Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 581 to 590) – Daisy Novels 

Chapter 581

The man smirked, a playful glint in his eyes, “So, you’re not hungry?”

“I really don’t…”

“Hmm?!”

Susanna hesitated, “Well…” Honestly, she was starving.

It seemed like she was always getting herself into trouble around Hull. If it wasn’t accidentally yanking on his belt, it was grabbing his towel.

And she almost pulled down his sweatpants once. Good thing they were elastic or else…

Oh no!!!

If this continued, she had no idea which part of Hull she might accidentally grab next time.

“I feel like I’m your jinx.”

Well, there was no point in arguing. It was probably easier to just admit it. Maybe if Hull realized she was a jinx, he’d keep his distance.

Hull seemed taken aback by her declaration. Despite his usual stoic demeanor, a smile tugged at his lips.

A jinx…

What a reason.

With that, he effortlessly scooped her out of the room like a mother cat carrying a kitten, despite Susanna’s protests, “I, I, I’m really not hungry!” €

In her frantic struggle to escape, there was a sudden ripping sound. Hull’s hurried descent down the stairs stopped abruptly.

And Susanna’s mind went blank as she saw what she had done.

She looked at the piece of fabric in her hand, then at Hull’s shirt, which now had a gaping tear, revealing a rather distracting set of abs. Susanna: “.

“I…

Oh my God!!!

This was the definition of a meltdown. She couldn’t help but wonder: What kind of material is this shirt made of?

How much force did she use? To actually…

With a pained expression, she met Hull’s gaze, “I’m sorry, I’ll pay for it.”

There was nothing more to say.

She’d done it again, this time tearing his shirt.

At this rate, she couldn’t face him anymore or she’d end up pulling his pants down next time…

—

After breakfast, Stella stood up, “Wow, I’m stuffed.”

Ronald raised an eyebrow at her, a hint of reprimand in his voice as he gently pinched her cheek, “I told you not to eat so much, but you wouldn’t listen.”

Lottie overheard and looked concerned.

“Oh dear, feeling a bit full? Why don’t you rest a bit, and I’ll take you for a walk?”

Pregnancy was like that—when cravings hit, you had to indulge, even if it meant feeling uncomfortable afterward.

Ronald chimed in, “I’ll take her.”

He stood up, grabbing Stella’s coat and helping her into it.

Lottie nodded, “If you’re busy, go ahead. The wedding dress is being delivered later, and I’ll help Star try it on.”

She wanted to spend more time with her daughter.

She hadn’t had much of a chance since she had to rush off yesterday for an urgent matter.

At the mention of “trying on the wedding dress,” Stella’s expression shifted slightly.

Especially with Ronald giving her that look, she felt a bit guilty.

Stella cleared her throat, “Well, the one my sister made is really nice, there’s no need to try others.”

Mentioning Yvonne, she wanted to remind Ronald why she had gone to try on wedding dresses in Portis City; it was because she knew the dress was Yvonne’s design. As to why it was in Portis City, she had no clue.

But she could swear…

That time, trying on the wedding dress had absolutely nothing to do with Yorick.

Lottie smiled, “A girl only gets married once, so of course, she should choose her favorite. Let’s try them all.”

Chapter 582

When it came to Yvonne, Lottie had her reservations. She couldn’t help but think her daughter was the type who got excited about something for all of three minutes before moving on. Could she really pull off something impressive?

Lottie didn’t want any regrets at her daughter’s star-studded wedding.

“Alright then,” she conceded, though her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced.

With her Mom’s final word, Stella stayed silent. She felt a wave of gratitude when she remembered the little task she’d asked the butler to handle earlier. Lottie was clearly making sure Stella wouldn’t face any criticism.

She wanted to make it clear to all of Ferrowland that Stella was raised as her daughter-in-law, not merely as a daughter. That way, her relationship with Ronald would be perfectly natural and unquestioned.

Ronald, however, wasn’t ready to leave. “I’ll stay and help her with the fittings.”

Lottie shook her head. “No need. The Doyne family has been causing a stir lately. You should handle that.”

“I’ve already sent someone to deal with it,” he replied, clearly not wanting to leave.

Lottie gave him a skeptical look, her lips pursed.

Stella thought about how busy Ronald must be since returning to Ferrowland. She suggested, “I’ll take photos of each outfit, and you can choose your favorite when you get back. How does that sound?”

Lottie huffed. “Typical.”

Ronald pulled Stella closer with a fond smile. “Alright.”

