Ch. 111..120

Chapter 111

The following day, Erie sat at the head of the dining table, dressed in a crisp white shirt. His expression was unreadable as he stirred his coffee absently while thinking about his daughter, Evelyn, and how he had failed her.

Claire, seated beside him, was equally quiet, her eyes downcast as she picked at her fruit salad. She was equally thinking of her daughter, Sandra, and how she had failed to raise her correctly.

The click of heels against the floor announced Sandra's arrival. She entered the dining room looking forlorn, although her hair was perfectly styled. and her makeup flawlessly applied, as always. "Good morning!"

"she greeted as she slid into her chair opposite her parents.

Eric and Claire looked up simultaneously, their expressions neutral as they greeted her. "Morning," Eric muttered, his voice lacking the warmth it usually held.

Claire echoed the greeting with a forced smile, her eyes flickering briefly to Sandra's before dropping back to her plate.

Sandra didn't seem to notice the tension in the air, if she did, she chose to ignore it. She poured herself a cup of coffee, her movements smooth and practiced. After taking a sip, she set the cup clown and leaned back in her chair, her gaze flitting between her parents "So," she began, her tone casual, "how was your date last night?"

Eric and Claire exchanged a quick glance, both of them struggling to maintain their composure. "It was fine, Claire answered, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "We had a nice time."

"Yeah, it was good, Eric added, his tone clipped. He avoided looking directly at Sandra, focusing instead on his plate as he cut into his eggs with a finle more force than necessary

Sandra's e eyes narrowed slightly as she studied them, but she still didn't pick up on their unease. "That's great," she said, her voice light. "You both deserve some time to yourselves.

She took another sip of her coffee, then set the cup down with a satisfied sigh. "Anyway, you won't believe what Evelyn did yesterday."

The mention of Evelyn's name from her, as usual, caused Eric's hand to freeze mid-motion. His jaw clenched, and he slowly set his fork down, his appetite suddenly gone.

Eric finally looked up, his eyes sharp as they locked onto Sandra's. "What has she done this time?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous, Sandra, mistaking his reaction for his usual anger at Evelyn, smirked inwardly, leaned forward in her seat, and sighed as though she was worried that by saying it, she might cause some more trouble.

"I'm not sure if I should."

"If you're going to speak, then do so. If you won't, keep shut!" Claire snapped at Sandra, causing her to flinch

"She's trying to seduce Michael's cousin, Derek. Can you believe that?" Sandra asked, her voice laced with disbelief

Claire frowned, her fork pausing mid-air. "That's ridiculous," she said, her voice incredulous. "Where did you hear that!"

Sandra waved a hand dismissively. "Evelyn told me herself," she replied, her tone suggesting that it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"When and where did you both have this conversation?" Claire asked, even though she knew already because Evelyn had told them about it and had also played the recording of her conversation with Sandra to them

Sandra bowed her head sadly. "Yesterday. I went to her office to plead with her, as my sister, to leave Derek alone because we are in a relationship. I cried and begged, but she told me that she wanted Derek and that I could have Michael. I don't know what I did to her, but she's always behaving this way, always trying to cause trouble for me. She's giving our family a bad name. And now, because of her behavior, she's lost her job," Sandra said with a worried frown

Eric's grip tightened around his coffee cup, his knuckles whitening. He could feel his blood boiling, but not for the reasons Sandra assumed. He hated hearing her talk about Evelyn this way, spreading more hes and twisting the truth to salt her narrative,

Claire, sensing the growing tension, quickly composed herself. “She lost her job?” she asked, feigning surprise. “Maybe now she will return to the family company and take her place

Sandra's smile faltered, and for a split second, a scowl threatened to break through her composed exterior. She quickly forced a smile back to her face, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Yes. It would be nice if Dad could forgive her and let her return," she said, her voice tight

Eric's eyes bone into Sandra's as he asked, "Are you sure about that?"

Cluper li

Sandra didn't hesitate before nodding "Yes, Dad. Of course," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

Eric sighed, setting down his coffee cup with a thud. "If that's what you want," he said, his voice heavy with implication. "But if you can convince Evelyn to come ask for my forgiveness and beg me for a job, then I'll let her have it."

As if on rur, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Evelyn appeared at the entrance to the dining room. She stood there for a moment, her posture poised and confident as she took in the scene before her.

Sandra's eyes widened in surprise, her carefully crafted mask slipping for a brief moment as she met Evelyn's gaze.

"I want to join the family magazine, Evelyn said calmly, ber voice cutting through the tension in the room. She stepped further into the room, meeting her father's gaze

Eric looked at her. his expression unreadable as he leaned back in his chair. "Do you now?" he asked, his voice deceptively mild.

Without hesitation. Evelyn walked over to her father's side of the table and knelt before him. "I'm sorry for everything, Dad. I know I disappointed you and hum your feelings. Please forgive me, she said, her voice steady. "I want to come back"

Sandra stared at her in disbelief, her mind racing as she tried to process what was happening. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Evelyn wasn't supposed to be here this way

Evelyn was supposed to be groveling and begging, not taking charge like this. Was this Evelyn's way of showing her that she truly meant war and was coming back to take her place!

 

Chapter 112

Eric's gaze flickered to Sandra, who was now visibly struggling to maintain her composure. "What do you think, Sandra? Should I let your return?" he asked, his voice holding a challenge.

Sandra forced a tight smile, though it was clear she was struggling shaking slightly

sister

g to contain her anger. I don't think Evelyn should return yet," she said, her voice

"Weren't we just asking your father to let her return to the magazine?" Claire asked, reminding Sandra of the conversation they were having before Evelyn showed up.

"Yes, Mor. But at the moment, she has a bad reputation, which could reflect poorly on the company. If we have to give her a job, it should be a lower-ranking job. That way, she can prove herself" Evelyn remained kneeling, her expression unbothered by Sandra's words. "Before I lost my job, I was able to secure an interview with Mr Derek Stone. My first project will be to interview Derek," she said confidently, her eyes still locked on her father's. "It will be a major story for the family magazine."

Eric nodded slowly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Isn't that the young man you just mentioned?" Eric asked Sandra curiously.

"Yes. Dad. But..

"Why is he granting Evelyn an

interview

ew instead of you!" Eric asked, and Sandra forced a smile.

"My Derek likes to keep his personal and professional life separate, Sandra said, and her father nodded.

"I see. Well then, I forgive you. Evelyn. You can rise. You're welcome to resume at the office on Monday. Evelyn," he said, his tone final.

Sandra lilinked, surprised that their father had forgiven Evelyn so easily. She couldn't have that, She couldn't let Evelyn come back here like this.

No way

Sandra watched with anger as Evelyn rove, and Claire smiled at her. "Evie, why don't you join us for breakfast?" she suggested, rising from her seal. "The missed having you here this way. I'll get you an extra cup"

Ene stood as well, smoothing his tie as he glanced at his watch, "I need leave to make a call," he said, his voice businesslike. He exited the room at the same time as his wife, leaving the two sisters alone As soon as their parents were out of earshot, Sandra leaned forward, her eyes flashing with fury. "What do you think you're doing? Do you really! think you still have a place in this family or at the magazine?" the hissed, her voice low and venomous.

Evelyn laughed softly, the sound filled with a confidence that rattled Sandra. She leaned back in her seat, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I'll always luve a place in this family and at the magazine, Sandra. It belongs to MY father, after all," Evelyn said, knowing their parents were spying on

them

Sandra's eyes narrowed, her hand

nd itching to lash out, "Not if I have anything to say about it. Do you really think I'm going to let you crawl back here? You have no place here, not in this family, not at the magazine, and definitely not at this table. I'll make sure of it," Sandra said with a venomous smile as she rose..

"Unfortunately, that's not up to you," Evelyn said, keeping her calm.

While Evelyn was still talking, Sandra drew closer to her and knelt down in front of her. "Watch and see, Sandra said. Before Evelyn could process what she was up to, Sandra slapped herself hand across the face and let out a piercing scream, her voice echoing through the dining room.

"Ow! Evelyn, how could you?" she cried, her voice filled with exaggerated pain and shock as she walled loud enough for their parents to hear. Evelyn didn't flinch, her gaze steady as she watched Sandra's performance with a mixture of pity and disdain. As Eric and Claire rushed back into the room, concern enched on their faces, Sandra began to sob, clutching her cheek as if in pain.

