Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 441 to 450)

Chapter 441

Yesterday, she searched everywhere but couldn’t find it.

When Hull heard about it, his face turned serious as he glanced at his watch. There was no time to have someone deliver clothes now.

He finally dug out a charcoal-gray pullover sweatshirt from his closet, one he rarely wore, and tossed it to her.

The sweatshirt was huge. On Susanna, it hung loose and reached her knees, but somehow, she made it look stylish.

But Ferrowland was cold, and Susanna looked at Hull with puppy eyes, “I’m afraid of the cold.”

This outfit might work indoors, but stepping outside in it would be a whole different story.

Hull hesitated for a moment. Once again, he marveled at how difficult it was to take care of a woman. With a sigh, he muttered, “Troublesome.”

In the end, Hull found a down jacket for Susanna to wear. It was thick enough to keep her warm.

Hull himself rarely wore it; he ran hot and hardly needed such heavy clothing.

When Hull brought her to the car, they climbed into the spacious Mercedes.

Hull and Susanna sat in the middle row. Enzo was behind the wheel, Silas took the passenger seat, and Barnaby, seeing Hull and Susanna approach, quickly retreated to the back.

As Barnaby caught sight of Susanna, he was momentarily stunned.

The boss’s taste this time was different from the usual. She was so small!

Barnaby glanced at Hull, whose frame was all muscle and strength, then back at the petite Susanna.

Barnaby thought, “Whoa! Their sizes were so mismatched!”

Especially seeing Susanna in Hull’s oversized clothes, Barnaby was almost certain Hull was doing just fine in that department.

So, he likes them petite? All those tall, leggy types never did the trick for him?

Growing more curious, Barnaby spoke up, “Boss.”

“Yeah?”

“Is she, uh, joining us? You sure her petite frame can handle it?”

The question was loaded with meaning, and even Silas in the pass seat picked up on Barnaby’s implication.

What a reckless fool!

It wasn’t enough to doubt behind their boss’s back, now he dared to test the waters?

Sure, Barnaby was sharper than Finley, knowing to probe indirectly, but still, it was a death wish!

Susanna also caught the innuendo in Barnaby’s tone, casting a tight-lipped glance at Hull. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears…

Hull, feeling a headache coming on, shot a fierce glare at Barnaby. “Remind me, when was the last time I shut that mouth of yours?”

Barnaby winced, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly clammed up, not daring to utter another word.

The boss was as terrifying as ever; having one’s mouth shut was painful.

……

Reluctantly, Susanna was brought out by Hull.

Stella had initially been worried she’d be scared, but by now, she seemed to have gotten used to it. That morning, she called Ronald, who said he’d be back in the afternoon.

So, Stella made lunch plans with Tegan, but as soon as she stepped out, a Maybach blocked her path.

The car was parked just two kilometers from the Mist Bay exit, right where the main road began. Yorick leaned against the car.

The cold wind tousled his hair, and through the windshield, Stella could see his desolation.

“Ma’am, we can’t get through,” the driver said.

The car was parked squarely in the middle of the road, and Yorick seemed intent on blocking Stella’s way.

Stella frowned as Tegan’s call came through.

“Star, I’m waiting for you at the café on Rigou Street.”

Stella replied, “Ok

After hanging up, Stella opened the car door and stepped out, keeping her distance as she looked at Yorick.

Yorick, spotting Stella, seemed hollow. He held a cigarette between his fingers, dressed too lightly for the weather, and the stubble on his chin gave him a weary, rugged look.

Weary? It was surprising to see this look on Yorick.

Holding onto the car door, Stella spoke icily, “What do you want?”

Chapter 442

She couldn’t believe Yorick had the audacity to show up at her doorstep. If he was brazen enough to park his car like this, he must have known Ronald was out.

Was he really here to confront her? It seemed the Quarry family wasn’t as deep in trouble as she had hoped.

But Stella was wrong.

Yorick was here precisely because the Quarry family was drowning in chaos, and he was on the brink of a breakdown.

He flicked away his cigarette and walked toward her, his steps deliberate and heavy.

Stella frowned, clearly irritated.

