Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Susanna's breath caught in her throat. "Star, what did you just say? My mom, she...?"

"You heard me right. She used to run Black Gate," Stella replied, her voice calm and direct, not mincing words.

On the other end of the line, Susanna's breathing grew even tighter, sharp and uneven.

Even though Stella had spelled it out so clearly, Susanna still couldn't wrap her mind around it.

She took a shaky breath. "How could that be? There's just no way. My mom's just an ordinary businesswoman-you know that. She couldn't even make her bakery take off, let alone... this."

Her voice picked up speed, tinged with panic.

To her, her mother was the kind of person who never had a lot of money, but always managed to get by. In Portis City, her mom's small catering business was barely a blip on anyone's radar.

And even if she had some minor reputation, it wasn't for her business sense-it was more for her knack for making friends and always being at the center of every neighborhood barbecue or PTA event.

But to say that this woman, of all people, used to be the one running Black Gate?

Who could believe that?

Susanna had started to get suspicious lately, but now that she was hearing it for real, her chest felt tight with fear.

Or maybe it wasn't suspicion so much as dread. Real, bone-deep dread.

Because if her mom was tangled up with Black Gate, then any hope of a quiet, normal life was gone.noveldrama

That was what Susanna feared most.

Before Stella could say anything, Susanna jumped in again. “Star, you must be mistaken, right? There has to be ome mistake."

There had to be. She knew her mom better than anyone-no way did she have that kind of power.

Stella could tell Susanna wasn't buying it, and her voice was getting sharper by the second. Stella tried to keep things gentle. "Do you want me to double-check for you?"

"Yes, please, just check again. Right away."

Stella hesitated. "Honestly..."

Honestly, confirmation was almost beside the point. Coincidences like this didn't just happen.

"There's nothing 'honestly' about it, Star. Just confirm it-please, I need you to confirm it."

Susanna's voice trembled.

The truth was, she just couldn't bring herself to accept what she was hearing. Stella went quiet for a second.

She could hear the fear in Susanna's voice-who wouldn't be scared, finding out their mom was mixed up with something as dangerous as Black Gate?

Just then, before Stella could hang up, her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen.

A message from one of her people. Attached was a photo-an even clearer one than before.

The last time she'd seen a picture, Stella had been pretty sure it was Susanna's mom, Lacey.

But now, with this photo...

"Well, I guess there's no need to check anymore," Stella said softly, a hint of regret in her voice.

No matter how desperate Susanna was to cling to denial, the truth was staring them both in the face.

As Stella spoke, Susanna's breath hitched again. "Star, you—"

"I'm sending you a clearer picture. Take a look for yourself."

Stella forwarded the photo, and since they were on the phone, Susanna saw the notification pop up right away. She opened it, and with just one glance-

Her face went chalk white.

It was her mother. No doubt about it.

On the other end, Stella heard Susanna's breathing quicken, and tried to soothe her. "Try not to panic, okay? She's not in as much danger as you think."

After all, as Ronald had said, someone who could lead Black Gate wasn't exactly a pushover.

If Lacey really was who they thought she was, that actually made her safer, not

less.

Susanna gripped her phone so tight her knuckles whitened. "I've heard stories about Black Gate... the kind of things they've done. People are scared to even talk about it"

And her mom-her own mother-had been right in the thick of it.

The call dragged on for another two. hours as Susanna spiraled, worrying about what this all meant. Stella stayed on the line, doing her best to calm her down.

Finally, when Hull came home, Susanna hurriedly ended the call.

He walked in with a cold, hard look on his face-the kind of look that told you whatever he'd been doing, it wasn't pretty.

Hull tossed something to Silas a gun. Even from across the room, Susanna could see the blood, fresh and bright, smeared on the barrel.