Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 471 to 480) – Daisy Novels

Chapter 471

The classic saying says, “He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind.”

So, he meant no matter what happened to the Larkin family, he wouldn’t lift a finger to help them, huh?

Talk about cold-blooded! It’s not only ruthless toward herself but also towards the entire Larkin family.

Sure, Ursula might have messed up, but what about the long-standing friendship between the Quarry and Larkin families? Didn’t that count for even a little bit of consideration?

Ursula was in agony, and the resentment inside her just grew stronger!

Meanwhile, Yorick stepped inside the room.

Imogen was still awake, looking rather pale. The Quarry family had been through too much lately. Her heart was heavy with worry.

Seeing Yorick return, Imogen’s eyes filled with sadness. “Rick, if you keep getting tangled up with Ursula, I don’t think I can take it anymore.”

So much had happened. Even Thane had stirred up trouble. After all these years of marriage, he turned out to have a son before they tied the knot. Thinking about Thane’s attitude toward that child stung Imogen’s heart.

Yorick moved closer, sat beside her, and said softly, “If she shows up, send her away.”

Upon hearing that, Imogen’s eyes lit up immediately. “Really?”

Imogen could hardly believe it. He used to treasure Ursula the most. Even though he said they split, Imogen never bought it.

Ursula was a master manipulator. Who knew what tricks she might pull next to win Yorick back? It was terrifying. Marrying someone as fragile as Ursula, what good would that do?

Yorick nodded. “Yeah.”

With those words, Imogen finally felt at ease. If Yorick said it, he must have truly given up on Ursula.

After some thought, she tried to probe further, “She probably came to you about Cloudia.”

“I know.”

“And you…”

“I won’t get involved,” Yorick stated firmly.

Those four words were like a balm to Imogen’s worries, and she nodded. “Yeah, it’s best not to. Rumor had it that she got involved in something bad.”

Getting mixed up in that mess could drag the Quarry family through the mud. As long as Yorick said he wouldn’t get involved, Imogen could finally relax.

Yorick was over Ursula. Since he learned the truth about that car accident, hearing Ursula’s name filled him with revulsion.

……

Ursula wasn’t sure how she made it back to the Larkin family. She was utterly exhausted, sitting in her wheelchair. When she got back, it was already 3:30 in the morning.

Jaxon was still awake. As she passed his room, she heard him on the phone.

The door was open. When Jaxon saw Ursula return, he hung up the phone. His gaze toward her lacked the warmth it once held.

“Hey, Jaxon,” Ursula called out.

Her voice carried the weight of her current pain. The Larkin family was in shambles, and everyone was overshadowed by a cloud of anxiety, especially Ursula.

When the Larkin family was doing well, everyone treated her like a precious gem. But now that the family was falling apart and she had no blood ties to them, she felt lost without Cloudia’s protection-just her and Jaxon left, and Ursula feared she had no one to rely on.

Jaxon’s face was stern. “Where have you been?”

“I went to see Rick,” Ursula replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Jaxon asked, “And what did he say?”

“He… didn’t say much.”

Those words were suffocating and she couldn’t bring herself to repeat them.

Upon hearing Ursula’s response, Jaxon could guess Yorick’s stance toward the Larkin family. The one person who should have extended a helping hand was now indifferent. It was clear that Ursula’s involvement in Stella’s accident was serious.

Jaxon closed his eyes and said, “Just go back to your room.”

Chapter 472

“Get lost,” Jaxon barked, his voice dripping with venom. It was clear he didn’t want to see Ursula anymore.

Ursula’s heart clenched. “Jaxon…”

“I said, get lost.”

His words, spat with such intensity, left Ursula feeling suffocated. She knew she was in deep trouble. Without Cloudia, she had no one to lean on in this family.

Facing Jaxon’s seething anger, Ursula didn’t dare say anything more. She retreated to her room, feeling utterly defeated. Left alone, Jaxon gripped his phone, his hands trembling slightly.

The car accident, orchestrated by Ursula, had nearly cost Stella her life. He remembered those days when Stella lay in the hospital. He had cared for her, visiting her every day.

