Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Ronald pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

He looked at Yvonne again. The fond gaze he'd just given Stella had vanished, replaced by stern seriousness.

"From now on, you call her 'sister-in-law.""

Yvonne blinked.

Um...

That was going to be tough. Stella had always been her little sister-her baby sister, really—since forever. And now, suddenly, she was supposed to call her

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'Sister-in-law'... that just sounded...

"Wait, can't we just keep it separate? You marry your wife, but she's still my sister, right?"

Seriously, imagine the kid who's been running around behind you since preschool, calling you 'big sis, big sis'—and now you have to call her 'sister-in-law'?

Who could get used to that?

Yvonne's brain was having a minor meltdown. There was no way she could just switch the title like that.

Even Stella's lips twitched when she heard Ronald lay down the law.

Ronald shot Yvonne a look, saying nothing, but the pressure in his eyes was enough to make her swallow hard.

"Bro..." she tried, "I think she's got a point."

With that, Ronald flicked Stella's cheek. "You need to get used to calling her Yvonne now. Got it?"

Stella: "..."

Yvonne!

It wasn't just hard for Yvonne to accept this new title-Stella herself looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"This is weird. Can't we just... keep it the old way?"

"No." Ronald's tone brooked no argument. He turned to Yvonne, who was still frozen in place. "Well? What are you waiting for? Let's hear you say 'sister-in- law.""

Yvonne's eyes widened in horror.

Just like that?

Ronald's eyebrows dipped lower.

Yvonne felt a chill run down her spine. She forced herself to look at Stella, her voice dry as cardboard.

"S-sister-in-law?"

She stared at Stella, feeling like the universe had flipped upside down.

Just a little while ago, when she'd heard Stella was with Ronald, she'd actually been relieved. Stella had always been the worry of the family-so sensitive, so sheltered. If she'd ended up with anyone else, who knows how many times she'd have gotten hurt?

But now, calling her 'sister-in-law'... This was next-level weird.

Yvonne could barely bring herself to say it, and Stella looked just as lost, staring back at her.

Yvonne's eyelid twitched. "Why are you just staring at me? Say something!"

If Stella didn't answer, Ronald would make her keep repeating it until she did— and then they'd both lose their minds.

Stella: "Um?"

"I called you 'sister-in-law.""

Stella: "!!!"

The awkwardness in the air was almost suffocating.

Yvonne glanced at Ronald, utterly exasperated.

Thankfully, Ronald didn't push it any further. He just nodded. "You'll both have to get used to these changes."

Stella: "..."

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Yvonne: "..." He seemed to be the only one totally unfazed by this.

Just then, Ronald's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and, out of habit, ruffled Stella's hair. "I need to take this."

"Okay," Stella said obediently.

As he turned away, he paused, looking back at her. "And don't even think about sneaking another piece of pie."

Stella: "Oh."

She'd been so mortified, she'd forgotten she was even eating. But now, reminded of the casserole cooling in the kitchen, she felt her stomach rumble again.