Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath [Stella] (Chapters 601 to 610) – Daisy Novels 

Chapter 601

Yvonne Quinn was sitting next to her brother Ronald, listening to him chat on the phone. The sugary-sweet conversation between him and Stella was enough to make her want to crawl out of her own skin.

Seriously, she swore, if her pores ever got clogged from all this lovey-dovey nonsense, she’d be sending them both the dermatologist bill.

After all these years… They’d all been around each other forever, and now that Ronald was finally dating someone, he was acting like a total lovesick teenager.

Ronald murmured a few more soft words to Stella before hanging up. Yvonne shot him a teasing look. “Well, would you look at that, big bro. Didn’t know you had it in you to be such a smooth talker.”

“We used to worry you’d scare Stella off, you know.”

The truth was, everyone in both the Quinn and Lugar families had known for ages how Ronald felt about Stella. That was the real reason both families had always treated Stella like one of their own.

Family is family, after all. Of course, they doted on her.

The thing was, Ronald had always come off so serious. Sure, he was good to Stella, but he just had this stern, almost fatherly vibe. It was like he was her overprotective dad, not her boyfriend. No wonder they’d all been worried she’d feel pressured.

But judging by that phone call, it seemed like they’d been worried for nothing. Ronald was absolutely doting on Stella, and honestly, it was kind of sweet.

Then again, he’d always been gentle with her. Even back when he looked super serious, one sad look from Stella, and you could see him soften right up.

Ronald shot Yvonne a look-one of those classic, big-brother glares.

Her grin faded. “Hey, why are you glaring at me like that?”

Okay, so there were different kinds of “serious.” The look he gave Stella wasn’t the same as the one he gave her. Total double standard.

Ronald straightened the cuff of his shirt. “Stay away from Dan Murray.”

“Yeah, I know,” Yvonne said, nodding.

What was the point in staying friends with a guy who was practically engaged to someone else, anyway? Even if Dan was going to be in town for a while, she could manage to keep her distance. No point in making things messy.

Ronald gave her another sideways look. “You did a real number on him, huh?”

He’d seen the bandages on Dan’s forehead and chest earlier. It was obvious Yvonne hadn’t held back.

And the oatmeal stains on his shirt? Clearly, she’d gone back into his hospital room and let him have it again.

Dan used to be the only guy Yvonne was ever soft with. But after all these years, that tenderness had vanished.

Yvonne shrugged. “Yeah, I really didn’t expect him to be such a wimp. Guess I was a little rough.”

She remembered how tough Dan had been five years ago. Now? It had been almost too easy to put him in the hospital. Honestly, she thought Dan’s bodyguard Manny could take him these days.

Ronald actually looked a little pleased at her answer.

Meanwhile, over at the Lugar house, Stella was sitting with Lydia, her grandmother, who was showing off her collection of family heirlooms. Stella tried to look excited, even though jewelry didn’t really do much for her.

“Wow, Grandma, you’ve got some seriously cool stuff.”

Lydia beamed. “Of course I do! I’ve been collecting these for years. They’re all for you and Yvonne.”

Stella glanced over the sparkling emeralds and various gemstones, all glittering under the lights. They were pretty, she had to admit.

Suddenly, Lydia noticed the necklace around Stella’s neck. “Hey, that’s a beautiful necklace. Did Ronald get it for you?”

Stella smiled and touched the pendant. “No, my sister made it for me. Pretty, right?”

Lydia nodded. “It’s lovely. What’s it made of?”

“She said she ‘found’ the stone somewhere wouldn’t tell me what kind. Honestly, knowing her, she probably got swindled into buying it and just didn’t want to admit it.”

If anyone tried to cheat Yvonne, though, they’d definitely regret it.

Lydia shook her head in amazement. “When did she learn to make jewelry? I knew she could sew, but this is new.”

Thinking about why Yvonne had learned to sew in the first place, Lydia’s eyes grew a little misty.

Chapter 602

Stella caught the flicker of emotion in her eyes and gave a gentle nudge, “Hey, Sis, I know you’ve learned your lesson.”

“Hm?”

“Relax. She’s not gonna change herself for that guy anymore.”

Thinking about how much Yvonne used to bend over backwards for Dan made Stella’s chest ache a little. Dan had been a big deal in Yvonne’s world. Who would’ve thought he’d turn out to be… well, that kind of man?

Lydia sighed, “Let’s hope so.”

She really did feel for Yvonne. Yvonne always acted so carefree, so loud and brash, nobody would’ve guessed she could fall so hard for someone.

“Wait, is Dan even alive?” Lydia asked suddenly.

It had been five years. The guy was supposed to be dead. Who would imagine he was still kicking around?

Stella nodded, “Yeah. He’s alive.”

Lydia frowned, “Who the heck made the call that he was dead back then?” That was a big deal. If you can’t even tell if someone’s alive or dead, what’s the point of being a doctor?

