Chapter 1057
[ 739 words ]
Barnaby couldn’t hold it in any longer-the corners of his mouth twitched, and then he let out a sudden, unfiltered laugh.
Derek and Susanna turned to stare at him in unison.
“Sorry,” Barnaby managed, his voice still laced with amusement. “I don’t laugh easily, unless a joke is truly hilarious.”
Susanna just stared at him, speechless.
Derek’s expression only darkened.
Once again, an uneasy silence settled over the room.
Derek’s breathing grew uneven as he turned to Susanna, his voice struggling to stay composed. “I came here because I want you to come back to Blacktower with me.”
Susanna gaped at him, bewildered. Back to Blacktower? “But I’m not your daughter,” she blurted.
Derek’s face tightened. “I know you hate me for what happened with your mother, Susanna, but you are my daughter. That’s the one thing no one can change.”
Susanna stared at him.
Was he really this stubborn?
No one could change that? Not even a paternity test?
She couldn’t help herself. “Then why don’t we get a DNA test, the two of us?”
Hull happened to be walking in right as she said it.
Derek’s body went rigid, the color draining from his face as a look of sheer panic flickered in his eyes. Two days of test results had left him practically traumatized at the very mention of paternity testing.
Even so, he managed, “If the results prove you’re my daughter, will you come back to Blacktower with me?”
Susanna snorted. “Not a chance!”
Blacktower? The very ame sounded like some kind of haunted fortress. She could almost picture being thrown into a dark dungeon, left to rot. Who’d ever agree to live in a place like that?
She wanted no part of it.
“Susie ” Derek began.
“Oh for heaven’s sake, I’m really not your daughter,” Susanna cut him off, exasperation clear in her voice. “Fine-let’s just get the test over with.”
Fed up with all the back-and-forth, she yanked two hairs from her head and thrust them in his direction. “Here. Take these and go.”
Derek inhaled sharply, gaze falling to the strands of hair in her hand. His voice was oddly hollow. “You really… don’t like me, do you?”
Susanna didn’t answer.
He pressed, “You don’t want me to be your father?”
She shot him a look. “Why on earth would I want you for a father? Do you think I’ve completely lost my mind, or am I just that desperate?”
His posture stiffened at her words, as if the rejection was some kind of shocking rebellion. He acted like her not wanting him as a father was an outright betrayal. Did he even hear himself. After everything he’d doners what normal person would want someone like him for a parent?
“You-” Derek sputtered his chest tightening in frustration. The nerve of this kid.
“Enough already,” Susanna huffed.
“Just go get the stupid paternity test
done. We can talk once we’ve got
the results.” They didn’t even
the facts, yet he was already
have
Técturing her with that demanding, father-knows-best tone.
Unbelievable.
Susanna made no effort to hide how cold she felt toward him. Her disdain was crystal clear.
Derek seemed about to protest, but at that moment he caught sight of Hull. The moment their eyes met, Derek was instantly unnerved-the steely menace in Hull’s gaze sent a prickling chill running down his spine.
Derek drew in a heavy breath. After one last look at Susanna, he rose to his feet, clutching her hair tightly, and strode out.
Just as Susanna had said-until the results were in, there was nothing left to discuss.
The results…
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In fact, every single test over the past two days had been the opposite of what he wanted. Report after report, disappointment. stacking upon disappointment it was as if all his strength had been drained away. He could never have imagined things would end up like this.
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Passing Hull, Derek could feel the man’s frosty presence like a physical chill. He paused, glancing at Hull’s angular, unyielding profile. “What exactly is the history between us?” he asked quietly.
Derek wasn’t wondering if they’d met before anymore. Of course, they had. He just couldn’t place where. But now he was certain this went beyond acquaintance, straight into the territory of old, festering hatred.
Hull’s hands curled into fists. He stared back at Derek. “You’ve made a lot of enemies. Does it really matter which grudge this is?” His lips curled slightly. “Or is it just that you always relished throwing your weight around for Adelle?”
Derek’s body went rigid.
Adelle?
Could this actually be about her?
Something he’d done for Adelle…
Wait—a surge of memory jolted through him. For an instant, everything connected.
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