Chapter 918

[ 569 words ]

She turned to Derek, her face finally softening-if only slightly-at the mention of that mother and daughter. “We’ll have to set things straight for Susanna. All this scheming against Black Gate isn’t going to bring her mother back.”

The idea of having to “set things straight” with Susanna made Adelle’s blood boil. Once upon a time, she’d never have even considered explaining herself to someone like Susanna. But now… with things spiraling so badly out of control, they had no choice. If this didn’t end soon, Black Gate would come apart at the seams.

“Explain what?” Ivanna snapped. “Why should we explain anything to her? Who does she think she is?”

Ivanna’s skin crawled at the mere mention of Susanna. The thought of her own mother wanting to lower herself for Susanna’s sake made her furious.

Finch chimed in, siding with Ivanna: “She doesn’t deserve it. She’s a nobody. We don’t owe her anything.”

Adelle shot Ivanna a warning glance, then turned her glare on Finch. He’d just got back from the medical wing, his cheek still covered with a bloody bandage. He winced; the pain flared every time he spoke.

“Whatever we have to do, Black Gate has to survive this. That comes first,” Adelle said, her tone icy.

Yes-a crisis. Susanna’s return had thrown Black Gate into total chaos.

Derek’s expression was dark as a thundercloud. He closed his eyes for a second, then said, voice cold as steel, “Find out where they’re staying.”

It was clear he’d accepted Adelle’s advice. He was going to see Susanna himself. “Dad!” Ivanna’s voice rose, sudden and desperate. Just knowing Susanna was in Litamark made her anxious enough—now her father wanted to meet Susanna face- to-face? That woman should have stayed far away in Portis City forever, never daring to set foot near Black Gate. Why did she have to come back? To claim what was rightfully theirs? To take their father as well…

She looked at Derek, voice trembling. “Dad, don’t go. She’s done nothing but hurt you—she’s not your daughter!”

“Ivanna!” Adelle’s voice was all sharp edges as she snatched Ivanna’s wrist. “Watch your mouth!”

“But Mom-Dad-“

“I said, Black Gate comes first!” Adelle snapped, cutting her off.

Ivanna met her mother’s eyes, pain and defiance mingling in her glare.

Adelle’s tone softened, just a hair. “Let your father go. Like it or not, she’s his daughter too.”

Ivanna fell silent. But beneath her silence, her eyes burned with a rebellious, ruthless resolve.

Derek rose from his chair and strode out of the study.

On the road out of Blacktower, Caden called in with Susanna and Hull’s address.

…

Later, back inside Blacktower,

eunded on her mother.”

are you doing this, Mom? amely

calling that woman my sister

sŵnovels

“Sister? The only children your father has are the ones I gave him. No one else counts.”

Adelle fixed her daughter with a steely stare. “Black Gate comes before anything else.”

She pronounced each word deliberately, drilling it into Ivanna.

“Mom, you—”

Bet

“If saving Black Gate means accepting one more Susanna, so be it. We managed to live with Dan these years, didn’t we? .net>

At the mention of Dan, both Ivanna and Finch’s faces twisted in distaste.

Ivanna spat, “Putting up with Dan was bad enough. And now Susanna?”

She couldn’t stand it—every bone in her body screamed that she wanted Susanna gone for good.

But Adelle knew her daughter all too well and cut her off coldly. “You need to keep yourself in check. If anything happens to Susanna while she’s in Litamark, Black Gate might not survive at all.”

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