Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Ronald eyed her for a moment before gently touching her forehead to check her temperature. Thankfully, it hadn't risen again.

His eyes softened as he asked, "What could I possibly hide from you?"

"Was Ursula getting kicked out of the hospital your doing?"

If anyone suggested it wasn't Ronald's handiwork, Stella would have laughed.

In a swift motion, Ronald pulled her into his arms, causing Stella to lose her balance and end up sitting on his lap.

"Ow!"

It hurt so much it was almost exhilarating.

Seeing her wince, Ronald asked, "Does it hurt again?"

Stella complained, "Be gentle, will you?"

It really did hurt.

Ronald apologized, "Sorry, I forgot."

"Forgot?" Stella couldn't help but shiver at the thought. How could he forget something like that?

"You better not forget."

Thankfully, he didn't claim to have forgotten about last night's ordeal, or she'd have nowhere to turn for justice, no way to hold him accountable. Ronald massaged her leg, asking, "Does it hurt here?"

Stella responded, "It's really sore."

Her legs felt like they didn't belong to her anymore.

Ronald continued to massage gently, teasing, "So delicate."

Stella pouted in response.

Ronald then asked, "Haven't you been exercising these past few years?"

The question made Stella feel guilty; Ronald was implying daily exercise was must. Ever since leaving Ferrowland, she had let herself go. "No?"

Stella nodded, feeling guiltily.

Ronald declared, "Once you're better, you'll run for an hour every day."

Stella internally screamed at the thought. An hour? That sounded like torture.

"Was the Ursula situation really your doing?"

"Last night, Idris visited the driver responsible for your accident two years ago. Whatever was said, I wasn't informed."

Stella didn't buy it. He had to know; claiming otherwise was ludicrous.

Ronald teased, "What? Has our Stella gone soft?"

"Do I look innocent to you?" Stella rolled her eyes.

Soft on Ursula? That wasn't her. The only people who could touch her heart were the Quinns. No one else ever had. Ronald chuckled at her reaction.

Stella then speculated, "She must be desperate, planning to seek treatment abroad."

"She won't be leaving the country," Ronald stated flatly, his voice still gentle but his words carrying the weight of a death sentence. "To trap her like that? Alive?"

In Portis City, Ursula would struggle to find a doctor willing to treat her. Knowing she couldn't leave would drive her to despair.

Ronald stayed with Stella for a while before leaving.

Left alone, Stella had just settled back into bed when her phone vibrated.

Seeing the caller ID, her heart skipped a beat. She answered with a whisper, "Yvonne?"

As soon as she spoke, Yvonne's fury burst through, "Be at the airport to pick me up in three hours."

Stella's heart trembled. "You're coming to Portis City?"

This was trouble. How would she explain her injuries? Claim bug bites or a fall?

Yvonne's tone was fiery. "You think you can run from me, huh? I've been on edge searching for you these past two years. Ronald found you, and you still play hide and seek with me?"

I

Yvonne was particularly frustrated about the search for Stella, having turned the world upside down without success.

This time, Ronald had gone to Portis City for such a long time, and it turns out it was to find Stella.

When she asked him for Stella's

number, he refused to give it to her.

Just trying to track down Stella's number had already made Yvonne furious.

In short, right now, she just really wanted to tear someone apart.

Upon hearing Yvonne's threat, Stella trembled again. "Where are you now?"

Arriving in Portis City in three hours meant she had left Ferrowland. The thought sent a shiver down Stella's spine.

The she-devil was coming.

Yvonne sneered, "Planning to warn Ronald? Betray me, and I'll break your legs."

Stella felt a wave of fear.

Yvonne continued, "I'll be in Portis City in three hours. I expect to see you when I land."

The threat was as menacing as Ronald's had been when he came to

Portis Ģity last time. Indeed, they

shared the same blood, both equally formidable in their warnings

QUMS

Stella rolled in her bed, asking "So you've already left Ferrowland?" Yvonne huffed, "Thinking of betraying me to Ronald? Watch your legs."