Chapter 1078
[ 545 words ]
Susanna was speechless.
Could it really be like that? Too many women to remember?
“I have to go. I’ll come find you in a bit. Bye,” Lacey said, hanging up before Susanna could utter another word.
Susanna stared at her phone, listening to the dial tone, then turned to Hull. “Derek was so angry he ended up in the hospital.”
“He was bound to,” Hull replied calmly.
“Hmm?” How did he know? Then she remembered of course, he had eyes and ears inside Blacktower.
“Your mother took the other half of Black Gate’s treasure map,” Hull explained.
Susanna’s eyes widened.
“Derek caught her in the act, but with Elliot Harlow there, he couldn’t lay a hand on her.” Not only could he not stop her, but he couldn’t get the map back either. No wonder he was furious.
“That other half of the map?” Susanna asked.
Hull nodded. It all clicked for Susanna then. Black Gate had been hunting for her mother for so long precisely because she had taken one half of the map years ago. They had searched for Lacey relentlessly, and now, not only had she returned to Litamark without giving them the first half, but she had managed to snatch the other half right from under their noses.
Thinking it over, Susanna murmured, “I can see why Derek would be furious.” The fact that they had deployed so many resources to find her mother proved how crucial that map was to Black Gate. To lose the remaining half was a devastating blow.
Not long after Lacey arrived. Approaching fifty, she had lost the blush of youth but radiated a mature, sunny confidence Dressed in a white golhoutfit, complete with a visor and sunglasses, she looked strikingly young. Following behind her was Elliot Harlow.
In
He bore a strong resemblance to Lincoln, possessing the same captivating, refined charm that was hard to describe but undeniably magnetic. However, where Lincoln projected an air of steady maturity, this man radiated a dangerous authority. He looked like someone you did not want to cross.
“Mom!” Susanna cried, running and throwing herself into Lacey’s arms.
Lacey caught her easily. “Hey, what’s with the reckless behavior?” she chided, her
tone a mix of feigned annoyance and fond indulgence as she hugged Susanna tight.
Susanna nuzzled into her mother’s
embrace. “You smell so good, Mom.”
It was something she had told Lac
en
countless times since childhood. Whenever her mother held her, she was enveloped in a lovely, comforting scent.
Lacey pinched her slightly chubby cheeks and smiled. “You’ve put on weight.”
The words hit Susanna like a ton of bricks. She froze, her face crumpled into a pout. No girl liked being told she was fat.
Just then, Hull finished a call on the balcony and stepped back inside. Seeing Lacey, he greeted her politely, “Ms. Tucker.” But when his eyes landed on Elliot Harlow behind her, he fell silent.
Lacey’s lips curved into a smile as she looked at Hull. “Thank you for everything you’ve done recently. I know you’ve been protecting Susie.”
“Mom?” Susanna said, shocked that her mother knew Hull had been looking out for her. She had barely heard from her at all lately.
Lacey chuckled. “Just because I wasn’t with you doesn’t mean I didn’t know what was going on.”
Lacey’s words brought a sudden lump to Susanna’s throat, and her eyes began to sting with unshed tears.
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