Yale was practically grinding his teeth in frustration. "Dad, aren''t you going to say something?"


    He simply couldn''t believe it-after the fiascost time, surely his father wouldn''t let them move back in.


    Yvonne''s tone was ice. "The moment I leave this house today, Xander is no longer part of the Schultz family. I''ll go public—he''ll be a Quinn from now on. And I''ll make sure everyone knows the Schultzes didn''t want him."


    Tristan wentpletely silent.


    Yale wanted to fire back, to ask if Xander ever really acted like a Schultz these past years. With all that power and prestige in Patrina, when the family needed him most when Ronald came after them-Xander had done nothing to help. So now, threatening to sever ties? It was moreughable than anything.


    But then Yvonnended her real blow: that it was the Schultzes who didn''t want Xander.


    Yale''s words came out through gritted teeth. “Since when did the Schultz family say we didn''t want him?"


    "Isn''t that what you''ve been implying all along?" Yvonne shot back. "Both of you so worried that he mighte back and threaten your piece of the pie.”


    Yale''s mouth snapped shut. He had no good answer.


    Yvonne''s gaze stayed locked on Tristan. "Dad, I want a clear answer. Are we wee here or not?"


    Stay, or go? Who would dare force her out now? The second she stepped out that door and made her announcement, the family''s reputation would be in shambles.


    Yvonne, Yale couldn''t help but think, really knew how to corner people. She said almost nothing, yet every word was sharp as a knife. And everyone knew she wasn''t bluffing.


    Mona looked positively livid. "Tristan! I have my own reputation to think of," she snapped, each word biting.


    Everyone in their circle loved to gossip about her being Xander''s stepmother. If she lost control of the household finances to Xander''s new wife, she''d end up aughingstock among all the socialites.


    "I want security. Solid guarantees," Yvonne replied coolly.


    "You-!"


    "Dad, I''m waiting," Yvonne pressed, utterly unbending.


    Suddenly, Tristan found himself totally trapped-each woman insisting he respect her pride,


    swn vol


    his own didn''t matter at all. He saw red.


    Yvonne''s stance was razor-sharp. When she saw Tristan hesitate, she turned to Xander, ready to leave. "Let''s go. He''s not your father anymore, this isn''t your family. The moment we walk out, everyone will know."


    Tristan''s face went stormy.


    "Wait!" he barked just as Yvonne began pulling Xander up from his seat.


    "Tristan!" Mona shrieked, her voice


    trembling with panic. Was he really


    going through with this? Letting Yvonne move back in, even run the house? Did this mean they''d be living under her thumb now? Mona shot Tristan a look filled with anger and desperation.


    Tristan''s head pounded. There was no way he''d let Xander join the Quinns. Absolutely not.


    Finally, with weary resignation, he muttered to Mona, "Give her everything."


    Mona stared at him like he''d just pped her.


    Yvonne folded her arms, shed Xander a triumphant look, then turned to Tristan—– her voice suddenly sickly sweet. “Thank you, father.”


    Xander practically recoiled. This was just too much—the "Dad" from before was bad enough, now she was throwing around "Daddy"?


    Mona and Yale looked like they might faint on the spot at her sheer audacity.


    Yale gave a cold, bitterugh. “That ''Daddy'' must''ve cost us a fortune."


    Just thinking about the price made him feel sick.


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


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!