“Finley,” Stella replied.

Lydia’s jaw dropped. “Oh, that explains everything.”

When it came to Finley Yoder, Lydia was at a loss for words. “I honestly don’t know how he ever got his ‘genius doctor’ reputation.”

Everyone in town raved about Finley’s skills, but anyone who actually knew him… well, they knew better.

As they were talking, Ronald and Yvonne walked in from the porch. “Grandma,” Yvonne called out first.

There was still a bruise on her face. When she leaned in closer, Lydia jumped. “Oh my goodness, what happened to your face? Who did this to you?”

It was obvious she’d been hit.

Stella’s eyes went wide, too. Yvonne gingerly touched her cheek, wincing. “Ugh, the jerk’s goons didn’t hold back. Hurts like hell.”

Even her lip had started to swell.

Stella blinked. “The jerk’s… people?”

Something about the way Yvonne said it just felt off.

Lydia’s face darkened as soon as she heard “the jerk.” “Dan’s people?”

Yvonne nodded. “Yeah, but enough about that. Grandma, what’s with all the jewelry? Showing off?”

Stella stifled a laugh. Lydia swatted Yvonne’s arm. “Watch your mouth, you little rascal! You think I’m that type?”

Yvonne grinned, “Of course not.”

Still, why lay all this stuff out?

Lydia huffed, “Star’s getting married soon. These are part of her wedding trousseau. I’m letting her pick. You want to take a look too?”

Yvonne shook her head, “I’m not getting married, Grandma. Give it all to Star.”

Yvonne never cared much for fancy things anyway. Stella was the girly one; might as well let her have everything.

Stella chimed in, “I’ve got more than enough, honestly. I don’t need any more.”

She really meant it. After all those years away, her mom and Yvonne had stuffed her closet with so many things she could barely close the doors. Watching the two girls push the treasures back and forth, Lydia scowled, “Fine, I’ll just throw it all out then?”

“Wait, I’ll pick!” Yvonne piped up, knowing from Lydia’s tone she was about to lose her temper. She hurried over to sift through the boxes. Not that she’d actually use any of it—she’d probably just hand it over to Star anyway.

Meanwhile, Ronald sidled up to Stella and slipped a bracelet onto her wrist. Lydia caught sight of it and cleared her throat. “Ahem, that one’s for Yvonne.”

That piece wasn’t cheap, either. The kid’s got a good eye, she thought.

Yvonne waved it off, “Give it to Star. I don’t even like that one.”

Ha, Lydia thought, this old lady’s really playing favorites out in the open. Poor Star, sitting right there, how’s she supposed to feel?

But Lydia knew what Yvonne was thinking and snorted, “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve got something even better set aside for Star. What are you worried about?”

Like she’d really play favorites. One was her darling granddaughter-in-law, and the other, well, Star was carrying her great-grandchild, after all.

Chapter 603

When Ronald brought Stella into the cozy room, they found Levi fiddling with the pot Stella had brought him from her trip. The grin on his face was so wide it could have split his cheeks.

Stella shot Ronald a glance, and he snickered under his breath. “Someone’s pretending not to care.”

Stella had just told Ronald over the phone that Levi seemed less than thrilled with her gift. But looking at that happy grin, now disappointed? Seriously?

Ronald cleared his throat, and Levi snapped out of his reverie, turning around to face them. The moment he spotted Stella, he wiped the smile off his face and put the pot down, all business.

“Don’t you think that just because you brought me this thing, I’ll forgive you for disappearing for three years?” Levi huffed, arms crossed. “Three years! Do you even realize how long that is? You think that’s something you can just say sorry for and move on?”

Stella pouted. “But you literally just said we were good, not even five minutes ago!”

How could he switch up so quickly?

Levi grumbled, “That was just so your grandma wouldn’t get upset. I haven’t forgiven you.”

“What if I get you another pot? Maybe a bigger one?” Stella offered, only half joking.

Levi just snorted and turned his back on them.

Stella, undeterred, held up three fingers. “How about three pots? That’s my final offer!”

She’d never bought anyone that many presents at once-except Ronald, of course. For him, it was always hard to resist picking up little things she thought he’d like.

“Order them now,” Levi said, not turning around.

Stella couldn’t help but laugh. “Deal, I’ll get right on it.”

She’d actually already messaged the shop owner to send over a few more, just in case.

With Levi pacified, the mood lightened. The group headed to The Lugar Castle for lunch, lingering until well after two before finally heading out. Lydia, even though she clearly favored Yvonne, still treated Stella warmly, shoving extra goodies into her hands as they were leaving. In the Car

Yvonne sat up front, scrolling through her phone. “Wow. Mom really handles everything, huh?”

Stella looked up. “Handles what?”

