Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

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?"

Just thinking about how close the wedding had been made Levi's chest tighten with anger.

Stella mumbled, "She'd come back."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know that?"

"She can't stand seeing me happy."

Lydia, who had been listening quietly, exclaimed, "What?"

Levi was speechless. Was that really the explanation she was giving them?

But Stella was telling the truth. She'd been sure Ursula would dash back to Portis City to stop the wedding.

Even if Ursula hadn't made it, Stella had backup plans. She'd ensured the tide of public opinion turned against the Quarrys and the Larkins.

During that time, all the gossip and scandal had drowned Ursula and Yorick, leaving Stella's name unscathed.

She'd played her cards perfectly.

"Then why'd you try on the wedding dress?" Levi demanded.

To him and Lydia, trying on a

feelings for that

dress meant she had

for that blond-haired

boy, which was in nd-hairedet

Lydia chimed in, "Yeah, Star, why did you try on the dress? Explain it to us."

The moment Yorick and the wedding dress were mentioned, Lydia's demeanor turned serious.

Stella pouted, "The dress was designed by my sister, I just wanted to try it on."

Stuck far from home in Portis City, unable to return, she couldn't resi

connection to family. Conteling a Yvonne's creations

O family.noveldrama

Levi's eyes widened. "Yvonne?"

"Yeah, Yvonne designed it. I just wanted to see how it looked," Stella explained.

Why did everyone assume she tried it on for Yorick?

With the wedding a week away, anyone would think so.

Lydia and Levi exchanged a glance. "Not for that blond guy?"

Stella quickly denied, "No, no way."

Yorick wasn't even blond.

The thought still made her angry. She'd torn the dress to shreds in a fit of rage when Ursula was mentioned

even asked for

tion.

Since that car accident, her disdain for Ursula was deep-seated and vicious.

Hearing Stella's explanation, her grandparents seemed a bit relieved.

"Fine. But if I find out otherwise, you're in big trouble," Lydia warned.

Levi added sternly, "No lying."

"It's the truth," Stella insisted.

Honestly, with Yorick being such a goofball, only Ursula would want to put on a wedding dress for him.

Now, who in Portis City would want to marry him?