Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

The moment Stella mentioned Melissa, Ronald reached out and ruffled her hair, the way you'd tousle a kitten's ears.

"So, what about her?" he asked.

Stella frowned. "Mom said Melissa is definitely behind this and told me to deal with it."

"And what do you want to do?"

Stella hesitated. How was she supposed to deal with it? They weren't even sure Melissa was the culprit-wouldn't it be reckless to just jump to conclusions?

Ronald could tell she was struggling with it. His voice was low, thoughtful. "People rarely show you who they truly are on the inside."

"Huh?" Stella blinked.

He gave her a knowing look. "Whatever secrets someone keeps, only they really know. What they show the world is usually just a mask."

Stella's eyes widened. So, everything Melissa did that day-could it all have been an act, hiding something deeper? Compared to Regina, Melissa definitely seemed more likely to pull something like this, but still, something felt off.

"You sleepy?" Ronald asked.

"Nope," Stella muttered. Her mind was spinning-how could she sleep?

Ronald sighed, gently pinching her cheek. “Leave it. Let Idris look into it. Once we know the full story, we'll decide what to do, okay?"

Stella let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. If Idris was on it, she could relax a bit.

get some

you hold me," she countered, stretching out her arms for a

set his paperwork aside, and climbed into bed, wrapping her up in his arms. Stella snuggled in, wishing she could just stay here forever, not have to worry about anything. Since coming back to Ronald, she felt like she was becoming her old, carefree self

phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, hit decline, and gently slipped Stella's head onto the

door when Stella's own phone started vibrating, jarring her awake. It

Stella mumbled, barely

that Susanna was with Hull, Stella

still feel really

Stella tried to

if Yvonne finds out I've

a

a dramatic gasp. "This whole mess is my mom's fault,

what, they're going to play out their whole game of

quiet, but Stella

tell

tunderstood-there was

nd Yvonneelae

now,

W?

she was with Hull.

worry about my

the Black Gate crowde finds

Hull