When he stopped a meter away, she could finally see the turmoil in his eyes, -emptiness, sorrow, pain—all swirling together, visible in the depths of Yorick’s gaze.

“Are you here to plead for Ursula?” Stella asked, squinting slightly.

The only reason she could think of for such a mix of emotions in Yorick’s eyes was Ursula. Despite all the gossip Susanna and Tegan had shared about the Larkin family, Stella believed Yorick and Cloudia’s bias toward Ursula would always prevail.

The mention of pleading for Ursula seemed to deepen the pain in Yorick’s eyes.

“Plead?” he echoed, his voice laced with anguish.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Not pleading? Then you’re here to threaten me? To try and overpower me?”

She recalled how the Larkin family and Yorick had never resorted to pleading. They had always tried to overpower her into letting Ursula go.

How many tactics had they used back then? She couldn’t help but scoff at the memory.

Yorick was silent, his chest heaving with a suffocating tension at Stella’s mention of ‘threaten’ and ‘overpower.’ He closed his eyes, his whole body trembling. Clenching his fists, he spoke with difficulty, “I’ve… I’ve broken it off with her.”

Stella arched her brows, silently observing Yorick while Susie’s latest gossip replayed in her mind. She had said that Yorick stormed out of the Larkin family house, kicking over a flowerpot at the entrance.

“Stella, I’m sorry,” Yorick confessed suddenly.

Stella’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re apologizing to me?”

“It’s my fault. I…”

He trailed off, overwhelmed by the chaos of the past few days. Since leaving the Quarry family, all he wanted was to see Stella. Nobody knew how empty he had felt since she called off their engagement as if a vital part of him had been ripped away.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Stella replied coolly. “You really shouldn’t have come to see me. Move your car.”

Not wanting to hear more, Stella turned to get into her car. As she was about to shut the door, Yorick panicked and grabbed the door.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “You…”

By instinct, her foot shot out, and Yorick immediately backed away to a safe distance, his face paling.

He remembered Stella’s dislike for physical contact. During their engagement, every time he got too close, she pulled away. After the breakup, whenever he tried to grab her wrist, she had retaliated physically.

Was she about to kick him again?

Recalling his previous injuries, Yorick’s composure wavered.

Seeing him retreat, Stella realized she had almost instinctively lashed out again.

“Uh… sorry she said, half-smiling. “You’ve left quite a mark on me. My default response is self-defense, so it’s best if you’re up in front of me. Otherwise, if I hit you, it wouldn’t be pleasant.”

Yorick was speechless.

The driver in the front seat, amused by their exchange,  thought to himself, “At least our young lady knows it’s not polite to hit people.”

Chapter 443

Yorick’s face turned a shade paler.

Even though he’d mentally prepared himself before meeting Stella, seeing her like this still made him uncomfortable. He thought women should be more gentle, not as fierce as a storm. Stella was proving to be anything but.

Stella leaned out of her car window. “Can you move your car, or should I just ram it?”

The way she said “ram it” was as casual as if she were discussing the weather.

Yorick’s composure cracked further. All his prepared words vanished in the face of Stella’s bluntness.

All he could manage was, “Can you get Xander to take Hogan Freeman away?”

Last night, chaos had erupted within the Quarry family when someone who looked disturbingly like him showed up, brandishing a DNA test proving he was related to Yorick’s father. The whole family was in turmoil.

Yorick had barely held onto his sanity as he traced the situation back to Xander – Stella’s fiancé from Ferrowland.

To Yorick, this felt like a direct shot from Stella, a calculated vengeance.

When Stella heard Xander’s name, she hesitated. “Hogan Freeman? Who’s that?”

“You’re telling me you don’t know?” Yorick’s disbelief was evident.

“Are you serious?” Stella shot back. “You’re pulling this again?”

Whenever something involving Ursula came up, Yorick always had this accusatory tone.

And now it was happening again? If anything went wrong, was it always somehow her fault?

“He showed up with a DNA test matching my father. Stella, I know you hate me, but you shouldn’t…”

Yorick’s voice trailed off, his eyes locking onto hers, filled with a deep, spreading hurt. “You shouldn’t go this far for revenge.”

