Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 610

Susanna’s breath caught in her throat. “Star, what did you just say? My mom, she…?”

“You heard me right. She used to run Black Gate,” Stella replied, her voice calm and direct, not mincing words.

On the other end of the line, Susanna’s breathing grew even tighter, sharp and uneven.

Even though Stella had spelled it out so clearly, Susanna still couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

She took a shaky breath. “How could that be? There’s just no way. My mom’s just an ordinary businesswoman—you know that. She couldn’t even make her bakery take off, let alone… this.”

Her voice picked up speed, tinged with panic.

To her, her mother was the kind of person who never had a lot of money, but always managed to get by. In Portis City, her mom’s small catering business was barely a blip on anyone’s radar.

And even if she had some minor reputation, it wasn’t for her business sense—it was more for her knack for making friends and always being at the center of every neighborhood barbecue or PTA event.

But to say that this woman, of all people, used to be the one running Black Gate?

Who could believe that?

Susanna had started to get suspicious lately, but now that she was hearing it for real, her chest felt tight with fear.

Or maybe it wasn’t suspicion so much as dread. Real, bone-deep dread.

Because if her mom was tangled up with Black Gate, then any hope of a quiet, normal life was gone.

That was what Susanna feared most.

Before Stella could say anything, Susanna jumped in again. “Star, you must be mistaken, right? There has to be some mistake.”

There had to be. She knew her mom better than anyone—no way did she have that kind of power.

Stella could tell Susanna wasn’t buying it, and her voice was getting sharper by the second. Stella tried to keep things gentle. “Do you want me to double-check for you?”

“Yes, please, just check again. Right away.”

Stella hesitated. “Honestly…”

Honestly, confirmation was almost beside the point. Coincidences like this didn’t just happen.

“There’s nothing ‘honestly’ about it, Star. Just confirm it—please, I need you to confirm it.”

Susanna’s voice trembled.