Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 1155

Seriously, how paranoid could Derek get to paint her mother in such a sinister light? Susanna knew exactly what kind of woman her mother was. If Derek had actually been her biological father, Lacey would have owned up to it openly and transparently. She wouldn't play petty games of denial.

"I'm a grown woman. What motive could she possibly have? Stop spinning these ridiculous conspiracy theories."

"She's a toxic woman who will do anything to keep a man," Derek spat.

Just like she had done for him all those years ago... Back when she was involved with the Black Gate, hadn't she been ruthless?

She had stood like a shield in front of him, taking the brunt of every attack. Now, all that fierce devotion and courage was being handed over to someone else. Derek's chest tightened with suffocating resentment. "Susie..."

"I've had enough of this," Susanna snapped. She was out of patience and hung up on him immediately.

*Will do anything to keep a man?* What a hypocrite! He needed to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Hadn't he sacrificed everything to cover for Adelle?

And now he was throwing a tantrum because her mother was showing that same loyalty to her new partner? Having the nerve to call her malicious... Had he conveniently forgotten his own history of deceit? He had absolutely zero right to pass judgment. As far as Susanna was concerned, Derek had completely lost his mind.

"He sounded incredibly desperate on the phone," Stella observed.

It was true. Derek's tone had been downright pathetic, radiating the sheer panic of a man terrified that Susanna would sever all ties with him.

Susanna scoffed. "You should have seen how vicious he was before. When that first fake paternity test came out, he used every manipulation tactic in the book. If pushing didn't work, he'd go straight to threats."

When those results first surfaced, Derek was torn between asserting his authority over her and washing his hands of her entirely. Even after finding out Adelle's children weren't his, his attitude toward Susanna had been far from fatherly.

Stella raised an eyebrow. "He actually dared to threaten you?"

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