“You and my brother,” Yvonne replied, glancing back. “I was kinda worried people would talk behind your backs about the whole thing. But now? It’s all handled. Mom fixed it.”

Stella blinked. “People talking…?”

Before coming back from Portis City, she’d been nervous about gossip. But after seeing her mom and grandma’s reactions, she realized-why should she care about what outsiders think? The only opinions that mattered were those of the people she loved. If her mom and grandma disapproved… Well, that would actually hurt.

But now, hearing Yvonne say her mom had smoothed things over, Stella couldn’t help but ask, “How’d she do that?”

“You didn’t hear this morning?” Ronald ruffled Stella’s hair fondly.

Stella’s mind flashed back to that morning, coming downstairs and catching her mom on the phone, saying something about, “My daughter-in-law is all grown up now…”

That was her mom’s way of dealing with things-making a public statement so nobody dared to say a word against Stella.

Stella felt a lump in her throat and snuggled closer to Ronald. He brushed her cheek gently. “Touched?”

“Yeah,” she whispered, genuinely moved.

Back in Portis City, the Larkin family had shown her just how cold-blooded ties could be. Family by name, but nothing more. But with the Quinns and the Lugars, she felt nothing but warmth. That’s why she’d never called Cloudia Lawson “Mom” or Jaxon Larkin “Brother.” Mom, Dad, brother— those titles belonged to Ronald’s family, not the Larkins.

She wanted nothing to do with them.

Buzz, buzz. Yvonne’s phone vibrated, snapping Stella out of her thoughts.

“Hello?” Yvonne answered.

“Ms. Quinn, it’s Manny.”

Yvonne nearly hung up-she’d promised her brother she wouldn’t get mixed up with Dan’s people. But Manny seemed to sense her hesitation. “Our boss got beaten up. Again.”

Yvonne’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?!”

Stella and Ronald exchanged looks.

The way Manny said “again,” you could hear the exasperation in his voice. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time.

Yvonne sighed. “What, do you want me to pay for his hospital bills? I’ll say it now, if it wasn’t me who hit him, I’m not paying a dime.”

Chapter 604

When Yvonne thought back to how Manny had practically dragged her out of the city hall, she figured it was probably because she’d punched Dan and owed compensation.

Okay, fair. She had punched the guy, after all.

But this time, she hadn’t laid a finger on anyone-so why was she in trouble again?

Manny’s voice turned icier over the phone. “Maybe you didn’t hit him, but you’re still involved.”

Yvonne was at a loss for words.

What kind of logic is that?

She didn’t hit anyone, but she’s still responsible? Who makes up these rules? Either these people were geniuses, or they were out of their minds. Yvonne bit her tongue and finally asked, “So who did hit him?”

Manny’s answer came sharp and quick. “Mr. Schultz. Xander Schultz. The guy you’re supposed to marry. He came to the hospital and clocked our boss.”

The anger in Manny’s voice was boiling over, rising higher with every word until he sounded on the verge of breaking down.

Yvonne blinked. “Wait, what?”

Well, that was…unexpected.

But honestly? Not bad news at all.

The moment Yvonne had seen Xander get hit at the city hall, she’d known Dan was finished. This was Ferrowland, after all. Whatever big shot Dan thought he was back in Sands City, it didn’t matter here.

Xander was the local kingpin around these parts. Even a big fish from out of town can’t outswim the sharks who know these waters.

Seeing how worked up Manny was, Yvonne tried to sound reasonable. “Look, you guys went after him today, right? You know Xander-he’s not the forgiving type. Of course, he was going to hit back.”

She remembered Manny showing up at her place earlier, looking like he was ready to start a bar brawl; heck, he’d even brought backup! Even when Xander had gotten burned before, he’d still managed to get a few punches in.

With his kind of temper? Of course, he was going to settle the score.

“If you ask me, you all had it coming,” Yvonne said flatly.

Manny snapped, “Ms. Quinn, maybe you should figure out whose side you’re on.”

Yvonne bristled. “Excuse me? Maybe you should listen to yourself for a second.”

Did Manny even understand what was going on with Dan and Aira Wilson?

She was supposed to take the side of a guy who was about to marry another woman?

“If you ask me, Xander should’ve punched you, too. Maybe it’d knock some sense into you.”

Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t be talking like this, she thought.

Seeing Yvonne finally lose her cool, Manny sounded desperate. “Our boss forgot about you, okay? He’s not hurting you on purpose. You can’t just let people beat him up.”

Yvonne rolled her eyes. “Maybe he should just crawl back to Sands City and be a mayor over there, instead of making a fool of himself here.” And with that, she hung up.

Forgot about her? Not hurting her on purpose? Yvonne snorted. As far as she was concerned, Dan was faking it using “amnesia” as an excuse to have his cake and eat it too. Disgusting.

She was so angry she could feel it in her bones.

