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 made

"She'd come

raised an eyebrow. "And how

stand seeing me

been listening

really the explanation she was giving

sure Ursula would dash back to

She'd ensured the tide of public opinion turned against the Quarrys and

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

played her

you try on the wedding dress?" Levi

and Lydia, trying on

feelings for that

dress meant she had

for that blond-haired

was in

in, "Yeah, Star, why did you

the wedding dress

dress was designed by my sister, I just wanted to try it

City, unable to return,

to family. Conteling a

O family.

Levi's eyes widened. "Yvonne?"

wanted to see how it looked,"

did everyone assume she tried it on