Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 982

“That Yvonne woman is definitely mixed up in this with him,” Finch snapped. “He’s plotting to take Black Gate back—all of it! This whole thing is his scheme; he’s behind everything!”

The more steam he worked up, the more convinced he became, until he was nearly sputtering with rage.

Adelle’s face had grown pinched and cold. “I think so too. These past couple of days, it’s always our side getting hit. Dan? He hasn’t lost anything worth mentioning. Whatever he lost couldn’t hold a candle to what we’re out.”

Looking at it that way, it almost felt like Dan was just taking a few token hits for show, while they were being gutted for real.

“He’s definitely up to something. This is all his plot!” Finch insisted stubbornly.

Adelle cut in, her tone sharp, “Enough! That’s not what matters most right now.”

“What do you mean?” Finch’s anger spiked higher. How could there be anything more important than this?

“Your father wants to get a paternity test done. With Ivanna and Leanne.”

Finch stared at her as if she had slapped him. “What?”

Adelle’s expression was tight, bordering on frantic.

“Mother, what are you saying?” he stuttered.

“A paternity test,” Adelle repeated, drawing a shaky breath. “He wants both your sisters tested, and he’s planning to take them as soon as he gets back this afternoon.”

Finch was struck dumb.

“You need to think of something, fast,” Adelle urged, her voice low and urgent.

“Think of something? But…” Finch’s mind spun as the awful realization dawned. His eyes snapped to his mother. “You mean Ivanna and Leanne aren’t…?”

He couldn’t finish. The truth hit him like a physical blow, leaving his brain a blank.

Adelle was silent, unable or unwilling to meet his gaze.

Finch nearly lost it. “You—How could you?”

“Hm?”

“I’m roasting!” she muttered, putting on her best pout.

Hull’s body was radiating heat—a godsend when the house was chilly, but in a warm room, being pinned under him beneath a thick duvet was overkill.

Hull chuckled. “Didn’t you spend all night begging me to hold you? Now you’re too hot?”

“Yeah, I’m too hot,” Susanna huffed. She could feel sweat starting to bead on her skin, but Hull didn’t seem to care, still holding her as close as ever.

His broad palm pressed gently to her forehead. Once satisfied her fever really had broken, he relented. “Go shower. I’ll take you out for breakfast.”

Susanna nodded, shoving off the blanket and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, her knees buckled beneath her.

She let out a startled yelp as a strong arm caught her around the waist, and in the next moment, the room spun as Hull scooped her right back into his lap. Warm breath brushed her ear as he murmured, voice deep and teasing, “Legs gone wobbly? It’s not like I was rough with you last night.”

Susanna sniffled indignantly. “Getting over a fever feels like I ran a marathon. My whole body’s jelly!”