Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 541 to 550) – Daisy Novels

Chapter 541

Was she really that easygoing in their eyes?

Would she call someone “Mom” just because they handed her a piece of candy? Although it’s not like Cloudia ever tried to charm her with sweets.

Ever since she arrived in Portis City, Ursula seemed to have a knack for stirring up trouble, as if she had a new trick up her sleeve every day.

Even during those two months in the hospital, Cloudia would pop in every now and then, staying just long enough to say hello before she left, like a flickering candle in the wind.

Cloudia’s version of motherhood was a far cry from Lottie Lugar’s, and because of that, Stella never took Cloudia seriously. She didn’t acknowledge her then, and she sure wouldn’t now.

Stella cuddled closer to Lottie. “I would never.”

This brought relief to Lottie as she hugged Stella tighter.

“That’s good,” she said, her voice dripping with playful pride.

If Stella had started calling anyone else “Mom”, Lottie would have been beside herself. After all that the Larkin family put her through, she would have been relentless in her pursuit of justice.

Stella wrapped her arms around Lottie. “Mom, I missed you so much.”

“If you missed me, why didn’t you come back sooner, you little rascal?”

The mention of coming back struck a somber chord in Lottie’s voice. Not just Stella, even she, with her years of wisdom, had never faced such upheaval.

The chaos from three years ago still lingered, a wound that had yet to heal. Her husband was gone, the Quinn Group was in turmoil, and both Yvonne and Stella had been kidnapped, with Stella’s whereabouts unknown.

“I’m just glad you’re back. That’s all that matters.”

Words of reproach melted away, replaced by the relief of having her family together again after all they’d endured.

After they held each other close for ten minutes, Ronald finally intervened, unable to watch any longer. “Alright, enough with the hugging.”

“You little devil,” Lottie jokingly scolded, giving Ronald a look. What did he mean, enough hugging? She could hug Stella forever.

Ronald gently pulled Stella away from her arms. “Star is hungry.”

Stella’s eyes widened in surprise.

Lottie perked up at this. “Oh, you’re hungry, are you? I heard you haven’t been eating well lately.”

Her eyes drifted downwards to Stella’s still-flat stomach, at the moment, her expression softening with a tender smile. “It’s good to feel hunger. If you didn’t, that wouldn’t be a good sign. Not only would it be hard on you, but also on the little one inside.”

Stella felt a pang at the mention of “the little one inside,” her heart stirring with emotion.

As Ronald pulled her away, she quickly returned to Lottie’s embrace. “Mom.”

Her voice caught in her throat, thick with emotion.

Lottie wasn’t upset with her. All Stella’s worries from Portis City began to melt away.

“Why are you crying? No need to cry now, you’re not a kid anymore.”

Crying was for children.

Stella sniffled, “I thought you’d lash out at me.”

After all, she and Ronald had been together, and she was genuinely worried about facing Lottie’s reaction.

Over the years, Lottie had always treated her with such kindness and love, which made Stella cautious about revealing her feelings for Ronald.

Especially after her time in Portis City, where she saw the way Cloudia doted on Ursula. Yet, she never imagined Cloudia would want anything between Ursula and Jaxon.

So, Stella assumed a relationship like theirs would never be accepted.

“Why would I do that? This is wonderful! I was always worried about you.”

Chapter 542

Talking about it, Lottie couldn’t help but sigh.

“You’re so sensitive. What if you got married into another family and ended up getting bullied? What then?”

Even though Stella had been raised properly by the Quinn family, Lottie couldn’t shake off her concern. Compared to Yvonne, Stella seemed more prone to being bullied.

And just as Lottie had anticipated, wasn’t it the folks in Portis City who had given Stella a hard time?

Stella was even more touched. “Mom,”

“Now, no tears, sweetie. After you finish eating, let’s have the medical team give you a thorough check-up,” Lottie comforted her patiently,

She shot a hard glance at Ronald, blaming him for not properly preparing Stella. Look at how worried she had been!

Stella nodded obediently. “Okay.”

After a few more soothing words, Lottie led Stella over to the dining table. The table was laden with food by the servant, all of Stella’s favorites from back in Ferrowland.

Lottie kept serving her more. “Star, I made this one myself today.”

“Alright.” Stella nodded sweetly, picking up a piece of the pie with her fork and taking a bite. “Mom, your cooking is as wonderful as ever.”

Who would have thought that Lottie, the no-nonsense only daughter of the Lugar family, would be such a whiz in the kitchen? And she was quite the cook too..

Stella loved the flavors her mother created.