So, when did everything change? When did he start disliking Stella? Was it because she made life difficult for Ursula, constantly bringing up the accident? In their ongoing disputes, he had sided with Ursula, the one he’d grown up with.

……

Meanwhile, far away in Ferrowland, Susanna hung up the call with Stella and went downstairs to dial Silas’s number on the landline.

Predictably, Stella was unreachable, and Silas was also unavailable in the dead of night. Hull’s fever was soaring past 103 degrees Fahrenheit, and if it continued like this, it would spell trouble.

Susanna was on the verge of panic. She returned to her room, shaking Hull awake. “Hey, wake up!”

Hull opened his eyes groggily, giving her a fleeting glance before drifting back to sleep. Susanna knew if the fever didn’t break soon, it could be dangerous.

“Ugh— I’m going to lose my mind!” she muttered. In hindsight, she should have accepted Star’s offer to stay with the Quinn family. Surely, the family that raised Star couldn’t be that intimidating, right? And with a house that big, she’d hardly ever run into Mrs. Lugar.

Desperate, Susanna tried to call an ambulance, but her grasp of the local language failed her. She had studied it, but now, when she needed it most, she was at a loss.

Frustrated, Susanna had no choice but to try and bring Hull’s fever down with cold water. She started with his face, then moved to his neck. But the small area she was covering wasn’t enough, and the fever soon spiked again.

Left with no choice, Susanna decided to expand her efforts. She pulled back the covers and loosened Hull’s robe, turning her face away to avoid looking at his body. With a damp cloth, she wiped him down clumsily.

A low groan escaped Hull.

Startled, Susanna glanced back, realizing she’d brushed against one of his injuries. She quickly averted her eyes and continued, moving from his upper body to his lower.

As she focused on his lower half, she turned her face even further away, barely able to see. Suddenly, Hull’s hand clamped around her wrist.

“What are you doing?” Hull’s voice, though rough with fever, cut through the silence.

Susanna instinctively met his gaze, noticing the red veins in his eyes. Despite his condition, his gaze was intense.

“I-I’m trying to cool you down,” she stammered. Her eyes slowly drifted to the cloth in her hand, realizing where she had been placing it.

Her face turned beet red, and she was momentarily stunned.

Chapter 473

Although she wasn’t as thorough as Hull in undressing her, she hadn’t stripped him entirely. At least she left his boxers on.

Anyway, it was as good as nothing.

Susanna awkwardly glanced at him and said, “The fever wouldn’t come down, so I had to…”

Hull tightened his grip on her wrist. His eyes, bloodshot from the fever, stared at her with a wild, almost primal intensity. Susanna swallowed hard. She looked down and murmured, “I tried calling your people but couldn’t reach anyone.”

If she had managed to get through, things wouldn’t have come to this.

“Please, let go of me,” Susanna said, flustered.

He wouldn’t think she was trying to take advantage of him, would he? She wasn’t that sort of person.

Hull slowly released her. Probably overwhelmed by his fever, he soon fell back asleep on the bed.

Worried the fever might cause complications, Susanna wiped him down three times before his temperature finally stabilized.

Exhausted, Susanna fell asleep right there by his bedside.

……

Hull slept in until after nine the following morning, waking only when there was a knock at the door.

“Hey, it’s me,” Barnaby’s voice came from outside.

Hull sat up in bed and noticed Susanna asleep by his side. She must have tossed and turned a lot in her sleep because her hair was a total mess.

“Hey, hey? I’m coming in…

Hearing no response from inside, Barnaby pushed the door open and walked in.

As soon as he entered, he met Hull’s displeased gaze.

When he saw Hull pull the blanket over the woman beside him, Barnaby’s eyes widened in shock.

“What happened the night before?” Barnaby’s brain froze. “Oh boy! It’s clear now. The boss has a woman. His room isn’t somewhere we can waltz into anymore. Why didn’t he say anything when I knocked? Now, he’s giving me that look like he wants to eat me alive.”

Barnaby gulped and stammered, “I knocked. I knocked hard.”

