The results of the paternity test had come in on Derek's end.

Just as Lacey had told Susanna, the report confirmed it: Susanna was his daughter.

So that very night, he went to find Susanna again.

"Come back to Blacktower with me," he said.

Susanna fell silent, glancing instinctively at Hull.

Hull's eyes met hers as well.

Her scalp prickled. All day she'd done nothing but field stories about her mom and Elliot, and she still hadn't even mentioned the twin brother drama with Derek.

She felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown. "I'm not your daughter. Please, just believe me."

"I watched the whole test myself. No one could have tampered with it," Derek replied, voice steely with certainty.

And it was true. This time, after everything that had happened with previous paternity tests, Derek had trusted no one but himself. He'd insisted on overseeing every step, wanting nothing more than to finally settle the question: Was Susanna truly his daughter?

With the answer in, regret crept in too—a flaw that seemed baked into men. Once the woman they'd cherished proved less than perfect, it was always the one they'd wronged that came to mind. The whole drive over from Blacktower, Derek had been haunted by memories of Lacey's past kindness to him.

Susanna nodded tightly. "Yes, I know the test says I am. But I'm not. Really!"

Hull's energy had turned dangerous, violence simmering just beneath the surface. As he started to get up, Susanna seized his hand, urgent. "I swear I'm not his daughter. Besides if I was, would you really just leave me because of that?"

Hull shot her a look, and at her outburst, he hesitated then sat back down, though his glare never left Derek. His dislike was almost tangible.

"I need to make a call," Hull muttered, getting up. He paused to ruffle Susanna's hair, a reassuring gesture that instantly put her at ease.

Once Hull was gone and they were alone, Derek looked at her, sadness etched onto his face. "I was wrong, back then," he said quietly.

Wrong to let down the woman who'd borne his child, while he'd spent years idolizing the one who betrayed him. Just thinking about it now made regret twist inside.

"That's got nothing to do with me," Susanna said flatly. She really was about to lose it. Why couldn't her mother just come to litamark now, instead of waiting three days? This mess was hers to clear up, not Susanna's.

"Your mother, she loved me so much," Derek went on, his voice thick with remorse.

"I was the one who let her down. I didn't deserve her."

"She didn't love you, I promise!" Susanna cut in, unable to stand listening to his confessions anymore.

Oh God, what fresh hell was this? What had she done to deserve being trapped in this pathetic soap opera? His sudden change of heart was insulting-too little, too late, and worth absolutely nothing.

"But Susie, listen-it's not too late. I'm going to try to win her back. I'll do my best to make up for what I did to you and your mother."

"Seriously! She does not love you!" Susanna protested, exasperated.

"But I was the one who betrayed her love..." Derek's face was a tragic mask.

Susanna simply stared at him, incredulous. Was he seriously trying to sell her on some grand romantic redemption at his age? The maudlin tone alone made her skin crawl.

"She didn't love you, she loved your twin brother, Susanna finally declared, opting for brutal honesty over seff inflicted misery. Whatever reaction he had would be less

revolting than listening to another word of regret.

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Her mom hadn't technically said she loved Derek's brother, but honestly, who

cared? The point was just to end this humiliating scene.

Derek's expression froze. "I don't have a twin brother!"

"Yes, you do!"

"I really don't!"

"My mom says you do, so you absolutely do," Susanna shot back. "I'm his daughter not yours. That's why the test turned out this way.. Please just believe me-my mom doesn't love you, and I'm not your daughter!"

Had she spelled it out clearly enough this time?