Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 1003

When Stella returned to the Larkin family, her life was pure chaos. She worried constantly about the Quinns back in Ferrowland, all while having to deal with Ursula Larkin’s constant scheming. And at that time, Yorick—her fiancé—couldn’t even muster the simplest kindness toward her. If he’d been just a little bit better, maybe she would have married him during those three years. But unfortunately, Yorick had been thoroughly hoodwinked by Ursula.

Yorick let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh. “You think I ruined any chance I had with her?”

It always felt to him as if fate had never given him and Stella a real chance. Deep down, he knew that no matter how well he treated her, Stella never truly belonged to him. He’d witnessed firsthand, during Ronald’s stay in Portis City, the way she looked at Ronald—he saw the depth of her feelings long before anyone else.

“Does any of that really matter now?” Susanna replied coolly. It was rare for her to even give him the time of day—Stella herself had long since frozen him out, breaking every tie they’d ever had.

“We’re basically strangers now,” she added curtly.

He hesitated before asking, “Did you tell her it was me who gave you the news about Berry?”

Susanna caught his meaning and replied, matter-of-fact, “I did.”

She’d told Stella. But even after hearing it all, Stella hadn’t called to confirm or ask him anything. She’d organized her own investigation without reaching out, as if he no longer existed in her world. Between them, there was now a chasm—clean and final.

“She acts like I was never even in her life,” Yorick murmured.

He hesitated, then went on, “My mother… she’s seriously ill in prison.”

“Excuse me?” Susanna frowned in surprise. His mother—Cloudia Lawson. The woman who’d given birth to Stella, yet hadn’t shown her an ounce of motherly affection when Stella returned to Portis City.

“I don’t think that’s anything Stella needs to know about,” Susanna said flatly. “She’s never treated Stella like her daughter—not for one second. Why should Stella care now?”

Even if Stella found out, it wasn’t like she’d reach out. No one in the Larkin family deserved her concern.

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