“Get out.” Hull’s lips barely moved, but the single word he uttered was ice-cold.

Barnaby flinched, nodding rapidly. “Right, I’m out. I’m leaving. I’ll stay far, far away.”

With that, Barnaby hurried out of the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

Inside the room.

Only Hull and Susanna remained. Exhausted from caring for him, she hadn’t even noticed the water still by the bed. When Hull gently lifted her onto the bed, she didn’t stir.

Watching her small, delicate face, Hull instinctively reached out and tugged the blanket up snugly over her.

……

Downstairs, Barnaby saw Silas come in and quickly approached him, whispering, “I’m telling you, that’s definitely the boss’s woman.”

Silas gave Barnaby a long, silent look, his expression suggesting Barnaby figure things out for himself.

Barnaby insisted, “I’m serious.”

Silas remained expressionless. “I have some news for you.”

“What news?”

“Finley is likely heading to the Muliba Desert this time.”

Barnaby’s mouth fell open in shock. “Really? Is Mr. Quinn trying to get Finley killed?”

Finley was known for his cleanliness. Sending him to one of the driest places was practically a death sentence for someone like him. The Muliba Desert was notorious for its lack of rain, sometimes going years without a drop. How could anyone send Finley to a place like that and expect him to cope?

Silas added, “I have a feeling you might be sent there with him as well.”

Barnaby yelled, “What?  Why would we go there? There’s no mission for us in the desert!”

Chapter 474

Barnaby was baffled.

“It’s best to avoid that kind of place,” he mused, “It’s downright dangerous.”

Silas chimed in, “Because your mouth’s just as annoying as Finley’s.”

Barnaby was stunned. “Whoa, hold on! That’s harsh, huh? What did I ever do to you?”

Silas shrugged. “You didn’t do anything to me. But you sure ticked off the boss.”

“Wait, what? When did that happen? How come nobody told me?” Barnaby was completely lost.

Silas simply shook his head in exasperation. Barnaby was clearly not getting it.

Barnaby squinted at him, “Oh, you mean those little things? Seriously, is it really that big of a deal?”

“Those ‘little things’ almost got Finley drowned in the sea,” Silas pointed out.

Barnaby’s eyes widened, recalling Finley’s marathon swim. “Wow, seriously? Isn’t that too extreme? Are Mr. Quinn and our boss that petty?”

Just then, Hull descended the stairs.

Barnaby glared at Silas, who was clearly trying to avoid eye contact.

Silas stood up straight, greeting him respectfully,’ “Mr. Miguel.”

Hull was in a deep navy bathrobe, which revealed just enough of his toned chest to hint at the tattoos beneath. He cut an imposing figure. Even Silas couldn’t help but think how Susanna’s petite frame matched Hull’s towering presence.

Hull settled onto the couch, his voice icy, “Is everything taken care of?”

Silas nodded. “Don’t worry, Boss. It’s all sorted. Left one alive for you, just like always.”

Hull gave a nod of approval, his gaze shifting to Barnaby. The sudden attention made Barnaby jump.

Instantly, Barnaby dropped to his knees. “Boss, I’m sorry! I really am! I don’t want to go to Muliba Desert. Please, give me another chance!”

Silas was dumbfounded. Was Barnaby really this clueless?

Hull’s expression darkened.

Barnaby babbled, “I swear. I’ll never gossip about you again!”

Silas was speechless. Seriously, was Barnaby just a complete idiot?

The word ‘gossip’ echoed through the room like a firecracker.

Hull was momentarily stunned, then a slight smile tugged at his lips, “Oh? Gossiping about me, were you?”

He emphasized the word ‘gossip’ with a dangerous weight.

Caught off guard by Hull’s tone, Barnaby nodded dumbly, unsure of what else to do.

The room fell silent.

Silas turned away in disbelief. ‘What kind of fool am I working with, anyway?’

His biggest fear at that moment was Barnaby dragging him into it, saying the gossip was a shared venture.

Heaven knows he’d always tried to stop him. It wasn’t a mutual discussion but Barnaby’s solo show of spreading rumors.

