The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

The tension in the room was almost tangible, the air thick with accusation and unease. Michael's heart thudded heavily in his

chest; each beat reminded him that he needed to maintain his composure and hold onto his last shreds of control. But doubt clawed at his mind. He couldn't help but wonder how much they really knew, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. Was it possible that they knew everything? What exactly was Derek referring to as everything? Did Evelyn tell him about her suspicions regarding him and Sandra? Did she tell them about Sandra drugging her? Michael mused, wondering how to save himself from the sinking ship of his ambition. Desperately, he adopted a facade of confusion, forcing his face into a mask of disbelief. "What are you talking about?" he managed, his voice laced with incredulity, though there was a tremor he couldn't entirely suppress.

Derek ignored the question because he didn't have the desire or the time to waste entertaining such a foolish question. Unmoved by Michael's feigned ignorance, Derek picked up his phone and scrolled through it until he found the footage of Michael in his office. He then picked up the television controller and focused on connecting the phone to the television without so much as a glance in Michael's direction.

Derek decided to show that particular video to Michael since it would be the perfect response that Michael needed to know that they were on to him. He didn't have the time to go back and forth with words.

As Derek busied himself with the setup, Michael turned to Rebecca, his eyes searching her face, hoping for some sign of leniency, some softening in her gaze that would show he wasn't entirely doomed.

"Aunt... what

How

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"Shut your mouth, Michael!" Her voice, cold and sharp., sliced through his words. Rising from her seat, Rebecca's glare burned into him with a fury he had never seen before, her chest heaving as though she were barely able to contain her rage. dare you call me your aunt? How dare you look me in the eye and lie to me so brazenly for so long?" she demanded, her voice breaking with betrayal. "I treated you like my own son. I trusted you, believed in you- and this is how you repay me?" Rebecca yelled, ignoring her husband, who was trying to calm her down. Seeing his aunt's outburst and hearing the venom in her words drained the color from Michael's face. Panic clawed at his chest, and he shifted uncomfortably, resisting the urge to bolt.

He tried to make sense of it all, his mind scrambling. How much could they know to make her so upset? Did they know about his relationship with Sandra? Or did they find out he was behind the scandal of Derek's adoption? His breathing grew shallow as he realized his lies might be unraveling right before him. Then, as if to answer his silent question, the television screen flickered to life. Michael felt his heart plummet as he watched himself on the screen, moving about Derek's office, reaching under the table, and removing the bug he had planted there. The horror dawned slowly like i like ice creeping through his veins. "This i is a a misunderstanding.." he

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he stammered, but his words were cut off by a stinging slap to his cheek, delivered with all the force of Rebecca's contempt.

"One more lie, a business just so that you can set Evelyn up? How could you be so callous?" Her voice trembled, the pain in her words evident.

I swear, Michael- I will forget you're my nephew and have you arrested right here, right now." Her voice was a low growl, her eyes ablaze with a mix of anger and disappointment. "How dare you exploit our family for your twisted games? How dare you expose my family "Aunt, it's not what you think," he murmured, clutching his throbbing cheek, his voice faltering. He was trapped, struggling for words, any words that might salvage his dignity—or his freedom. "Not what I think?" she repeated, her voice rising in pitch as she slapped his other cheek. "What is not what I think? Is it the fact that you leaked our family's private matters to the public, or the fact that you've been in a relationship with Sandra for all these years yet had the guts to convince me that she would be a good fit for Derek, just so you both could do to Derek as you planned to do to Evelyn?" Her voice cracked with rage as she looked him over with pure disgust while Derek and his father stood aside and watched her. Michael's mind spun, struggling to process everything she said. knew everything. how? How did t

I

How know what he had do to Evelyn?

His gaze flicked to Derek. When did he plant the camera in his office? Did that mean the conversation between Sandra and the hitman was from Sandra's phone? Did they bug his phone, too?

How long had Derek been suspicious? Had he known about his relationship with Sandra from the beginning. Had Derek been playing along this whole time and leading Sandra on when he knew the truth? Had he only been waiting for the right time to strike? A wave of nausea rolled through him as he realized how much of his plan lay exposed.

