Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 451 to 460)

Chapter 451

Susanna was still teary-eyed, her face stained with fresh tears.

Barnaby took one look at her and couldn’t help but warn, “Come on, quit the waterworks. Boss doesn’t like it when women cry. You might just lose him if you keep it up.”

Susanna was taken aback, her eyes widening in disbelief. And just like that, the tears flowed harder.

Barnaby, not wanting to witness the scene any longer, added, “Hurry up. His patience isn’t unlimited, and he’s not going to wait forever.”

With that, Barnaby headed downstairs.

Susanna managed to stop crying, but her resolve quickly crumbled, and tears began to fall again.

Hull had even sent another person to fetch her. It seemed like there was no avoiding it; she was going out whether she liked it or not. Oh heavens, she really didn’t want to leave the house today.

In the end, Susanna hurried to wash up and change into fresh clothes, still wearing Hull’s oversized shirt.

Before stepping out the door, she shot off a quick text to Stella Quinn.

Subject line: Last Will and Testament!

The content? Needless to say, it was one hell of an essay.

Meanwhile, over at Stella’s place, she was having a meal with Tegan.

Seeing the words “last will”, Stella uncontrollably spit out her coffee. Seriously?

Tegan looked over. “What happened?”

“Susie’s really lost it this time,” Stella sighed.

She had actually prepared a will. What did Hull do to her? Scare her half to death?

Tegan asked, “So, is Hull really trustworthy?”

Susanna’s earlier tearful phone call had left Tegan with some serious doubts.

Stella reassured her, “Hull’s reliable. Susie just isn’t used to his style.”

Tegan snorted, “Who could get used to that?”

Certainly not her. Living on the edge, worrying every moment if her life might suddenly change. Stella countered, “And yet, you stick around with Uriah, don’t you?”

Uriah was no ordinary person. Officially, he headed a healthcare monopoly, but there was more than that. She’d heard Ronald mention it once. While the details were scarce, it was clear Uriah wasn’t just the charming, upstanding man he appeared to be.

Tegan was confused. “Him? He’s nothing like Mr. Quinn.”

Hearing her reply, Stella realized Tegan probably didn’t know the half of it. Just then, Stella’s phone buzzed, interrupting their conversation.

She glanced at the number – unfamiliar, which was odd since very few people had this number.

“Hello?” she answered.

“It’s me.”

The voice on the other end was unmistakable – Xander Schultz!!!

Stella was taken aback. “Xander?!!!”

How had he managed to get her number?

Her mood soured instantly. “What do you want?”

“When are you coming back to Ferrowland?”

Stella was puzzled. What was with this sudden interest in her plans? She could understand Susanna asking out of fear, but Xander? What business did he have in Ferrowland anymore?

Xander continued, “I’ll be waiting for you in Ferrowland, darling.”

Stella shivered at the endearment. It made her skin crawl.

She snapped, “Are you crazy?”

Had he really gone back to Ferrowland? How did he manage that? The Schultz family had been dismantled by Ronald, leaving Xander on the run.

“Yeah, I’m crazy. Crazy that my fiancée is out gallivanting with other men.”

Stella scoffed, “I’m not your damn fiancée.”

The word “fiancée” was enough to set her off. She’d had two ridiculous engagements in her life.

The first was with Yorick, a deal made without her knowledge. The second was with Xander, another family arrangement she wasn’t aware of until it was too late. And now Xander refused to let it go.

Xander laughed softly. “Your sharp tongue is going to get you in trouble. Just you wait.”

Stella retorted, “I’d like to see you try.”

Xander teased, “Oh, I’ll be waiting for you to come and find me, my lovely fiancée.”

The way he said “lovely” made her blood boil. Fuming, Stella hung up.

Damn it, Xander was really back in Ferrowland. Did Ronald know? Did he allow this?

Across the table, Tegan noticed Stella’s distress.

“What happened?”

“Nothing, let’s just eat.

Xander, that bastard, kicking someone when they’re down, and now he dared to return to Ferrowland after running for his life these past two years.

He clearly hadn’t learned his lesson.

……

Just as they finished dinner, Stella’s phone rang again. This time, it was Ronald.

“The driver’s outside the restaurant, waiting for you,” he said.

Chapter 452

Stella leaned back in the plush leather seat, crossing her arms defiantly. “I can get back on my own, you know.”