Lottie said, “I heard that after you moved to Portis City, you developed a fondness for hot wings. I thought you might have outgrown these.” “I love them all,” Stella assured her.

The food in Portis City was mostly bland and not that appealing. The only things she really liked there were the hot wings and barbecue. No matter how her taste might have evolved, the flavors of home were irreplaceable. She might have grown tired of them over time, but if she had gone too long without them, the longing would have grown stronger.

Stella was clearly missing them.

“This soup is delicious.” With a sip of the soup Lottie had made, Stella looked utterly content. It was genuinely tasty.

Lottie beamed.

For anyone who cooks, having someone appreciate your food is the greatest reward.

“If you like it, have some more. You haven’t been eating properly lately, so make sure you eat your fill today.”

As Stella sipped her soup, she asked, “Mom, you seem to know everything. Did you know what I was up to all those years in Portis City?”

Her mom even knew about her poor eating habits. It was like she had a bug on Stella the entire time.

Lottie paused for a moment at the question.

“I’m not that omniscient, you sneaky girl. You hid yourself well in that place, getting bullied and not coming back.”

Mentioning Portis City, and the topic of the Larkin family mistreating her, was unavoidable.

Initially, Lottie had no clue Stella was in Portis City. There were so many places abroad she could have gone. Who would have thought she’d end up somewhere where she might not even know the language?

But she had truly underestimated Stella’s capacity to learn. In just two or three years, her command of the local language was impressive.

Even though her husband had been from that area, he had only taught her a few phrases.

Stella admitted, “I know I was wrong.”

“Hmph…”

Lottie huffed playfully, but she wasn’t really angry with Stella.

Chapter 543

After all, they had been busy dealing with the aftermath of past troubles all these years.

Otherwise, they would have whisked Stella away from the grasp of the Larkin family a long time ago. Compared to the real dangers out there, the Larkins’ petty tricks were child’s play.

This time, though, things hadn’t been fully resolved. But when Stella used the black card Ronald had given her, it raised a few eyebrows back home.

Sure, there were still some loose ends to tie up, but the thought of Stella being in trouble in Portis City was enough to keep them on edge.

“Let’s not worry about that right now. First things first, let’s get some food in our bellies,” Lottie said, placing a juicy piece of steak onto Stella’s plate. This was a classic beef stew, a dish Stella had always adored.

But ever since moving to Portis City, she found the local rendition lacking, so she’d stopped ordering it.

Lottie’s warm gesture made Stella feel at ease.

Just as she was savoring her meal, Yvonne burst through the door, fuming. “Those Yoder bastards! One day I’ll make them pay double for what they did.

And Skye and Finley? They’re just a pair of scumbags.

And Xander, that jerk. I’ll deal with him too. I’m going to end him soon or later.”

Stella and Ronald were momentarily speechless.

Lottie couldn’t help but twitch at Yvonne’s choice of words, lamenting how indecent her own daughter could be. She wondered who Yvonne took a resemblance to as for the character, given how much time she’d spend reminding her of not hurling foul remarks, and yet to no avail.

As she turned around, Yvonne was entering from the foyer.

“Enough with the curses. Try acting like a lady, will you?”

Lottie felt helpless when it came to her daughter, baffled about why Yvonne was into guy stuff, considering the fact that she and Stella were raised under the same roof. She would reject wearing decent dresses, designed high heels, jewelry, or carrying purses.

Her Star was so much better!

As Yvonne saw them dining, she walked over and sat at the table, still simmering with anger.

She countered, “Who needs to act like a lady when we have Star to charm everyone with her sweetness?”

Stella was at a loss for words.

Lottie felt a headache coming on. “And just who do you think will want to marry you with that attitude?”

The comment somehow hit Yvonne in a sore spot, and for a moment, her hand grasping the tableware halted mid-air, a pang of distress creeping on her. “If no one wants me, so be it. If I’m not married, at least I can keep an eye on Star. Who’s gonna protect her if I am?”

Stella felt a pang in her heart, and Ronald scowled deeply.

Lottie retorted, “And you think you’re the one to do it?”

Yvonne replied, “I’m just being honest. Three years ago, I was distracted for a moment, and Star was gone.”

Back when they all lived in Ferrowland, Yvonne had been the one to mete out justice to those who dared wrong Stella, often before Ronald even had the chance to intervene. Attempts to sow discord between the sisters were futile; Yvonne’s fierce loyalty to Stella was unshakeable.

Lottie rubbed her temples, trying to stave off a headache. “Yvonne, you really are a…”

“Mom. This one’s really good too.”

Stella, realizing what Lottie was about to utter, interrupted quickly.

