Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Chapter 97

Stella had been planning to catch some shut-eye after lunch, but her phone had other ideas. There had been one call after another from the studio. Switching her phone to silent during the day felt like a taboo she couldn't commit to.

But after hanging up from Tabitha's call, an unknown number flashed on her screen - it was Cloudia, borrowing a phone to reach out.

Over the phone, Cloudia's voice came in sobs and gasps, "Stella, for heaven's sake, I'm begging you, could you please get Tegan and Finley to the hospital?" Stella was silent.

"It's all my fault, all of it. Don't hold it against your sister. I just wanted to teach you right from wrong, but you were always so stubborn, and I, I just..."

Just what? Cloudia was too frantic to find the right words to continue.

Stella uttered, "I'm stubborn?"

"Stella, I..."

Cloudia hesitated, unable to continue with the harsh truths, especially now that she was desperate for Tegan and Finley's support.

It always came back to Ursula, and Cloudia was willing to swallow her pride for her sake.

Stella cut in, "Mrs. Larkin, after being found and hospitalized for two months, I barely spent a month with the Larkin family upon my return. In that month, you and Mr. Larkin were almost always out, busy with your socials. So, how exactly did you come to know about my so-called bad temper and stubbornness?"

words were sharp, each one

Cloudia was speechless.

could she have

"Do you remember what started

"What indeed?"

hurt her wrist. Do you

Cloudia was silent.

Don't blame her!' And

after all these years, Cloudia remembered the incident vividly as Stella talked about

a

"Did you see

breath hitched.

unyielding, colder now, "You never saw it happen. You couldn't be sure

Cloudia

questioning her own

Stella push

she be certain Stella

blame. But for some