So the rumors were true-Derek really did only acknowledge the children he''d had with Adelle. Any others were just a nuisance to him, something he''d rather not see.


    All these years, and not an ounce of guilt. Yet he still expected her to care about the bonds of blood. The nerve.


    A wry smile touched Susanna''s lips. "Maybe you should go see a doctor," she said coolly.


    Derek red at her, his expression already stormy.


    She didn''t stop. "You might be infertile."


    His face, already dark, turned downright cial. It was as if an icy, dangerous energy radiated off him-something Susanna seemed immune totely, no doubt after spending so much time around Barnaby. She''d picked up his habit of saying whatever crossed her mind, consequences be damned.


    Even now, with Derek clearly fuming, she pressed on: "The twins... they don''t look a thing like you."


    As for Dan... well, now that she looked closely, there was a definite resemnce in the mouth. So maybe he was the only legitimate one; who could really say?


    Derek''s breath grew heavier. The twins, again—he''d heard too many whisperstely, people murmuring that Ivanna and Leanne Nelson might not even be his.


    In the end, Susanna turned and left.


    Hull was waiting not far away. When he saw her, he strode over and drew her puffer coat snugly around her shoulders. She looked so small standing before him, especially from Derek''s vantage point. In Hull''s presence, she was almost childlike -someone precious and protected. The affection in Hull''s eyes made it all the more obvious.


    It was a side of Hull that no one in Ferrond''s underworld-or upperworld, for that matter-had ever witnessed. He was someone men whispered about in fear. Who could have imagined such gentleness from him?


    Caden approached Derek from behind, his manner deferential. "Sir, any progress?


    Is Miss Susanna willing to mediate between you and Mr. Miguel?"


    Caden nced across to where Hull had wrapped an arm around Susanna, enveloping her small frame in his trench coat.


    The sight only made Derek''s jaw clench tighter. “Ungrateful girl. Turning her back on her own blood for an outsider!" His words came out with a snarl, every syble coated in venom.


    From Derek''s reaction, Caden knew instantly—Susanna hadn''t budged.


    Derek let out frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "And Ivanna and Leanne... who let them take matters into their own hands?" Just thinking about what Susanna had said about them made his blood boil. In Derek''s eyes, the reason Susanna was resisting him now was because of their earlier stunt. And he had no doubt she wanted an exnation-she wanted him to set things right.


    An exnation... of all things. His own children, turning a mess into a crisis. The thought only infuriated him further.


    When Derek mentioned Ivanna and Leanne, Caden hesitated, looking for the right words. Finally, he offered "You and Adelle indulged them for years sir Then all of a sudden there''s another daughter. It''s only natural they''d feel threatened."


    Cóntent


    Derek scoffed. "Spoiled rotten, the both of them. No sense of boundaries or consequence and now look where we are."


    He was only now realizing that all the trouble with ck Gate began right after those two caused problems for Susanna.


    Caden remained silent.


    Hull led Susanna back to their room. Since they''d just eaten, the hot springs were off-limits for now-she''d need to rest a little first.


    Up on the mountain, snow was constant. Patches of ice made every path treacherous. On their way up the wooden lodge''s steps, Susanna''s foot slipped.


    She was already tucked against Hull when it happened, but with that sudden jolt, she instinctively grabbed him around the waist, holding on tight. Hull caught her with practiced ease, sweeping hepup in his arms.


    "What were you thinking, hmm? Can''t even keep your feet on the stairs?"


    Just like that, in his eyes she was back to being a helpless little thing.


    Susanna rubbed at her nose, already reddened from the cold. "Wasn''t thinking about anything. The steps are just icy."


    Hull eyed her with a sideways look, taking in her red nose and watery eyes. "You''re noting down with something, are you?”


    Her voice had gone nasal, and she punctuated it with a couple of soft sneezes.


    Hull didn''t say a word, just watched her.


    Susanna gave her nose a gentle rub. "I think I might be getting sick."


    "And you dared to go out dressed like that—saying you''d be too warm, of all things!" Now his voice carried the sharp edge of concern disguised as reproach.


    Susanna sniffled, suddenly looking like a child caught in the act. “But you can''t dress too warmly when you''re skiing," she protested, her tone slightly whiny.