The moment Derek spoke, his icy stare sent Adelle''s entire expression into a rigid mask.


    He studied her closely, watching for the slightest flicker in her eyes-nothing


    escaped him. Noting how her face went stiff, his gaze grew even colder, a sh of something dangerous in his eyes.


    “So tell me,” he pressed on, voice low, "why don''t they look like you, either?"


    If those girls really were their children, surely there''d be some trace of resemnce between parent and child. But as Derek looked closer now, he realized that neither Ivanna nor Leanne had inherited even the faintest of Adelle''s features. It wasmon knowledge that they looked nothing like him-but how was it possible they didn''t look like Adelle, either?


    His double-barreled question struck Adelle like a thunderbolt.


    "W-what are you talking about?" she stammered, thrownpletely. What did he mean, the children didn''t look like them? Why was he suddenly bringing this up? Had Susanna gotten to him with her lies? That little snake... After all the effort she''d made to ept her, and this was the thanks she got? Betrayal?


    Adelle''s breathing grew uneven, bordering on panic. "Derek, what exactly are you insinuating?"


    Not his children...


    Adelle''s eyes brimmed with wounded innocence, though inside her thoughts were churning. For years, she''d worried he''d start asking questions like this—about the girls''ck of resemnce. He never had, and she''d started to believe the danger had safely passed. But now?


    All because of Susanna. Since arriving in Litamark, she''d thrown the entire ck Gate household into chaos-and now she was going to destroy her rtionship with Derek, too?


    Derek still hadn''t spoken, but the sharp focus in his eyes was unwavering, cutting right through her.


    Adelle sniffled, her eyes shining with tears. "You actually think I could betray you?" Her voice trembled with wounded pride. "How could you...?"


    She broke down, her usations dissolving into cracked, sobbing whispers.


    Derek frowned, his name tight on his lips. "Adelle...”


    "If you have doubts-if you really think that-then get the paternity tests done!" Adelle cried, her anguish erupting atst. "Why ask me? Test them yourself!"


    The raw pain in her voice reached him, and he felt his resolve crack.


    Seeing the brief falter in his eyes, Adelle pressed her advantage, letting herself cry harder, each sob more heartbreaking than thest.


    "Just before you came in, Ivanna told me that now Susanna and Lacey are back, we might be abandoned, Adelle wept. "I swore that could never happen. I told her our marriage wasn''t like thatol believed in you, Derek. I thought we had something real... But now-"


    Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she shook her head. "But you''d take Susanna''s word over mine? Finer Go ahead, do the patemity re?t with Ivanna and Leanne. Once it''s done, I''ll take them and we''ll leave!"


    fest


    She turned away, face flushed with anger and hurt. At the threat of losing them, Derek panicked; in the next instant, he pulled her roughly into his arms.


    "What are you doing?" she protested, but he didn''t let go.


    "After all we''ve been through," Derek''s voice was raw, "you''d think I''d doubt you just because of someone else''s words? What kind of marriage would that be?"


    “I...” Derek struggled, but Adelle barreled ahead.


    "Susanna and her mother are back, and that alone is enough to test us. We''re barely at the beginning—how can you already...” Her voice broke again, swallowed by a fresh wave of sobs.


    Derek''s own breathing was ragged now.


    As Adelle tried to pull her hand away, he caught her wrist, pulling her tightly against him. "What are you thinking? I never said I don''t trust you."


    "But you just "


    "I was wrong," Derek interrupted, voice heavy. He said the words, but in his mind, the unsettling image of, Ivanna and Leanne those two identical, unattractive faces?kept haunting him, refusing to fade.