She gave a short, blunt answer. Just two words.


    Yvonne''s brow twitched. "Why? Am I not pretty enough? Not charming enough?"


    She''d asked. Skye just told her the truth, and now Yvonne looked even more annoyed.


    Skye shrugged, giving her a quick once-over. "Xander''s into girls like Star-you know, the sweet, all-American, homing queen types. You''re... well, not that."


    "Besides, everyone in Oakridge knows your temper. Seriously, what guy would willingly sign up for that?"


    "I mean, the way you went after Dan? I''d bet not just Xander—anyone who knows you would keep their distance."


    In Skye''s mind, Yvonne was just too intimidating. No one had the guts to mess with a woman like her.


    Hearing Skyey it out, Yvonne felt even more convinced Xander was a lost


    cause.


    "But honestly, his reaction was pretty weird," Skye mused, frowning thoughtfully.


    "Most people try to avoid getting med for stuff. I''ve never seen anyone so eager to take the fall."


    Yvonne didn''t feel like dissecting it further. She just took another swig of her whiskey.


    Skye continued, "If you ask me, Dan''s the most likely suspect. After the way he screwed you over, he still dares to show his face around here?"


    Yvonne''s eyes narrowed dangerously at the mention of Dan.


    The so-called boss of ck Gate. Ha. Everyone had underestimated him before. She''d been suspicious, but now it was basically confirmed.


    Dan was more than just a two-faced jerk-he was the king of maniption. Yvonne didn''t bother responding. She set down her empty wine ss. "I''m out.” Skye let out a huge sigh of relief. What a miracle-Yvonne wasn''t chasing her down for revenge this time. Probably just because she had too much on her te right now.


    Just as Skye thought the ordeal was over, Yvonne threw onest remark over her shoulder as she reached the door: "Next time you''re back in Oakridge, you better return my stuff, you hear?"


    Skye stared, wide-eyed.


    Yvonne just waved her off. "I''ve got bigger fish to fry right now."


    She had someone else to settle the score with.


    She was going to take down Dan.


    ...


    5:00 a.m.


    When Scar saw Yvonne suddenly appear at the hospital, he got a sinking feeling in his gut.


    "Ms. Quinn? What are you doing here?"


    And at this hour?


    Scar''s unease was mixed with resentment-he still hadn''t forgiven her for what she did to Dan. As Dan''s most loyal right-hand man, Scar practically radiated hostility.


    Yvonne didn''t spare him a single nce, striding straight for the hospital room. Scar blocked her path, quick as a sh. “Ms. Quinn, our boss needs his rest." His tone was ice cold. No hint of respect.


    Yvonne didn''t hesitate. She raised her hand and pped Scar so hard his head rang. Before he could recover, she grabbed him by the neck. If he hadn''t managed to fend her off, he probably would''ve cked out on the spot.


    Then she kicked him hard in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.


    Without a backward nce, Yvonne marched into the room.


    Dan heard themotion. He blinked groggily, and when he saw Yvonne, his


    breath caught. "You—"


    Before he could finish, Yvonne pped him. Twice.


    Dan''s face burned. His head was spinning.


    He didn''t even have time to react before she raised her hand for another hit.


    This time, Dan caught her wrist, furious. "What the hell is wrong with you? Are you insane?"


    He couldn''t believe it. First, someonees after him out of nowhere. Now, Yvonne-who already knows everything about Xanderes to rough him up herself?


    What kind of logic was that?


    Dan red at her, seething.


    Yvonne''s eyes narrowed. "ck Gate''s new kingpin, huh?"


    "You really thought you could y me?"


    Dan''s face fell. He could feel the danger rolling off her in waves. "You... you know?"


    Before he could say another word, Yvonne grabbed him by the throat, her grip like


    ice.


    "You got close to me back then because of my dad''s deal with Nn, didn''t you?" she hissed, her voice sharp as broken ss.


    Every word dripped with venom.


    After Dan''s "death" years ago, Nn had suddenly pulled out of the partnership-because someone had learned the details of their deal. That kind of corporate intel was dynamite.


    All these years, Dan was supposedly uninvolved. But if he was really the one pulling ck Gate''s strings, it all made perfect sense. Because after Dan''s "death," Nn had started working with ck Gate.


    Now Yvonne finally saw the ugly truth for what it was.