Oblivious to Silas’s frantic attempts at communication, Barnaby was face-to-face with Hull’s amused yet dangerous smile.

He nodded again, even more uncertain.

Hull leaned back, his voice deceptively friendly, “So, what kind of gossip were you talking about? Do share.”

His tone was light,  but the underlying menace was clear to anyone listening.

Chapter 475

Barnaby was scared out.

Hull was usually the kind of guy who treated everyone around him with genuine kindness. Brotherhood was valued, and there was no doubt about it. But when he decided to go tough, he went damn tough.

Spooked out of his mind, Barnaby blurted everything out in a rush. After rambling, he pleaded repeatedly, “Boss, I swear I didn’t mean to. I swear. I was just curious.”

Silas was in shock. Was that supposed to be begging for mercy? It seemed more like he had a death wish.

Lucky for him, Barnaby hadn’t dragged Silas into the mess, or he would’ve been toast too. As it stood, Silas was powerless to help. He finally understood the saying, “Loose lips sink ships.”

Hull chuckled darkly, “Curious, huh?”

The word “curious,” rolling off Hull’s tongue, sounded all the more menacing.

Barnaby instinctively wanted to nod but caught himself in time, shaking his head vigorously, “No, no. I’m not curious. Not at all.”

Oh man, what had he just said wrong now? Why did Hull’s tone feel even more dangerous than before? Never mind, he’d just keep quiet from now on. His mouth was in trouble; speaking was a risky business.

“Boss, I’m not curious. I was just wondering if I could handle it myself.”

Silas was aghast. He wanted out of that room, out of that situation. He couldn’t stand listening to another word. “Boss, I remembered some unfinished business with that guy. I need to go wrap it up.” Not waiting for a response, Silas made a hasty exit.

He vowed that anytime Barnaby and the boss were in the same place, he’d steer clear. The risk of collateral damage was just too high.

Hull cast a sidelong glance at Barnaby, who quickly offered, “Boss, should I go help with the questioning too?” He was desperate to escape!

The tension in the room was suffocating, and his heart couldn’t take much more.

Hull lit a cigarette from a pack, puffing thoughtfully. “What’s your deal with Finley?”

“Huh? We’ve got no deal, no ties at all.”

Why did Hull suddenly ask about Finley? There was absolutely nothing between him and Finley. What was the boss getting at?

Hull smirked, “I think you would make good brothers.”

“But we aren’t.”

“You could be.”

Barnaby was puzzled. What did Hull mean by “could be”? Either they were brothers or they weren’t!

Hull continued, “Finley’s heading to Muliba Desert in a few days. You should tag along. I think you’ll get along just fine.”

Barnaby froze. His world had just shattered. He and Silas had been chatting about how terrifying the Desert was, and then Hull wanted to send him there.

Silas really had a knack for predicting these things, didn’t he?

“I’m all for brotherhood but not keen on the Muliba Desert,” Barnaby replied without a second thought. That intolerable place was not somewhere he wanted to be.

His mention of brotherhood showed Barnaby hadn’t grasped Hull’s intention. He seemed to think Hull was only talking about becoming pals with Finley.

Hull eyed him silently.

Barnaby’s voice faltered, “Boss.”

Hull asked, “Why did I keep you around in the first place?”

What had made Hull decide to keep this nitwit close at hand?

Barnaby replied, “My shooting skills.”

Hull nodded. “Right, that’s it.”

He remembered. Without that genuine talent, there’s no way he’d have kept Barnaby nearby.

……

Meanwhile, Susanna rolled over in her sleep upstairs. Only to tumble right off the bed with a thud that left her dazed and confused.

She was known for being quite a restless sleeper. Every morning, the household staff had a guaranteed task: tidying Susanna’s bed.

Every night, she’d climb into a perfectly made bed. By morning, her bedding looked like a tornado had hit it, with sheets strewn all over the floor.

Chapter 476

Susanna blinked awake, her vision blurry and her mind foggy. She found herself in an unfamiliar room, and it took a moment for her to remember where she was.

“Huh?”

