Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Stella was completely out for the count.

Before Susanna could get another word in, Stella had hung up. Her sleep had been like a dream since Ronald came into her life.

She turned over and hugged Ronald's lean waist.

Ronald stirred slightly, catching the familiar scent, instinctively pulling the warm body in his arms closer before drifting back into a contented slumber. Only someone who'd been secretly in love could understand that deep-seated satisfaction.

"Ron..." Stella mumbled in her half-asleep state.

Ronald drew her even closer, murmuring softly, "Sleep, sweetheart."

At the Quarry estate.

Ursula found herself thrown out, the sting of humiliation settling heavily in her chest. The experience was a harsh wake-up call. She finally realized there was no future with Yorick.

The maid helped her into a wheelchair. "Ms. Larkin, let's head back."

It was the middle of the night. Running into Imogen had been the last straw for the maid, who was already on edge due to the recent upheaval in the Larkin family, which had delayed their paychecks. It had made the maid less inclined to indulge Ursula's whims.

Already raw from the embarrassment, Ursula snapped at the maid's suggestion, "Go back? You can go back if you want! I'm not leaving until I see Rick."

Despite being thrown out, Ursula was adamant about seeing Yorick.

Irritated, the maid retorted, "Fine, I'm leaving."

She didn't want to stand around any longer in this bitter cold.

Ursula was shocked. She couldn't believe her ears as she stared at the maid. "What did you say?"

Even a maid dared speak to her like this?

The maid replied, "Ms. Larkin, you better realize what year it is. I may be a maid, but I'm here for a paycheck, not as a slave to the Larkin family. Do you think we still live in the old days? No pay and you still want to boss me around?"

Ursula was speechless, her breathing becoming more and more erratic. Yorick arrived just in time to see Ursula gripping the maid's arm.

He couldn't hear what they were saying from inside the car, but from their expressions, there was tension.

Orion noticed Ursula and felt a pang of anxiety. His gut reaction was to drive past quickly. He didn't want Yorick getting tangled up with Ursula again, It had been a rough time for him Every encounter between Yorick and Ursula ended up with him getting an earful.

But as they approached, Yorick's voice cut through the air, "Stop the car."noveldrama

Orion said, "Mrs. Quarry wouldn't want you to get involved with Ms. Larkin." "Stop the car."

The three words were calm but carried enough weight that Orion dared not argue further and pulled over beside Ursula.

Ursula was in the middle of a heated argument with the maid. The maid had had enough and was on the verge of quitting right then and there.

Ursula, however, was insistent that she drive her home first.

When the car stopped, Ursula recognized it as Yorick's.

Instinctively, she let go of the maid her demeanor shifting from frantic to pitiful as the car window rolled down to reveal Yorick's face

"Rick."

Yorick's gaze was icy as he looked at her, "You came to see me?"

"Yes." Ursula nodded, trying to look as vulnerable as possible.

Where had he been until now? This late at night, what had he been up to?

Without her around, he seemed to be doing just fine. A man coming home this late could only mean one thing-he'd been out enjoying

himself. Especially with the faint, ne

smett of alcohol wafting from the car it surely wasn't coming from Orion.

Ursula sniffed, trying to hold back her tears. "Where were you so late? Why are you only getting back now?"

Yorick replied, "Get to the point."

His cold and detached words made Ursula's heart ache even more.

This was how he spoke to her now? Was he so uninterested that she couldn't even ask where he'd been?

Her frustration bubbled up, but she swallowed it down, her lips trembling as she spoke, "You heard about my mom, right?"

All day long, the news had been all over Portis City, creating quite the stir.