Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Navigating interactions with elders, especially someone like Mrs. Lugar, whom Stella always praises so highly, can feel stifling for Susanna.

Yet, being around Hull brings its own kind of pressure. Her heart pounds in her chest whenever he's near. "Star, can you help me find my mom and Tania?" she pleaded.

Nothing compared to the security Lacey offered her. Despite the years of separation, Susanna still relied on her mother.

Stella interrupted, "Didn't Hull say he'd help you with that?"

He claimed he'd get to the bottom of it. His investigation wasn't only about who had been hunting down Susanna. It would cover who was targeting her mother, too.

Susanna sighed, "Yeah, but..."

"But what?" Stella asked, sensing the distress in her friend's voice.

"I can barely face him now," Susanna admitted, feeling cornered.

Hull was clueless! Didn't he know what was appropriate to see and what wasn't? Sure, Star mentioned he

liked looking at pretty women, but those women were at least clothed. With her, it was as if he had no boundaries.

Seeing Susanna's spirits sag, Stella tried to reassure her with a nervous laugh, "Hull isn't that bad. He's just a bit aloof."

Susanna snapped back, "Well, to you, there's no bad guy other than the Larkin family."

In Stella's eyes, even Yorick was only a fool, a blind one, hopelessly clueless.

Susanna brought up the Larkin family, much to Stella's chagrin. "You always know how to hit where it hurts," Stella replied with a sigh.

Since the disownment agreement with Cloudia, Stella had severed ties with the Larkin family, clean and clear.

Ronald entered the room just then, catching Stella in her pajamas, phone in hand. Noticing him, Stella quickly said, "We'll talk tomorrow, okay?" and ended the call.

Ronald

smede her, the faint been indulging in a few too med

of smoke clinging to him. He'dnoveldrama

cigarettes in his study.

He ruffled her hair affectionately. "Who were you chatting with?"

"Susie. She's really upset," Stella explained.

"Why?" Ronald asked, puzzled.

"It's Hull. He, um, undressed her. You must have a word with him about that," Stella insisted.

Ronald raised an eyebrow. "Have a word?"

He was sure Stella's idea of "having a word" wasn't what he imagined.

With utmost seriousness, Stella nodded, "Absolutely. He needs to understand he can't do that. If he's conducting an investigation, he should focus on it. He can't misbehave just because he

it up."

can't get

Ronald was shocked. "And you think I should just tell him that? Or, pray tell, how would you suggest I approach this?"

"Just tell him directly," Stella replied, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Ronald groaned, feeling a headache brewing. "Do you think I or anyone could tell Hull not to strip Susanna's clothes off?"

Stella nodded again. "Yeah, that's what you should say."

Ronald rubbed his temples, feeling the strain.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay today?" he asked, placing his hand on her forehead to see if she was talking nonsense from illness

Stella admitted, "Yeah, maybe."

Her voice was already a tad hoarse.