"No way am I going," Susanna declared, crossing her arms defiantly.

Hull narrowed his eyes at her, his voice low and commanding. "It's not up to you."

Susanna felt her heart race even faster at his words. Her anxiety reached a point where she couldn't eat or drink anything.

Glancing at his watch, Hull noted the time before turning back to her. "You've got ten minutes to change and put on some makeup."

"I really don't want to go," Susanna protested, her lips trembling as tears brimmed in her eyes.

Her defiant stance seemed to irritate Hull, who responded with a chill in his voice, "You've got eight minutes left. You know I'm not asking."

The coldness in his tone left no room for negotiation. Susanna felt even more tears welling up, her frustration and helplessness making her glare at him with a mix of anger and despair.

Hull sighed, clearly exasperated. "Are you going to get moving or not?"

Women. are always so difficult. He couldn't fathom how Ronald had the patience to coddle his little princess from a young age. If Hull had his way, he'd have tossed Susanna out by now, tears and all.

...

Meanwhile, in another part of Portis City.

Stella was having breakfast, savoring her favorite oatmeal with a touch of honey. But something felt off. She turned to the butler. "Do we have any of that plain porridge?"

Ronald liked his meals simple, and the thought of it made her crave the same.

The butler nodded. "Mr. Ronald had some earlier. There should be some left."

"Bring me that, please," Stella said, pushing her oatmeal aside, no longer interested.

As she took a few sips of the porridge, her phone buzzed. It was Susanna.

"Susie, what's up?"

"Star, you have to save me," Susanna's voice was a mix of panic and desperation.

Stella sighed. "Seriously, Susie? Since when did you become so timid? What happened to your backbone?"

Susanna whimpered. "Hull's taking me somewhere dangerous. I'm telling you, Star, I can't handle this again."

The memory of the past incidents still haunted Susanna, making her dread any new adventures with Hull. "What kind of place?" Stella asked, already guessing Hull's destinations were never safe.

"I have no clue, but he promised to

keep me safe. And you know wharet

that means-danger's definitely involved."

Stella paused. "When are you coming back to Ferrowland, Star? I'm losing my mind here."

With Hull, Susanna felt like she was constantly teetering on the edge of sanity.

"I don't have a set date yet. Hang in there."

"It's not about hanging in there, I'm terrified."noveldrama

Stella sighed again, contemplating. "How about I send someone to get you?" "To take me to the Quinn estate?"

"Where else? Everywhere else seems unsafe right now," Stella pointed out. Given what happened at the international airport, sure she wasn't safe anywhere else.

Susanna hesitated. The thought of. living under the same roof with. legendary Mrs. Lugar was

intimidating in its own rightveet