Ronald was sitting on the couch, holding Stella as she snuggled into his chest. He looked up, not bothering to hide his amusement. “So, Dan got beat up?”

“Yep. His people are saying he’s got amnesia, so none of the stuff he’s done to me counts, and I’m supposed to be on his side.”

She scoffed. “Can you believe that? Like any sane person would buy it.”

“If you ask me,” Ronald said with a grin, “Xander went too easy on them. Maybe another round would knock some sense into those idiots.”

Yvonne’s complaint about Xander seemed to put Ronald and Stella at ease. Their biggest fear was that Yvonne might suddenly say she wanted to check on Dan, which would’ve really been a nightmare.

Yvonne was still fuming, about to rant some more, when her phone rang again. This time, it was Xander.

She picked up. “What do you want?”

She was still mad about Dan, and now Xander was calling? Just great.

Or maybe it was just that after being bullied by Ronald for so many years, Xander had finally had enough. For once, he wasn’t waiting a day before getting payback-he’d handled it all in the time it took to eat lunch.

Xander’s voice was cool and direct. “I’m outside City Hall. Come down.”

“What for?”

As soon as she heard he was at the City Hall, Yvonne’s heart skipped a beat.

“To finish getting married,” Xander replied.

Yvonne nearly dropped her phone.

After all this drama, he still wanted to go through with the wedding?

Chapter 605

No one really knew what kind of mess Xander had stumbled into this time, but for some reason, he was dead set on marrying her.

The thing was, he’d only told her Brother and their Mom about it, never bothered to clue her in at all.

Was she just not important enough to know?

Yvonne cleared her throat awkwardly. “Hey, what’s going on—?”

“Yvonne, listen to me,” Xander suddenly snapped through the phone. “You’re getting married to me. End of story. No arguments.”

He sounded pissed-really pissed.

Stella had run off with Ronald; now he was knee-deep in trouble, and all he wanted was for Yvonne to play along. But instead, he’d just gotten punched in the face for his trouble.

Where was the justice in that?

Dan, that absolute lunatic, if Xander didn’t make him pay big time for this, he’d stop calling himself Xander.

Yvonne started to protest, “Hey, what do you mean, ‘end of story’? What’s with the attitude?”

Wasn’t a wedding supposed to be a happy thing? Why was he so angry? She honestly didn’t get it.

Xander gritted out, “Didn’t Dan just get divorced? Fine. Let’s both have our second weddings together. Let’s see how much that jerk can take.”

Yvonne’s jaw dropped. Was he really just doing this because he couldn’t stand being outdone by Dan?

Listening to Xander now, he sounded so mad that he was barely making sense.

Yvonne had been furious at Dan herself, but now she found herself trying to calm Xander down instead.

“Come on, don’t be like this. Didn’t you get a hit in, too?”

Was this really just about one-upping Dan?

Was her marriage really just a tool for someone else’s revenge? Wait, wasn’t that exactly how she’d tried to get back at Xander before? Maybe this was karma.

“Xander, do you actually want this marriage, or are you just using me to get even with Dan?” she asked, exasperated.

This was a mess.

“Let’s just get it done. I’m coming to pick you up now,” Xander said, and hung up before she could reply.

Yvonne stared at her phone, lips twitching in disbelief, then glanced at Ronald in the backseat.

“Xander again?” Ronald asked, though the speakerphone had made it obvious.

“You heard him, right?” Yvonne replied, rolling her eyes. “Who gets that worked up about getting married? He sounded like he was about to fight someone, not propose.”

Ronald and Stella exchanged glances, both a little shell-shocked from Xander’s outburst.

Yvonne shook her head, feeling a headache coming on. Stella looked equally frazzled; the whole thing was spiraling out of control.

“Oh my God, is that what getting married sounds like to him?” Yvonne groaned. “I swear, he sounds more like he wants to deck me than marry me.”

Yeah, Xander’s tone was more “bar fight” than “wedding vows.” It was enough to make her want to hide under a table.

Back at the Quinn family home.

Xander had already arrived. The look he shot Yvonne was downright murderous.

Stella instinctively edged closer to Ronald, pulling Yvonne with her for backup.

Xander glared daggers at Yvonne, and under that stare, she felt her confidence drain away.

She nervously fidgeted with her hands. “Could you not look at me like that? You’re honestly terrifying right now.”

She’d never noticed before, but when Xander got that look in his eyes, he was genuinely scary.

Suddenly, Yvonne wasn’t so sure about marrying him. Heck, even if Xander was still hung up on Stella, there were a hundred ways to distract him -marriage didn’t have to be one of them.

A guy who looked at her like that? He practically had “domestic abuser” written on his forehead.

Xander noticed her hesitation and let out a cold laugh. “So you do get scared? I thought nothing rattled you.”