To throw the Quarry family into such disarray-this was her ultimate revenge on him.

“You think I hate you?” Stella asked incredulously.

“Don’t you?”

“I think you’re delusional,” Stella replied, rolling her eyes. “Hate you? Please, don’t flatter yourself. Love and hate are for people like Ursula who actually care about you. Who else would bother?”

Stella had no time for such nonsense.

Hate? That was a concept that required some measure of love, and she had nothing for Yorick.

“Revenge on you? Do I look like I have the time? If I wanted to get back at you, do you think I’d do it myself?”

Considering how the Larkin and Quarry families had suffered in business lately, it was clear Stella wasn’t the one orchestrating it.

Yorick was left speechless. Hearing Stella say it wasn’t her handiwork made him tense all over again.

True, she hadn’t lifted a finger. Last night, Xander had been the one to send Hogan Freeman over, leaving behind a smug “You’re welcome!”

Yorick laughed a bitter and mocking laugh. “Stella, I really underestimated you. You’ve got your brother wrapped around your finger, and even your fiancé, who doesn’t have a shot with you, is doing your bidding.”

Stella just shook her head. This was madness!

But when it came to Xander, she was a bit uneasy. That Hogan Freeman was Xander’s doing? Why would he do such a thing? After all, on the surface, Xander had no deep vendettas against the Quarry family.

Forget it, Yorick was just being paranoid.

“To think I once believed you couldn’t live without me,” Yorick muttered. He’d always thought he was the center of Stella’s universe. He believed he was her rock, and even when she called off the engagement, he thought she was just throwing a tantrum.

Chapter 444

Looking at it now, it all seemed like a joke.

Stella had reached the end of her patience. She rolled her eyes at Yorick, slammed the car door shut, and instructed the driver upfront, “Go ahead, ram it.”

There was no reasoning with a lunatic like him. Their minds operated on different frequencies, and talking anymore would just be a waste of breath and time.

The driver nodded, “Alright.”

Just as the car engine came to life, the driver suddenly announced, “Miss, the boss is back.”

Stella glanced out the windshield. The moment she recognized Ronald’s car, there was a loud crash, and Yorick’s car was nudged aside.

Stella was totally stunned.

Ronald was definitely her man; he never did things halfway.

Stella got out of the car, not even sparing Yorick a glance, and headed straight for Ronald’s vehicle.

Ronald stepped out as well, his presence intense and commanding. He cast a dangerous glance at Yorick. “Well, Mr. Quarry, it’s a surprise to see you here, but…”

He glanced at the car that had been shoved aside.

“I don’t appreciate intrusions on my territory. Next time, make sure you’re on the right road.”

He emphasized the last four words sharply.

Yorick trembled with anger. He looked at Stella, but she was already beside Ronald, blatantly ignoring him. They held hands right in front of him, unfazed.

Yorick’s gaze was fixed on their interlocked fingers, a sharp pain piercing his heart.

Not wanting to waste any more time on Yorick, Stella was ready to leave.

“I’m meeting Tegan for lunch. Let’s go.

Ronald affectionately pinched Stella’s nose and led her back to the car.

Their vehicle drove off, leaving Yorick standing there, the cold wind biting through him. Yet, the chill in his heart was far worse.

His mind replayed the earlier conversation with Stella about ‘hate.’ She had laughed at the idea of hating him, as if mocking him for being blind to the truth. She didn’t hate him; she felt nothing for him.

So, what did those two years mean to her?

……

In the car.

Stella was perched on Ronald’s lap, squirming. “I want to sit by myself.

Whenever they were alone, he loved holding her like this. Looking back, it seemed Ronald had been holding her since they were kids. His large hands rested on her slightly chubby waist.

Luckily, Stella had a petite frame. Otherwise, this bit of baby fat might have been problematic.

“Ronald, are you mad?”

“It wasn’t me who went looking for trouble; he came to me,” Stella said, feigning innocence.

Ronald replied, “Haven’t you learned how to deal with such people?”

For those who didn’t matter, Ronald’s advice had always been not to give them any attention, not to waste time. If a problem could be solved with force, then use force.

