Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Chapter 231

"Why?"

The question lingered in the stairwell, echoing softly.

Stella nuzzled against his chest once more, whispering, "Because I like you. I like you, like you..."

Her repeated confessions echoed in Ronald's ears, stirring his heart like a thunderous roar across the mountains, making his pupils contract uncontrollably.

"Do you like me as a brother, or do you like Ronald?"

His voice, magnetic and deep, would be hard to decipher for anyone fully conscious, let alone Stella in her state.

This time, however, there was no reply.

After a few seconds of silence, Ronald looked down to find Stella's lips slightly parted, her breathing even and calm. Her once tightly clenched hand on his shirt gradually loosened. She had fallen asleep.

Gazing at her flushed cheeks, Ronald couldn't help but smile helplessly.

He carried her upstairs to her room, and as he laid her on the bed, Stella stirred, but her eyes remained hazy, barely awake, "Ronald."

"What is it?"

"I want a hug."

Her voice was plaintive, tinged with a hint of grievance. "I want to be hugged forever."

"Alright, a hug."

sat on the edge of the

cold from the alcohol,

landed on Stella's

a return to their

insisting that he

school, she would

college, Ronald was driven home every night by the family

pained by the distance Ronald had to travel, suggested

him, hiring a nanny

school herself that they

her rosy lips, Ronald's Adam's apple bobbed, the heat in

a kiss that carried the rick scent of wine with

of

grapes, intoxicating and ire.

familiar warmth enveloping her. She wrapped

but only for a moment. His reaction was

of a phone broke the

He laid

his lips. Touching his lips, he noticed a

sharper than he

Stella's phone continued ringing.

the caller ID - an unknown

Uninterested, he hung up.

dialed Stella's number repeatedly, his mind racing

the Quarry family was off, and he couldn't believe Stella