Ever since he’d come back, she’d been picking fights with him every day. She’d even gone after Dan. He’d honestly started to believe she was afraid of nothing.

He dragged out the word “scared” just to needle her. Yvonne bristled, even though she was a little intimidated.

But her irritation quickly drowned out her nerves. She stepped out from behind Stella, arms folded. “Don’t flatter yourself. Like I’d ever be afraid of you.”

“Then let’s go get married.”

“In your dreams. There’s not a chance I’m marrying you after all this.”

“Oh, so you’d rather marry Dan? Over my dead body, Yvonne,” Xander snapped. “Let’s get one thing straight, Dan’s never getting you. Not after he jumped me at Ferrowland. He can spend the rest of his life pining away, for all I care.”

Chapter 606

Yvonne: “He doesn’t even love me anymore.”

So this whole revenge thing? It doesn’t even make sense.

Stella rolled her eyes. “When he gets his memory back, he’ll love you again, won’t he? I swear, this marriage is not getting annulled. I’ll drive Dan crazy before I ever let him off that easy.”

Yvonne: “!!!”

Xander scoffed. “Amnesia? Oh, come on. Only someone as gullible as you would believe Dan’s got amnesia. Guys like him just don’t want to take responsibility. I’ve seen it a million times.”

“When you’re in love, he barely gives you the time of day. But the second he can’t have you, suddenly he’s a mess.”

Three sets of eyes stared in exasperation as Xander went on his rant.

Honestly, to them, Xander looked like he’d lost his mind and not in a small way.

Xander, still fuming: “I want him to spend his whole life begging and crying. Amnesia, my foot. I hope he cries so hard he runs out of places to hide.”

He just couldn’t let it go, not after Dan’s buddies roughed him up. He kept rambling, all his anger aimed at Dan, but Yvonne was the one getting an earful.

Stella’s mouth twitched. She wanted to say: When Xander loses it, it’s seriously terrifying.

He was on such a roll that nobody else could get a word in.

Yvonne was utterly confused. “Didn’t you beat him up, too? Dan’s friends said you messed him up pretty bad.”

Dan’s guys had hit Xander a couple of times at the courthouse.

But Xander? He’d given Dan the beating of his life.

Honestly, it seemed like things were pretty much even now…

Xander: “So what if I did? I’d do it again. I could kill him, I swear.” Yvonne: “…”

Yeah, “kill him.” At the rate he was going, there wasn’t much difference.

Ronald, who’d been quiet till now, gave Xander a cold look. “Are you sure you want Yvonne to go through with this marriage?” “What else am I supposed to do?”

Ronald narrowed his eyes. “If you’re only doing this to spite Dan, don’t bother. Seriously, don’t go through with it.”

Xander: “…”

Ronald: “Don’t forget, this marriage is definitely ending in divorce. If you’re starting to think otherwise, then call the whole thing off. Got it?”

Stella and Yvonne: “…”

Xander’s breathing hitched. The adrenaline in him fizzled out under Ronald’s icy stare.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

Ronald: “Do you understand?”

Xander didn’t want to answer. He looked away, glancing at Yvonne, thinking about all the mess he was in.

He took a few deep breaths, finally swallowing his pride and murmured, “Yeah, got it.”

Ronald’s gaze softened as he turned to Yvonne, who shivered under his stern look.

“Bro, are you seriously making me marry this jerk? Look at him! He looks like he wants to punch me every second.”

The more Yvonne thought about it, the less she wanted to marry Xander. She was pretty sure Xander needed this marriage for some reason, but honestly, she was getting cold feet.

Xander: “When did I ever want to hit you? You’ve been beating me up for days, you know?”

Yvonne: “And you’ve hit me too! Don’t pretend you haven’t.”

Xander: “That was mutual combat at best, and you won most of the time.”

Xander was fuming.

Yvonne fell silent at that. It was true every time she ambushed Xander, she’d usually win. But it wasn’t like he was a total pushover; the guy could defend himself.

Ugh, the whole situation was impossible to explain.

Stella couldn’t take it anymore. “Maybe you two shouldn’t—”

“Stop. Just zip it. Seriously, Stella, shut your mouth,” Xander snapped, cutting her off before she could finish.

He knew Ronald always listened to Stella, and he couldn’t risk her interfering anymore.

Stella glared back. “You shut up.”

At that moment, Ronald’s icy eyes were back on Xander.

Xander: “!!!”

What the hell…?

Looking at Stella and Ronald side by side with those matching expressions, Xander suddenly felt like they looked like an old married couple. God, first they steal his girl, now they’re ganging up on him? Some people have no shame…

Chapter 607

Finally, Xander and Yvonne stormed out, clearly fuming.

Stella glanced at Ronald with concern. “Why on earth did you let Sis marry Xander?”

The butler had already sent people to haul in all the stuff they’d just brought back.

