"Yvonne, enough with the jokes," Yale scoffed, his tone edged with irritation. "The Schultz estate is no ce for your games."


    He grit his teeth as he spoke, still simmering over how much Yvonne and Xander had managed to walk away withst time. They hadn''t even finished nursing that grudge, and now she wanted to move back in? Was this some kind of joke? If she came back, would any of them get a peaceful day again?


    Yvonne gave Yale a cool look. "Are you saying my duty to the family is a joke? Or is moving back in supposed to be one?"


    Yale fell silent, biting back his frustration. Damn woman...


    Tristan frowned at Yale, his impatience showing. Deep down, as a father, the years of estrangement from Xander had left him uneasy. He wanted to make things right, but Xander never gave him the chance. Now, hearing Yvonne propose moving back in with Xander, he felt a shaky sense of relief, tinged with anxiety.


    But whatever misgivings he had, he wanted his son home. He shot Yale a steely re, snapping, "Watch your mouth. If you can''t be civil, keep quiet."


    "Father!" Yale protested, his voice tight with disbelief. Did he seriously want Xander and Ferrond''s infamous witch to move in? If that happened, the entire house would be thrown into chaos.


    Tristan turned toward Yvonne.


    Yvonne spoke without missing a beat. "Besides, I''m carrying Xander''s child now. Given that I''m his wife, it would be quite the scandal if I kept living away from the family, don''t you think?"


    “Pregnant?” Tristan''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Yes," she replied, calm and steady.


    "Then of course you should move home," Tristan said at once.


    The news startled him. Up until now he''d always suspected Xander and Yvonne''s marriage was just for show. But now, with a baby on the way... His gaze drifted to Yvonne''s stomach. Only someone who had been a parent could truly understand the feeling of expecting a grandchild.


    Yale and Mona sat stunned.


    “Pregnant? Well—forgive me, but we don''t really... have any idea how to take care of someone expecting a baby," Mona stammered, trying to find a polite excuse.


    Yvonne raised an eyebrow and let out a soft, amusedugh. "You mean to say you''ve never had a child yourself?"


    Mona flushed, nearly choking with outrage. How dare this woman-she was a Quinn, for heaven''s sake-how could she be this shameless?


    Her expression soured, but Yvonne just snorted and looked away. "I could always stay with my own family. The Quinns know how to


    take good care of me. But if


    gets out that I''m pregnant with a Schultz heir and still staying with my own family, what should tell


    people? That Xander''s stepmother refused to look after a pregnant woman?"


    That onended. Tristan''s face darkened. He shot Mona a pointed, icy look, then turned to the butler. "Go prepare Xander''s room. Make sure everything''s ready."


    "Yes, sir," the butler replied promptly.


    And just like that, it was settled: Yvonne and Xander would be moving in.


    Mona looked at Tristan, on the verge of speaking, but a fierce re from him cut her off. She swallowed herint, but resentment simmered beneath the surface.


    As if the news that they''d be moving in wasn''t bad enough, Yvonne had another move to y.


    "Oh, and there''s something else I''ll need you to agree to, Father," she said, her tone light but firm.


    "Whatever it is, just say the word," Tristan replied, his voice now noticeably gentler than before. After all, Yvonne was carrying his grandchild.


    Mona and Yale exchanged uneasy nces, a growing sense of dread pooling in their stomachs. With Tristan in this mood, he''d grant Yvonne anything she asked for and she was hardly the type to make small, reasonable requests.


    Sure enough, with Mona and Yale both watching her warily, Yvonneid a hand on her belly and said evenly, "There''s a little one growing in here who can''t afford to be stressed. And I''m not the type to put up with any trouble either.