Stella’s brow furrowed. “I was about to ram his car myself, but then you showed up. Hey, weren’t you supposed to return in the afternoon?”

Ronald didn’t answer. He leaned in and kissed her.

Stella was caught off guard. There he goes again…

Up front, Idris, sensing the sudden quiet in the car, silently raised the partition.

This little troublemaker had delayed quite a bit. They had nearly reached their destination when Ronald heard Yorick was waiting at Mist Bay to block Stella and immediately turned back.

That crash earlier definitely came from Ronald’s frustration. Yorick’s car was likely totaled.

Ronald dropped Stella off where she was meeting Tegan.

As she got out, she almost stumbled, but Ronald’s quick reflexes caught her. “What happened? Can’t even walk straight?”

Stella shot him a pleading look. “It’s your fault! You kissed me until I was dizzy.”

Chapter 445

Meanwhile, the Larkin family was going through a storm.

Cloudia was beside herself with worry over the enormous medical bills for Ursula. She was making calls left and right, and right now, she was on the phone with Blaise.

“Please, Blaise,” Cloudia’s voice trembled with desperation. “I know you’ve got a new life out there, and I’m not asking for much. I’m begging you, don’t be so cruel to us. You used to care about Ursula.”

They had raised Ursula together. Cloudia refused to believe Blaise had no feelings left for her. The treatment was non-negotiable. It had to happen, no matter the cost.

No one quite understood why Cloudia was so determined to save Ursula. Even after knowing that Ursula almost caused harm to Stella, she still insisted on treating her.

But Blaise wasn’t in the mood to be sympathetic. He had learned the truth about what had been happening with the Larkin family just an hour before Cloudia’s call. So when she started begging for money to save Ursula, his patience snapped.

His voice was sharp, cutting through the phone line like a blade.

“Cloudia, are you out of your mind? She isn’t even related to us by blood, and she almost killed Stella.”

Blaise had reached his breaking point. The Larkin family had been through so much turmoil lately.

It was all due to Cloudia’s poor handling of the younger generation’s issues. Her favoritism towards Ursula had led to this mess.

“And you still want to save her? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Cloudia flinched at his anger, gripping the phone tighter. For a moment, she held back. But then she snapped too.

“What am I supposed to do? I raised her with my own hands. Am I just supposed to watch her die?”

She couldn’t bear the thought. Just the idea of Ursula dying because they couldn’t afford the medication made her heartache.

Blaise retorted, “That’s your problem, not ours. Do you think any of us can pull off that kind of money?”

A few million dollars wasn’t just pocket change. Even when their family was thriving, that sum wouldn’t have been easy to come by.

Cloudia was livid at his response. “Oh, I see. You’re spending all your money on t woman, aren’t you? You don’t give a damn about us anymore!”

She had been so consumed by Ursula’s crisis that she hadn’t even had time to deal with the fact that Blaise had built a life elsewhere. All she wanted was to bring the Larkin family back together. She didn’t want their family to fall apart. Yet Blaise’s utter indifference was infuriating.

“I’m telling you, Blaise, you’re going to give us that money, whether you like it or not. And not just that, but from now on, you’re going to give us half a million every month.”

If begging didn’t work, then she would demand.

Little did she know, Blaise had long lost his faith in her! Facing aggressive demands, Blaise simply spat, “You’re crazy,” and hung up.

When Cloudia tried to call back, she found herself blocked.

“AAAHHHHH!”

The scream tore from her throat, raw and furious.

Why had the Larkin family reached this point?

What was once a happy family had slowly begun to crumble, piece by piece.

Why had everything turned out this way?

Cloudia’s heart raced with anger, and her head throbbed with pressure.

Just then, the butler entered, “Ma’am, these documents just arrived for you.”

Cloudia pressed a trembling hand to her forehead, trying to steady her breathing. She snatched the envelope and tore it open, irritation still bubbling under her skin.

Inside were photographs.

She flipped through them impatiently, until her eyes landed on a particular image, her breath hitched.

In the photos was Ursula, and the woman sitting across from her was… that woman?

“What does this mean?” She muttered, glanced at the butler, who looked just as confused.

