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

a cold from the

on Stella's forehead, "Goodnight, sleep

like a return to their

on Ronald, insisting that

at school, she would wait

school, and even college, Ronald was driven home every night

Lugar, pained by the distance Ronald had to travel, suggested he find a place

up taking Stella with him, hiring a nanny to look

started school herself that they moved

Adam's apple bobbed, the

he leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that carried

of

grapes, intoxicating and ire.

Ronald, the familiar warmth enveloping her. She wrapped

for a moment. His reaction was even more fervent and

buzzing of a phone broke the

He laid her gently on the bed, covered her with

his lips, he noticed a

sharper

Stella's phone continued ringing.

ID -

Uninterested, he hung up.

of the line, Yorick dialed Stella's number repeatedly, his mind racing as he realized

the partnership with the Quarry family was off, and he couldn't