Ronald chuckled softly on the other end of the line. “The driver is already there.”

“Oh, alright then,” Stella replied, her tone shifting to resignation.

After saying her goodbyes to Tegan, she climbed into the waiting car, heading back to Mist Bay. The journey was smooth, but her mind was anything but calm. She fished out her phone and furiously called Xander, unleashing a torrent of expletives that would make a sailor blush.

Xander, rubbing his temples on the other end. “Star, you’re playing favorites here, and it’s a bit much.”

He knew she always took Ronald’s side. But to hear her tearing into him like this…

There was a hint of hurt in Xander’s voice.

Stella, even more, riled up, snapped back, “Cut the act, you’re just a backstabbing jerk.”

Xander was at a loss for words. This girl and her sharp tongue.

Before he could respond, Stella had already hung up. Listening to the dial tone, Xander clicked his tongue, and then muttered to himself, “Ungrateful little thing.”

Shawn chimed in, “You’ve got her all riled up because you threw Ronald under the bus. She’s not gonna let you off easy.” “Did I really throw him under the bus?”

Shawn paused, thinking back. Well, maybe not exactly.

Thinking back, it seemed like Xander had actually, in a twist of fate, helped Ronald dodge a major bullet at that time.

“But even so, Ronald isn’t going to let you off the hook,” Shawn mused.

Xander’s sudden decision to return to Ferrowland wasn’t something Shawn entirely agreed with. They had plenty to handle back in Patrina. But after overhearing his call with Stella, Shawn could understand why Xander was so eager to get back.

Honestly, these days, Ronald has never stopped thinking about Stella, and Xander is no different.

Imagining the scene that would unfold in Ferrowland made Shawn’s head throb. “Is the princess coming back too?”

Xander nodded. “Ronald’s just about wrapped things up in Portis City.”

Shawn remained silent. That explained his rush to return to Ferrowland. He could only hope that when Ronald decided to deal with Xander, he’d go easy on him.

……

Meanwhile, on Stella’s end.

She was in the car Ronald had sent for her. As they approached the gates of Mist Bay, they found Blaise standing right in the middle of the road. The security tried to move him out of the way, but he wouldn’t budge, his eyes fixed on Stella’s car.

Seeing Stella’s return, the security had no choice but to get a little more forceful with Blaise.

Stella’s car came to a halt, the window rolling halfway down as she cast an icy look at Blaise. “Mr. Larkin, what are you doing here?”

Blaise, seeing Stella’s car stop, summoned all his strength to break free from security and step forward.

“Star.” His voice was raspy and worn.

Stella immediately noticed how much weight he’d lost, the stubble on his chin making him look even more haggard. She gazed at him silently, her eyes showing clear displeasure.

Blaise took a deep breath, almost choking on it. “Could you speak to Mr. Quinn? Ask him to let us go?”

He realized now how wrong he’d been. Who would have thought his daughter would be so remarkable, someone who could hold her own even before the illustrious Mr. Quinn of Ferrowland, who had practically raised her.

Blaise was filled with regret now. He’d been musing on it these days; if only he’d treated Stella better back then, the Larkin family wouldn’t have ended up in such a mess. This was his own flesh and blood. Why had he sided with Ursula, scolding Stella for their arguments? Just because their argument irked him? But even if he needed to berate, Ursula should be the one who took the blame.

Seeing Stella’s silence, Blaise grew more desperate. “The price we’ve paid is already too steep.”

The Larkin family was on the brink of collapse, crushed under the weight of Mr. Quinn’s vendetta. Even the once-mighty Quarry family had been brought to their knees.

Stella arched an eyebrow. “I thought he wasn’t doing much anymore?”

Blaise’s voice was thick with despair. He’s not just blocking the company. He’s blocking our lives. It’s like he wants us to end up begging on the streets.

“The Larkin Group’s doors are shut,” Blaise admitted. I’ve tried starting other ventures, but I can’t secure any partnerships. It’s definitely because…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear. Ronald was determined to push them to the brink of destitution!

Chapter 453

Back then, when Blaise noticed the moves Ronald made against the Larkin Group, he thought he could pull out in time. He believed that by withdrawing all his money and starting afresh, severing ties with the Larkin Group, he could avoid any fallout.

Little did he know, every road was blocked. If the issues with his new company weren’t resolved soon, everything would go down the drain, leaving him with nothing.