Eric's eyes immediately darkened at the sight of Sandra clutching her cheek, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Sandra, what happened?" Claire asked, rushing to her side.

"What happened?" Eric demanded, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him.

"She slapped me!" Sandra cried, pointing a trembling finger at Evelyn, "I was asking her to please leave Derek alone now that she is back as a part of this family, and she asked me to kneel and beg. I did as she said, and then she hit me," Sandra cried as she rose from the floor.

Evelyn didn't rise from her seat, her expression serene as she looked up at her father. "She is putting up a show, Dad. I didn't touch her," she said

12

calmly, her voice ummavering. "She's lying."

Sandra's tears flowed freely now, her expression one of hurt innocence. "She's lying, Dad! She's always been jealous of me, and now she's trying to make me look bad!"

Claire glanced between her daughters, her expression tom as if she was trying to make sense of the situation even though she had seen everything that had happened.

Before Claire could speak, Eric's jaw tightened. his eyes narrowing as he turned to Evelyn. "You came here asking for forgiveness only to cause more trouble!" Erie asked, and tears sprang to Evelyn's eyes while Sandra watched with satisfaction.

Evelyn turned to Sandra, "Sandra, you can play this game all you want, but it's not going to work this time. I know you're trying to turn Dad against me, but it's not going to happen. You know I didn't slap you." Sandra's expression hardened, the mask of tears slipping as anger flashed in her eyes. "What did I ever do to you? Why are you doing this to me? First, you embarrass me at the party, and then you try to seduce my boyfriend. Now this? Why?"

Evelyn sighed inwardly. She was grateful that she had come clean with her parents and had arranged for them to see firsthand what a talented actress Sandra was. "Dad. I didn't."

"How

ow do you expect me to believe you when you're always causing trouble?" he asked Evelyn sharply, causing her to flinch. "Darling."

"Answer me" Eric roared at Evelyn, cutting off whatever his wife had to say.

Evelyn hesitated, her eyes darting between her father's stern gaze and Sandra's teary eyes. "I have evidence. My phone's recorder is on," Evelyn said, and Sandra's eyes widened in surprise. She had not expected that. Why would Evelyn's recorder be on? Had Evelyn come here planning for this to happen!

"You do? Then go ahead and play it," Claire encouraged Evelyn.

"Should I?" Evelyn asked Sandra as she rose gracefully to her feet.

"Why are you asking her that? You should play it if you have it," their father said, and Evelyn opened her handbag and took out her phone from Inside.

Sandra's heart raced as Evelyn played the recording true to her words. She knew she was trapped, and the realization sent a wave of panic through her

"You lied against your sister!" Claire asked in a disbelieving tone.

"I... I didn't mean any of that, Dad. I was just upset because of what she did to me at the anniversary," she stammered, her earlier bravado crumbling. "Mom, I didn't mean to...

Eric's expression hardened as he stared down at her, disappointment etched in every line of his face. "Enough," he said firmly. "I'm not interested in any of this nonsense drama. Eric growled. "We'll discuss this later. For now, both of you will sit down and finish breakfast without any more drama," Claire instructed firmly.

Sandra's face crumpled as she sat back down, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for her coffee

cup.

As Claire served Evelyn's breakfast, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Evelyn remained where she stood for a moment longer, her gaze unwavering as she met her father's eyes. There was a silent understanding between them, one that Sandra was not a part of. Finally, Evelyn took her seat at the table, her movements unhurried and dignified. Sandra seethed in her seat as she w

watched Evelyn eat at the table. Evelyn had won this round, but she was not going to let her win the next round.

 

Chapter 113

Before heading to his office, Derek found himself driving toward his parents' home. Because he had been very busy at the office the previous day, he had been unable to visit his father and tell him about Samantha.

Now, he wanted to do that before going to work since he knew he had another busy day ahead of him.

As much as he would have loved to tell his mother about Samantha, he knew he couldn't do that. At least not yet. She didn't like Evelyn enough yet to want to accept anything that came from Evelyn, and she might just extend her anger at Evelyn to Samantha.

That was something he didn't want since he wouldn't forgive her for it if she tried it.

He still felt a bit anxious over the lingering tension with his mother. He wasn't sure what to expect when he arrived, but he knew he couldn't keep the news of his daughter from his father any longer.

As he pulled into the driveway, the mansion loomed before him, reminding him of the legacy his family held. Derek parked and took a deep breath before stepping out of the car. The air was cool, a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the oak trees lining the property.

With determined steps, he approached the front door.

The door swung open before he could knock, and his mother stepped outside in her gardening clothes with the butler beside her.

Seeing him, her expression was a mask of cold indifference. She glanced at him briefly before turning away, her lack of a greeting stinging more than he cared to admit. The tension between them was evident, but Derek forced himself to remain calm, determined not to let her icy behavior affect him.

"Good morning, Mom," Derek greeted her pleasantly.

She didn't respond. Instead she headed in the direction of the garden without a word.

Derek watched her retreating figure for a moment, the silence between them thick with unresolved issues.

But he pushed it aside, focusing on why he was here. If she was going to be this way, then he was going to let her be. Without another glance at her, he made his way toward the study where he knew his father would be.

Expecting him to stop her or try to beg her, his mother turned when she didn't hear him following her, and she scowled when she realized he had ignored her, too.

It was all Evelyn's fault that wretched golddigger, she reasoned.

Inside the house, the heavy door to the study was slightly ajar, and Derek knocked lightly before pushing it open. His father, who was seated behind his massive mahogany desk, looked up from the papers on his desk, surprise flickering across his features as he saw Derek.

"Good morning, Dad. Do you have a moment?"

"Derek, this is unexpected," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Is there a problem?"

Derek closed the door behind him, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips and his eyes gleaming with excitement as he approached the desk. "No problem, Dad. Actually, I've got some good news." His father's eyes softened as he noticed the eager look on Derek's face. "Good news, you say?" he asked, a smile spreading across his face. "Well, you look like you're about to burst with it. Go on, then. What is it?"

Derek couldn't help the grin that spread across his face as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "First, I wanted to let you know that I've made some progress concerning our last conversation. I've managed to hack into Michael's SIM card and have people monitoring his calls and texts."

His father nodded, impressed. "That's fast work, Derek. I didn't expect you to move so quickly."

Derek shrugged, still smiling. "I acted fast because something new came up... or rather, someone new. I discovered something." He paused for dramatic effect, then pulled up the picture of Samantha on his phone.

"Someone new? What's that?" His father asked when he handed his phone to him.

His father took the phone, his brow furrowing in confusion as he studied the image. "Who is this pretty little girl?" he asked, looking up at Derek with curiosity. Derek's grin widened. "That's Samantha. Your granddaughter."

His father's eyes widened in shock, his mouth dropping open slightly as he looked between the photo and Derek. "My granddaughter?" he repeated, incredulous. "Are you pulling my leg, Derek?" Derek chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Dad. I'm serious. I found out about her two days ago. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I've been swamped at work and didn't want to share the news over the phone." His father stared at him in disbelief for a moment before a wide smile broke out on his face. "Samantha...

Evelyn's the mother, isn't she?"

Derek nodded, his excitement bubbling over as he explained. "Yes, Evelyn is the mother. She found out she was pregnant after she left the country, so she stayed back to have the child. She couldn't tell me earlier because of her past with Michael. And she was even more skeptical to do so because of my relationship with him."

His father's smile faltered slightly as he asked the following question. "Are you sure the child is yours?"

Derek nodded confidently. "I'm certain. Evelyn is even open to the idea of a paternity test if it makes you feel better."

His father laughed, the sound rich and full of joy. "A granddaughter!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in amazement. "You know, I've always wanted a daughter, and now I have a granddaughter. This is wonderful news, Derek!"

Derek couldn't help but boast a little as he continued.

"Do you know what the best part is? We've got a strong bond, Dad. I'd already been interacting with Samantha long before knowing she was Evelyn's daughter. I met her at the hotel the first day they got into the country, and we've been good friends since then," Derek said, and his father chuckled.

"You seem really happy about being a father," his father said, and Derek laughed.

"I am, Dad. I'm even more happy about being Samantha's father. She's brilliant, and she's an amazing girl," Derek said proudly.