She had caught a glimpse of the fleeting sadness in Yvonne’s eyes, which implied her trip to Sands City was far from satisfactory.

Memories hit her; Yvonne had once been inconsolable over Dan Murray’s death, drowning in sorrow for what felt like an eternity. Though the world had moved on, Yvonne’s heart was still trapped in that moment.

Stella knew that though Yvonne appeared strong, ostensibly, she had buried the agony deep within her heart. The moment her guard slipped, that anguish would come flooding back, drowning her anew. Was it true that nobody wanted to marry her?

No, she just preferred to be with one man and dismissed others.

Over the years, Lottie had made a few attempts at arranging blind dates just to help her move on, with the result of they never reached out after the first meeting.

Lottie shot Yvonne a glare as she heard Stella’s words. “We’ll talk later, Yvonne.”

With Stella around, she decided to drop the topic about Yvonne.

Yvonne replied, “Pick on me or not, I’m still going after Xander. He had the audacity to drive my Star away three years ago, and I won’t let that go.”

Her repeated use of “my Star” was starting to irritate Ronald, but Yvonne paid him no mind. Lottie’s expression grew complicated at her determination to avenge Stella from Xander.

She was torn as she recalled Xander’s visit the other day as well as his revelation. Turned out he had endured unimaginably. Back then, everyone believed Xander was someone ungrateful, kicking his best buddy when he was down.

Little did they know if it weren’t for his drastic moves, the Quinn family would have suffered even greater damage.

After dinner, Yvonne whisked Stella away to her room, while Ronald and Lottie retreated to the study.

Chapter 544

Yvonne swung open the closet door with a dramatic flourish, her arms wide as she scooped out an entire row of clothes, flinging them onto the bed in a colorful heap.

She then turned on her heel, yanked open a line of drawers, and carefully lifted out a series of ornate boxes, each one more elegant than the last.

Jewelry boxes and clothes were piled together, forming a small mountain on the bed.

Stella stood there, speechless.

As Yvonne opened the boxes, a dazzling array of jewelry spilled out: necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, the whole shebang.

“These are my latest creations,” Yvonne declared proudly.

Stella’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You made all of these?” she asked, unable to believe her eyes. Last she checked, Yvonne had picked up dressmaking because of Dan.

But jewelry, too?

Could it be that Dan was into jewelry as well? If so, Stella had to admit that Yvonne had really changed for him.

Yvonne responded, “On my way to find you two years ago, I stumbled upon this quarry. The stones there were just stunning, so I collected them all. There were so many that I decided to design and make these pieces. They’re all for you.”

Stella was floored. She found a quarry? Was she blessed by the gods of fortune, or what? Running into a quarry just like that?

Examining the stones, Stella found them remarkable. “Are you sure you just found them?”

Although she was no expert in minerals, she could tell these stones were top-notch.

Yvonne answered, “I snatched them.”

“Huh?”

She snatched them? Stella was taken aback by her reply.

Yvonne continued, “Yeah, from this shady group. I intended to buy them, but they tried to rip me off. Total jerks!”

Yvonne had to put up quite the fight to get those stones. If they hadn’t been so beautiful, she would never have bothered to even take a second glance. But the thought of that confrontation still made her fume a little.

“You just took them?” Stella asked, her eyelids twitching violently.

“Well, I paid for them,” Yvonne explained.

She could say she gave them the amount equivalent to the stones’ actual worth, but no way she would pay their extortionate prices.

“Okay, okay, come here. Let me put this necklace on you. Every piece of this is handpicked by me. Isn’t it gorgeous?”

Yvonne’s voice had a special warmth to it. Without Star around calling her sister, life felt a bit off-kilter.

Though they were grown up now, Stella’s cherubic face hadn’t changed much, and Yvonne couldn’t help but link it to the past. Her heart melted at the sight of Stella’s sweet face. It was like a cure-all for any bad day back in their school days. Now, even as adults, Stella’s eyes retained that same innocent charm.

“The raw stones were cut by pros, and I chose all the settings myself.”

Stella nodded. “Yeah, it’s gorgeous.”

The design was truly unique, especially with those stones.

“What kind of stones are these?”

Yvonne replied, “No clue. They just looked pretty, so I snatched… I mean, bought them. Don’t worry, I had them tested. They’re safe.”

Yvonne assured as she rummaged through the pile, matching a dress to the necklace, holding them up against Stella. “See my impeccable taste?”

Stella was left speechless. Catching a glimpse of the necklace in Yvonne’s hand, she admired how marvelous her taste was. But as she glanced at the dress’s color…

Stella gestured with her mouth. “So, Dan’s into classy women now?”