Stella, catching wind of this, turned to Blaise. “So?”

Her voice was as cold as ice, devoid of any warmth.

Blaise replied, “Get Mr. Quinn to stop, it’s enough.”

With everything that had happened, the whole Larkin family was in shambles. The cost, he figured, was high enough. Hearing Blaise say “it’s enough,” Stella shot him a glance, her face unmoved. “If you put it that way, yes, it is enough.” Blaise’s face lit up at her words. “Really? Star, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything that happened. Your mom wasn’t really at fault. Ursula was always by her side. You don’t know, Ursula was such a good kid.”

Stella still remained silent.

“From a young age, she was sensible, polite, and always cared for the family. That’s why your mom couldn’t help but favor her when things went down. She really…”

“But what can be done?” Stella, lacking patience for this conversation, cut Blaise off mid-sentence.

Blaise was left puzzled. What did that mean?

Stella continued, “I can’t make decisions for my brother.”

Blaise’s eyelids twitched fiercely at her response. What did she mean she couldn’t make decisions?

“I can’t help with your new company,” Stella stated.

Blaise’s hope was shattered ruthlessly by Stella’s harsh words.

With a cold smile, Stella instructed the driver, “Let’s go.”

“Star, you can’t just… I’m still your…”

But before Blaise could finish, Stella rolled up the window. The tinted glass concealed her from view.

Standing there, Blaise felt a chill run through his body.

What was he supposed to do now?

Thinking back to Stella’s icy demeanor, he realized how far from grace he’d fallen.

It was all Cloudia’s fault. Everything was because Cloudia couldn’t handle the conflicts between the younger generation, leading to this mess.

The phone buzzed in his pocket, and Blaise absentmindedly pulled it out. Seeing Cloudia’s name on the screen only fueled his anger further.

He answered, but before he could speak, Cloudia’s voice came through, surprisingly calm. “I need to see you.”

Over the past months, whether it was about his new life or Ursula, their conversations were always on edge. This sudden calmness was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

Blaise held his temper in check, responding in a low voice, “What is it?”

“It’s Everglen Isle, isn’t it?”

Blaise uttered, “What?”

Cloudia continued, “You’ve got that woman stashed away at the villa on Everglen Isle, haven’t you?”

As she spoke, the calmness in her voice disappeared, replaced by a furious roar. All her pent-up emotion exploded in that moment.

Even through the phone, Blaise could sense Cloudia’s seething rage. Already frustrated from his encounter with Stella, Blaise snapped back, “Cloudia, we’re done.”

She dared to seek out at Everglen Isle – what new chaos was she planning? There was nothing left to discuss between them.

Cloudia questioned, “What did you just say?

Blaise retorted, “If you dare go after her, there’ll be hell to pay.”

With that, he hung up. In Blaise’s mind, Stella’s change in attitude was a direct result of Cloudia’s past inability to manage the issues between her and Ursula.

And now Cloudia dared to create more problems for him? He was still looking for an outlet for his anger.

Chapter 454

The twins had just been born. If Ronald’s schemes really left him with nothing, then they’d be in deep trouble!

……

On the other end of the line, Cloudia was still at the hospital.

Moments earlier, if it hadn’t been for the timely intervention, she might have not made it through.

Who could have guessed? The person she trusted most ended up betraying her.

She had cherished Ursula like a precious gem…

After calling Blaise, she let out a scream of pure frustration, “Ahhh!”

Her cries were filled with rage and sorrow.

Why? How did things end up like this? Why Ursula? She was the one who brought that woman into the company. And yet, it was her…

“Why? Why did she do this to me?” Cloudia kept pounding her chest.

The pain shook her to her core. She bolted out of the hospital, racing back to the Larkin estate as fast as she could, the fury in her heart had nowhere to go.

But once she arrived at the doorstep, she suddenly fell silent. She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. The wind brushed by, tousling her messy hair and chilling her heart.

……

Inside the mansion, the butler handed over the photographs to Jaxon, who looked at them with a calm demeanor. He instructed the butler to give the photos to Ursula.

After seeing the photos, Ursula was consumed by anxiety, waiting for Cloudia to return. Her inner fear had reached its peak.

Cloudia stood at the door, silently staring at her, her eyes void of any emotion.

Ursula was in a deep panic. “Mom…”

She tried to form words with her shivering lips. However, three hours had passed since she’d seen the photos, and she hadn’t found any excuse to cover her tracks.

