Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 676

The man’s voice was low and husky—strangely captivating.

Susanna froze, obediently, because honestly? She was in a lot of pain.

Hull answered the call, putting it on speaker. “Yes, sir?”

“Go ahead.”

“Mrs. Tucker refuses to meet.”

Hull glanced down at Susanna, who was curled up in his arms.

At the mention of “Mrs. Tucker,” Susanna blinked in confusion. Wait—her mom? That was her mom they were talking about.

Why would her mom refuse to see her?

She looked up at Hull with wide, doe-like eyes, full of confusion and a hint of hurt.

Hull frowned, turning back to the call. “What’s going on?”

“No idea, sir. That’s Mrs. Tucker’s own response.”

Her own words?

Susanna’s face paled.

She couldn’t help but lean forward and speak into the phone herself. “Did you tell her her daughter wanted to see her?”

There was a brief, awkward silence on the line.

Hull’s voice was cold. “Did you?”

“We did. Mrs. Tucker only replied with two words: ‘Not interested.’”

That blunt?

Susanna’s heart felt like it was climbing into her throat.

Hull asked, “Did she leave any message for her daughter?”

“No, sir.”

Susanna just stared, silent.

No message. No explanation. Not even a word for her own daughter.

What on earth had happened to her mom?

While Susanna’s mind spun, Hull said a few more words into the phone and then hung up.

He looked down at her, noticing how lost she seemed.

“You heard everything?” Hull asked quietly.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help her. It was just—if Lacey Tucker wanted to see Susanna, Hull had plenty of ways to make it happen. But if Lacey herself refused, that was a different story.

Susanna looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “So… did I let you sleep with me last night for nothing?”

Hull: “!!!”

The air suddenly felt charged and awkward.

...

“Pregnant women shouldn’t have too much sugar,” Ronald said gently. “Be good, okay?”

He tucked another grape into her mouth.

Stella chewed, grumbling under her breath, looking altogether pitiful.

Ronald ruffled her hair. “Come on, try to behave, yeah?”

He couldn’t spoil her too much—if she got sick, she’d be the one suffering, not him.

Stella sniffled, not saying another word.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the caller ID—it was Susanna. She answered right away. “Hey, Susie!”

“It’s me.”

It was Hull’s voice on the line.

Stella blinked. “Uh… Hull? Why are you using Susanna’s phone?”

She glanced at Ronald, confused.

Hull’s voice was serious. “Susanna’s running a fever.”

Stella nearly dropped her bowl. “What?”

“She’s not physically sick. It’s… emotional.”

Stella froze, the pieces slowly clicking into place.