There was a mountain of it, some belonging to Stella, some to Yvonne.

Every time they visited the old family estate, they’d return with armfuls of goodies. Lydia, the housekeeper, was especially fond of the two sisters and always saved the best treats for them—homemade pies, imported chocolates, even rare cheeses.

Ronald wrapped an arm around Stella’s shoulders, pulling her close. “Well, obviously, to get rid of any potential rivals.”

Stella blinked. “Huh?”

Rivals? Xander?

She’d never even thought of Xander like that. Did that even count as a rival?

“No way. You mean you’d sacrifice your own sister just to get rid of someone who isn’t even a rival? Nope, not happening. I’m calling her right now to tell her to ditch the whole wedding.”

What a joke, like Yvonne’s entire future was something to trade just for Ronald’s so-called “strategy.”

She dug out her phone, ready to call Yvonne, but Ronald smoothly snatched it out of her hand. “Relax, I was just messing with you.” Stella gave him a look. “…”

“Honestly, both Xander and Yvonne are dealing with some mess of their own. This wedding might actually help sort things out for them. It’s just… a weird bit of fate.”

Stella’s eyes widened. She already knew Xander was in some trouble—her mom had mentioned it.

But Yvonne, too?

“What kind of trouble is Sis in?” Stella asked, genuinely confused.

Ronald ruffled her hair affectionately. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, kiddo.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a kid anymore, you know.”

They headed further inside together. Just then, Stella’s phone vibrated. This time, she checked the caller ID.

It was the private investigator she’d hired to look into the former head of the Black Gate Society.

She stepped aside to take the call. “Talk to me.”

“Miss, it’s confirmed. The previous leader of Black Gate is Ms. Tucker’s mother.”

Stella’s heart skipped a beat. “You’re sure?”

“Yes, absolutely. I’ve just sent you the photos as proof.”

Stella inhaled, her mind racing. The photos arrived moments later, and one glance was all she needed to recognize Susanna’s mother.

“Is she… in any danger?” Stella asked quietly.

That was the real issue. Whether Susanna’s mother used to be in charge didn’t matter as much as whether she was safe now, especially with the Black Gate’s current chaos.

On the other end of the call, the PI hesitated. Stella caught the subtle change in their breathing.

“What is it?” she pressed.

“It’s hard to say for sure,” came the careful reply.

Stella frowned. If even her best source couldn’t guarantee Susanna’s mother’s safety, things were bad.

“Alright. Just send me everything you’ve got.” She hung up.

A moment later, Ronald came over, arms draping gently over her shoulders. “Who was that?”

Stella turned her head, and her lips brushed his jaw by accident, a soft, fleeting touch that made her pause.

“I, uh-“

Ronald cut her off with a grin. “Come on, no need to get all shy.”

He spun her gently to face him, his hands warm around her waist. In that instant, a strange feeling stirred in him—this petite woman, already nurturing a tiny life inside her.

Stella shook herself out of her thoughts. “My PI just called. It’s confirmed Susie’s mom used to run Black Gate.”

Ronald’s expression darkened. “Confirmed for real?”

Stella nodded. “Yeah. So what do we do? I can’t just sit back and do nothing if Susie’s in trouble.”

The former head of Black Gate. Rumor had it, the current leader had fought tooth and nail for that position, and things between them had gotten ugly.

Chapter 608

Damn, what a mess this has turned into…

Ronald: “Say it. Call me ‘honey.”

Stella: “!!!”

Wait, what…?

Ronald raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

Stella sputtered, “What are you even doing right now?”

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Seriously, here she was, trying to have a real conversation with him, and he was pulling this nonsense!

Ronald grinned. “Say it first.”

Stella: “!!”

No way…

This was supposed to be a serious moment!

Ronald: “If you say it, I’ll tell you what to do.”

“For real?”

Unbelievable… At a time like this, he’s thinking about *that*?

Ronald leaned in, his voice teasing, “C’mon, Stell. You need to get used to it.”

He really wasn’t going to let her call him “Ronnie” like before anymore.

Stella squirmed in his arms, trying to wriggle free, but Ronald’s grip around her waist only tightened.

Finally, she caved, mumbling, “Honey.”

Her face, already red as a cherry pie, only grew hotter with embarrassment.

Ronald: “Again.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide her smile. “Jeez, you… Honey.”

“Okay, now will you tell me?”

How had she never realized he could be such a tease?

Ronald looked satisfied, giving her nose a gentle pinch. “Alright. Honestly, if she really was the former boss of Black Gate, then you don’t need to worry so much.”

“What do you mean?”

How could she not worry?

If Lacey Tucker really had been the top dog at Black Gate, she’d definitely have bad blood with whoever was in charge now. And the fact that she’d gone missing from Portis City, only to be dragged back by the current head of the organization? Yeah, this was a mess…

But Ronald seemed a lot more relaxed about it than Stella was.

