Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

After three long years of running, Stella knew she was in for a stern talking-to.

Levi stared at her, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and concern, as if he could chew her out just with his gaze alone.

Everyone had been worried sick about her all those years she was away, scared she'd run into trouble.

Even though they later found out that she held her own against the folks in Portis City, the anxiety had gnawed at their hearts.

Facing her grandfather's icy stare, Stella quickly averted her eyes. "Grandpa, I know I messed up."

He huffed, “Hiding away, were you? Scared of just one Xander? Where's your backbone?"

Stella stayed silent, but it hadn't been just Xander's trouble she was dealing with. There were forces lurking, eyeing the Quinn family like wolves.

With Ronald just one distraction away from disaster, she'd been genuinely terrified.

Levi snorted, "What's the last name of that family in Portis City?"

"Larkin," she ventured.

"Not them," he snapped, glaring. The Larkins were nothing.

The way they had treated Stella was appalling, and if any child they taught turned

out that way, it was a collective failure.

"The Quarry family?" Stella tried again.

"Exactly," Levi's voice was sharp. "If his precious one hadn't come back, you wouldn't have really married him, would you?"

close the wedding had been

mumbled, "She'd

an eyebrow. "And how do you know

stand

been listening

Was that really the explanation she

telling the truth. She'd been sure Ursula would dash back to Portis City to

had backup plans. She'd ensured the tide of public opinion

the gossip and scandal had drowned Ursula and

played her

try on the

him and Lydia, trying on

feelings for that

dress meant she had

for that blond-haired

was in

chimed in, "Yeah, Star, why did you try on the dress? Explain

dress were mentioned, Lydia's demeanor turned

by my sister, I just

far from home in Portis City, unable to return, she

to family. Conteling a Yvonne's

O family.

Levi's eyes widened. "Yvonne?"

designed it. I just wanted to see how it looked,"

she