Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Lola noticed Stella wasn't answering, so she changed the subject.

"So, do you want it or not?"

"Want what?"

"Money, Stella. The Larkin family's money. I can split it with you."

Stella stared at her for a second.

Was this really happening?

She took a deep breath. "Do I look like I need money right now?"

Lola shrugged. "No, but Larkin money is different. Think of it as payback from them. You've earned it."

Back when Stella worked at Nocturne Hues, she'd heard Jaxon defending Ursula nonstop, always calling her his precious little sister. Stella had wondered then- what kind of people was she dealing with?

She asked, “So tell me, what made you ever like Jaxon in the first place?"

"Like him?" Lola's face twisted like she'd just bitten into a lemon.

Stella paused. "You had his kid. Didn't you like him?"

Lola rolled her eyes. "You actually believed those rumors?"

Rumor had it Lola tried to marry her way up the ladder, using her kid as leverage —and failed. Cloudia had confronted her more than once, fuming every time.

Lola smirked. "Please. Like I ever liked him. If anything, it was his money that caught my eye."

"Money?" Stella echoed.

"Yeah. I was broke. The baby just happened, but once he existed, I had to step up."

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"But, hey—Jaxon should step up, too. I'm not raising his kid for free."

Stella's jaw dropped.

This girl was brutally honest.

She never wanted Jaxon, just his cash. Most people would never admit that. Stella stayed silent.

Lola gave a little laugh. "What? You think I'm trash? I get it. People like us, scraping by, you sky-high princesses could never understand."

Stella shook her head. "I don't look down on you."

People's lives are just... different.

If she hadn't met the Quinns, who knows where she'd be.

Lola shrugged. "You wouldn't be wrong if you did. I started working at fourteen. I've waited tables at diners, handed out flyers, sold shoes at the mall-name it, I've done it."

"Then I realized bartending paid better, so I did that. Morals? Sorry, rent comes first."

For some reason, Lola kept talking, and Stella just listened quietly.

Lola got to the part about Jaxon. Stella cut her off. "Okay, okay. I get it-Jaxon's a jerk."

Lola stopped, then laughed.

"Yeah. He really is."

She said it with zero emotion—like~~

she'd never cared about Jaxon,

ed.n

himself, just his bank account. If

Jaxon ever found out, he'd probably feel pathetic.

Stella hesitated, then blurted, "What about you and Dandy? Are you...?"

"I'm getting married!" Lola said, brightening instantly.

Stella stared. "Wait, what?"noveldrama

"Dandy promised he'd love me forever. He'll take care of me and Paxton for life."

Paxton-the kid. Technically Stella's nephew.

Stella blinked.

She didn't know what to say.

"So... do you believe him?" she finally asked.

Lola snorted. "Nope."

Stella frowned. "Then why?"

"Dandy's got a good job, a nice house, plenty of money. What's not to like?"

Stella gave her a look. "So, it's about money again?"

Lola fell silent. She rummaged in her purse, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit

one up.

Stella watched her. In the lighter's glow, Lola looked... sad, just for a second.

Lola took a drag and said quietly, "Love's for you princess types. People like me—

we don't have time for romance."

She exhaled. "All we can afford is money. That's just how it goes."

She paused, then looked Stella in the eye.

"We've been broke for too long."

Stella went quiet, feeling something shift inside her. She'd never

understood that kind of desper e could hear it in Lotion

voice.

Lola finished her cigarette, then reached into her bag and pulled out a card,

holding it out to Stella.

Stella blinked. "What's this?"