Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Ronald chuckled.

While he was distracted, Stella sneakily shot a text to Susanna: [Hull wants you as payment.]

Whether Susanna would buy it or not, Stella herself wasn't convinced.

...

Meanwhile, Susanna stared at Stella's message, completely dumbfounded. Wait,

what? That can't be right...

Wasn't this supposed to be about compensation?

What the heck did Star mean by that text?

She immediately called Stella, ready to get to the bottom of this, but Stella was already on her way to a gala, with Ronald right there. She didn't answer, just hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, Susanna squinted at the message again, then fired back: [What's that supposed to mean?]

It was just supposed to be compensation. How did she suddenly get dragged into

it?

Stella replied: [My brother said Hull wants you. You're what he wants as payment.]

Susanna just...froze.

He wants her? If that was true, then-oh my god.

[I don't buy it.]

She shot back without even thinking.

Stella was honest: [I don't either, but that's what he said.]

Who knew if it was true, but Ronald had said it, so...who could really say?

Susanna: ...

She didn't buy it either.

[Why not?]

She typed, and immediately regretted it. Why did that sound like she was offended he *didn't* want her?

Stella: [!!!]

Right now, she was sitting next to Ronald, who was busy reviewing something on his tablet. Seeing Susanna's reply, Stella zoned out for a second.

Why didn't she believe it? Should she be brutally honest? Nah, that would sting too much.

So she just replied: [I just don't.]

No way she could tell Susanna about those women who used to hang around Hull-each one looked like they belonged on the cover of Vogue Meanwhile, Susanna had caused a ton of drama around Hull lately, and it was always at the worst possible moments.

Yet, nothing had ever happened between them...

Even though Yvonne had said Hull wasn't interested, Susanna had checked, and

wasn't it supposed to be fine? And if it was, why had nothing happened?

Only one explanation: Hull probably didn't have those kinds of feelings for Susanna.

When Susanna didn't reply, Stella sent another careful suggestion: [Maybe just ask Hull what he wants?]

All this guessing was exhausting, and Susanna didn't have time for mind games right now. If Ronald was@ight, Susanna could just ask Hull-get it straight from the source.

Susanna read Stella's text, feeling her nerves flare up again. [How am I supposed to ask?] she replied.

Seriously, Star...how was she supposed to bring that up? Subtlety clearly wasn't working, but being direct sounded terrifying.

And besides, hadn't she already said she'd marry him if it came to that? She'd already lost her so-called 'innocence'-she could marry him, but Hull never agreed to it at the time.

And now, if she was the 'payment'... what did that even mean?

People's motives were impossible to read. So complicated, so confusing...

Stella: [Just ask him directly.]

Susanna groaned at that. She was starting to feel like Star's advice was less than reliable.

Wait... Star had never been reliable, had she? Back in Portis City, whenever people tried to mess with her, she just hit back—no mind games, just brute force.

Was she really expecting this kind of girl to come up with a clever plan?noveldrama

Stella texted again: [Got any better ideas?]

Susanna: [Nope!]

She was stressed about seeing her mom, and now she had to deal with whatever was going on with Hull.

This was hopeless.

Stella: [So, just ask.]

Susanna: [!!!]