Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 481 to 490) – Daisy Novels

Chapter 481

The butler had dispatched the driver to pick up Tegan.

Stella dialed Tegan’s number. “Tegan, the driver’s on his way to get you.”

“What? You’re not coming?”

“Ronald won’t let me leave.”

Stella was an excellent driver, so why Ronald was so worried, was beyond her.

Tegan replied, “Makes sense. With this blizzard, I’d be anxious too. Hang tight. I’m on my way.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

The cold outside was biting. Stella glanced at the thick blanket of snow outside, just about to ask why Tegan was coming over, but the call had already ended.

Outside, the driver returned to Jaxon’s car. “Security’s too intimidated to inform Ms. Quinn of our visit.”

Jaxon frowned, giving the driver a displeased look. “She didn’t answer?”

He was referring to Stella, of course. None of their phones could get through to her. The only one they could somewhat communicate with was the security at Mist Bay’s gate, but even they were hesitant.

The driver shrugged, “The butler picked up the calls.”

He hadn’t heard Stella’s voice at all.

Jaxon took a deep breath, his frustration mounting. What now, if he couldn’t see Stella? The whole Larkin family situation hinged on her saying a word.

Who’d have thought? Once upon a time, they underestimated Stella, yet she held all the cards now. After all, she was the Lugar family’s little princess. The Lugar family was a clan that struck fear into many.

Back then, they favored Ursula without a second thought.

But now…

Jaxon felt a sting of irony at their past actions.

The driver asked, “Should we head back?”

Sticking around seemed pointless. Stella wouldn’t emerge soon. Jaxon’s breath quickened. “Going back won’t solve anything, will it?

The driver was at a loss for words. Sure, it wouldn’t.

He said again, “But waiting there doesn’t seem to be working either.”

Stella had resolutely cut ties with them. And they’d barely seen her since signing that disownment agreement.

Jaxon closed his eyes.

Suddenly, a car stopped beside his, the passenger window rolling down to reveal Jeremy’s face.

“Oh, Mr. Larkin, huh? What’s this? Need approval to see your sister?”

Jeremy emphasized ‘your sister’ and ‘approval’ with biting sarcasm, mocking how Jaxon had once blurred their kinship.

They’d accused Stella of not knowing her loyalties, but in truth, they were the original culprits.

Jaxon looked at Jeremy’s roguish grin, his hands clenching into fists.

Ronald’s relentless pursuit of the Larkin family was bad enough, and then Jeremy was piling on the pressure, making their situation even worse.

“You don’t need approval?”

Jeremy responded, “Of course I do. Be a dear and let them know I’m here, thanks.”

Jeremy addressed the security with politeness, then turned back to Jaxon. “It’s normal for me to need approval, but you, her brother? That’s just laughable.”

Jaxon retorted, “What are you here for?”

Jeremy’s jabs were getting under his skin. Once upon a time, Jaxon was always courteous to Jeremy because of Sirena. But Jaxon’s tolerance had evaporated after the fallout with Sirena and Jeremy’s aggressive maneuvers against the Larkin family.

Jeremy chuckled, “What I’m here for isn’t your concern. What’s the matter? Don’t want to see me? Or just afraid to?”

Jaxon was speechless. Afraid? When he first heard Jeremy was targeting the Larkin Group, his initial reaction was fury.

Chapter 482

Several times, Jaxon thought about reaching out to Jaxon. But with his family in such a state, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of apprehension.

Seeing Jaxon stay silent, Jeremy snorted, “What happened with Sirena won’t slide.”

Messing with his sister, Jeremy thought, took some serious nerve on Jaxon’s part.

Jaxon clenched his fists tighter, trying to keep his composure. He looked at Jeremy and said, “My family has lost everything. What more do you want?”

That phrase, “lost everything,” seemed to take Jeremy by surprise for a moment.

He looked at Jaxon, “Really? Lost it all?”

“What do you think is left?”

Nothing. Because of one woman, Stella, everything was gone.

Jeremy smirked, “Oh, that’s too bad. I haven’t even made you pay, yet the mighty Larkin family crumbled so easily.”