He explained, “Look, anyone who could run Black Gate isn’t exactly a pushover, you know?”

Stella: “…”

Well… when he put it that way, it almost made sense.

“But she’s the former boss,” Stella pointed out. “How could she compete with whoever’s in charge now?”

She hated to admit it, but sometimes, when you’re out, you’re out. People move on fast.

Ronald’s tone turned serious. “That seat at the top? It’s never been stable for the current boss these past few years.”

Stella: “Unstable?”

Ronald nodded. “Very.”

Stella: “…”

If that was true…

“Is it because of Lacey?”

What could make it so unstable? Maybe it was because the current boss hadn’t exactly gotten there fair and square. If you claw your way to the top with dirty tricks, it’s no wonder the throne feels shaky.

Ronald carried her over to the sofa and sat down, still holding her close. “From what I’ve heard,” he said, “Lacey Tucker was always respected at Black Gate. Someone like her isn’t easy to replace.”

“So it’s even more complicated than I thought?”

Stella bit her lip, anxiety gnawing at her. If Ronald was right, and the current boss was feeling threatened enough to haul Lacey back in, things were about to get ugly.

She worried even more about Lacey now.

Ronald seemed to read her mind, his voice turning gentle but firm. “Honestly, Stella, with her kind of status, whatever’s going down between her and Black Gate isn’t something you can fix.”

Stella: “…”

He was right. Power struggles at the top? That was way above her pay grade.

“But that doesn’t mean you can’t help her at all,” Ronald added.

“How?” Stella perked up instantly.

He met her hopeful gaze, chuckling softly. “Just keep Susanna safe. That’s the best thing you can do for Lacey right now.”

Stella was speechless.

Chapter 609

What kind of help is this supposed to be?

But Ronald did have a point. Before Lacey went missing, the person she worried about most was Susanna.

“So Susanna’s still with Hull, and they’re even suspecting her of being a mole or something? No way, I have to go get her out of there.”

Thinking about everything Lacey had done for her back in Portis City, Stella found herself agreeing with Ronald.

Right now, the best thing she could do for Lacey was to look out for Susanna.

Ronald had originally wanted to tell her that keeping Susanna safe was the biggest favor she could do for Lacey.

But her reaction….

He remembered how, back in Portis City, she and Susanna were always glued at the hip.

If she really did bring Susanna here, they’d probably be inseparable 24/7.

Ronald rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. “You know you probably can’t just take her away, right?”

“Huh?” Stella blinked.

“Hull’s not gonna let her go.”

Stella fell silent.

Was it because Susanna had already managed to pickpocket just about everything off Hull the second she met him?

Just thinking about Susanna’s wild antics made Stella’s head hurt.

She hadn’t been there to witness it herself, but knowing Susanna, it was probably something absolutely ridiculous.

“Is it because Hull thinks she’s a spy or something? If that’s the case, I can promise you, there’s really no need to worry. Susie can barely keep up with her own lies, much less anyone else’s.”

When it came to Susanna, Stella would bet her life.

If Susanna were truly that capable, Lacey wouldn’t have needed Stella’s help so much in the first place.

Ronald just sighed. “Hull likes her.”

Stella groaned. “Oh, not this again.”

Honestly, every time she heard that, she had to wonder if it was actually true.

She wasn’t the only one with doubts. Susanna herself couldn’t believe it either.

Right then, Susanna was sitting in her room, nervously clutching her phone.

Normally, as long as she didn’t have to face Hull directly, she could keep her nerves in check…

But now, things were different.

Even when Hull wasn’t around, she felt like she was walking on thin ice.

Peeking out her window, she watched as Hull climbed into his car, several guys with guns piling in after him. Susanna’s heart skipped a beat.

With someone like Hull, it felt like it was only a matter of time before those gun barrels were pointed at her.

She was honestly scared she’d end up full of holes, like a slice of Swiss cheese.

“Susie? Susie?” Stella’s voice crackled through the phone, sounding concerned when Susanna didn’t answer right away.

Snapping out of her panic, Susanna replied, “Sorry, Stella.”

“What’s got you so distracted? I’ve called your name like three times.”

“I… I just saw Hull leave. He had a bunch of guys with him. I’m pretty sure one of them was a sniper.”

Stella sounded confused. “Wait, how do you even know what a sniper looks like?”

“You know, the guy had this really long rifle. Like, from the movies.”

Stella just sighed. Figures Susanna would pick up all her intel from films.

She didn’t know exactly what was going on, but ever since she could remember, Ronald always kept her far away from any serious business. She’d only seen Ronald’s dark side once-and it had taken her ages to recover from it.

After that, he made sure she was never involved.

If Hull was going out in person and even got himself hurt, things in Ferrowland were clearly a lot messier than they looked on the surface. “Stella, I’m scared,” Susanna admitted softly.

