Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Just then, the unmistakable voice of Finley echoed through the room.

"Mr. Schultz, do you really think Shawn, this delicate little flower, can handle my research?" Xander's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Shawn, who had been pleading for Xander's help moments earlier, snapped at the insult.

"Are you talking about me, you insensitive jerk?"

Insensitive? What did he mean by that?

Finley didn't quite get it. "Yeah, I'm talking about you."

Without missing a beat, he pressed the scalpel to Shawn's neck and glanced back at Xander on the phone screen.

"Mr. Schultz, how about I start the dissection from the carotid artery?"

Stella's eyes widened in alarm. The carotid artery? That was a death sentence...

Xander's expression turned icy as he let out a dry laugh.

"You all think Shawn matters that much to me?"

"Xander, you..."

Xander cut Shawn off. "Why don't you just kill him? He's not that important to me. But this little princess here... She's got a lot of value. Bro Ronald should really think twice. I'm not exactly the gentle type, can't promise she'll come out of this unscathed. If she ends up scrawny and hurt, don't blame me."

Finley chuckled. "Fine, I'll take care of him now."

Without hesitation, Finley dragged the scalpel across Shawn's neck.

"Ahhh..."

Shawn screamed in agony, lunging to grab the scalpel from Finley. In that moment, the two of them began a fierce struggle.

Meanwhile, Stella grabbed Xander's wrist and bit down hard.

Xander grunted in pain. "Ow, Stella, you're biting me again!" Chaos erupted on both ends of the phone call.

Finley roared, "Shawn, you bastard, I'm gonna kill you today!"

Xander shouted, "Stella, you crazy woman, let go of me!"

Earlier, she'd hit him with a steel showerhead, leaving his head ringing, and now she'd sunk her teeth into him! Again!

Stella, determined, wasn't about to let go.

A loud 'thud' resounded, and for a moment, the line fell silent.

Shawn's eyes widened as he stared

at Ronald. Blood trickled down Shawn's teg, and for a second, the pain didn't register. Then came the scream- a shrill, banshee-like cry that echoed through the room.

Ronald eyed Xander through the phone. "Not important, huh?"

Xander's demeanor shifted. "You leave him alone."

Ronald was firm. "Return Star to us, and you'll get what you want."

Xander was furious. "I need my stuff first."

Stella was his only leverage. If he returned her, how was he supposed to retrieve the stuff he'd been after? "Xander..."

Xander huffed, "Just hurry up."

Ending the call abruptly, he grabbed Stella's chin.

"You dare bite me again? I ought to knock your teeth out."

Xander was genuinely pissed. Why had he never realized Stella could resort to such unscrupulous tactics? Biting, of all things. Was there anything she wouldn't do?

Stella defiantly replied, "Go ahead, do it."

She opened her mouth, still stained with a bit of his blood.

Xander's blood boiled with frustration.

"Hmph, if I mess you up now, Ronald will be on my case. I'll deal with you once I get what I want."

With that, he tossed Stella to the side. She rolled her eyes at him.

Grinding his teeth, Xander knew she was banking on the fact that he wouldn't actually harm her. And, annoyingly, she was right.

He glared at Stella, exasperated. "Tell me honestly, does Ronald have the thing or not?"noveldrama

Even though Ronald had said on the phone that the thing was still with Bernie, Xander wasn't convinced.

Stella smirked. "And you'd believe me if I told you?"

Xander was incredulous. Of course,

he wouldn't believe her. Everyone in

Ferrowland knew this little

vel.

troublemaker was in cahoots with Ronald.

Meanwhile, back with Ronald, his presence exuded a chilling danger.

Finley, exhausted from his earlier scuffle, had just climbed out of the fray only to find Ronald holding Shawn captive.