The sarcasm in his voice was palpable, nearly making Jaxon choke on his anger.

With Ronald around, did anyone else need to break the Larkin family?

Jeremy started his car again, glancing at Jaxon, “Are you really not coming in?”

Jaxon just stood there, speechless.

This guy was infuriating. Jaxon had never had a good impression of Jeremy. He seemed like a carefree playboy but had a sharp, ruthless edge. Everyone close to Jeremy knew he was deceptively simple but incredibly sophisticated.

He was an enigma no one could figure out. And it made sense. Could the Patel family have thrived under his leadership if he were only a playboy?

Watching Jaxon struggle for words, Jeremy chuckled, “Star’s really being a handful. You’re still her brother, after all.”

The situation was too satisfying to him. The same people who once wronged Stella were now facing the consequences.

A security guard approached Jeremy. “Mr. Patel, Ms. Quinn has granted you entry.”

Upon hearing that, Jaxon’s expression darkened even more.

Jeremy gave him mocking look. “Well, I’m going in. Enjoy the cold breeze out here.”

With a loud roar, the car sped off through the gates of Mist Bay.

Jaxon watched Jeremy’s car disappear, feeling his frustration boil. His teeth ground together in anger.

The driver glanced at him nervously. “Should we keep waiting?”

At this rate, with Stella not backing down, they wouldn’t even get through the gate.

Jaxon had felt some guilt toward Stella after learning the truth. But being repeatedly turned away had worn away any remorse he had.

To be blunt, he wasn’t there to apologize to Stella. He was there for Cloudia. Before coming, he tried visiting his mother at the detention center but was told he couldn’t see her.

In other words, unless Stella agreed, he couldn’t even see his own mother.

Inside the warm, cozy mansion, Stella sat on the sofa as a servant draped a blanket over her. Stella politely said, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Ms. Quinn,” the servant replied warmly. They all loved tending to Stella as she was easygoing and kind. Of course, they hadn’t seen her fiery side. Otherwise, they might wonder how Yorick ended up so bruised. Half of it was her doing!

Her phone rang. It was Ronald.

Stella answered, “Are you on your way back?”

Yeah, I’m on the road. Did Tegan stop by to check on you?”

Stella was surprised. “You asked Tegan to come?”

No wonder, she thought. It made sense why Tegan had suddenly visited Mist Bay.

Her heart warmed again.

Chapter 483

Ronald let out a soft “hmm.”

Stella was puzzled. “I’m not feeling bad or anything. Why did you ask Tegan to come over?” “You haven’t had much appetite lately,” he replied.

Stella was stunned. Was he calling Tegan over just because she hadn’t been eating much?

“So, how’s it going?” Ronald asked.

“The car ended up in a ditch, but I’ve already called for a tow,” Stella explained.

“Wow, seriously?”

“Yeah, well, I’ll let you get back to it. Come home soon,” Stella said.

Ronald agreed, “Will do.”

She hung up, her heart still racing.

Then Tegan called. “Star, what’s going on with you? Tell me your symptoms, and I’ll have someone send over some medicine.”

Stella was confused. “Wait, what about you? Did they get the car out?”

Tegan sounded flustered. “I’ve got something urgent to handle, so I can’t make it over.”

Stella sighed. She could tell Tegan got caught up in something urgent. “I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“But Ronald said-“

Stella cut her off. “Ronald is just worrying for nothing.”

She had eaten a lot and didn’t want to these past days. It wasn’t such a big deal to have called the doctor over.

Tegan hesitated. “Are you sure?”

Stella was firm. “Yeah, I’m sure. Don’t worry about it.”

Tegan chuckled nervously. “Fine, I’m leaving now if you say so.”

Stella wasn’t feeling unwell, so Tegan didn’t have to come to Mist Bay. After a few more words, they hung up.

Stella put down her phone as the Butler approached. “Miss, Mr. Patel is here.”

“Let him in,” she said calmly. What could Jeremy possibly want? They’d already discussed everything necessary.

