Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Susanna looked up at Hull with a pitiful expression. "I can't."

Her heart raced with anxiety, and she looked particularly helpless. If she had to eat everything on the table, she was sure she'd burst.

Hull pressed, "So, what exactly were you discussing with Star?"

Susanna was in shock.

For heaven's sake, could she just go a little crazy? If this kept up, she was going to lose it.

Hull's gaze was too intense, and Susanna had no idea how to respond.

Usually a chatterbox, she now clammed up completely. She practically turned into a quivering little mouse.

Hull watched her lower her head again, a flicker of amusement crossing his usually cold eyes. He snorted, "Just eat."

Susanna was on the verge of tears. "I really can't finish it."

Hull replied, "Well, would you rather starve?"

Susanna was speechless.

Was this guy for real?

Was there anyone who could intervene here? It was either eat until she exploded or starve to death-no in-between.

...

Over in Portis City, Cloudia returned to the Larkin family home, her face red and swollen.

Lola was just heading upstairs with a tray of medicine for Jaxon.

No doctor was willing to make house calls anymore. Lola had somehow managed to get hold of some medication.

Cloudia was already fuming over how Lola had drained Jaxon's credit card. Seeing that murky concoction in Lola's hands made her anger flare even more. "What is that? Who's it for?"

She never trusted that kind of medicine. Even without access to medical resources, she would have never let Ursula and Jaxon take it.

Plus, she couldn't stand Lola, so seeing her bringing that stuff to Jaxon didn't sit well with her at all.

Lola wasn't in the mood to be polite either. She snorted, "What? Do you want to snatch this medicine too? Sorry, but it's not suitable for your precious adopted daughter."

She'd had enough of Cloudia. Cloudia would do anything for her adopted daughter, and had completely ignored her own daughter, even her son. Having a mother like that was beyond belief.

Hearing it only made Cloudia angrier. "You're going to give that to Jaxon?"

"Why else?"

Cloudia snapped, "And what if it causes problems? Can you take responsibility?"

Lola scoffed, "What did you say?"

Was Cloudia really bringing up responsibility right now?

Lola laughed in disbelief. "Come on, one kid's almost dead, and the other's on the brink of being crippled. We're in a desperate situation here, and you want to talk about responsibility?"

Cloudia's breath hitched at her comment. Not wanting to hear any more of Lola's nonsense, she huffed, "Don't give my son that stuff."

Lola was fuming. She had never thought she'd find it so hard to respect an elder, but with Cloudia, it was impossible.

Lola held her temper as best as she could, then let loose. "You think I'm the one causing him problems? Please, he's already in this mess because of you, his own mother."

"Shut up."

Lola retorted, "Shut up? Should I remind you how this family fell apart? Because you pampered your adopted daughter so much. Your own sen went to Mist Bay on your encouragement, got into trouble with Stella's people, and almost ended up dead."

Cloudia's eyes widened in disbelief.

Lola continued, "Don't even think about blaming Stella. Ursula almost hired someone to kill her, Stella fought back, and now the Larkin Group is barely surviving, your son

was almost killed because of you."

Lola knew what Cloudia was going to say next - it was caused by Stella.

"What a freaking mess? You treat the person who almost killed your own daughter like a treasure, and blame your daughter for all the chaos."

Cloudia was speechless.

Lola added, "And you think my medicine will make Jaxon worse? Why don't you find one that won't, then?

You've made it impossible for

anyone to get into a hospital, no doctor dares to come. If you're that capable, how about using the energy of protecting your adopted daughter to find a solution?"

Her words stung like a slap. Cloudia's chest heaved in rage, she glared at Lola vehemently.

Lola sneered, "You're only tough with me."

Cloudia couldn't fight back.

"And what's up with your face? Did you get that at Mist Bay too? Why were you there, because of Ursula or the benefits behind Stella?"

"You shut up!"

Cloudia was furious.

Lola pressed on, "You're eyeing the benefits behind Stella now, aren't you? Too bad, you let that golden opportunity slip through your fingers."

Under the verbal attack, Cloudia's face turned from blue to white with rage. Lola had no desire to argue further and carried the medicine upstairs.

Cloudia fumed, pacing in circles. "This family is cursed, truly cursed."

What a mess, dealing with people like this, each more challenging than the last.noveldrama

Stella had been quite a handful with her sharp tongue, but Lola was even more formidable.