Mona and Yale''s faces were stormy, their moods sinking fast.


    The tension only got worse when Yvonne breezed through the door, grinning at Tristan and greeting him with a casual, "Hey, Dad!" Like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    But the demands she made? No one in their right mind would call that a daughter''s request.


    This wasn''t just about splitting up the family assets. Yvonne looked like she was ready to walk off with two-thirds of the Schultz family fortune-and the kicker was, Xander hadn''t even shown his face.


    "Xander made it clear three years ago," Yale finally spoke up, his voice tight. "He said he''s not a Schultz anymore. He cut ties."


    Yvonne turned to him with a cool, sharp look, eyebrows raised. "And you are...?" Yale''s jaw clenched, color draining from his face. "You don''t know who I am?" "Oh, I know exactly who you are," Yvonne said, her smile razor-thin. "I''m just worried you''ve forgotten yourself."


    For years, Yale''s im to the family had been whispered about, but no one had ever dared say it to his face. Technically, he was one of the heirs. But Yvonne''s words stung-she wasn''t even being rude, but the implication was a p in the face.


    She rolled her eyes. "Let me remind you, Yale. Here in Ferrond, as long as there are legitimate kids in the marriage, the bastard children don''t get a dime."


    Mona and Yale both sucked in a breath, faces flushing a deep, ugly red. Yvonne''s jab had hit home, and Yale shot her a re that could have cut ss.


    But Yvonne didn''t so much as flinch. She looked back at Tristan, exasperated. "Dad, are you going to say something?"


    The word "Dad" was starting to sound like a curse to Mona and Yale. It was obvious Yvonne only called Tristan that when she wanted something.


    Tristan fiddled with the rosary beads in his hand, his gaze distant. "Didn''t Xander tell you? He took his mother''s entire share three years ago. Cleaned us out."


    Back then, Xander''s departure had nearly sunk the Schultz family. He hadn''t cared-he''d taken everything he could and vanished.


    For a few years, it had been peaceful. But now Yvonne was here, and she was even fiercer.


    Yvonne shrugged. "Well, he didn''t give it to me. You know how it is, Dad-once a woman''s married, she''s supposed to handle the money. So, either you hand over Mom''s share, or you make Xander give it to me."


    Yale sputtered, "What kind of logic is that?"


    She shot him a look. "Since when do you get to question me?" Yale tried again, "You"


    Yvonne cut him off. "Maybe I should just get my mom or my brother toe falk to Dad instead. Either way, ''m not leaving without what belongs to my husband."


    Mona pressed her lips together, her "good stepmom” act starting to


    I.ne


    "He took the whole lot three


    years ago," she said, voice strained.


    Yvonne shrugged again, sending Mona another eye-roll. "Yeah, but I haven''t seen


    a cent."


    It waste-everyone was tired and cranky. But Yvonne was relentless,


    determined to talk numbers and inheritance right here, right now.


    Yvonne: "Dad."


    There it was, again.


    Tristan took a shaky breath, closing his eyes. "If Xander wants to talk, he cane say it to my face."


    Yvonne smiled, but there was ice in it. "Careful what you wish for, Dad. If Xanderes back, it''s not just going to be about money."


    Mona and Yale shivered, exchanging a worried nce. She was right-if Xander showed up, things would get a lot messier.


    But with Yvonne''s backing from the Quinn family, Mona and Yale couldn''t afford to piss her off.


    For two hours, tempers red and nerves frayed, but Yvonne made it clear: she wasn''t leaving without what she''de for.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!