Jeremy entered shortly after, and seeing only Stella, he paused. “Isn’t your brother here?”

“Aren’t you here to see me? What does it matter if he’s around or not?”

“It matters,” Jeremy insisted.

It did matter. Jeremy knew too well about Ronald’s possessiveness, especially of Stella. He wouldn’t have visited if he had known Ronald wasn’t home.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Why does it matter?”

Jeremy looked uneasy. “Because it does.”

So, did Ronald being absent make him nervous? Stella thought that was ridiculous.

“Well, if it matters that much, you can leave.”

Jeremy hesitated. “Leave? Now?”

“I came all this way, braving the winter cold,” Jeremy remarked, feeling a bit exasperated.

The road was terrible. Jeremy wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for the Warner family’s trouble. Ronald was too formidable.

Jeremy heard about the spat between Vivian and Stella in the mall. What made things worse was that Sirena was also present. He had no idea whether Sirena was involved. But Sirena insisted she had nothing to do with it, no matter how he pressed the issue.

Jeremy wasn’t at ease and was eager to confirm with Stella. The Larkin family had suffered like hell. And the Quarry family, the wealthiest and the most influential family once, was going downhill. And then came the Warner family!

Jeremy couldn’t help but sigh at how heartless Ronald’s moves could be! Therefore, he had to visit and confirm with Stella, no matter what.

“So, what do you want from me? To be clear, I won’t do favors or backdoor deals,” Stella stated firmly. “Besides, you’re the one with the exclusive rights to the ore in Portis City. What more could you possibly want?”

Jeremy was stunned. “No, no, I’m not here for any favors.”

“Then what is it?” Stella pressed.

Jeremy was flustered, recalling the past mistake of sending the wrong gift that nearly jeopardized a partnership. He quickly shook his head. “No, no backdoor deals. I just want to talk.”

Chapter 484

“I came to ask about that spat between you and Vivian. Was Sirena involved?”

Stella paused, caught off guard. “Vivian, huh?”

Wait a minute, did he really come all this way just for that?

She glanced outside at the wintry wonderland. The snow was thick. “You came all this way just for that?”

Was this guy a little too high-strung?

Jeremy nodded earnestly. “Yeah, I did.”

“You could have just called me.”

Was it really necessary to make a special trip for such a small matter?

“I don’t have your number,” Jeremy admitted.

Stella paused, realizing he was right. Her number wasn’t common knowledge, especially not to someone like Jeremy, who she barely knew. “Well, you could have called Ronald.”

This was definitely something that could be cleared up over the phone. No need to come all the way out here!

Upon hearing that, Jeremy tensed up. “You must be kidding. Call Ronald, huh? That might turn a small conflict into a full-blown misunderstanding.”

He wasn’t about to walk into that trap.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Just tell me. Was Sirena involved or not? If she was, she’s in for it.”

Stella chuckled. You are indeed her big brother.”

Jeremy’s tone had been harsh when he said “in for it,” and Stella found it amusing.

“Of course, I’m her brother. Who else would try to teach her some sense?” He emphasized the word “teach” heavily, leaving Stella a bit speechless.

Jeremy looked at her expectantly. “So? Was she involved?”

Stella nodded. “Yeah, she was.”

Jeremy’s eyes widened in disbelief. His sister, Sirena, always denied it stubbornly. And upon hearing this, he felt his brain going blank. “Seriously, she was involved?”

Stella confirmed, “Yeah.”

“Did she hit you?” Jeremy’s voice was tense. He had drilled into Sirena’s head that Stella was precious to Ronald. Her past grievances against Stella because of Jaxon needed to be put aside, or she could forget about going out.

And yet, there she was, making another scene.

Stella shook her head. “No, she was helping me hold Vivian back. Vivian got the worst of it.”

Jeremy blinked, his mind struggling to process. “Wait, what? She was helping you hold Vivian back?”

Stella nodded. “Yep, she held onto Vivian real tight.”

Jeremy was dumbfounded. So, it was Stella and Sirena versus Vivian?

