Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Yvonne had just gotten off the phone after a heated argument with Xander when Dan's name flashed on her screen. Her mood was already shot, and she sure as hell wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

She let out a short, humorless laugh. "What's up, Dan? Calling to congratulate me or something?"

Yeah, right. From the tone in his voice, she could tell congratulations were the last thing on his mind.

Dan's voice was tight. "Is it true? You really married Xander?"

"Oh, so you know already, huh?"noveldrama

She'd only been testing him, but the way he spat out the word "really" told her everything she needed to know.

Dan pressed on, his voice brittle. "You actually signed the papers with him?"

"What, you think we'd fake it? People like me and Xander don't play those games."

She shot back immediately, leaving him nowhere to go.

Dan's tone turned icy. "Yvonne."

She matched his coldness. "What, you got a problem with my attitude? Who I marry is none of your business."

Her words were as detached as a frozen lake in February. Once, she'd burned with passion for this man-now, there was nothing but frost.

Dan was fuming on the other end, his chest tight with anger. He ground out the words: "Divorce him."

Yvonne just snorted, her laughter sharp as glass. "Oh, please."

Dan lost it. "You used to fight with Xander like cats and dogs, and now you're married? Have you lost your mind? What kind of brainless stunt is this?"

The more he talked, the louder he got, like he was about to reach through the phone and throttle her.

"Yeah, maybe I am crazy, so what? Is that illegal now?" Yvonne shot back, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Dan sputtered. "You-"

"Me what? If I'm so out of my mind, that's not your problem anymore. Who do you think you're lecturing, Dan?"

She didn't stop. "Who gave you the right to judge me, huh? Maybe look in the

mirror before you start handing out life advice."

Dan fell silent, but Yvonne wasn't finished.

"And by the way, Xander's my husband now. If you're in Redwood you'd better show some

Count

respect, or I swear I'll make you regret it."

Dan's breath hitched. "Wait, are you saying you'd-what, go after me for him?"

He couldn't finish the sentence. It was like he didn't even recognize her anymore.

Yvonne let out another harsh laugh. "Damn right I would. If you mess with Xander, you mess with me."

"Mr. Murray, let me remind you-I don't mix up friends and strangers. Don't push your luck."

That "Mr. Murray" hit Dan like a slap in the face. Was that all he was now? Not "Danny," not the guy she used to love—just Mr. Murray.

Yvonne pressed on. "What's wrong-suddenly forgotten everything? Thought you had

vel

amnesia or something, but you sure don't sound like it now."

She'd always suspected Dan was faking it. The way he was acting now just proved it to her.

Five long years she'd put up with him. Now, she was done.

She snapped, voice loaded with venom. "You know what you are? An absolute jackass."

Dan froze. "What?"

Was she really calling him that? It didn't even compute for a moment.

But Yvonne was on a roll now.

"I mean it—you're a lying, manipulative snake. Playing the victim, pretending you

forgot everything? What kind of lowlife does that?"

She was practically shouting now. "God, what did I ever do to deserve meeting a two-faced jerk like you?"

In Yvonne's mind, Dan's whole "I lost

my memory act was just that-an act. Only a real bastard would pull that. Only a manipulator would toy with someone's feelings like that. And now he was telling her to divorce Xander? That just proved it.

On the other end, Dan's face was turning beet red from rage and humiliation.

Just then, Manny, who'd been about to knock on the door with some urgent news, walked in—right on time to hear Yvonne calling Dan a jackass.