His father beamed, his pride evident. "I'm not interested in hearing all those details from you right now, Derek. I want to see this child with my own eyes and know her for myself."

Derek laughed, nodding. "We'll have to arrange that.

I'm sure she'd love to meet you. After meeting Evelyn's parents last night, she asked me about my parents."

"I thought Michael said Evelyn's parents do not talk to her, " his father asked, and Derek shook his head.

"Her stepmom has been by her side this whole time. It was her father who cut her off. But they resolved things last night," Derek said and then told his father everything.

"You didn't tell them about hacking Michael's phone, did you?" He asked, and Derek shook his head.

"I didn't. Evelyn and I agreed not to say anything to them. The fewer people that know about it, the better," Derek said, and his father nodded with approval.

Before they could continue their conversation, the door to the study creaked open, and Derek's mother walked in. Both men stopped talking, their expressions guarded as they turned to face her. She glanced between them, suspicion in her eyes.

"What were you two discussing?" she asked, her tone sharp. "And why did you stop when I walked in? Were you talking about me?"

"Do you think a busy man like Derek will come here so early in the morning to talk about you? We were discussing business," Derek's father replied smoothly, not missing a beat.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing him. She moved closer to the desk and noticed Derek's phone lying on it. Before she could pick it up, Derek quickly snatched it back, rising to his feet.

"I need to get back to the office, Dad. I'll let you know when I arrange the meeting with the investor," Derek said, slipping the phone into his pocket.

His father chuckled at his reference to Samantha as an investor, "Please make it soon. I'm looking forward to this business relationship," he said, and Derek nodded.

As he headed for the door, his mother called out to him. "Are you leaving without saying goodbye to me?"

Derek turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "I thought we were not in talking terms. You ignored me when I greeted you earlier, so I don't see any reason to say anything else to you now."

Her eyes narrowed, and her voice was laced with bitterness as she spoke. "You've lost all love and respect for me because of Evelyn, haven't you?"

Derek's jaw clenched as he responded. "I'm sure Michael and Sandra are giving you all the love and respect you want, considering you no longer listen to me. So why don't you keep getting it from them and leave me alone?"

With that, he turned to his father, giving him a respectful nod. "I'll be in touch, Dad."

His father nodded, smiling warmly at him. "I look forward to it, son."

Derek walked out of the study without another word, leaving his mother fuming in his wake. He could hear her muttering under her breath as he made his way out of the house, but he didn't look back. He had more important things to focus on now-like introducing his father to the granddaughter he never knew he had.

"Are you really going to let him disrespect me this way in front of you?" His mother asked his father angrily.

"Disrespect? I didn't witness any disrespect. If he did, I would have addressed it. Derek isn't a kid, and it doesn't make any sense for you to treat him like one. Plus, I like seeing him this way. That's the kind of man I want him to be," he said firmly and chuckled when his wife glared at him before storming out.

He had a granddaughter; he mused with a chuckle as he rose to pour himself a celebratory drink.

Samantha Stone. Not bad at all.

 

Chapter 114

Melvin strolled into the dining room to join Ethan, who was seated at the far end of the table. Ethan had his phone in one hand, his laptop open in front of him, and a furrowed brow that spoke of intense concentration.

The sunlight streaming through the large windows cast a warm glow over the table, but Ethan seemed oblivious to the picturesque morning.

Curious, Melvin walked over and took a seat across from him, leaning forward with a grin. "Morning, Ethan," he greeted, his voice laced with amusement.

"What's got you so focused this early?"

Without looking up, Ethan replied, "I'm just looking through my email and checking out the ladies who responded to my ad."

Melvin raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Ad? You mean that ridiculous ad you put out for a wife?" He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

"And how's that going? How many applicants do you have?"

Ethan chuckled without looking up, "It's over a hundred."

"What? Do you mean we have over a hundred ladies who are crazy enough to do this with you in this city?

What are you going to do then? Narrow the list down to a top ten?" Melvin asked incredulously.

Ethan finally looked up, his expression half-serious, half-amused. "Yes. I'm trying to do that. There are too many of them, and since I can't possibly meet them all, I'm just finding ways to streamline the process. Gotta narrow it down to at least five before I even think about meeting anyone."

Melvin burst out laughing. "Streamline? You make it sound like a business deal! This is your future wife you're talking about, not a new hire."

Ethan chuckled and shrugged. "Same difference.

Efficiency is key."

Shaking his head, Melvin leaned in again, his expression more serious now. "Why are you even going through this whole process, Ethan? We could hook you up with someone just fine. Take Rayna, for instance. I don't know what went down between you two, but she would've been a good fit for you."

Ethan's face darkened at the mention of Rayna, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Rayna?" he scoffed. "She's not my type; besides, I don't think she's that smart. I read somewhere that kids get their intelligence from their mothers. I want my kids to have the best shot at life, and I don't think Rayna has much to offer in that department."

Melvin couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of Ethan's logic. "You're judging her too harshly, Ethan."

Ethan's frown deepened as he turned back to his laptop. "Harsh? No, I'm not. I'm only stating a fact," he said, his tone more defensive now.

"What did she do to you? Why won't you say?" Melvin asked incredulously, and Ethan shook his head.

"Because I don't want to think about it. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. So, let's leave it in the past. She already gave me an impression of herself, and that impression overrides anything you're going to tell me about her," Ethan said stubbornly.

"So, you've met her just what? Once or maybe twice, yet you think your opinion of her overrides mine when I've known her for a longer time?" Melvin asked with a snort. "First impressions matter," Ethan said, and Melvin scoffed.

"Not all the time, it doesn't. That a person is sad the first time you meet them doesn't mean they are perpetually sad. We need to change this mindset that first impressions define people. Different things can influence a person's behavior the first time we meet them, and you, of all people, should know that. I don't know what she did to you, and I no longer care about it either, but you shouldn't judge Rayna so harshly.

She's a very smart lady."

"Not from what I experienced," Ethan replied, his eyes still glued to the screen, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to focus."

Melvin sighed, realizing that Ethan wasn't going to be swayed. "Alright, alright," he said, pushing his chair back. "I'll leave you to it since I have to leave for work anyway. But don't say I didn't warn you when you end up with some robotic woman who only ticks all the boxes on paper."

Ethan merely grunted in response, his focus already back on his task. As Melvin left the dining room, Ethan continued scrolling through the emails of applicants, most of whom had eagerly provided their social media handles and personal details. Some had gone as far as sending him beautiful and sexy photos of themselves. He was about to dismiss yet another application when a particular name caught his eye— Golden Sun.

He paused, intrigued by the uniqueness of the name.

Clicking on her email, he was surprised to find that she hadn't left any social media details, something he had specifically requested in the ad. Instead, she had written a note that piqued his interest even more: [I can't reveal such personal information to a stranger I don't know. If you want my personal details, it's only fair you share something personal about yourself, too, other than your requirements. I have every right to check if you're my ideal man as well as you do.]

Ethan's lips curled into a smile, a quiet laugh escaping him. The boldness of her response was refreshing, something different from the eager-to-please nature of most of the other applicants. He decided right then that he wanted to know more about this mysterious

"Golden Sun."

He picked up his phone and dialed the number she had left, his heart beating a little faster than usual.

After a few rings, a soft, confident voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi," Ethan began, trying to keep his tone casual. "This is the guy from the couple ad you responded to."

"Oh! Hi! I wasn't expecting a response," Rayna responded, laughing awkwardly.

"Then why did you apply?" Ethan asked, confused.

"I meant, I wasn't expecting a call. Maybe an email, yes. But not a call. And I was expecting a rejection email," she confessed.

"You were? Why?" Ethan asked, amused.

"Well, I'm sure you received lots of responses, and then again, I didn't exactly respond the way you requested. So, I wasn't keeping my fingers crossed on that," she admitted with a chuckle.

Ethan laughed, "I sort of liked your response, and it made me want to know more about you. Would you mind telling me your name?"

Rayna chuckled softly. "I'm sticking with Golden Sun for now," she said, her tone playful. "I'll tell you my real name when I'm sure you're not a psychopath."

Ethan laughed, genuinely amused. "Fair enough."

"So, what's your name?" Rayna asked, liking the sound of his voice.

"Since you're not telling me your name, you can call me ET for now," Ethan said, choosing to be mysterious like her.

"ET? Like the alien?" she teased.