Cloudia said, “You knew all along, you knew everything. Everything. You knew. And it was you who brought her to our company. Tell me why? Why did you betray me?”

The suppressed fury finally erupted. Cloudia’s shouts echoed through the mansion.

Ursula flinched, “Mom, I…”

Hearing her tone, Ursula was thoroughly shaken.

Cloudia continued, “That woman was with your Dad, got pregnant, had twins, and you knew. You knew everything, you even facilitated it.”

The hysterical shouting settled into a chilling calm. At this moment, Cloudia, who had been so hysterical on the way here, had become eerily composed.

Ursula’s tears flowed freely as she instinctively shook her head.

“Why you? Why you? For you, I even…”

She trailed off, memories of what she did to Stella and that car accident flashing through her mind.

“Even with all the evidence in front of me, I chose to protect you, and now you tell me why the downfall of our family rests on your shoulders?”

Ursula found it difficult to answer.

Claudia pleaded, “Why you? Tell me why it had to be you?”

Now Cloudia completely lost it. With each anguished “Why you”, her emotions crumbled once more.

Anyone in the Larkin family could betray her, except Ursula. She had truly cherished Ursula as if she were her own daughter, but why did it have to end like this?

Ursula’s tears continued to fall. She faced with Cloudia’s relentless questioning, her mind a blank slate.

Seeing her cry without speaking, Cloudia was even more devastated. “Tell me, why? Haven’t I been good to you?”

“I’m sorry, Mom, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry…”

Her repeated apologies, mixed with her flood of tears, now seemed painfully ironic. Such an apology, it was absurdly laughable, yet deeply cutting.

Cloudia closed her eyes, her body trembling.

“I hate you, Ursula, I hate you, I hate you…”

Hearing those words of hatred again and again, Ursula felt like she could barely breathe.

Chapter 455

The Larkin family was in complete disarray.

After Cloudia confronted Ursula, she dashed out of the house like a whirlwind, leaving Ursula and Jaxon behind.

Ursula, her eyes brimming with tears, looked at Jaxon. But Jaxon’s once gentle eyes that used to regard her with warmth were now filled with icy indifference.

“Jaxon,” Ursula called out, her voice choked with emotion.

Jaxon didn’t respond. Instead, he turned his back on her and walked to his room, leaving Ursula feeling even more suffocated and hurt as tears streamed down her face.

……

That evening, Stella was lounging in the living room, watching TV. She never was much for fiddling with her phone. Suddenly, a breaking news story flashed across the screen.

“Breaking News: A high-profile murder occurred in the city today. Stay tuned for further details.”

The anchor delivered the news in a robotic tone, but Stella’s attention was immediately caught by the background footage. She squinted at the screen-was that Cloudia?

Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. It was Susanna calling.

“Susie,” Stella answered.

“Star, it’s said that Cloudia murdered someone! She killed someone!”

Stella’s eyes widened. Upon hearing this, she glanced back at the scene on TV, where it showed Cloudia in handcuffs.

“It isn’t just a rumor – it’s real.”

The city news broadcast proved its authenticity.

“Holy Smokes! Is she out of her mind?” Susanna exclaimed.

“Hang on, let me see who she murdered.”

Stella leaned in closer to the TV.

“Are you watching the news?” Susanna asked. “Yeah.

Susanna said, “Don’t bother, it must be the homewrecker.”

There was not much else that could drive a woman to such madness, other than dealing with her husband’s mistress who had snatched away her benefit.

Stella gasped. She was right.

As Stella observed closer, it showed Cloudia had attacked Blaise’s mistress in a fit of rage.

Susanna sighed, “I mean if she was that furious, why didn’t she go after Ursula too?”

Cloudia had gone ballistic on the mistress, yet Ursula was untouched. Ursula must mean a lot to Cloudia to spare her from her wrath.

“Well,” Stella mused, “Ursula is like her cherished little treasure.”

“After all the havoc she’s wreaked on the Larkin family, she’s still a treasure?” Susanna sneered. Unbelievable! For a moment, they were both at a loss for words.

“If Cloudia is still protecting Ursula after all this, I’d find it hard to believe Ursula is just an adopted daughter,” Susanna speculated.

Stella asked, “What else could she be then? She can’t be her biological one, can she?”