Derek's voice cut through his thoughts. "Are you going to deny all of that, too, Michael?" His tone was laced with barely controlled fury, as though he were daring Michael to lie again so that he'd have an excuse to unleash the full extent of his rage.

Michael's I's heart raced as he stood there with his head drooped in shame. He couldn't bear to look at any of them.

"We trusted you with everything, Michael" Derek's father said, his voice quieter but no less condemning. "We treated you like family, gave you opportunities, put faith in you. And you betrayed us." His gaze was cold, contrasting the warmth Michael once found in his uncle's eyes. "And to think you even went as far as to embezzle money from the company.. A A chill washed hed

over Michael, and his mouth dropped open. They knew that, too. He could barely keep himself upright, the guilt, the shame- everything-bubbling up inside him. Without another thought, he fell to his knees. Derek's father shook his head, his lips curled Whispered, his voice barely audible, his head bowed.

"I didn't mean

of

he

in disgust. "Sorry?

Are you sorry for trying to manipulate my wife into forcing Derek to marry your mistress? Or is it for lying against Evelyn all these years? Which part, exactly, are you sorry for, Michael?"

"Perhaps he's sorry for planning to impregnate Sandra and make me father his child. Or maybe he's sorry for stealing from the company. I'm sure he didn't mean it. Or he's just sorry for getting caught. Which is it, Michael?" Derek asked harshly. Michael opened his mouth to answer, but the words wouldn't come. His mind was blank, drowning in the weight of his own betrayal. Every crime and misdeed hung in the room as though the walls themselves had become witnesses to his disgrace. "I'm sorry," he whispered as he looked up, meeting Rebecca's steely gaze, a silent plea for forgiveness in his eyes. But her expression made it clear that forgiveness was beyond reach.

"Your apologies mean nothing now," Derek's father declared, his tone final, unyielding. "The only reason you're here is because we found out Sandra plans to dispose of you. If Evelyn wasn't also her target and it was up to me, I'd let Sandra have her way. Frankly, someone like you deserves to be stabbed in the back this way.

You're only lucky your aunt had a say."

"I know nothing I say would make up for everything I have done.

I'm sorry, aunt. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry, Uncle.

Please forgive me. Derek, I'm sorry," Michael said, his face falling to the ground

"Greed and foolishness is what came over you," Rebecca sneered.

"Make no mistake, Michael, you're going to pay for your crimes. I don't care that you're my wife's nephew. You stole from the company, and you will be made an example of," Derek's father said, and Derek nodded in agreement.

"We called you here to give you a chance to make sure you don't go down alone. Are you willing to play along so we can get that little Devil put away before she hurts Evelyn, or would you rather go to jail alone?" Derek asked in a harsh tone. "Why do you care about Evelyn? She has someone else.."

"That is not your concern," Derek said coldly.

As much as Derek was tempted to tell Michael now that he was the one who had been with Evelyn that night six years ago and that he was the father of Evelyn's child, he didn't trust Michael enough to release such information. He wasn't going to take any risk with Samantha. amantha. giving you one chance, Michael," he repeated, his eyes blazing. "One chance to fix the problem your greed has caused us." Although stay after had killing her wasn't worth it.

He looked at his aunt, wanting to ask if they would forgive him and not get him arrested if he played along to help them capture Sandra, but one look at her face and he could tell that she would most likely kill him with her bare hands if he dared to voice that out. Michael knew he had little choice, yet a plan began to form in his mind- a way to buy time and escape. He knew that no matter what he said or did, they were never going to forgive him. He was going to lose his job, his place in the family, and even his freedom. Michael decided that the best thing to do would be to pretend to play along and then run away before they could arrest him.

But before he could finish thinking about it, Derek leaned in close as though he could read his mind. "Don't even think about running or going after Sandra yourself. I will be watching. And if you mess this up, there won't be a second chance. I will kill you myself if I have to. Don't test me." Michael swallowed hard, feeling the walls close in on him. He nodded slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do whatever you want me to do. Anything," he said, the words hollow, each one a nail in the coffin of his ambition.