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

"She'd

eyebrow. "And how do you

stand seeing me

who had been listening quietly,

was speechless. Was that really the

sure Ursula

Ursula hadn't made it, Stella had backup plans. She'd ensured the tide of public opinion

and scandal had drowned Ursula and Yorick, leaving Stella's

played her

try on the wedding

him and Lydia,

feelings for that

dress meant she had

for that blond-haired

was in

did you try on the dress? Explain it to

moment Yorick and the wedding dress were mentioned, Lydia's

by my sister, I just wanted to try it

far from home in Portis City, unable to return,

Conteling a Yvonne's

O family.

Levi's eyes widened. "Yvonne?"

it. I just wanted

assume she tried