Stella nodded. “You should go take care of your work.”

During dinner, his phone had buzzed incessantly. It wasn’t that he didn’t need to leave; he just didn’t want to.

Lottie, seeing her son so hopelessly affectionate, decided she’d had enough and quickly slipped away.

The household staff, noticing Lottie’s departure, wisely followed suit.

Once it was just Stella and Ronald, Stella instinctively tried to pull away from his embrace.

But Ronald’s grip around her waist tightened slightly. “Where do you think you’re going, hmm?” She blushed, “Mom was just here a moment ago.”

Her cheeks turned a rosy shade, and she felt the need to maintain some decorum in front of the elder.

Ronald chuckled and leaned closer.

Stella immediately caught on, planting a quick kiss on Ronald’s cheek before attempting to retreat.

But before she could, Ronald’s warm hand gently held the back of her neck.

“Mmm…”

His kiss swallowed the rest of her words.

Stella struggled for just a moment before surrendering to his embrace, allowing him to take what he wanted.

His breath was heavy, his warmth enveloping Stella like a comforting blanket, making her feel as though she was melting into him.

About ten minutes later, when Stella was beginning to gasp for air, she tried to pull away.

Suddenly, a startled “Oh!” interrupted them-Yvonne’s voice broke the moment.

Stella was startled, and as Ronald released her, she nearly stumbled backward.

Quick as a flash, Ronald caught her, pulling her back into his arms. “Still so clumsy, huh?”

Yvonne stood at the door, covering her eyes, babbling apologies, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Stella’s face was as red as a ripe tomato, and she buried herself deeper into Ronald’s chest, not wanting to show her face.

Sensing her embarrassment, Ronald shot Yvonne a cold look. “Well, aren’t you leaving?”

Yvonne blushed, flustered. “Oh, right, I’m going, I’m going… But seriously, could you not do that here? Do you expect me not to have eyes?”

Chapter 583

Yvonne quickly turned around, covering her eyes, but in her haste, she ended up bumping right into the wall.

“Ouch!” she winced, letting out a small whimper of pain.

Stella heard the thud and cringed instinctively. Just from the sound, she could tell it hurt.

She tried to wriggle out of Ronald’s embrace to go check on her sister, but Ronald tightened his arms around her.

“Stella, your sister’s fine,” he said.

“But she fell!” Stella protested, concern etched on her face.

“Trust me, she’s used to it,” Ronald assured her.

Stella blinked in disbelief. Sure, Yvonne was always at the gym, sparring and getting bruised up. But still, she was her sister!

Meanwhile, Yvonne could hear their conversation from where she stood, rolling her eyes even though she couldn’t see the couple. She felt like she was intruding on a moment so sweet it made her teeth ache. It was time to make a swift exit.

Stella squirmed in Ronald’s arms, her cheeks flushed. “You can’t be doing this all the time.”

Ronald chuckled softly, “Doing what?”

“You know, being all… cuddly when there are people around,” Stella replied, her voice almost a whisper.

“Sweetheart, with our big family, there are always people around,” he teased.

Stella let out a small huff. Ronald was impossible sometimes.

Originally, Ronald was supposed to stick around to see Stella try on her wedding dress, but then Idris called. Whatever was said on the other end of the line made Ronald’s expression harden.

After he hung up, he softened his gaze back on Stella. “Make sure to take lots of pictures,” he said gently.

“Of course,” Stella nodded, not prying further.

Ronald placed her gently to the side, kissed her forehead, and left without another word. As he turned away, his eyes darkened with a hint of anger.

Outside, Yvonne was on her phone. She had planned to head back to her room, but Xander called.

“So, should I pick you up, or are you coming to the courthouse on your own?” Xander’s voice came through the line.

Yvonne’s eyes widened. “What?! You can’t be serious!”

She had thought about disrupting Stella and Ronald’s plans by joking about marrying Xander to cause chaos, but now that Xander seemed to take it seriously, she was at a loss.

“What’s your game here, Xander?” she demanded, suspicious of his intentions. He was always up to something.

“Game? Weren’t you the one insisting on marrying me yesterday?” he replied nonchalantly.

“Seriously? If I actually said I wanted to marry you, would you even dare?” Yvonne huffed, irritated. She knew he was just using this as leverage because he had been meddling with her sister’s relationship.

Frustrated, she ended the call abruptly.

Turning around, she found Ronald emerging from the house.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, Ronald’s expression was unreadable. Yvonne felt a bit uneasy, given the sweet moment she had witnessed earlier.