Yvonne froze, the mention of Dan, catching her off guard. She turned away, placing the dress back on the bed, her shoulders drooping with an unmistakable sadness.

Stella stepped forward, taking Yvonne’s cold hand in hers.

“Sis,” she murmured softly, her voice a gentle balm, yet it gave Yvonne an unmistakable support.

Yvonne closed her eyes shortly. “He has a fiancée, he’s going to marry her. Can’t believe he’s getting married.”

Stella exclaimed, “What? How come?”

The Dan few years back clearly adored Yvonne too – to Stella’s eyes, he treated her exceptionally well. He had concealed his identity to stay by Yvonne’s side.

Looking back now, those were Yvonne’s happiest, most radiant days. Dan had taught her how to be a woman. Yet these two, who had loved each other so deeply…

Yvonne took a deep breath. “He doesn’t remember me, Star. He just doesn’t know me.”

Stella wondered, “Amnesia?”

Yvonne uttered, “No idea. I don’t know anything. I don’t want to know. He just… doesn’t recognize me.”

The words were heavy, laced with heartbreak. Hearing Yvonne’s words, Stella didn’t know what to say, so she simply wrapped her arms around Yvonne.

Yvonne shivered slightly. “How could he not know me? How could he just forget…”

Chapter 545

Feeling Yvonne’s pain, Stella found herself at a loss for words. This kind of heartache wasn’t something one could just console away with a few comforting phrases.

Instead, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure it was Dan?”

If it really was Dan, how could he treat her like this? And could someone just lose their memory so easily? If he didn’t recognize her, did that mean it wasn’t really him?

She remembered the call between Ronald and Yvonne, which suggested Ronald knew this person was in Sands City all along. He knew how much Dan meant to Yvonne and yet never mentioned it.

Could it just be a lookalike?

But if it was, Ronald wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of telling Yvonne about him, would he?

Stella was puzzled, trying to piece it all together.

Yvonne’s voice suddenly broke through her thoughts, filled with a fierce determination. “I’m sure of it. I’d recognize him even if he were a shadow. That’s him. I can’t be wrong.”

When someone has stayed in your heart for so long, you just don’t mistake them for someone else.

Hearing Yvonne’s conviction, Stella fell silent. So it really was Dan, but now he had a fiancée in Sands City.

Stella hugged Yvonne, resting her chin on her shoulder. “So, what are you going to do now?”

Stella’s main concern was that Yvonne might be so overwhelmed she’d do something reckless.

Yvonne remained silent at her question, her body tense. She closed her eyes, trying to suppress the emotions threatening to break free. “I don’t know.”

Someone she had cherished as if dead, kept safe in her heart, was alive and living a new life without her. Suddenly, everything she held dear had been taken away.

“Alright, enough with the sadness,” Yvonne suddenly said.

Stella was taken aback when Yvonne gently pushed her away. As she turned around, her face was lit up with a bright smile.

Stella was dumbfounded. She had never seen someone switch emotions so quickly from trembling with sorrow to blooming like a sunflower in the sun.

Yvonne picked up the dress from the bed again and selected a particularly striking necklace from a pile of jewelry. “This one looks good too.”

Stella blinked, speechless.

“What asking about Dan? My gifts to you have nothing to do with him.”

As she spoke, she started to pull at Stella’s clothes. The room was warm, and Stella had already taken off her coat, leaving just a sweater.

Yvonne swiftly slipped it off her. Stella instinctively covered herself. “I… -I can do it myself.”

Yvonne uttered, “Do what yourself? Hurry up. I want to see how all these look on you. It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before. Stop being shy and put your hands down.”

With that, she slipped the dress over Stella’s head and fastened the necklace around her neck. Yvonne was back to her bubbly self, as if the earlier sadness had never existed.

Seeing Stella’s discomfort, Yvonne teased, “You’re an adult, still shy? Haven’t you and Ronald done everything already?”

Stella’s mind went blank. Was that something you could just say out loud? Honestly, over the past couple of years, she had done everything on her own, except for the occasional spa trip.

Once the clothes were on, Yvonne looked her over and nodded in satisfaction. “Didn’t expect you, a little shorty, to look this good in clothes.”

Stella felt offended. Attacking her height, huh?

Stella huffed, displeased, “I’m not short.”

Back in Portis City, she was taller than many girls. How did she end up being the short one in Yvonne’s world?

“What do you mean not short? You’re the shortest in the Quinn family. All those years of good nutrition and you didn’t grow an inch.” That shut Stella up.

Yvonne’s jewelry was truly beautiful. The unknown stones, polished into various shapes, were stunning.

