Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Thinking of her daughter Regina, and then her son Yale, Mona felt her chest tighten with anger.

Now the Quinns were running wild, trampling all over the Schultz family.

A housekeeper noticed Mona fuming in the foyer and raised an eyebrow. "So, Mona, you kneeling or what?"

Mona shot her a deadly glare.

The housekeeper smirked, "If you really get down on your knees, Mona, folks all over Ferrowland will be laughing about it for years."

Wasn't that just the truth?

Mona: "!!"

She shot the housekeeper a sharp look, breath coming fast.

Just then, Lottie pulled up outside. Through the half-lowered window, she caught Mona's venomous stare.

Lottie frowned slightly, then told her driver, "Stop the car."

The car rolled to a halt right beside Mona.

Lottie leaned out, eyeing Mona. "That look on your face, Mona-who'd you like to bite?"

Mona's expression froze the second she saw Lottie.

But in a split second, all that spite vanished from her eyes. "Lottie."

What was this woman doing back right now?

She'd never dare pick a fight with Lottie Lugar-Lottie had ruled Ferrowland with an iron will for years now.

Lottie repeated, "You still haven't told me. Who's got you looking like you want to eat someone alive?"

On her own turf, Mona pulled a face like that? No way.

Lottie's tone sounded light, but Mona felt the threat in it clear as day.

Mona swallowed. "I... I didn't mean anything."

"Oh, really? So I'm just imagining things?"

The words came soft, but the pressure in them made Mona's pulse race.

She dropped her gaze, color draining from her cheeks.

Lottie turned to the housekeeper. "Who's Mona here for, then?"

"She came to see Miss Star."

Lottie instantly understood.

Mona jumped in, "I'm here for Regina."

Regina. The girl who used to show up at the Quinns all the time, always fawning over Lottie.

Lottie never cared much for her. She thought Regina was as fake and manipulative as Mona, just with a sweeter smile.

Still, the whole Schultz family always seemed to treat Regina oddly.

Now Mona claimed she was here for Regina.

Lottie chuckled. "Oh, please. You're here for Yale, aren't you?"

Mona was petty, sure, but she also clearly favored her son over her daughter.

Regina was just a chip to be played in the Schultz family's marriage game. Being her daughter? That was just plain sad.

Called out, Mona's face went from red to pale.

Lottie pressed on, "The Schultz family's

been through a lot lately

Xander's back in the game, and he?"

Yale's feeling the heat, is and

Mona's breath hitched.

"More than just feeling the heat," she thought bitterly.

Lottie went on, "What-already thinking of selling off your own daughter, even one who's done time? Must've landed a pretty sweet deal, huh? Who's so generous as to offer you everything you want just for a girl with a criminal record?"

Mona's face darkened even more.

Lottie Lugar was truly a force to be reckoned with-she saw straight through people.

Mona inhaled shakily. "Whatever

Regina's faults, she's still my

daughter, Lottie. You don't

make me sound so heart venetnoveldrama

"

"I'm not making you anything. You are heartless," Lottie fired right back, her smile

even more dazzling.

That did it-Mona's face went dead white.

Lottie didn't bother with more small talk.

Her tone turned icy. "My daughter-in-law's having a tough pregnancy right now, so how about you stop bothering her? Next time..."

She paused, her gaze razor-sharp.

"You remember how upset Stella was back when Regina made that scene? I don't want to see her dragged into Regina's drama again."

She leaned in, voice cold as steel. "If you try again, Mona, you might not make it out of here in one piece."

No sugar-coating, no pretense.

Lottie had never respected Mona, and she despised women who schemed their way up the social ladder.

Mona looked like she might faint.

Inside, Lottie found Stella curled up on the couch with a bowl of fresh

strawberries, nibbling away.

Stella looked up, eyes bright. "Hey, Mom!"