“Hey, bro,” she greeted awkwardly.

Ronald approached her, stopping just in front, reaching out a hand. Yvonne, on instinct, took a small step back.

Chapter 584

“What happened?”

Ronald’s warm fingertips brushed gently over her neck, his voice low and soothing. “Who did this to you?”

“Huh?”

Hearing Ronald’s question, Yvonne instinctively touched her neck, feeling the faint bruise.

“Did you go see Dan?”

Yvonne fell silent, her thoughts instantly flashing back to that infuriating encounter. Mentioning Dan was like poking an open wound.

Yes, during their scuffle last night, while others might not have noticed, Yvonne could clearly feel it. Dan wasn’t holding back at all; each move was calculated to hurt.

That’s why, in the end, she hadn’t held back either, knocking him out cold. It was laughable, really.

Once upon a time, Dan had been the man she cherished, the one whose memories she held dear. But now, he had turned on her with such ferocity. Wasn’t it just absurd?

Yvonne took a deep breath. “I went to get something from him.”

“Xander’s file, right? Do you really think retrieving it will make any difference?”

Yvonne sighed. “I doubt it. But Xander’s been hounding me for it like a madman.”

It was clear from Xander’s demeanor yesterday-if she didn’t get that file back, he wouldn’t let it go.

“Did you manage to get it?”

“No,” Yvonne admitted, a hint of frustration in her voice. “I knocked Dan out, but he didn’t have the file on him.”

Dan must have been tougher than she expected. Even after she beat him like that, he refused to give up the file, leaving her with Xander breathing down her neck.

“Don’t go looking for him again,” Ronald advised.

Yvonne paused, then nodded. “Yeah, I won’t.”

Though the words seemed simple, they carried a weight of unspoken determination. It was time to let go, to release the burden she’d carried for so long.

The man she once treasured had become a stranger. Holding onto a mistaken affection was pointless. It was time to move on.

Ronald left, and Yvonne turned back into the house where Stella was still lounging on the couch. As soon as Yvonne entered, she saw Stella perched on the sofa, eyeing her expectantly.

From Yvonne’s perspective, Stella looked like a guilty kitten, her little paws resting on the couch, waiting for approval. Yvonne had planned to tease her a bit, but seeing Stella’s vulnerable expression, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Alright, I know Ronald was giving you a hard time. Don’t worry, it’s not like we’re blood relatives.”

What mischief could a little sister possibly cause?

Yvonne ruffled Stella’s hair playfully. “If he bothers you again, just let me know… or maybe not.”

If anyone else bullied Stella, Yvonne would step in to defend her. But with Ronald, there wasn’t much she could do. Stella noticed Yvonne’s tousled hair and reached out to fix it. “Did you really fight Dan last night?”

Yvonne nodded. “Yeah, we did.”

“Did you win?”

This was what Stella truly cared about, though she was worried seeing Yvonne’s disheveled state. Before Yvonne could answer, Stella spotted the marks on her neck. “Oh my gosh, did he choke you?” “No, this was Xander,” Yvonne clarified.

In fairness, she wasn’t about to falsely accuse Dan. He hadn’t laid a finger on her neck.

Chapter 585

As soon as Stella heard it was Xander, her anger flared up even more.

Clinging to Yvonne’s arm, she whined, “Sis, you shouldn’t be getting into fights. You could get hurt.”

“Ahhh… let go!”

Stella blinked, “Huh?”

Yvonne winced, “Ow, that really hurts.”

Stella’s eyes widened in alarm. She quickly let go of Yvonne and backed up a step, scrutinizing her from head to toe. “Where are you hurt?”

Yvonne’s face was twisted in pain as she gingerly squeezed her own arm, only making things worse. “Ouch-no, it really hurts.”

Stella’s concern deepened. “You’re really hurt? Let me see.”

“No, don’t touch me,” Yvonne gasped, her face pale. “It really hurts.”

Stella was on edge, eyes darting for any sign of serious injury.

Lottie walked in to find Stella carefully trying to help Yvonne out of her jacket, while Yvonne’s face was contorted in pain.

“What on earth happened here?” Lottie demanded, her tone stern as she approached them, a hint of exasperation in her gaze.

Despite her authoritative demeanor, Lottie was every bit the worried mother. Whenever Yvonne got into scrapes, she was always frustrated, even though she knew she couldn’t always keep herself in check.

“Mom, I think Yvonne’s hurt,” Stella said, her voice shaky.

