At Mist Bay.

Ronald said he'd be back in two hours, and true to his word, he was.

Stella was fighting off sleep, but the thought of Susanna and her current situation kept her awake. So when Ronald returned, she was still waiting.

As he shrugged off his coat, he stepped forward. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Waiting for you," Stella mumbled.

Ronald raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"

He could tell just by looking at her that something was on her mind. Normally, she loved her sleep too much to stay up this late without a reason.

"It's about Susie," Stella said. "Ronald, Susie is really scared of Hull. You might need to send someone over to get her."

"Did she tell you that she's scared?" Ronald asked.

Stella nodded. "Yeah, she did."

Since Susanna had reached out, Stella felt it was her responsibility to help. After all, Susanna was one of the few genuine friends she had. When the whole Larkin family drama went down, Susanna was right there with her, leading the charge.

Ronald answered, "I'll give Hull a call."

With that, he pulled out his phone.

Why send someone else when he could just have Hull bring Susanna over to Stella's place? Besides, Hull was a lone wolf kind of guy. He probably wouldn't like having someone like Susanna around all the time. The phone rang only a few times before Hull answered. "Ronald."

"How's Susanna doing?"

"She's fine."

"Is she scared of you?"

There was a pause.

Stella cringed. Seriously? Could Ronald be any more blunt? Susanna was still there with Hull, after all. Wasn't there a more tactful way to put it?

"What's she not afraid of?" Hull finally replied.

Ronald continued, "If she doesn't want to stay with you, just take her over to Stella's place by Crimson Mountain."

Crimson Mountain was where Stella had a small estate. It was a sprawling area with three estates, one of which belonged to Stella.

"She can't go to Crimson Mountain right now," Hull said.

"Why not?"

"Someone's after her. Unless we send her to the Quinn family estate, nowhere else is safe."

"That could work," Stella said, looking at Ronald with pleading eyes.noveldrama

"Then take her there," Ronald agreed.

"Can't do that either."

"Why not?" Ronald asked again. Was there anywhere Susanna could go?

"We need to figure out who's behind this. I think it's a setup, maybe even aimed at..."

Hull didn't finish his sentence, but Ronald and Stella got the message.

"No way Susie would be involved in something like that," Stella said without hesitation.

"She wouldn't, but the people behind her might be."

Stella felt a chill. What now?

Ronald asked, "What's your plan?"

"Let's keep her here for now. I'll look into it."

Stella was silent. But Susie was scared

Roof Hull. She kept giving

pleading looks, but thiel

he wasn't swayed.

"Alright, it's in your hands," he said to Hull.

Stella sighed. So much for sisterhood.

After hanging up, Ronald noticed Stella's glum expression. "What's bothering you?" "Susie wouldn't do anything like that," Stella insisted.

"True, but we can't be sure about the people chasing her."

"But she's terrified of Hull," Stella said, her heart aching at the memory of Susanna's fearful voice on. the phone.

Ronald gently ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, Hull won't eat her alive."

Stella couldn't help but roll her eyes. wouldn't literally eat her

but Ho

he might just scare her to death.

"She might give you a call tomorrow."

"Okay then."

With that assurance, Stella let it go for the night. It was late, and they'd talk more when Susanna called.

That night, Stella clung to Ronald tightly without letting go.

Why did she hold on so tightly?

Because she was scared too.

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