"Exactly," Ethan replied, grinning.

She laughed again, the sound light and musical to Ethan's ears. He had not thought he would find someone on the list this entertaining. "Alright, ET. So, why did you reach out to me? Did everyone else suck, and you decided to try the craziest one?" She joked, and Ethan chuckled.

"I'm actually still going through the list," Ethan admitted, leaning back in his chair. "But like I said I liked your response. You stood out, and I wanted to check you out."

"Glad to hear it," she replied, her tone still teasing. "I just couldn't imagine a stranger staring at my photos without knowing anything about him first."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do strangers not stare at them on the internet?"

"That's different if you think about it," she explained.

"Responding to your ad already puts me in a vulnerable position. I didn't want to compound that by giving away too much."

"I can see your point," Ethan said thoughtfully. "But don't you think putting up the ad made me vulnerable too?"

There was a brief pause before she responded.

"Maybe," she conceded, "but not as much as you think.

That's why I believe it's only fair you share something more personal about yourself other than your age, location, and requirements."

Ethan smiled, appreciating her logic. "I don't want everyone to have my details. That would be weird.

Imagine putting more information out there.

Everyone will see me and know that's the crazy guy who couldn't get a wife naturally and had to order one online."

Rayna giggled, "That's understandable," she replied with a hint of warmth in her voice.

"So, does calling me mean I'm one of your top ten or five? Or your runner-up?"

Ethan chuckled, amused that she reasoned like him.

"I'm still going through the list, but you'll know what number you are soon."

"Good to know," she said with a smile in her voice. "So, what now?"

As they continued talking, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that this mysterious woman might just be the spark he'd been looking for. Time would tell, but for now, he was content to explore this unexpected connection, one conversation at a time.

"You're fun. I want to keep chatting with you. Let's get to know each other and see if we're compatible enough to meet." Ethan suggested.

"You mean like a talking stage?" Rayna asked, to be sure.

"Yes. If you don't mind," Ethan said, and Rayna smiled.

"That sounds fair," she agreed. "But I'm curious-why did you put up an ad instead of dating the normal way?"

"I don't have time to date the normal way," Ethan admitted. "My job keeps me away for months, so I thought this would be a more efficient way to find someone. I want to settle down soon." "I can relate," she replied.

"What about you? Why did you respond?"

"Well, I responded because this seemed intriguing," Rayna said, and Ethan laughed softly. "Intriguing, huh? I like that. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Golden Sun." "Likewise, ET, she said, her voice softening. "Let's see where this goes."

 

Chapter 115

As Rayna ended her conversation with Ethan- or "ET" as he had whimsically introduced himself— she found herself smiling at her phone.

There was something about their exchange that felt both exciting and oddly comforting. She leaned back in her chair, lost in thought for a moment when the door to her office creaked open. "Evie!" Rayna exclaimed, instantly brightening as her best friend walked in.

She couldn't help but notice that there was something different about Evelyn- something Rayna couldn't quite put her finger on. Evelyn's smile was radiant, her eyes gleaming with a joy that she had not seen in a while.

"Ray!" Evelyn exclaimed in the same tone, mimicking Rayna, and they both laughed.

"Guess what?" Rayna blurted out, her excitement bubbling over.

Evelyn laughed softly, setting her bag down on a nearby chair. "What?"

"I just got off the phone with the wife ad guy!" Rayna's voice was a mixture of disbelief and delight. "And get this

- he seems to like me!"

Evelyn's eyes widened, and she let out an amused chuckle. "That's fantastic, Ray! Congratulations!" She paused, her expression turning slightly sheepish. "I'm sorry I couldn't look into the guy before I was...you know, let go."

Rayna waved her hand dismissively, a grin still plastered on her face. "Don't worry about it. From the way he sounded, he seemed like a pretty cool guy. I have a feeling we're going to get along really well." Evelyn leaned against the edge of Rayna's desk, crossing her arms. "So, does that mean you're no longer interested in meeting Ethan to see if he's your destiny?"

Rayna giggled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I'm still interested. It wouldn't be so bad to go from not having a man to having two men at the same time- and then choose between them. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket."

Evelyn burst out laughing, shaking her head. "You're crazy, you know that?"

Rayna joined in the laughter, "I know that. Don't you hear Ray when you say crazy?" She asked, and Evelyn laughed, too.

"Crayzy. Yeah. I can definitely hear the Ray in it," Evelyn said with a grin.

Rayna's gaze soon softened as she looked more closely at Evelyn. There was something about her friend that was different-something that went beyond the usual glow of happiness. "So, what's up?" Rayna said, tilting her head curiously, "You're different today."

Evelyn's brow furrowed slightly, a smile tugging at her lips. "What do you mean?"

"You're glowing, Evie," Rayna said, her voice tinged with awe. "Your eyes are gleaming. Is it because of Derek?"

Evelyn laughed, a soft, musical sound that seemed to fill the room with warmth. "It's because of everything," she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I'm just really happy now."

Rayna's smile widened as she leaned forward, eager to hear more. "Something funny happened this morning," Evelyn continued, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

But before she could share the story, Rayna cut in.

"Wait! How did it go last night with your parents? You never told me."

Evelyn's smile softened, a dreamy look crossing her face.

"Derek was there with me. It was... really good. At first, my father was going to be difficult, but Derek stepped up and handled the situation. He was amazing," Evelyn said and went on to tell Rayna how it had all played out.

Rayna leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a satisfied nod. "Derek is racking up more and more points with me daily. He's definitely a keeper."

Evelyn chuckled, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "He really is. So, as I was going to tell you, you'll never guess where I just came from."

Rayna raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Where?"

"My parents' house."

Rayna's eyes widened in surprise. "What were you doing there? Did you see Sandra?"

Evelyn laughed, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Oh, I saw her alright. And I put on quite the show."

Rayna's curiosity was piqued, and she leaned forward eagerly. "Tell me everything!"

Evelyn's smile turned into a sly grin as she recounted the morning's events, detailing how she had put her phone on recording as she walked into the house and how it had recorded her conversation with Sandra and played it back when Sandra tried to put on another performance in front of their parents.

Rayna listened, her eyes widening with every word, and by the time Evelyn finished, she was clapping her hands in delight.

"That's my girl!" Rayna exclaimed, beaming with pride.

"I'm so proud of you, Evie! You finally stepped up and gave Sandra a taste of her own medicine."

Evelyn's smile was radiant as she nodded in agreement.

"No. I haven't given her a taste of her own medicine yet.

This is my medicine. Sandra won't know what hit her by the time I'm done with her."

Rayna's eyes sparkled with approval. "You're making me feel very proud, Evelyn. You're finally standing up for yourself."

Evelyn's expression softened as she reached out to squeeze Rayna's hand. "I couldn't have done it without you, Rayna. I'm so lucky to have a friend like you."

Rayna waved off the compliment with a grin, though her eyes shone with affection. "It's nothing, really. I'm sure if the roles were reversed, you would have given me the same advice." Evelyn's smile grew, "Maybe. Maybe not. Thank you for being a friend I can rely on," Evelyn said, and for a moment, the two friends simply basked in the warmth of their bond. After a while, Rayna raised a brow when she saw Evelyn glance at the time and asked, "Were you heading somewhere?"

Evelyn nodded, standing up and grabbing her bag. "Yeah, I was going to check out some houses. Derek's agent sent me some photos, and I need to go see the places in person." Rayna's eyes lit up with interest. "Ooh, house hunting! I wish I could go with you, but I'm swamped today."

Evelyn smiled, shaking her head. "It's fine. I just wanted to stop by and say hello- and let you know how it went with my parents. And say thank you, and I love you."

Rayna's smile softened as she walked Evelyn to the door.

"I'm really glad you did, Evelyn. It's always good to see you happy like the old times."

Evelyn turned to her friend, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "Thank you, Ray. For everything."

Rayna gave her a warm hug, squeezing her tightly before letting go. "Go find your dream house, Evelyn. And when you do, make sure it has a big enough guest room for when I come to visit." Evelyn laughed as she waved goodbye, the warmth of their conversation lingering long after she left. As Rayna returned to her desk, she couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment.

Life was changing for both of them and for the first time in a long while, the future seemed bright and full of possibilities.

Rayna's happy mood was interrupted when her phone suddenly buzzed with a call. She rolled her eyes when she picked it up to see that the call was from Sandra.