As he was about to ask more, Ronald walked in, looking none too pleased. “Mr. Patel, quite the surprise visit to Mist Bay. Why not give me a call first?”

Jeremy flinched at Ronald’s icy glare. His heart skipped a beat. Visiting Stella with Ronald already there was one thing, but having him return unexpectedly was another.

Seeing Ronald, Stella stood up and walked to him. “Back so soon?”

He had called earlier, and she expected him to take longer, given the bad road conditions.

Ronald gently ruffled her hair. “Idris brought in some food. Go take a look.”

Stella nodded eagerly. “What did he bring?”

“You’ll see.” His voice carried a hint of warmth, a tender side of Ronald that left Jeremy momentarily stunned.

Mr. Quinn was indeed the embodiment of extremes. All his warmth was reserved for Stella, while the rest of the world saw nothing but his icy demeanor.

Chapter 485

Seeing Ronald about to send Stella away, Jeremy felt a flutter of unease in his chest and instinctively wanted to intervene. He knew all too well that Ronald was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde depending on whether Stella was around.

But he didn’t dare speak up, especially not with Ronald’s dark expression. Jeremy knew better than to open his mouth. He silently prayed Stella wouldn’t leave.

Unfortunately, Stella was too obedient. This woman, who had once left Yorick bruised and battered, became a picture of compliance in Ronald’s presence.

“I’ll be off then,” she said softly.

“Okay, be good,” Ronald replied, squeezing her cheek gently.

Stella turned and ran off.

Jeremy was stunned. Seeing her so demure around Ronald, he thought Yorick had been blind to let her go. Instead, he’d chosen Ursula, who was nothing but trouble.

Once Stella left Ronald and Jeremy alone, Ronald sauntered over to the couch and sat down.

Jeremy felt a bead of nervous sweat. “Mr. Quinn,” he stammered.

Ronald glanced at him coldly. “Haven’t we signed the contract? What do you need her for?”

Jeremy’s heart skipped a beat.

See? Raised by Mr. Quinn himself, they had the same mindset. It was far from ideal to leave Ronald with the impression that he was always trying to use the backdoor.

“N-no, it wasn’t about the contract,” Jeremy stammered.

Previously, every time he sought Stella out, it was

because of her connection to Ronald, hoping for a favor. He chuckled awkwardly. “It wasn’t about the contract this time. I promise I won’t bother Ms. Quinn for business matters again.”

He desperately tried to clear his name.

Ronald raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

He pulled a cigarette from a pack, lit it, and took a drag, his gaze icy as it bore into Jeremy.

Jeremy swallowed hard. “It’s about what happened at the mall. I was worried Sirena might have hurt Ms. Quinn, so I came to check.”

Ronald said curtly, “For that, you could’ve just called me.” Jeremy winced.

Come on, who would dare call Ronald directly? That’s why he’d come in person.

However, Stella’s story matched what Sirena had said. When Sirena explained earlier, Jeremy didn’t believe it. After all, Sirena and Stella had clashed over Ursula, so getting the facts straight was essential.

“I was just worried about collateral damage,” Jeremy muttered.

Ronald’s eyebrow twitched. “Hmm?”

“No, I was worried Ms. Quinn might have been hurt.” Jeremy felt his pulse quicken.

In Portis City, he was a figure of some renown, having encountered all sorts of people. But Ronald exuded an aura that made Jeremy uneasy.

Perhaps it was because Ronald was a big shot from Ferrowland’s underworld, with a reputation possibly stained with blood. In any case, Ronald was not someone to cross!

Jeremy would never have risked getting involved with Ronald if those rare minerals were replaceable.

Ronald’s tone was flat. “Got it all sorted?”

Jeremy nodded quickly. “Yes, all sorted.”

As long as Sirena hadn’t hurt Stella, all was well. Thankfully, Sirena had been sensible this time. Things could have gone terrible if she’d acted impulsively and joined Vivian in attacking Stella. Thankfully, she hadn’t.

Watching the Warner family decimated by Ronald, no one could grasp just how on edge Jeremy had been these past few days.