For such an important matter as delivering a baby, Blaise wouldn’t have been oblivious. If Ursula were Cloudia’s biological child, it would likely mean she’s Blaise’s too, and there’d be no reason to hide it.

Susanna uttered, “From the way she dotes on Ursula, I actually would buy it if Ursula is her blood.”

Stella was silent for a moment. “Blaise isn’t a fool. He would definitely know if she had a child.”

Pregnancy wasn’t exactly something one could keep under wraps.

“True!” Susanna agreed. “It’s just… strange how protective she is.”

“Anyway, let’s not dwell on it,” Stella addressed. “Are you calm now?”

Earlier, Susanna had been in tears over the phone. Now she was like nothing had happened. Stella figured if Susanna was reaching out to Dish, she must be okay.

“I can’t be calm,” Susanna admitted.

Stella was baffled, unable to fathom why she was still in the mood to gossip about her state.

Susanna explained, “But you don’t understand, I was scared out of my mind earlier. I’m just relieved nothing happened afterward.

Hull had taken her out that afternoon, and thankfully, nothing went wrong. If every outing turned into a disaster, she’d lose her mind.

“Not every outing is dangerous,” Stellà reassured her. “It only happens when there’s something going on.”

“But still, it’s hard to stay calm,” Susanna replied.

Chapter 456

Stella looked at her phone, a little bewildered. Susanna’s voice Coming through the speaker was calm, almost too calm. “So, where’s Hull?” Stella asked.

“He went out,” Susanna replied, her tone noticeably lighter. She clearly prefers not to share a roof with Hull at the moment.

Just then, Ronald walked in. Stella quickly ended the call with Susanna, saying, “I gotta go.”

Ronald seemed to have had a few drinks.

Stella stepped forward, while Idris, who was supporting him, nodded respectfully at Stella and said, “Miss, he had a bit to drink.”

“Got it,” Stella acknowledged, taking Ronald from Idris’s hands.

A faint yet pleasant scent of whiskey lingered on Ronald, and Stella found herself understanding the notion that distasteful smells only apply when they’re not associated with someone you care about. Once the scent lingered on the beloved one, things would alter.

Idris placed a paper bag on the coffee table. “This is for you, Miss. He brought it along.”

Stella raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

He’d specially made the call, telling her he’d bring snacks to her. Stella was intrigued by the food inside.

Idris answered, “It’s some apple pie. He had a piece and thought you’d love it. So he took it with him.”

Apple pie, huh? She used to enjoy it back in Ferrowland, but the pies in Portis City were often too sweet for her liking. Still, if Ronald thought she’d enjoy it, the taste must be something different.

As Idris left, Stella guided Ronald to the couch. Just as she was about to rise, her waist was clasped by his broad hands. Before Stella made any reaction, he pulled her down onto his lap. Startled, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you doing?”

His breath, infused with the warmth of the whiskey, mingled with hers as he pressed his forehead to hers.

“Let me make you some hangover soup,” she offered, thinking a hot hand towel might help, too, or he’d suffer tomorrow morning.

Ronald cupped her face with his warm hand. “Star.”

“Yes?” she replied softly.

“You’re wonderful,” he said, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a childlike contentment.

Stella wondered, “Why’s that?”

“Because you’re mine.”

Stella was silent.

This guy… All right, she was his, and he was hers as well.

……

Meanwhile, Susanna’s stomach growled as she hung up with Stella. With Hull out of the house, she decided to raid the kitchen for some food.

Finishing dinner before that horrible man returned would save her from the confrontation. But as she stepped out of her room, the housekeeper hurried over. “Miss, you need to come quickly. Sir is hurt.”

Susanna’s eyelids twitched violently at her words. “What? Wh-Where is he?”

“Downstairs.”

Susanna hesitated. She barely knew Hull, so why was she the one being called? Then she remembered how he’d helped her at the Portis City airport, despite his gruff demeanor. Maybe she should check on him.

“Shouldn’t he be at a hospital since he’s injured?” she asked as she headed down.

“I don’t know,” the housekeeper said, being a mere staff who worked here temporarily. She got frightened as she spotted the blood.

When Susanna reached the ground floor, she found a doctor working on Hull.

“We need to get you to the surgery room. The bullet’s still in there.”

Bullet?

Susanna’s mind reeled. What had Hull gotten himself into? It seemed like going out with him was as risky as buying a lottery ticket, only with worse odds.