Where was the injured guy? He was in pretty bad shape the night before. Where had he run off to?

Susanna was bewildered. She sat up and grabbed her phone to check the time. It was already past nine in the morning. “Oh no. It’s so late!”

What did Hull say last night? Something about wanting oatmeal? And she was supposed to cook! But at this hour, was breakfast even a thing anymore?

Still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Susanna left Hull’s room and headed downstairs, yawning.

Hull was in the living room, smoking a cigarette. He glanced up and saw Susanna running a hand through her already messy hair.

Great, now it really looked like a bird’s nest.

“You’re up?”

Susanna’s eyes widened. Hull’s voice snapped her attention back to him. As she looked at Hull, memories of the previous night came rushing back. Her gaze involuntarily drifted downwards.

Maybe everything Star said about him was true. After all, she’d spent ages tending to him the night before, and that part of his hadn’t changed a bit.

Hull followed her gaze, and his expression soured instantly.

“What are you looking at?” he asked suddenly, and Susanna snapped back to reality, quickly shaking her head. “Nothing, nothing at all.”

She tried to play it off, but internally she was full of thoughts. What a waste of a good-looking guy with a build like that, only to be, well, non-functional.

He didn’t press the issue, so Susanna coughed awkwardly. “Uh, you’re not supposed to be smoking.”

Hull raised an eyebrow. No one had ever told him that before. Was smoking really off the table because of an injury? He had no idea.

Susanna’s stomach grumbled. The kitchen was empty with no chef in sight, which meant she still had to fend for herself if Hull wouldn’t eat.

“How about I whip up something to eat?” she suggested.

Hull gave her a look. “Hmm?”

“By the time I make oatmeal, it’ll be lunch. Let’s skip it.”

Oatmeal was too much hassle. Susanna wanted something quicker.

“What about pasta? How’s that sound?” she proposed.

Making pasta was easy. Susanna had made it for Star once, and Star said it was delicious.

Hull wasn’t a fan of pasta, but he didn’t object.

“Come here,” he said.

Susanna hesitated. “What now?”

She really didn’t want to get any closer to this intimidating man. Not at all.

But Hull watched her quietly.

Susanna sighed. ‘Fine, when you’re under someone else’s roof, you must follow their rules.’

She walked over to him, feeling like a child next to his towering frame.

Hull reached out and touched her cheek.

His sudden gesture made Susanna step back instinctively. “What, what are you doing?”

Why was he acting all intimate out of nowhere? They weren’t in that kind of relationship.

“You’ve got blood on your face,” Hull said casually.

Susanna blinked. “What?”

Blood? From where?

“It might be from the nosebleed you had last night while looking at me,” Hull teased.

Susanna’s breath caught.

Oh my God, she hadn’t cleaned up from that? She rubbed her face, and sure enough, there were little crusty bits.

Yep, it was dried blood.

Her embarrassment had her toes curling into the floor.

Hull, amused by her flustered state, smirked. “Go wash your face first.”

“Yeah, okay.” Turning on her heel, Susanna practically fled.

Watching her dart away like a startled rabbit, allowed himself a small, amused smile. Having this little whirlwind around might not be so bad after all.

At that moment, Hull seemed to forget how this little whirlwind had ended up in his life in the first place…

Chapter 477

After Susanna washed her face, she headed straight to the kitchen. She rummaged through the fridge for pasta and other essentials, spinning around like a whirlwind.

Sitting at the table, Hull had a perfect view of the kitchen. His eyes followed Susanna’s small, busy figure as she moved about.

A strange feeling bubbled up in his heart. It was something he had never felt before, hard to describe but not unpleasant.

—

Meanwhile, over in Portis City, when Ronald woke up, Stella was nestled in his arms. She lay there so peacefully, like she belonged there, barely moving through the night.

A warm smile spread across Ronald’s face. He couldn’t resist kissing her forehead gently as he carefully got up, ensuring he wouldn’t wake her.

Ronald slipped out of the room quietly. Downstairs, the butler stood waiting by the staircase.

Seeing Ronald descend, the butler greeted him respectfully, “Mr. Quinn.”