Seeing her mother, Yvonne immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Mom, I got beat up.”

Usually tough and unyielding, her sudden vulnerable act sent shivers down Lottie’s spine, raising goosebumps.

“Oh, cut it out,” Lottie said, clearly taken aback by Yvonne’s unexpected softness.

Yvonne quickly wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes and muttered, “You never say anything when Star acts like this.”

Whenever Star acted coy, their mom would turn all soft and gentle.

Stella just stood there, speechless.

Lottie sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples. “It’s not the same, Yvonne. Have you seen how rough you look right now?”

Yvonne and Skye both had that sun-kissed look. Yvonne was slightly less tanned than Skye, who spent most of her time outdoors and had a deep tan. Yvonne, indulging in some vanity, had managed to lighten her skin a bit over the years, but it was a losing battle.

Yvonne pouted, “Fine, I’m dark. Hey, Star, what kind of skin cream do you use?”

Stella blinked, “Uh, I don’t use any.”

Yvonne was taken aback. Stella really didn’t bother much with skincare. Yvonne had planned to borrow whatever Stella was using to try and lighten up a bit herself. But now, she figured, why bother? She was past caring about such things.

Lottie stepped closer, “Let me see, where are you hurt? Who did this?”

She might be exasperated, but Yvonne was still her daughter. No matter her complexion, if someone had hurt her, it was unacceptable.

Yvonne hesitated but then gingerly removed her jacket to show Lottie. The process had her gritting her teeth in pain. Her shoulder was bruised, a nasty patch of blue, and there were marks on her neck, her hair a tangled mess.

Lottie’s breath hitched, her anger simmering beneath the surface. “You…”

She took a deep breath. “Who did this?”

Yvonne sighed, “Xander.”

Lottie was at a loss. That kid. Xander was a whole other issue. He had never been good with words, and years ago, his inability to explain things had led to this mess.

“Xander,” Lottie said, shaking her head. “You need to stop getting into fights with him.”

Chapter 586

Stella: “What the…?!”

Wait, are we not having a showdown here?

Just a moment ago, seeing the bruises on Yvonne’s arms, Mom was all set to give someone a talking-to.

And now… this?

Yvonne pouted, “Mom, come on, it was him who picked a fight with me yesterday.”

“And I was the one who got punched by Xander. You’re telling me not to fight back with Xander? What’s up with that?”

Why does that just not sit right with me?

Not fight back with Xander?

Was it my fault? Yesterday, Xander looked like he was ready to tear me apart.

Was I supposed to just stand there and take it without fighting back?

“Mom, you’re playing favorites.”

Lottie: “Hey, weren’t you just saying yesterday that you wanted to marry Xander?”

“Yeah, I did say that, but now things are a bit more complicated.”

“I feel like Xander is up to something; he’s definitely plotting something against me.”

Just then, Xander walked in from outside, catching her words. He paused for the briefest second.

Stella was the first to notice him, her face turning a shade darker, and she quickly tugged at Yvonne’s sleeve.

Yvonne was still ready to argue her case to her mom.

But with Stella pulling her like that…

Yvonne: “Ugh, stop pulling me, I’m not done talking.”

What’s there to hide?

She’s not lying; it was Xander who picked the fight yesterday.

What’s Mom implying? Like, she marched up to Xander for a brawl.

Well, okay, she used to…

But that was before she knew the truth.

“It’s jerk Xander,” Stella whispered quietly.

Lottie: “Star, you…”

With stubborn kids, it’s like banging your head against a wall.

Lottie shot Stella a look, and Yvonne couldn’t help but chuckle at the mention of “jerk Xander.”

“Yeah, exactly, jerk Xander, he’s…”

“He’s here.”

Stella interjected again.

Though her voice was soft, Xander’s face had turned as dark as a burnt toast.

Yvonne: “…”

Lottie: “…”

Hearing Stella’s words, they all turned to look at the doorway, and the moment they laid eyes on Xander… Lottie’s expression froze instantly.

Yvonne: “!!!”

This guy… He just called and said he was heading to the courthouse, and now he’s here? What’s his game?

Lottie finally snapped out of it, warmly calling out, “Xander, you’re here.”

Xander nodded, glancing at the disheveled Yvonne sitting on the couch. “I’m here to take Yvonne to get married.” Stella, Yvonne: “…”

Lottie was momentarily taken aback.

Last night, Ronald had filled her in on the situation.

She thought it was just young folks messing around, but what’s this now?

Before Lottie could respond, Yvonne burst out, “Who wants to marry you? Not in a million years.”