“You look great in them,” Yvonne said, picking up a pair of large, sparkling earrings.

Stella hesitated. “Aren’t these too much for everyday wear?”

Yvonne scoffed, “Too much? I think they’re just right. Haven’t you worn anything unique these past years?”

Stella sighed, “I haven’t had anything custom-made by Mrs. Elysia lately. Just store-bought stuff.”

Chapter 546

Mrs. Elysia was the Lugar family’s go-to fashion consultant.

As for custom tailoring and all that, Stella didn’t really have a clue. Back when she was with the Quinn family, all those bespoke outfits weren’t something she had to worry about. Usually, it was Ronald, Mrs. Elysia, or Yvonne who picked out her clothes. She just wore whatever they handed her.

But now that she was living on her own, she simply bought whatever caught her eye. Whether it clashed with someone else’s outfit was the last thing on her mind.

Yvonne teased, “So, have you gotten used to living so plainly?”

Stella was taken aback. Plainly?

“Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about normal life? I think it’s pretty great.”

When she was with the Quinn family, everything from what she wore to what she ate was decided for her. She only had a limited range of choices, and she picked what she liked within those constraints.

But now, out in the world, everything was up to her-good or bad. For instance, when it came to food and clothing, there were so many options. When she was with the Quinn family, there was a certain protocol to follow. But out here, comfort was the priority.

Yvonne scoffed, “Seems like you enjoy life out there so much you forgot how to come home.”

Stella replied, “It’s not like that.”

She wanted to come home; she just wanted to show them that her life outside wasn’t as bad as they imagined, especially with the Larkin family.

During one dinner, her mom seemed convinced that the Larkins were treating her poorly, but that wasn’t the case. The Larkin family might not have been kind, but Stella wasn’t one to take it lying down.

In a word, the Larkins had messed with her, and she hadn’t let them off the hook either.

Before Ronald even arrived in Portis City, Stella had already used her connections to make things difficult for the Larkin Group. Otherwise, how could Ronald have taken them down so easily?

Yvonne huffed, displeased. “You say it’s not like that, but you didn’t even call me.”

Yvonne was particularly miffed about Stella disappearing without a word.

Stella sighed, “That was when Xander… Oh, it’s complicated.”

Back then, Xander seemed to be in a constant battle with Ronald, and Stella didn’t want to make any risky moves.

The mention of Xander made Yvonne’s expression change. “That shameless guy. At first, I thought he was insanely doting on Regina.”

Regina Schultz, Xander’s sister, had always had a thing for Ronald. But she never seemed to realize that someone with her background wouldn’t be accepted by the Quinn family.

Hearing Regina’s name made Stella’s eyes flicker. “What’s going on with Regina now?”

“She’s in prison, crippled,” Yvonne said with a hint of satisfaction. “Serves her right.”

They spent another half an hour going through jewelry and attire for Stella. There were still more.

Stella found herself too exhausted to stand. They selected the jewelry batch by batch, and she figured all the boxes were laid out. However, Yvonne kept bringing out more from storage.

“Here, try these too.”

Stella was stunned, exclaiming, “I like them all.”

Yvonne insisted, “Try them all on.”

Stella joked, “How many stones did you actually snatch from them?”

Yvonne responded, “I’ve told you, I bought them, bought them! Get it?” Just as Yvonne was about to say something else, her phone rang. With a glance, she quickly hung up.

But it rang again.

Stella noticed the name “Shawn Schultz” on the screen. Wasn’t he Xander’s cousin?

Yvonne answered with a hint of annoyance. “Hello?”

“Yvonne, you need to run. Xander’s on his way to find you.”

Yvonne uttered, “What?”

Stella was frozen at his words.

Yvonne glanced at Stella, confused. “Shouldn’t he be looking for Stella? Why come after me? Shouldn’t you be telling Stella to run?”

After all, Xander was technically Stella’s fiancé. Now that she was back and her romance with Ronald was clear, Xander was bound to lose it.

Yvonne recalled Xander’s recent visit to her mother, after which her mom seemed deeply troubled. It seemed Xander wasn’t ready to give up on his engagement to Stella.

Oh boy… This whole situation was such a mess.

“No, he’s definitely coming for you.”

Yvonne was incredulous. “What did I do to him? Is it because I beat him up? He deserved it! Did I injure him or something?”

Clearly, Yvonne wasn’t grasping what Shawn was trying to convey.

Chapter 547

“Come on, I can’t be that good, right?” Yvonne muttered to herself, pacing back and forth. She thought back to her last encounter with Xander, when they’d gone toe to toe, she didn’t exactly come out on top in that skirmish. Him getting injured was hardly a possibility.

