Chapter 1063

[ 705 words ]

Susanna still hadn’t recovered from the shock of her mother marrying Elliot—and now here was Derek, vowing to win her mom back. Oh, for crying out loud. What twisted TV drama had her life turned into?

“That’s not possible!” Derek blurted, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Susanna gave him a look.

He pressed on, voice shaking. “She used to love me-she did! There’s no way she’d marry another man! You’re making this up, aren’t you? You’re on her side. Is this your payback for hating me?”

Susanna stared, exasperated. This was too much. She had already told him Lacey didn’t love him anymore; why did it have to be about some elaborate plot for revenge? The world did not revolve around Derek Murray, no matter how much he wanted it to.

“She just doesn’t love you, that’s all! This isn’t about revenge,” she said, rolling her eyes at his wounded expression. “Honestly, what story are you telling yourself now?”

Derek’s breathing sped up as he glared at her. “I am your father. Don’t take sides against me with outsiders.”

Susanna almost snorted. Was he for real?

He slammed his fist on the table. “You listen to me I’m your father. Your mother belongs with me. Both of you are coming back to Black Tower. That’s your home. Stop this nonsense.”

Hearing that her mother had remarried had clearly sent Derek over the edge-his face was dark with fury, his features almost contorted.

Susanna’s mouth twitched. She gazed back at Derek, uncertain whether to laugh or cry. Had he finally lost it? Maybe he’d gone batty from sheer anger.

Enough was enough. Susanna got up from her seat to leave.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Derek barked, getting up after her.

“Hull,” Susanna called out, purposefully loud so Derek could hear, “come quick- Derek’s lost his mind!”

She darted toward the study, moving so fast Derek hardly registered it. Hull emerged, phone still in hand, just as Susanna flung herself into his arms.

“Oh my God, he’s gone completely crazy!” she whispered in a half-laugh, half-panic. Derek could only gape at the scene.

Hull covered the phone’s receiver and said, “Get up here and help let’s get him out.”

Susanna peeked out from behind

Hull’s back, eyeing Derek warily. The look she gave him-cautious, almost as if he were dangerous-made Derek’s breathing turn shallow, and

anger washed over el.ne

all over again.

sŵnovels

“I… I just want you to come home!” he rasped, trying and failing to keep his voice steady.

Susanna shot him a look. “With an attitude like that? Really? Do you hear yourself? Who’d want to go home to someone yelling like that?”

Derek paused, lost for words.

Hull softly ruffled Susanna’s hair. “It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

“I didn’t do anything to her!” Derek protested Why was everyone treating Susanna like she needed protecting? That girl didn’t need anyone’s comfer more ikely she was the one making trouble for him.

He scowled. “Your mother just called you, didn’t she?”

Susanna said nothing.

“Tell her to come back. I want to work things out. She’ll be the lady of Blacktower once more.”

Listening to his delusions, Susanna could only wonder how much he’d been drinking. She glanced up at Hull, muttering under her breath, “He’s completely lost

it.”

That was the only explanation she could come up with. Derek had lost his grip on reality.

“You—” Derek began, his frustration spilling over.

At that moment, Barnaby and Silas arrived. Silas stepped between Derek and Susanna. “Mr. Murray, we should go.”

Derek glowered at Susanna. “I am your father!”

“You are not!” Susanna snapped, verging on yelling. Her mother had really created

a monster of a mess; even if she talked until she was blue in the face, she’d never be able to explain her way out of it.

“The DNA test is right here—how can you say I’m not your father? You—”

But Silas cut in, putting himself squarely between them. “Mr. Murray. If you keep harassing her, you’ll lose the right to see Susanna again. Understood?”

Derek fell silent, the old bitterness with Hull festering in his mind. If he could go back, he wouldn’t have let

that kid live not when he

remembered everything, and now had come back to turn his life upside down.

He gazed at Susanna, who stood pressed close to Hull, looking at him as if he were

raving mad. The sight made his heart twist in pain.

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