Meanwhile, on Stella’s side.

Ronald had sent her some snacks.

Idris had someone warm them up. “Mr. Quinn thought these looked cute, so he brought them for you.”

Stella tried one. “Hmm, this little kitty is delicious.”

The snacks were in animal shapes and were undeniably tasty.

Idris grinned. “The little bunnies are even better. Mr. Quinn couldn’t stop eating them.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Idris nodded.

Stella picked up a bunny-shaped pastry and took a bite. She had to admit it was indeed delicious. “Hmm, so good.”

When Ronald arrived, he found Stella with a satisfied smile, munching away happily. Her cherubic cheeks, full of contentment, made her look irresistibly cute.

Chapter 486

Upon seeing him, Stella had her cheeks stuffed full like a chipmunk. She mumbled, “Ronald, this is so good! Where did you get it?”

She’d been in Portis City for long but had never known any delicious pastries.

Ronald chuckled. “If you like it, I’ll have Idris drive out and grab some more for you to bring back to Ferrowland.”

Stella’s eyes lit up at his words, “Really? Are we heading back today?”

Ronald nodded. “Yep, we’ve got a flight tonight.”

Stella beamed with joy at the confirmation. If they were heading back tonight, it meant no more delays. She had been worried sick about Susanna. The poor thing might have been scared out of her wits by then. Hull was such a character, always finding ways to spook poor Susanna. “Oh, by the way,” she remembered, “Xander and Yvonne are back in Ferrowland already.”

She meant to tell Ronald the night before, but he came home a bit tipsy. And by the time morning came, he was already out.

Ronald raised an eyebrow. “Did they call you?”

“Yeah,” Stella nodded.

Xander had been quite a character on the phone,

practically gloating.

“Isn’t Yvonne supposed to be in Sands City?” Stella asked, puzzled. Dan Murray was supposed to be there, so Yvonne usually wouldn’t leave in a hurry.

Yet, she had.

Ronald pulled her into his lap, offering her another pastry.

Stella shook her head. “No thanks, I’m full.”

“Since when do you eat so little?” Ronald teased.

Stella paused, realizing he was right. She usually would have devoured the whole plate, but now she barely had a third.

“I don’t know what’s up with me lately,” she mused. “I haven’t had midnight snacks.”

Ronald asked, “Did Tegan check on you?”

“No, she had some things to handle, so she left without coming in,” Stella replied.

Tegan seemed to be quite busy these days.

“Why are you back so early?” Stella asked.

He had called her just a moment ago, and now here he was.

“Finished up early,” Ronald said, not mentioning it was because he heard Jeremy was here.

Stella nodded, leaning against Ronald, feeling tired, “Did you see Jaxon at the door?”

“Yeah, I did,” Ronald replied.

Unlike with Yorick, Ronald hadn’t sent Jaxon away. With the Larkin family, he opted for the cold shoulder treatment. The more indifferent he was, the more they squirmed. The Larkin family had lost everything they once had. Jaxon was left to wait outside in this freezing weather, his misery adding to the cold.

Stella snuggled closer to Ronald. “Once we’re back in Ferrowland, I’ll never return to Portis City.”

“Are you upset?” Ronald teased, gently tugging at her ear.

“No, not upset. It’s just… sickening,” Stella grimaced.

It truly was. Stella had seen all kinds of scenes in Ferrowland, but the Larkin family’s character was beyond anything she’d encountered.

Ronald listened, amused, as Stella vented about the Larkins. He tilted her chin up and kissed her.

“Hmm…” Stella tried to protest.

This guy was at it again. He’d only behaved last night because he was drunk, or so she thought. Except, he wasn’t exactly well-behaved even then.

After a moment, Ronald let her go. “When Finley comes back, have him check on you.”

He couldn’t shake his worry over her loss of appetite.

Chapter 487

Over in Ferrowland, Susanna was flabbergasted when she finally looked at the pasta she’d cooked. She stood in the kitchen, staring blankly at the doorway that separated her from Hull, who was lounging in the living room.

