"It''s a good thing I can take a punch-but honestly, it nearly killed me!" Dan dered, his tone thick with mock sympathy as he forted'' Xander. He seemed to havepletely forgotten that they were supposed to be mortal enemies; if anything, his words only rubbed salt into the wound.


    "So, which hospital did you end up in? Should I swing by with a little care package?" He had absolutely no intention of bringing gifts—the real motivation was to see firsthand just how badly Xander had been roughed up.


    Dan couldn''t help sighing to himself. Yvonne really had it all-except for that hellish temper of hers. Back when he first regained his memories of her, he''d actually considered reaching out. That fantasy died the instant he saw reports of Yvonne chasing Skye Yoder across continents, determined to beat the daylights out of him. Thinking back to when he got those news snippets, Dan recalled feeling utterly stumped. After all, when Yvonne was with him, she''d been nothing but sweet. But now? Seeing her as this ferocious firebrand, he abandoned any thought of tracking her down. Yvonne would likely never realize that Dan truly had forgotten her-and that the reason he didn''te searching after his memories returned was simple: she scared the life out of him.


    That probably exined why, when Xander and Yvonne got together, Dan didn''t throw much of a fuss. Even so, right now all he wanted was to see just how badly Xander had gotten thrashed.


    "Craving anything special? I''ll drop by with your favorites,” he said, tone annoyingly cheerful.


    Xander stayed silent. Dan pressed on, "Don''t be embarrassed. Anyone would look a mess after crossing Yvonne." Getting beaten to a pulp, how could you look any better?


    On the other end, Xander listened to Dan''s endless gloating. He nced sideways at Yvonne, who had now picked up a call of her own. Whatever was being said on the line, he couldn''t hear—but he definitely caught her fierce reply:


    "All the main roads are blocked. Fine-let that bastard take the back roads!" she snapped before ending the call with a low growl.


    Xander fell silent. What had Shawn done to set her off this time?


    Dan was still babbling away, so Xander finally interjected, "I didn''t get beaten up."


    A sudden hush fell-five whole seconds of stunned silence.


    Then Dan''s mind sputtered back to life. "What?" he blurted.


    Xander shot back smugly, "I have, let''s call it, ''daddy''s immunity.'' Not like you."


    Dan was speechless. Yvonne, however, was not.


    Hearing Xander''s cheeky brag, she rolled her eyes at him. ssic. Was he deliberately twisting the knife? Did driving Dan to madness make him feel better?


    Apparently, it did. Because on the other end, Dan really was about to lose his mind. The grin of wicked delight erased itself from his face; his gloating morphed into a dark, scowl.


    "You said you didn''t get beaten?" Dan demanded, voice dangerous.


    "That''s right," Xander repliedpletely unfazed.


    Dan practically shouted, "And why not? You''re telling me she found out it was you, and just let you walk?"


    Is there no justice in this world?


    Xander answered calmly, "Like I said. Fatherly privilege."


    "You shameless bastard-''fatherly privilege''? Is the baby in your belly? Where the hell is your privilege


    new, daleashing a full string


    expletives. "Fatherly privilege, my


    ass! You have no shame!"


    Facing Dan''s tirade, Xander showed no sign of annoyance. "I get why you''re upset.


    But facts are facts—I really didn''t get hit."


    He paused. Almost as if remembering something, he added, "Oh—actually, she did pinch my side a couple of times."


    That was too much. So when


    Yvonne thought it was Dan, she''d beaten him within an inch of his life,


    but once she realized it was Xander, all he got were a few harmless pinches? Are you kidding me?


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


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!