Ronald glanced at him. “Don’t wake her up.”

“Understood,” the butler nodded.

Everyone knew that when Stella was with him, she was to be left undisturbed. No one dared risk waking her up on the wrong side of the bed.

As Ronald headed out, the butler hesitated, then mentioned, “Ms. Quinn hasn’t had much appetite lately. Should we call a doctor for her?”

Ronald paused. “Her appetite’s been off?”

He thought back. Stella hadn’t been sneaking down for midnight snacks like she used to. Usually, if she couldn’t have a big dinner, she’d be rummaging through the kitchen by midnight.

Ronald considered it. “Get her friend Tegan over. Have her drop by.”

Finley was going with him, and Tegan, as he recalled, was some specialist in women’s health. The thought of ‘women’s health’ made him instinctively want Tegan to check on Stella.

The butler nodded. “Alright, I’ll call her in a moment.”

With that settled, Ronald headed out.

……

When Stella woke up, it was about half an hour after Ronald had left.

She overheard the butler speaking sternly on the phone as she descended the stairs. “Ms. Quinn wouldn’t want to see anyone from the Larkin family. Just turn them away.” Whatever the other person said, the Butler responded, “Yes, just send them off.”

Stella blinked. “The Larkin family?”

Recalling what Susanna had mentioned, that girl really had a knack for predicting things.

The Larkin family was surely in chaos after Cloudia’s recent scandal. There was no doubt they’d be scrambling.

The butler ended the call and turned to see Stella coming down the stairs.

“Ms. Quinn,” he greeted respectfully.

“Where’s Ronald?” Stella asked instinctively. Even though they were together, she looked for him first thing in the morning.

“He’s gone out. He ensured we didn’t wake you.”

“What time did he leave?”

“About thirty minutes ago.”

Stella thought for a moment. “Not long then. Did someone from the Larkin family visit?”

The butler nodded, “Yes, it was the eldest son.”

“Jaxon?” Stella looked at the butler.

Susanna’s little predictions turned out to be spot on. If she set up shop, she could probably predict who from the Larkin family would come knocking next.

Jaxon coming over could only mean one thing, which was about Cloudia.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a call from Tegan. “Hello, Tegan.”

“Hey, Star. My car’s stuck about 0.2 meters from Mist Bay’s gate.”

Stella was puzzled. “Is there a ditch?”

There couldn’t be. The road was well-maintained.

Tegan laughed. “I drove it into a little dip.”

Chapter 478

Stella was surprised. “Really? Your driving skills are something else. Fine, I’ll get someone to tow you out.”

Tegan begged, “You better hurry up. It’s freezing out here.”

It was one of those brutally cold days in Portis City. Snow, yet again, had blanketed the city, making Stella wonder what curse had befallen them this year. Snowfall was relentless, one storm after another.

Winters in Portis City were typically cold, sure, but never quite so snowy. Usually, it was just a dusting of snowflakes. Hearing Tegan’s plight, Stella glanced out the window. Yep, the snow was definitely piling up.

“Got it.”

But why was Tegan in Misty Bay, anyway? They hadn’t planned on meeting today.

Hanging up, Stella turned to the butler. “Get someone to tow Tegan out. Her car got stuck.”

The butler nodded. “Yes.”

He quickly arranged for someone to assist.

Stella headed to the dining room for breakfast. The staff promptly served her favorite morning meal—soft, creamy oatmeal. But she barely had an appetite. Lately, nothing seemed to pique her interest.

……

Warmth and cold, two extremes were playing out in Misty Bay. After a brief inquiry about Jaxon, Stella let the matter drop. Those people didn’t matter to her. Her indifference mirrored the coldness they once showed her.

Stella was cozily tucked away in her warm, castle-like home while Jaxon waited outside Misty Bay’s gates. Even inside his car, the chill was palpable.

The driver returned. “Mr. Larkin, Ms. Quinn won’t see you.

Jaxon was stunned, and his heart sank. Stella’s refusal was hardly surprising. How the Larkin family treated her in the past was coming back tenfold.

