Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Watching Stella's innocent, bewildered expression and then glancing at Ronald's icy demeanor, Finley couldn't shake the feeling that one wrong word might earn him a broken leg, courtesy of Ronald. "Come on, use that brain of yours that supposedly made you seven hundred thousand a year!"

Stella quipped, "As if you have a brain."

"Yes, I lack a brain," Finley quickly conceded, deciding that admitting to being brainless was far preferable to a broken leg.

Still, ow, that hurt. Ronald really seemed intent on taking him down a peg or two.

Finley's leg throbbed painfully.

Soon, the conversation turned to business matters among the men, touching occasionally on topics like the military matters and the power plays of Ferrowland's major families.

Stella sat quietly next to Ronald, obediently eating whatever he served her. She usually ate well, especially if Ronald was the one offering the food.

As the evening drew to a close, a commotion erupted from outside.

Cloudia complained, "How can you blame this all on me? Aren't you her father too?"

Stella instinctively glanced toward the door, spotting Cloudia and Blaise, along with Yorick and Orion, making their entrance, all looking far from pleased. "I've been swamped with the company. Isn't it your job to handle things at home?" Blaise retorted.

"I do handle it! And every time there's something about her, I've always reported back to you. You never had any objections," Cloudia defended.

Mentioning Stella always seemed to lead to headaches for both Blaise and Cloudia.

"So, what do we do now? We can't even reach her by phone. Rick mentioned she's gotten involved with... with the Lugar family..."

Blaise's words trailed off as his gaze landed on Stella, and he cut himself off mid-sentence.

Stella had already averted her gaze, not sparing him a single unnecessary glance.

"Star?"

Blaise instinctively called out to her.

Following his gaze, Cloudia turned to see Stella as well.

Yorick also saw Stella. Seeing her

sitting next to Ronald, a lump suddenly formed in his throat, and without thinking, his hands clenched into fists.

Blaise approached. "Star, I... um..."

Ronald shot Idris a look, and Idris immediately blocked Blaise's path.

Ronald softly asked Stella, "Are you done with your meal?"

Stella nodded.

"Let's go then."

Blaise, intercepted by Idris, grew anxious. He called out, "Star, I want to talk to you."

Ronald, pulling Stella along without giving Blaise a second glance, was already moving away.

Yorick, who had been trying to catch Ronald's attention, stepped forward. "Mr. Quinn, a word, please."

His frustration was evident,

especially when he saw Stella's hand

in Ronald's. He barely managed to suppress the flash of

eyes.

Swnoy

Ronald shot him a chilling glance.

In that brief moment of eye contact, Yorick felt the icy threat in Ronald's gaze. The air seemed to freeze.

Ronald smirked before turning to Stella. "Tired?"

Stella nodded, almost imperceptibly.

Yorick, catching his breath, glanced at Stella, confused.

What did this mean?

Ronald then announced, "Let's head back and get some rest."

Yorick stood there, speechless, wondering since when had Stella's tiredness become a matter of business?

Blaise and Cloudia were equally

stunned. Who could have imagined that Stella, once easily dismissed by them, eould now cause them such significant setbacks with just a few words?