Yvonne''s face was scrunched up in a mix of anger and frustration.


    When Xander heard her mutter about an "apology," he let out a sharpugh. “Oh, please. When has he ever apologized for anything? Three years ago, after that whole mess got sorted, he dragged me through hell and back—not a single sorry from him."


    Back then, Ronald hadn''t juste down on him—he''d made sure the entire Schultz family felt it too.


    So after everything was said and done, wouldn''t a decent person at least offer an apology?


    Yvonne fell silent, her mood sinking even further.


    Still, she pressed on, her voice edged with hurt. “But he apologized to Star, didn''t he?"


    Xander snorted. "That''s not the same. God knows when that shameless bastard started chasing after her."


    Thinking back, everyone thought Ronald saw Ste like a little sister- overprotective to the extreme, like a ssic big brother.


    Bute to think of it, he''d never treated Yvonne that way.


    So, in the end, Ronald hadn''t been acting like a brother at all-more like a future husband keeping an eye on his bride-to-be.


    "I can''t believe Star," Yvonne huffed. "She must''ve known. She kept me in the dark, too..."


    This time, her voice cracked with real hurt at the betrayal.


    "They''re couple," Xander pointed out, matter-of-fact.


    That hit Yvonne like a punch in the gut.


    Before she could fire back, Xander''s phone started ringing it was Ronald.


    "Your brother," he said, ncing at Yvonne.


    She folded her arms and huffed. “He just loves to screw with the two of us, doesn''t he?"


    The way she puffed up and, especially, the way she said "the two of us" sent a small surge of satisfaction through Xander.


    Was she actually defending him?


    That "us" lingered in his mind, and he couldn''t help but let a lopsided,


    uncharacteristic grin slip across his face.


    He picked up and hit speaker. "Yeah?"


    "What did you say to her this time?" came Ronald''s cold voice.


    "Hey, this one''s not on me," Xander replied with a shrug. "I didn''t say a thing. She just happened to spot Hull out at dinner with Susanna."


    Yvonne might not have seen exactly who Hull had in his arms, but once Ss confirmed Susanna had been. glued to his side, there was no offe else it could''ve been. "


    One moment she''s worrying Hull doesn''t have any feelings for Susanna, and the next she finds


    Susanna''s been there the whole


    time now she''s fumming.


    "Honestly, she''s been pouring her heart out for nothing-feeding a pack of wolves," Xander quipped, his sarcasm cutting through the air.


    There was no need to ask who "the wolves" were-Ronald and Hull were the ones feasting. Silence hung on the line.


    Yvonne didn''t speak, but inside, she thought, Perfect way to put it-that''s exactly how it is.


    She''d really thrown herself into


    everythingtely, doing her part


    giving her all. And for what? Would someone please tell her what on earth was actually happening here?


    Ronald''s voice was dangerously calm when he finally replied, low and threatening.


    "Maybe if you weren''t so damn clueless, you wouldn''t need others to point things out for you."


    Xander bristled at being called out.


    "What''s that supposed to mean? How are we the clueless ones?"


    "If Susanna really was being held by ck Gate, do you honestly think that''s how


    Hull would react?" Ronald retorted.


    What was the appropriate reaction supposed to be? Xander paused.


    Wait... how did Hull react, exactly?