It had been an hour and a half since she first mentioned dinner.

An hour and a half, just to make a simple pasta…

And she’d managed to mess it up twice already!

She had discreetly tossed the first disaster in the trash, but now this…

Staring at the burnt pasta in the pot, she couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong.

She’d followed the recipe to a T, hadn’t she? And she’d successfully cooked for Stella before, so what on earth was wrong today?

Sitting in the living room, Hull hung up the phone and said to her, “Is it ready yet?”

Susanna jumped. “Uh, yeah! Almost!”

She glanced back at the pot. It would have to be ready. She was starving and couldn’t imagine Hull wasn’t too.

She gave the pasta a taste.

Oh no! It wasn’t ready.

What had she done? Had she added salt twice? Yep, that seemed to be it. She must have doubled the usual amount of salt.

Hull didn’t notice Susanna’s flustered demeanor. He tossed his phone onto the coffee table. “Great, let’s eat.”

Susanna froze. How were they supposed to eat this? It was so salty it was almost inedible.

But feeling the weight of Hull’s presence, she didn’t dare admit her failure. She had no choice but to nod and say, “Okay, coming right up.”

Hull was already at the dining table.

Susanna felt a chill of fear wash over her.

What if Hull tasted her cooking and was so furious he would shoot her dead? Well, she didn’t want to think about it.

An hour and a half, and this was all she had to show for it? She was ready to kick herself.

“What’s the hold-up?” Hull’s voice came from the dining room, his brow furrowing as he noticed Susanna hadn’t moved.

Meeting his piercing gaze made her heart pound even harder, and she shook her head. “Nothing, nothing at all.” Hastily, she dished out the pasta into two plates. There was so much! She’d made enough for five people, let alone two.

Susanna placed a plate before Hull with trembling hands, then brought her own to the table, sitting across him.

She didn’t dare look at Hull’s expression, focusing instead on the sound of his fork clinking against the plate, which indicated he hadn’t taken a bite yet.

Gathering her courage, Susanna took a nibble herself. The moment it hit her taste buds, she nearly gagged. But she swallowed it down.

Forcing a smile, she glanced at Hull and said, “Delicious.” Hull looked from his plate to Susanna. His eyes were unreadable, but they always seemed intimidating to her. “Delicious, huh?”

Susanna nodded. “Yeah. It just doesn’t look that great.”

“Look that great” was putting it mildly.

What was supposed to be pasta was more like a gooey mess, almost like a pancake with too much salt.

Susanna might have lost focus and forgotten she’d added salt after the first failed attempt.

“Um, if you don’t want to eat something that looks like this, maybe I can try making something else?” Susanna stammered.

That’d be perfect if Hull didn’t want to eat it. It’d give her a reason to start over.

Hull chuckled softly. “Your cooking skills…”

He let his sentence trail off, giving Susanna a sidelong glance.

She nodded vigorously in agreement. “Yeah, not so great.”

Her nerves got stretched to the limit. After all, Hull hadn’t had breakfast, and then, she’d botched lunch too.

Just then, Barnaby walked in after finishing the task Hull had set for him, with Enzo and Silas following behind.

Barnaby stopped short when he saw the dish before Hull.

Chapter 488

He squinted at the dish before Susanna, trying to make sense of it. Finally, he gave up and asked, “Boss, what are you eating? It looks like something out of a Halloween prank!”

Susanna sighed, her patience wearing thin.

Enzo and Silas exchanged glances, thinking the same thing: Barnaby was a real piece of work.

“Seriously, Barnaby would make a perfect comic relief if Finley ever goes on some wild adventure through Muliba Desert,” Enzo muttered as he moved to sit in the corner, wisely distancing himself.

Susanna glanced at her pasta, questioning if Barnaby was out of his mind. Could anyone really be that clueless?

Hull shot Barnaby a stern look. “Why don’t you tell us, what does it look like to you, then?”

Barnaby hesitated, the wheels in his mind turning slowly. “Uh, it looks like something you’d feed to a pet pig, right?”