Shawn urged, “Listen, Xander’s got some important papers missing. He thinks you took them, and he’s on his way to you now, looking for a fight. You better hide.”

“What?” Yvonne exclaimed.

“Hurry up, he’s coming for you with a gun.”

Yvonne was dumbstruck.

Her mind raced back to when she’d last seen Xander. She’d gone there merely for a showdown, but she hadn’t stolen anything from him. To think they took her as a thief.

“When exactly did this happen?” she demanded, her tone dry.

“The time should be four days ago, the first day you visited,” Shawn replied.

“It wasn’t me then,” Yvonne insisted. “I didn’t take anything.”

“Well, the papers have ended up with Dan Murray.”

Yvonne felt her heart drop. What the heck? Dan has them?

But she was with him the whole time in Sands City, and they even went to Cyris Isle together.

When she heard Xander was back in Ferrowland, she came back too-only to confront him over the Quinn family issue, which meant the papers went missing after she left Dan and went to meet Xander. Yvonne’s mind was racing. Then she froze! She realized she was caught in a trap she couldn’t easily explain her way out of.

That damn Dan! Why did he have to set his eyes on something Xander owned?

Shawn suggested, “You better hide fast. He’s furious. If you don’t give him the thing today, he’s definitely going to kill you.”

Yvonne was like, “!!!”

Killing her?! But she didn’t even take it! Where the hell was she supposed to argue her case now?!

Shawn said a few more words before hanging up.

Yvonne turned to Stella, who was gazing at her, and began, “I didn’t take those papers.”

“I believe you,” Stella replied instantly, without a hint of doubt. She knew Yvonne well enough. Even when things were good with Dan, Yvonne would never do something so reckless for a guy. Plus, if she were to pull a stunt like that, she’d do it out in the open, not sneak around.

Just as Yvonne opened her mouth to continue, there was a knock at the door. The butler’s voice came through from outside. “Ms. Yvonne Quinn, Mr. Schultz is here to see you.”

Yvonne froze.

Already?

Xander had managed to sort out the mess from three years ago, so Yvonne’s mother didn’t mind him being around, given the long-standing relationship between their families.

He’d tried to help the Quinn family at that time, though that had gone sideways. Technically, he had done them a favor.

“I don’t want to see him,” Yvonne said instinctively. There was no way to explain this mess.

Her words were barely out when Xander’s angry voice bellowed from outside. “Yvonne, get the heck out of here! You think you can just steal from me and get away with it?”

Both Stella and Yvonne exchanged a glance, knowing the situation was spiraling out of control. Xander had spent enough time with the Quinn family and got expressly familiar with either the Quinns or the Lugar Manor, so it was no surprise he’d come right to her door.

Upon hearing Xander’s fierce remarks, Stella hurriedly grabbed her phone, dialing Ronald’s number. The Quinn family estate was massive, and Ronald might not even know Xander was there yet.

Yvonne felt panic rising. “I didn’t take your damn papers, Xander! Stop being unreasonable!”

She knew if she opened that door, Xander wouldn’t give her a chance to explain.

Chapter 548

Xander shouted, “Get out of here!”

Stella, still on the phone, glanced at Yvonne.

“If you didn’t take it, why don’t you just explain it to him?”

Yvonne replied, “Do you think he looks like someone I can reason with right now? Didn’t you hear Shawn on the phone? He said Xander’s bringing a gun and looking for trouble.”

Stella paused, processing the situation. It was true. If Xander really did, that meant his anger was through the roof. As Yvonne had pointed out, there was no talking him down in his current state.

“Shouldn’t you arm yourself too?” Stella suggested.

The way Xander was carrying on, it seemed like he was ready for a showdown, and even Shawn had warned them about it.

Yvonne’s eyes bulged. “Are you kidding me? A shootout with Xander? This is my home, Stella! I can’t just let it turn into a war zone.”

She glanced at Stella’s stomach, suddenly protective. “No way. We can’t act rashly.”

“Call Ronald now.”

If they were going to fight, it wouldn’t be at this place.

“I’m on it,” Stella replied.

Ronald’s voice came through the line. “Head to the medical room. I’m on my way.”

While they were having the meal, Stella had planned to have her body checked.

Stella, her voice hurried, said, “Ronald, Xander’s here, and he’s at Yvonne’s door. He’s mad as hell.”

She explained the situation roughly. Xander had already started smashing on the door, a display of his wrath.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Ronald instructed. “Don’t open the door.”

“Got it.”

Just as she ended the call, Xander’s furious voice boomed outside, “Yvonne, you damn woman, get the hell out here!”

