Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 1004

Hull shook his head, a little incredulous. “Sure, I’ve met my share of schemers before, but never anyone this cunning—pulling off moves this bold. That’s a first.”

He clarified, “She wasn’t just some random girl hanging around Quinn. She was actually close with Stella—good friends back in college, I think?” The years blurred the details, but Hull remembered enough.

Susanna raised a brow. “Really? She was close with Stella? Wow, takes some serious scheming to pull that off.”

Hull nodded. “Yep. But she got herself exiled from Ferrowland by Mr. Quinn—couldn’t keep her feelings for him hidden, and eventually confessed. He tossed her out, just like that.”

“He actually kicked her out of the country?” Susanna looked startled.

Hull’s tone was certain. “That’s right. If I recall, it was right after the first confession.” Truthfully, that was about the only intersection Ronald and Berry ever had.

Susanna’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she caught onto the point. “Now that’s what I call a real man!” she burst out. The way he dealt with problems—clean, direct, no drama. Not like that Yorick, hemming and hawing over Ursula, swearing he wanted to marry Stella, but still getting involved in so much mess. Men like him—Susanna would gladly keep them on another continent.

Catching her starry-eyed praise of Ronald, Hull’s face clouded over. He pulled her to his chest with one quick motion. “And what about me? I don’t measure up?”

His tone made it clear he wasn’t thrilled. Susanna froze for a second, then gave a sheepish little laugh. “Y-you? Of course you do.” Was this some kind of joke? Whether Hull was a real man—she knew that answer better than anyone. If he were any more of a man, she wouldn't be able to handle him—he was already more than she could take. She had zero doubt: if she so much as pretended to disagree, she wouldn't be able to leave the bedroom for a week.

“You—definitely, you’re totally the real deal,” she stammered, trying to keep him in a good mood.

Susanna finished her story and looped her arms around Hull’s neck. “See? None of them are any good. Yorick, especially. He might’ve passed along this info, but there’s no way he didn’t have some angle. Remember when he was so awful to Stella back in Portis City? Now he shows up playing the good guy? Give me a break.”

Hull let out a little laugh. “Someone once told me that two people who are nothing alike can never really be friends. Back then, I wasn’t sure I believed it.”

“Hm?” Susanna tilted her head.

He looked at her and nodded. “Now, I do.” Since Susanna had come into his orbit, she’d always seemed a little naive to him—but now, he saw more and more of Stella’s qualities in her, little similarities that snuck out when he wasn’t expecting them.

Susanna blinked, then caught his meaning. She pouted, cheeks puffed with mock indignation. “Hey! Are you saying I’m dumber than those two?”