"That Yvonne woman is definitely mixed up in this with him," Finch snapped. "He''s plotting to take ck Gate back-all of it! This whole thing is his scheme; he''s


    behind everything!"


    The more steam he worked up, the more convinced he became, until he was nearly sputtering with rage.


    Adelle''s face had grown pinched and cold. "I think so too. These past couple of


    days, it''s always our side getting hit. Dan? He hasn''t lost anything worth mentioning. Whatever he lost couldn''t hold a candle to what we''re out."


    Looking at it that way, it almost felt like Dan was just taking a few token hits for show, while they were being gutted for real.


    "He''s definitely up to something. This is all his plot!" Finch insisted stubbornly.


    Adelle cut in, her tone sharp, "Enough! That''s not what matters most right now."


    "What do you mean?" Finch''s anger spiked higher. How could there be anything more important than this?


    “Your father wants to get a paternity test done. With Ivanna and Leanne.”


    Finch stared at her as if she had pped him. “What?"


    Adelle''s expression was tight, bordering on frantic.


    “Mother, what are you saying?" he stuttered.


    "A paternity test," Adelle repeated, drawing a shaky breath. "He wants both your sisters tested, and he''s nning to take them as soon as he gets back this afternoon."


    Finch was struck dumb.


    "You need to think of something, fast," Adelle urged, her voice low and urgent.


    "Think of something? But..." Finch''s mind spun as the awful realization dawned. His eyes snapped to his mother. "You mean Ivanna and Leanne aren''t...?"


    He couldn''t finish. The truth hit him like a physical blow, leaving his brain a nk.


    Adelle was silent, unable or unwilling to meet his gaze.


    Finch nearly lost it. "You-How could you?"


    It had been hard enough learning years ago that he wasn''t his father''s biological son. But now his two little sisters, too?


    "Mother! You-!"


    Adelle''s patience snapped. "Now is not the time for this! If your father does those tests, we''re all finished!"


    Finch stood rooted to the spot, stunned.


    Finished. He knew what she meant. Once the truth was out, everything would fall apart.


    Adelle hissed through clenched teeth, "All because of that wretch Susanna. I already agreed to let her move back into cktower, and she still stabs me in the back!"


    "Susanna?"


    "Yes, she''s the one egging your father on That little brat-if I ever get the chance, I''ll ruin her life. Hatred dripped from her voice, she Hooked as if she could tear Susanna apart limb by limb.


    Susanna, tucked into Hull''s arms at that very moment, suddenly sneezed. Hull immediately pulled the nket higher around her. She''d spentst night burning with fever, and since getting to a hospital from the ski lodge was a hassle, Hud simply driven them both home in the middle of the night. Once back, Susanna''s temperature had finally steadied-probably the cold air from the mountain had helped. Now, they''d slept straight through to morning.


    Still bundled up, Susanna stretched out a hand, rubbing her nose and grumbling, "Do you have to hold me so tight?"


    "Hm?"


    "I''m roasting!" she muttered, putting on her best pout.


    Hull''s body was radiating heat—a godsend when the house was chilly, but in a warm room, being pinned under him beneath a thick duvet was overkill.


    Hull chuckled. “Didn''t you spend all night begging me to hold you? Now you''re too hot?"


    "Yeah, I''m too hot," Susanna huffed. She could feel sweat starting to bead on her skin, but Hull didn''t seem to care, still holding her as close as ever.


    His broad palm pressed gently to her forehead. Once satisfied her fever really had broken, he relented. “Go shower. I''ll take you out for breakfast."


    Susanna nodded, shoving off the nket and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, her knees buckled beneath her.


    She let out a startled yelp as a


    strong arm caught her around the waist, and in the next moment, the room spun as Hull scooped her right back to hisp. Warm breath brushed her ear as he murmured, voice deep and teasing, "Legs gone wobbly? It''s not like I was rough with youst night."


    Susanna sniffled indignantly. "Getting over a fever feels like I ran a marathon. My whole body''s jelly!"