Yvonne was incredibly satisfied with Xander's unyielding defense. It felt nice to be protected.

She turned a sharp gaze to Tristan. "Dad, have you figured out why she went to Novaderma so many times? Let's clear that up before you ask me to hand over the household power."

She let the implication hang heavily in the air. "What if she has a secret child stashed away over there? Am I supposed to just sit back while the family's money gets funneled to some illegitimate brat? I'm not doing that."

"Yvonne, you are crossing a line!" Mona shrieked. "What secret child? I've been with the Schultz family all these years. When would I have had the time to hide a pregnancy?"

Tristan had been hounding her about this exact issue for days, driving her to the brink of insanity. Hearing Yvonne casually throw the accusation in her face was infuriating.

"Maybe you had them before you joined our family," Yvonne suggested casually.

"I did no such thing!"

"Then what were you doing in Novaderma all those times? It clearly wasn't just a vacation." Yvonne eyed her critically. "And looking at your face, you obviously didn't go there for plastic surgery."

Novaderma was famous for its cosmetic procedures, but Mona hadn't had any work done. So what was the real reason?

Mona's face twisted into an ugly mask of rage.

Dismissing her with a sneer, Yvonne looked back at Tristan. "Well, Dad? Did you find anything out?"

Tristan's expression was stormy. He had obviously been trying to uncover the truth behind Mona's frequent trips, but his investigators hadn't turned up any solid leads yet. Still, the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing into a suffocating weed of paranoia.

Before Tristan could answer, Mona's phone began to ring. She glanced at the screen, her face draining of color, and quickly rejected the call.

"Why didn't you answer?" Yvonne taunted. "Was it your secret daughter? Or your secret son?"

"Shut up, Yvonne! You just want to drive me out of this house."

"If you don't have any hidden

children, you naturally have a place in this family," Yvonne replied coldly. "But you do, you need to pack your bags and get the hell out." Content"

Mona's expression darkened into pure malice.

Just then, her phone rang again. It was Berry. Mona reached to decline the call, but Yvonne shot up from the sofa, striding toward her with her hand outstretched.

Mona scrambled back. "What are you doing?"

"Too scared to answer? I'll do it for you." Yvonne stepped into her personal space, radiating dominance. "Hand it over."

When Mona tried to shield the

phone, Yvonne's tone turned frigid. "Prove to us that this isn't your illegitimate child calling, and you can stay in this house forever. But if it is, you're leaving today."

Mona went deathly pale. Leave the Schultz family? She couldn't. She had nowhere

else to go.

"Well?" Yvonne pressed.

"Stop making baseless accusations! I don't have a child!" Mona cried, stubbornly refusing to confess.

Yvonne's eyes narrowed. Without

another word, she lunged and

snatched the ringing phone right out

stall

of Mona's hands. Yvonne was t

and athletic the petite Mona never stood a chance.

Mona was horrified. If Yvonne answered and Berry called her 'Mom,' her entire life would be over.

But it was too late. Yvonne easily overpowered her, gripped the phone, and tapped the speaker button for everyone to hear.