Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 597

After three long years of running, Stella knew she was in for a stern talking-to.

Levi stared at her, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and concern, as if he could chew her out just with his gaze alone.

Everyone had been worried sick about her all those years she was away, scared she’d run into trouble.

Even though they later found out that she held her own against the folks in Portis City, the anxiety had gnawed at their hearts.

Facing her grandfather's icy stare, Stella quickly averted her eyes. “Grandpa, I know I messed up.”

He huffed, “Hiding away, were you? Scared of just one Xander? Where’s your backbone?”

Stella stayed silent, but it hadn’t been just Xander’s trouble she was dealing with. There were forces lurking, eyeing the Quinn family like wolves.

With Ronald just one distraction away from disaster, she’d been genuinely terrified.

Levi snorted, “What’s the last name of that family in Portis City?”

“Larkin,” she ventured.

“Not them,” he snapped, glaring. The Larkins were nothing.

The way they had treated Stella was appalling, and if any child they taught turned out that way, it was a collective failure.

“The Quarry family?” Stella tried again.

“Exactly,” Levi’s voice was sharp. “If his precious one hadn’t come back, you wouldn’t have really married him, would you?”

Just thinking about how close the wedding had been made Levi’s chest tighten with anger.

Stella mumbled, “She’d come back.”

Levi raised an eyebrow. “And how do you know that?”

“She can’t stand seeing me happy.”

Lydia, who had been listening quietly, exclaimed, “What?”

Levi was speechless. Was that really the explanation she was giving them?

But Stella was telling the truth. She’d been sure Ursula would dash back to Portis City to stop the wedding.

Even if Ursula hadn’t made it, Stella had backup plans. She’d ensured the tide of public opinion turned against the Quarrys and the Larkins.