Ste had been trying to get some news about Lacey for a while now, and she figured if there was anything to know, Ronald would have the scoop.


    Shifting her gaze from the stairs, she approached Ronald, "So, what did Hull say?"


    Ronald hade himself to pick her up, surely Hull couldn''t keep Susanna any longer.


    When Ste thought she could finally take Susanna home without a hitch, Ronald''s deep voice interrupted her. "He''s quite fond of Susanna."


    Ste blinked. "What?"


    What was that supposed to mean? Fond of Susanna? Like in the way she was thinking?


    Wait a minute. Seriously? Fond of Susanna?


    Hull? The same Hull who had seen every gorgeous, leggy woman out there with stunning figures? And now he''s saying he''s into Susanna?


    Ste wasn''t buying it. She shot Ronald a re. "Are you pulling my leg?"


    Previously, they had suspected Susanna had ties with a shady group called ck Gate, and now he was saying Hull liked her?


    Hull had to be bluffing! Either Ronald was trying to trick her, or Hull was fooling Ronald, or they were both in on it together.


    But convincing Ste that this was the truth? Not a chance.


    Before Ronald could respond, Ste dered, "I''m not that gullible. I''m telling you, I''m taking Susie with me today."


    Ste wasn''t having it. Did she look easy to fool? Or had Ronald fallen for Hull''s tricks? Thetter seemed unlikely, as Hull wouldn''t dare deceive Ronald. So, they must be in cahoots.


    "Star," Ronald sighed.


    Ste said firmly, "I don''t care. I''m taking Susie with me. You heard her. She''s scared out of her wits around Hull."


    The thought of Susanna crying over the phone, sounding so helpless, made Ste all the more determined not to leave her behind.


    Ronald rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on.


    Meanwhile, in the room upstairs, Susanna was grappling with Hull''s words. "I told you, I have nothing to do with this ck Gate nonsense. You can''t keep me here for that."


    Yes, she was being held. Panic gripped her.


    Ste had tried to take her away, yet he had t-out refused. Who else could get her out of Hull''s clutches if Ste couldn''t?


    Hull''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Until we get to the bottom of this, you can''t leave."


    "I''ve told you I''m not involved," Susanna protested.


    Hull gave her a long, introspective look. "We''re not exactly on trusting terms." Susanna was exasperated.


    "And your mother..." Hull began, catching Susanna''s full attention.


    Her ears perked up at the mention of her mother, but Hull paused, leaving Susanna hanging.


    "What about my mom?" she pressed, anxiety tightening her chest.


    Hull redirected, "First, you need to send Ste home."


    Susanna was shocked. What did sending Star away have to do with


    hermo Still, the mention of ber


    swnovel


    mother had her eyes wide with hope.


    Hull must have news. Otherwise, why would he have Barnaby fetch her?


    Seeing Hull keeping mum, Susanna grew more desperate. "Where is she?"


    No one knew how much she had


    w how


    agonized over thest few days and how terrifying it was to be around Hull''s world while worrying about her mother''s safety. The whole situation had erupted out of nowhere, and she was still in the dark about what had tránspired.


    But whatever it was that made Tania rush her to Ferrond, her mother was unreachable.


    It didn''t take a genius to figure out something bad had happened. Finally,


    Susanna got a lead.


    Susanna took a deep breath. "Mr. Miguel."


    Hull''s gaze shifted away. "Send Ste home first."


    His voice was low but firm, making it clear that Susanna wasn''t leaving.


    Feeling cornered, Susanna paced the room, but seeing Hull''s stubbornness, she relented and headed for the door. "I''ll go now."


    Regardless of anything else, her


    mother''s whereabouts were


    paramount. She needed to know,


    and if enduring Hull''s presence was


    the price, she''d pay it.


    Downstairs, Ste sulked on the couch, her face turned away, arms crossed defiantly.


    Ronald tried to appease her, "Susanna can''t leave today. Go home with me." "No way," Ste huffed.


    Ronald rubbed his forehead in frustration.


    Before he could continue, Susanna''s voice came from the stairs, "Star, you should go home."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!