Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Ten minutes. That was all it took.

In just ten minutes, Aira went from perfectly put-together to looking like she'd gone twelve rounds with a prizefighter. Her hair was a wild mess, her face smeared with blood from her nose and mouth.

Now, she was on her knees, trembling.

As much as she wanted to tear Yvonne apart, she was alone in the room, with a dozen of Yvonne's bodyguards right outside. Speaking up was out of the question. Yvonne lounged on the sofa like she owned the place, cool as a queen in her castle.

She grabbed Aira's phone and dialed Dan's number. When the call connected, it wasn't Dan's voice on the other end. It was his right-hand man, Scar.

Scar sounded respectful, almost nervous: "Ms. Aira?"

Yvonne's voice was ice-cold as she replied, "It's me. Yvonne."

There was a beat of utter silence. Then Scar stammered, "Ms. Quinn? Why are you calling from Aira's phone?"

It wasn't that Dan's crew was made up of cowards. But everyone knew Yvonne had just put Dan in the ICU. She'd left a lasting impression-one of those women you absolutely never want to mess with.noveldrama

Yvonne didn't waste any time. "Where's Dan?"

Scar's tone changed. "You knocked him out, remember?"

He didn't bother hiding the edge in his voice. Clearly, Scar wasn't thrilled with Yvonne's little rampage. What kind of person was she, anyway? How had Dan ever fallen for a woman like this?

Yvonne let out a sharp laugh. "What, you sound like you think he didn't deserve it?"

Scar replied stiffly, "Our boss has always cared about you, Ms. Quinn."

Yvonne just scoffed, glancing at the crumpled Aira. The idea that Dan "cared" about her was laughable. She'd been devastated, everyone in Ferrowland knew it -how could Dan not have known? And yet, he'd never shown up. If this was his idea of "love," someone else could have it. She was done.

"Well, if he's still out cold, I guess I can't talk to him," she said.

Scar hesitated. "What do you mean by that?"

Yvonne's smile was wicked as she looked at Aira. "Oh, you know. Never let a good crisis go to waste."

Scar practically shrieked, "Ms. Quinn!"

Aira's face went from pale to ghostly white.

"You can't do this!" Scar pleaded.

Yvonne gritted her teeth. "Can't I? Hah."

She remembered what Aira had said on the phone earlier-about how many guys had shown up last night. The thought made her sick. She pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Aira.

"What if I just end her right now?" Yvonne hissed. "Make it quick and painless. Would that be better?"

She was losing it. Everything about Dan and his crew made her want to scream. Did they really think she was just going to roll over and take it?

Scar was silent, the tension crackling over the line.

Finally, he stammered, "Ms. Quinn, please, calm down. Our boss never did anything to you-he was with us all night!"

He had no idea that Yvonne had overheard Aira's call. He thought she was just lashing out over old wounds.

Yvonne's voice was cold. "Maybe he didn't, but it's not like he's innocent. He deserved a beating for what he did back then. Maybe I got the reason wrong this time, but who cares?"

Scar tried again, “But—”

Yvonne cut him off, voice rising in fury. "It was Aira! She brought those guys in. She's his fiancée! You think he doesn't deserve this?"

As her anger peaked, her grip on the gun tightened and suddenly, there was a

loud BANG. The gun went off. Aira screamed in pain.

Scar was practically in hysterics. "Ms. Quinn, please! There must be some misunderstanding!"

Yvonne let fly with a string of curses. Aira was clutching her leg, writhing in agony.

Back at the hospital, Scar was panicking. Dan was still unconscious, fresh out of surgery, and half the crew was in the ICU after Yvonne's rampage.

"Ms. Quinn, Aira's not like that! She's a good person, she'd never-"

Just hours ago, Scar was furious with Yvonne. But now? He was considering

getting on his knees and begging. This woman was terrifying.

But saying Aira was "good" only made Yvonne angrier.

Aira was shaking. "It wasn't me! I swear, it wasn't me!"

All her earlier bravado was gone.

Yvonne sneered. "Not you?"

Aira shook her head desperately. "My guys never found you. It wasn't me!"

Her words only confirmed her guilt.

Yvonne's smile was cold as ice. "Oh, so you tried, huh? How many guys did you send after me?"