Susanna buried her head deeper into her plate, wishing she could disappear.

Hull wasn’t about to let Barnaby off the hook. “There’s more in the pot. Help yourself.”

Barnaby cringed at the idea. “I’m not hungry,” he lied, eyes darting from Hull to Susanna, silently cursing her culinary skills.

“Eat,” Hull insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Barnaby swallowed hard and nodded, realizing he couldn’t refuse. As he trudged toward the kitchen, Silas said, “Susanna made it herself. You better appreciate it. No picky eaters here.”

Barnaby’s stomach sank. The message was loud and clear. Like it or not, he had to eat it.

Across the table, Susanna kept her head down, shoveling in mouthfuls of pasta she could barely stomach. She knew she’d be next in line for Hull’s wrath if she didn’t eat.

Meanwhile, Barnaby approached the pot, eyeing the unappetizing heap suspiciously. How could anyone mess up pasta so badly?

He turned and glanced at Susanna, who was soldiering through her plate.

“I’m not sure there’s enough to go around,” Susanna offered, trying one last time to avoid the inevitable.

Looking at that mess, Hull wouldn’t touch it, but if Barnaby did, it would definitely give us away. He’d struggle to keep it down without a strong stomach.

Hearing Susanna’s comment in the kitchen, Barnaby almost lost it. She really knows her stuff. To eat that and still complain is not enough…

Maybe she’s never had decent food before? Where did the boss find her, a refugee camp?

Hull raised an eyebrow and pushed his plate toward her. “Want mine?”

Barnaby sighed, ladling a generous helping into his plate, determined to avoid further confrontation. He took a tentative bite. The saltiness hit him like a tidal wave, followed by an indescribable, unpleasant aftertaste.

His face contorted as he fought the urge to gag. “Ugh-” he managed, holding back the retch.

Clearly, culinary talent was not Susanna’s strong suit.

Chapter 489

Susanna stood frozen in the dining room, her face turning paler with each retching sound from the kitchen. Could it seriously be that bad? In the kitchen, Barnaby couldn’t hold it in any longer. He rushed to the garbage can and lost his lunch.

“Oh my god…” he groaned. “What did I just eat?” Another heave followed.

Susanna was speechless.

Silas and Enzo exchanged glances, silently agreeing not to intervene. Usually, they’d rush to help Barnaby, but not this time.

They picked the wrong time to visit Hull. Back then, they could barge in anytime they wanted when Hull didn’t have a girlfriend.

That wouldn’t work anymore. From then on, the guys would need to consider what Hull might be up to before dropping by. It was a headache they didn’t need.

Susanna’s heart was in her throat. She glanced over at Hull, then at the untouched plate of pasta he’d pushed toward her.

What was up with Barnaby’s stomach? He’d only taken one bite, yet he was still retching in the kitchen.

She swallowed hard, setting down her fork and giving Hull a pleading look. “I’m full. Can I go upstairs?”

Hull squinted at her, his gaze sharp.

Susanna sniffled, her eyes watery and red. She looked absolutely terrified.

Hull thought to himself, How can someone be so timid? He hadn’t even done anything, and she was already frightened out of her wits. Was this the kind of friend Stella had?

Hull didn’t say a word. Susanna took a deep breath and asked again, summoning all her courage, “May I?”

Thankfully, Hull didn’t make it any harder for her. He nodded and said, “Go ahead.”

Susanna didn’t need to be told twice. She leaped up and dashed upstairs, locking her bedroom door behind her. The moment it clicked shut, she dialed Stella’s number.

Meanwhile, Stella saw Susanna’s name on her phone in Mist Bay. Her heart ached a little. It hadn’t even been two days, but she knew the drill by now. If Susanna was calling, it meant Hull had scared her again.

Answering the phone, Stella spoke gently, “Susie, don’t worry. I’ll be back tonight. Nothing’s going to stop me this time.”

Ronald was already arranging for someone to pack up their things. Susanna’s voice trembled on the other end. “Star, I’m so scared.”

