In the past, whenever Adelle started to cry, Derek''s heart would inevitably soften. No matter what the issue was, he''d always end up caving in.


    But not this time.


    Now, after years of rumors swirling about whether these children were really his, Derek found himself actually wanting to know the truth. Was he their father—or had he been deceived all along?


    A cold, hard resolve took root in his chest, more unyielding than ever.


    "Once the test is done, we''ll carry on as if nothing''s changed," he said, voice steady and unyielding.


    Neither Adelle nor Ivanna spoke. The moment Derek''s wordsnded, both women felt a cold weight plummet into the pits of their stomachs.


    Ivanna shot a quick, panicked nce at Adelle. The secret-that Derek wasn''t the children''s biological father-had long been an unspoken agreement between Adelle and her children. Only Derek was kept in the dark.


    For Finch Murray, however, the shock was that his own twin sisters—Ivanna and Leanne might not share his father, either.


    Finch had discovered years ago that he wasn''t Derek''s biological son. He''d guarded that knowledge fiercely, gathering whatever leverage he could within ck Gate. He''d always thought, Even if my secretes out, at least Ivanna and Leanne are safe—they''re his real children. There will always be a ce for our family, thanks to them.


    But now, to his disbelief, the twins'' secret had surfaced before his.


    After a long silence, Finch finally met Derek''s gaze. "Father, do you actually believe that once the paternity test is done, things can ever go back to the way they were?"


    Derek said nothing.


    Finch pressed on, disappointmentcing his words. "No matter what the test says, there''s no going back. Isn''t that right?"


    Derek''s breathing hitched as he looked at Finch-bandages still wrapped around Finch''s battered face, eyes unwavering and resolute.


    All at once, Adelle broke down in tears.


    Derek fixed his gaze on her and repeated, "No matter what the result?”


    Finch, Adelle, and Ivanna all fell silent, the weight of those words tightening around them like a vice.


    Derek''s voice dropped an octave. "No matter what?"


    When no one answered, his tone turned sharp.


    Adelle tensed, her whole body


    wound tight with dread. Ivanna felt a chill pierce her veins, Only Finch kept his expression steady meeting his father''s eyes with a calm that belied the storm inside.


    "That''s right," Finch replied. "Whatever the test shows, we can''t go back. You''ve let us down too badly."


    Derek''s face darkened; he shut his eyes briefly and then barked, "Caden!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    "Bring the guards. Take Ivanna to the hospital."


    He forced themand through clenched teeth, and all three-Adelle, Ivanna, and Finch-visibly nched.


    At the hotel, Susanna and Hull were chatting about Berry when Hull''s phone rang. He answered listened for a moment, and then a wry smile curled at his lips.


    "Got it," he said crisply, and hung up.


    He ran his hand fondly over Susanna''s cheek. "Derek''s about to have Ivanna hauled


    off to the hospital for a paternity test."


    Susanna froze, stunned.


    "Wait-seriously?" she gasped,


    unable to hide her fascination. She


    where they were or who they we talking about. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "That''s the daughter of his precious first love, the girl he''s practically worshipped for years. And now he''s going this far?"


    Dragging her to the hospital? This must be the scandal of the century.


    Hull gave a low chuckle at her reaction. "If she''s not his, it doesn''t matter whose kid


    she is."