She flipped over the photos and found a stack of documents tucked behind them.

Attached was Ursula’s call history, with one number highlighted, it was that woman’s number!

Chapter 446

Cloudia stared at the butler in sheer terror. “This…”

Her mind was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t even hear her own voice. She glanced down again at the documents in her hands every detail about that woman’s entry into the Larkin Group and the role Ursula played in it.

So, that woman was brought into the company by Ursula?

No, this couldn’t be…

Cloudia’s mind went blank in an instant, and she felt the blood in her veins run cold and backward.

“Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin, are you alright?” the butler’s anxious voice cut through the silence, tensing the entire atmosphere of the living room.

……

Stella and Tegan had just finished their coffee on Rigou Street and were planning to grab some lunch when Tegan’s phone buzzed.

Stella assumed it might be Uriah calling. It seemed like Tegan had been through a lot with the Horner family lately. Even if she hadn’t said a word, Stella could sense Tegan’s growing aversion to them.

Tegan listened to the voice on the other end, her eyes widening in shock. “Okay, I understand.” After ending the call, she turned to Stella. “Mrs. Larkin’s been admitted to the hospital.”

Whenever anyone around Stella mentioned Cloudia, they never referred to her as “your mom”. It was always “Mrs. Larkin”. Everyone knew for someone like Cloudia, she didn’t deserve the title of “mom” – not in Stella’s eyes, at least.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”

“Not sure. A colleague from the hospital called. If her health gives out now, the Larkin family is in serious trouble.”

The Larkin family was already as good as sunk. But if Cloudia was out of commission, there’d be no one left to handle Ursula.

Then, Stella suddenly realized why Cloudia might have landed in the hospital. “I bet it’s because of Ursula.”

Tegan uttered, “Huh?”

“Susie checked out your little rumors, they’re all true,” Stella explained.

Tegan gasped, “Oh my goodness…”

When she’d first heard those rumors, Tegan thought they were terrifying. She never imagined they’d turn out to be true.

“What on earth has Mrs. Larkin been protecting all these years?”

Stella smirked. “She’s taught Ursula well, at least in terms of knowing who to favor.”

Tegan was at a loss for words. ‘Taught her well’ was a phrase that fit Cloudia perfectly. She used to say Stella didn’t know how to differentiate between family and foe. Well, now she did too well, in fact.

“She might lose her mind over this,” Tegan said.

Stella shrugged. “You never know. She might just crawl out of that hospital bed and keep scheming for Ursula.”

Tegan chuckled humorlessly. “Wow, that’s quite the image. Either way, it’s not your problem anymore.” “Exactly,” Stella agreed.

After all, she was planning to return to Ferrowland soon. The Larkin family, and even Portis City, would be behind her.

The two friends linked arms and strolled off to find a place to eat. As they settled in, Tegan’s phone rang again, the topic once more being Cloudia.

After hanging up, she turned to Stella. “Seems like she’s really having a rough time. Might not pull through this one.” Stella just nodded. The news didn’t move her. It wasn’t that she was heartless; she simply felt no connection to these people. Given how they’d treated her since she returned to Portis City, she had already been magnanimous with her not striking Cloudia as she was down.

“If Cloudia’s really gone, Ursula’s in for a tough ride,” Tegan mused.

The two were ready to order when Stella’s phone rang. It was Ronald.

“No spicy food allowed.”

Stella sighed, “Yeah, I got it.”

Her recovery wasn’t complete, and Ronald had been kind enough to let her out. If she dared to eat irresponsibly, she’d never try stepping outside.

After ending the call, Tegan gave Stella a teasing smile. “Your brother really cares about you.”

Stella chuckled. “Well, he won’t be my brother for much longer.”

Tegan looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Stella beamed. “We’re getting married.

Tegan blinked in surprise. “Wow… congratulations.” Marriage. It sounded wonderful, though a hint of bittersweet emotion flickered in Tegan’s eyes momentarily before she pushed it aside.

Stella smiled, “So, what about you and Uriah? Any plans?”

Chapter 447

Speaking of which, Tegan and Stella’s situations bore a striking resemblance to one another.

