Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 1144

She didn't mean to be rough; she just found it incredibly fascinating. Was this tiny golf ball-sized bump really a baby?

"Is this what a baby looks like?" she marveled.

"In the early stages, some women can feel it, but you still need a proper hospital checkup to confirm everything," Percy explained.

No matter what, an official medical exam was necessary.

If they hadn't been convinced it was a tumor, Percy wouldn't have made a diagnosis so quickly.

He just didn't want them to panic themselves into a heart attack before they even reached Ferrowland.

Susanna and Hull completely ignored Percy's last comment.

The two of them took turns gently resting their hands against her stomach.

"Isn't it amazing?" Susanna whispered.

Hull nodded. "Yeah, it really is."

"How does a baby end up shaped like this? It's so round."

"Percy said it starts out as a ball," Hull replied.

Percy, Barnaby, and Silas exchanged weary glances.

They were still in the room, for crying out loud. Did those two have to act like they were completely alone?

Susanna giggled as Hull touched her belly. "Be careful, don't squish it."

"It's not a toy," Percy reminded them tiredly.

Barnaby and Silas were speechless. Were they really treating a pregnancy like a new gadget? Were these two going to be the most unreliable parents ever?

They genuinely worried the couple might accidentally poke the baby right out of existence.

Hull finally looked up and shot them a glare. "Get the hell out."

The three men paused.

They quickly realized they were being massive third wheels.

Without missing a beat, they turned and practically fled the room.

Once she and Hull were alone, Susanna finally burst into laughter. "A tumor! Hahaha! What were you thinking? You thought our baby was a tumor?"

"I'm going to tell the kid when they grow up. I'll say, 'Your dad thought you were a tumor!' Hahaha."

Hull sighed quietly.

"Whatever the misunderstanding, we can resolve it face-to-face."

"Exactly, Tegan," Mrs. Horner chimed in. "Let's clear the air in person. If Leslie really is at fault, we'll make her apologize to you."

Tegan scoffed bitterly.

An apology... How rich.

She forcefully yanked her arm free and shoved her sleeve up. "Do you see this?"

The two stared in silence.

"Severe frostbite from being trapped in a cave by a cliff. Uriah, what exactly is she going to apologize for? And how will an apology fix this?"

Uriah stared at the fading frostbite marks on Tegan's wrists and the back of her hands, the skin still an angry, mottled red.

His expression darkened as Helena's words echoed in his mind: *The weather in Yoreland is awful anyway. She was out there for days; getting frostbite is completely normal.*

He looked at Tegan, ignoring her question. "Just let her out first, please?"

He emphasized the word 'please' heavily.

It was clear that after failing repeatedly to get Leslie released in Yoreland, his patience had reached its absolute limit.