"What does the snake want?" Rayna asked aloud as she received the call.

"Ray," Sandra called, sobbing.

Rayna rolled her eyes, "What's wrong, Sandy? Is everything alright? Why are you crying?"

"I don't know what I did to Evelyn. She's bent on ruining my life," Sandra cried, and Rayna shook her head.

"What did she do? What's going on?"

"She's trying to turn everyone against me. First, it was my fiancé, Derek. She's trying to seduce him. Now it's my parents. She came over to the house this morning and put up a show. She manipulated our conversation and made me look like a bad person. I don't know what to do.

I'm so hurt and heartbroken," Sandra cried, and Rayna smirked.

"Sometimes I just can't believe Evie. How can she do this to you? What can I do to help?" Rayna asked, suspecting that Sandra had a reason for calling.

"Can we hang out? I need a drink and a friend. Maybe later in the day, we can grab a drink?" Sandra asked, and Rayna nodded.

"Sure. Let's do that. Want me to invite Evie over? So, you two can trash your differences?" She offered, even though she knew that wasn't what Sandra wanted. "No. Please, don't. I can't stand her right now," Sandra said with a sniffle.

"Alright then. I'll be free by 7 PM. You can let me know when to meet up," Rayna said before hanging up.

She was very sure that Sandra was up to something, and she couldn't wait to find out what Sandra planned to do.

 

Chapter 116

After the call with Rayna, Sandra paced around her office.

Her mind raced as she paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the floor.

Her confrontation with Evelyn had gone disastrously wrong. She hadn't expected Evelyn to be so prepared, so ready to counter her move. Sandra clenched her fists, trying to calm the anger simmering just beneath the surface. The thought of Evelyn sitting confidently at the breakfast table, basking in their father's approval, made her blood boil.

She needed to talk to Michael, to vent her frustrations, and to figure out what to do next. She stopped pacing and glanced at her phone on the desk, her fingers itching to dial Michael's number.

But a part of her hesitated. Should she call him or go to his office? After all, he was just as much involved in this mess as she was, and he might be able to offer a solution if they talked face-to-face. Michael had said they should limit physical meetings to avoid raising suspicions, and she didn't want to risk anything that might jeopardize her chances with Derek.

Sandra resumed pacing, chewing on her lower lip as she weighed her options. The more she thought about it, the more she agreed that calling was the better choice. It was safer and more discreet. With a frustrated sigh, Sandra grabbed her phone and dialed Michael's number. She tapped her fingers impatiently on the desk as she waited for him to pick up.

Michael answered on the first ring, his voice calm and collected. "I was just about to call you," he said.

"You won't believe what Evelyn did to me this morning," she said, her voice trembling with barely contained anger.

"What did you do?" Michael asked, his tone sharpening with interest. He knew Evelyn enough to know she wasn't someone who stirred trouble unless she was attacked first.

"What do you mean what did I do?" Sandra snapped.

"Because I'm sure Evelyn wouldn't just do something if you didn't do anything first. So, what did you do?" Michael repeated.

"Are you taking her side right now?" Sandra asked in disbelief.

"I'm merely stating a fact. Tell me exactly what happened," Michael ordered.

Although Sandra didn't like Michael's tone, she went on to tell him how Evelyn had shown up during breakfast," she recorded our conversation, Michael! And then she played it for our parents! I was blindsided, completely humiliated!" Sandra's voice rose as she relived the scene, the sting of her parents' disappointment still fresh in her mind.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Michael spoke. "Why were you so careless, Sandra?"

Sandra's face flushed with anger. "How was I supposed to know she was recording me? It's not like she's ever done that before! How can you be defending her right now?" Her grip tightened around the phone, her knuckles turning white.

"I'm not defending her! You should have known better than to talk to Evelyn like that, especially in a place where anyone could be listening. You were careless to have that conversation with Evelyn in the dining room of all places.

Anyone could have overheard you," Michael said, his tone edged with frustration.

Sandra huffed, her anger not directed at him this time but at the situation. "That's not the problem right now.

The problem is that I don't want Evelyn back at the family magazine. She'll ruin everything!"

Michael sighed, his voice calm but firm. "You need to make a choice, Sandra. You can't have both Derek and the magazine. You need to decide what's more important to you."

Sandra's breath caught in her throat. "Why can't I have both?" she demanded, her voice rising in desperation. "I want both, Michael! And I don't want Evelyn getting either of them or getting in my way!" There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Sandra could almost picture Michael rubbing his temples in exasperation. "Sandra, have you considered the fact that keeping Evelyn close might actually work in your favor? We will know where she is now, and that's an advantage. If she's at the magazine, you can keep a close eye on her and control what she does. It's better to have her where you can see her than letting her run around unchecked."

Sandra fell silent, considering his words. As much as she hated the idea of Evelyn working at the magazine, Michael had a point. Having Evelyn close meant she could monitor her every move, sabotage her work, and ensure that no one respected her.

"You're right," Sandra finally admitted, a slow smile spreading across her face as the plan took shape in her mind. "I need to keep my enemy closer."

"Exactly," Michael said, his voice smooth and reassuring.

"If you play your cards right, you can ruin Evelyn's credibility at the magazine. Make her a laughingstock.

Once she loses respect there, even her father will see that you're the better choice."

Sandra's smile widened, the tension in her shoulders easing as she imagined Evelyn's downfall. "I'd like to see that happen."

"Good. Now stop worrying about Evelyn. I've missed you.

I want us to meet." Michael's voice took on a more seductive tone.

Sandra hesitated for a moment, "You know we shouldn't meet too often. We agreed it's too risky,, Sandra reminded him, her mind still racing with the possibilities their conversation had opened up. "Not at my place," Michael countered smoothly. "We'll meet somewhere else. I miss you, baby. I want a taste of you."

Sandra let out a soft laugh, though her mind was already shifting gears. "I can't meet tonight. I'm supposed to see Rayna."

"Rayna? Why are you meeting with her?" Michael's voice sharpened with suspicion.

Sandra leaned back in her chair, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Our class reunion is taking place next weekend, and I plan to humiliate Evelyn. To do that, I need Rayna on my side." Michael sighed in exasperation. "Sandra, you're wasting time on petty revenge. Forget Evelyn. You should focus on what we're doing. We're closer to achieving our goal than ever. You should be focusing on Derek, not this childish vendetta."

"I am focusing on Derek. That's why I'm going to make sure he comes to the reunion as my date. I want him to see why I am the better choice," Sandra said, her voice laced with determination.

"If that's your plan, then make sure you use one stone to kill two birds. Ensure you get him to sleep with you that night," Michael said, his tone turning cold and calculating.

"I should have sex with him?" Sandra asked, even though it was already her plan to seduce Derek that night.

"Yes. Once you have slept with him, you can claim you're pregnant. That will force him to marry you quickly. I know his mother will be excited at the prospect of a grandchild, and she wouldn't want him to have one outside wedlock," Michael said, and Sandra's smile faltered.

"But I won't be on my ovulation at the time," she pointed out.

"Are you stupid, Sandra?" Michael's voice snapped through the phone. "I'm not talking about actually having Derek's child. I'll be the one to get you pregnant, not him.

You'll just use the excuse to trap him. Don't get any ideas about having Derek's baby for real. If you are having anyone's child, it's mine."

Sandra bit her lip, feeling a mix of anger and excitement at Michael's controlling tone. "Fine. I'll do as you say."

"Good. I'll text you the location tomorrow. Be ready," Michael said, his voice softening slightly. "And remember, Sandra, keep your eyes on the prize. Derek is the key to everything we want."

Sandra hung up the phone, her mind buzzing with the plan Michael had laid out for her.

As for Michael, she had no plans to have his baby. Why would she want to have his child when she could have Derek's baby for real?

She would get pregnant for Derek and lie to Michael that the child was his. She would play along and focus on getting Derek to fall for her, and then - when the time was right - she'd take Evelyn down for good and cut Michael off, too.

 

Chapter 117

Evelyn stepped out of the third house she had inspected for the day, her eyes scanning the tree-lined estate as she took in the neighborhood. She sighed, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the choices and the responsibility of finding the perfect home for her family.

Seeing the look on her face, the realtor could guess that she wasn't impressed, but Evelyn's phone buzzed in her pocket before she could say anything.