Tegan’s life took a tragic turn when she was only five years old. Her father died because of the actions of Uriah’s father, and she was taken in by the Horner family.

However, her life there was anything but kind. Uriah’s mother had never warmed up to her, and as a result, most of the Horner elders looked down on her as well. The only people who showed her any kindness were Uriah and his father, Hayden Horner.

As fate would have it, after Hayden passed away, Uriah was the only one who continued to stand by her side. Everyone around them could see the way Uriah felt about Tegan – he protected her like she was the most precious thing in his life. Stella, for one, was convinced there was more to his feelings than mere family affection.

When Stella broached the subject with Tegan, there was a fleeting moment of tension on Tegan’s face. “You mean me and him?”

Her voice tinged with something that wasn’t quite right.

Stella nodded. “Yeah.”

Tegan fell silent, her thoughts drifting back to the conversations she’d had with Forrest. It was suffocating, the pressure of it all.

“His mother is currently searching for a suitable match for him.”

Stella was taken aback. A match?

“But Uriah doesn’t need a marriage alliance to strengthen the Horner family’s hold, does he?”

Among his peers, he was already a force to be reckoned with, the Horner Group thriving under his leadership.

Tegan smiled, a smile where Stella could feel the underlying bitterness.

Then she went on, “Mrs. Horner came to see me at the hospital this morning.”

“What did she say?” Stella asked.

“What do you think? She told me to remember my place.”

It was just the kind of thing a wealthy matron might say, but coming from Mrs. Horner to Tegan, it seemed particularly ungrateful.

Stella’s indignation flared. “That’s outrageous.”

Tegan didn’t address any word.

“If Hayden had died back then, the Horner family wouldn’t have lasted until Uriah took control of the Horner Group. And now she treats you like this?”

Looked like there was not just the Larkins who were obtuse. Mrs. Horner, sure was a damned wretch.

“What’s Uriah’s stance on all this?”

Stella assumed that Uriah wouldn’t entertain the idea of marrying someone else, given his apparent feelings for Tegan. He always took her along on business trips if they lasted more than a few days.

Tegan handed Stella a menu she’d already marked up. “Forget it, let’s not talk about him anymore.”

The mere mention of the Horner family was enough to put her on edge.

Stella could sense that there was something more than just Mrs. Horner’s disapproval weighing on Tegan. Despite Mrs. Horner’s distaste for Tegan over those years, Uriah’s over-protection made those two women’s time of less connection. Just then, Stella’s phone buzzed. It was Ronald calling.

“Don’t eat too much for lunch. I’ve got something delicious planned for you.”

“What is it?” Stella asked.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Ronald replied, leaving Stella with a smile as she hung up.

Tegan sighed, “Star, I really envy you. They all love you so much.”

“They” referred to the entire Quinn family members and the Lugars.

Stella shook her head. “Don’t envy me. There are plenty of people who don’t like me, too.”

Like the Larkin family. Despite their blood ties, their relationship had been anything but smooth in recent years.

Tegan rolled her eyes. “There are always people who act like complete jerks, no matter where you go.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Stella agreed.

“Anyhow, at least you have many people who care about you, look at me…” Tegan said, her voice tinged with a sadness that was hard to miss.

Chapter 448

She had nothing.

When she was just a child, her mother ran off with someone else, leaving because her father was poor.

She was left to live with her father, and they depended on each other for everything. Eventually, the only person who ever loved her and protected her, her father, was gone too.

Stella placed her hand over Tegan’s cold one. “Don’t say that. You’ve got Uriah.”

Everyone saw how Uriah treated her. With him around, nobody dared mess with Tegan.

Tegan just nodded, not saying a word. Stella knew Mrs. Horner was always up to something, causing trouble, and that was probably why Tegan was feeling so down.

She was about to say something comforting, but Susanna’s call interrupted.

Stella answered, “Susie.”

“Star, when are you coming back? Oh my God…”

Just after saying one sentence, Susanna burst into tears on the other end of the line.

Stella’s brow twitched. “What’s wrong?”

Trying to keep her voice steady, Susanna said, “I can’t keep being around this man, it’s going to kill me. I almost died today, really.”