“Yvonne, you were the one who said you’d marry me yesterday. I’ve got it on recording, come on, listen for yourself.”

With that, Xander pulled out his phone and hit play.

The recording played Yvonne’s emphatic, “I do.”

Those three words were said with such determination.

Anyone listening might think Yvonne had been head over heels for Xander for years, finally getting her fairytale ending. Hearing the recording, Yvonne was dumbfounded… No way, this guy? In that situation, he had the nerve to record it? He missed his calling as a spy, seriously.

Lottie listened to the recording and turned to Yvonne, “You said you’d marry him?”

“No, I…”

“But you sounded so happy when you said it.”

Yeah, that’s what Lottie heard in Yvonne’s tone on the recording.

Yvonne’s mouth twitched, “I wasn’t, I really wasn’t.”

Happy? That was totally more like gloating.

Chapter 587

Lottie and Xander headed straight to the study.

Meanwhile, Stella was helping Yvonne get dressed, while Yvonne was grumbling under her breath.

“That shameless Xander, can you believe how much time he has on his hands? Who would’ve thought he’d record the conversation?”

In that situation, who in their right mind would think to hit the record button?

“But Xander did…”

Yvonne muttered, “What a jerk.”

She was fuming.

Stella shrugged, “Well, you said it yourself, he’s shameless. Who knows what he plans to do with the recording?”

Yvonne’s face darkened at Stella’s suggestion.

Yeah, what was Xander planning with that recording?

Stella speculated, “Trying to blackmail your brother?”

Yvonne clapped her hands together. “Exactly! He was chatting with Ronald back then, so the recording must have been about him.”

She started piecing it together.

When she went over, it was just Xander and Ronald in the study. What else could he be recording for, if not to get something on Ronald? Hearing this, Stella paused.

Then she picked up the phone, “I need to call my brother.”

What was Xander up to, recording a private conversation with Ronald?

That’s not something a normal person would do.

The call connected quickly.

“Is the wedding dress here?” Ronald asked.

“Not yet,” Stella replied.

Ronald chuckled softly, “So, you miss me? I’ve only been gone half an hour.”

His voice was tender and teasing, causing Stella to blush and glance at Yvonne, who was giving her a look of mock exasperation.

Stella quickly turned away, covering the phone with her hand. “No, that’s not it.”

“Oh? Then what is it, Star?”

“Xander came around asking my sister to marry him and played a recording,” Stella explained, cutting to the chase.

If he kept flirting, Yvonne might actually start crying.

Even though she pretended not to care about Dan, Stella remembered how Yvonne looked when she returned-hair a mess, clothes damp.

Clearly, she’d spent quite some time outside…

Even the strongest have their sensitive spots.

Dan had been a part of her life for so long; how could she not care at all?

Ronald’s voice grew serious. “What recording?”

“Xander was saying my sister wouldn’t want to marry him, but then suddenly there was her voice saying she would.”

“We suspect that when Xander spoke with you, he recorded it. Only you know what was said, but he’s likely trying to blackmail you.”

Stella summed it up succinctly.

Ronald listened, his eyes narrowing. Xander had recorded their conversation?

Behind his glasses, his eyes turned cold.

“Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare.”

Xander is trying to blackmail him?

That would mean he’s not enjoying his time in Ferrowland, when all he ever wanted while in Patrina was to return to Ferrowland. Stella advised, “Just keep an eye on him. Even if he explained everything to you and Mom, my sister and I still don’t trust him.” Ronald had vouched for Xander, but Stella wasn’t buying it, and neither was Yvonne.

The incident back then had been chaotic. Xander’s story might fit, but too much time had passed, and many details were fuzzy. Ronald reassured her, “I understand.”

“Alright, I’ll let you go.”

“Okay.”

As the call ended, Ronald’s expression remained cold. He removed his glasses, massaging his temples.

“Has Xander’s story been verified?” he asked Idris.

Idris nodded, “Yes, it checks out.”

Ronald put his glasses back on, but the chill in his gaze lingered.

Idris hesitated, “Are you really going to let Miss Yvonne marry Mr. Schultz?”

“Yvonne has a mind of her own. She’ll make Xander’s life a living hell.”

Idris’s mouth twitched.

No kidding.

Xander’s sudden proposal to Yvonne had everyone questioning his motives.

But he seemed to have forgotten one thing during his time in Patrina: Yvonne and Skye were Ferrowland’s most notorious troublemakers.

