Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Xander showing up in Portis City at this particular time likely meant he'd already caught wind of Stella being with Ronald.

Susanna's eyes welled up with tears the moment she heard that Stella might be in trouble.

"What are we going to do? Mr. Quinn can bring her back, right? There's nothing Mr. Quinn can't do, right?"

But Stella's temperament was far from smooth. She was headstrong, and Susanna genuinely feared that Stella's blunt, straightforward nature might end up costing her.

Hull wasn't in the mood to deal with Susanna, so he turned on his heel and walked away.

Finley watched Susanna standing there in the chilly breeze, looking utterly miserable, and scratched his head.

"She doesn't need you worrying about her. That girl knows how to charm people. Her fiancé wouldn't dare do anything to her."

Talking about Xander, though, that guy was truly shameless. It was just a casual remark from the elders, yet he took it to heart and went around Ferrowland proclaiming Stella as his fiancée.

For the past couple of years, he'd been on a relentless mission to find Stella, using the "fiancée" card at every turn.

Ronald sent quite a few people out, practically ready to wipe Xander off the map, but Xander was a slippery one. It seemed like he lived to defy Ronald and didn't care about the Schultz family or his sister Regina. No matter what threats you threw at him, none of it fazed him.noveldrama

Susanna sighed. "But Star and Mr. Quinn already..."

"Girl, worry about yourself. Hull's the type to hold a grudge. You pantsed him, and you can bet he'll settle that score one day."

Susanna's eyes widened, and she instinctively shrank back.

Hull, who had been walking away, suddenly turned and stormed back toward Finley, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him off like he was ready to make him pay for that loose tongue.

Meanwhile, Xander was negotiating on the other side, demanding something from Ronald.

Stella, infuriated, aimed a kick at him. "Xander, you bastard! I'll end you!"

But he caught her ankle with ease, pulling her into his lap with a sly grin. "Are you throwing yourself at me? Did you do the same with Yorick in Portis City? He didn't seem to fall for your tricks." Already seething, Stella raised her hand to slap Xander across the face.

Xander effortlessly caught her wrist. "Star, are you really that eager to hit me?"

"You're a backstabbing jerk, and I'd love nothing more than to tear you apart."

She vividly remembered how Xander had turned on Ronald back in the day, and the memory still fueled her anger.

Xander chuckled. "Why don't you guess how much you matter to Ronald? Think he'd give me what I want because of you?"

Before he could finish, Xander let out a pained grunt.

Stella was no delicate flower; she bit down hard on his neck, right where it hurt the most, twisting his face in agony.

This little spitfire had learned to fight dirty in Portis City-no finesse, just straight-up brawling.

"Let go, or I'll snap your neck," he growled, the teasing entirely gone, replaced by a cold, deadly threat.

Stella wasn't backing down. She bit

harder, and

livid, HeXander's face turned et

He yanked her by the scruff of

her neck.

"You crazy woman..."

The nearby doctor and bodyguards were alarmed, seeing blood trickling down Xander's neck. The docto rushed to tend to Xander.

Stella's lips were stained with blood, giving her the appearance of an avenging angel.

He glared at Stella. "Do you really want me dead?"

She used to call him "brother" in such a sweet voice, but now all he saw were her sharp, venomous fangs.

Stella spat back, "You're a born villain, just breathing pollutes the air."

Her words stung, cutting deep.

Xander held it in, but he couldn't help himself in the end.

He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Stella. "Do you really think I won't shoot you right now?"

"Go ahead. Aim right here. You think I'm scared?"

Xander was taken aback.

When had this girl grown a

backbone? She used to cower at the

slightest threat, barely daring to

breathe. And now, she was ready to

face him head-on?