How had it alle to this, so suddenly?


    It was Susanna-of course, it was because of Susanna! Now that she was back, his other daughter, he didn''t respect her at all anymore.


    Adelle''s insides twisted with fury. She wished, more than anything, that she could tear Susanna apart.


    Derek looked at her, eyes icy and unfeeling. "Or is it," he said, punctuating every word, “that you''re feeling guilty? Is that why you''re so unwilling?"


    "You-" Adelle managed, at a loss for words.


    Derek had practically flung those two words "feeling guilty”—at her, harder than a p. And because of that, his mind was set: nothing would stop him from getting a paternity test now.


    cktower had descended into chaos.


    Derek and Adelle were locked in their most explosive fight yet-the worst since they had been together.


    Elsewhere, Xander and Yvonne''s fortunes were soaring.


    Hull was still coordinating with them like clockwork. Every time Hull struck at ck Gate, they''d seize the moment to make their own move. In no time at all, Yvonne and Xander watched their assets grow.


    On her end, Yvonne was on the phone with Ste, stifling waves of nausea with one hand to her mouth.


    "Skye already picked up Tegan James," Ste was saying. "Tegan said as soon as Skye saw her, she kept calling her ''family.'' Yvonne, you''ve really tricked Skye good this time."


    Tegan had tried to stop Skye from calling her that, but Skye insisted. If Tegan really wanted to shake off Uriah Horner, she''d better y along and pretend to be her family for now.


    Ste could onlyugh at the mess. In her mind, it was obvious: Yvonne had yed Skye, and now Skye was dragging Tegan into her games.


    "That''s a good thing, right? Sounds like Skye''s dying for her brother to finally settle down," Yvonne replied, halfughing.


    Ste groaned. "You''re just taking advantage-Skye''s going to hunt you down and make you pay, just you wait."


    Yvonne snorted. "What do I have to be afraid of? We''ve been at this for years. Anyway, she''s gotten one over on me plenty of times—I''m just evening the score."


    "You really don''t pull your punches, do you?"


    Ste sounded almost worried this time. She wasn''t sure Skye wouldn''te after Yvonne for real.


    Yvonne rolled her eyes. "She stabbed me in the back more than once, Ste! Remember how hard I was trying to find you? And Skye was over there, just making things harder."


    Whatever, the past was the past. Now, she only wanted to get off this phone call before she was sick right then and there.


    "Ugh, I can''t talk-I''m about to be sick


    Yvonne muttered her bandet.


    mped firmly over her mouth as she spoke hurriedly into the phone.


    The moment Ste heard that, her voice sharpened. "What''s wrong? Are you okay?"


    "My stomach''s off-I can''t keep anything down these days. Gotta go, I''m going to be sick, Yvonne got "Oudts then hung up abruptly. >


    She was starting to fear that this was more than just stress-it felt like a serious illness. Maybe even stomach cancer, she thought with a shudder it took her back to middle School, when everything she ate came back up, and a hospital check gave her days on an IV.


    But this time, it was even worse. Even sips of broth turned her stomach; nothing


    would stay down.


    It was miserable.


    She shuffled out of the bathroom, looking utterly drained, just as Xander came home.


    "Threw up again?" Xander asked, concern creasing his brow.


    Yvonne nodded listlessly. "Yeah, and I feel awful."


    It honestly felt like she must be seriously ill. Why else would she throw up literally everything even water?


    Xander reached out to feel her forehead, noting the warmth. "Come on."


    He gently took her by the hand, shrugging off his coat to drape around her shoulders as he led her toward the door.


    “Where are we going?” she asked, barely protesting as he pulled her along.


    "We''re going to the hospital," Xander said firmly. "You can''t keep going like this. You need a real check-up."


    “What, another appointment with the psych ward?” Yvonne grumbled.


    Xander fell silent.


    “Listen, my head is fine,” she insisted, dragging her feet a little. “This isn''t from stress-I know what that feels like."


    She was the only one who really knew her own mind!


    Xander let out a long-suffering sigh as she rattled on. "It''s not the psych ward this time."