Stella was at a loss, while Yvonne’s mouth twitched. She had been fearless when she went to pick a fight with Xander for Stella’s sake.

But now, seeing Xander in full-blown rage, she was actually a little intimidated.

Who wouldn’t be scared of someone coming at them like they wanted their life? For a moment, Yvonne was completely stunned.

“You want to kill me? I didn’t take your stuff, I’m telling you, you better back off…”

With a loud crash, the door slammed against the wall with a deafening noise.

Stella and Yvonne stood frozen as Xander stood at the door. With just one kick, he had sent the door flying open-proof of just how enraged he was.

Yvonne gulped involuntarily. “Wh-What are you doing? I’m telling you…”

As she spoke, she instinctively pulled Stella behind her.

Xander lifted his cold gaze, shooting Yvonne a sharp look. Yvonne had always been dauntless; she was the type to pick fights without hesitation. But at that moment, the danger in his eyes made her choke on her words.

Just like that, she swallowed everything she was about to say.

Xander strode over to the couch, sitting with a casual arrogance that only heightened the danger in the room. Crossing one leg over the other, he exuded a menace that was impossible to ignore.

With a deliberate motion, Xander set a heavy object on the coffee table with a thud, the threat hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

“So, how do you plan on giving me back what’s mine?”

Each word was said through gritted teeth, laced with pure menace.

Yvonne and Stella both flinched at the sight of the object.

Yvonne swallowed hard. “Believe it or not, I didn’t take it.”

Because she really didn’t.

Xander scoffed, “Oh really? Then tell me, how did it end up with Dan? You just came from seeing him.”

Yvonne faltered, her connection to Dan making her explanation seem weak at best. Before she could respond, Xander sneered, his voice imbued with danger, “He’s marrying someone else, and yet here you are, still covering for him? Yvonne, I never pegged you for the clingy type.”

Yvonne felt a surge of indignation. “That’s not-“

Stella was rendered speechless. Man, this guy was really a piece of work. This was going downhill fast.

Chapter 549

Xander’s barging into the room aggressively had caught Yvonne momentarily off guard. For a brief moment, she even felt a twinge of panic and hesitation at his sudden outburst.

But now, with things escalating so fast, the situation spiraled out of control-Xander had successfully set Yvonne off.

“Xander, you bastard.”

Before he mentioned Dan marrying another woman, Yvonne was still somewhat rational. After all, everyone in Ferrowland knew how she had nearly lost her sanity when Dan suddenly passed away.

Dan, getting married to someone else? That was already a nerve-wracking trigger for her. And at the moment, the mention of Dan was like a match to gasoline for Yvonne’s already frayed nerves. “Want to fight? Fine, I’m in.”

Before this, Yvonne had been trying to keep her cool, partly for Stella’s sake. But Xander’s revelation snapped the last thread of her composure. She turned and stormed to her bedside drawer, yanking it open to grab the item she always kept there for emergencies.

“Want to die here, do you?” she yelled, brandishing her weapon at Xander like a madwoman. “Fine, I’ll make it happen!”

Xander’s face shifted drastically.

“Yvonne, you crazy woman!” he shouted, diving to the side. A loud bang echoed as a bullet tore through the couch cushion, triggering the estate’s security alarms.

Stella stood frozen, her mind struggling to process the chaos.

Meanwhile, Xander and Yvonne had launched into a full-blown brawl. Xander managed to kick the weapon from Yvonne’s hand, and they engaged in a furious struggle.

“Xander and Yvonne are both hotheads,” Stella thought, her heart racing as the room turned into a battlefield. Objects flew and shattered around them.

When Xander finally managed to throw Yvonne off him, Stella snapped. She grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at Xander’s head. The vase shattered on impact, leaving Xander momentarily stunned.

He turned to Stella, his eyes blazing with anger as he clenched his jaw. “Stella, you damn traitor.”

Being hit by Stella only fueled his rage. He hadn’t even settled his scores with her and Ronald yet, and now she dared to attack him?

Xander reached out, ready to grab her. But Yvonne, having picked herself up, tackled him around the waist. “You lay a finger on Star, and I swear three years ago isn’t forgotten, you bastard!”

“Yvonne, let go!” Xander growled, trying to shake her off.

Stella grabbed a photo frame and aimed for Xander’s head again. This time, he dodged, wrestling Yvonne’s grip loose as both of them. tumbled onto the bed.

Yvonne shrieked as Xander landed on top of her. “Ahh!”

Her rage flared even more the moment she noticed their position. “What the heck! You’re heavy as hell. Get off me, you big oaf!”

