Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

When logic failed, Xander resorted to good old-fashioned nonsense. Honestly, he'd always been the master of nonsense.

That troublesome Stella, three years ago, she'd misunderstood him, and now she was holding it against him? He'd texted her covertly from another phone, for Pete's sake! Was she blind back then and just didn't see it?

Ronald lifted his eyes coldly. "Give back?"

Xander replied, "Yeah, she's mine, you gotta give her back. No matter what, I want her."

When it came to Stella, Xander adopted a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners stance. No amount of reasoning would sway him.

Ronald let out a dry chuckle, snuffing his cigarette in the ashtray with a hiss.

"I noticed earlier, your hands seemed a bit too friendly with Yvonne's chest?" Xander's lips twitched. "What are you talking about?"

Earlier? What situation was he talking about? Was he not seeing straight? Whatever happened, it wasn't like that at all!

Ronald asked, "Not planning on taking responsibility?"

Xander was flabbergasted. What? Taking responsibility? Was he serious?

Meeting Ronald's dead-serious gaze, Xander felt a twitch of panic. "Hey, do you even know why I came to see Yvonne today? She stole something of mine."

Ronald didn't respond.

"Ronald, I'm telling you, this is low, even for you. Have you no shame?"

He came to get his stuff back from Yvonne, to ask Ronald to let Star go, and Ronald was pulling this stunt on him?

What was this? Was Ronald trying to pawn off Yvonne, that tomboy, on him because Dan was out of the picture?

Ronald lit another cigarette. "But you did touch her, and Yvonne is a lady. A lady's reputation..."

The way he said Yvonne's name, like she was some delicate flower, made Xander's blood boil. "Lady? Ronald, are you seriously calling Yvonne a lady? Can you say that with a straight face?"

Ronald played along. "I can indeed."

Xander was floored. Did he dig up the Quinn family's grave in a past life to

deserve this? Was Ronald really going through with this?

"So you're retaliating by sicking her on me?"

Xander was about to blow a gasket. It was clear now; Ronald was doing this for Stella, shoving Yvonne into his life.

A sharp pang struck Xander's chest in sheer exasperation. "Are you hoping Yvonne would slip poison into my coffee at night?"

This wasn't just a woman being thrust upon him. With Yvonne's reputation which he was well aware of, it was akin to being handed a ticking time bomb.noveldrama

"Cut the crap," Xander howled, his frustration palpable.

Ronald chuckled lightly. "My sister isn't someone just anyone can push around." Xander's lips twitched. Was Ronald serious?

"Yvonne's one true love was Dan, and that guy's still living rent-free in her head. And Dan's no saint; he's done more than his share of pushing."

Yvonne had gone to confront him, only to find out he was marrying someone else. It was like a slap in her face, echoing loudly.

Ronald said, "How do you know Dan's living happily ever after?"

Xander asked, "What do you mean?"

Was Ronald suggesting Dan wasn't happy now? No way.

Yvonne had just gone to Sands City, and there were so many things still up in the air. Ronald's actions seemed protective to those who got it, but to the uninitiated, he seemed utterly unreasonable. And he wasn't exactly known for being the most reasonable guy in the room. One would understand after hearing the nonsense he just spewed.

"I barely touched her, and it wasn't on purpose. You expect me to marry Yvonne? Does she even want that?" Xander was practically bouncing with frustration. Before Ronald could respond, Yvonne's voice rang out from the doorway. "Yes."