Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 1044

"That damned woman—she knows the kid is Xander’s, and she still wants to keep it! After everything she did to me? How the hell is she going to make it up to me?" Dan was fuming, veins standing out on his neck.

He knew perfectly well Yvonne would never make amends. She refused to give back even the things she’d snatched from Black Gate. The more he thought about it, the more his anger flared. He jabbed at his phone, dialing Yvonne again, only to discover he was blocked. He had nowhere to vent the wildfire of fury burning inside him.

Elsewhere, just as seething was Shawn, who trudged alone down a moonlit, empty path, phone to his ear as he ranted at Xander.

"Do you even get what you’ve put me through? Forty miles! Forty! Do you know what that’s like? Sure, on the highway maybe I could jog it, but on these damn country roads, I can’t even keep up a run!"

Exasperated, Shawn practically spat into the receiver. "I must've lost it for a second, thinking I could save a heartless bastard like you. If I hadn’t tried to bail you out, Yvonne wouldn’t be gunning for me now. It’s all on you! Because of you, I’m getting singled out, and you’re just standing by, doing nothing!"

Worked up beyond reason, Shawn was yelling louder than he'd ever dare to Xander’s face. But with miles between them, he couldn’t hold back anymore. What kind of brother pulls this kind of stunt on him? He’d always treated Xander as family.

Xander’s voice was maddeningly calm. "Just hang in there. It’s only this time. There won’t be a next, all right?"

"Don’t count on me next time! If you get the crap beaten out of you, I’ll just let you rot there! I won’t so much as lift a finger—"

He kept hurling invective, his voice echoing down the lane, not caring who heard.

Meanwhile, Xander was seated at dinner with Yvonne, Ronald, and Stella. Since coming back to Ferrowland, Stella was every bit the family princess. Of course, she had always been treasured by the Quinns—even as an adopted daughter, everyone spoiled her. Who wouldn’t, with that sweet face?

When she was little, her cheeks had been so rosy and plump they looked soft enough to melt.

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