She was crying so hard she could barely breathe.

Stella’s lips twitched. “What did Hull do this time?”

Almost died?

In Ferrowland… well, given that they ran the underworld, run-ins with danger were almost a given. So being with Hull, Susie might frequently find herself in those situations.

Susanna continued, “He-he said he was taking me to meet someone, but instead, I almost got killed! Star, come back soon. I’m really afraid I won’t get to see you again. I’m terrified.

Susanna tried to muffle her sobs, but she couldn’t help it. She was on the verge of panic.

She never imagined she’d encounter someone like Hull, and now that she had, she was genuinely scared. She didn’t want this kind of life.

Meanwhile, Hull was lounging on the couch, a cigarette between his fingers.

Barnaby brought some documents from the study. As he handed the file to Hull, he whispered, “Boss, she’s crying pretty badly.”

He’d heard it when passing Susanna’s door.

Hearing this, Silas, sitting on a nearby armchair, raised an eyebrow.

It was just a quick file retrieval task, how did Barnaby end up hearing Susanna sob?

Hull glanced at Barnaby, his gaze deep and unreadable.

But Barnaby, oblivious to the tension, added, “She doesn’t trust you to keep her safe. Look how scared she is.”

Both Silas and Enzo were rendered speechless. They could sense the chill emanating from Hull. They hurriedly shot Barnaby warning looks, but he seemed heedless, like a stubborn mule stuck in his ways.

Hull tossed the file onto the table and strode upstairs.

Barnaby called out, “Boss…”

Before he could finish, Silas rushed over and clamped a hand over Barnaby’s mouth.

“You fool, do you have a death wish? Prying into what you shouldn’t.”

Barnaby was confused. He didn’t pry into it, he just heard.

……

Hull reached Susanna’s door upstairs. He could hear her crying inside, and her muffled accusations against him. “He’s a total psychopath. I’m afraid he’ll kill me if he gets upset!”

Her voice was filled with tears and complaints.

Hull’s face darkened. He turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Chapter 449

On the chaise lounge by the window, Susanna was in a conversation with Stella on the phone. Just as she was about to speak, the door swung open, and there stood Hull, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

His face was a storm cloud, dark and brooding, and Susanna was so startled that her phone slipped from her hand, landing with a soft thud on the carpet.

She gasped silently, her mind reeling. Hadn’t she locked the door?

Already on edge, her fear only intensified as she took in Hull’s menacing presence. Her eyes welled up with tears that she couldn’t hold back, and she hugged her knees tighter, retreating as far into herself as she could.

Hull’s gaze was a mix of frustration and something she couldn’t quite decipher. Slowly, he approached, bending down to pick up her phone and handing it back to her.

But Susanna couldn’t bring herself to reach for it. Memories of Hull’s violent past flashed in her mind, and she couldn’t help but tremble.

Hull narrowed his eyes, observing her shivering shoulders. “Really? You’re this scared?” he asked, almost incredulously. “It’s just one incident. You gonna fall apart every time something happens?”

Susanna pressed her lips together, her eyes silently pleading with him, too afraid to speak.

Hull tossed her phone onto the coffee table and then sat next to her. The sudden proximity made Susanna shrink back even more, but there was nowhere left to go.

With a swift movement, Hull pulled her closer. “What are you hiding from, huh?”

“Ah—” Susanna’s startled cry escaped before she could stop it.

Hull’s expression darkened further, and his voice was a threatening whisper. “Scream again, and I might just throw you out without a stitch on.”

Susanna froze at his words, tears welling up once more. The closeness was suffocating, his presence overwhelming. They were from two entirely different worlds, and she felt so out of place.

Hull’s eyes met hers, filled with tears, and he commanded, “Stop crying.”

She sniffled, trying to steady herself.

“Let me go,” she pleaded softly, wanting nothing more than to escape his oppressive aura and return home.

His gaze narrowed slightly.

Sensing the intense danger from the man, Susanna resigned, “Fine, I’ll stay put.”

With that, she clutched the neckline of her dress defensively, fearing he’d actually throw her clothes once he got riled up.

