Nobody really knew what Xander and Lottie discussed in the study, but somehow, he agreed to it.


    Lottie turned to her daughter, Ste. "Sweetheart."


    "Mom, it''s just not right. Yesterday, when he talked to my brother in the study, he even recorded the conversation! He''s really sneaky."


    Who records conversations during a friendly chat?


    Just from this, you could tell something was off with Xander.


    Hearing Ste call him ''sneaky'', Xander felt a pang of frustration deep in his gut.


    These folks were acting like he was the only one who had messed up back then, pinning all the me solely on him.


    Lottie said firmly, "Hush now, we''ll talkter."


    Ste pressed her lips together.


    Yvonne chimed in, "Sweetheart''s right, he is sneaky."


    Xander was fuming now and snapped at Ste, "So, are you marrying me? It doesn''t matter, you''re my fiancée anyway."


    Ste remained silent.


    Lottie sighed.


    But Yvonne wasn''t having any of it. "Hey, you shameless guy! Sweetheart is pregnant! With my brother''s child, and you''re still thinking about her?"


    She had seen her fair share of shameless people over the years, but Xander was something else.


    Was he so desperate that he had totch onto a pregnant woman?


    Xander turned to Yvonne, "Then are you marrying me?"


    Yvonne''s eyes widened in shock.


    Yesterday, she might have thought about using that strategy to mess with Xander.


    But seeing him now, she suddenly felt a bit apprehensive and didn''t want to take the risk.


    She huffed, "I''m not marrying you either."


    Xander red at her, choosing to say nothing.


    Lottie spoke up, "Alright, it''s just about getting a marriage certificate, not about walking through fire."


    Yvonne protested, "Mom, there''s something off about him."


    Let''s be rational here, okay?


    Yvonne could tell that her mother felt guilty about what happened three years ago, and this was her way of making amends?


    "Come on, even if you want to make it up to him, don''t use me, alright? I am your daughter, after all."


    Lottie felt a headacheing on. "It''s not about making it up; it''s just helping someone out. Hurry up and go."


    "Help? Help with what?"


    Yvonne was puzzled.


    Ste looked over at Lottie and then at Xander.


    Help, huh?


    She wasn''t buying it.


    Even Yvonne didn''t believe it at this point.


    Every word Xander said seemed loaded with ulterior motives.


    You never knew when you might get caught in his trap; he was sly like that.


    Yvonne shot Xander a nce. "What do you need help with?"


    "It''s inconvenient to say," Xander replied.


    Yvonne was taken aback. "Hey..."


    Lottie cut her off, "Yes, it''s inconvenient."


    Yvonne and Ste exchanged looks, stunned.


    Hearing the exchange between Lottie and Xander, the two sisters nced at their


    mom.


    Then they turned their attention to Xander.


    Yvonne,


    hands together. "This isn''t right You''re asking for my help but


    as for consperated, rubbed her


    t can''t


    e why?"


    Lottie nodded. "Yes, it''s inconvenient. Now, hurry up and go." With that, she practically handed Yvonne over to Xander.


    And Xander wasted no time, taking Yvonne out the door.


    Ste wanted to say something, but Lottie held her back.


    "Mom."


    "Alright, don''t you worry about your sister''s affairs."


    Lottie''s tone softened, a hint of


    was out of ear where t


    resignation creeping in now that


    31 One softened, a hint of


    Ste insisted, "But Xander isn''t a good guy."


    Lottie gave her a pointed look. "What do you know about judging people at your age?"


    Ste pouted.


    Lottie, seeing her daughter like this, felt a wave of exasperation. "Alright,


    alrig won''t harm her. The


    one we should really worry about is Dan. Now, he''s the real bad guy."


    That scoundrel...


    Daring to mess with her daughter, she needed to figure out how to deal with him.