Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Stella finally let out a sigh of relief-Susanna had managed to get through the day without causing a scene in front of Hull.

But her relief lasted all of three seconds.

Because, out of nowhere, Susanna groaned, “I can't believe it... I said I'd marry him."

Stella: "!!!"

Wait. What?

Back up. Did Susanna just say she'd marry Hull? As in, get hitched? Tie the knot? What the actual heck?

Stella's brain just... froze. Completely blanked out for a good few minutes before she managed to stammer, "You-you said you'd do what now?"

"Who are you marrying?"

She had to be hearing things. There was no way Susanna just blurted out that she wanted to marry Hull. Not unless Stella had somehow fallen into an alternate universe.

But Susanna looked absolutely mortified. "Honestly, I kinda wish the ground would just swallow me up right now."noveldrama

How bad was it? Like, full-on social death. She could practically feel her soul leaving her body from secondhand embarrassment.

Susanna was so done, she couldn't even bring herself to repeat it.

Stella swallowed, took a deep breath or five, trying to steady her nerves. "Wait, hold on. You-what the hell, Susie?!"

Susanna groaned, "I wish I could just get rid of my mouth. Or my hands. Honestly, I don't want either of them right now."

Her hands, her mouth-why did they always betray her, especially around Hull? She was mortified.

Stella listened to Susanna's existential crisis, and then suddenly her eyes lit up. "Wait a second. Are you telling me all those little things you've done before—were just leading up to this moment?"

Susanna: "!!!"

"No! I swear, I wasn't-"

She hurried to deny it, and it was the truth. She seriously hadn't meant any of this.

Stella narrowed her eyes. "Then why were you always messing with Hull's belt or tugging at his jacket, huh?" She leaned in, a wicked smile on her face. "Come on, Susie, be honest. That time at Mist Bay, when you were fumbling with Hull's belt buckle-was that because you had your eye on him from the start?"

Everything suddenly seemed to connect.

It all made sense now. Like some weird, accidental love story that had just fallen into place.

If Susanna *wasn't* into Hull, then all her actions just seemed... suspicious, to say the least.

Especially after randomly blurting out, "marry him." That's just too obvious.

Susanna's brain felt fried. "Star, I swear I'm not like that. You know me! Do I seem like that kind of girl to you?"

Stella just grinned. "Relax, even if you are, I totally get it. I'd have a crush on him too."

Susanna: "!!!"

Wow, thanks for the unwavering support-wrong place, wrong time, but thanks.

If Stella had said that any other day ight have actually been

Susanna

touched. But right now? She just

wanted to melt into the floor.

Stella nudged her. "Come on, just tell me do you like Hull? If you do, I'll even

play matchmaker for you."

Susanna looked even more miserable.

"Do you think this is the Middle Ages or something? Like my parents are gonna arrange a marriage for me?"

Who would want to marry that

terrifying guy? She'd need at least three hearts to handle him, and unfortunately, she was born with just one.

So, for the sake of her own survival, there was no way she could hang around

Hull.

Stella pressed on. "Just say it-do you like him or not?"

"Wouldn't dare," Susanna muttered.

Sure, he was good-looking, and rich-honestly, there was nothing to complain about on paper.

But the man was just too scary. He'd shown up today with blood on his shirt. Being with someone like Bull

was asking for trouble. It was like playing with fire.

Stella just shook her head. "Then why did you say you'd marry him?"

How had it even gotten to this point? Susanna hadn't even been around Hull that long, and yet... here they were.

Stella felt like her brain was short-circuiting.

Susanna groaned, "If I told you my mouth and hands have a mind of their own,

would you believe me?"

Stella raised an eyebrow. "Would you believe yourself?"

Susanna: "..."

Yeah, probably not.

It wasn't just that Stella wouldn't believe her-even Susanna couldn't believe it herself.