Jaxon closed his eyes, wishing Stella had left him a message at least. Even an angry tirade would have been welcome. At least that would show she still felt something.

But he was wrong. Stella had left him nothing. She had entirely erased the Larkin family from her world.

When had it become so difficult to see Stella, their flesh and blood? Why had they grown so distant? Jaxon closed his eyes, frustration emanating from him.

The driver hesitantly asked, “Shall we leave?”

Jaxon opened his eyes, his gaze sharp, “Call again. Tell them it’s urgent.”

The driver didn’t know what to say in response. He had been with the Larkin family for years, knew all too well the deep rift between them and Stella. They had been willing to hurt their real daughter over an adopted one. Then, with their current troubles, Stella wouldn’t care.

……

The butler was firm when he received another call from Jaxon in the villa. “In the future, don’t bother notifying us of calls from the Larkin family.”

Without even asking what the urgent matter was, he hung up.

Overhearing, Stella continued eating in silence. The butler’s handling of the Larkin family pleased her.

“MISS, the Butler approached.

Stella snorted, “There’s nothing to discuss.”

She understood Ronald’s stance. There would be no hope for the Larkin family from her end. She wasn’t their savior.

Chapter 479

The butler felt a wave of relief wash over him after hearing Stella’s reassurances. The Quinn family and the Lugar family elders were whom she truly cared about. Despite being her blood relatives, the Larkin family was not on her list of concerns.

“Buzz, buzz.”

Stella’s phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Yvonne calling.

Stella answered sweetly and softly, “Hey, Yvonne.”

“When are you coming back to Ferrowland?” Yvonne inquired on the other end.

“If all goes as planned, I’ll be back today,” Stella replied.

Yvonne couldn’t help but melt at the sound of Stella’s gentle voice.

“Hurry up. I’ve designed a few wedding dresses for you to try on,” Yvonne teased.

Stella was shocked. Wedding dresses? Who would have guessed that Yvonne, with her tomboyish demeanor, could create something so elegantly beautiful?

The truth was that Stella had tried on wedding dresses before her wedding to Yorick only because she recognized Yvonne’s handiwork in that boutique. Thankfully, it wasn’t Yvonne’s design that got torn in the end, or she would have had to offer a sincere apology.

“Well, I’m definitely coming back with Ronald,” Stella mumbled.

Wherever Ronald went, she followed. They had been apart for far too long, and now that they were finally together, she wasn’t about to let him out of her sight.

“Can’t bear to be apart, huh?” Yvonne teased.

Stella froze. That was something she couldn’t bear.

Adapting quickly, she corrected herself, “Ronald and I have been apart for too long, so of course, where he goes, I go.” “Oh my, ‘Ronald, Ronald,’ you’re quite comfortable saying his name, huh?” Yvonne teased further.

Stella’s cheeks blushed a deep red at that.

“I’m not discussing this with you anymore,” she grumbled.

“Are you two officially together?” Yvonne asked, even though she knew the answer already. She was just having a bit of fun at Stella’s expense. She was well-acquainted with everyone around Ronald; she had known the moment they got together.

Yvonne smiled. You’re too easy to please. Thank goodness it’s him and not some random guy with ridiculous hair, or I’d have to give him a piece of my mind.

Stella gasped, “Really?”

“Well, go ahead and try with Ronald,” Yvonne laughed. “But I wouldn’t dare.”

Stella pouted, “I’m done talking with you.”

“Okay, so what do I call you now? My little sister or my sister-in-law?”

Stella was speechless.

“Stella, I treated you like a sister, and you’re becoming my sister-in-law,” Yvonne teased.

Stella couldn’t take it anymore and hung up.

Once she ended the call, it hit her. Yvonne had been in Sands City, so why ask when she was coming back to Ferrowland? Could she have returned already?

Thinking of Xander who also had returned, Stella felt a surge of annoyance. That scoundrel! How dare he return?

No sooner had she hung up with Yvonne than Tegan called. “Star, we need another car.”

“Huh?”

“My car ended up hauling yours away with it.”

Stella was stunned. “How high was that ditch?”