Evelyn felt a flutter in her chest when she saw Derek's name on the screen, and her lips curved in a wide smile as she answered.

Although they had spoken earlier that morning, the call had not been for long since she was getting Samantha ready for school then, and he had mostly talked to Samantha, not her.

"Hello, D," she asked, her voice soft and warm as she stepped away from the realtor so she could speak comfortably.

"D, huh?" Derek asked with an amused smile, and Evelyn giggled.

"You call me Eve, after all. And I've been meaning to call you that for a while now," she said, and he chuckled. "Well, you can call me whatever you want as long as it's not the annoying Mr Stone you always used in the past," he said, and she giggled.

"I can't exactly call you Mr Stone anymore, can I?" She asked, and he chuckled.

"You had better not. So, how's your day going? Found any houses you like yet?" He asked curiously.

Evelyn glanced back at the house she'd just toured. "I'm still working on it. I've seen a few nice places, but nothing that feels like home yet. I'm trying to be thorough, but I hope to find something soon." "Yeah. You should be thorough. I'm sure you'll know the right one when you see it," Derek said encouragingly.

"By the way, I never got the chance to ask you earlier when you called — when did you leave last night?" Evelyn asked curiously. Derek laughed, a low, comforting sound that seemed to spread warmth all over her. "I left after you fell asleep.

You were out like a light."

She chuckled, recalling how the night had ended. "Well, I slept like a baby. After what you did, how could I not sleep well?"

"I'm Glad to know I'm good for something. If you're having difficulties falling asleep in the future, invite me over, and I'll knock you out," Derek joked, his tone light, and Evelyn laughed softly. "You're good for a lot more than that," she assured him.

"So, how did it go with your parents?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, it went well enough"" Evelyn replied with a giggle and went on to tell him about the drama with Sandra.

"Well, she has managed to clear up any doubts your parents might have had regarding her innocence," Derek said with a chuckle.

"Yeah. Enough about me. How did it go with your father?

Did you go home as planned?" She asked, and Derek laughed as he recalled his father's excitement.

"He was happy to hear about Samantha. He said he had always wanted a daughter, and now he has a granddaughter. He's already looking forward to meeting her. I told him I'd arrange something soon, Derek said, and Evelyn smiled.

"Well, I'm sure we can arrange that," she said, glad that his father was happy about it.

"So, let's arrange for it. I want him to meet you and Samantha soon," he said, and Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.

Meeting Derek's father felt like a significant step, one she wasn't sure she was ready for, but there was no denying the excitement and warmth that bloomed inside her at the thought. "Why don't you invite him over for lunch or dinner after we move? He can see the new place and meet Samantha."

"That's a good idea," Derek agreed, though she could hear a touch of hesitation in his voice. "But we don't know how long that's going to take, and my dad - he'd rather not wait that long. He's eager to see Samantha. Would you be okay with me taking her out this Saturday? Just the two of us?"

Evelyn bit her lip, her thoughts racing. She trusted Derek, but the idea of him spending time alone with Samantha was still new. "So, you're planning to spend the day only with Samantha? What about me?" Derek's laughter was deep, rolling through the phone and making her smile widen. "Are you Jealous?"

Evelyn laughed softly. "Maybe just a little. But don't worry, I've had her to myself for all these years. It's only fair that you have her for a day. It might actually give me some time to focus on this house-hunting without any distractions."

Derek was about to respond when there was a soft knock on his office door. His secretary stepped in quietly.

"Mr. Stone, Ms Sandra is here to see you," she said, her tone polite.

Derek's brows lifted slightly. "Let her in," he instructed, then turned his attention back to Evelyn. "I'm sorry, Eve, but I have to go. Sandra just arrived. I'll call you back after she leaves, alright?"

Evelyn's heart gave a slight pang at the mention of Sandra, but she pushed it aside. "Alright, D. I'll talk to you later."

As soon as he ended the call, Sandra walked into the office, her usual confidence tempered with a slightly sheepish look. Derek stood up to greet her, a wide smile on his face.

"Hello, Sandra," he greeted her warmly, though there was an edge of curiosity in his voice.

Sandra approached his desk, her expression a mix of guilt and playfulness. "Are you still mad at me for what I did?" she asked, her voice soft, almost apologetic.

Derek tilted his head slightly, feigning ignorance. "What did you do?"

She let out a small sigh, fidgeting with the strap of her handbag. "For involving your mother the other day," she confessed, her eyes briefly dropping to the floor. "I thought you might be upset." Derek smiled, and he shook his head. "That's in the past, Sandra. I told Michael to let you know I wasn't mad.

Didn't he do that?"

Sandra's lips formed a slight pout, a tactic that might have worked on someone else but only made Derek smirk. "If you weren't mad, why haven't you called me since then?"

Derek chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "I've been busy, Sandra. Besides, you didn't call me either. But let's forget all of that. To make it up to you, how about we go out for lunch today?" Sandra's face lit up at the suggestion, her earlier guilt forgotten. "I'd love that," she said, her tone brightening.

Before they could continue, Derek's phone buzzed again, this time with a notification from the team monitoring Michael's phone. It was a recorded message. He couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his face as he saw it.

He knew the message was important and that it was most likely a conversation between Michael and Sandra.

Not wanting to leave the office with Sandra without listening to it first and finding out if it had anything to do with the reason he was in his office, Derek held up a hand.

"Give me a minute, Sandra. I need to take a message from an important client," he said as he connected his earbuds and played the message.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he listened, and the smirk on his face deepened as he heard the conversation, confirming what he had suspected.

Well, this was going to be the first of many pieces of evidence against them, Derek reasoned.

When the recording ended, he quickly composed himself and turned back to Sandra, who was watching him curiously.

"Ready for lunch?" he asked with a wide smile, his voice casual as if nothing had happened.

Oblivious to the significance of the message he'd just heard, Sandra nodded eagerly. "Yes. Let's go."

As they left his office together, Derek's mind was already spinning with plans. The recorded message had given him a crucial piece of the puzzle, and he was determined to use it to his advantage. But for now, he would enjoy lunch with Sandra, play his part, and keep his cards close to his chest.

As they walked into the elevator, Derek's thoughts lingered on the phone call with Evelyn, her laughter still echoing in his ears. There were so many moving pieces in his life right now, but one thing was sure - he wouldn't let anything, or anyone, come between him and the life he wanted with Evelyn and Samantha. Not his mother, not Sandra, and certainly not Michael.

 

Chapter 118

As the Elevator door closed behind Derek and Sandra, Derek casually leaned against the wall, his mind already working on the next steps.

He slipped his phone out of his pocket and quickly composed a text to Evelyn: [Taking Sandra to lunch. I just sent you something important. Check it out when you can.] With a swift motion, he forwarded the recorded conversation to Evelyn, ensuring she had all the evidence he had just acquired since it had everything to do with the both of them. As he slipped his phone back into his pocket, he turned his attention to Sandra. "Did you come in your car?" he asked, his tone light as if the question was merely a formality. "Yes, I drove. Why?" She asked with a cheerful smile.

Although the day had started out in such a shitty way, she was happy being with Derek this way and having him take her to lunch.

"I was thinking it might be easier if we took separate cars, so you don't have to come back just to pick up yours.

That way, you can go straight to your office," he explained, not wanting to endure her company in the drive to the restaurant.

Sandra's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her voice taking on a playful lilt. "Oh, Derek, you're such a gentleman. But I really don't mind. I enjoy spending time with you. We can go together, and I'll just come back here with you afterward."

Derek's smile was polite, hiding the mild irritation he felt at her insistence. Before he could respond, the elevator dinged softly, signaling their arrival on the ground floor.

The doors slid open, revealing the busy lobby of the office building.

As they stepped out, their eyes immediately landed on Michael, who was approaching the elevator. The surprise on Michael's face was almost comical as he took in the sight of Sandra by Derek's side. "Sandra," Michael greeted, his tone laced with mild confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Sandra's heart skipped a beat. She had acted without informing Michael. "I just came to make sure Derek wasn't mad at me anymore. You know how I hate it when we're not on good terms." Michael's eyes flicked to Derek, who was watching the exchange with a neutral expression. "My feelings are hurt.

You cared about Derek so much and didn't even stop by to say hello to me?" Michael asked, clearly taken aback by Sandra's boldness.

