She wanted nothing to do with that bastard Dan—absolutely nothing.


    If the baby was his, there was no way in hell she''d keep it. Not for any reason.


    "The baby''s mine," Xander said, his tone unmistakable.


    "Xander!" Yvonne''s voice snapped like a whip. The way she looked at him—pure guilt clouding her eyes-just twisted the knife deeper in his chest.


    He looked back at her, pained. "What do I have to do to make you understand? Are you empty-headed or just not listening?" Desperate, he almostughed at the absurdity. Was he not exining himself? He was—over and over! But Yvonne refused to believe him.


    "Why can''t you admit the baby''s mine?" he pressed, his frustration boiling over. Dan might have been losing his mind, but Xander was right there with him. How could he not be angry when Yvonne was so ready to name someone else the father, like he simply didn''t exist? And on top of everything, he couldn''t evensh out at her—it only made it all cut deeper.


    Yvonne shot him a look. "You really think I should just trust you? Trust that you''ve lost your damn mind?"


    Xander tried to protest, but she cut across him.


    “Xander, this isn''t necessary. It''s just a procedure—it''s not going to ruin my health.”


    He stared at her, speechless. "A procedure? You talk about it like it''s nothing. Do you even hear yourself? I''m warning you don''t even think about getting rid of this baby. You''re having it, whether you like it or not."


    "You"


    "It''s my baby. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine!" He repeated it, each time more desperate, hoping maybe this time she''d finally see the truth.


    But Yvonne just went quiet, watching him, her expression unreadable.


    “What''s that look supposed to mean?” he asked, unnerved. Was she really so convinced he was lying?


    "Nothing. I want some orange juice," she said ndly, suddenly changing the topic. "I''ll have Shawn get it," Xander replied right away.


    "And some kiwi juice too."


    "Sure-both, whatever you want." At this point, Xander was determined to get her anything she asked for. As long as she was happy, even if that meant running Shawn ragged.


    Meanwhile, Shawn, on his way past Dan''s hospital room, stopped short when he heard an unearthly howl of pain inside.


    "Gentler! God, please, gentler! Aagh—!"


    Reflexively, Shawn paused and peered in through the door''s ss window. The sight that greeted him was almost cartoonish: Dan trussed up with bandages around his waist and head, looking utterly pitiful. Shawn barely managed to stifle augh.


    Inside, Anders Lowry sat beside


    Dan''s bed. After watching him get beaten up yesterday and again today Anders finally couldn''t help but say if you


    on''t straighten


    things out with Yvonne soon l


    swear, you''ll barely survive the week.


    You''re living dangerously my friend."


    Too dangerous, in fact.


    Dan red, teeth gritted in frustration. "You think I haven''t tried? She won''t believe a damn thing I say!"


    Anders shook his head. "That''s because you messed things up too badly before. Your word means nothing to her now."


    Dan had no answer for that—and none needed to be said.


    Out in the hallway, Shawn couldn''t help but mutter to himself, "Exactly." After all that fake death business, it was no wonder Yvonne didn''t trust a single word Dan said. Still, credit. where it was due the boss s wife was fierce. Nobody in their right mind would dare cross her-unless they were tired of living.


    A littleter, Shawn came back with both the orange and kiwi juices, and he even brought breakfast. He figured Yvonne and Xander must''ve left home on empty stomachs, rushing out so early.


    Later, when Shawn quietly reported to Xander just how thoroughly Dan had been pummeled, Xander instinctively nced over at Yvonne as she calmly ate her breakfast Sh must have really been starving. After tracking Dan down and giving him the thrashing of his life, Yvonne, who used to feel sick at the mere sight of food, was now eating without so much as a frown.


    "What else am I supposed to do?" Xander sighed to Shawn. "No matter what I say, she just doesn''t believe me."


    Shawn could only shake his head. If Dan ever heard that, he''d probably have a literal stroke then and there.