With a sickening thud, the ashtray connected with Yale's head. He let out a muffled groan, clutching his skull as his ears rang, unable to speak. In an instant, the Schultz residence plunged deeper into chaos.

"You... you've gone way too far this time!" Mona shrieked at Yvonne. "You just can't stand me, can you? Is it because I'm disrupting the peace of this house?"

The constant fighting was giving Tristan a splitting headache. But Yvonne wasn't finished. Ignoring Mona's melodramatic accusations, she demanded, "He won't answer. You tell me."

"What more do you want me to say?" Mona sobbed.

"You've been to Novaderma so many times in the past two years. Do you or do you not have a secret child there?"

Mona went rigid.

Tristan's heart leaped into his throat.

Yvonne sniffed dismissively. "Don't blame me for digging deep. This is about my husband's inheritance in the Schultz family. That child might not be Dad's, but a portion of his assets would go to you, wouldn't they? Oh, wait! Dad never legally married you."

The atmosphere in the living room grew heavy and cold. A muscle twitched in Mona's jaw.

Before she could respond, Yvonne pressed on. "But you wouldn't abandon your own child, would you? So the money you spend on your secret kid still comes from Dad's pocket! And since Xander is entitled to a piece of that, I won't let this go until it's all cleared up!"

No matter what face Mona put on—-pity, grievance, or rage—Yvonne met it with relentless aggression.

Mona turned to Tristan, her last resort. "Tristan, are you just going to let her do this? Is there any place left for me in this house?"

"That's right, Dad, you should say something," Yvonne chimed in. "Have you figured out what she was doing on all those trips to Novaderma?"

"Tristan!" Mona screamed, utterly furious.

"Dad!" Yvonne countered, her voice just as firm.

Both women stared at Tristan, their gazes unwavering, each demanding he take their side. Trapped between the repeated calls of "Tristan!" and "Dad!" he felt his head spin.

"Both of you, stop shouting!" he boomed.

"How can not?" Yvonne argued. "Yale is Xander's half-brother, so fine, he gets a share. But if some unrelated illegitimate, child from outside this family gets a piece too, what will be left?"

Tristan and Mona paled.

Yvonne's repeated emphasis on "illegitimate child from outside" was a targeted attack. Tristan and Mona had already fought over this exact issue yesterday. Yvonne's vague hints had planted the seed of doubt in Tristan's mind, and now her direct accusations were like needles piercing his nerves.

"You... you are just too much," Yale stammered, still dazed. "I think you just don't want this family to be at peace! You..."

"Ah~ I'm sleepy," Yvonne declared, cutting him off with a loud yawn. She turned to Xander, who had been watching the drama unfold without a word.

He squeezed her soft hand. "Tired?"

"Mmm, really tired," she nodded, genuinely feeling a wave of exhaustion. "Besides, the bed is ruined. Have someone replace it. We'll sleep at the Quinn family's house tonight."

As Yvonne stood to leave with Xander, she paused and glanced back at the tear- streaked Mona. She held her gaze for only a second before turning to Tristan.

"Dad, it's not that we can't tolerate her," she said, her voice now calm and reasonable. "It's she who can't tolerate me. I'm a pregnant woman, and she put a huge dead snake in

my

bed. She acts like she wants of you, but look at,

-nothing in t

the low-class tricks she's pulling just

to get control of the household

back."

FindNovel.net

Having thoroughly exposed her, Yvonne systematically tore Mona's mask to shreds.

Mona looked at Tristan, shaking her head, feeling as though she couldn't breathe. "I... I didn't!"

"Then who put the snake there?" Yvonne challenged. "Was it you, Dad?"

Tristan winced. She was calling him 'Dad' again.

His head throbbed.