Sandra shook her head, her hair bouncing slightly with the motion. "I planned to come over and say hello to you when we come back from lunch," Sandra assured him with a sugary, sweet smile. Derek decided to step in before the tension could escalate. "We're heading out for lunch, Mike. Care to join us?" His offer was casual, but all he wanted was to see how Michael would react. Michael shook his head, a tight smile on his lips. "Thanks, but I've already got plans. You two enjoy yourselves."

Derek nodded, watching as Michael walked away, his posture stiff. As soon as he was out of sight, Derek turned to Sandra, his voice light. "Shall we?"

Sandra beamed up at him, "Let's go."

She was not going to worry about Michael. If Derek loved her, that was all she needed. She knew that Michael would never expose her. Not when doing that would mean exposing himself since they were partners in crime.

They walked out of the building together, the sun shining brightly overhead as they made their way to Derek's car.

The drive to the restaurant was filled with small talk- Sandra prattling on about work while Derek responded with polite, if distant, interest.

Now that he was in a relationship with Evelyn, he found it even more difficult to pretend to like Sandra as he had done the last time. He wasn't even in the mood to hear her talk.

Once they arrived at the restaurant, a chic place that Sandra had suggested, they were promptly seated at a secluded table.

As they settled into their seats, Sandra wasted no time, her tone taking on a slightly accusatory edge. "So, I was meaning to ask you. Why did you let Evelyn answer your call the other day?" Derek raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the sudden change in her demeanor. "I was driving," he explained calmly. I don't take calls when I drive, so I asked her to answer the phone. I didn't know it was you."

Sandra pouted, her lips forming a slight frown. "You could have called me back instead of letting her handle it."

Derek suppressed a sigh, keeping his tone even. "I didn't think it was a big deal. But if it upset you, I apologize."

Sandra seemed to accept his apology, but her expression remained wary. "Is it true that you're still doing the interview? Why are you so determined to have Evelyn do it? I could easily handle it, you know." Derek leaned back in his chair, taking a moment before responding. "Evelyn and I had an agreement. Besides, I prefer to keep my private life and work separate."

Sandra's pout deepened, and there was a flicker of something darker in her eyes. "I'm just worried that Evelyn will try to seduce you under the guise of the interview." Derek kept his expression neutral. "Didn't Michael tell you what I told him?"

Sandra's frown deepened in confusion. "What did you tell Michael?"

Derek leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "I told him that I was in love with Evelyn and that I wanted her to do the interview because I wanted to get to know her. But after seeing how she treated you and how she's been acting, I realized she's not suitable for me. I've moved on from her, Sandra. That's why I'm interested in you now." Sandra's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and pleasure washing over her features. "Is that true?" she asked, her voice almost breathless. Derek nodded, his expression sincere. "Yes. So, there's no need to worry about Evelyn anymore. She's not a threat."

Sandra looked partially mollified, but there was still a hint of bitterness in her at the thought that Derek had ever liked Evelyn in the first place. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. "Can we take a picture together?" she asked with a smile, her tone almost coaxing. Derek smiled tightly, shaking his head as he wondered what she was thinking now. "You know I'm not a fan of taking pictures."

Sandra pouted again but quickly shrugged it off. "Okay, I understand."

The waiter arrived then, interrupting the moment as he took their orders. Once the waiter left, Sandra leaned forward, her lips curling in a scowl. "I actually came to see you because I was sort of upset.

Evelyn came over to the house this morning. She caused some problems for me at home," Sandra said, and Derek's eyebrows lifted in interest. "What kind of problems?" He asked, wanting to hear what she would say.

Sandra sighed dramatically, her expression one of false innocence. "She lied against me and tried to turn our parents against me. She has always been jealous of me, but it's getting worse now that you're in the picture. I'm worried she will try to seduce you, Derek. She even told me she was going to get you at all costs because you're wealthy."

Derek's eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained calm. "I find that hard to believe, Sandra. If Evelyn wanted me for my money, she would have had me a long time ago. And I think you should stop talking to me about Evelyn- it's unattractive."

Surprised flickered in her eyes at his harsh words, but she quickly flashed him a sweet smile. "You're right, Derek. I shouldn't let her get to me."

"Yeah. You shouldn't. You should focus on talking about yourself to me instead of filling my head with Evelyn," Derek said, and she nodded.

"By the way, I was wondering... will you be able to attend my class reunion with me next weekend?" She asked, changing the subject.

Derek hesitated, but when he remembered the details of the recording he had just forwarded to Evelyn, he nodded. "With you? Of course, I'll be there," he said with a carefully calculated smile.

He needed to make sure Evelyn was safe, and if attending this reunion was the way to do it, then he would play along. He had no intention of letting her get away with whatever she was planning for Evelyn. Sandra's eyes lit up with excitement, and she squeezed his hand across the table.

• "I'm so happy you're coming,

Derek. It's going to be a wonderful night."

As lunch progressed, she chattered on about the reunion.

Derek played his role perfectly, nodding and smiling at all the right moments. But beneath the surface, his mind was racing, and he was already strategizing his next move.

He needed to be ready for whatever Sandra had in store for him, too, since he knew she planned to make him sleep with her and claim she was pregnant.

But for now, he would let Sandra believe she was winning. After all, the best way to defeat an opponent was to make them think they were in control, and he was a master at that game.

On the other hand, Sandra was blissfully unaware, lost in her fantasies of winning Derek over completely. She had no idea that Derek was only playing along to protect the woman he truly cared about — Evelyn.

 

Chapter 119

Lunch with Derek had gone better than Sandra expected. She could feel his interest in her growing, and that gave her a smug sense of victory. Evelyn was nothing compared to her, and she was going to prove that to everyone. With thoughts of her successful lunch still swirling in her head, Sandra pushed open the door to Michael's office.o The sight that greeted her brought her to a sudden, jolting stop.

Michael was leaning against his desk, his hands buried in his secretary's hair as they kissed, completely unaware of her presence.

The shock held her frozen in place for a moment, and then her irritation surged. "What the hell is going on here?" Sandra demanded, and his secretary jerked back, her face paling slightly as she saw Sandra standing in the doorway. Michael straightened immediately, brushing down his suit as if to restore some semblance of professionalism "Sandra" he started, his voice

smooth, but there was an edge of irritation underneath it. "I see you're back from your date."

The secretary, flustered and red-faced, hastily gathered her things and scurried out of the office, avoiding Sandra's furious glare.

Once they were alone, Sandra's hands went to her hips, her eyes blazing with disbelief. "What do you think you're doing with your Secretary?"

Michael sat at the edge of his desk, his expression darkening as he squared off with her. "That's rich coming from you," he sneered. "I should be asking you the same thing. Why were you with Derek, and why didn't you tell me about it first?" Sandra's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a scornful smile. "Oh, so that's what this is about? You're upset that I went to lunch with Derek?" She took a step closer, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're the one who told me to focus on him, remember? I told you I wanted him to accompany me to the reunion, didn't I? How else was I supposed to make that happen if I don't clear the air with him and spend time with him?"

Michael's jaw clenched, "We had an agreement. You're supposed to tell me about every move you make. Were you going to tell me about your lunch had I not seen the both of you together?"

Sandra snorted, "Don't think I'm going to let you make this about me. I'm not the one who was making out with his secretary. Tell me what I want to know, Michael. Why the hell were you making out with your secretary? Or should I even bother asking? Perhaps this isn't the first time, and you've been doing it all along.

He met her gaze head-on, his eyes cold. "I told you I wanted you. When was the last time we had sex? You know how sexually active I am. I needed to relieve myself. I asked to meet tonight, and you came up with some silly excuse about meeting Rayna. What did you expect? That I'd wait forever?"

Sandra's laugh was bitter, disbelief clouding her features. "Relieve yourself? Are you kidding me, Michael? Is that supposed to be your excuse?" She shook her head, disgust evident in her expression. "Well, we didn't go that far before you came in. Let's meet this night..."

"I can't believe you. Do you really think I'm just going to go along with this? That after what I just saw, I'll meet you again?"

Michael rose from the desk, and his hand shot out, grabbing her arm roughly. His grip was tight enough to hurt, his voice low and menacing. "You'll meet me when I tell you to meet me, Sandra. Don't push me.

I'm not going to tolerate any silly attitudes from you."

