Yvonne and Xander had barely stepped out of the Schultz family estate when another explosive argument erupted inside.

Humming a cheerful tune, Yvonne slid into the passenger seat, thoroughly pleased with herself.

Xander took the wheel. Seeing her radiant mood, he reached over, caught her hand, and rested it over his on the gearshift.

"What are you doing? So clingy," Yvonne teased.

She instinctively tried to pull her hand away.

But Xander tightened his grip just enough to keep her in place. "Don't move. Let me hold it for a minute."

"Just focus on driving."

Yvonne huffed softly.

Since when had he become so affectionate?

Little did she know, the hollow ache Xander had carried for years was finally starting to heal.

For years, he had maintained an icy exterior because the place he was supposed to call home had gone entirely cold.

Ever since his mother passed away, no one in that house had ever protected him.

Even though his fierce personality meant he rarely took a beating lying down, going up against a woman like Mona was exhausting; every hard-won battle only ever looked like a victory on the surface.

In reality, Mona was always the one who walked away gloating.

Unable to stomach it any longer, Xander had finally severed ties with the Schultz family.

But undeniably, that house still held pieces of his mother. Tristan had only reached his current level of success because of all the storms Xander's mother had weathered by his side.

Yet in the end, his mother died, and Mona moved in with her son, Yale, along with Regina.

Kids who were practically the exact same age as him.

It was beyond ridiculous.

While his mother had suffered in the trenches with Tristan, his mistress had been living a life of luxury.

Right after his mother's funeral, that woman had waltzed right into the Schultz estate. He had fought back, but his resistance had been utterly futile.

He had acted like a cornered, raging beast.

Yet he hadn't managed to leave a single scratch on her.

"This is nice," Xander suddenly murmured.

"Hmm? What is?"

His random comment left Yvonne completely bewildered.

"Three years ago, when Ronald went after the Schultz family, I enjoyed every second of it," Xander admitted.

Back then, the entire household had been thrown into total chaos. No one knew a moment's peace.

Even though his own life had been difficult at the time, Xander hadn't cared.

As long as they were suffering, he was happy.

While Ronald was busy tearing the Schultz family apart, Xander had taken

advantage of the distraction to line his own pockets.

He just hadn't managed to grab as much as he wanted because Ronald's attacks had been so relentlessly aggressive.

Catching the lingering bitterness in his voice, Yvonne turned her palm up, her thumb tracing soothing circles across his knuckles.

"You're just too hot-headed. You

never learned how to play the long game, and that's why you always

ended up hurting yourself she said, Softly.

It was the honest truth.

Wasn't that exactly why his years in the Schultz house had been so miserable?

Unlike Yvonne, who had barely lifted a finger this time around yet still managed to drive both Mona and Tristan absolutely insane.

Back at the Schultz estate.

Tristan and Mona were locked in a

vicious screaming match. Mona was

weeping hysterically. "What on earth

would be doing in Novaderma

What could possibly be doing

there?"

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"Exactly! What were you doing? Tell me! Is Yvonne right? Are you hiding some

secret bastard child over there?" Tristan roared.

"No, I am not!" Mona shrieked.

"Then why have you traveled there so many times? For what?"

"You're doubting me? How could you doubt me?" she sobbed indignantly.

"Cut the bullshit and give me a straight answer!"

How could he doubt her?

All he wanted to know was what the hell Mona had been up to behind his back.

"Stop it, both of you!" Yale shouted, trying to intervene.

"Shut your mouth!"

Tristan was absolutely livid. Yale's attempt to play peacemaker only threw more fuel onto his father's blazing fury.

Meanwhile, Yvonne received a quick

text update from her informant inside the estate Upon hearing that a massive fight had broken out, her humming grew even more cheerful.

By the time they arrived back at the Quinn family home.

Stella was busy going over venue photos and wedding dress alterations with Ronald.