If Xander thought marrying Yvonne would cover something up, he was sorely mistaken.

Yvonne might just turn his life upside down. Marrying her wasn’t a cover; it was inviting chaos.

—

Back at the Quinn family estate.

Just as Stella hung up with Ronald, Susanna called.

Over the phone, Susanna assured Stella that she hadn’t done anything rash.

Stella praised her, “Good job, that’s exactly how you should handle it.”

In Stella’s opinion, Susanna’s past antics in Hull were due to her being too proactive.

In Portis City, Susanna would have known all the tricks without Stella needing to say a word.

But in Hull, it seemed she was genuinely startled.

However, she overlooked one crucial detail-they were living under the same roof…

Just a moment ago, Susanna claimed she hadn’t done anything, but then she added, “I ripped Hull’s clothes.”

Her voice carried a note of despair through the phone.

Stella paused, “Wait, what?”

Susanna’s sudden confession left Stella stunned for a few seconds, her mind spinning.

Images of belt buckles, towels, pants, and shirts flashed in her mind.

“You managed to strip Hull of nearly everything he had on.”

Susanna’s despair was palpable, and Stella couldn’t help but feel a twinge of secondhand embarrassment.

Susanna groaned, “Don’t even start. I was completely out of it, just like that time in Mist Bay.”

“I swear, anyone who doesn’t know the whole story might think I’m head over heels for him or something. But honestly, no matter how much I try to explain, it’s like talking to a brick wall. Ugh…”

Chapter 588

As Susanna kept talking, her emotions spiraled out of control until she finally broke down into tears. Stella sighed, “Is this what you call being clear? You’ve gone and done everything you shouldn’t have.”

Honestly, she couldn’t blame anyone for not believing Susanna.

Right now, Stella was suspicious… “Sis, just be straight with me. Do you have a thing for Hull? Was all of this on purpose?” Stella couldn’t help but wonder if Susanna had developed feelings for Hull and if all her actions were intentional.

That one question, “Was it on purpose?” sent Susanna on the other end of the call into a fit, her voice rising in protest.

“By all that’s holy, I swear it wasn’t on purpose!”

Stella was left speechless.

She figured Susanna probably hadn’t done it on purpose, but still…

“Weren’t you told? Don’t do anything, just chill.”

Stella was exasperated, feeling utterly defeated. Back in Portis City, Susanna never seemed this reckless. But now? Her level of carelessness was off the charts.

Susanna protested, “I really didn’t do anything.”

“If you did nothing, why were you tearing Hull’s shirt off?”

“I wasn’t tearing, I was ripping.”

“Is there a difference?” Stella snapped, getting more frustrated.

To her, there was no difference whatsoever.

Susanna, sounding a bit sheepish, replied, “Well, there is…”

Stella was left at a loss for words.

She suddenly realized how difficult communication with Susanna was.

“Just avoid him, okay? If you don’t like him, don’t see him. Unless, of course, you do like him…”

“I don’t like him, I’m terrified!”

With those three intimidating men around, who would like that? It was downright frightening.

Stella sighed, “Then just don’t see him, please. If you really piss him off, I can’t guarantee your safety.” After all, Hull was someone important to Ronald and held a certain status in Ferrowland.

Stella feared that if Susanna pushed Hull too far, things could get… well, scary.

Even though Ronald had mentioned that Hull might like Susanna, Stella found it hard to believe.

After giving Susanna a good talking-to, Susanna sounded pitiful, “I didn’t want to see him, either.” Stella was at a loss for words again.

If she didn’t want to see him, then how did she end up in a situation where she tore his clothes?

Rubbing her forehead, Stella felt a headache coming on.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Stella was always on edge whenever she discussed Susanna and Hull’s situation.

Just as she was about to ask Susanna if she needed someone to fetch her, ready to do so herself if necessary, Susanna spoke up first, “Let’s talk about my mom.”

Stella paused.

“Have you confirmed anything for me?” Susanna asked, clearly anxious about news of her mother.

Stella replied, “We’re still working on it. Let me make a call and check.”

“Okay, please do,” Susanna said before ending the call.

Yvonne, who was nearby, looked at Stella and asked, “Your friend?”

Stella nodded, “Yeah.”

It was always the same. Over the phone, Susanna sounded scared to death, yet when Stella went to get her, she refused to leave.

Yvonne gave a knowing smile, “No wonder you’ve been away so much these past years. You’ve got some confidante out there.”

Stella defended herself, “Didn’t you tell me before to make more friends when I’m out? That way, when things get tough, I can find someone to help.”