“Want me to come get you?”

Susanna froze.

Get her out of here?

Could she even leave? Deep down, she had a sinking feeling that she couldn’t.

Even if she ran, she’d probably just end up right back here.

She sniffled. “If I could, I’d want to run away to someplace where nobody knows me. Somewhere, Hull can’t find me.”

Hull was, hands down, the scariest man she’d ever met.

Stella sighed. “I could help with that, but only for a little while. Your life’s never going to be simple again.”

It sounded harsh, but there was no denying it, Susanna’s world was never going back to normal.

Hearing that, Susanna’s mind started to race. “What… what do you mean?”

Especially that part about “only for a little while.” Her heart sank.

Did that mean her life was going to be on the run from now on?

Whether with Hull or somewhere else…

“Because your mother was the former head of the Black Gate Syndicate,” Stella said, her voice heavy.

And with those words, Susanna’s mind went completely blank, as if someone had just set off a bomb in her head.

Chapter 610

Susanna’s breath caught in her throat. “Star, what did you just say? My mom, she…?”

“You heard me right. She used to run Black Gate,” Stella replied, her voice calm and direct, not mincing words.

On the other end of the line, Susanna’s breathing grew even tighter, sharp and uneven.

Even though Stella had spelled it out so clearly, Susanna still couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

She took a shaky breath. “How could that be? There’s just no way. My mom’s just an ordinary businesswoman, you know that. She couldn’t even make her bakery take off, let alone… this.”

Her voice picked up speed, tinged with panic.

To her, her mother was the kind of person who never had a lot of money, but always managed to get by. In Portis City, her mom’s small catering business was barely a blip on anyone’s radar.

And even if she had some minor reputation, it wasn’t for her business sense; it was more for her knack for making friends and always being at the center of every neighborhood barbecue or PTA event.

But to say that this woman, of all people, used to be the one running Black Gate?

Who could believe that?

Susanna had started to get suspicious lately, but now that she was hearing it for real, her chest felt tight with fear.

Or maybe it wasn’t suspicion so much as dread. Real, bone-deep dread.

Because if her mom was tangled up with Black Gate, then any hope of a quiet, normal life was gone.

That was what Susanna feared most.

Before Stella could say anything, Susanna jumped in again. “Star, you must be mistaken, right? There has to be some mistake.”

There had to be. She knew her mom better than anyone; no way did she have that kind of power.

Stella could tell Susanna wasn’t buying it, and her voice was getting sharper by the second. Stella tried to keep things gentle. “Do you want me to double-check for you?”

“Yes, please, just check again. Right away.”

Stella hesitated. “Honestly…”

Honestly, confirmation was almost beside the point. Coincidences like this didn’t just happen.

“There’s nothing ‘honestly’ about it, Star. Just confirm it please, I need you to confirm it.”

Susanna’s voice trembled.

The truth was, she just couldn’t bring herself to accept what she was hearing.

Stella went quiet for a second.

She could hear the fear in Susanna’s voice—who wouldn’t be scared, finding out their mom was mixed up with something as dangerous as Black Gate?

Just then, before Stella could hang up, her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen.

A message from one of her people. Attached was a photo, an even clearer one than before.

The last time she’d seen a picture, Stella had been pretty sure it was Susanna’s mom, Lacey. But now, with this photo…

“Well, I guess there’s no need to check anymore,” Stella said softly, a hint of regret in her voice.

No matter how desperate Susanna was to cling to denial, the truth was staring them both in the face.

As Stella spoke, Susanna’s breath hitched again. “Star, you—”

“I’m sending you a clearer picture. Take a look for yourself.”

Stella forwarded the photo, and since they were on the phone, Susanna saw the notification pop up right away. She opened it, and with just one glance

Her face went chalk white.

It was her mother. No doubt about it.

On the other end, Stella heard Susanna’s breathing quicken, and tried to soothe her. “Try not to panic, okay? She’s not in as much danger as you think.”

After all, as Ronald had said, someone who could lead Black Gate wasn’t exactly a pushover.

If Lacey really was who they thought she was, that actually made her safer, not less.

Susanna gripped her phone so tightly that her knuckles whitened. “I’ve heard stories about Black Gate… the kind of things they’ve done. People are scared to even talk about it.”

And her Mom-her own Mother, had been right in the thick of it.

The call dragged on for another two hours as Susanna spiraled, worrying about what this all meant. Stella stayed on the line, doing her best to calm her down.

Finally, when Hull came home, Susanna hurriedly ended the call.

He walked in with a cold, hard look on his face, the kind of look that told you whatever he’d been doing, it wasn’t pretty.

Hull tossed something to Silas, a gun. Even from across the room, Susanna could see the blood, fresh and bright, smeared on the barrel.

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