The call finally cut off, but from the look on Hull''s face, it was clear he''d caught thosest few words.


    Susanna gave him a hesitant smile. "Um..."


    “What do you mean, ‘wiped out her entire family''? What exactly did Star tell you?” Hull''s tone was even, but his eyes held steady on hers. Clearly, he''d recognized Ste''s voice from the speaker.


    She met his gaze-dark, unreadable, unnervingly calm. The words Ste had said still echoed in her mind, making her chest feel tight. Susanna had seen firsthand, during her time in Litamark, just how ruthless Hull could be toward the Murray family. She understood there was bad blood between them-but she''d never guessed it ran as deep as vengeance for a destroyed family.


    She couldn''t help but feel a wave of relief that she wasn''t Derek''s daughter. If she''d actually turned out to be his child, how would she ever face Hull with that kind of legacy hanging over her?


    Wrapping her arms around Hull''s waist, Susanna let herself lean against him, nuzzling into his stomach. "It''s nothing, really. Those people-none of them have anything to do with me."


    Before, when part of her still feared that Derek might be her father, Susanna had kept a wary distance, always unsettled by the feud between Hull and ck Gate. There was always that edge of fear running through her.


    But not anymore. Ever since her mother had called, Susanna finally felt free to face Hull—no more holding back, no more anxiety.


    Or so she thought... Suddenly, a new worry struck her.


    "When Derek did those things to you-where was my mom?” Her voice came out tense and small. Please God, don''t let her mother have still been married to Derek when things with Hull came to a head. The thought was almost too much to bear.


    Hull answered, "By then, he''d already married Adelle."


    Relief washed over Susanna so suddenly that she nearly sagged. So Hull''s feud with that old bastard Derek had nothing to do with her, and nothing to do with her mom, either. Thank God. Her mother''s time with him had just been miserable-year after wasted year.


    “That''s a relief—really, it means nothing to me now." Atst, Susanna could let herself breathe easy.


    Hull looked down at her-the way she nearly melted with relief brought a soft warmth to his eyes. He reached down and affectionately ruffled her fine hair.


    Meanwhile, at the cktower estate, a tense cloud hung over everything as they rushed to run the paternity tests. The air felt leaden and grim. After having his blood drawn, Finch''s earlier swagger had vanishedpletely.


    Adelle sat weeping, dabbing at her eyes as sheunched into a monologue about all the nder and whispers she''d suffered over the years for being with Derek.


    Her words tumbled out, choked with tears. "Everyone out there calls me a monster. They say I''m the reason your first two marriages fell apart."


    "They call me a homewrecker. They say I broke up your marriages! Some even im Ivanna and Leanne are so ugly, there''s no way they could be your kids."


    "I never told you any of that never told you about the whispers, about how they humiliated me behind my back."


    "I kept telling myself, it doesn''t matter what they say about me. I only cared that you believed me."


    "Who cares about them? As long as you were on my side, that was enough for me." "But now..."


    Adelle''s voice faltered. She looked at


    Derek, her eyes raw with tears-and suddenly behind the shimmering


    haze of anger, a spark of rage


    zed to life But now you don''t, even believe me anymore! Why? Tell


    me


    was it those stupid rumors? Did Súsanna say something to you?"


    "Or is it that you never let go of that whore!"


    The word burst out of her-sharp, loud, all of her bitterness and fury finally boiling


    over.


    She red at Derek as if she could burn a hole right through him. "Ivanna and Leanne have always been in, but it doesn''t matter! Whatever they look like theyre still your daughters, aren''t they?"


    “Derek, do you even realize what you''ve done? You''re the one who wrecked


    everything. We were fine, and you threw it all away!"


    Derek''s face was bleak, rigidly silent.


    Dan, taking a long drag on his cigarette gave Adelle-still sobbing and dramatic-a side nce.


    "Enough, Adelle. He''s believed you all these years. Ish that enough


    Derek said nothing.


    Adelle gave him a blistering look.


    Finch shot Dan a withering re of pure hatred.


    "Shut your mouth!" Adelle snapped at Dan.