By the time Ronald and Lottie burst into the room, the place looked like a war zone. A couple of security guards had arrived, and Stella stood by the bed, clutching the photo frame, one guard protectively in front of her.

And on the bed…

Yvonne’s gaze flickered downward, her breathing quickened, her fury skyrocketed. “Where the hell do you think your hand is, Xander?! Get it off me, you damn idiot!”

Her furious outburst drew all eyes to Xander’s hands, and a collective gasp filled the room as people registered the awkward position.

Ronald’s eyes narrowed. He stormed over and hauled Xander off Yvonne.

“Get your damn hands off me!” Xander snapped as he shook off Ronald’s hands.

After the misunderstandings had been cleared up with Lottie, Xander felt emboldened in the Quinn household. His disdain for Ronald was barely concealed.

“Come with me,” Ronald ordered, his voice cold and threatening.

Xander shot a glare at Yvonne, who was still sprawled on the bed. He intended to shoot back with a defiant “No”, but thought better of mouthing off to Ronald. Instead, he followed with a begrudging huff, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

Chapter 550

As Ronald reached the doorway, he paused, turning back slightly.

“What?” Xander asked, puzzled.

But Ronald wasn’t looking at him. His gaze was fixed on Stella behind Xander. “Why don’t you head over to the medical room. I’ll join you and the baby soon.”

Stella nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Xander was taken aback. B-baby?!

Before he could voice his confusion, Ronald had already started walking away, leaving Xander frozen in his tracks, his blood seemingly turning to ice.

Baby? He glanced at Stella’s flat stomach. “You’re pregnant? Whose is it?”

“Are you coming or not?” Ronald stopped again, throwing Xander a dangerous look.

Those deep-set eyes of his radiated a chilling intensity. It was clear that Ronald’s mention of the “baby” was meant for Xander’s ears. The conversation Ronald had just had with his mother in the study made it clear to him that Xander still harbored feelings for Stella.

Xander took a shaky breath, meeting Ronald’s icy stare. His pupils contracted, shooting metaphorical daggers. After a tense moment, he reluctantly followed Ronald out.

Inside the room, Stella put down the photo frame and turned to help Yvonne. “Are you okay?”

Yvonne shook her head. “I’m fine. What were you thinking, provoking him like that? You’re trying to get yourself killed?”

The moment when Xander turned towards Stella with that dangerous look, Yvonne had genuinely feared for her sister. She was half-convinced that if Stella had thrown a vase at him, Xander might have offed her right there and then.

Stella shrugged. “I saw him hitting you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not pregnant, and I’m tough as nails. I can take a beating. But what about you? What if you got hurt and it affected the baby?”

Yvonne was still in shock from hearing Ronald announce Stella’s pregnancy. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she was relieved she had managed to hold Xander back. She wouldn’t forgive herself if something happened to Stella.

Lottie, who had been hovering anxiously, chimed in, “Exactly, Star. That was really dangerous. You’re going to be a mom; you can’t just jump into fights.”

Lottie was equally terrified, talking to Stella in a reproachful tone.

Stella couldn’t help but twitch her lips at the phrase “jump into fights.” In all honesty, when Xander and Yvonne started brawling, she’d jumped right in. That was exactly what it was.

Before she could respond, Lottie continued, “I know you were worried about your sister, but you’re not in any shape to deal with Xander’s wrath. Besides, when Yvonne and Xander get into it, who knows who’ll come out on top?”

Yvonne had been confronting Xander a lot lately, and she always returned without a scratch. Lottie knew her daughter’s capabilities, and despite the tension with Xander, she was confident the bonding between these two couldn’t be ignored, and that he wouldn’t truly harm Yvonne.

As for Xander, Lottie reflected on how the Quinn family had unintentionally wronged him over the years. Ronald, in particular, had vented his anger about Stella’s disappearance on Xander, leaving him no room to explain. He’d been chased around the globe like a fugitive.

Yvonne got up from the bed, inspecting Stella. “Let me see if you’re hurt.”

It had all been such a chaotic blur that she hadn’t had time to check.

Stella shook her head. “I’m fine. I only threw a vase at him.”

“Oh no, you’re hurt!” Yvonne exclaimed, noticing a cut on Stella’s palm, blood seeping from it.

Lottie saw the blood too, her breath catching. “How did you manage to cut yourself? Weren’t you holding the vase?”

Stella glanced at the cut. “I don’t know.”

She hadn’t felt anything at the time.

“Get to the medical room now,” Yvonne urged. “You’re pregnant. You have to be careful with medication.”

With urgency in the air, Stella was hurried off to the medical room.

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