Fear imbued Susanna. No way was she going anywhere with him again. It was way too dangerous. How could she handle it once something happened?

Noticing Susanna’s approach, Hull slightly narrowed his eyes. “Come here.”

She was like, “!!!”

“You should go to the surgery room.”

Despite the compact villa, surprisingly, a surgery room was equipped.

She felt faint at the sight of Hull’s blood-soaked shoulder. The ominous aura around Hull made her knees weak, and she hesitated to get any closer.

Chapter 457

An hour later, Hull strolled out of the operating room, his face composed as usual.

Susanna had been waiting nervously by the door the entire time.

When Hull emerged and saw her, his eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. “You’ve been here the whole time?”

His voice was calm, revealing nothing.

Susanna nodded nervously, glancing at his shoulder, which was wrapped tightly to stop the bleeding.

“Did they get the bullet out? Does it hurt?”

A bullet wound they were talking about! In her previous life, Susanna never imagined she’d encounter something like this. Yet here she was, living through it.

In Susanna’s mind, an injury like that should have had someone knocked out for at least three days, followed by a month of bed rest.

But Hull was up and about, looking as energetic as ever. A bandit, indeed, even the injury wouldn’t trouble him.

Hull raised an eyebrow, gazing at her delicate face. “Hurt? Are you worried about me?”

Susanna was taken aback. Worry about him? Her?

She shook her head firmly. “No, I’m not.”

Just making small talk.

Hull, however, grabbed her chin. “If you weren’t worried, why wait here all the time?”

Susanna was at a loss for words. This guy…

Just then, Silas and Barnaby followed Hull out, both dressed in sterile surgical scrubs.

Seeing Hull holding Susanna’s chin, Barnaby commented instinctively, “Boss, girls usually like it when you’re gentle, like Mr. Quinn. Even if you’re tough, you gotta be gentle with the ladies.”

Barnaby had seen how tender Ronald was with Stella and used him as an example without thinking.

Hull didn’t utter a word. Silence descended on the room.

Silas, equally speechless, practically frozen in place. He turned mechanically to Barnaby, his mind echoing with two words: Absolutely nuts.

Barnaby was really pushing his luck, daring to talk about the boss like that and even dragging Ronald into it. He truly thought little about cherishing his own life.

Barnaby, oblivious to the tension, added, “You keep up like this, boss, and you’ll scare her off. Then you’ll end up without a wife.”

Upon hearing this, Silas decided it was time to make an exit.

“Boss, I just remembered I have something to take care of. Gotta run.”

Normally, Silas would have tried to drag Barnaby out with him, but not today. Not with the atmosphere so tense. Staying even a second longer felt dangerous. Better to save himself and let Barnaby fend for himself. Without waiting for Hull’s response, Silas hurried off.

Hull glared icily at Barnaby. “Go on.”

His voice was like a low growl, each word ground out from the back of his throat.

Barnaby finally noticed his tone and his shifted expression, shivering uncontrollably. “B-boss…”

Did he just mess up again? Why did Silas leave in such a hurry? They hadn’t even gone over the post-op instructions!

“Uh, yeah, I just remembered I’ve got some things to do too. I’ll send the instructions to your phone.”

Realizing the danger he was in, Barnaby made his escape before making a short remark, cursing Silas for abandoning him. What a close call…

Barnaby was gone, leaving Susanna and Hull alone. Susanna tried to turn her face away, hoping to free herself from Hull’s grip.

But his grip tightened slightly. “Still trying to escape?”

Susanna protested, “Let me go.

Why didn’t he deny what Barnaby said?

Feeling uncomfortable, Susanna squirmed a little, “It hurts…”

What was this guy made of? His grip was so strong, that she could almost hear her bones protesting.

Chapter 458

Hull heard her say she was in pain and paused momentarily before letting her go. “Go make me some oatmeal.”

Susanna blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

Oatmeal? Really?

Hull added, “Apple oatmeal.”

Susanna’s eyes widened. “Apple oatmeal?”

Apple oatmeal was one of the few things she could actually make. She’d prepared it once for Stella when she had a fever.

“But wait a minute. Isn’t there a cook?”

Hull replied, “I fired her.”

Susanna stood there, speechless.

Fired her? Why? When she first arrived here, there was no cook. And after just one day of cooking? Being someone close to Ronald, this guy surely isn’t short on the funds to hire some help, right?’