Sandra's eyes blazed with fury. "I thought you had better taste, Michael," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "But clearly, you don't. I'm disappointed in you," she said as she tried to wrench her arm free, but Michael's grip was tight.

Michael's expression didn't falter. If anything, her defiance seemed to amuse him. "And you think I'm not disappointed in you? Do you really think your attitude since your first date with Derek has gone unnoticed by me? Don't get any ideas about double-crossing me, Sandra. I know how your mind works. If I see one wrong move- if I even suspect that you're planning something behind my back- everything we've built will be over in an instant. Do you understand me?"

Sandra glared at him, her chest heaving as she tried to contain the rage coursing through her. "You don't get to threaten me, Michael."

"Oh, I'm not threatening," he said, his voice deadly calm as he grabbed her neck with his other hand. "I'm warning you, Sandra. Meet me at Club Edge tonight at seven..."

"I told you I'm meeting with Rayna. We are meeting at 7PM," Sandra cut in with an angry hiss.

"Then push back your meeting with her or cancel it.

What I want is more important than whatever silly plans you have for the reunion. You can choose to meet with her after I'm done with you. I don't care. If you don't show up tonight, consider our arrangement off. And I'll proceed with my plans without you. You'll be cut off from everything." Sandra's mouth tightened into a thin line, "Since when have you become so overbearing?"

Michael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as he towered over her. "Since you started giving me a reason to doubt you. Seven o'clock," he repeated as he let go of her neck and arm. "Don't make me regret trusting you. And you better put on something sexy."

With one last icy look, Sandra turned on her heel and stormed out of the office, fury bubbling just beneath the surface.

As she stepped into the elevator, her hands clenched into fists, her thoughts shifted back to Derek. She knew that she had to play this carefully, now more than ever.

One thing was clear - Michael wasn't playing games anymore. And neither was she.

If Michael suspected even for a second that she was trying to outmaneuver him, he wouldn't hesitate to ruin everything. She wouldn't let him do that.

Her churned as she thought of meeting him tonight, and her mind raced with plans of her own. If Michael thought she was going to let him control her or ruin her plans, he had another thing coming.

Once she got into her car, she took out her phone and sent Rayna a text. [Let's meet at Club Edge by 7 PM.

You can ask Evelyn to join us, so we can trash out our differences. But don't let her know I'll be there, or she might not show up.]

After sending the text, Sandra tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, and her lips curled with a smirk.

She was going to take care of both Evelyn and Michael.

 

Chapter 120

"Sandra wants me to show up at the club?" Evelyn asked Rayna over the phone as she walked into her apartment, "Why?"

"I have no idea what she is thinking. When she called the first time, she said she didn't want you to join us, but now she sent a text asking if I could invite you but not tell you she would be there," Rayna explained. "I'm not sure I should go. What do you think?" Evelyn asked as she kicked off her shoes and headed for her bedroom. She

She was exhausted from the round of house hunting she had been doing all day, and all she wanted was to freshen up and then confide in Maya about everything, as she had promised. Rayna sighed. "I don't know, Evie. I know that as long as I'm there, I won't let any harm come to you, but I'd be more comfortable if I knew what she was up to. Why don't you talk to Derek? Tell him what's up, and if he thinks you should go, then let's do that," Rayna suggested. Evelyn frowned as she sat on the edge of her bed.

"Alright. Let me do that. Ill get back to you after I speak to him. "Evelyn said before hanging up the call.

After hanging up the call she quickly typed a text, if you're not too busy, can you call me?),

she sent the text, she rose and undressed. Before she could make it to the bathroom, her phone rang. She picked it up and received the call when she saw that it was Derek.

"Is everything okay?" Derek asked, his voice tinged with

concern.

"Yeah. I just need your opinion on something," Evelyn said and then proceeded to tell him about Sandra's text to Rayna.

Derek paused for a moment as he considered it, and then he sighed, "I think I might have to bug Michael's office and his apartment if possible. I don't think hacking his sim is enough." "Why?" Evelyn asked, wondering what that had to do with what she had told him.

"She met with Michael in his office after we had lunch. I have a feeling that she came up with the idea of inviting you to the club after her meeting with Michael. I need to know what they talk about in person and not just over the phone," Derek explained, and Evelyn nodded.

"Yeah. That makes sense. But for now, what do you think I should do? Should I go? I mean, I don't have to go, right? I can easily tell Rayna to tell her that I declined her invitation and suggested we hang out some other place and not at that club, right?" Evelyn asked, and Derek considered it for a moment.

"Yes. Do that. Ask Rayna to do that, and let's see what Sandra will say. That way, we will know if she just wants to see you and do something to embarrass you or if her plan is restricted to the club," Derek suggested.

"Alright. I'll call you back after I've done that. I'm sorry to bother.."

"You're not bothering me. You could never bother me.

And just so you know, I want you to bother me," he said, and she giggled.

"I'll call you after I hear from her," Evelyn said before hanging up.

She had a smile on her face as she called Rayna and then relayed the information to her. After the phone call with Rayna, she went in to freshen up while she waited to hear back from Rayna.

Away from there, after the phone call with

Evelyn, Rayna dialed

Sandra's line, and it didn't take long before Sandra received the call. "Hey, Ray! Did you receive my text?" Sandra asked, and Rayna rolled her eyes.

"I did. That's why I'm calling. I just got off the phone with Evelyn, and she doesn't want to meet at Club Edge. She's suggesting we meet elsewhere," Rayna said, and Sandra scowled. "Can't you convince her to change her mind?" Sandra asked, wondering why Evelyn was being unnecessarily stubborn. "Do we

Do have to meet at the club? I mean, it's not like we are there to party. I don't think that is exactly an ideal venue to talk. We can..." "Michael will be there too. I want to do my best to reconcile them. Michael is still crazy about Evelyn. I'm hoping that I can help them reconcile, and then Evelyn will leave Derek alone, and things can go back to how they used to be. I need your help to make that happen," Sandra said, Rayna's brows pulled together.

and

"So, Michael will be joining us?" She asked, wondering just what Sandra was up to.

"Yes. But you can't tell Evelyn that he will be there. I'm not telling Michael about it, either. I'm going to get a room, and we will lock them inside so they can talk things out. What do you think?" Sandra asked, and Rayna laughed softly, amused by Sandra's crazy plan. If she didn't know about the state of things between Evelyn and Sandra, and she didn't know about what had truly happened between Evelyn and Michael, she would most likely have fallen for Sandra's bullshit.

"I think it's a brilliant plan. And I'm surprised you care about Evelyn so much, and you're still going through all this stress for her sake, despite all she has done," Rayna said, and Sandra sighed. "She's my sister. And I love her her regardless of her flaws.

What else can I do?" Sandra asked, and Rayna resisted the urge to snort.

"I will try to convince Evelyn once again so we meet at Club Edge," Rayna promised.

"Thanks, Ray. I wonder what I will do without you," Sandra said before hanging up.

Done with the call, Rayna called Evelyn back, "You won't believe what that snake plans to do," Rayna said the moment the call connected.

"What is she up to?" Evelyn asked, feeling anxious.

"She wants to lock you up in a room with Michael so that you both can resolve things," Rayna said, and Evelyn frowned.

"That doesn't make sense. She knows very well that I won't resolve things with Michael since I know they are sexually involved," Evelyn said, and Rayna pursed her lips as she narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "You have a point. So, what do you think she is up to then?" Rayna asked, and Evelyn sighed deeply.

"Perhaps they plan to set me up. I think it's more than just being alone with Michael," Evelyn said, and Rayna sighed.

"She said Michael doesn't know you're coming," Rayna said, but Evelyn shook her head.

"You should know that we can't believe anything she says.

Sandra is a liar. They probably planned this together. You know what? I'm going to come. I want to see what they are up to. Tell her I agreed to join you," Evelyn said, and Rayna raised a brow.

"Are you sure you should do that?" Rayna asked, feeling uncomfortable with the idea.

"Yeah. If I don't agree, she will feel you're not useful to her, and she might not want to involve you or share her plans with you next time. I will let Derek know that I will do it. That way, we will find a way to counter whatever plan they have," Evelyn said with a note of finality in her tone, and Rayna nodded. "Alright then. Let's do that. I'll let her know you're coming. See you tonight," Rayna said before hanging up.