Lottie unwound her scarf and handed it, along with her purse, to the butler, who took them with a respectful nod.


    She made her way over to Ste and took her soft little hand. "So, Mona came to see you?"


    Ste nodded, grumbling, "Yeah. She even said if I didn''t see her, she''d kneel out on the porch until I did. She''s been married to Mr. Schultz for years, but she''s still as petty as ever."


    Lottie raised an eyebrow. "So you didn''t see her?"


    "Nope," Ste replied, matter-of-fact.


    Lottie smiled, satisfied. "Good girl."


    Not everyone deserves your kindness, especially not someone like Mona.


    Eight hourster.


    Nalog City.


    Xander had just stepped off the ne when he heard about Mona going to see Ste on Regina''s behalf.


    He let out a dry chuckle. "So now she remembers Regina''s her daughter?"


    Honestly, Mona was a real piece of work. Back when everything went down, she made a big scene, but after that? She barely spared Regina a nce all these years.


    And Tristan? His attitude was even weirder.


    Shawn muttered, "So... what''s her game this time?"


    "Why don''t you find out yourself?" Xander shot back.


    Shawn paled. "Me? You want me to dig into the Schultz family business? No way -I''d rather stay as far away from that mess as possible."


    But he knew Xander well enough to realize he''d want answ rs. Maybe he should poke around, just in case.


    As he was mulling it over, Shawn''s phone rang. He stepped away to answer, pacing.


    Five minutester, he returned to Xander, looking rattled. "Bro, your wife and Susanna... they''ve skipped town."


    Xander''s eyes widened. "What?!"


    "Hull went to the house, but they were gone. Now he''s got the whole city on lockdown looking for them."


    Yvonne had just lit a match in a powder keg.


    Especially here in Nalog City-Hull practically owned the ce. Most of his power was based here. If Yvonne and Susanna were still in the city, there was no way they''d slip past his grasp.


    Xander gave a wry smile. "Pulling out all the stops, huh? Guess Susanna really means something to him."


    Shawn just shook his head. "Yeah, but they barely know each other. It''s kind of wild."


    Xander sighed. "The more Hull cares, the more Dan''s going to see Susanna as a problem."


    He knew ck Gate inside and out by now. After Derek and Lacey finished fighting, he was supposed to be able to swoop in and reap the benefits. But now Hull''s interest in Susanna was throwing all his ns into chaos.


    Shawn bit his lip. "You think Dan would actually do anything to Susanna? I mean, look at Ronald-everyone knows Ste''s his weak spot, but no one touches her."


    “But Hull''s made it pretty obvious he''s got a thing for Susanna. If Dan goes after her, he''s picking a fight with Hull. You think he''d risk that?"


    Xander chuckled. "ck Gate is Dan''s whole world. If Hull and Lacey team up, they could tear it all down. Trust me, if ites to that, Dan will do what he has to."


    Shawn''s eyes widened. "Yikes. If Dan''s about to lose everything, he won''t care who he pisses off."


    Meanwhile, on Cybele Ind-


    Hull stood scowling at the chaos left in the wake of the escape. The tension in the


    air was thick enough to slice with a knife.


    Hull and Barnaby just stared, speechless.


    After watching the security footage, everyone went silent. Poor Susanna—she''d barely made it out by the skin of her teeth.


    Hull''s face was stormy as he


    watched the videos of Susanna''s desperate escape. He turned a frigid


    re on Lincoln. "They made it off


    the ind and you didn''t even notice?"


    He''d told Lincoln to keep personal watch the moment he found out Yvonne and Susanna were hiding out here.


    Lincoln looked sheepish. “Dan''s people suddenly showed up. Caught us off guard."


    Seven hours earlier, when Lincoln got the call, he''d rushed straight to the ind— only to find Dan''s henchmen already there. A brawl broke out. Both sides took heavy hits.


    The mention of Dan''s crew made Hull narrow his eyes.


    Ss stepped forward. "They''re worried you''ll team up with Susanna''s mom."


    Hull''s lips quirked up in a cold, humorless smile. “Worried, huh?"


    Fine. Let Dan be worried. Hull turned to Lincoln. "Head to ck Gate. Now."


    If Dan was so scared they''d join forces because of Susanna, then maybe that''s exactly what they should do.