“Why?” she asked, bewildered.

Hull simply replied, “Her cooking wasn’t good.”

“I thought it was fine,” Susanna said instinctively.

She wasn’t picky about food, finding almost anything palatable. But Hull was clearly not like her.

Without another word, Hull headed back to his room.

Not getting any response, Susanna shrugged and went downstairs.

The kitchen layout was familiar, but Hull’s villa had an open-plan kitchen. Susanna rummaged around and found the oats and the apples left.

While cooking, she called Stella.

Soon enough, Stella picked up, sounding a bit out of breath. “Susie?”

“What are you up to?” Susanna asked.

“Ronald had too much to drink, so I was just giving him some hangover soup,” Stella replied. Susanna chuckled. “Gotcha.”

Stella continued, “And you? Calling at this hour?”

“I’m making oatmeal for Hull.”

“You can cook?” Stella asked, genuinely surprised.

Susanna scoffed. “What, you think I’m incompetent? You’ve eaten my cooking before.”

Stella gasped, remembering. “Oh, that oatmeal!”

Susanna had made her a bowl once. It was a memorable experience, to say the least.

Without thinking, Stella said, “Are you sure that was oatmeal?”

Susanna asked, “What else would it be?”

“Who turns oatmeal into a cake?” Stella laughed, remembering the oatmeal cake Susanna had made by accident, with apples mixed in. The taste was unforgettable, especially since she’d been expecting a soothing bowl of oatmeal when she was feverish.

Susanna had presented her with a dry lump instead!

It was that culinary mishap that made Stella give up any dreams of cooking herself. She realized it wasn’t just about trying; cooking required a certain talent.

Susanna was speechless. “That was my first time, okay? Be grateful I even tried. Not everyone hits a home run on their first try, right? Don’t underestimate me. I’ve gotten a lot better since then.”

“Really?” Stella sounded skeptical.

“Of course,” Susanna replied, her pride evident. After failing with Stella’s oatmeal, Susanna had decided that if anyone close to her needed something simple like oatmeal, she should at least be able to make it. So she practiced, a lot!

Stella asked again, “Wait a minute. Why are you making oatmeal for Hull? Aren’t you terrified of him?”

Susanna hesitated. “Well, yeah, he is pretty terrifying.”

Hull was intimidating, and there was no doubt about it. But he had also saved her. Even if his way of helping was a bit rough, she couldn’t overlook what he had done for her.

Thinking about the mix of gratitude and fear she felt, Susanna mumbled, “He’s hurt.”

Chapter 459

Stella had heard about Hull’s injury and asked a few concerned questions before Susanna switched topics. “Well, Cloudia will probably be locked up now. I just saw the news. She’s being charged with murder.”

Stella raised her eyebrows. “Someone died?”

She hadn’t followed the news because Ronald had returned, so she hadn’t seen the end. But Cloudia taken away in handcuffs suggested this was serious.

Susanna nodded. “Yeah, they were rushed to the hospital. One of the kids got hurt, too, but there’s no update yet.”

Stella gasped. She used to think she was a saint when she first joined the Larkin family, but now she realized the woman had no qualms about harming even children.

Susanna gave her a warning look, “You better watch out. The Larkin family will be looking for you.”

“Looking for me?” Stella was puzzled.

“Because Ronald is backing you, they might want you to pull some strings to get Cloudia out of trouble.” Susanna pointed out. “You’re the only outsider in that family. The rest stick together like glue.”

It was a harsh truth, but Stella knew it was reality. Among the Larkin family, she was the lone outsider.

“Just wait. Jaxon’s going to contact you,” Susanna continued.

With the family in disarray, Jaxon was bound to turn to Stella for help.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Stella assured her.

“Really?” Susanna asked skeptically.

“Unless something unexpected happens,” Stella replied.

Susanna sighed. She had learned over the past few days when she stayed with Hull that bad things happened a lot around Stella, just like Hull getting injured today.

After chatting for a bit longer, Susanna hung up and finished making the apple oatmeal. This batch turned out quite well -not too thick nor too thin.

She brought the oatmeal into Hull’s room, where he was on the phone. His loose robe concealed the bandages on his shoulder, but his muscular chest was on display.

For the first time, Susanna noticed the tattoos on his neck extending down to his chest. They looked intimidating, yet somehow comforting.

As she set the oatmeal on a small table, Hull glanced at her.

