With Hull nearby, Susanna''s world felt almost tranquilpared to the chaos unraveling elsewhere. Plenty had happened to hertely, but even so she was safe under Hull''s protection. It wasn''t quite the same as life back in Portis City, but here, at least, she still felt treasured.


    Meanwhile, ck Gate had descended into total turmoil-set off by none other than Susanna herself. Especially within the Murray family, things were exploding.


    For years, Derek had doted on Adelle Nelson; he had indulged her every whim, treated her softly, even loved her deeply. And now, it hade to this: he was insisting on a paternity test for their children. The news left both Ivanna and Leanne furious.


    "Dad, how could you? We''re your own daughters! How can you doubt us-how can you doubt Mom?" Ivanna shouted, her voice raw with outrage.


    Derek Murray''s face was stony and cold. After being provoked yet again by Barnaby over at Susanna''s, he''de back unwavering in his decision. He was going through with the test. No matter who begged or pleaded, nothing and no one would sway him now.


    He looked at Ivanna, his gaze steely and remote, lingering on her unremarkable face—a face, he thought, trulycking in beauty. He''d never found Ivanna or Leanne particrly attractive, but they were his daughters, born to Adelle. He never held it against them.


    But now... Now his heart was nothing but a bitter tangle of anger and disappointment. "Let''s go," he said coldly.


    "Father!" Ivanna all but screamed. So after everything she''d said, he was still determined? Nothing she could do would change his mind?


    She broke down: "Did Susanna put something in your head? That snake has been out to get us ever since what happened to her mother! She''s always been trouble- you can''t honestly believe her!"


    The whole room tensed at the sound of Susanna''s name.


    Derek''s breathing grew ragged. He couldn''t help remembering Susanna''s eyes-so strikingly like his own-then ncing back at Ivanna, searching her features for any resemnce, but finding none.


    "Move," he said, keeping his voice t, unwilling to waste another moment arguing. He got to his feet and shot Ivanna a freezing look.


    "You''re unbelievable!" Ivanna cried. "You''re really going to take Susanna''s side over your own daughters? We''ve been with you all these years-what is she to you? How can you be so blind?"


    Across the room, Adelle fixed Derek with a wounded, disappointed stare. Beneath her sorrow, a knot of panic twisted inside her, but on the surface, she yed only heartbreak.


    "Derek...” Her voice quivered. In those few sybles, there was a catch of grief— enough to soften almost any man''s heart. For years, it always had.


    But not this time.


    Derek''s lips thinned, his gaze never wavering, his silence more unyielding than words.


    Tears slipped down Adelle''s cheeks. "Do you really have to make things so final?" she pleaded. She knew once the truth was out, an


    irreparable divide would open


    between them-one sh P


    swnel


    face.


    couldn


    "We''ve been together most of our lives. How did ite to this? How


    delose our


    ust in each other?


    Her voice broke. "Ivanna''s right, isn''t she? Is this all because of her?"


    She only just restrained herself from spitting out Susanna''s name.


    Ivanna pressed on, voice tight with emotion. "That''s it, isn''t it, Father-are you really going to do this, all for Susanna?"


    With every mention of Susanna, Ivanna put more venom in her tone.


    Adelle''s sorrow deepened. Eyes shimmering with tears, she looked to Derek, hoping against hope for any sign of forgiveness.