Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

The icy wind howled through the streets, biting deep into Yorick's bones. He stood there, phone pressed to his ear, listening to the endless ringing. His mind went blank. "If they weren't her blood family, they'd probably meet a quicker end."

Either way, it felt like a dead-end. Not being related might make it less painful?

Orion approached Yorick, his expression grim. "Sir, Ms. Stella has already left Portis City."

It had taken a considerable effort to pry even this small snippet of information from the security team. Getting any news about Stella these days felt like pulling teeth.

No contact, no sightings. Someone who used to be so close now felt a world apart.

Yorick shivered from the cold. "When did this happen?"

"Right after...everything."

Yorick frowned. With Stella out of Portis City, there was no chance of finding her- no opportunity for the face-to-face conversation he desperately needed.

His jaw tightened as Ronald's cutting words over the phone replayed in his mind. It was clear Ronald wouldn't forgive the Larkins easily.

But Ursula couldn't wait. He had visited her yesterday, and the moment he stepped into her room, an oppressive sense of despair had engulfed him. She was alive, but her room felt like a tomb. Orion continued, "She might have gone back to Ferrowland."

Yorick's heart sank. Back to Ferrowland? That meant she was even further out of reach now.

...

In the end, Yorick found himself at the Larkin residence once more.

The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sound of Cloudia and Blaise's heated argument.

"Why, Blaise? Why would you do this to me? When did it start with that woman? You've even had twins with her? How could you treat me like this?"

Cloudia was hysterical, her voice cracking with each word.

Blaise, clearly frustrated, retorted, "What have you done for this family? Since marrying me, you haven't worked a single day or faced any struggle. You've lived a life of luxury, and yet you couldn't even keep the family together." His thoughts drifted to the recent turmoil at the company, all thanks to Stella, which Cloudia had triggered. Blaise had no patience left for her.

"Couldn't keep it together? You know what Stella's like! And now you're blaming this all on me?"

Cloudia was losing it. The thought of those twins made her tremble with rage.

Right under her nose, at the company, he tangled up with the CFO, and she hadn't had a clue.

But now, Blaise was denying every ounce of effort she'd poured into this family over the years.

Blaise glared coldly at her. "Whatever Stella is, you're the one who raised her. And now, you've driven her to this."

"And it's all my fault?"

Blaise snapped, "If not you, then who? Even Jaxon's in this mess because of you."

The mention of their eldest son filled

Blaise with a heavy sorrow. Jaxon's condition critical, and without

proper treatment, he risked a permanent disability.

"Cloudia, if Jaxon ends up disabled..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear to Cloudia.

The Larkin Group wouldn't accept a disabled heir.

Jaxon used to be the only one, so what did this mean? Was Blaise paving the way for the illegitimate children to take Jaxon's place?

Cloudia's face turned a ghastly white with rage.

"You're the one who cheated, who had children elsewhere. You're the one who owes me an explanation."

She screamed, her voice raw and trembling with anger.

But Blaise merely snorted, casting her a disdainful look before turning on his heel and leaving.

Cloudia shouted after him, "Where are you going?"

His only response was the slam of the door.

Cloudia wanted to chase after him, but her legs felt like lead, heavy and unmovable. She collapsed to the floor burying her face in her bands, sobbing.

"Why? Why is this happening to me?"

She was no longer young. Why, in her later years, did she have to endure this? Why did fate deal her such a cruel hand?

Yorick watched from the hallway,

feeling awkward. As a younger relative, he didn't know what to say.

He headed upstairs to find Ursula.

As he passed Jaxon's open door, he caught sight of him lying there, eyes vacant.

Yorick hesitated, then stepped into the room.

Jaxon acknowledged Yorick with a bitter smile. "Did you hear everything?"

The argument downstairs had been loud enough for him to catch every word.noveldrama

It was hard to believe. The family he'd always taken pride in, with its harmonious facade, was now shattered. The illegitimate children...

All of it had happened right under his nose, and he hadn't had a clue.

Yorick settled into the chair beside Jaxon's bed. "Don't let the older generation's issues weigh too heavily on you."