“No need,” he said into the phone, his tone carrying an edge. “Spare all later trouble.”

Susanna felt a shiver run through her, thinking this man was dangerous.

“The oatmeal’s ready,” she said, trying to steady her voice. “It’s still a bit hot, so let it cool.”

Hull stared at the steaming bowl, dazed. It was probably the first time he was having a meal in his room. Normally, he wouldn’t eat in his room, no matter where he was or how injured he was.

Susanna turned to leave. “I’ll get out of your way.”

Hull frowned. “Is this it?”

“Uh?” Susanna was confused.

“No other food?” he asked.

Susanna blinked. “You didn’t ask for any.”

She didn’t know how to cook anything beyond oatmeal and similar dishes. Cooking was an entirely different ballgame. “Do I have to ask?” Hull questioned.

Susanna was stunned. “Well, yeah, how else would I know?”

Even if he asked, it wouldn’t make a difference because she genuinely couldn’t cook.

“I can’t cook,” she confessed, shaking her head.

“You can’t cook?” Hull echoed, his gaze intense.

Susanna nodded. No, I can’t cook.”

Hull studied her for a moment, then fell silent. The quiet in the room was almost unsettling.

Susanna swallowed. “Maybe you should hire a better cook?”

What she made was a fine meal for herself, but with Hull’s refined taste, even the previous cook hadn’t satisfied him.

Chapter 460

Susanna couldn’t help but sigh as she thought about how her own cooking was definitely not going to please Hull.

She heard him say from behind, “You can leave now.”

“Okay,” Susanna replied, trying to mask her relief as she turned to exit the room.

But Hull’s voice stopped her again as she was reaching the door. “Tomorrow morning, make some chicken mushroom soup and maybe a few pancakes.”

“But I can’t cook. I mean it,” Susanna confessed, turning back with a pleading look.

Hull raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have a cooking app on your phone?”

Susanna was shocked. How did he know that? Given his wealth, hiring a cook wouldn’t even put a dent in his fortune, so why was he putting her through this culinary trial?

She sniffed, feeling defeated but unable to argue. “Fine, I guess.”

“But… There’s nothing in the fridge,” she muttered.

“Silas will bring the groceries,” Hull replied, effectively ending the discussion.

Resigned to her fate, Susanna left Hull’s room feeling like a poor soul caught in the whims of destiny. She hoped Stella would soon help her find her mother and resolve everything so she could have her peace back.

Hull watched her leave, her reluctance almost palpable even from behind. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

……

Susanna headed downstairs to tidy up the kitchen, preparing herself for the following day’s cooking challenge. Just as she was about to head back upstairs, Silas arrived with a large grocery bag.

“Evening, Susanna,” he greeted her politely.

“Whoa, hold on!” Susanna exclaimed, flustered. “What are you bringing?”

Silas just gave her a knowing smile and handed her the groceries. “Hull asked me to bring these for tomorrow morning. Thanks in advance for your help.

Unlike Barnaby, Silas had the sense to stay diplomatic, neither confirming nor denying anything.

Susanna glanced at the assortment of ingredients, some of which she couldn’t even identify. “What are these?” she asked, pointing to the unfamiliar items.

Silas chuckled, “Do you think you can handle it?”

“Yeah, it should be fine,” Susanna replied, albeit with a hint of uncertainty. She figured she’d just follow the online recipe to the letter. Cooking it might be a hit or miss, but it would definitely be edible.

Silas nodded. “Alright then.”

“By the way,” he added, “Hull might come down with a fever tonight. Could you keep an eye on him? Ensure he doesn’t take a bath.”

Susanna blinked in surprise. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Just keep an eye on him,” Silas replied.

“Me? I’m not his girlfriend or anything,” Susanna protested.

“But you’re the only one staying with him under the same roof right now,” Silas reminded her. “So, that’d be great if you could help out.”

Susanna sighed, feeling backed into a corner. “If he gets a fever, please give him some Tylenol. And if it doesn’t help, you might need to try some physical methods.”

“Physical methods?” Susanna echoed, not quite following.

“Just wipe his whole body with warm water,” Silas explained.

“What? His whole body?”

“Yeah, like he did for you the other night,” Silas said, alluding to an incident that made Susanna’s face turn beet red.

The room fell into an awkward silence as Susanna stared at Silas, completely dumbfounded.

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