-night snack.

After getting back with Ronald, Finley and Idris had retreated to the study, and Susanna had called her.

She was crying her heart out. Stella had never heard Susanna cry like that, so she comforted her over the phone like she was soothing a baby.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Who upset you? I’ll sort them out.

Who on earth had made Susanna cry like this?

If it was serious, then she’d really have to call on her people in Ferrowland.

she comforted her over the phone like she

Stella had her own network, courtesy of Ronald, but she hadn’t used it since Xander threatened her out of Ferrowland. She’d been lying low, avoiding both Ronald and Xander.

But now, with Susanna in such distress, Stella wanted to find out what was wrong with Susanna’s mom Lacey.

Yet Susanna was crying too hard to give her any details.

Stella comforted, “Sweetheart, please stop crying. Should I send someone to look into it for you?”

Being around Hull and not solving anything was one thing, but Susanna crying like this was another.

What was going on? Was Hull being a jerk to her?

No, that couldn’t be. Hull was a bit of a lone wolf, not the type to bully people for fun.

But she was wrong…

Susanna sobbed, “It was Hull. He took off my clothes.”

Stella nearly choked on her spit.

Wait, what?!

“Wasn’t it the maid?”

Hull was the solitary type – no maid in his villa. The only person remotely close was the chef, and he was a guy, which meant there wasn’t a woman around Hull, so when Susanna said someone had stripped her clothes off and she didn’t know whom, it could only have been Hull.

Susanna’s voice came the phone, even more pitiful, “Will you help me deal with him?”

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