Yvonne shrugged, “I meant at school.”

“It’s all the same,” Stella retorted before quickly dialing to check on Lacey’s situation.

As expected, things weren’t progressing smoothly, especially since it involved the notorious Black Gate. Nothing was ever simple with them.

As the conversation continued, several racks of wedding dresses arrived, each filled with a variety of styles.

Yvonne’s eyes widened at the sheer number of dresses. “What’s wrong with the wedding dress I made?”

Stella replied, “Mom said a girl only gets married once, so I should choose the one I love most. She wants me to take my time and look around.”

“I used to believe a girl only got married once,” Yvonne said with a skeptical chuckle. “But now, who knows?”

Stella was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

Lottie and Xander descended the stairs at that moment, overhearing Yvonne’s comment. Lottie’s face darkened. Stella and Yvonne turned to face them, with Stella greeting, “Mom.”

Yvonne pursed her lips, “I’m just stating a fact. Didn’t Xander’s cousin, Daisy Schultz, just get divorced recently?” “You…” Lottie was visibly upset.

She didn’t want to continue this line of conversation. It was ill-timed and inappropriate, especially when someone was about to get married. Lottie turned to Yvonne and declared, “You, go and get your marriage license with Xander right away.”

Both Stella and Yvonne were stunned.

Yvonne couldn’t believe her ears. She wondered if she had misunderstood her mom.

“Mom, what do you mean by that?”

Get a marriage license with Xander?

For goodness’ sake, that’s a marriage license! You don’t just get one on a whim.

Especially with Xander acting so strangely yesterday, Yvonne was beginning to suspect he had ulterior motives. Now, more than ever, she felt she shouldn’t rush into anything with him. It might turn out to be a huge mistake. Stella, too, was taken aback by Lottie’s sudden decision. “Mom, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

She had spoken out of anger before, suggesting she’d marry Xander, but she hadn’t meant it.

And yesterday, when her mom heard she wanted to use marriage to get back at Xander, she had been furious. So why was she agreeing to it now…?

Chapter 589

Nobody really knew what Xander and Lottie discussed in the study, but somehow, he agreed to it.

Lottie turned to her daughter, Stella. “Sweetheart.”

“Mom, it’s just not right. Yesterday, when he talked to my brother in the study, he even recorded the conversation! He’s really sneaky.”

Who records conversations during a friendly chat?

Just from this, you could tell something was off with Xander.

Hearing Stella call him ‘sneaky’, Xander felt a pang of frustration deep in his gut.

These folks were acting like he was the only one who had messed up back then, pinning all the blame solely on him.

Lottie said firmly, “Hush now, we’ll talk later.”

Stella pressed her lips together.

Yvonne chimed in, “Sweetheart’s right, he is sneaky.”

Xander was fuming now and snapped at Stella, “So, are you marrying me? It doesn’t matter, you’re my fiancée anyway.”

Stella remained silent.

Lottie sighed.

But Yvonne wasn’t having any of it. “Hey, you shameless guy! Sweetheart is pregnant! With my Brother’s child, and you’re still thinking about her.

She had seen her fair share of shameless people over the years, but Xander was something else.

Was he so desperate that he had to latch onto a pregnant woman?

Xander turned to Yvonne, “Then are you marrying me?”

Yvonne’s eyes widened in shock.

Yesterday, she might have thought about using that strategy to mess with Xander.

But seeing him now, she suddenly felt a bit apprehensive and didn’t want to take the risk.

She huffed, “I’m not marrying you either.”

Xander glared at her, choosing to say nothing.

Lottie spoke up, “Alright, it’s just about getting a marriage certificate, not about walking through fire.”

Yvonne protested, “Mom, there’s something off about him.”

Let’s be rational here, okay?

Yvonne could tell that her mother felt guilty about what happened three years ago, and this was her way of making amends.

“Come on, even if you want to make it up to him, don’t use me, alright? I am your daughter, after all.”

Lottie felt a headache coming on. “It’s not about making it up; it’s just helping someone out. Hurry up and go.”

“Help? Help with what?”

Yvonne was puzzled.

Stella looked over at Lottie and then at Xander.

Help, huh?

She wasn’t buying it.

Even Yvonne didn’t believe it at this point.

Every word Xander said seemed loaded with ulterior motives.

You never knew when you might get caught in his trap; he was sly like that.

Yvonne shot Xander a glance. “What do you need help with?”

“It’s inconvenient to say,” Xander replied.