She was aware now that this dangerous man was a law unto himself, even away from Ronald’s watchful eye. He wasn’t bound by anyone’s rules. Even though Ronald personally warned him to take care of Susanna, Hull’s behavior was barely recognized as someone listening to the advice.

Hull chuckled at her timid demeanor. “How did Stella end up with a friend like you?”

Stella was anything but timid. Influenced by Ronald over the years, she turned bold, the kind who took no nonsense from anyone.

Susanna blinked in confusion at his remark, unsure of his meaning.

Hull released her and stood up. “Go take a shower and change into something fresh.”

The mention of that made Susanna’s nerves jangle even more. “Why do I need to change?”

Her clothes were slightly disheveled, but the idea of changing at his suggestion seemed off, especially after everything that had happened.

Hull shot her a cold glance. “We’re heading somewhere else soon. Move it.”

Chapter 450

Susanna exclaimed, “Again? Going out again?”

Hull just gave a nonchalant grunt and turned to leave.

As Susanna heard his response, her heart tightened once more.

Just as Hull reached the door, she asked, “Can I not go?”

Oh, great-grandma, she really didn’t want to go out, especially not with this man. Those situations they always ended up in, they were terrifying.

Hull turned back, gave her a sideways glance, and then walked out without a word.

Susanna screeched inwardly, “Oh gosh…save me!”

Left alone, Susanna picked up the phone with trembling hands and saw that the call had ended.

She quickly redialed Stella.

Stella picked up almost immediately. “Hey, Susie.”

“Star, if you don’t get back to Ferrowland soon, I might not live to see you again.”

The last ordeal nearly did her in. And now, there was another…

Especially after hearing Hull say, “Move it,” Susanna had a feeling that this time might be even worse.

Even if she had a heart of steel, she couldn’t handle the constant fear that came with being around Hull.

Stella paused at her words, and then chuckled, “Don’t be silly, Hull will protect you.”

Susanna was at a loss. Was this supposed to be comforting?

Stella continued, “I’ve sent someone to find your Mom and Tania.”

“When exactly are you coming back?” Susanna’s voice was tinged with urgency.

Finding her Mom and Tania was one thing. But right now, the paramount fact was her unwillingness to stay near Hull – it was too scary.

Stella replied, “If all goes well, tomorrow.”

“Could something go wrong?” Susanna asked.

Stella answered, “You never know.”

Last time, she was supposed to head straight to Ferrowland from Cyris Isle, but Ronald had some issue, and she ended up in Portis City.

“Even going home has its surprises?” Susanna uttered, despondency palpable in her voice.

She had no clue what was going on outside, only that it was dangerous. The only way to escape Hull’s proximity was to wait for Stella to return.

Stella reminded, “Look, I know you’re on edge right now, Susie, but you have to face reality.”

“What reality?”

She didn’t want to accept anything right now.

Stella responded, “Your mom might have gotten tangled up with the wrong people. The peace in your world might be shattered.”

It was harsh, and Susanna might not be ready to digest it in just a few days. But Stella had to say it, especially since her people were out there with no news yet. Having been around the Quinn family for years, she was used to life’s ups and downs. But the tranquility in Susanna’s life might be gone for good.

“Even if you’re scared of Hull and the dangers around him, you have to understand that anywhere you go now might be just as dangerous,” Stella continued.

Susanna was silent. Her heart clenched even tighter at the revelation.

Yes, everywhere was dangerous now. She had been hurriedly packed off by her mom to another country. And who would’ve thought Ferrowland wouldn’t be safe either?

From Portis City to Ferrowland, Susanna came to a stark realization – the people her mother had crossed were not to be trifled with.

Overwhelmed, she broke down, “Star, please… Please come back, soon.”

Right now, all Susanna wanted was for Stella to return as quickly as possible.

Stella consoled, I got it, please don’t cry, okay?”

Gradually, Susanna calmed down, beginning to come to terms with the changes in her world.

After hanging up, Susanna bit her lip, clutching her phone.

It was then that Barnaby came up to her. “Susanna, Boss wants you downstairs. We have to go.”

Hearing her name called out, Susanna couldn’t help but shiver.

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