It was high enough for the towing attempt to become a full-on recovery operation.

Tegan explained, “The car’s completely down now.”

That was serious.

Tegan explained. “About six feet. At first, it was just hanging there, one wheel down. Now the whole thing’s gone.”

What made matters worse was that the road was too slick to manage a clean tow. It all went down together!

Stella sighed. “Guess we’ll need to call for some serious help?”

Chapter 480

Clutching her phone, Tegan watched as two cars skidded off the icy road and disappeared into the snowy ditch.

“Yeah, seems like it,” she muttered to herself.

Given the current situation, it would take more than a few tow trucks to get those cars out of there. She shook her head in disbelief at how slow her brain was processing the obvious. “I’m calling for a tow truck right now,” Tegan said decisively.

Hearing that, Stella glanced out the window, noting the snow was heavier. “Why don’t you come to Mist Bay in the meantime?” she suggested.

It was clear that Tegan’s car wouldn’t go anywhere for a while, even if they could pull it out of the ditch. And even then, there was no guarantee it would start up immediately.

“But how am I supposed to get there? The car you guys came in is down in the ditch, too,” Tegan pointed out, frustration creeping into her voice. The scene was nothing short of a disaster.

“I’ll come get you,” Stella offered.

“Are you sure about that? If your driving skills aren’t top-notch, maybe you should stay put. The roads are like a skating rink today,” Tegan warned, a hint of worry coloring her words.

Stella chuckled. “You underestimate me, don’t you?”

Her driving skills were nothing to scoff at, honed to perfection during those intense training sessions with Yvonne. It wasn’t just physical training but about mastering the art of a swift escape.

Taking another look at the wintry landscape outside, Stella knew she had to make the trip herself.

Tegan said, “I’m not underestimating you. I’m just worried. The roads are icy today.”

“Just wait for me,” Stella replied confidently before hanging up.

She turned to her butler. “Get a car ready.”

“Are you planning to drive yourself, Miss? That’s out of the question,” the butler said without missing a beat.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“Mr. Quinn would disapprove. I’ll arrange for a car to fetch Dr. James instead,” the butler insisted.

“Are you sure there’s a driver who can handle these roads right now?” Stella challenged.

“You’re underestimating Mr. Quinn, Miss. His team is full of skilled drivers. That was just an unfortunate accident earlier,” the butler reassured her.

Stella remained skeptical. Indeed, Ronald’s team was full of competent people, but what if they sent another rookie who couldn’t handle the ice?

Sensing her hesitation, the butler quickly added, “Rest assured, Miss. We’ll bring Dr. James back safely. You needn’t worry.

Before Stella could argue further, the Butler hurried off to make the necessary arrangements.

Ronald wasn’t around, and the butler wouldn’t let Stella drive in this weather. If anything happened to her, there’d be hell to pay when Ronald returned.

Not long after the butler left, Stella’s phone rang. It was Ronald. “Hey, Ronald.”

“The weather’s terrible today. Stay inside,” Ronald instructed firmly.

Stella sighed. The butler was quick; it hadn’t even been five minutes before Ronald was on the phone.

“This kind of road is nothing for me,” Stella mumbled.

“Still, you’re not going out,” Ronald replied, leaving no room for argument.

“Fine,” Stella grumbled. She couldn’t understand why he was so strict. She’d managed just fine on her own for the past three years, but now that he was back, he treated her like she was helpless.

“Be good, and I’ll bring you something tasty when I get home,” Ronald promised, his tone softening as if he were coaxing a child.

“You brought me something last night, and I haven’t even eaten it yet,” Stella pointed out.

“Oh?”

“You’ll just have to bring me more,” she demanded playfully.

Last night, he’d come home from a night out, and she’d been so busy taking care of him that she’d forgotten all about the chestnut cake he’d brought.

Ronald chuckled. “Today’s treat will be different.”

“Okay then,” Stella agreed with a smile.

They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.

Ronald was just like he had been when Stella was a little girl, always bringing her treats whenever he went out, treating her as if she were still the sweet-toothed child she used to be.

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