Yvonne had used some excuse about a financial dispute to lock everything down. In other words, Mona couldn't spend a single cent without Yvonne's explicit approval.

Ever since she hooked up with Tristan, Mona never thought she would be reduced to begging. Yet here she was, stripped of all her pride.

"I... I need some funds right now," Mona said nervously. "Could you handle that for me?"

She used to be so incredibly smug whenever she dealt with Xander. Now? That was

all gone.

The moment Xander heard she needed money, he knew Yvonne had executed her plan flawlessly.

"Yvonne manages the finances," Xander said coldly. "I don't have any money."

"What did you just say?" Mona gasped.

No money? Was that really something Xander would say? He was broke? Impossible.

How much had he and Yvonne siphoned from the Schultz estate lately? Thanks to Regina's sheer stupidity, Ronald had nearly wiped out their entire empire. Whatever scraps remained, Xander and Yvonne had swept up.

Right now, they were the only ones who had access to cash, and he was claiming he didn't have any? She was practically begging him, and this was his response?

Mona's blood boiled.

"She controls the accounts," Xander stated bluntly. "If you need cash, talk to her."

Talk to Yvonne? With the way Yvonne treated Mona, the fifty grand she had promised earlier was a pipe dream. Now, Yvonne would ruthlessly interrogate her over every single dime, demanding receipts for everything.

Xander didn't wait for a reply. He simply walked away, leaving Mona fuming in the hallway.

Meanwhile, at the Quinn estate.

Just as Xander predicted, Stella's bed was incredibly crowded that night. Both Susanna and Tegan were there. Yvonne arrived right behind Tegan.

When Tegan walked in, she caught Stella and Susanna complaining about Finley's medical skills. Naturally, Tegan joined the conversation.

Listening to Stella recount all of Finley's embarrassing moments, Tegan chuckled.

"It's bad enough he thought I had stomach cancer," Stella said, rolling her eyes. Then Xander suspected Yvonne had stress induced gastritis and brought in a therapist. He even dragged in actual psychiatri patients to consult."

When it came to pregnancy paranoia, all the men in their lives were losing their

minds in the most ridiculous ways.

"Oh my god, that's hilarious,"

Susanna laughed. "They're so stupid.

Absolutely clueless. How does

so

anyone call Finley a genius? And Xander, too! He usually seems sharp."

When Xander fought Black Gate and Derek, he was a tactical

mastermind. How could he make

rookie mistake when it came

e's pregnancy?

Susanna turned to Tegan. "Tegan, you work with him every day. You need to be careful. Stupidity is contagious."

Like when Hull told her the baby in her stomach was a tumor. She had actually believed him for a second...

Tegan smiled warmly. "I think he's pretty cute."

Susanna and Stella both stopped dead, their eyes snapping toward Tegan.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tegan asked, blinking.

"Something is wrong with you," Susanna declared. Stella nodded in agreement. "Very wrong."

Tegan frowned. What was wrong? She was just expressing her genuine opinion about him. How was that weird?

Susanna leaned in closer. "Tegan, you seriously don't think Dr. Yoder is an idiot? You think he's cute?"

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

"Yes! It's a massive problem!" Susanna said, completely serious. "You only think someone's flaws are cute when you're falling for them."

Tegan fell silent.