Yvonne was taken aback. “Hey…”

Lottie cut her off, “Yes, it’s inconvenient.”

Yvonne and Stella exchanged looks, stunned.

Hearing the exchange between Lottie and Xander, the two sisters glanced at their mom.

Then they turned their attention to Xander.

Yvonne, exasperated, rubbed her hands together. “This isn’t right. You’re asking for my help but can’t tell me why?”

Lottie nodded. “Yes, it’s inconvenient. Now, hurry up and go.”

With that, she practically handed Yvonne over to Xander.

And Xander wasted no time, taking Yvonne out the door.

Stella wanted to say something, but Lottie held her back. “Mom.”

“Alright, don’t you worry about your sister’s affairs.”

Lottie’s tone softened, a hint of resignation creeping in now that Yvonne was out of earshot.

Stella insisted, “But Xander isn’t a good guy.”

Lottie gave her a pointed look. “What do you know about judging people at your age?”

Stella pouted.

Lottie, seeing her daughter like this, felt a wave of exasperation. “Alright, alright, Xander won’t harm her. The one we should really worry about is Dan. Now, he’s the real bad guy.”

That scoundrel…

Daring to mess with her daughter, she needed to figure out how to deal with him.

Chapter 590

Did she think Lottie was running a charity or something?

When Lottie mentioned Dan, a flicker of concern crossed Stella’s eyes.

That man had occupied a space in Yvonne’s heart for so many years.

Back then, she nearly lost her mind over him…

Yvonne seemed fine now, but who knew what she was really going through inside?

Maybe the more you pretend everything’s okay, the more you’re hiding.

—

Ronald came back from his errands to find Stella exhausted, sitting on the couch still in her wedding dress.

A maid handed her a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice. “Miss, have some juice and take a break.” Stella nodded. “Thanks.”

She usually liked the taste of orange juice, but today it tasted off.

After a couple of sips, she handed it back.

“What’s wrong, miss? Did we make it too strong today?” the maid inquired.

Stella shook her head. “I just don’t feel like drinking it. It tastes weird.”

Pregnant women often have heightened senses of taste and smell. What used to be a perfectly fine glass of juice now had a strange flavor to her. When Ronald returned, the maid greeted him with respect, “Sir.”

Ronald waved her away, signaling everyone else who’d been helping Stella with her dress to leave as well.

Left alone with Stella, he sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms.

“Tired?” he asked.

Nestling into him, Stella found a comfortable spot. “Yeah. How come you’re back so soon?”

“Finished up early. Where’s Mom?” he replied.

“Got a call and left in a hurry. She was supposed to help me with the dress, but got busy.”

Everyone in the family seemed so busy all the time, except her. She felt like she was just there to eat and relax.

She had been, and still was.

Ronald ruffled her hair, and Stella snuggled closer. “Do we really have to let Yvonne marry that scoundrel, Xander?”

“Why?” she questioned, still puzzled by the change of plans.

To her, Xander was nothing but trouble.

Ronald sighed. “He’s got some issues right now, and Yvonne’s helping out.”

“What kind of issues?”

Stella didn’t quite get it. Forced marriages were unheard of in the Schultz family. After all, three years ago, the Quinn family had a major fallout, which affected the Schultz family too.

During that time, Xander almost severed ties with the Schultz family. To this day, he hadn’t visited once, and Old Mr. Schultz, Samuel, acted like he didn’t have a son named Xander.

So, the idea of rushing into marriage seemed out of the question for the Schultz family.

“Enough questions,” Ronald said. “Let them handle it.”

Stella pouted. “What do you mean by ‘enough’? I’m not a kid anymore, and I’m having your baby!”

He still treated her like a child.

Well, three years ago, when she left, she might have been one in his eyes.

Her whole life, the Lugar family had shielded her so well.

Everyone still saw her as a kid, so naturally, she wasn’t involved in important decisions.

Listening to her playful grumbling, Ronald chuckled. “Alright, alright, you’re all grown up, soon to be Mom.”

“Then stop calling me a kid,” Stella retorted with a huff.

Amused by her pouty face, Ronald affectionately pinched her nose. “Want to keep trying on dresses?”

She shook her head. “No way, I’m exhausted.”

Trying on dresses could wear a person out!

“Then change out of it. Let’s head over to Grandma’s for dinner,” Ronald suggested.

“Back to the Lugar family house?”

“Yep,” he nodded.

A smile spread across Stella’s face. She missed her Grandma and Grandpa.

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