The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

Derek sat in the station's visitor area and waited to see Michael.

The detectives had told him that Michael had pleaded that he stop over to see him when he came around.

He didn't owe Michael a visit, and he didn't owe him forgiveness.

But here he was, waiting in this cold, impersonal room.

As he sat there waiting for Michael to be brought to him, Derek thought about Ethan. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he recalled how they had caught Ethan eating after he had been pretending to be unconscious.

Ethan had looked like a guilty child caught red-handed, and the memory briefly lifted Derek's mood. He couldn't believe how silly Ethan was. A quiet chuckle escaped him, but the lightness faded as quickly as it came.

The sound of shuffling feet snapped Derek out of his thoughts. He looked up, and his amusement vanished entirely. Michael was being led in, dressed in the dull, gray uniform of an inmate. His movements were slow and hesitant, and he carried the weight of his actions like a visible burden. Derek's jaw tightened as their eyes locked. He held Michael's gaze until he sat across from him.

"I was told you wanted to see me" Derek began, his voice cold and flat. "Why?"

There was no greeting, no attempt at civility. Derek didn't see the point. The betrayal ran too deep. His fists clenched under the table, hidden from view, as he remembered everything Michael had done- not just to Evelyn, but to him. The lies. The schemes. The sheer audacity of trying to destroy his life. He no longer cared about Michael and he was never going to forgive him.

Despite his claim that he had done it all on Sandra's instruction, Derek believed that a huge part of the idea to dupe him was Michaels, and for that, he couldn't forgive Michael.

Michael swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.

"Derek, I'm sorry for everything.."

"Sorry?" Derek leaned forward slightly, his voice dripping with disdain. "Sorry because you were caught? Or because the whole family is mad at you?" Derek cut in, not wanting to hear him out.Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

"No." Michael shook his head, his hands fidgeting on the table.

"Not because I was caught. I'm glad I was caught. I'm actually sort of relieved that everything ended now. Things were beginning to get out of hand with Sandra. I didn't want to harm anyone," Michael rushed to assure him.

"Harm anyone?" Derek's laugh was bitter, sharp. "What was your plan, Mike? That you'd impregnate Sandra, have me marry her and raise your kids as my own, then let them grow to inherit everything? Or were you planning to get rid of me altogether? Let me guess, you'd marry her yourself after I was conveniently out of the picture and claim everything along with your kids?" Michael looked down, his lips pressed tightly together. He didn't deny it, and that silence spoke louder than any confession.

"I don't know what I was thinking..." Michael began, but Derek cut him off.

"You do know," Derek growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't insult me by pretending otherwise. I know very well that you do, so please don't give me that excuse."

Michael exhaled shakily. "The woman I loved wanted you, Derek.

Not me. She saw you as the prize- your position, your money. It twisted something inside me. I started seeing you as the obstacle, the competition. I was jealous. Greedy. I became someone I'm ashamed of. I was wrong, Derek. I'm not going to make any excuses. I was a fool. But right now, I'm also heartbroken. My heart is shattered, and I can't bear being cut off by everyone." Derek sat back, his face expressionless. He let Michael's words hang in the air but didn't respond. Finally, Michael looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and pleading.

"Please, Derek. Forgive me."

"Forgive you?" Derek's tone was calm, but the edge was unmistakable. "Forgiveness isn't going to keep you from going to prison. You committed a crime, Mike. You're going to do the time."

Michael nodded, his shoulders slumping further. "I know that. And I will. I don't expect anything else," Michael said, and there was a pause before he added hesitantly, "There is also another reason I wanted to see you."

The look on Michael's face made him pause, and his brow furrowed. "What is it?"

Michael shifted uncomfortably in his seat for a moment as though what he was about to say was something he'd rather keep to himself.

"It's about your adoption," Michael said, and Derek's eyes

narrowed, his anger flaring again.

"What about it?" He asked, angry that Michael was bringing that up.

"I... I looked into it" Michael admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was trying to find something incriminating about your biological family. Something I could use to..." He trailed off, unable to meet Derek's glare Derek's eyes widened slightly, shocked by the length Michael had been going to bring him down, and his fists tightened until his knuckles turned white. "You bastard," he hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. Derek rose, ready to leave because he feared he might hit Michael if he remained there for a moment longer.

"I found something," Michael said quickly, sensing Derek's breaking point. "Something I think you need to know."

Derek froze, torn between his instinct to leave and his curiosity. On the one hand, he didn't want to care about his biological family-and he didn't want to know anything about them since it would only bring pain and unnecessary hurt to everyone. On the other hand, he wanted to know what Michael found and why it was important enough that Michael would risk provoking him to tell him that. "What is it?" Derek asked, his voice low and guarded.

Michael took a deep breath. "You have a sister."

The words hit Derek like a punch to the gut. He stared at Michael,

unblinking, as if waiting for him to take it back.

"What?" Derek finally managed, his voice barely audible as he involuntarily sank back into his seat.

"You have a sister" Michael repeated. "She was a baby when your parents died. The woman who took you to the orphanage... she took your sister with her. If you go to my apartment, you'll find a flash drive in one of my drawers in my bedroom. It has everything the private investigator uncovered." Derek's mind raced, a whirlwind of disbelief and questions. He didn't remember having a sister. "Are you making this up? Because if you are, I'm going to kill you myself before you get the chance to stand before any judge," Derek threatened in a cold voice.

Michael shook his head. "I'm not," Michael said quickly. "You'll see for yourself when you get to my place," he said, and Derek sat still for a moment, processing what he had just heard.

He had a sister? How was it possible that he had a sister, and he didn't remember that? Derek mused. He stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor, but Michael stopped him again before he could walk away.

"Tell Evelyn I'm sorry. I had no right to be mad that she cheated on me..."

Derek shook his head in disgust, "Evelyn didn't cheat on you" Derek said, his voice firm.

"She has a child with another man..."

"That child is mine. I told you about the lady who hit my car on my

way to your house when I just arrived for your wedding, remember?" Derek asked coldly, and Michael nodded.

"Yes. You said she spent the night..."

"That lady was Evelyn. She saw you in bed with Sandra, and that was why she was upset and got into that accident. I just didn't know it was her at the time," Derek said, and Michael's eyes widened as he realized what had happened. Derek had been on his way to his place after he had returned to the country but had gotten into an accident, so he had been unable to make it. They had agreed to meet the next day instead. Evelyn didn't cheat on you. She is nothing like you and Sandra. And I'm going to marry her," Derek said, and without waiting for a response, he walked away.