Stella comforted her patiently, “I know, sweetie. I know you’re scared. You’ll stay with me when I’m back, okay? Wherever I go, you’ll go.”

Reflecting on her own experiences, Stella realized she should never have left Susanna with Hull. She remembered how traumatized she felt the first time she saw Ronald in a fight. It left her shaken for ages, and Susanna, who had never seen such harsh realities, must be feeling the pressure even more intensely.

Stella continued soothingly, “Don’t cry. I promise….. Hull won’t hurt you.” Sure, Hull was intimidating when he was silent and stern. But Ronald had personally asked him to look after Susanna, so she trusted Hull would protect her.

But still, Stella hadn’t anticipated so many incidents would occur with Susanna staying with Hull. It was too much for Susanna, whose world had been peaceful.

Enough was enough. Stella decided to bring Susanna back with her.

“Really?” Susanna asked, her voice small.

“Really,” Stella assured her. “No surprises this time. I’ll be on the evening flight, so we’ll see each other by tomorrow morning.”

Stella wanted to say they could see each other the following morning if nothing unexpected happened.

Chapter 490

But Stella could sense Susanna had developed a strong aversion to the words “nothing unexpected.” Because, as life had taught her, something unexpected was bound to happen whenever someone said that.

Stella hoped this trip back to Ferrowland would be uneventful. Otherwise, Susanna’s heart couldn’t handle any more surprises.

“Ugh, I’m waiting for you, so please, no surprises,” Susanna sniffled. Stella replied, “Sure, no surprises.”

She couldn’t promise that. She would get dragged into it if Ronald ended up in a pickle. But she couldn’t say this to Susanna, given her current state. She even considered heading back alone if Ronald got into trouble again.

Hearing Stella assure her, Susanna felt a bit better. “Okay, I’ll be waiting for you. Be back early tomorrow.”

Stella agreed, “Sure.”

Susanna said softly, “When you land, come straight over. I can’t stay here with him any longer. I never want to see him again.”

Stella was shocked. “What happened? What did you get into this time?”

First, it was about Hull’s belt buckle, then there was the towel fiasco. What again? From Susanna’s tone, it was clear something significant had happened again. Could it be about the previous night’s fever remedy?

Before Susanna could answer, Stella interjected, “Wait a minute. Last night, when you were helping Hull cool down, you didn’t…” She paused, cleared her throat, and continued, “You didn’t strip him bare and get caught, did you?”

Otherwise, what could possibly have her so rattled?

Susanna was stunned into silence. Even her sniffling stopped.

On the other end, Stella took a sharp breath. “It couldn’t be true, could it?”

It’s just a fever remedy, right? Hull might be clueless, but Susanna should know better, shouldn’t she?

“Did you…”

If she had stripped Hull, no wonder he’d be furious.

Susanna recalled the moment Hull grabbed her wrist, and she sniffled again. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not that clueless.”

Stella was confused. “Huh?”

Susanna explained, “I didn’t strip him naked. It’s just that I wasn’t looking and accidentally touched some part I shouldn’t have while wiping him down. Ugh, don’t ask anymore.”

The whole scene from last night was embarrassing to even think about.

Hull refused to let Stella send over any help, and his staff ignored her calls. What was she supposed to do? She had no choice but to close her eyes and help him cool down.

Stella’s mouth twitched. “Touched some part you shouldn’t have? Did Hull know?”

Susanna was exasperated. “Enough with the questions!”

Why was Stella so insatiably curious?

“He grabbed my wrist at the time. Do you think he knew?”

Well, there was no point hiding it from Stella.

Stella was speechless. It was clear how awkward the situation must have been. “So, Hull’s upset?”

“Not because of that.”

Stella was intrigued. “Not because of that? Then why did he scare you?”

Even Stella, who wasn’t particularly nosy, was now keenly interested. “Hull’s not known for his prowess in sex, right? Men usually feel insecure about that. And you touched him, yet he was not mad?”

Ronald walked in just as Stella had said that, and he suddenly felt a headache coming on. This chatterbox had been a bad influence from Yvonne, and now Finley had rubbed off on her, too.

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